Scanned from the collections of The Library of Congress AUDIO-VISUAL CONSERVATION at The LIBRARY ..if 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 Senate Vote of $50,000 Kills O Wis Film Bureau Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -^FDAIL y\. 84, NO. 1 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1943 TO EXTEND LOEWS TOP EXECS! CONTRACTS Factional Mouthpiece Role Holds Danger— Myers Industry Must Not be Used As Propaganda Machine, Allied Executive Warns By AL STEEN Associate Editor, THE FILM DAILY West End, N. J.— The motion picture industry must not be- some a mouthpiece for any one segment of the Government o r it will find itself in a dangerous spot, Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Na- tion a 1 Allied, warned at the Allied of New Jersey annual conference here yesterday. The picture business is not and should not be a propaganda machine except in the (Continued on Page 11) William Goetz to Open Offices of His Own Company, International Pictures, on Tuesday West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — William Goetz who resigned as vice-president in charge of pro- duction for 20th-Fox to form his own producing organization, has announced the association of Leo Spitz as chairman of the board of the new company which will be known as International Pictures, Inc. Goetz completes his duties at the 20rh-Fox studio, Saturday. Offices of International Pictures will be opened next Tuesday in the Corinne Griffith building. No plans for distribution or selection of a studio for produc- tion have been made as yet. Nunnally Johnson has been signed to produce. ABRAM F. MYERS No Freon Relief in Sight for Theaters Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — No relief is in sight from the recent WPB order forbid- ding the sale of freon for theater air conditioning plants, A. G. Smith, (Continued on Page 6) 97% Holdovers for "Action in Atlantic" Out of its first 410 engagements, Warners' "Action in the North At- lantic" has been held over in 398 situations, a score of 97 per cent, according to the company's playdate department. All of the remaining 12 dates were in stands with a set policy that precludes holdovers. From a gross standpoint, more than 100 "Action" bookings already have either approximated or exceeded "Casablanca" according to the home office. Senate Votes End Of OWI Film Bureau Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The war job done by the motion picture industry is once again back in the lap of the indus- try— just about as completely as it was a year ago prior to the forma- tion of the OWI. Slight Government aid may be looked for, but the em- phasis is upon the word "slight." The end of the OWI motion picture bureau as an effective instrument to (Continued on Page 10) Open War Stamp Drive To Build "Shangri-La" Nation's exhibs., 13,000 strong, allied with the country's retail stores and newsboys, today launch a month's campaign to sell an extra dollar's worth of War Stamps to every American. The resulting $130,000,000— which (Continued on Page 6) Allied May Re-write Its Decree Changes West End, N. J.— Some of the proposals made by Allied for changes in the consent decree may be re- written so as to be more specific, it was indicated here yesterday by some Allied leaders. It was asserted by some that the recommendations were too general and it was hinted that the Department of justice would like more details as to re- (Continued on Page 11) Reserves Decision On Racketeer Dismissal Plea Mayer, Rubin, Bernstein, Weingarten Deals Before Stockholders on July 29 By LOU PELEGRINE FILM DAILY Staff Writer The board of directors of Loew's, Inc., has ordered a spe- cial meeting of the company's stockholders to ask approval for the renewal of the contracts of four top executives, Louis B. Mayer, J. Rob- ert Rubin, David Bernstein and Law- rence Weingarten, it was learned yesterday. The meeting will be held the morning of July 29 at the com- pany's home office. In the notice to stockholders Nich- olas M. Schenck, president of M-G- (Continued on Page 7) Decision was reserved yesterday by Federal Judge Murray Hulbert on motions to dismiss the indictment against the six alleged Chicago gangsters charged with conspiracy to extort more than $1,000,000 from the film industry. One of the mo- (Continued on Page 6) More % Deals Warners' Aim Small Isolated Accounts to be Exceptions 1,000 Attend 20th-Fox Family Club Outing Bear Mountain Park, N. Y.— With some 1,000 executives and club mem- bers' in attendance, the 20th Cen- tury-Fox Home Office Family Club (Continued on Page 12) A concerted effort to extend the number of percentage deals, as more beneficial to the exhibitor as well as the distributor, is expected to be urged on Warners' sales force at the regional sales meeting which will be called to order by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, at 10 a.m. (Continued on Page 12) Exhib. Aggressiveness Urged on Pic Rentals West End, N. J. — More aggres- sive complaints on the film rentals situations on the part of exhibitors were advocated by Sidney Samuel- son, national Allied leader, at the second day's sessions of New Jersey Allied's 24th annual conference at (Continued on Page 10) N. J. Allied Re-elects Loewenstein Prexy West End, N. J. — Harry Loewen- stein was re-elected president of New Jersey Allied at its annual confer- ence here yesterday. Lou Gold was (Continued on Page 7) Armour Quits Post With Disney Abroad Reginald Armour announced yes- terday that he had resigned as European managing director for Walt Disney Productions. Armour, who recently arrived in New York from London, stated that he will vacation for a few months after which he will indicate his future plans. ^ m $130,000,000 IN WAR STAMP SALES WILL BUILD AIRPLANE CARRIER — DO YOVR BIT! J^ ^ == 4 jK ^*a? _pv Thursday, July 1, 194 Vol. 84, No. 1 Thurs., July 1, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN Publisher General Manager Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address- Filmday, New York. • Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Willc, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correct 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Wednesday, June 30) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 16 16 16 Col.Piets. vtc. (2'/2%) 18Vi 18Vz 18'/i + V4 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 17% "Vi l7Vi Con. 'Fm. Ind. pfd East. Kodak 166 165 1653/4 + % do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq 23 >/2 225/8 225/8 — Va Loew's, Inc 60 Vi 60 Vi 60y2 — V4 Paramount 277/8 273/4 27y8 — Vs RKO 9'/8 9 9 RKO $6 pfd 95 94'/2 9414 _ i/2 20th Century-Fox ... 2^% 21 213/8 + l/4 20th Century-Fox pfd. 32% 32l/4 32% + Va Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 147/8 14% 1434 — l/8 do pfd 88I/4 88'/4 88\4 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. iB'way 3s55... 773/8 773/8 773/8 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 101 V4 101 101 — 1/4 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3% 3Vz 3% — Va Radio-Keith cvs 1% 134 1% -f l/8 Sonotone Corp 31/2 3% 3Vi Technicolor 1234 1234 12% — Va Trans-Lux 33/4 31/4 3% -f % Universal Corp. vtc Universal Picts 7,572 Eastman Employes In Service; 12 Gold Stars Rochester — Eastman Kodak em- ployes now in the armed service total 7,572. Of this total, 12 have given their lives. Gold Bars for Lionel Toll Camp Lee, Va. — Lionel Toll, editor of the Independent, New York trade paper, will be commissioned a sec- ond lieutenant in the QMC on gradu- ation tomorrow from OCS here. comma mid goiiig WILIAM F. RODGERS, M-G-M vice-president in charge of sales, returns to New York today from a visit to the Culver City studios. M-G-M branch managers RALPH MAW of Buffalo and HERMAN RIPPS of Albany will be in New York next Tuesday to confer with E. M. SAUNDERS and other home office of- ficials. B. G. DE SYLVA, executive producer of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," arrived in New York yesterday by train from Toronto, to re- main for the premiere of "For Whom the Bell Tolls." MITCHELL RAWSON, Warners' Eastern publi- city manager, returns late today from Charlotte, N. C, where he went to complete arrangements for the preview of "Mission to Moscow" there. BETTY HUTTON leaves the Coast for New York today. DAVE PALFREYMAN is en route from the Coast to New York. JULIUS J. EPSTEIN and PHILLIP C. EP- STEIN have arrived from Burba nk. ALLEN G. SMITH of the WPB left Washing- ton yesterday for a two weeks' Southwestern tour. IRVING BERLIN spent yesterday in Washing- ton conferring with Maj. Irving J. Phillipson, head of Army Emergency Relief. FRED MARSHALL is in New Haven from New York on Universal exploitation of "Next of Kin." MRS. HOOT GIBSON, is vacationing in Wilkes-Barre, her home city. RICHARD F. WALSH, IATSE president, is on a Western trip. ED PESKAY, eastern representative of Edward Small Productions, is on the Coast for con- ferences. JUDY GARLAND is en route to Philadelphia from the Coast. MOE A. LEVY, 20th-Fox district manager in charge of the Minneapolis, Des Moines and Omaha territories, who has been in town for sales conferences, returns to his headquarters in Minneapolis tomorrow. Cleveland Friends Fete Fellman on Departure Cleveland — Nat Fellman was guest of honor at a farewell dinner held by members of the film colony to speed him on his way to New York where he takes over his duties as booker for the Warner theater de- partment under Clayton Bond. Fell- man was head of the local theater booking department until his recent promotion. Dinner was at Korn- man's restaurant, after which the group, consisting of more than 50 film men representing every ex- change and composed of the leading exhibitors, adjourned to the Variety Club. RKO to Screen Next Five In Exchanges July 12-15 RKO's next block of five pictures will be screened July 12-15 in the company's exchanges. The group consists of "The Sky's the Limit," "Behind the Rising Sun," "Pitticoat Larceny," "The Falcon in Danger" and "Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event." Chi. Equipment Firms Working on July Fourth Chicago — Motiograph, DeVry, Bell- Howell and Wenzel Projector will work July Fourth holiday on Army and Navy equipment. Motiograph is granting employes two weeks' va- cation with pay. Many of its em- ployes forsaking the vacations to work on Government orders, receiv- ing extra compensation. George F. Dembow Elected To National Screen Board George F. Dembow, vice-president in charge of sales, has been elected to the board of National Screen Ser- vice Corp. to fill a vacancy, it was announced yesterday by President Herman Robbins. Selznick Strikes New Note In Picture Making West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A new note in film making is being applied by David 0. Selznick in preparation of his next picture, "Since You Went Away." It is, in effect, a blueprint of the picture, a pre-production de- sign as complete as the detailed drawings of a building by an archi- tect before construction begins. Selznick has had collaborating with him William L. Pereira. Selznick and Pereira plan scenes one by one during the development of the story proper and write the action and dialogue to fit Pereira's illustrations. Mrs. Margaret Buell Wilder, au- thor of book of the same title as the picture, is collaborating with Selz- nick on the screen story. She and Selznick outline to Pereira the steps in the story. Pereira then sketches roughly the scenes, and composes a scene exactly as it will be photo- graphed. Then Selznick and Mrs. Wilder write sequences to fit Pere- ira's sketches, and he in turn com- bines his sketches with the dialogue to give the director a complete vis- ual blueprint to shoot from. Three OWI Posters Going To Exhibs. for August Exhibs. will receive three more OWI posters for August lobby dis- play. The one-sheets which are available from National Screen Ser- vice exchanges are "I'm Counting On You," a warning against careless talk; "This is the Enemy" and "United Nations Fight For Free- dom." WAC has also recommended that the OWI include a fourth poster which exhibitors might choose to dis- play during the showing of a spy or saboteur movie. It is "A Warning From the FBI" which requests that any evidence of sabotage or the pres- ence of enemy agents be reported immediately to the FBI. Ohio and Penn. Towns To Vote on Sunday Pix T! Cambridge, O. — The Sunday movi1 ' question has bobbed back up hei with recommendation by a commi tee of the Municipal Council th£ it be submitted for referendum ne> Fall. All efforts to have Sunday movie]" here have been rejected by the vo ' ers in the past. Issue has beef brought up this time through/ nels trying to secure Sunday rl tion for service men. Youngstown, O. — A referendui vote on Sunday movies will be takejuj this year at Greenville (Pa.) ne^e here. Backers of the plan hold th^f Sunday shows would provide ente:jf( tainment for soldiers from near-tf Camp Shenango. :, NEW YORK THEATERS ih RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION with VIRGINIA WEIOLER, EDWARD ARNOLD and Five Important Guest Stars AN M-G-M PICTURE MARCH OF TIME— "INVASION" Gala Stage Revue • Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Clrel* 6-460 J -- BETTY GRABLE GEORGE MONTGOMERY* CESAR ROMERO le COW* UlAMD :£■ a 2oth century-fox PiCTUDE in TECHNICOLOR * PLUS A BIG STAGE SHOW * BUY Q ^ y W 7lhAVE. BONDS !\V A 1 50th ST. "DIXIE" • I" Person with ~k ANDREWS SISTES BING CROSBY * TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOL'R -jfc- MITCHELL AYRE A Paramount Picture -fa and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Squar< EH33 B'WAY 47th St. PI >>• GEO. SANDERS . MAUREEN O'HARA "THIS LAND IS MINE" and "CHATTERBOX" JOE E. BROWN • JUDY CANOVA Irhursday, July 1, 1943 TW DAILY [anuck's First Pic 'Woodrow Wilson rr ■ \7est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Joseph M. Schenck nnounced that Col. Darryl F. Za- uck will return to 20th-Fox July 6 ) assume charge of production. He jK Zanuck will devote most of his a to the production of pictures of fonal and international signifi- i ance, first of which will he "Wood- j jw Wilson." lj Zanuck said, "In returning to the fe idustry, I feel greatly honored to 3 2 charged with the respossibility f c producing a picture based on the !| fe of Woodrow Wilson and others W this scope and importance. "Pictures of this type are of the _tmost importance today and for Tie post-war world, for I am con- inced that they not only have a tal meaning, but at the same time mtain dramatic elements that go i make fine entertainment. "At this time I wish to thank all i roducers, directors, writers and ■-;her fellow-workers who carried on > magnificently in my absence and / their loyalty and efficiency helped ji> maintain the success and high estige of 20th-Fox product." )PA Driving Ban May Shutter Suburban Nabes r Newark, N. J. — Week-end b.o. biz Jn; the nabes along the outskirts of ijJie city, has hit a new low in past ,'ieeks, direct result of the pleasure- H'iving ban, clearly indicating that iyme of the smaller independents ■,ay be forced to close temporarily • at least until such time as the m is lifted. ' "It's simple arithmetic," one man- ner declared. "Theatergoers who ve in the outskirts and the suburbs, ce remaining at home through most the week. By the time Saturday id Sunday rolls around, they're 1 fed up and rarin' to go and will i ffer the inconvenience of a long ~"ip in a crowded bus to get down- Twn for a first-run. In their shoes, -H probably do the very same thing." Jlivia de Havilland M. A. Schlesinger Charles Laughton William Wyler Don Eddy Irving Kahal Charles D. Brown Madge Evans Jeanne Crozat K. H. Cochrane 0. P. Madsen Helen Weber H. W. Rosch A. Aronson A. M. Brilant Don Beddoe THE ;\M l"*" ^q>-^ ^^^ 5^ US I, T T T • • • YE EDITOR, discussing the changing movie audience, not so long ago pontificated — as editors will — upon the plight of the exhibi- tor's peactime standby, meaning the family of the mythical Mister X, salaried white collar worker It was duly noted that Mister X's living costs and taxes have soared skywards like a frightened mountain goat during the last few years while his pay envelope has failed to fatten And it was observed that thus Mister X might be said to have ac- tually taken a sizeable salary slash, with the obvious inference that in- sofar as Mister X is concerned — and his number is legion — the Washing- ton talk of excess purchasing power is so much piffle T ▼ T • • • ALL of which makes extremely interesting what Rep. Wil- liam B. Barry, D., N. Y., had to say in the House this week The distinguished solon from Queens County told President Roosevelt in a letter that the moves to kill food subsidies would keep millions of white collar workers away from the nation's film theaters, for— to quote the Representative— "if they go to movies, they won't be able to eat" And, added the St. Albans lawyer who has been in the House since 1935, theater box offices have already suffered T T ▼ • • • WHETHER film biz's interest in the price roll-back and sub- sidy moves is academic or otherwise, certainly the trade must be con- cerned with the Department of Labor figures quoted by Mr. Barry When food costs in 56 cities rise 46.2 per cent in 17 months and pay in- creases in the same period total only 15 per cent, and even such pay in- creases do not go to millions of white collar workers, there is a distinct threat to the box office Mark, too, that the Congressman makes no mention of the materially higher taxes nor of other increases in living costs And already the Treasury's tax sharps are plotting stiffer levies, with a view to enactment early in the new year Maybe it isn't the business of this industry to fight the battle of any particular group But whether it is or not, surely self-interest alone ■warrants the trade to give a thought or two to the plight of Mister X and his kin After all, they have been loyal customers, week in and week out, in the halcyon days of peace And in the post-war period, when the war workers have retreated to the Smokies, it is to Mister X, et al, that the industry must look again for not only profits but sustenance Make no mistake about that, pal T ▼ ▼ • # m CUFF Notes: Ann Corio will tour RKO theaters in the East again in October, with her salary boosted to §1,750 a week Meanwhile, she'll appear in another for Monogram, dubbed "The Sul- tan's Daughter". ... 0 Add how to spend a vacation in wartime: Manager John Hesse, of the Roger Sherman, New Haven, will spend the next fortnight moving into a new home in Spring Glen. . . . 9 New York debut of RKO's "Bombardier" at Loew's Criterion tomor- row night will attract Carl L. Norden, bombsight inventor, and mem- bers of the Norden organization's Old Timers Club. ... * Final shooting day of "The Night is Ending" at 20th-Fox saw the entire staff and crew feting Director Leonide Mo guy at luncheon. ... 9 If min- iature rooms interest you, don't miss Jerome H. Hoffheimer's collection now on view in the Radio City Music Hall's grand lounge. ... 0 Play- ers speaking "below the border" languages will be featured in future Harry Sherman Hopalong Cassidy pix • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR!. DATE BOOK Today: Theater industry's $130,000,000 "Shangri- La" war stamp drive starts. July 1-3: Warners regional sales meeting, New York. July 6: 20th-Fox special stockholders meeting, home office. July 6-10: Warners regional sales meeting, Chicago. July 12-14: RKO Radio sales meeting, Waldorf- Astoria. July 14-15: Kansas-Missouri Theaters Association convention, Kansas City. July 14-15: Conference Board of National Con- ference of the Entertainment Industry for War Activities meets at Actors Equity. July 14-17: Paramount semi-annual sales meet- ing, Hotel Pierre. July 15-17: Warner' regional sales meeting, San Francisco. July 29: Loew's stockholders special meeting, home office. Aug. 11-12: Allied board meeting, Baltimore. Sept. 9: ITOA installation luncheon, Hotel Astor. Legion Theatrical Post Headed by Sam Cornelia Detroit — Theatrical Post of the American Legion has elected as new officers for 1943-44: commander, Sam Cornelia, Panoram operator; senior vice-commander, Harry R. Berns, New Bijou Theater; junior vice-com- mander, Edmund Burke, Main Thea- ter, Royal Oak; adjutant, Harry Brewer, Harper Theater; finance of- ficer, H. Owen Bliugh, Calvin Thea- ter, Dearborn; sergeant-at-arms, Ed- ward O'Flynn, musician; executive committeeman, William Marley, Na- tional Theater Engineering Co,; chaplain, Fred R. Johnson, musician; historian, Lee Crowell, Fox Theater; district delegates, Harry Carson and Gil Light, Michigan Theater; district delegates, Harry Carson and Max Kolin, Oriole Theater. M.P. Relief Funds' Year's Receipts $754,861 West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Treasurer George Bagnall of the Motion Picture Relief Fund reports the organization has a surplus of $1,351,581 and that total receipts in 1942 amounted to $428,- 427.82 and expenses to $448,461.62. Funds received from the radio shows increased total receipts to $754,- 861.04. Jean Hersholt was re-elected presi- dent. WEDDING BELLS Lt. Robert Gilbert, former office manager for the Staak and Pierce Theaters, Inc., at Oskaloosa, la., was married to Margaret Lally of Des Moines. The marriage took place at Cheraw,, S. C. Gilbert is an as- sistant special service officer at Mor- ris Field, Charlotte, N. C. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Betty Grable and Harry James plan to be married at Las Vegas, Nev., over the week-end. Shangri-La" War Stamp Drive in July- Join up! DULY Thursday, July 1, 1943 SAG Suspends Craig As Member for 1 Year West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The Screen Actors Guild has suspended from member- ship, for a period of one year, Hal Craig, a Class B member. Craig was found guilty of con- duct unbecoming a member of the Guild, at a trial before the board of directors on June 28. Specific basfs of the charge was that Craig filed with Paul V. McNutt, chairman of War Manpower Commission, and caused to be published a statement that the Guild was "producer-con- trolled," having a producer as its president and other producers as its board of directors. In announcing- results of disciplinary ac- tion ag-ainst Craig', the Screen Actors Guild said: "Trial of Craig disclosed that his statement was made recklessly, without supporting facts. He was represented by counsel and goven an opportunity to present supporting evidence from witnesses. He introduced no evidence from witnesses. "Craig admitted at the hearing' that he had no evidence that the Guild was domin- ated or controlled by the motion picture producers. When his testimony was sifted, it was reduced to an unsupported allegation that the Guild might not properly represent its members because two out of the 33 members of the board had what Craig regarded as employer status. "These two board members were identi- fied as James Cagney, president of the Guild, and Charles Boyer, a director. The Guild introduced evidence that Cagney was financially interested in company which produces only pictures in which Cagney ren- ders services as an actor, and that Boyer is an employe of Universal as an actor and actor-producer, and that he has no financial interest in the company. "Record of Cagney and Boyer in devoting their time to Guild duties in interests of all actors speaks for itself. There is nothing in that record, much less in Craig's testi- mony, to support the belief that these two out of 33 Guild board members could — if they wanted — -make the Guild 'producer controlled.' "The Guild proceeded with disciplinary ac- tion against Craig', with full realization that the question of free speech would be raised. The Guild has always welcomed criticism with constructive motives, but Craig's reck- less charge could only be destructive. Free speech does not embrace the right to shout 'fire' in a crowded theater. "The Guild board has a responsibility to protect the record and reputation of the organization. In the interests of all mem- bers. Craig's statement was particularly injurious at this time when the Guild is attempting to establish a self-governing unit for extra players, and simultaneously is attempting to negotiate for improvements for extras in contracts with producers. The effort to establish an autonomous unit for extras has been delayed by obstructionist tactics on the part of extra groups strug- gling for power, and Craig's statement served to abet the activities of these groups and injure the interests of extra players gen- erally. "Through disciplinary action against Craig, the Guild affirms its intention of protecting the interests and reputation of the entire organization." REVIEWS Of SHORT SUBJECTS (M-G-M Cartoon) "Who Killed Who" M-G-M 8 Mins. Mildly Entertaining Every now and then the cartoon fashioners are tempted into mak- ing a travesty of the blood-and- thunder crime theme. Herewith is the latest. For the most part it is amusing, and should be satis- factorily received by the fans. Es- sentially its appeal springs from rapid action and tricky animation. But it has virtually no story. Such as the latter is, it delineates the ef- forts of an exaggerated detective to find out who killed the aged oc- cupant of a mansion. Ghosts and all manner of eerie "The Lonesome Mouse" M-G-M 8 mins. Fair A Technicolor cartoon with a lim- ited number of laughs. It is likely to appeal primarily to the kids. The characters are a mouse and a cat. The mouse rejoices when the cat is put out of the house. Loneliness puts a quick end to his rejoicing. Most of the footage has to do with his efforts to get the cat back into the house. Once the cat is back both start fighting all over again. IN NEW POSTS LESTER COLE, assistant, Paramount Theater, New Haven. WILLIAM DEWAN, manager, RKO-Schine Palace, Syracuse. TED EMERSON, manager, Paramount Theater, Omaha. EMMETT L0CKARD, manager, Omaha Theater, Omaha. HARRY WOOLFE, United Artists branch maj Vancouver. '< forms bob out of closets, cellar, et al, to furnish suspense and humor. ectoplasmic ' Mark it down as mildly entertaining. Open War Stamp Drive To Build "Shangri-La" (Continued from Page 1) is $80,000,000 more than the average month's sales of stamps — will be ear- marked for construction of an air- plane carrier to be named the Shan- gri-La. This particular promotion has excited the interest of exhibitors because of the reasonableness of the request; it is felt there will be few "turn-downs" since the moviegoer will be asked to buy only an extra dollar's worth. In addition to the special clips prepared by the Newsreel Division in Hollywood, and featuring Hedy Lamarr, Maria Montez and Lynn Bari with Captain Ted Lawson, one of the Tokio raiders, the War De- partment has advised that there will be another sequence filmed in North Africa. This sequence will "star" Gen. Jimmy Doolittle purchasing stamps from a Red Cross nurse. Reserves Decision On Racketeer Dismissal Plea Gronigen Buys Iowa Houses of March Bros. Rene Chouteau Gets Wings St. Louis — Rene Chauteau, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henri Chouteau, has been commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Air Corps, following gradua- tion from the flying school in Pen- sacola, Fla. His brother Capt. Henri Chouteau of the Royal Air Force Ferry Command was killed in an airplane accident three weeks ago. His father formerly owned the Lib- erty Theater. Alton, la. — John Gronigen has purchased theaters in Alton and Orange City, from the March brothers. Small at Goldwyn Studios West Coast Bureau Of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Edward Small Pro- ductions has completed negotiations for space at Samuel Goldwyn Stu- dios. Small is now at General Ser- vice Studios and will move into his new headquarters shortly. This makes the fourth United Artists producer to come to the Goldwyn lot this year. Others are Cagney Pro- ductions, Samuel Bronson Produc- tions and Spitz-Skirball. (Continued from Page 1) tions attacked the sufficiency of the indictment from a legal standpoint. Another is a special plea through which defense counsel hopes to prove -that the statute of limitations bars prosecution under the extortion in- dictment. The third is a demand for a bill of particulars. Defense counsel, James D. C. Mur- ray, in pleading for the motions, ac- cused George E. Browne and William Bioff, former IATSE executives, of "attempting to obtain surcease from their sorrows by effecting a general jail delivery of my clients." Mur- ray intimated that the recent ex- tension of the term of the New York Federal Court in the cases of Browne and Bioff, who are now serving sentences of eight and 10 years, respectively, prompted them to involve his clients in the Federal probe of alleged racketeering in the film industry. Murray asked for a delay in the trial of the case to Sept. 7 on the grounds of difficulty in rounding up witnesses. The court indicated that postponement might be granted and told Murray to confer with Special Assistant U. S. Attorney General Boris Kostelanetz on the proposed delay. No Freon Relief in Sight for Theaters Hitchcock Pix Withdrawn Film Classics, Inc. has withdrawn "The Lady Vanishes" and "The Girl Was Young" from release and will offer the Alfred Hitchcock pictures as a combined Hitchcock program. New prints- and accessories are in preparation. Forrest Kelly Stricken Massillon, O. — Forrest A. Kelly, 53, former manager of the Lincoln theater here for 20 years, died while seated in his automobile at Chagrin Falls. Mrs. Wilkinson Dead Wilmington, Del. — Mrs. Anna Wil- kinson, mother of Charles Wilkin- son, assistant manager of the Com- erford, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., died at her home here. Carl Duncan Dead Canton, O. — Carl Duncan, owner and operator of the Killbuck theater at nearby Killbuck died in Coshocton hospital, where he recently under- went an operation. His widow and a son survive. (Continued from Page 1) WPB amusments chief, wrote Ar- thur W. Mayer of the WAC Yester- day. Although at least one major theater in Pittsburgh may be forced to close its doors because of the ban on sale of the refrigerant, there is only a slim chance that relief will be offered. Smith explained that freon is pro- duced by only one plant in the country, and that nearly three times this plant's annual capacity of 1,200,000 pounds could be used. Half this capacity is allocated for ci- vilian use, but nearly all goes into food preservation, etc. Substitution of methyl chloride is possible, but it is not advised because methyl is a toxic poison. Its use is barred by law in many localities. In addition, its use would require changes in the ajr conditioning system for which priority could not be extended. He has been assured by the Gen- eral Industrial Equipment Division of WPB, Smith wrote, "that there has not been, nor will there be any discrimination in the uses of freon refrigerant for comfort cooling pur- poses. He has further assured us that if the restrictions are relaxed and the demands for freon for es- sential war uses decreases, the motion picture industry will be given equal consideration with other civilian enterprises using air con- ditioning for comfort cooling. "In clarifying this statement, this means that where air conditioning for comfort cooling is incidental to the benefits of a business enter- prise, such as a department store, office building (public or private) or any other type of civilian busi- ness that motion picture theaters will receive equal consideration. "We are unable, at this time to estimate when the restrictions will be relaxed, but we can assure you that the industry will be informed of any changes as quickly as the B information is relayed to us by Mr. | Millham of the General Industrial Equipment Division." : %■■■■ noti I Lii let !;. k h : res I Add 10 Per cent License Penalty Harrisburg, Pa.— Theaters, places of amusement, brokers and auction- eers, have been notified by the treas- urer's office that beginning July 1, a 10 per cent additional penalty will be added to all unpaid mercantile licenses. al" k ft; I ITT; ; ota! Thursday, July I, 1943 ' ow DEANNA JOSEPH DURBIN - COTTEN HERS TO HOLD HOWARD HAWK'S CORVETTE K-225 JOIN THE "SHANGRI-LA" WAR STAMP DRIVE DURING JULY^ fjffft"* * DAILY Friday, July 2, 1942 "Buying Clinics" For Allied in East (Continued from Page 1) whether they have made good deals or not and make suggestions. Eastern Regional leaders will meet every 60 days on clinic matters and, in addition, there will be local parleys. As a means of combatting van- dalism, a suggestion was made at the Regional Conference to appeal to the Boy Scouts of America for help. Because the average Boy Scout is well trained in behavior and proper conduct, it is believed that the use of the Scouts in curbing hoodlum- ism will be effective. The Scouts will be informed that they will not be "squealing" on an acquaintance if they catch one in an act of vandalism, inasmuch as the destruction of ma- terials today in reality is equal to sabotage and they will be helping to combat sabotage if they will co- operate. Irving Dollinger, Eastern Region- al vice-president, said that he al- ready has used Boy Scouts in the work and has found it effective. Col. H. A. Cole also has found the plan successful in Texas, it was said. Both the plans for "buying clinics" and the use of Boy Scouts will be proposed to all Allied units and may be adopted on a national basis when the National Board meets in Bal- timore next month. IATSE Warns of Fire Risk Thru Inexperienced Help Prompted by the alarming in- crease in theater fires, the IATSE has issued a stern warning against the use of inexperienced help in the- ater jobs involving an element of risk, such as projectionists and cus- todians of stage properties. The alliance declared in the latest issue of its official bulletin that as result of the shift of trained man- power occasioned by the war "we should take every conceivable pre- caution to protect public life and property," adding that "at the same time by maintaining the operations of theater plants for the duration we will not jeopardize our present or future livelihood." Cole Gets Extra Gas For Caravan Meets Dallas — Extra gas has been al- lowed by the Dallas Gas Rationing Board to Col. H. A. Cole for his trip over the state to fill Allied Caravan dates, because of the WAC work also accomplished at these meetings. Additional dates on the Caravan itinerary are, San Antonio, July 6 and Houston, July 8, with a final meeting at Dallas after Cole's return. TO THE COLORS! * DECORATED * GEORGE KOHLER, USA, formerly, Bausch & Lom Optical Co., Rochester, N. Y., awarded the Purple Heart. * COMMISSIONED * IRVING TOMBACK, USA, formerly, World Play- house, Chicago, commissioned a lieutenant. * TO OFFICERS~SCHOOLS * BERNARD TEITEL, son of Abe Teitel, Chicago theater owner. * ARMY * ROY DEWANNER STALLINCS, manager, Im- perial, Charlotte. GEORGE ROSE, M-G-M, Chicago. MAX FACTOR, Universal, Chicago. HAROLD VAN RIEL, 20th-Fox home office art department. STANLEY BALCKBURN, manager, Paramount, Omaha. * NAVY * JOSEPH BYRNES, Granada, Olyphant, Pa. JOSEPH DEVINE,, Comerford, Scranton, Pa. — • — * MERCHANT MARINE * CHRIS CHIN, assistant cashier, 20th-Fox, Chi- cago. — • — * ACTIVATED * LT. COM. NORTON RITCHEY, USN, vice- president in charge of foreign distribution, Monogram Pictures. 40 Pix tor Recaptured Lands OWI to Direct Distribution, Exhibition (Continued from Page 1) necessary, the number will be in- creased, it is understood. For the present, however, the total stands at 40. Titles of pix and languages to be employed in the versions are restricted until the United Nations strike. Sitting in for the Government at yesterday's huddle were Robert Ris- kin, who heads the film bureau of OWI's overseas division; Charles Goldsmith, formerly with Metro, and Harry Kosiner, formerly with UA. A backlog of features with titles superimposed in appropriate langu- ages has been built up during the past several months. In addition, several companies, including War- ners, M-G-M and Universal have been lining up departments to dub the actual languages into their sound tracks. OWI is leaving choice as to dubbing or use of titles up to the individual companies. Warners is said to have French dubbed versions of its best pictures for use in North Africa and against the time when French speaking coun- tries will be liberated. Company is also said to have Italian versions under consideration at its Coast stu- dio. M-G-M has placed Robert Eis- ner in charge of its French depart- ment while Harold Sugarman has charge of synchronization at the Uni- versal plant. Twentieth-Fox is re- ported planning French versions in England. Foreign managers at yesterday's meeting also discussed the Austra- lian situation and mapped moves to be made in an effort to secure funds still blocked there. Appeals Court Upholds Conviction of Hirsch The U. S. Circuit Court of Ap- peals yesterday upheld the con- viction of Martin A. Hirsch, former Treasury Department auditor who was sentenced to two years' im- prisonment and fined $2,000 on a charge of perjuring himself before the special Federal grand jury prob- ing alleged racketeering in the film industry. Hirsch was named as having posted $25,000 bail for Nick Circella, alias Nick Dean, Chicago labor racketeer now serving eight years for aiding George E. Browne and William Bioff in the shakedown of film companies. Isidore Zevin, former bookkeeper for Browne who was indicted for perjury in the racketeering probe, yesterday had his trial postponed to July 26 by Federal Judge Murray Hulbert. Van Nomikos Closing City Chicago— The Van Nomikos City theater will close for the Summer. Recommended That NEIC Act as an Advisory Body (Continued from Page 1) merit field have now accepted the invitation to join in the work of the Council to go all out to aid the nation's war effort through a pool of amusement talent. The eight or- ganizations which had announced their ad- herence since last week's 25 are: SAG, Hol- lywood Victory Committee, SWG, Artists and^ Managers Guild, Chorus Equity, Authors League, National Theatrical Conference and the Theatrical Wardrobe Attendants Union. Plan for the conference to he held at the Waldorf-Astoria on July 14 and 15 was drawn up as follows: First day: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 noon, a general business meeting. At 12 :30 lun- cheon with speakers representing the Gov- ernment and the Army outlining their re- spective needs from the entire industry. At the 2:30 p.m. session there will be three major speakers, one of whom at least will represent the Government, and the national organization will be set up. Second day the sessions will be thrown open for a discussion of what the Council members will do to meet the needs of the Army, the Government, the production front and the civilian front. Veronica Lake Hospitalized Hollywood — Veronica Lake, in- pured in a studio fall, will be hos- pitalized for several days. She is an expectant mother. HCLLyWCCD DIGEJT SIGNED AUDREY YOUNG, termer, M-C-M. ASSIGNMENTS LEWIS ALLEN, director, "Our Hearty Were • Young and Cay," Paramount. CASTINGS .lo: AL JOLSON, "Rhapsody in Blue," \js».ners; LYLE TALBOT. "Up in Arms," Samuel Coldwyn; TOMMY BATTEN, "The Kid in Upper 4," M-C-M; JUNE HAVOC and SHELDON LEONARD "Timber Queen," Paramount; EDGAR BUCHAN- AN, "Buffalo Bill," 20rh-Fox; DAME MAY WHITTY, "Gaslight," M-G-M; DOUGLAS FOWLEY, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Paramount GEORGE GIVOT, "Government Girl," RKO LUIS ALBERNIj RALPH HODGES, "Nearly Eighteen," Monogram; MARGARET O'BRIEN. "My Name is Ruth," M-C-M. MICHAEL ARLEN, treatment, "If Winter Comes," M-C-M. CASTINGS FREDDIE STEELE, "Hail the Conquering Hero," Paramount; ALAN NAPIER, "Ministry of Fear," Paramount: TOM NEAL, "There's Something About a Soldier," Columbia. STORY PURCHASES "Pile Buck," from JOHN and WARD HAWKINS "Saboteur," purchased from Terneen Corp by Columbia. SCHEDULED "My Name is Ruth," producer, EDGAR SEL- WYN, story, ELINOR GRIFFIN and JOHN TWIST Si I BIR Will Approve Certain Pay increases (Continued from Page 1) ployers can show that the increases are necessary to maintain efficiency throughout the longer work week. The BIR jurisdiction extends only to salaried employes receiving over $5,000 per year and to executive ad- f ministrative and professional em- f( ployes earning less than that but not represented by a union. An executive employe, however, must ieceive over $30 per week and an administrative or professional em- ploye over $200 per month. The maximum increases which will be permitted by BIR's salary stab- ilization units will be those amounts necessary to retain minimum differ- entials between wage earners and the salaries of their supervisors. No set rule is established and approval is required at all times except on Oct. 3, 1942, and there has been no change in it since. Complete regulations for workers! in the higher pay brackets are still awaited. Rivoli Air Show Plugs "Tolls" Montague Salmon, managing di rector of the Rivoli Theater, has turned over the 22nd broadcast of "Poetry and Music," Sunday, 12 to 1)2:15, to Paramount which will present a "For Whom the Bell Tolls': program. Screen and radio artists will participate, in addition to Hen- ry Sylvern, at the console; Herbert Sheldon, reader and announcer, and Jess Randolph, the Voice of the Organ. Building Remodeling j^m^mmf^mi Equipment Maintenance DAILY * * * * NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1943 • * * * SERVICE PACTS INSURE WARTIME OPERATION Two Patent Measures to Be Hoppered in Fall Bone Bill Would Not Call for Compulsory Licensing by Inventors Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Two measures af- fecting compulsory licensing of pat- ents will be presented to Congress following the Summer recess, Sena- tors Scott W. Lucas (Dem., 111.) and I Homer T. Bone (Dem., Wash.), Pat- ents Committee chairmen announce. tSen. Lucas will revive his measure ''calling for compulsory patents li- censing introduced last year but which died before the 77th Congress had a chance to act upon it, while Sen. Bone will introduce a bill de- scribed as a modification of the Lucas proposal. While the Bone bill will not call for compulsory licensing, he holds that the measure ties in the anti- (Continued on Page 8) Equipment Field Notes 78% of Possibilities Covered by Projection And Sound Agreements 20-Year Life Span For Patents Urged Washington Bureau of THE FILM iDAILY 1 . Washington — Compulsory licens- ng of patents, urged by the TNEC, .vas not recommended by the Pat- ents Planning Commission in its re- >ort submitted to President Roose- velt. Commission, in effect, thus re- ected the need for such a measure, lemand for which has been based »n the contention that patents cov- ering valuable inventions have {Continued on Page 8) Eastman's Dr. Jones Awarded Ives Medal Rochester — Dr. Loyd A. Jones, chief physicist of the Eastman Kodak Research Laboratories, has been awarded the Frederick Ives Medal for 1943 for distinguished work in optics, it has been announced by the Optical Society of America, which makes the award biennially. In addition to his work in optics, Dr. Jones is leading authority on tone reproduction in the photographic process. PRODUCTION of fiber floor-mats has ' been cut off via issuance of a WPB order putting coir, — the fiber obtained from the shell of the cocoanut, — under restrictive controls. In the past, coir has been used primarily in manufacture of door mats, widely used by theaters, and there is no available substitute. The material is being allocated to manufacture of deck mats for Navy and merchant ships. * * * Dr. C. E. Kenneth Mees, research director for Eastman Kodak, has been named one of eight specialists to act in an advisory capacity to the office of Quartermaster General on problems of feeding, clothing and equipping the Army. * * * The Joy Theater in Dardanelle, Ark., owned by Malco Theaters, Inc., has been gutted by fire with a loss estimated at $25,000, partially covered by insurance. Manager J. C. Nelson said projection equip- ment and fixtures were a total loss. Im- mediate rebuilding of the house is planned. * * * Hattie Lutt, former aide at Roches- ter's Lyceum Theater, is serving as an information clerk in the office of the Rochester War Council. * * * The Prince, Princeville, III., in the Peoria district, has been reopened by its new owner, Harold Bouton. House was damaged by fire several weeks ago and was later sold by Ernest Peltier to Bouton. It has been entirely repaired and redecorated. * * * Arthur T. Hinnant and Clyde P. Pierce have bought the Clarence The- ater in Clarence, Mo., from John Hick erson. They will modernize the house. * * * Manager Ed Sperling, of the Confection Cabinet Co., vending machine channel to theaters, bid $75,000 at the Chicago Candy Co. auction to stimulate sales of War Bonds. He was leading bidder during the big event at the Hotel Sherman there. * * * Plans are under way to reopen the DeSoto Theater, Lake City, Fla. New sound equipment is being installed and other improvements made. * ♦ ♦ Indianapolis Victor Division of RCA has opened a downtown employment office there at 137 East Market St., for the sole pur- pose of hiring workers for the plant. RCA officials believe that the step will be a direct aid in acquiring the number of people needed for the local plant at the present time. * * * A new projection screen unit, de- signed primarily for our Armed Forces, and now available for educational and other visual training use, is announced by Radiant Manufacturing Corp., Chi- cago. The new item, called the Radiant Day-Time Projection Box, permits showing of pictures in broad daylight by means of a shadow box construc- tion. It has large audience capacity and assures high intensity dtte to a glass beaded, brilliant "Hy-Flect" screen sur- face, it is said. Bell & Howell have developed a new grinding compound which improves, techni- cians assert, the quality of finished lenses. Other plants throughout the country are adopting the new compound. Research to Bolster Markets Commercial Methods "Streamlined" in RCA New Florida Theater To Open In a Month Crestview, Fla. — The new Elgin theater is nearing completion and will be opened within a month. Neil Robinson and Tom Barrow are own- ers. Post-war expansion of new mar- kets with substantial reductions in consumer prices are seen as a result of applying scientific research meth- ods to commercial distribution, RCA announces through David Sarnoff, president. On the basis of two years' experimental study, the company be- lieves that scientific methods of cut- (Continued on Page 8) Unprecedently large volume of service pacts in force between thea- ter interests and service organiza- tions, such as Altec and RCA, assure for the war's duration the efficient operation of film houses, a checkup discloses. Survey of the situation was prompted this week by dis- patches from England which cited the fact that theaters there, after three years of war, are undergoing a critical stage of "physical decline" from the standpoint of equipment, particularly projection and sound units. Currently, there are more than 9,000 U. S. film houses, it is esti- mated, having either service pacts or receiving service, in the case of (Continued on Page 8) Post-War Theater For Detroit Suburb Detroit — First post-war theater project for this territory has been launched on the architect's boards by Max Allen, owner of the Lincoln Park Theater in the suburb of Lin- coln Park, and his brothers. Project is a 2,000-seat house to adjoin the present theater which will become a subsequent-run. New one will be called the Willow, taking its name from the Ford Wil- (Continued on Page 8) NTS Surveying Post War Equipment Needs An equipment survey, via a bro- chure to be mailed to every exhibitor in the country within the next few days, will be undertaken by National Theatre Supply, it was revealed by Walter E. Green, president, in his talk at the Allied of New Jersey meeting earlier this week. Survey is part of the NTS program to insure ample quantities of equipment for replacement, modernization and new theaters when peace comes. ^ f^HELP JIMMY BOOLITTLE KEEP THAT TOKYO RETURN DATE — BUY WAR STAMPS IN JVLY^ EQUIPMENT NEWS &*\ DAILY ■ Friday, July 2, 1942 A Section of THE FILM DAILY compre- hensively covering the equipment field, pub- lished every second week by Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York City. John W. Alicoate, Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, General Manager; Chester B. Bahn, Editor; George H. Morris, Equipment Editor; West Coast Bureau, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal., Ralph Wilk, Bureau Chief. Service Agreements Insure Operation (Continued from Page 7) some circuits, from special depart- ments especially set up for that pur- pose. The accepted potential of the- aters which are logical customers for service is said to be between 11,000 and 12,000. Therefore, as matters now stand, approximately 78 per cent of the potential is guaranteed projection and sound equipment pro- tection. Were it not for the fact that so many U. S. houses are "guarded" by service contracts, together with the favorable circumstance that a fairly satisfactory back-log of parts has been provided through the foresight and energies of projector and sound manufacturers, as well as through the contractual action of service companies themselves, domestic houses might well be in the uncom- fortable position in another eight months of war that British stands now find themselves. Latter's prob- lem is of course accentuated by the manufacturing emergency faced at the time of the conflict's outbreak when the making of reserve parts had to be sacrificed to the greater job of providing more urgently-needed sinews of war. Also an important factor in Britain's sound and pro- jection dilemma is her inability to import parts from this or any other country. One of the most reassuring factors in the matter of continued effective operation of U. S. stands is the full understanding of this essentiality by the War Production Board, head of whose Amusement Division is A. G. Smith, filmland alumnus, experienced both in the exhibition field itself as well as the technical realm pertain- ing thereto. For Excellence in the Production of Motion Picture Sound Equipment IT'S A FACT! War-born DEVRY preci- sion Theatre Projectors and Sound Systems pre- sent developments far beyond previously ac- cepted standards .DEVRY Corporation, 1112 Armi- tage Avenue, Chicago, 111. DeVW Hollywood • CHICAGO • New York 20-Year Lite Span For Patents Urged (Continued from Page 7) sometimes been bought up or sup- pressed. Commission's recommendations in- cluded a suggestion that Congress pass legislation setting up a reason- able, understandable standard of patentability and a proposal to limit the patent terms from 20 years from the time of application instead of 17 years from the time of granting of a patent. As the law now stands, inventors are sometimes able to re- frain from pushing a patent appli- cation so that a long pending per- iod preceeds the 17 year life of a granted patent. This was complained against by Thurman W. Arnold when he was head of the anti-trust division. Commission also called for com- pulsory recording with the U. S. Patent Office of (a) all existing agreements to which one of the part- ies is a citizen of a foreign country; (b) all existing agreements, regard- less of citizenship, which include any restrictions as to price, quan- tity of production, geographical areas or fields of use, and (c) all fu- ture agreements regardless of re- strictions and citizenship of the part- ies. A proposal to empoyer the Pat- ent Office to withdraw a patent in- advertently granted was included. It recommended that any person be given the right to challenge a patent within six months after its grant. First Post-War Theater For Det. Suburb Launched (Continued from Page 7) low Run plant which is a few miles westward. It is the first theater to be planned in the region of this plant since it was started a year and a half ago. No prospects of war- time construction are planned, al- though house would cater to the recreation needs of thousands of new war workers. Charles N. Agree is the architect. Midwest Theat. Supply Reports New Carpet Jobs Cincinnati — Jake Gelman of Mid- west Theater Supply announces that new carpet has been installed in the Eminence, Eminence, Ky.; the Clark, Grayson, Ky.; and the Clinton in Blanchester, and also in the Brad, Bradford, O. Midwest also fully equipped the Heights, recently re- opened by Robert Epps at Lock- land O. WHITEWAY ELECTRIC SIGN & MAINTENANCE CO. Thomas F. Flannery, President 315-17 W. Walton St. Chicago, III. Delaware 9111 UJWR Presenting 25 Trucks to Russians United Jewish War Relief is pre- senting 25 mobile trucks to the Soviet Mission for use on the battle- front. Equipment includes DeVry sound projectors, Hallicraftex radio, Shure microphones and RCA turn- tables, it is announced by Norman D. Olson, manager of the DeVry Corp. export department. Research to Bolster Post-War Markets (Continued from Page 7) ting distribution costs will be a ma- jor factor in maintaining current high levels of employment, and that the new type of commercial research must be given importance equal to already established technical re- search methods. Study resulted from an examina- tion of radio industry costs which revealed that production costs were approaching a minimum but that dis- tribution costs were excessively high, and was undertaken by Commercial Research, a new department of RCA Victor Division, in Chicago. De- partment has completed nearly 40 research projects in distribution, has developed new methods and prac- tices in both wholesale and retail distribution, installed a new system in Chicago for the wholesale distri- bution of phonograph records and has prepared plans for passing on the results of its research to RCA Victor's independent wholesale and retail dealers. According to Sarnoff, the new methods of "streamlining" distribu- tion are believed to be significant be- cause they are largely fundamental and, therefore, adaptable to other lines of merchandise. LARGEST SELECTION OF Popcorn Machines We Buy — Sell — and Service All Makes — All Models Write us KRISPY KORN EQUIPMENT 120 S. Halsted St. CHICAGO, ILL. WE CAN STILL SUPPLY all standard 35mm. pre- cision projector replace- ment parts. We do not sell to theatres, direct. FREE — Our latest complete projector parts catalog. GIVE your dealer's name, when writing to get your copy of our catalog. WENZEL PROJECTOR CO. 2505-19 South State St. Chicago, III. Senate Will Get Two Patents Proposals (Continued from Page 7) trust law, as does the Lucas bill. He proposes to insure licensing of vital patents via a "court approach" and claims that the bill is not inconsistent with the position taken in the recent Patents Planning Commission report which failed to recommend cor^nu]- sory licensing. Popcorn Equipment Demand Said Heavy Chicago — The Krispy Korn Equip- ment Co. at 120 S. Halstead St., reports a large demand from both the theater trade and the armed ser- vices for popcorn equipment. The factory is operating both day and night. The company is also buying used equipment. Reopens Modernized Varsity Urbana, 111. — Theodore K. An- thony has reopened the modernized Varsity Theater. SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write for samples, prices or other information. Delivery free Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL TICKET (M\ COMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE. \9g/ NEWARK, N. J. Sales Of/ices m Principal Centers t's the pickest road to post- war equipment NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY'S I N 1 S *7 *7 M {i I 1 -J 1 S I z I (I ( I .' f I . I . , V* Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought 60 Nof £°py *CM cye The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old 2fc 84, NO. 3 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1943 TEN CENTS STAGE JITS, NOVELSJEATURE WBJJNEUP Exhibs. Watch New Tax Effects on Attendance Pay Envelope Deductions Find Theater Men Appre- hensive of Dip in 'Takes' Wide speculation over possible ef- fects of the 20 per cent payroll de- ductions, effective this week, exists among both circuit and independent theater men. Operators are appre- hensive that the salary slice will cause a dip in theater attendance, particularly in houses largely pat- ronized by lower scale workers and white collar employes, many of whom have not benefited from the extra (Continued on Page 7) Employes of OWI Pic Bureau Given Notice Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — "Practically every- one" in the OWI motion picture bu- reau has been notified that he is terminated as of July 15, Lowell Mellett, bureau chief, admitted Fri- ■ day. Who the exceptions are, he (Continued on Page 6) "Canteen" Biz 35-50% Ahead in First 1 1 Key Runs "Stage Door Canteen" in its first 11 key city engagements is running from 35 to 50 per cent ahead of the company's top-grossing pictures, re- (Continucd on Page 6) C 'uban Critics Group Raps Censor Ruling Havana (By Air Mail, Passed by Censor) — Association of Motion Pic- ture and Theater Writers is pro- testing a ruling of the Cuban Film Censorship Board which ordered the destruction of "La que se Murio de Armor" and prohibits its export or exhibition. Board claims that the Cuban patriot Jose Marti is por- trayed in an unfavorable light in the picture while the Association holds that the Board is exceeding its powers. WARNERS OBTAIN $15,000,000 LOAN Brings to $23,000,000 Fund to Retire Domestic Bank Loans, Debentures and Preferred Stock Warner Bros, on Friday boosted to $23,000,000 the total of new financ- ing made available to the company when it obtained $15,000,000 in loans from a group of banks in this and other cities to retire all pres- ently outstanding domestic bank loans, six per cent debentures and preferred stock. The loans will ma- ture through June 1, 1949, with in- terest at the rate of 2% per cent per annum. That the $23,000,000 fi- nancing deal was set was reported ex- clusively in The Film Daily June 30. The domestic bank loans to be paid (Continued on Page 6) Leffon PRC Central District Manager Appointment of Nat Lefton as PRC's district manager for Cleve- land, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and De- troit was announced Friday by Ar- thur Greenblatt, general sales man- ager, at the closing session of the company's regional sales conference at the Park Central Hotel. Lefton, who took over the Cleve- (Continued on Page 7) Picketing of "Moscow" Brings Boston Arrests Boston — Two pickets, one a young married woman, the other a min- ister, were arrested in front of the Paramount theater as they and {Continued on Page 3) RKO, Disney Add Year To Releasing Pact Walt Disney short subjects and features will continue to be distrib- uted by RKO for another season un- der the terms of an agreement signed Friday between Ned E. Depinet, pres- ident of RKO Radio, and Roy Dis- ney representing Walt Disney Pro- ductions, it was announced by N. Peter Rathvon, RKO president. New pact covers distribution of (Continued on Page 8) Okay Seen for 20th-Fox National Theaters Deal The proposal to purchase from the Chase National Bank the controlling interest in National Theaters for $13,000,000 is expected to be ap- (Continued on Page 2) Metro Starts Sales Analysis Each Account to be Studied, Rodgers Says Omaha Curfew Ordinance Aimed at Juve Vandalism Omaha — A curfew ordinance for- bidding children under 16 on the streets from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless with an adult and making parents liable has been introduced in City Council. Police Commissioner Richard Jep- (Continued on Page 6) In an effort to analyze every ac- count so that an intelligent sales ap- proach can be made, M-G-M sales executives next week will fan out over the country and visit all of its exchanges. First of the sessions will be held in Cincinnati on Friday. Procedure, according to W. F. Rodgers, general sales manager, is an annual event. Every account, he said, will be given a careful and (Continued on Page 6) Six Musicals and As Many Biographies Included on Program for New Season With Labor Day, opening of the 1943-44 season nine weeks away, Warners has a backlog of 14 features completed; five more are in pro- duction, and a dozen are ready to start shooting as soon as studio space is available, Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, an- nounces. Lineup will include 12 Broadway stage hits, an even larg- er number of pub- lished novels, and will comprise six musicals and six biographies. Market conditions will decide the (Continued on Page 8) BEN KALMENSON War Short a Week If Pic Bureau Ends Groundwork for a plan whereby the projected 52 war shorts may be distributed in the absence of the OWI film bureau was laid at a meet- ing of the distributors' committee (Continued on Page 6) 1XEIC Service Flag For All Show World The National Entertainment In- dustry Council is mapping plans to raise in Times Square a service flag to represent the entire amusement world. The raising ceremonies will take place on July 14, probably around midnight, at a site at 43rd St. and Broadway. Workers in every branch of show business will partici- pate in the exercises. They have been asked to appear in working get-up. Harry Brandt is handling arrangements for the filming of the event. DAILY Tuesday, July 6, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 3 Tues., July 6, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terras (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address- Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo* de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. 20th-Fox Publicity-Ad Staff Fetes Joe Shea Members of the 20th-Fox public- ity, advertising and exploitation de- partment on Friday said good-bye to Joe Shea at a luncheon at Barbetta's Restaurant. Shea has left the com- pany, where he was trade press con- tact, to become New York publicity representative and story editor of William Cagney Productions, posts which he takes over officially today. Among those present were Rod- ney Bush, Sidney Blumenstock, Sam Shain, Dave Bader, Molly Grill, Kay O'Brien, Ruth Simon, Dorothy May, Jeanette Sawyer, Christy Wilbert, Lou Frich and Ira Tulipan, plus Earl Wingart and Sgt. Irving Kahn, former members of the department. Joe Shea Opens Office Joe Shea, New York publicity man- ager and Eastern story editor for William Cagney Productions, has opened his office at 729 7th Avenue, Room 311. 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 ® The Broadway Parade S Picture and Distributor Theater Mission to Moscow (Warner Bros. Pictures) — 10th week Hollywood Spitfire (RKO Radio-Goldwyn-Howard) — 4th week Rivoli Coney Island (Twentieth Century-Fox) — 3rd week Roxy Stage Door Canteen (United Artists-Sol Lesser) — 2nd week Capitol The Youngest Profession (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 2nd week Music Hall Dixie (Paramount Pictures) — 2nd week Paramount Best Foot Forward (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 2nd week Astor Crime Doctor (Columbia Pictures) Globe Bombardier ( RKO Radio Pictures) Criterion Two Tickets to London (Universal Pictures) Rialto This Land is Mine (RKO Radio Pictures) (a-b) Palace Chatterbox (Republic Pictures) (a) Palace Leather Burners (United Artists) — Opens tomorrow (a) New York Cowboy Commandos (Republic Pictures) — Opens tomorrow (a) New York ♦ FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURES ♦ The Russian Story (Artkino Pictures) — 5th week Stanley A Fire in the Straw (Herbert Rosener) (a) World The Pledge to Bataan (Adventure Pictures) (a-d) World Marvels of the Bullring (Crovos-Mohme) Belmont ♦ FUTURE OPENINGS ♦ For Whom the Bell Tolls (Paramount Pictures) — July 14 Rivoli Stormy Weather (Twentieth Century-Fox Films) — July 21 Roxy Let's Face It (Paramount Pictures) — Aug. 2 Paramount This is the Army (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 28 Hollywood DuBarry Was a Lady (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) (c) Capitol Mister Lucky (RKO Radio Pictures) (c) Music Hall Thin Ice (Universal Pictures) (c) Criterion Victory Through Air Power (Walt Disney) — July 17 Globe The Constant Nymph (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 23 Strand Action in the North Atlantic (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 8 (a-b) Palace Prairie Chickens (United Artists) — July 8 (a) Palace Hotel Concordia (Crovos-Mohme) (c) Belmont (a) Dual bill, (b) Subsequent run. (c) Follows current bill, (d) News film with English commentary. Downey's Illness Delays Mich. Arbitration Hearings Detroit — -Setting of a date for hearing in both of the two arbitra- tion cases filed here since 1942, one by the Family Theater in Grand Rapids, and the other by the Huron Theater in Pontiac, has been delayed by the serious illness of Frank J. Downey, M-G-M branch manager, who is a principal figure in both cases. Downey is not expected back until some time in August. Vacation schedules, particularly of counsel for the majors involved, are also causing difficulties in setting a suitable date for the hearings. 951-Star Service Flag Raised at Metro Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Working model of the new U. and will comprise six musicals and six biographies. Market conditions will decide the (Continued on Page 8) War Short a Week If Pic Bureau Ends Groundwork for a plan whereby the projected 52 war shorts may be distributed in the absence of the OWI film bureau was laid at a meet- ing of the distributors' committee (Continued on Page 6) HEIC Service Flag For All Show World The National Entertainment In- dustry Council is mapping plans to raise in Times Square a service flag to represent the entire amusement world. The raising ceremonies will take place on July 14, probably around midnight, at a site at 43rd St. and Broadway. Workers in every branch of show business will partici- pate in the exercises. They have been asked to appear in working get-up. Harry Brandt is handling arrangements for the filming of the event. DAILY Tuesday, July 6, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 3 Tues., July 6, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address- Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 VVardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. 20th-Fox Publicity-Ad Staff Fetes Joe Shea Members of the 20th-Fox public- ity, advertising and exploitation de- partment on FridAy said good-bye to Joe Shea at a luncheon at Barbetta's Restaurant. Shea has left the com- pany, where he was trade press con- tact, to become New York publicity representative and story editor of William Cagney Productions, posts which he takes over officially today. Among those present were Rod- ney Bush, Sidney Blumenstock, Sam Shain, Dave Bader, Molly Grill, Kay O'Brien, Ruth Simon, Dorothy May, Jeanette Sawyer, Christy Wilbert, Lou Frich and Ira Tulipan, plus Earl Wingart and Sgt. Irving Kahn, former members of the department. Joe Shea Opens Office Joe Shea, New York publicity man- ager and Eastern story editor for William Cagney Productions, has opened his office at 729 7th Avenue, Room 311. 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 H The Broadway Parade H Picture and Distributor Theater Mission to Moscow (Warner Bros. Pictures) — 10th week Hollywood Spitfire (RKO Radio-Coldwyn-Howard) — 4th week Rivoli Coney Island (Twentieth Century-Fox) — 3rd week Roxy Stage Door Canteen (United Artists-Sol Lesser) — 2nd week Capitol The Youngest Profession (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 2nd week Music Hall Dixie (Paramount Pictures) — 2nd week Paramount Best Foot Forward (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 2nd week Astor Crime Doctor (Columbia Pictures) Globe Bombardier (RKO Radio Pictures) Criterion Two Tickets to London (Universal Pictures) Rialto This Land is Mine (RKO Radio Pictures) (a-b) Palace Chatterbox (Republic Pictures) (a) Palace Leather Burners (United Artists) — Opens tomorrow (a) New York Cowboy Commandos (Republic Pictures) — Opens tomorrow (a) New York ♦ FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURES ♦ The Russian Story (Artkino Pictures) — 5th week Stanley A Fire in the Straw (Herbert Rosener) (a) World The Pledge to Bataan (Adventure Pictures) (a-d) World Marvels of the Bullring (Grovos-Mohme) Belmont ♦ FUTURE OPENINGS ♦ For Whom the Bell Tolls (Paramount Pictures) — July 14 Rivoli Stormy Weather (Twentieth Century-Fox Films) — July 21 Roxy Let's Face It (Paramount Pictures) — Aug. 2 Paramount This is the Army (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 28 Hollywood DuBarry Was a Lady (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) (c) Capitol Mister Lucky (RKO Radio Pictures) (c) Music Hall Thin Ice (Universal Pictures) (c) Criterion Victory Through Air Power (Walt Disney) — July 17 Globe The Constant Nymph (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 23 Strand Action in the North Atlantic (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 8 (a-b) Palace Prairie Chickens (United Artists)— July 8 (a) Palace Hotel Concordia (Grovos-Mohme) (c) Belmont (a) Dual bill, (b) Subsequent run. (c) Follows current bill, (d) News film with English commentary. Downey's Illness Delays Mich. Arbitration Hearings Detroit — Setting of a date for hearing in both of the two arbitra- tion cases filed here since 1942, one by the Family Theater in Grand Rapids, and the other by the Huron Theater in Pontiac, has been delayed by the serious illness of Frank J. Downey, M-G-M branch manager, who is a principal figure in both cases. Downey is not expected back until some time in August. Vacation schedules, particularly of counsel for the majors involved, are also causing difficulties in setting a suitable date for the hearings. 951-Star Service Flag Raised at Metro Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Working model of the new U. iS. cruiser Los Angeles, now being built to augment the American battle fleet, was presented to Admiral I. C. Johnson by Louis B. Mayer at Metro's studios Friday in connection with the raising of a service flag honoring 951 studio employes now in uniform. Model will be taken on a War Bond-selling and WAVES re- cruiting tour through the West. Navy wants 1,000 WAVES to re- place 1,000 men needed for the Los Angeles' complement. Mich. VFW Slaps "Moscow" Detroit — Formal condemnation of "Mission to Moscow" was voted in a resolution by the State conven- tion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, following an attack by Michigan Department Commander Joseph W. Mann, charging that the film ridi- culed American democracy and Con- gress. Okay Seen for 20th-Fox National Theaters Deal (Continued from Page 1) proved today at the special meet- ing of the 20th-Fox stockholders to be held at the company's home office. Approval of the deal will open the way to making the circuit the wholly- owned subsidiary of the film company. At present Chase owns 58 per cent of the shares of National Theaters, with 20th-Fox holding the remaining 42 per cent. The stockholders also are expected to act favorably on a proposed amendment to the company's charter authorizing the creation of a new prior preferred stock to be sold publicly, with the proceeds going toward the purchase of the National Theater shares from Chase. Farewell Luncheon Given For Turnbull at 20th Studio West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A farewell luncheon at which every department of the studio was represented was given for Ernest Turnbull, managing di- rector of the Hoyt circuit, who re- turns to Australia in the next few days. Also present were executives of Fox West Coast Theaters and theater division and district manag- ers from all over the nation. Among those on hand were Joseph M. Schenck, Spyros Skouras, William Goetz, Charles Skouras, Tom Con- nors, Murray, Silverstone, Joe E. Brown. Schenck, Charles Skouras and Turnbull were the chief speak- ers. Turnbull said that after the war Australia will offer a still more prosperous market to American pic- tures. Thompson Back from Pacific to Convalesce Detroit — Neal Thompson, son of N. Dow Thompson, former office man- ager of Allied Theaters of Michigan, now district manager at Reno for T & D, Jr., Enterprises Circuit, has been returned to the Marine base at San Diego, Cal., to recover from malarial fever contracted in eieht months' service in the South Pa( including Guadalcanal. He was first hospitalized in New Zealand. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION' with VIRGINIA WEIDLER, EDWARD ARNOLD and Five Important Guest Stars AN M-G-M PICTURE MARCH OF TIME— "INVASION" Gala Stage Revue « Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-460Q RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL The Timeliest MARCH OF TIME J^ BETTY GRABLE fc GEORGE MONTGOMERY* CESAR ROMERO Cone? isiamd A JOTH CENTURY- FOX PICTURE in TECHNICOLOR • PLUS A BIG STAGE SHOW • BUY W% f\ V "V "HAVE. BONDS IV W ^V 1 50th ST. "DIXIE" • In Person with *k ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY TfV TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOL'R -fc MITCHELL AYRES A Paramount Picture -jf and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B WAY & 47th St. GEO. SANDERS . MAUREEr 1 O'HARA "THIS LAND IS MINE" ana "CHATTERBOX" JOE E. BROWN . JUDY CANOVA p loTw'sSTRTE ON SCREEN THE HUMAN COMEDY STARRING MICKEY ROONEY I A IN PERSON TITO GUIZAR MILDRED BAILEY EXTRA! VAN ALEXANDER & ORCH. Tuesday, July 6, 1943 mB$i DAILY Warners (hi. Sales Meet Opens Thursday Second of Warners' regional sales meeting gets under way Thursday at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, in the wake of the curtain raiser which closed at the Waldorf here on Sat- - fllay with a breakfast to the dele- tes hosted by Ben Kalmenson, "SSies head, and several windup con- ferences. Friday's session of the local meet- ing drew 120, including Warner Theaters department execs. On the dais, in addition to Kalmenson, were Joseph Bernhard, Samuel Schneider, Harry M. Kalmine, Mort Blumen- stock, Harry Goldberg, Arthur Sach- son, Roy Haines, Jules Lapidus, Sam E. Morris, Howard Levinson, Nor- man H. Moray, A. W. Schwalberg, Albert S. Howson. In addition to the previous day's delegation, at- tendance also included Stuart Aarons, H. M. Doherty, Rudy Weiss, Stan- ley Hatch, and other theater and sales department executives. After his introductory remarks. Kalmen- son turned the rostrum over to Albert S. Howson, Eastern scenario editor and direc- tor of censorship, who talked for over three hours on the company's inventory of com- pleted pictures, those in production and in preparation and story properties held by the company for early production. Howson gave details of more than 60 stories, all defi- nitely scheduled for release in coming- sea- sons. Joseph Bernhard, who delivered the prin- cipal talk on the opening- day, again spoke briefly, and there were short addresses by Harry M. Kalmine, on exhibition matters: Mort Blumenstoek, on advertising- and mer- chandising plans: Harry Goldberer, who cited the number of pictures with sociological value produced regularly by Warners: Samuel Schneider, on business matters: Sam E. Morris, on general topics: Howard Levin- son, on legal aspects of contracts; Arthur Sachson, on sales, and others. Roy Haines, Jules Lapidus, A. W. Schwalberg and Norman H. Moray also held group meetings with the salesmen, with Ed Hinchey. Mike Dolid, H. M. Doherty and Stanley Hatch among the participants. M of T Will Introduce Black at Buffet Supper Howard Black, vice-president of Time, Inc., recently designated to take charge of M of T sales and dis- tribution policies, will be introduced to the trade press at an informal buffet supper at the Cloud Club in the Chrysler Building Thursday. A screening of the latest M of T sub- ject, "Bill Jack vs. Adolph Hitler," will precede the reception. Al Wilkie Jay Blaufox Don M. Mersereau Frank E. Garbutt Sam Lefkowitz T ▼ T Yes, Sir, a Great Affair! • • • IT WAS A GREAT affair We mean New Jersey Allied's annual conference last week down at West End, N. J Maybe it was because the affair was held far from outside diversions that might have attracted the delegates away from the purpose of the sessions Anyway, nobody can deny it was one of the biggest and best affairs held by the unit thanks to E. Thornton Kelley, Harry Lowenstein and others who helped to make it a success A highlight of the affair, hitherto un-publicized due to trade paper deadlines at their respective presses, was 20th Century-Fox's cocktail party which im- mediately preceded the banquet Thursday night 20th-Fox proved to be a grand host and the guy who said he didn't enjoy himself wasn't there And then there was M-G-M's exhibit — a wagon full of scrap metal with a hundred dollar war Bond as the award for the person who guessed the total weight And then there was the Walt Dis- ney-UA booth which had a complete exhibit of aircraft models, from the first effort of the Wright brothers to those of modern design — all in the interest of "Victory Through Air Power" And UA kept the convention visitors informed of up-to-the-minute news with a teletype which ground out second-by-second records of world events In fact, practically every outfit in the business from Newcomer Cinema-Craft up to the loftiest major had an interesting exhibit And that "cabaret" Wednesday night was flooded with the best talent ever seen at a New Jersey Allied convention or a national one for that matter T T T • • • A demonstration of real classy swimming and diving was presented Thursday morning in the out-door pool alongside the Hollywood Hotel the event being highlighted by somebody- pushing Bennie Brooks into the water And to get away from the social side of the event the boys really got down to work on their own problems even at the sacrifice of several good gin rummy and poker games While it was obvious that several exhibs. had axes to grind, it was unique that not a resolution of condemnation or otherwise nor a specific grievance was offered for adoption by the respective resolutions and grievance committees Yes, taking it all-in-all New Jersey Allied put on a great convention and show and there was some talk about holding future meetings at the same place, most of the boys preferring it to the rush-and-push of Atlantic City, the former scene of the New Jersey unit's annual get-to-gethers T ▼ T • • • OF course, it's only natural under the circumstances, but that doesn't detract one bit from the Paramount publicity bull's-eye scored by the Satevpost in its current issue for Para.'s new short series, "Little Lulu" The "Keeping Posted" column is largely devoted to Little Lulu's forthcoming film debut and to Little Lulu's pen-and-ink Mom, Marge, who introduced the cartoon character in June, 1935 There's an unconscious bit of humor, too, in the fact that the "Keeping Posted" column this time is spotted alongside the white space for which another major company paid heavy dough. . . • Speaking of mags., the July 12 issue of Life will be given over to Republic's Roy Rogers and the inevitable Trigger while the issue's close-up feature will be H. Allen Smith's profile of R.R. T ▼ ▼ • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! COmiHG and GOING SPYROS SKOURAS, 20th-Fcx prexy. is back from studio production conferences. HARRY COHN has arrived in New York. DAVID ROSE has gone to the Coast. F. J. A. McCARTHY, Southern division sales | manager, returns to the Universal home office today from Atlanta foils wing close of his last regional meeting there. FRED MEYERS, Universal Eastern division man- ager, returned from Philadelphia at the week- end. JUDY GARLAND has arrived in New York. This week the star will start on another USO- Camp Shows four. MAJ. WILLIAM WYLER is in Hollywood. BRETAICNE WINDUST returned to the Coast Monday from New York. EDWARD C. RAFTERY returned from Holly- wood yesterday. 0. HENRY BRICCS, PRC prexy ARTHUR CREENBLATT, sales chief, and NAT L. LEFTON, new PRC district manager, leave for the Coast on Friday. ROUBEN MAMOULIAN has returned to the Coast after seven months in New York. TOM CONNORS, 20th-Fox distribution head, and MAURICE SILVERSTONE, the company's foreign chief, have returned from the Coast. ROBERT SCHLESS, general foreign manager for Warners, is back from a 10-day trip to Mexico. BILL BRUMBERG and PHIL ENCEL, Warners field reps, for the Central and New England territories, respectively, returned from New York over the week-end. Picketing of "Moscow" Brings Boston Arrests (Continued from Page 1) others protested against the show- ing of "Mission to Moscow" in Bos- ton. Previously the Boston City Council had demanded that the film be not shown but Mayor Maurice J. Tobin overruled this demand and permitted the film to open after an extensive Warner exploitation cam- paign. The local film critics Friday treated the film very cautiously, neither enthusing over it nor con- demning it and obviously feeling their way. Those arrested were the Rev. Vil- mar Rose of Rockland, pastor of a Unitarian church and member of the Socialist party, and Mrs. Ruth C. Penley of Boston's West End. Both were carrying placards denouncing the showing of the film. The pickets represented the trade branch of the Boston local of the ^Socialist party. Each was released on bail for trial this week. City and State censors cleared the firm. STORKS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Chief Petty Officer Artie Shaw, USN, now overseas, is the father of a son, Steven, born at Good Samaritan Hospital. Mother is the former Betty Kern, daughter of Jerome Kern. Warners' ACTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC 1 Warners' MISSION TO MOSCOW I "Warners' / EDGE OF DARKNESS ■ Warners' AIR FORCE Warners' CASABLANCA Warners' YANKEE DOODLE DANDY Warners' THE HARD WAY Warners' NOW, VOYAGER Warners' GENTLEMAN JIM /' Warners' GEO. WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE Warners' ACROSS THE PACIFIC Warners' DESPERATE JOURNEY /^-'Warners' BACKGROUND TO DANGER vi / I 1/7 \v) ^Vv L yyx> Tack L. Warner, Executive Producer ^^mm^m Tuesday, July 6, 1943 &*\ DAILY Warners (hi. Sales Meet Opens Thursday Second of Warners' regional sales meeting gets under way Thursday at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, in the wake of the curtain raiser which closed at the Waldorf here on Sat- .^-4ay with a hreakfast to the dele- ^_ ps hosted by Ben Kalmenson, iSRes head, and several windup con- ferences. Friday's session of the local meet- ing drew 120, including Warner Theaters department execs. On the dais, in addition to Kalmenson, were Joseph Bernhard, Samuel Schneider, Harry M. Kalmine, Mort Blumen- stock, Harry Goldberg, Arthur Sach- son, Roy Haines, Jules Lapidus, Sam E. Morris, Howard Levinson, Nor- man H. Moray, A. W. Schwalberg, Albert S. Howson. In addition to the previous day's delegation, at- tendance also included Stuart Aarons, H. M. Doherty, Rudy Weiss, Stan- ley Hatch, and other theater and sales department executives. After his introductory remarks. Kalmen- son turned the rostrum over to Albert S. Howson, Eastern scenario editor and direc- tor of censorship, who talked for over three hours on the company's inventory of com- pleted pictures, those in . production and in preparation and story properties held by the company for early production. Howson gave details of more than 60 stories, all defi- nitely scheduled for release in coming: sea- sons. Joseph Bernhard, who delivered the prin- cipal talk on the opening: day, again spoke briefly, and there were short addresses by Harry M. Kalmine, on exhibition matters: Mort Blumenstock, on advertising" and mer- chandising" plans: Harry Goldberg", who cited the number of pictures with sociological value produced regularly by Warners: Samuel Schneider, on business matters: Sam E. Morris, on general topics: Howard Levin- son, on legal aspects of contracts: Arthur Sachson, on sales, and others. Roy Haines, Jules Lapidus, A. W. Schwalberg and Norman H. Moray also held group meetings with the salesmen, with Ed Hinchey, Mike Dolid, H. M. Doherty and Stanley Hatch among the participants. M of T Will Introduce Black at Buffet Supper Howard Black, vice-president of Time, Inc., recently designated to take charge of M of T sales and dis- tribution policies, will be introduced to the trade press at an informal buffet supper at the Cloud Club in the Chrysler Building Thursday. A screening of the latest M of T sub- ject, "Bill Jack vs. Adolph Hitler," will precede the reception. Al Wilkie Jay Blaufox Don M. Mersereau Frank E. Garbutt Sam Lefkowitz T T T Yes, Sir, a Great Affair! • • • IT WAS A GREAT affair We mean New Jersey Allied's annual conference last week down at West End, N. I Maybe it was because the affair was held far from outside diversions that might have attracted the delegates away from the purpose of the sessions Anyway, nobody can deny it was one of the biggest and best affairs held by the unit thanks to E. Thornton Kelley, Harry Lowenstein and others who helped to make it a success A highlight of the affair, hitherto un-publicized due to trade paper deadlines at their respective presses, was 20th Century-Fox's cocktail party which im- mediately preceded the banquet Thursday night 20th-Fox proved to be a grand host and the guy who said he didn't enjoy himself wasn't there And then there was M-G-M's exhibit — a wagon full of scrap metal with a hundred dollar war Bond as the award for the person who guessed the total weight And then there was the Walt Dis- ney-UA booth which had a complete, exhibit of aircraft models, from the first effort of the Wright brothers to those of modern design— all in the interest of "Victory Through Air Power" And UA kept the convention visitors informed of up-to-the-minute news with a teletype which ground out second-by-second records of world events In fact, practically every outfit in the business from Newcomer Cinema-Craft up to the loftiest major had an interesting exhibit And that "cabaret" Wednesday night was flooded with the best talent ever seen at a New Jersey Allied convention or a national one for that matter ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • I demonstration of real classy swimming and diving was presented Thursday morning in the out-door pool alongside the Hollywood Hotel the event being highlighted by somebody pushing Bennie Brooks into the water And to get away from the social side of the event the boys really got down to work on their own problems even at the sacrifice of several good gin rummy and poker games While it was obvious that several exhibs. had axes to grind, it was unique that not a resolution of condemnation or otherwise nor a specific grievance was offered for adoption by the respective resolutions and grievance committees Yes, taking it all-in-all New Jersey Allied put on a great convention- and show and there was some talk about holding future meetings at the same place, most of the boys preferring it to the rush-and-push of Atlantic City, the former scene of the New Jersey unit's annual get-to-gethers T ▼ T • • • OF course, it's only natural under the circumstances, but that doesn't detract one bit from the Paramount publicity bull's-eye scored by the Satevpost in its current issue for Para.'s new short series, "Little Lulu" The "Keeping Posted" column is largely devoted to Little Lulu's forthcoming film debut and to Little Lulu's pen-and-ink Mom, Marge, who introduced the cartoon character in June, 1935 There's an unconscious bit of humor, too, in the fact that the "Keeping Posted" column this time is spotted alongside the white space for which another major company paid heavy dough. . . • Speaking of mags., the July 12 issue of Life will be given over to Republic's Roy Rogers and the inevitable Trigger while the issue's close-up feature will be H. Allen Smith's profile of R.R. T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! COmmG and GOIDG SPYROS SKOURAS, 20th-Fox prexy, is back from studio production conferences. HARRY COHN has arrived in New York. DAVID ROSE has gone to the Coast. F. J. A. McCARTHY, Southern division sales manager, returns to the Universal home office today from Atlanta following close of his last regional meeting there. FRED MEYERS, Universal Eastern division man- ager, returned from Philadelphia at the week- end. JUDY GARLAND has arrived in New York. This week the star will start on another USO- Camp Shows tour. MAJ. WILLIAM WYLER is in Hollywood. BRETAICNE WINDUST returned to the Coast Monday from New York. EDWARD C. RAFTERY returned from Holly- wood yesterday. 0. HENRY BRICCS, PRC prexy ARTHUR GREENBLATT, sales chief, and NAT L. LEFTON, new PRC district manager, leave for the Coast on Friday. ROUBEN MAMOULIAN has returned to the Coast after seven months in New York. TOM CONNORS, 20th-Fox distribution head, and MAURICE SILVERSTONE, the company's foreign chief, have returned from the Coast. ROBERT SCHLESS, general foreign manager for Warners, is back from a 10-day trip to Mexico. BILL BRUMBERG and PHIL ENGEL, Warners field reps, for the Central and New England territories, respectively, returned from New York over the week-end. Picketing of "Moscow" Brings Boston Arrests (Continued from Page 1) others protested against the show- ing of "Mission to Moscow" in Bos- ton. Previously the Boston City Council had demanded that the film be not shown but Mayor Maurice J. Tobin overruled this demand and permitted the film to open after an extensive Warner exploitation cam- paign. The local film critics Friday treated the film very cautiously, neither enthusing over it nor con- demning it and obviously feeling their way. Those arrested were the Rev. Vil- mar Rose of Rockland, pastor of a Unitarian church and member of the Socialist party, and Mrs. Ruth C. Penley of Boston's West End. Both were carrying placards denouncing the showing of the film! The pickets represented the trade branch of the Boston local of the Socialist party. Each was released on .hail for trial this week. City and State censors cleared the film. STORKS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Chief Petty Officer Artie Shaw, USN, now overseas, is the father of a son, Steven, born at Good Samaritan Hospital. Mother is the former Betty Kern, daughter of Jerome Kern. th-Fox, Chicago. WARNERS OBTAIN $15,000,000 LOAN Brings to $23,000,000 Fund to Retire Domestic Bank Loans, Debentures and Preferred Stock (Continued from Page 1) off total $5,500,000. The debentures, of the series due in 1948, are listed in the principal amount of $10,139,- 500. The preferred shares outstand- ing number 99,397. The debentures have been called for payment at 100% and accrued interest on Aug. 2, 1943, but holders may obtain payment in full at any time, according to a company an- nouncement. The preferred stock has been called for redemption on Sept. 1, 1943, at $89.65 per share. At one time there were outstanding $42,900,500 principal amount of six per cent debentures and 785,604 shares of preferred stock. Commitments have been entered into by the company for the private sale on or before Sept. 15, 1943, of $8,000,000 principal amount of four per cent serial debentures maturing semi-annually from Dec. 1, 1949, through June 1, 1953. The loans were obtained from the First National Bank of Boston, the New York Trust Co., the Guaranty Trust Co. of New York, the Conti- nental Illinois National Bank and Trust Co. of Chicago, the Pennsyl- vania Co. for Insurances on Lives and Granting Annuities of Philadel- phia and the Union Trust Co. of Pittsburgh. With the retirement of the pre- ferred stock the outstanding capital stock of the company will consist solely of 3,701,090 shares of common after Sept. 1, 1943. This means the voting control will return to the common stock. According to reports to the Securities and Exchange Com- mission, members of the Warner family have made large purchases of the common in recent months. The new financing arrangements have the effect of greatly simplifying the capital structure of Warner Bros. They also will heavily reduce the company's debt. The refunding operations are expected to result in tax savings, for the firm. War Short a Week If Pk Bureau Ends (Continued from Page 1) of the WAC at the Hotel Warwick on Friday. The session was in the form of an informal discussion with no concrete proposal adopted official- ly. Formal action will not be taken until the OWI situation has been straightened out or clarified. Despite the apparent abolition of its film bureau, it appears certain that one war short will be released weekly to the theaters. This was promised by Arthur Mayer, of the WAC, at the New Jersey Allied conference in West End on Thurs- day. Nevertheless, industry lead- ers admittedly are concerned over the situation and will continue to seek a solution. Attending Friday's luncheon meet- ing were W. F. Rodgers, chairman; Abe Montague, Neil F. Agnew, Paul Lazarus, Sr., William Kupper, Wil- liam Scully, Herman Gluckman, Francis S. Harmon and H. M. Richey. Selznick Borrows Robert Walker West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — David O. Selznick has borrowed Robert Walker from M-G- M to play Corporal Tom Smollett in "Since You Went Away" whose sweetheart will be enacted by Jen- nifer Jones, Mrs. Walker in real life. Luncheon Today for Young RKO Radio is holding a trade press luncheon in the Jensen suite at the Waldorf-Astoria today to introduce James R. Young, author of "Behind the Rising Sun," which the company Employes of OWI Pic Bureau Given Notice (Continued from Page 1) would not reveal, but production and 16 mm. distribution are definitely out. Mellett is hopeful that some of these terminations may be called back when OWI Director Elmer Da- vis finally decides how to allocate the funds available to his agency, but there is no assurance that this will be the case. Davis made it plain over two weeks ago that he is now mainly concerned with the fate of the motion picture bureau. Davis Orders Hollywood OWI Film Bureau Closed West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Nelson Poynter, Hol- lywood director of OWI's motion pic- ture bureau, who has been ordered by Elmer Davis to close shop here, will leave soon for Washington, D. C, via Mexico City. He plans to maintain residence in Washington and St. Petersburg, Fla. Poynter's assistant, Warren Pierce, plans to join the Navy and is anx- ious to get into the combat intelli- gence service. William Murray Dead Grand Rapids, Mich. — William Murray, 46, co-owner of the Savoy Theater here, died in St. Mary's Hospital after a long illness. He was a member of Detroit Variety Club, Knights of Columbus and Grand Rapids Peninsular Club. Sur- viving are a daughter, Mary Ellen, his mother, four sisters and two brothers. IN NEW POSTS RALPH MANN, manager, Strand, Montgomery. Ala. CORDON PYLE, assistant manager, Parker's Broadway, Portland. BOB BURKHARDT, Vic Shapiro and Staff, Hoi lywood. LESTER COLE, associate manager, Paramount Theater, New Haven. )OE ROBINSON, chief of service, ff Vunt Theater, New Haven. \_^r TOM DUNPHY, assistant manager, Majestic Bridgeport, Conn. DENNIS SULLIVAN, assistant manager, Durfee Fall River, Mass. RICHARD BUZZELL, assistant manager, Colonial, Haverhill, Mass. JOSEPH BOUCHER, chief of staff, Capitol New Bedford, Mass. TOM KIVLAN, student assistant manager, Elm St. Theater, Worcester, Mass. R. A. BIRD, manager, Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Vt. HYMIE BLOOM, manager, Claremont (formerly Annex), E. 74th St., New York. SID NEWMAN, manager, Franklin, Nutley, N. J ROBERT CLARK, manager, Garden, Paterson N. J. JACK HECARTY, manager, Central, Newark, N. J. DAVID BEEHLER, manager, Capitol, Belleville, ■ N. j. MORT BRATTER, manager, Millburn Theater, Millburn, N. J. ERNEST CROUCH, manager, Dixie, Rochester, N. Y. NEILL HENRY, manager, Liberty, Rochester, N. Y. GEOKCE CALDWELL, manager, Grand, Wilming- ton, Del. WILLIAM HUFFMAN, manager, Warner, At- lantic City, N. J. ;AMES RICCEY, manager, Stanley, Atlantic City, N. J. Omaha Curfew Ordinance Aimed at Juve Vandalism (Continued from Page 1) sen introduced the ordinance which carries penalties from $1 to $100 for each conviction and jail sentence if fines remain unpaid. Jepsen said he believed the ordi- nance would give police a means of curbing juvenile vandalism which has increased at a tremendous rate dur- ing recent months. First-run theater owners began combatting the prob- lem several weeks ago when they announced they would no longer sell tickets to children under 15 unless they were accompanied by an adult. Omaha has been without a curfew since 1941, when a 60-year-old statute was finally removed from the books. i I Jewish Theatrical Guild To Name Cantor Prexy The nominating committee of the- Jewish Theatrical Guild of America* has nominated the following mem-j bers to hold office for the next year: Eddie Cantor, president; George Jes- sel, Ben Bernie, Jack Pearl, Fred Block and William Morris, Jr., vice- presidents; Sam Forrest, financial! secretary; Dr. Leo Michel, chairmani of relief, and Dave Ferguson, execu- tive secretary. AN IMPORTANT CAST IN THE MOST VALUABLE ROMANTIC PROPERTY SCREENED THIS SEASON! Si CHARLES pJOAI 1 i i 1/ n 1/ it ■ '■ /a ^ s 3 SB ■ M^fe. 17 i/ijjii .flea de^i DAILY T Tuesday, July 6, 19431= Annual Sales Study Launched by M-G-M {Continued from Page 1) sympathetic analysis preparatory to the sale of M-G-M's next group of pictures. "While, of course, attention will be given to accounts requiring con- sideration because of changing con- ditions," Rogers said, "the purpose of these sales analyses is to prop- erly appraise each individual situa- tion so that when a sales approach is made it is based on accurate in- formation. "We are convinced," he continued, "that only by individual analysis of every one of our accounts can an in- telligent sales approach be made and our experience of having done this for several years has proved that point. With our policy of placing the responsibility of sales decision with our branch and district managers, they have found such a scientific study of each individual situation advantageous to both ourselves and our customers." The Cincinnati meeting will be at- tended by E. K. O'Shea and Jack Flynn, Eastern and Western divis- ion sales managers, respectively; Ed- win W. Aaron, circuit sales man- ager; Harold Postman, assistant to Rodgers, and E. M. Booth, branch manager. It is estimated that about three days will be spent in each office. "Canteen" Biz 35-50% Ahead in First 11 Key Runs {Continued from Page 1) ports to the home office over the holiday week-end indicated. United Artists' current Sol Lesser release is being held for extra playing time in each of the 11 spots. . Among the outstanding grosses secured by "Stage Door Canteen" at the end of its first week and which accounted for the extra playing time are the following: at the Loew's State, Syracuse, $13,650; State, Cleveland, $22,450; Loew's, Canton, $11,000; Valentine, Toledo, $11,500; Penn, Pittsburgh, $26,700; Loew's Richmond, $12,800; Palace, Washing- ton, $22,500; Warner-Strand, Hart- ford, $10,500; Palace, Cincinnati, $20,500; Roger Sherman, New Ha- ven, $10,650 and Capitol, Broadway, better than $74,000. The ... . FEMME TOUCH MRS. JOSEPHINE COBURN, manager, Esquire, Indianapolis. LILLIAN MARETZ, RKO, New Haven. MRS. T. K. MASINO, manager, Virginia, At- lantic City, y an unaffiliated company. It was stated that 24-sheets will be made 'ran all of the company's specials and Victory specials on the new program. In giving a resume of the ad- vancement in production values since i Leon Fromkess became production •nhief, Greenblatt stressed that "tim- ing is the secret of PRC's progress." iauest speakers included William J Rowland, producer of "Follies Girl," 'and Jerry Edwards, attorney for the Company. i It was learned that a deal for a million dollar loan, to be used for j production and expansion, was com- pleted on Friday. f Members of the trade press were special guests at a luncheon which ffollowed adjournment of the sales meeting. Exhibs. Watching Tax Effects Pay-As-You-Go Plan Stirs B. O. Fears (Continued from Page 1) national income so often mentioned in Washington, and who will pay higher taxes than heretofore. Whether the higher salary brack- ets, plus war workers drawing bet- ter than usual wages, will enable box- offices to hold up is a question that cannot be answered until after the coming week-end. The heavy Inde- pendence Day "take" is not consid- ered a barometer as the initial bite is taken from salaries for the week beginning last Sunday. Despite the wiping out of some $6,533,000,000 in present tax liabili- ties, Treasury statisticians estimate that new collection method will yield $3,600,000,000 more in the fiscal year 1944 and $1,094,000,000 more in 1945 than the former tax law would have brought in. Government withhold- ing schedules do not give immediate consideration to deductions formerly allowed on tax reports, and while some of these probably will be al- lowed on the final computations, the tax will be collected weekly and ad- justments put off until early in 1944. This, tied in with the admittedly rising cost of living, particularly food, makes exhibs. wonder whether a fair percentage of patrons will re- duce their movie going in an effort to keep up with more essential bills. Loew to Administrate Eastate of Harry Asher Boston — E. M. Loew has been named an administrator of the es- tate of the late Harry Asher, who lost his life in the Cocoanut Grove fire last November. Loew replaces Edward M. Morey who has left Bos- ton. Administrators for the Asher estate now consist of Loew, Ben G. Gilbert, film attorney and Harry "Zippy" Goldman. Small May Do a Film On Chi. Maternity Center Hollywood — Edward Small is seri- ously considering producing a fea- ture-length film on "The Chicago Maternity Center," one of the most unusual institutions of its kind in America. It was founded some 30 years ago by Dr. Joseph Boliver de Lee, considrjed generally the most outstanding obstetrician of the pres- ent generation. HCLLyWCCD DIGEJT SIGNED ROBERT ELWYN, shorts director, M-C-M. DOUGLAS MORROW, termer, M-C-M. TONY DEVLIN, termer, Edward Small. RENEE WHITE, termer, Jack Schwarz-PRC. ASSIGNMENTS "Atlantic City," Republic, editor, "Tiger Fangs," ALBERT J. COHEN, GEORGE MERRICK, PRC ENSIGN HAROLD F. DIXON, USN, technical ad- visor, "The Raft," Edward Small-UA. CASTINGS JOAN CRAWFORD, "Night Shift," Warners; PAT O'BRIEN, "Pile Buck," Columbia; ROBERT DONAT, "If Winter Comes," M-G-M; DALE EVANS, "Three Little Sisters, "Republic; MARY ANN HYDE, "Up in Arms," Samuel Goldwyn; FORTUNIO BONANOVA, "AM Baba and the Forty Thieves," Universal; TONY DELVIN, "The Raft," Edward Small. LESTER MATTHEWS, "The Story of Dr. Was- sell," Paramount; SHELDON LEONARD, "Timber Queen," Paramount. STORY PURCHASES ALICE MEANS REEVE'S "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Any More," Kings Bros. -Monogram. • SCHEDULED "Duchess of Broadway," author-producer, E. H. KLEIN ERT, Monogram. TWO SMASH COMEftY HITS FROM COLUMBIA! THE 3 STOOGES Curly . . . Larry . . . Moe in "THREE LITTLE TWIRPS" ®m ALLEN JENKINS in "My Wife's An Angel" THE 3 STOOGES Curly . . . Larry . . . Moe in "THREE LITTLE TWIRPS" Riotous '."Knot ■W . . . eol.Picts.vtc. (2i/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd.. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . . East. Kodak Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century- Fox . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Para. B'way 3s55... Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3% 31/2 3J4 Radio-Keith cvs 1% Sonotone Corp 3% Technicolor 12% Trans-Lux 3Yz Universal Corp. vtc Universal Picts 19% 19 19 — % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 76 79i/4 2% 17% 165% 223/4 621/4 281/z 9i/4 95 21% 321/2 151/4 891/4 BOND 78 2% 27/8 + % 171/4 171/4 + 1/4 165 165 221/4 221/4 61% 61 34 — V4 28 283,4 + 1/4 9 9—1/4 94% 943/4 + 1/4 21 Vs 21 % — 1/4 32% 32% — % 15 15 — i/8 891/4 891/4 MARKET 78 78+1 1% 13/4 33/g 3% — % 12% 12% 31/2 31/2 ....: Appraise R. L. Blank Estate at $492,999 Des Moines, la. — The inheritance tax appraiser's valuation of the es- tate of Raymond L. Blank, who was treasurer of Tri-States and Central- States Theaters Corps., was placed at $492,999.32, or $195,296.95 more than the value estimated in the es- tate inventory. Blank, who was 33, died March 7 of a heart attack. His father, A. H. Blank, is president of both theater corporations. Mexican Production United Stales Aid {Continued from Page 1) office on Sunday from a five-week business trip to Mexico. He said that there is very tangible evidence of this currently, for Mexican pic- tures are building larger audiences, and this is a healthy condition which works in favor of any attractions exported to that country for exhibi- tion. Furthermore, he added, Amer- ican film interests are both capable and versatile enough to meet compe- tition and "to keep a step ahead." At the present time, Mexico's producers, of whom six or seven are of top calibre, followed by some four or five of somewhat lesser power, are on the crest of a produc- tion wave, turning out between 40 and 50 features, but that when the war is over this number will prob- ably be reduced in order to accent quality. Studios there realize that such production restriction is to their advantage. No studio space is avail- able now for expansion, otherwise there would be even more than the 40 to 50 pictures put into work. Gould said that the recent de- mand of the labor union, which con- trols film exchange employes in Mexico City, has been met, and that the pact, granting a 20 per cent wage boost, was signed on June 25 by U. S. company subsidiaries there. Relations between the distributors and the unions are more friendly than at any time in the past, and this is a promising omen for the fu- ture. Establishment of a governing body for filmland in Mexico, similar to MPPDA, is crystallizing rapidly. UA's "Moon and Sixpence" hung up a gross in excess of 50,000 pesos during the first week of its engage- ment at the Chino Theater in Mex- ico City, and the Latin-American premiere of "In Which We Serve" takes place today at the Alameda there. Will Hays Inspects Navy Radar School in Chicago Chicago — Will Hays, en route to Hollywood, visited the Navy's Radar school, in the State Lake building quarters loaned to the Navy by B & K. School is supervised by Lt. Com. Will Eddy, formerly in charge of the B & K television department. Hays termed the Radar school "a most impressive enterprise." Clemens, W. Va., Circuit Head, Dies in Plane Crash Dunbar, W. Va. — Archie Clemens, 34, operator of The Black Diamond Theaters Circuit, was killed instant- ly when his plane crashed. Clemens, a CAP licensed pilot, operated a flying school at Montgomery, W. Va., besides his theater activities. Skeleton OWI Film Bureau in Hollywood (Continued from Page 1) notice that the agency will continue to clear the film work of other Gov- ernment agencies and will also do "liaison work." That is the only definite indication that there will be a skeleton OWI film bureau, with offices here and in Hollywood. There is a growing belief here that WAC will take on a generous share of the load formerly carried by OWI, aiding in matters of public release and the shorts program par- ticularly. Lowell Mellett is expected to continue to serve as chief of the bureau — something the WAC would probably insist upon. Ernest Stern Sues Loew's, Charges Patent Infringed Wilmington, Del. — Infringement is charged in a suit filed in U. S. Dis- trict Court here, by Ernest Stern of New York City, against Loew's, Inc. The suit, filed under the U. S. patent laws cites that on Feb. 19, 1935, U. S. letters patent No. 1,- 991,472 were granted to the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleges that for a long time past infringement has been made by the defendant concern by practicing a method of producing and projecting sound motion pic- tures and using a motion picture projection procedure which method and procedure embody the inven- tion which has been patented by the plaintiff. The suit is contemplated to give the plaintiff relief from infringement by enjoining the defendant. It also asks for a final injunction against future infringement and an account- ing of profits and damages as well as an assessment of costs against the defendant. Hollywood Chamber Hears Coe Tomorrow West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — - Charles Francis "Socker" Coe will be the principal speaker at a dinner sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Com- merce tomorrow. His topic will be "Hollywood Looks Toward a New World." BH.»i 9-4151-4 comma aid GoinG WILL HAYS and his wife have left Chicago for Hollywood. ANDREW W. SMITH, JR., 20th-Fox's East- ern sales manager, leaves today for Washington to assist at the installation of C. E. Peppiatt as the company's new branch manager there. WILLIAM SCHNEIDER of the Paramount ad- vertising department is back at his de^ts pm a two-week vacation. HARRY THOMAS, Monogram distribution ex- ecutive, left town yesterday for an extensive trip that will take him to Pittsburgh, Cleve- land, Detroit, Chicago and points west. CHARLES W. KOERNER, RKO's vice-presi- dent in charge of production, and PERRY LIEBER, studio publicity director, will leave Friday for New York. STEVE BROIDY, Monogram vice-president and general sales manager, is en route from the Coast to Chicago, Toronto and New York. BETTE DAVIS, now vacationing in New Hamp- shire, returns to the Coast about July 20 to report to Warners. Rockefeller Center Elevator Operators Stage a Strike Rockefeller Center yesterday was without elevator service for 50 min- utes at the height of the evening rush hour as the result of a flash strike involving approximately 225 operators and mechanics belonging to Building Maintenance Crafts- men's Union, AFL. The Rockefeller management said the strike was not against it but was "concerned solely with a union matter." A number of motion picture companies and trade publications with offices in the build- ings were inconvenienced by the strike. The strikers went back to work after a talk with Hugh S. Robert- son, executive manager of Rocke- feller Center, Inc., pending a con- ference of the men, union officials and the management to be held later in the week to discuss the cause of the walkout, which was not divulged. Rites for Mrs. Sheercm Funeral rites for Mrs. Catherine Sheeran, mother of Harry J. Shee- ran, Metro salesman in Cincinnati, were held at Queens Village, L. I. SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write lor samples, prices or other information. Delivery free Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL TICKET QM\ COMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE. X^g/ NEWARK, N. J. Sales Of/ices in Principal Centers YOTEBYCOMRESS SCORED BY RABBIS Overriding of Roosevelt on the Anti-Strike Bill Declared to Show Intemperance UNENFORCEABILITY IS SEEN Delegates Here Find Measure New Army Chocolate Bat Resists Heat Up to 120' Bp«el&l to Tju New Ton Turn. JERSEY CITY, June 27— The Army's Jersey City Gjuarter- master Depot and chocolate manufacturers have developed a chocolate bar that will remain a solid up to 120 degrees Fahren- heit, It was announced yesterday by the Quartermaster Depot. The ^average chocolate would melt at 85 degrees and was a tfoonSk latest "- ' BIDS NATIONS FIGHT RACE PERSECUTION Grand Master Hoffman Tells Brith Abraham an Inter- National Pact Is Needed groups during the Tunisian cam- paign. "The problem of rehabilitation in North Africa emphasizes the need of a program which will promote better relations between Jew and Moslem," he said. A message from President Roosevelt, read to the delegates, expressed hope that deliberations 15,000 GIVE WEEK'S WORK Teacher* Yield Part of Vacation to Aid Draft Boards Fifteen thousand school teachers in this city will perform one week's volunteer work during the sum- vacation in the local draft and appeals hoards^ CoL Arthur V. Mc- Dermott t+Z? 10f the maflrieV* — V - *. actment of th^gJJ which, because at theiri:35je5^i^7nia5e anee and impatience, may jeop*rd-jl875 ize the orderly democratic proce- dures -which alone must he "* pended upon to adjust our economic relationships in -!3 to come. 4M New Study Sugsee*'^^J 'The -Central,- Conferer.c-i- 13 American Rabbis suggests that tr. .-_ law* be carefully reatudied in the light of the progressive social leg- islation of recent years and that a more sober and helpful measure be enacted, which wai not sacrifice any of the. gains which American labor has achieved through the years, and which will be fair to all concerned."* ' ~~ The resolution noted "with' satis- faction that American labor has to a remarkable degree adhered to its *no strike pledge' and because' of it and the cooperation of "man- agement and the public, our coun-j: try has achieved an astounding' ree- 1 ord of production for the war ef-! fort to defeat the Aids powers,'' 1*1 continued: "Even those who are not op- - posed to> many of the provisions of the bUl h>v& admitted that it has] been hastily drawn up, some of its j provisions altogether unrelated to the war emergency, unenforceable] and* therefore, likely to weaken the j respect fox law and authority." " t /Achievement of Harmony The new president of the 'con.-] ference/ the Rev. Dr. Solomon B.i jreehof of Rodef* Shalom. Congre- gation, Pittsburgh, said harmony on major issues had been achieved] at the six-day meeting, "Perhaps the reason, for the! Spirit of cooperation which bridged all differences," he, commented,! "was the fact that in our coh- ^aeiouflnesa was the vivid awareness! -ot the^ tragic- state of European! Jewry; in the light of that un- Bpealtable tragedy, the conference; was more ^concerned with help toi maxtyr>d world Iarael than withi debate on theoretical differences.''! Other offlcerB elected were Dr. Abba Hfflel Silver of Cleveland, vice president; Rabbi Harry S. Margoila, St. Paul, Minn., treaa- - lirer; Rabbi L. Regner. Reading, Pa., financier secretary; Dr. Isaac E. Marcuson, Macon, Ga., admin- istrative secretary. ^^Is^B^^ua from coun- mpied' hy Hitler. This - , -——"•j money paid for their, emigration to rdrK Eye and Ear Palestine and the- Western Heroi- tjnfirmary -will be taken over bylsphere. ltto^ri*ip|Jig^^^rts^Uunbla In Switzerland, food, clothing, *££ *h-j shelter and medical aid will be giv- Wp* to 1,000 children who .are ex- ^g^«5ted to be brought out of France g£^frr year. Already 5303,000 has appropriated to aid refugees in Asiatic Russia, $300,000 for Oh European emigrants who hav been resettled in Central and South America, and $100,000 for the maintenance of 400 Dutch^refugees in 'Surinam. Help- win be given refugees released from. Internment cprhpatti Jforth" Africa, as well as ^^rl?i and Second Ave- to destitute -native populations in Algeria, Casablanca and Tangier. EVERYBODY'S HAPPY AT RADIO GIT Y MUSIC HALL! *%& ev coov */' Joan Bennett Was Daughter 8pwi*J u> The Hev Towt Tikes. HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 27— Joan Bennett, film actress and wife of Walter Wanger, Hollywood mo- tion-picture producer, gave birth to ra daughter last night at the Good Samaritan Hospital. The child was .Bamed Stephanie. Miss Bennett's other children are Diana, 15, born of Miss Bennett's marriage to John . Fox, and Melinda Markey, daugh- ter by Eugene "Srtarkey, writer and producer. Mr, Wanger and Miss Bennett were married in Phoenix In January, 1840. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER'S HILARIOUS COMEDY! She got their autographs in VIRGINIA WEIDLER* EDWARD ARNOLD JOHN CARROLL' JEAN PORTER Directed by EDWARD BUZ2ELL Picturing en tht Great Stall *** SMrU-/««oKf £t» Couad C*SMrt »«* Sin* Jetof if " **%vS*ptaecle tf mtbd? and dante. PrU>tad h LtoHideffwilh &f Scdeflts, A ST OR rwoyMSmSt, 5£t£** ETiwrn^. Popular Prices Continuous from 10 A*M* • UT WA» tONDt ZOOM m/ CAB/fl \*TH£ m -u^fr'M's Talk 1 ■ of the Town ^$\cal Smotk/ CRIftMOri* aWBJSS R4010 CITY MUSIC HULL SfWW "A foiwy-fcons i/cHcr."— W*B "THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION" *jth VIRCWW WE1DLER - EDWARD ARNOLD - iOBH CARROLL ■■MAN PORTER - And FIVE IHPORTAHT GUEST STARS A MET^O-GOtDWYN-MAVEB PICTURE K' MARCH Of TlMf— "INVASION" SaTSTtH: PfrflHntifis lh* wo.-M-toecwi'DonCoiKtctChsnjtwfftSeffts fofi-feofjred io "IWN ABOUT TOWN", produced bf loorsldojf.-.wflh Ccrpi <** So""- Symphony 0:;-Heti1 NnWn *«■«' /0&*a6t/4k& of the r AU SMART ) ARE SHOWINI ROY ROGERS u and KING OF THE COWBOYS SMARTEST HOI HEART OF THE GOLDEN WEST" * "RIDIN' DOWN T (7cwie: 'in* uo" *"iriNfi of the cawrayc%"caua ac "i @omt*tq> V YORK DAILY NEWS IS r^— ■ - NEW v~_ - — ^L Your T * M *Llrea* for c ....... . f-ZZzmw^.. HHm . Brooklyn, N. Y St. Louis, Mo San Diego, Calif. . Baltimore, Md. . Chicago, III. . . Atlanta, Ga. Denver, Colo. . Newark, N. J. . Houston, Texas Dallas, Texas . San Antonio, Texas . Seattle, Wash. .Wichita Falls, Texas Jacksonville, Fla. . Tampa, Fla. Los Angeles, Calif. . Providence, R. I. W THE MOVIES JiYON"* >NDS ACROSS THE >& "'•"•back *a *°' Sh9urS ""d T *°n9 of Texas" af *rooklyn Sfrand. W.i^MM. ~~''&SS ■■ ■£ik By WAN* Republk Hale mmmgi w, ,''s a <^iV 7 6 flow ok i-ne- f '4 X ?5S is p hlcle is ev»,?,s '"ore a® ' SuPPort »„5-,aii nuantat *Unn^ ffi*?* ?**fi l±,-,..T^cAST: ' h°u^ Boh *oi •■■■ CAST' a? Ss Pete. ™Urray. ... " ever k m°re e»„ SuPPort aJv" / U'i- "" ^ Eve £aade sogers n ltlan.it's / 0 , ' ' ■ 1 1 , ' n s ^odeo ^i!PJcture. T,?iay tbem- / for ft. to So 0ut and £¥ #oes s0r R-.She;,a°neers Bar'on jw RVan •Harr" S^-Une • ' ■ • Pat %nno" W'«'am Kudee '■■•■Eve £aade •Ha; T0,.Ma'-eh ,as ^eo It lPict^ T&ay th^ boss' busfts wh°, disl?^aPPear their jyWnanch and Pr! 1' Uy ^em- do,wn and •«„; a °W <,/ap ^aJce c°rral and < uhe *ors« Aen sta ,ta^e hijn ° °«t happ" far now / ranch and he tri£ Sefout of f hlm ud «„ Jhei* ranch he °oys Roy a^°p Sue. But J, ° b"y th >ovv h„To make thi» buyer ?"<* from i",e Wes to °h' of «■" .$," few" ! ««hij fer f»»« PH» !?/ fia^eE.?s.%" "Ka nba0; Reprinted from THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS June 26, 1943 ,n«- that ox ,s ^er da^ that the / and ^u"n *ians-e~'>«Aairie," "n BORDER' v% DULY Wednesday, July 7, 1943 Extended Time Only, "Army's" Sales Plan (Continued from Page 1) with the Warner sales force in- structed to obtain extended playing time in all engagements, and wher- ever possible to make the run longer than that of any picture to date. Working" in co-operation with a War De- partment public relations staff headed by Col. Charles Johnson, Warners will launch the picture late this month in a series of advanced-price premieres. The Broadway world premiere, on the night of July 28 at the Hollywood, will be at $50 top, with most of the seats expected to be sold at this figure. Openings at $25 top already lave been set in Washington, Baltimore, Worcester. New Haven, Hartford and a score of addi- tional key cities, while St. Louis, San Fran- cisco, Seattle, Spokane, Los Angeles and more than a hundred other Midwest, West- ern and Southern situations already are set to open at tops ranging from $25 down to $2. This advanced-price opening policy is to be carried out in all cities down to 5,000 population, as well as in smaller places wherever practicable. General release date of the picture is Aug\ 14. by which time it is expected that more than 400 Technicolor prints will be ready and working. Total print order is 450. The Army's public relations division, in co-operation with the Warner advertising and publicity forces under Charles Einfeld and Mort Blumenstoek, will set up local com- mittees to give a strong sendoff to the pic in all premieres. Follow-up activity also will accompany every engagement. Warner home office delegation which left New York yesterday (Tuesday) for the Chi- cago sales meeting included, in addition to Kalmenson. Joseph Bernhard, Arthur Saeh- son, Roy Haines, A. W. Schwalbergr, Jules Lapidus, Norman H. Moray, Howard Levin- son. Ed Hinchey, I. F. Dolid, Albert S. Howson. Blumenstoek remained in New York due to conferences on "This is the Army/' and may be able to attend the second day of the Chicago sessions. Brunet, Theater Vet, Dies New Orleans, La. — Paul Brunet, 66, independent movie theater opera- tor, suffered a fatal heart attack. Brunet, in theater business since 1904, was one of the first to op- erate a moving picture house on Canal St. For years he ran a neigh- borhood theater at Ursuline and N. Clairbome. For the past few years he was associated with his son, Paul H. Brunet, as owner and operator of a theater at 1309 S. Rampart St. Thomas C. Poe Dead Findlay, O.— Thomas C. Poe, 61, former motion picture theater oper- ator in Findlay, O., died in Cleve- land, leaving his wife and two chil- dren. George Cukor Raymond Hatton Jackie Searl Ricardo Cortez T T ▼ "Manna for Exhibitors Luncheon" • • • HERALDING the advent of RKO Radio's "Behind the Ris- ing Sun," which will have multi-ply premieres in some 50 to 60 New England and New York State stands commencing Aug. 3, and subse- quently in the Pacific Northwest prior to general distribution throughout the nation, the company yesterday noontide hosted a luncheon for the author of the book on which the film is based, — James R. Young, prom- inent journalist and lecturer who spent 13 years as a newspaper cor- respondent in Japan Repast's venue was the Waldorf-Astoria, and attending were, in addition to a big contingent of trade scribes, Ned E. Depinet (who served as toastmaster), Phil Reisman, N. Peter Rathvon, Bob Mochrie, Barret McCormick, Nat Levy, Walter Branson, Harry Gittle- son, Harry Mandel, Rutgers Neilson, Malcolm Kingsberg, Leon Goldberg. Louis Goldberg, Michael Hoffay, Terry Turner, Arthur Brilant, Jack Level, Harry Reiners, R. H. Hawkinson, etc T T T • • • IF this informal luncheon were to be given a formal name, it could rightly be termed the "Manna For Exhibitors Luncheon,"— for it plainly disclosed the box office windfall in store for showmen everywhere Ned Depinet revealed that early last February, RKO Radio began searching for a property which would tell accurately and dramatically the character of the enemy we are facing in the Pacific What was sought would stand as a sort of companion-piece to the heavy-grossing "Hitler's Children" Quest was handsomely re- warded by acquisition of Young's book, "Behind the Rising Sun" The author, who spent 61 days in solitary confinement under Nipponese tormentors until his release was effected by the State Department, then was persuaded to act as technical adviser, together with his wife Furhermore, Young consented to make personal radio appear- ances with the picture in its sectional day-and-date engagements At yesterday's luncheon, he spoke at length on Japan, its people and customs And, Mister Exhibitor, when he gives his planned series of addresses over the radio, in conjunction with release of the film, you'd better get your SRO sign out for early display, 'cause the talks are sure to start a stampede of patrons to your ticket booth T T T • • • BECAUSE he was talking to professional pic folks yes'dcy. Young devoted a portion of his remarks to the celluloid side of Japan He asserted that the Japs, via characteristic guile, used not only their own product to sell the public there on the inevitability o£ the Jap- anese-American war, but also U. S. pix The latter they altered to that purpose, particularly "Hell Divers" which they thefted and dubbed, titling it "The Japanese-American War" While, the adulterated scenes flashed on the large screen, a smaller screen beside it carried in- flamatory titles anent the plot of the U. S. to attack Japan, and, there- fore, that threatened Nippon should build up its armed forces to defend itself Japan, he said, has become the largest film producing nation in the world, with footage far exceeding our own land The Nips, he added, are fanatical on the subject of machinery, and have been since 1926, even lifting our mechanical creations, among them air condi- tioning, for their own ends But the Young talk was also spiked with amusing anecdotes, — and tragedy It is the latter element, the viciousness of the Japanese, which will make the ether crackle when he takes to the air-waves in behalf of RKO Radio's "Behind the Rising Sun" It's bound to be a gargantuan gross-grabber ▼ T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! ! ! Stockholders Speed 20fh-Fox's NT Deal (Contintced from Page 1) that the' latter exercise an option to purchase the Chase National Bank's 58 per cent holdings in the circuit for $13,000,000. The deal, in which are involved 1,044 shares of the. .- standing capital stock of Natly.* } Theaters, received their blessings at a special meeting at the 20th-Fox home office. The option to purchase the Chase National Bank's stock interest in National Theaters, which was ob- tained on May 11, would have ex- pired on Nov. 30. At the same time the stockhold- ers sanctioned an amendment to the company's charter authorizing the creation of a new prior preferred stock to be sold publicly, with the proceeds going toward the purchase of the National Theaters shares from the Chase Bank. The issue will consist of 100,000 shares to be marketed at $100 per share. It is understood that the shares, which will carry a $4.50 dividend, will be sold to net 20th-Fox $9,700,000. The difference of $3,300,000 will come from the 20th-Fox treasury. Spyros Skouras, president of 20th- Fox, presided at the stockholders' meeting. Other executives of the company in attendance were Tom Connors, Sydney Towell, W. C. Michel, Hermann G. Place, Felix A. Jenkins, Dan Michalove. Immediately following the stock- holders' meeting the directors of 20th-Fox held a session at which they approved sale of the new stock to a group of underwriters under- stood to be headed by Lehman Bros., Hayden, Stone & Co. and Blyth & Co., Inc. Ludwig Siegel Seriously 111 Chicago — Ludwig Siegel, owner of the Lindy, is seriously ill at his home. IN NEW POSTS CEORCE WALDMAN, film buying dept., Warner Circuit, Philadelphia. HERBERT BLASS, Twin City sales rep., War- ners' Minneapolis exchange. E. HART, ad salesman, Warners' Milwaukee ex- change. DAVID ARLEN, publicity dept., B & K, Chi- cago. WALDO BAIL, publicity dept., B & K, Chi- cago. CHARLES NELSON, Allied Theaters booking dept., Chicago. WARD DAY, cashier, 20th-Fox, Chicago. JULES CREEN, assistant buyer and booker, War- ner Theaters, Pittsburgh. EDWARD DLOUHY, manager, Apollo, Chicago. RAY THOMPSON, manager, Gateway, Chicago. JOSEPH ANDERSON, manager, Belpark, Chi- cago. V. J. FISCHER, manager, Valencia, Evanston, Ind. T. DUCKWORTH, assistant manager, Coronet, Evanston, Ind. ROBERT LEACH, head booker, RKO exchange, Des Moines. Wednesday, July 7, 1943 3ft DAILY Key City Holiday Grosses Ri» 28% (Continued from Page 1) although a record influx of visitors provided practically all Times Square houses with S.R.O. Broadway Biz Phenomenal Phenomenal business was reported -4)jjie Broadway houses over the .1 '-day holiday week-end. Eighty- four thousand persons paid $63,000 to see "The Youngest Profession" at the Music Hall on Saturday, Sun- day and Monday. Gus Eyssell, man- aging director, announced that was a Fourth of July holiday record for the house. The week is expected to end tonight with $114,000 in the till. A crowd estimated at close to 60,000 brought $44,000 to the Para- mount, where "Dixie" is the attrac- tion. "Spitfire" was good for $14,500 at the Rivoli for the three days. Some 60,000 persons plunked out an esti- mated $45,000 to view "Stage Door Can- teen" at the Capitol. "Coney Island" grossed $59,000 at the Roxy lor the three days, with $98,000 expected for the week, which closed last night. Business for the three days set a record for an M-G-M show at the Astor, where "Best Foot Forward" is playing. Even "Mission to Moscow," in its tenth week, played to standees, while the New York Strand with "Background to Danger" did better than $40,000 in the four-day period from Friday through Monday, an all- time Fourth of July holiday record for this house. "Dixie" Wows 'Em in Dixie Paramount, which selected the holiday week-end to launch "Dixie" in pre-release engagements in the South, reported heavy increases over openings of "Holiday Inn," last year's Labor Day offering, with upward percentages claimed of 28 to 67 per cent. In Denver, isolated northern opening, "Dixie" went 14 per cent over "Inn" figures in four days. An unusual feature of the week-end busi- ness was the exceptionally strong Monday attendance, according to circuit executives in New York and many of the key city sources. Ordinarily, these spokesmen pointed out, Monday trade falls off somewhat at the end of a three-day holiday. This year, Monday biz topped Saturday and Sunday in many spots. While some theater operators express the opinion that this splurge was the final one before the Government starts taking 20 per cent of pay checks, there is a widespread belief in the exhibition field that the pub- lic is not only in a strong spending mood but so keen for film entertainment, and still making so much money, that little effect is expected when the deductions start this week. Single notable report of off biz for the holiday week-end came from Boston where an exodus of about one million for shore resorts and mountains was reported. Hub downtown and suburban houses took it on the chin. Arehort House to Parrott Milford, la. — H. A. Parrott who operates the Palace at Exira has taken over the Strand at Milford from E. C. Arehart. Divorcement Bill in Senate Neeley Measure Re-introduced by Kilgore Eastman's Capt. Keliey, Held by Japs, Dead Rochester — Capt. James D. Keliey, formerly of Eastman Kodak Co. has died of disease in a Japanese |jjBj, prison camp in which he was \^—$ interned following his capture in the Pacific area, the War Department has announced following International Red Cross advices. (Continued f controlling, managing, operating, or having any interest in motion pic- ture theaters in the United States," was introduced Monday by Senator Kilgore after numerous complaints had come to him from independent exhibitors that the terms of the New York consent decree are not being lived up to by the majors. Senator Kilgore told The Film Daily yesterday there is no especial significance attached to his action in reintroducing the bill aside from the fact that he was reminded the old Neely bill had died when he received the exhibitor complaints. As chair- man of the Senate Judiciary Sub- commitee handling the Neely bill, he had agreed with the Department of Justice to keep it alive in the hope that the threat of the bill might tend to keep parties to the decree in step. Says Fall Action Possible The West Virginian said he had not studied the exhibitor complaints and has no im- mediate plans to push the bill. He was de- sirous of getting it entered before the Senate recess, however, and feels there is some pos- sibility of action on the matter in the Fall if the complaints appear to be well grounded. He has no intention at this time of re- entering ex-Senator Neely's old block-book- rom Page 1) ing bill, he said, although if he finds it is needed, he will do so. The Kilgore bill differs in no way from Neely's old bill. Holding of and acquisition of affiliated theaters by producers and distribu- tors, it says, "is contrary to public policy in that it (a) has resulted in granting to affil- iated theaters undue preferences; (b) has caused unfair discrimination against indepen- dent theaters with respect to leasing of films in commerce: (e) has enabled such producers and distributors to acquire a virtual monop- oly of the first-run theaters in the principal cities and a virtual monopoly of subsequent- run theaters in certain cities and sections; (d) interferes with the freedom and oppor- tunity of independent exhibitors to select and obtain an adequate supply of quality films for exhibition in their theaters; (e) pre- vents the people of the several states and the local communities thereof from influenc- ing such election in the best interests of the public: and tends to create a monopoly in the production, distribution, and exhibition of films in commerce." After Section 2, containing definitions, comes the "meat" of the bill, where Con- gress is asked to declare that "it shall be unlawful for any producer or distributor of motion picture films engaged in commerce to own, control, manage, buy, or book films for, or operate, in whole or in part, any motion picture theater or theaters located in any State. Territory, or the District of Co- lumbia, or to have any interest, direct or indirect, legal or equitable, through stock ownership or otherwise in any such motion picture theater or theaters." The same penalties as in the Neely bill are provided, and the effective date of the bill would be 18 months after its enactment. Schreiber Named Exec. Assistant to Col. Zanuck (Continued from Page 1) ly held by William Goetz. Casting responsibilities will be shared by Robert Palmer, James Ryan and William Mayberry. I. R. L. Hough has been appointed general production manager to suc- ceed the late William Koenig. Guiol to Direct Own Story For Global; UA to Release West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Fred Guiol, who was associate producer on "The More the Merrier" and "Penny Serenade" for Columbia and who also directed "Thanks a Million" for Hal Roach, will produce and direct his own story, "The Yanks Down Under," for Glo- bal Productions for United Artists release. The screenplay is by Eugene Con- rad and Edward Seabrook. William Weinberg's Son Killed in South Pacific Chicago — Al Weinberg, son of William Weinberg, manager of the Ken Theater, was killed in action in the South Seas. August Selig Dead Rockford, Ind. — August Selig, 73, associated with his brother, William N., in the old Selig Plyscope Co., is dead. He managed the buying and selling for the pioneer film com- pany. Survivors include a widow, two sons, his brother and a sister. "Canteen" Terms "Just," Sears Wires Pete Wood (Continued from Page 1) of Ohio secretary, who had signed the Cleveland exhibs.' earlier wire, Sears said he was "afraid it will not be possible as a practical matter to comply with the proposal to turn over 100 per cent of the receipts of 'Stage Door Canteen' to the local USO," called attention to the terms of Sol Lesser's agreement with the American Theater Wing, said UA was "genuinely in accord with the Stage Door Canteen movement and considered it an obligation . . . to deliver a record gross" and added that the company feels, regardless of the charitable and patriotic angle, it is "asking just and reasonable terms in accordance with the straight commercial value of this picture." First Rep. Regional Opens Here Tuesday (Continued from Page 1) campaign on Roy Rogers, and pro- motion plans for such forthcoming pix as "Someone To Remember," "In Old Oklahoma," "Gay Blades," and "The Fighting SeaBees." Grainger will preside at . the New York sessions and Eastern District Sales Manager Maxwell Gillis and Central District Sales Manager Sam Seplowin will head a contingent of exchangemen from these two districts: Arthur Newman, Albany; Jack Davis, Bos- ton; Sam Seletsky, New Haven; Morris Ep- stein and Sidney Picker, New York; Joseph Ensrel. Philadelphia; Jack Bellmanv Buffalo; Sam P. Gorrel, Cleveland; G. H. Kirby, Cin- cinnati: I. H. Pollard, Detroit; L. W. Mar- riott, Indianapolis; and Franchise Holders Jake Flax, Washington, and J. H. Alexander and Sam Fineberg, Pittsburgh. Directly after the New York meeting. Grainger will leave for Chicago where a sales meeting will be held July 16-17, at the Drake Hotel. Midwestern District Sales Manager E. L. Walton and Southern District Sales Manager Merritt Davis wih be present, as will the following Republic Branch Man- agers; Will Baker, Chicago; J. G. Frackman, Milwaukee; W. M. Grant, Minneapolis; F. R. Moran, Des Moines; Harry Lefholtz. Omaha; Nat Steinberg, St. Louis; Winfield Snelson, Atlanta; Harold Laird Tampa; J. H. Dillon, Charlotte; N. J. Colquhoun, Mem- phis; L. V. Seicshnaydre, New Orleans; Lloyd Rust, Dallas: Russell J. Brown. Oklahoma City; and Franchise Holder Robert F. Withers. Kansas City. At the studio meeting, to be held July 22-23, Grainger will be- joined by Studio Head M. J. Siegel and Western District Sales Manager F. A. Bateman. Fcl'owing exchange men will be present: Franchise Holder J. T. Sheffield of the Northwest territory; Branch Managers F. H. Higgins, Seattle; J. H. Sheffield, Portland; Gcn3 Gerbase, Den- ver; H. C. Fuller, Salt Lake City: John Frey, Los Angeles; and Sid Weisbaum, San Fran- cisco. Clearance Cuts Sought For Basil Bros. Houses Conn. Delivery Cuts Add to Bookers' Woes New Haven — Delivery systems have further curtailed service this week, to add to the difficulty of bookers. Decker's eliminated Friday and Sunday service, as did Rosen's. In addition Rosen's reported no ser- vices hereafter for Middletown Mon- day and Wednesday nights, for Wal- rington, Wednesday nights, for Torrinton, Wednesday nights, for Rockville Monday nights, for Oak- ville and Watertown Tuesday and Thursday. Hoxie's serves Winsted and Lakeville now on Monday, Wed- nesday and Friday only; Kimmer- lin no Bridgeport service Monday, and Foley's goes to Canaan Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only. (Continued from Page 1) name all five distributors. In Nia- gara Falls, Basil Bros, asks that the 35 days' clearance granted the Strand, Cataract and Bellevue over circuit's LaSalle be reduced to 30 days.. Buffalo complaint asks that the four to 10 days granted Schine's Granada Over the Varsity be elimi- nated, so that the Varsity can play pictures immediately after the Gra- nada. Allied Caravan Talking Rentals at Cincy Today (Continued from Page 1) ": Caravan. The meeting embraces Southern Ohio and Northern Ken- tucky exhibitors and will discuss movement for lower film rentals. Iowa Merchants Take Over Theater Operation Kimballtown, la. — Local merchants have ttaken over the operation of the Viking theater. The house for- merly was run by Sid Peterson. Cantor in Stamp Drive P.A." Eddit Cantor returns to the RKO Palace at 2 p.m. today to aid the Treasury Department's July Stamp Drive. NYC I NC S T $ You are compensated for these showings. ' : YOUR THEATRE TODAY . . . like the Town Hall of yesterday ... is the Meeting Place for Community Security. It is the focus of civilian performance. YOUR THEATRE SCREEN today projects a dual influence on the morale of your community. It relaxes and reassures . . . informs and inspires. TO HELP YOU to help Uncle Sam, by helping your community... while helping yourself*. . SCREEN BROADCASTS has been selected by War Savings, OCD, OPA, Public Health, Labor, ODT and other agencies in Washington to bring a series of Community Security Campaigns to your audience through sponsored presentation by national, sectional and local concerns. THESE FILMS are a brand new approach in screen advertising. — — They are the first and only ever produced under government supervision and approved for sponsorship on theatre screens. They entertain because they enlighten and encourage. EACH CAMPAIGN includes 26 subjects, one to be screened every other week. Each complete subject is less than one minute and is introduced by a government agency title. The sponsor's identity is confined to a simple credit signature at the end. IF YOU WANT your theatre to take and hold the lead in pro- viding greater security for your community, as thousands of theatres are already doing, fill in and mail this reply form today. - SCREEN BROADCASTS '>■■'■ ;• : ' / , • ' ,'.1V 923 13th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. p -- r— i Send your Theatre Relations Representative to see me and explain the details of these Community Security Campaigns. (ZI I want to see the films in this series when your representative calls. DISTRIBUTED— In Southern, Atlantic and New England States by Motion Picture Advertising Service Co., Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana. In Northern, Mid-Western and Western States by United Film Service, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri. Theatre or Eihibitor's Firm Name Owner or Manager Street Address State DO NOT REMOVE Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAIIY \* )L. 84, NO. 5 NEW YORK, THURSDAY. JULY 8, 1943 TEN CENTS QUICK JXHIB. REACTION TO DIVORCEMENT Schine Asks Relief from Theater Disposal Order Retention of Theaters Implements Competition, Schine Counsel Declares By J. HOWARD GARNISH FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Buffalo — Declaring it was "an out- rageous act of oppression "for the Government to require the Schine defendants to attempt to sell 16 theater interests they had acquired since the filing of the D of J's anti- trust suit against them, while per- mitting the producer-distributor-ex- hibitor defendants, who were parties to the New York consent decree, to retain more than 200 theaters after (Continued on Page 9) See Mexico Training Field for Pix Execs. Mexico City (By Air Mail) — Mex- ico as a training field for American film distribution personnel and ex- ecutives is looming large in the post- war scheme of things, it is learned here. First moves in that direction are reported made- by three American companies — Warners, 20th-Fox and {Continued on Page 10) WB Midwestern District Head to be Named Today Chicago — Second of the three reg- ional sales meetings being held by Warners this year will get under way this morning in the Blackstone Hotel, with Ben Kalmenson, general (Continued on Page 10) Argentina May Bar U. S. Anti-Axis Pix Buenos Aires (By Air Mail, Passed by Censor) — Pending a stand on the Government's general attitude toward foreign films, decision on the admit- tance of U. S. films with political backgrounds has been delayed. It is expected that films which openly attack Axis nations will not be shown in Argentina. TO MEET IN CAPITAL ON OWI FUTURE Elmer Davis and E. Palmer Hoyt Will Confer With Representatives of the film Industry By ANDREW H. OLDER Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A meeting of repre- sentatives of the motion picture in- dustry with OWI Director Elmer Davis and Domestic Director E. Pal- mer Hoyt will probably be held next week here, it was revealed yester- day. An official of domestic branch of OWI was considerably embarrassed when asked if Lowell Mellett, mo- tion picture bureau chief, would also be on hand for the meeting. He de- clined to answer. The entire matter of industry co-operation with the OWI and vice versa will be gone over, and it is probable that the plans for the future of the OWI motion pic- (Continued on Page 7) 20lh-Fox Sets 15 Pix; Minor A's Out West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Twentieth-Fox, whol- ly eliminating minor A's as well as B's from its production program, will send 15 top pix before the cam- eras during the next four months following the return of Col. Darryl F. Zanuck, it was announced yes- terday by Joseph M. Schenck. Three of the 15, titles of which (Continued on Page 8) Denies Motion to Dismiss Ascap Anti-Trust Suit New York Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard yesterday denied a mo- tion by Ascap to dismiss the anti- trust action brought against it, Gene Buck, Irving Berlin, Inc., and Carl (Continued on Page 5) A. G. Allen Resigns As ABC's Chairman London — Resignation of A. G. Al- len, DSO, MC, as chairman of As- sociated British Cinemas, Ltd., one of the major British theater circuits, was announced yesterday without ex- planation. News of Allen's departure from ABC stirred lively trade speculation, with some Wardour St. quarters in- clined to link the resignation with (Continued on Page 7) New 20th-Fox 100,000-Share Issue Sold in Few Hours The new issue of 100,000 shares of prior preferred stock of 20th-Fox was entirely sold out yesterday with- in several hours after it was placed on the market, it was reported last (Continued on Page 8) Trade to Aid New Bond Drive Plan Participation at Early New York Meeting "There Goes Lena Henry" First by Bogeaus for UA West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — /First of three pic- tures to be produced by Ben Bogeaus for United Artists will be "There Goes Lena Henry," from the novel by Polan Banks. Bogeaus, presi- (Continued on Page 8) Washington Bureau, of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Nation-wide indus- try participation in the giant third War Bond drive planned for Sep- tember will probably be announced later this month. A meeting may be held in New York between the Treas- ury Department and WAC officials within the next 10 days, in which (Continued on Page 5) "Just as Wrong as Ever/' Kuykendall; Myers Favors Senate Hearings in Fall Re-introduction of the Neely theater divorcement bill in the U. S. Senate by West Virginia's senior senator, Harley M. Kilgore, under agreement with the Depart- ment of Justice brought quick reac- tions yesterday from the senior of- ficers of the two national exhibitor organizations. Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy, in response to an invitation from The Film Daily to comment, castigated the bill in his telegraphed reply from Columbus, Miss., and asserted that "sane-thinking exhibitors every- (Continued on Page 10) Lensmen Acclaim 3rd Dimension Pic Tests West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Tests reported to be revolutionary have been completed by four top cameramen on Polyscope, trade name for a machine to pro- duce third dimensional pictures. The quartette completing tests of the machine, of which James McMahon, assistant director at Warner Bros. (Continued on Page 5) Cowan Company Plan Links Stage and Pix Lester Cowan is working on plans for a company to put on plays picked for their picture possibilities. The company, which would be headed by Cowan, would do away with the (Continued on Page 6) Hollywood Pictures Send Circulation Up Chicago — In the face of the ac- tion by some newspapers in material- ly curtailing space devoted to films and theaters, the Daily News here has added two pages of Hollywood pictures each day to the evening edi- tions. Paper reports a healthy cir- culation response. ;M Thursday, July 8, 1943 DAILY Vol. 84, No. 5 Thurs., July 8, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : : : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y.. under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address- Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. cominG URD G0IHG RICHARD F. WALSH, IATSE head, returned to town yesterday from a Western trip. LOUIS NIZER leaves tomorrow for a vaca- tion. DON CARLE CILETTE, WB trade press con- tact, is in Chicago. DEWEY D. BLOOM, M-C-M exploitation representative in Canada, pulls into town next week for conferences with William R. Fergu- son, the company's exploitation manager. MONROE GOODMAN, former assistant to Oscar Morgan at Paramount, is in town on leave from his Air Force duties at Kelly Field, Tex. GEORGE FREEMAN, manager of Loew's Poli, Springfield, Mass., is in Hampton Beach, N. H., for his vacation. E. C. GRAINGER is on a swing around the Shea circuit. WILLIAM RESNICK, writer for the Emerson Yorke studio, is back from a research trip through Indiana on the documentary film "Edu- cation for Living." SIDNEY SHELDON and BEN ROBERTS, screen writers, are here from the Coast. TED O'SHEA, M-G-M Eastern division man- ager; HAROLD POSTMAN, assistant to Wil- liam F. iRodgers, distribution head of the com- pany, and EDWIN W. AARON, circuit sales manager, leave for Cincinnati today to partici- pate in the firm's sales analysis session there. They'll be away for a few days. ANITA LOUISE was at Camp Campbell, Clarksville, Tenn., yesterday in her voluntary USO-Camps Shows tour which ends at Camp Lee, Va., on July 14. ANNE ROONEY today starts an engagement at Fort Riley, Abilene, Kan., on the second leg of her USO-Camp Shows tour which closes on July 23 at Camp Campbell, Clarksville, Tenn. JULES FIELDS of the 20th-Fox exploitation department is back from a 10-day trip to St. Louis. JEANNE HESS of the 20th-Fox publicity and exploitation department has returned from a vacation in Chicago. ERNIE CROUCH, who has been helping out at Schine's Dixie in Rochester, N. Y., returns this week to his post at the Schine house in Auburn. Canadian Service Shots For Dominion Newsreels Montreal — Canadian men and wo- men in the services at home and abroad will be featured in Dominion news reels, after July 22, according to plans just completed by Oscar Hanson, president of Pioneer Films. Pioneer is launching a fast trans- Atlantic film service which, it is/ pected, will eliminate further C\^ adian criticism that newsreels ex- hibited here stress U. S. military op- erations. Briggs, Greenblatt and Lefton to Coast Tomorrow FINANCIAL (Wednesday, July 7) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 16% 16i/4 163/8 + Vs Col. Picts. vtc. (2'/2%> 17V4 171/s 17'/8 — 3/s Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. 17l/2 17ft 17ft + V4 East. Kodak 165 165 165 ..... do pfd 180 1793/4 17934 — 1/4 Gen Prec. Eq 22l/4 22 22 — 1/4 Loew's, Inc 60ft 60 60ft — H/4 Paramount 283/4 277/8 283/8 RKO 9 8% 9 RKO $6 pfd 943/4 941/4 94ft— 1/4 20th Century-Fox .. 21ft 20% 21 ft 20th Century-Fox pfd. 32ft 3 2 1/4 32ft + ft Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15 14% 15 do pfd 893/8 891/4 893/8 + ft NEW YORK BONO MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... 35/8 3ft 3% + ft Radio-Keith cvs 1% 1% 1% ..... Sonotone Corp 33,4 3ft 3% + 1/4 Technicolor 13 12% 13 Trans-Lux Universal Corp. vtc Universal Picts N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Met. Playhouse, Inc. 2nd deb. '45 Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 763,4 79ft O. Henry Briggs, president of PRC, Arthur Greenblatt, vice-presi- dent in charge of sales, and Nat Lefton, Cleveland and Cincinnati franchise holder and recently ap- pointed district manager for Pitts- burgh, Detroit, Cincinnati and Cleve- land, leave tomorrow for Hollywood, where they will confer with Leon Fromkess, production chief, and PRC producers on production of the 1943-44 program. From Hollywood, Greenblatt will make a swing through the entire Western and Southwestern territor- ies. The sales chief of PRC will re- turn to New York about Aug. 15. Briggs will remain in Hollywood for several weeks, returning to New York about Aug. 1. Predicts FM Television Advance After the War What the television industry ex- pects as a post-war development, according to Paul Chamberlain of GE's electronics department, is the rapid advancement of FM broadcast- ing stations which he believes will replace many low-powered AM sta- tions now handicapped by interfer- Gov't Shorts at Each Show Or No Waiving Overtime Syracuse— IATSE Local 376, op- erators, has served notice on all houses here that the practice of waiving overtime resulting from the screening of Government shorts has been eliminated except in instances where the programs are made up in strict compliance with the policy of showing the shorts as part of each show. The union charges that some houses have been "chiseling" time bv eliminating the Government shorts from all except the last show at night, thereby getting more film run and avoiding payment of over- time by blaming the shorts with tak- ing up the extra running time. Republic Takes 200 Chi. Billboards to Boost Rogers Chicago — Republic has taken 200 billboard stands in the Chicago ter- ritory boosting Roy Rogers film drive and his personal appearance next week with his "Song of Texas" film at the Oriental Theater. Three radio stations will be used. NEW YORK THEATERS Nathan Rosen $85,854 Estate Goes to Widow 1600 , BROADWAY """»»*' \ %a^ / N.T.C MUVHt M«VI« \^ y {J,,,, 0-00ll-2-)-4 tfOtAOI I C A. nOJICttOH HOOM RIM EXCHANGE OlSKIIUIION StfVICE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY Theater Manager — Steady Age 47 — Married Excellent References Prefer Times Sq. or Midtown Area Please State Minimum Salary Box 166— Film Daily 1501 Broadway— New York City Miami Beach, Fla. — An inventory filed in probate court revealed that Nathan Rosen, retired Pittsburgh theater owner, left an estate of $85,854.02 when he died a little over a vear ago. Of this amount 1511,126.62 was in the Iron City Amusement Co. of Pittsburgh, and his interests in the Granada and Model Theaters in Pittsburgh was listed at $55,103.42. Entire estate was left to his wife. Mrs. Anna Rosen, who has aualified as execu- trix and who resides at the family home in Miami Beach. Margaret M. Bleakley Named Joe Shea Aide RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION' with VIRGINIA WEIDLER, EDWARD ARNOLD and Five Important Guest Stars AN M-G-M PICTURE NEW MARCH OF TIME Gala Stage Revue • Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 J^C BETTY GRABLE -fc GEORGE MONTGOMERY* CESAR ROMERO Come? isiand A JOTH CENTURr-FOX fICTURE in TECHNICOLOR * PLUS A BIG STAGE SHOW * BUY |J ^\ ■%#• W 7ihAVE. BONDS K V A I 50th ST. "DIXIE" * In Person with ~k ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY "k TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOUR -fc MITCHELL AYRES A Paramount Picture -»V and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square B'WAY & 47th St. Humphrey Bogart • Raymond Massey "ACTION IN NORTH ATLANTIC" and "PRAIRIE CHICKENS" JIMMY ROGERS . NOAH BEERY, JR. Margaret M. Bleaklev has joined William Cagney Productions in New York as assistant to Joseph Shea, Eastern -publicity representative and story editor. Miss Bleakley was formerly associated with the storv departments of David O. Selznick and Hunt Stromberg Productions. ££& STATE ON SCREEN JEAN ARTHUR JOEL McCREA "THE MORE THE MERRIER' ^4 OBi ' ^ r^$ i \ ¥ Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer's Technicolorful Musical Comedy "DU BARRY WAS A LADY" inspires artist Shermund o£ Esquire Magazine to paint this impression of the Du Barry Girl. We don't expect you to read a single word of this advertisement with all the dazzling darlings of "Du Barry Was A Lady" running over the page like mad. It's too much to ask of anyone to concentrate on Technicolor and who wrote it and things like that except that Red Skelton is so funny and Lucille Ball Dm-B so gorgeous and Gene Kelly such a volcanic Ancer that you'd never forgive us if we neglected to tell you about them — not to mention deadpan Virginia O'Brien and comic 'Rags' Ragland and the cafe society hit Zero Mostel plus guess who and his band ... of course it's popular Tommy Dorsey playing torchy tunes by Cole Porter and others. All in all, now that you're reading this ad.. .or have you stopp|d...it's the big- gest eyeful of money show in years and promoted in big magazine campaigns, newspaplr teaser ads for months, full pages in Esquire and American Weekly. And nationwide Sunday Supplement ads 3 weeks in a row synchronized with July release. Screenplay by Irving Brecher, adapted by Nancy Hamilton, additional dialogue by Wilkie Mahoney, directed by Roy del Ruth, produced by Arthur Freed. And re- member "Du Barry Was A Lady" is just one of M-G-M's 4th great Group, "Seven From Heaven." Let's Keep Selling Bonds ! Thursday, J ursday, July 8, 1943 Reviews of the new rums & -v "Victory Through Air Power" UA-Disney 65 Mins. DISNEY DOES SUPERB JOB WITH FILM VERSION OF SEVERSKY BOOK; TIMELY PIC DESERVES WIDE AUDIENCE. Walt Disney has applied every resource of his art to make the screen treatment of Major Alexander P. de Seversky's book, "Victory Through Air Power," an achieve- ment fully worthy of his name. All the devices of the animator's craft have been employed with powerful effect to bring home the message contained in the Seversky tome — namely, that only the right use of aerial might will gain us the decisive triumph in our struggle against the Axis. Despite the fine job Disney has done in transferring Seversky's ideas to celluloid one cannot get away from the question of whether the film represents entertainment in the sense that picture fans have come to accept it. Humor is at a minimum and is confined to that portion of the film deal- ing with the history of aviation. "Victory Through Air Power" is Disney in a more serious mood — which is understandable con- sidering the vital significance of the sub- ject. The timeliness of the film and the publicity that has accrued to the Seversky book provide exploitable points in selling the picture to the public. "Victory Through Air Power" is a picture that calls for the abandonment of old- time notions of entertainment in its evalua- tion. It must be weighed by maturer stand- ards for the sake of its message — in this instance a message of supreme importance — a message that touches the welfare of every individual arrayed against the Axis powers. Every person seriously interested in victory against the Axis owes it to him- self to see the film. This is a point the exhibitor can stress with profit to him- self in selling the picture to his patrons. Despite its seriousness the film manages to be absorbing at all times. It puts over its message with remarkable clarity and commendable simplicity. Diagrams have never been used with more striking effect, nor with greater cleverness. Disney uses them dramatically to illustrate Seversky's concepts of air force as a weapon of vic- tory. After the film has sketched the develop- ment of the airplane the screen is given over to Seversky himself. The heir to General Billy Mitchell's theories on the value of air power expounds his ideas with an incisive- ness and an authority that make it easy to see why through the air lies the United Nations' path to victory. Seversky shows in detail how long-range bombing by land- based aviation will blast the Axis out of the war. He presents his case impressively and eloquently, driving home his argument with devastating logic. Seversky explains at length why trying to lick the Axis by any other means than air power properly applied will be a long and arduous task calling for a heavy cost in lives and gold. He points out the need for a united American air force under separate command. The film, in which Technicolor has been used to fine alvantage, represents a grand job of animation. Hats are off to all who had a finger in the making of the picture. CREDITS: Producer, Walt Disney, Pro- "Isle of Forgotten Sins" with John Carradine and Gale Sondergaard (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW PRC 82 Mins. ACTION-PACKED SOUTH SEAS MELO- DRAMA OFFERS PLENTY OF ENTER- TAINMENT. Here is an ambitious offering in the modest budget field. This melodrama of the South Seas has plenty of action, and has been well directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, who also wrote the original story. Peter R. Van Duinen provided excellent production values and Raymond L. Schrock wrote the screenplay. Ira H. Morgan con- tributed splendid photography. John Carradine and Frank Fenton, ex- pert deep sea-divers, learn the location of a liner that was scuttled by its captain, Sidney Toler, and its purser, Rick Vallin. In the hold of the sunken boat is $3,000- 000 in gold. Toler and Vallin deliberately bait Carra- dine and Fenton, determined to high- jack the gold from the ambitious deep- sea divers. When the treasure is finally brought to the surface, Toler, Vallin and their henchmen overpower the divers and take the loot from them. Toler and Vallin quarrel over the spoils and kill each other. A monsoon sweeps away the treasure, but Fenton, Carradine and his sweetheart, Gale Sondergaard, are saved. CAST: John Carradine, Gale Sondergaard, Sidney Toler, Frank Fenton, Veda Ann Borg, Rita Quigley, Rick Vallin, Betty Amann, Tala Birell, Patti McCarty, Marian Colby, William Edmonds. CREDITS: Producer, Peter R. Van Duinen; Leon Fromkess in charge of Production; Director, Edgar G. Ulmer; Author, Raymond L. Schrock; Screenplay, same; Based on story by Edgar G. Ulmer; Cameraman, Ira Morgan; Editor, Charles Henkel, Jr.; Art Director, Fred Preble; Dialogue Director, Ben Kamsler; Special effects, Gene Stone; Music, Leo Erdody. DIRECTION, Excellent PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. Cowan Company Plan Links Stage and Pix (Continued from Page 1) Broadway producer. The set-up en- visioned by Cowan calls for him to function as the direct representa- tive of the film companies them- selves, replacing the current prac- tice of backing individual producers. duction Manager, Dan Keefe; Scenes with Major Seversky directed by H. C. Potter; Animation Supervisor, David Hand; Story Direction, Perce Pearce; Story Adaptation, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, William Cottrell, Jim Bodrero, George Stallings, Jose Rodri- quez; Sequence Directors, Clyde Geronomi, Jack Kinney, James Algar; Cameraman, Ray Hennehan; Art Director, Richard Irvine; Sound Recorders, C. O. Sly field, Lodge Cunningham; Film Editor, Jack Dennis; Interior Decoration, William Kiernan; Nar- rator, Art Baker; Musical Score, Edward Plumb, Paul J. Smith, Oliver Wallace. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. "Gals, Incorporated" with Leon Errol, Harriet Hilliard, Grace McDonald Universal 61 Mins. STRONG ON TUNEFULNESS BUT MUSICAL WEAK ON COMEDY, SHOULD GET FAIR RESPONSE FROM YOUNG FOLKS. "Gals, Incorporated" fails to incorporate enough good material to get it by in the neighborhoods without a lot of plugging. It is a mild little musical which will have to rest its case almost wholly on its song content — which means that the film's appeal is directed primarily to adolescents. For- tunately the tunes are peppy and numer- ous, there being 13 of them. The film is weakest in the comedy department, despite the presence of Leon Errol in the cast. The gags are pretty old and badly put over with the result that laughs are few and far between. The film is helped by the breezy way in which it has been directed by Leslie Goodwins, who obtained better results than the script warranted. Also an aid are the attractive settings provided by John Goodman. Among the chief attractions of the picture are the Pied Pipers and Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra. These two aggregations, plus the singing of some of the principals, will keep the young ones reasonably entertained. The story is a silly and thoroughly in- consequential affair. The title refers to a night club backed by Errol, wealthy playboy, and wholly manned (if that is the word) by lovely gals. When Errol's sister (Minna Phillips) threatens to part the comedian from his inheritance unless he is remarried and behaves himself, the gals come to the rescue by inducing one of their number (Grace McDonald) to pose as his wife. Complications arise when Errol's son by a former marriage, a Marine makes his appearance. Miss McDonald falls in love with the lad (David Bacon) but can't do anything about it without exposing the whole plot. Harriet Hilliard, a cat, tries to grab the youth for herself, but true love conquers in the end after everything has been straightened out. The cast does the best it can under the circumstances. Will Cowan acted as as- sociate producer. Edward Dein pleads guilty to the authorship of the screenplay, which was suggested by a story by Dave Gould and Charles Marion. CAST: Leon Errol, Harriet Hilliard, David Bacon, Maureen Cannon, Betty Keane, Vicki Cornell, Minna Phillips, Grace Mc- Donald, Pied Pipers, Glen Gray and Casa Loma Orchestra. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Will Cow- an; Director, Leslie Goodwins; Screenplay, Edward Dein; Suggested by story by1 Dave Gould, Charles Marion; Cameraman, Jerry Ask; Musical Director, Charles Previn; Art Director, John Goodman; Film Editor, Arthur Hilton Dance Director, Josephine Earl. DIRECTION, All Right. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Reginald Barlow Dead West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Reginald Barlow, 76, veteran screen and stage actor, is dead. "Submarine Base" with John Litel, Fifi D'Orsay, Alan Baxter (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) PRC 65 Mins. WELL PRODUCED, DIRECTED AND ACTED MELODRAMA PACKS PLENTY r" SUSPENSE. (^ Here is a melodrama, well acted, pro- duced and directed. Jack Schwarz handled the production chores, with Harry D. Ed- wards as associate producer. Albert Kelley's direction maintains the suspense to the end, while Marcel LePicard's photography is splendid. Alan Baxter, a fugitive from the law, operates off an island on the Equator, off Brazil. His "business" is furnishing torpe- does to Nazi submarines. One day he fishes John Litel out of the ocean. Litel, a former New York detective, now a member of the Merchant Marine, recognizes Baxter as a gangster. Baxter holds Litel a prisoner on the island, and Litel soon becomes suspicious of Bax- ter's newly-found wealth. George Lee, an Englishman and long-time resident on the island, aids Litel. George Metaxa, a Ger- man agent, who pays Baxter for the tor- pedoes, begins to feel that Baxter is trying to "double-cross" him and the Germans, and has his suspicions fully confirmed when a Nazi submarine explodes off the island. Baxter had been supplying torpedoes, which were timed to explode a few hours after taking on a load. A gun battle follows, with Metaxa killing Baxter. Eric Blore and Luis Alberni furnish the comedy, while Fifi D'Orsay, Iris Adrian and Jacqueline Dalya are among the mem- bers of the cast. CAST: John Litel, Alan Baxter, Eric Blore, George Metaxa, George Lee, Rafael Storm, Fifi D'Orsay, Iris Adrian, Jacqueline Dalya, Anna Demetrio, Luis Alberni, Lucien Prival. CREDITS: Jack Schwarz; Associate Pro- ducer, Harry D. Edwards; Leon Fromkess in charge of production; Director, Albert Kel- ley; Authors, Arthur St. Clair and George Merrick; Cameraman, Marcel Le Picard; Musical Composer and Director, Charles Dant; Art Director, Frank Sylos; Editor, Hol- brook, H. Todd. DIRECTION, Splendid. PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. Warner Studio First Under Wire for New Tax Setup West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Warners was first of the major studios to register all em- ployes for new 20 per cent weekly income tax deductions, effective July 1. Result will be that all workers will get full legal deductions for dependents from outset of paycheck bump. Tabulating department, un- der E. L. De Patie, chief auditor, accomplished task by wiring Wash- ington for sample form the day Presi- dent Roosevelt signed the bill. Form was airmailed to studio the following day and on the third day the printer supplied enough official blanks to take care of entire personnel. JB&i ■ Thursday, July 8, 1943 DAILY Davis to Meet Film Reps, on OWI Future \i (Continued from Page 1) ture bureau will depend largely upon this conference. As yet the OWI does not know definitely how much of a job it can do on motion pictures, and it ap- pears that the procedure will be to put it up to the industry as to how much aid is needed. A proposed plan for the organization of the bureau, providing for only one separate of- fice in Washington, is already drawn up and Lowell Mellett, bureau chief, said yesterday he expects a decision on it within another week or so. Mellett refused to comment on reports that he was leaving: OWI. Other officials of the domestic branch were also unwilling' to comment on Mellett's status, although it is definitely known that his remaining with the agency is a red hot issue at the moment. Mellett is believed to wish to remain with the agency while there is re- portedly a strong movement on hand to move him out. His strong personal prestige overshadowing that of some of his superiors, is reported to be one of the reasons he has been asked to step out. The Hollywood work-liaison and script clearance, it appears now, will be handled by Ulric Bell, who represents the overseas branch of the motion picture bureau on the Coast. Bell, a former newspaper man like Poynter, works under Robert Riskin, head of the overseas pix bureau. He has been alone in Hollywood until now, using the office facilities of the domestic bureau, but it is probably now that he will have a staff of his own. Nelson Poynter, Mellett representative in Hollywood, is out, and it seems almost certain that the script clear- ance activities of OWI will be sharply cur- tailed. Bell will continue to advise on scripts destined for overseas showing, and may take over on his own responsibility for advice on other scripts — thus providing to a lesser extent the same service for which Poynter was responsible. Bell will probably get his own staff since he will no longer have the facilities of the Coast OWI office. Thus there may be in Hollywood something which some industry quarters have long felt would be desirable — a single OWI contact rather than separate contacts for the do- mestic and the overseas branch. That this may became officially the ease here in Washington and New York, too, is a possi- bility, although there is strong resistance within OWI to that plan. Here in Washington the only "must" jobs for OWI in moving pictures are the co-or- dination of Government films and the chan- nelling of Government agencies' requests to the industry. Because funds are plentiful for any of the Government agencies aside from the military, the former task should not prove too difficult. Artkino to Offer four Artkino Pictures will release five features comprising four dramas and a documntary during the first period of the 1943-44 season. Titles are "Black Sea Fighters," a documen- tary; "She Defends Her Country," "A Lad from Our Town," "Guer- rillas," and "It Started in Odessa." The ... . FEMME TOUCH THELMA WASHBURN, booker, RKO exchange, Des Moines. MRS. VERA DECKER, in charge of Schine The- aters candy sales in Western New York, Rochester. MARTHA SCOTT, assistant manager, Hub, Rochelle, III. Theater Minute Man Plan Clicks in Cincy: War Manpower Commission to Extend Setup Cleveland — Trial plan to recruit employes for war production plants via one-minute speakers at movie houses proved so successful that it will be extended throughout this area, Synth ia Ware, head of the publicity department of the WMC in this area declared, yesterday. With one-minute speakers recruited for indus- try making a single appeal from the stages of seven selected theaters and a United States Employment Service representative in the lobby to follow-up, 40 employes, more than 50 per cent women, were recruited. The WMC is delighted with this new avenue approach to labor and will extend it materially, said Miss Ware, who was enthusiastic over the hearty co-operation rendered by G. W. Erdmann, secretary of the CMPEA and all of the participating theater managers. $50,000 Bond Required For Lease Suit Appeal Youngstown, O. — Bond of $50,000 must be posted by any party or parties wanting to appeal the recent decision granting lease rights of the Palace Theater, beginning Aug. 1, to the Dallmer Co., headed by At- torney Gerald F. Hammond, accord- ing to a recent ruling by Judge Ers- kine Maiden, Jr. The suit, heard here in April, was brought by the Dellmer Co. to de- termine whether it or the Public Square Theater Co., present holder of the lease, is entitled to the new lease. New York Life Insurance Co., as mortgagee-in-possession, planned to renew its lease with Public Square, while the Palace Realty Co., owner of the property, gave a ten- year lease to Dallmer. Judge Mai- den decided in favor of Dallmer. It was decided that posting of bond to cover any losses would be the best method of assuring operation of the theater during pendency of the suit. The $50,000 bond covers only damages which the Dallmer Co. if upheld in higher court, may suffer by being prevented from operating the theater during the expected 10- month litigation in higher courts. Franconi-Fidler Interests Take Mono. K.C. Franchise Dallas — Integration of the Mono- gram franchise office in Kansas City, with those in Dallas, Denver, and Salt Lake City, making a four-branch operation, said to be the most exten- sive in the Monogram system of franchises, is announced here by John L. Franconi. Franconi, and his co-partner Edwin Blumenthal, own- ers of the Dallas Monogram fran- chise, in association with Lon T. Fidler, Monogram franchise owner for Denver and Salt Lake City, have purchased the Kansas City fran- chise, possession being taken yes- terday. Leland Allen, former buyer for Commonwealth Theaters, Kansas City, has been appointed branch manager, and Ralph Heft office man- ager and city salesman. Fidler and Franconi will take turn-about for one week in each month for general supervision. Cincy V. C. Outing July 19 Cincinnati — The Queen City Var- iety Club's annual family outing is set for July 19 at the Summit Hills Country Club, Dixie Highway. A. G. Allen Resigns as Chairman of ABC (Continued from Page 1) a possible deal for control of the circuit in which Warner Bros, are financially interested. There have been persistent re- ports during the last few months that A. J. Rank was angling for control through purchase of the dominant Maxwell estate interest. ABC has two joint managing di- rectors, Max Milder, representing Warners, and E. Lightfoot, acting for the British interests. Allen, who is an attorney, had been chairman of Associated Brit- ish Cinema since the Maxwell estate sold half of its interest in ABC about 18 months ago to Warner Bros. He had also been associated with the late John Maxwell, who in addition to his vast motion picture holdings, had also been an attorney himself. It is believed Allen held very little stock in ABC. Metro Minneapolis Branch Plaque Honors 5 in Service Minneapolis — Five employes of Metro's local branch now in the armed service, were honored when a plaque inscribed with their names, was dedicated at the office here iri the presence of relatives of the quintet. The plaque, of walnut topped by a silver spread eagle, contains the names of Lt. Oliver Lener, Pvt. Rob- ert Hazelton, Corp. Melvin Turner, Pvt. Ray Haberland and Pvt. William Donaldson. Lerner already is over- seas. W. H. Workman, branch manager unveiled the plaque. WLB Finally Approves SOPEG Contract With UA War Labor Board finally has ap- proved the SOPEG contract with United Artists covering home of- fice white collar workers. Pact, signed last January, provides for a raise increase of approximately 15 per cent, retroactive to Nov. 21 last. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged KENNETH THOMAS, from the Army, to Para- mount Theater, Hammond, Ind. BIG PICTURE p^SBS*' ***** BARTON MacLANE HARRY SHANNON PAT BRADV ARLINE JUDGE and BOB NOLAN ■nd THE SONS OF J0SEPH k»ne. Dlredor THE PIONEERS ^'^T^^SlZ^' Buy War'Bonds ! "ssoc,a,e Producer' "ABRlf GREY It's a REPUBLIC PICTURE w DAILY Thursday, July 8, 1943 20th-Fox Sets 15 Pix; Minor A's Out {Continued from Page 1) have already figured in studio an- nouncements, will toe musicals and as many more will be in Technicolor, Schenck said. Roster of 15 is headed by "Wil- son," previously disclosed as Za- nuck's first personal production. Slated for the color vat are Harry Sherman's "Buffalo Bill," "Green- wich Village," musical starring Carmen Miranda, and the Betty Grable vehicle, "Where Do We Go From Here?" Other pix placed by Schenck on the production schedule yesterday included: "Happy Land," "Tam- pico," Edward G. Robinson starrer; "Lifeboat," to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock; "The Lodger," Mrs. Bel- loc Lowndes' murder mystery; "Am- bassador Dodd's Diary"; "Eve of St. Mark," which John Stahl will direct; "Torpedo Squadron 8," "Keys of the Kingdom," A. J. Cronin's best sel- ler acquired from David O. Selz- nick; "Four Jills and a Jeep," with Carol Landis, Martha Raye, Kay Francis and Mitzi Mayfair, and "Mo- ment of Music," Benny Goodman vehicle. Geneva Theater Closes; Driving Ban Is Blamed Rochester — Schine's Temple in nearby Geneva has been closed be- cause of the ban on pleasure driving. Schine's Geneva and Regent have remained open. WEDDING BELLS Fredericton, N. B. — Miriam Eliza- beth Eardley, of Fredericton, and William H. Metz, of St. John, N. B., were married here. The groom is in charge of advertising for the Spen- cer theaters. Indianapolis — Marilyn Brown, sec- retary in Universal booking depart- ment, and Maurice Bassett, Shelby- ville, Ind., have announced their wedding for July 28. Indianapolis — Ruth Gasper, War- ners billing department, and f.c. P. 0. Thomas A. Prewitt will be married Saturday in Piedmont, Cal. Cincinnati — Metro's Esther Shedd married Sergt. J. M. Polito, now sta- tioned in California. Las Vegas, Nev. — Betty Grable and Harry James were married Mon- day. New Haven — Lt. Frank Manente, former assistant at the Loew-Poli, was married here to Grayce Coca and leaves for Texas with his bride. HCLLyWCCD DIGEST SIGNED VICTOR SAVILLE, produce and direct "Heart of a City," Columbia. PETER LORRE, termer, Warners. DON DOUGLAS, termer, iRKO. PEGGY O'NEILL, termer, Charles R. Rogers. FIBBER McGEE & MOLLY, two pictures, RKO. KERMIT MAYNARD, termer, Republic. ASSIGNMENTS MAURICE SEIDERMAN, makeup director, "Since You Went Away," Vanguard. GEORGE SIDNEY, "Mr. Co-ed," M-C-M. CEORCE SIDNEY, director, "Mr. Co-ed," M-C-M. WILLIAM BEAUDINE, director, "The Thirteenth Guest," Monogram. FRED KANE, associate producer, "Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, His Life and Loves," W. R. Frank. LEE ZAHLER, score, "Tiger Fangs," Jack Schwarz-PRC. ALBERT J. COHEN, producer, "Atlantic City," Republic. CHARLES MARION and TIM RYAN, screen- play, "The Thirteenth Guest," Monogram. JACK CONWAY, director, "Dragon Seed," M- C-M. • CASTINGS PETER LORRE, "Passage to Marseille," War- ners; ELAINE RILEY, "An American Story," and "Higher and Higher," RKO; HENRY HULL, "Life- boat," 20th-Fox; ANN REVERE, "Standing Room Only," Paramount; PEGGY O'NEILL, "One Man's Family," Charles R. Rogers for UA; WILLIAM DAVIDSON, "Cover Girl," Columbia; KATHA- RINE HEPBURN, "Without love," M-G-M; RAYMOND WALBURN, "Hail the Conquering Hero," -Paramount; YVONNE de CARLO, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Paramount. ROBERT WALKER, "Since You Went Away," David 0. Selznick; E. J. BALANTINE, VIN- CENT PRICE and ANTHONY QUINN, "Buf- falo Bill," 20th-Fox; BETTE DAVIS and PAUL HENREID, "Mr. Skeffington," Warners; ANNE GWYNNE and PECGY RYAN, "The Man of the Family," Universal; JACK HALEY, "Higher and Higher," RKO; LOU CROSBY, "Revenge," RKO; ELISHA COOK, JR., "Up in Arms," Samuel Goldwyn; LYNN MBRRICK, "Is Everybody Happy," Columbia; LESTER ALLEN, "Tropicana," Columbia; SUSAN HAYWARD "Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA; MARY ASTOR, "Meet Me in St. Louis," M-G-M; VLADMIR SOKO- LOFF, "Passage to Marseille,' Warners; SHEL- LEY WINTER, "Nine Girls," Columbia; HARRY DAVENPORT, "Government Girl," RKO; WAL- LACE BEERY and MARJ0R1E MAIN, "Ration- ing," M-C-M; SMILEY BURNETTE, "Beyond the Last Frontier," Republic; DAN DURYEA, "Min- istry of Fear," Paramount; MARGO, "An Amer- ican Story," RKO; . • STORY PURCHASES LAMAR WARRICK'S "Yesterday's Children," M-G-M. SCHEDULED "There Goes Lena Henry," Ben Bogeaus for UA release. "Barnstorming," producer-director, LLOYD BACON; screenplay, MATT ALLEN. "They Also Wear Wings," producer, SAMUEL MARX; story, COM. HERMAN HALLAND; screenplay, JOHN TWIST, M-G-M. "Rationing," producer, O. 0. DULL; director, WILLIS COLDBECK. "The Harvey Girls," screenplay, ELINOR GRIF- FIN and WILLIAM RANKIN; music and lyrics, HARRY WARREN and JOHNNY MERCER, M-C-M. 'Calling All Stars," producer, IRVING BRIS- KIN; screenplay, MONTE BRICE, Colum- bia. "There Goes Lena Henry" First by Bogeaus for UA {Continued from Page 1^ dent of General Service Studios, bought the novel from RKO for $25,000 and received a script by Kettizrings as part of the deal. Script is to be changed for added production values and the film is ex- pected to go before the cameras in late September. According to Bo- geaus, production cost will be around $950,000. Loretta Young has been named as probable star of the film. Bogeaus has launched negotiations with her, but consummation of the deal is in doubt, due to the star's prior com- mitments. Japs Holding Dugan, First Reported Missing Springfield, Ohio — Pvt. John E. Dugan, reported missing in action more than a year ago after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, is a pris- oner of the Japanese in the Philip- pines. Pvt. Dugan was employed by Chakeres Theaters, Inc. before his enlistment. New 20th-Fox 100,000-Share Issue Sold in Few Hours {Continued from Page 1) night by Lehman Bros, and Hayden, Stone & Co., which head the under- writing group which is handling the issue. Subscription books were closed at noon. The stock, which is without par value and carries a $4.50 dividend, was offered a $100 per share. The new stock issue was sanc- tioned by the 20th-Fox stockholders at a special meeting on Tuesday as a means of providing proceeds to enable the company to acquire the Chase National Bank's 58 per cent interest in National Theaters. Chicago — Chicago brokers report the sale of the new 100,000-share offering of Twentieth Century-Fox preferred stock issue in this market as satisfactory. Liberal newspaper advertising was used to sell the issue here. W. L. Peacock 111 Pittsburgh — W. L. Peacock, vet- eran Harris Circuit theater man- ager, now stationed at the Beech- view Theater here, was taken very ill while on his vacation last week and will not be able to return to duty for at least several weeks, it is reported. Rohrs to Supervise Three More Exchanges for PRC PRO exchanges in Dallas, Okla- homa City and Little Rock have been added to the division supervised by Fred A. Rohrs, it was announced yesterday by Arthur Greenblatt, sales chief. Edwin R. Booth Dead Canton, O. — Edwin R. Booth, 55, for several seasons manager of the old Meyers Lake park theater here, died at his home of a heart ailment. 10 Start on Coast, Making 47 Shooting West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ten new pictures are scheduled to go into production this week, making 47 shooting. The check-up : At Columbia: Five shooting, in-/ eluding "Doughboys in Ireland," V musical, starring Kenny Baker, with Jeff Donnell, Lynn Merrick and the Jesters; and, "Cyclone Prairie Rangers," Charles Starrett western, with Jimmy Davis. Jack Fier pro- ducing both pictures. At M-G-M: Eleven shooting. Monogram: Three shooting-, including' "The Thirteenth Guest," drama, which Lindsley Parsons is producing and Bill Beaudine di- recting. At Paramount: Six shooting, including "The Story of Dr. Wassell," life story of War Hero Corydon M. Wassell, with Gary Cooper in the title role. Others in the cast are Laraine Day, Signe Hasso, Stanley Ridges, Benny McEvoy, Barbara Britton, Philip Ann, Henry Wilcoxon, Miles Mander, Elliott Reid and Melvin Francis. A Cecil B. De Mille production; "Standing Room Only," a gay comedy, co-starring Paulette Goddard and Fred MacMurray, with Roland Young in a major supporting role. Sidney Lanfield directing; "Hail the Conquering Hero," comedy starring Eddie Biacken, with William Demarest. Preston Si urges, direct- ing; and "Ministry of Fear," psychological mystery drama, with Ray Milland and Mar- jorie Reynolds in the leads, supported by Percy Waram, Byron Fougler and Erskine Sanford. Fritz Lang directing, with Seton I. Miller as associate producer. At PRC: One shooting At RKO-Radio: Five shooting, including "An American Story," drama scripted by Arch Oboler, with Margo in the feminine lead, supported by Wallj Bi own, Alan Car- nay, John Carradine, Ro'Ceit Ryan, Amalita Ward and James Ball. John Alter producing and directing. Samuel Goldwyn: Two shcoting. At Republic: Three shooting. At 20th Century-Fox: Five shooting, in- cluding "Buffalo Bill," westerr. in Techni- color, with Maureen O'Hara, Joel McCrea, Linda Darnell, Edgar Buchanan, Chief Many Treaties, Nick Thompson. Harry Sherman producing and William Weliman directing:. At United Artists: Samuel Bronson's "Jack London," based on the life of London, co- starring Michael O'Shea and Susan Hay- ward. Alfred Santell directing. At Universal: Six shooting. At Warners: Five shooting. tack Edwards Rites Held West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Rites were held here for Jack Edwards, 59, veteran trade newspaperman and formerly identi- fied with National Screen Service. STORKS Chicago — Oscar Brotman of Ava- loe and Rogers Theaters announces birth of daughter at Cuneo hospital. Newcomer has been named Barbara Jo. Indianapolis — Herbert Boss, Para- mount booker, is the father of a 5 pound, 12 ounce, baby girl, born in the Coleman Hospital here. St. Louis — John (Bud) Wolf berg, USA, formerly of the Schine Cir- cuit, Lexington, Ky., is the father of a baby son born here. Thursday, July 8, 1943 1KB DAILY Theater- Selling Order "Outrageous" — Schine Pleads Inability to Sell The Theaters; That Reten- tion is for the Public Good (Continued from Page 1) ^filing of that suit, the Schine Cir- cuit, in a "final report" made in ac- cordance with the temporary Federal Court order of May 19, 1942, asks that the divestiture section be elimi- nated from the order and that the circuit be permitted to retain the 10 theater interests it has not yet dis- posed of. The report was filed in Federal Court by Goodwin, Rosenbaum & Meacham of Washington and Ed- mund M. McCarthy of New York, counsel for the Schine defendants. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Disposal of six of the 16 Schine Circuit theaters which the circuit was ordered to divest it- self of within one year from last May, as the result of action brought against the circuit and major dis- tributors by the Department of Jus- tice anti-trust division, was reported to the Department in a lengthy re- port filed this month by Schine at- torneys. The defendants have been unable to dispose of any of the other 10 thus far, "although they have at- tempted to do so with the greatest diligence," said the report. They ask that they not be required to dispose of the rest, thereby calling for a clear statement of future plans from the Government. Of the 16 theaters reported to have been acquired by the circuit since the case was first brought, in Aug- ust 1939, the following six have been transferred: The Paramount, Glens Falls, N. Y.; the Webster, Rochester, N. Y.; the Clazel and the Lyric, Bowling Green, 0.; the Pal- act, Clifton Springs, N. Y.; and Sco- tia, Scotia, N. Y. Tip-off of Government Plans The Government decision on this request should be a sure tip-off on its plans for November proceedings in the New York equity suit. The report pointed out that between the filing of the original New York equity suit against the majors, their satellites, UA, Columbia and Uni- versal at the time of the consent decree in that case, Paramount has been permitted to increase its the- WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Presenting Interesting Personalities • • • JOHN HUBBARD. Actor. Native of East Chicago, Indiana. Started enter- •* tainment career with Goodman Theater Repertoire Co. of Chicago in 1933. Preferred such to offer of his father to follow in his foot- steps, and finally become an executive with the Inland Steel Company. After four years of 52 weeks each playing "stock" in Chicago, mid-West and South with this same company, he was discovered by famed talent scout from filmland, Oliver Hinsdale, and brought to Hollywood and Paramount. Since 1937 screen start, Hubbard has been (except for five months) under long-term contract at Paramount, M-G-M, Hal Roach and Columbia; at last named studio now. Roles he liked best were all light comedy leads: "Housekeeper's Daughter," "Turnabout," "Dramatic School," "Our Wife," and "Youth on Parade." Does radio guest shots often. Plays golf, tends his family. Wife, Lois, school days' sweetheart, and 2-year-old daughter, Maryan. Stands, 6 ft. Hair, Light brown. Weighs, 170 pounds. Eyes, blue-gray. Nunn, Missing, Found On South Sea Isle Cleveland — Robert Nunn, Hippo- drome usher, reported lost at sea, was found on a South Sea Island and was taken aboard an American war ship, his parents have just been in- formed. ater holdings from 1,093 to 1,210, including 23 first-run houses in ma- jor cities. Loew's added four to its 20 first-run houses, Twentieth Cen- tury-Fox added 11 to its 19 first- run Metropolitan houses and nine to its 499 other theaters, Warners added 15 first-run Metropolitan houses to its 20 and 15 other the- aters to its 507, and RKO increased its' number of Metropolitan first-run theaters from 19 to 29. The consent decree itself provided that the defendants could retain all their the- ater holding's acquired prior or subsequent to the filing' of the original complaint and added that "nothing herein shall prevent any such defendant from acquiring theaters or theater interests to protect its investment or its competitive portion, or for ordinary purposes of its business." Hold 4 Defendants Compete Pour of the five consenting- Paramount defendants' in the New York suit, the brief points out, "compete, as exhibitors, with the defendants on whose behalf this report is made." In the light of these circum- stances, the report declares that "it was ah outrageous act of oppression for the Gov- ernment to require these defendants, having only 150 theater interests, to attempt to sell the 15 theater inerests which they had acquired since the filing of the complaint against them, while it permitted the pro- ducer-distributor-exhibitor defendants who were also defendants in this case to retain the 63 metropolitan first-run theaters and 141 other theaters acquired after the filing of the complaint." Supporting- its contention that the court has the discretion to release the circuit from the necessity to dispose of the rest of these theaters and to acquire no more theaters, the Schine circuit includes in its report a lengthy excerpt from the statement made by its counsel in presenting- the consent decree to the court. Holding that original causes of the com- plaint— that Schine was uniformly given first choice on first-run pictures, the dis- tributors refused to license films on a nor- mal competitive basis, and that Schine was given numerous other advantages — have been restrained by court order, the report de- clares that "these complaints are relied upon by the plaintiff as grounds justifying it in permitting the Paramount exhibitor defen- dants to retain the theaters held and to acquire more and they are equally applicable to the defendants here — it is apparent as a matter of common sense that the acquisition of additional theaters by these defendants and the retention of those that they have, implement rather than restrain competition and is in the public interest. Unwilling to Re-acquire Theaters 'Enough has been disclosed to show to the court that the reason why the former owners of the interests in question were willing to sell and why they are unwilling to re-acquire the theaters is because they could not operate them profitably and nec- essarily the proper operation of these the- aters is to the advantage of the public. It should also be apparent on the face of the record that the public greatly profits by the acquisition of inadequately equipped theaters and their proper equipment and rehabilitation by those who are able through experience and the possession of the neces- sary means so to do, and this has been a factor in giving to small communities amuse- ment facilities comparable to those enjoyed by those which are larger." Schine pointed out in discussing the in- dividual theaters disposed of under the terms of the order that the Paramount, in Glens Falls, N. Y., was re-acquired by Para- mount Pictures, Inc., adding that "it should be noted that the former owner to whom the temporary order required preference should be given was a producer-distributor- exhibitor operating at the time (June 31, 1942) 1,210 theaters, 107 of which had been acquired since the filing of the suit against it." Scoring the court's provision that preference on acquisition of these the- aters should go to their former owners, the complaint pointed out also that the Clazel anl Lyric Theaters were turned back to their former owners, Clark and Hazel Young, and then released at a substantial profit to Carl H. Schwyn of Cygnet, Ohio. "The attention of the court is further directed to the fact that the Department of Justice had prev- iously advised John Stump, the former owner of the Strand Theater, Cumberland, Md., in response to an inquiry by him, that the privilege of re-acquisition was a personal one and non-transferrable." The Schine circuit again declared its posi- tion that inclusion of the Liberty Theater, Pikeville, Ky., among those which were ordered disposed of was an error, on the grounds that the theater was acquired prior to the filing of the suit against the circuit in August, 1939. Atempts were made, how- ever, to dispose of the theater. In the cases of the other theaters included in the order, the original owners were not interested In re-acquiring the'm, and options on all of them, given to Sol Shafer of Rochester, N. Y., were not exercised. Evidence of Good Will The company offered as evidence of its good faith constant reports in the trade press on what theaters remained unsold. Brokers, however, refuse to take an interest in arranging deals for these theaters be- cause the order stipulated that no commis- sion was payable. The defendant went to considerable expense, said the report, to try to dispose of the properties. "The operation of motion picture the- aters," said the report, "is a highly competi- tive and unusually individual type of busi- ness which requires the constant, continuous and alert attention and services of every member of an organization to enable it to function efficiently and properly, not only in the best public interest but for the pro- tection of the property rights involved; the WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front Eddie Cantor to Address NEIC Dinner Meeting Eddie Cantor will be the guest of honor at the Astor Hotel tonight at the final dinner meeting of the con- tinuations committee of the Na- tional Entertainment Industry Coun- cil before the first session of the NEIC next week. The comedian will speak on entertainment and its re- lation to morale. The agenda for the second day of the NEIC confer- ence will be discussed at the meeting. continuous disruption of the regular, neces- sary and normal course of the operation of the business of this company by its ex- ecutive, officers and employes by the con- stant, continuous repetitious endeavors to find purchasers or to negotiate and prop- erly handle inquiries for possible purchasers and from possible purchasers has seriously interfered with and disrupted the efficient op- eration of these defendants' business and adversely affected their standing in the in- dustry." It was pointed out also that the theaters are not kept in good repair, since incentive for further investment is lacking, and that they are therefore becoming less and less attractive as investment possibilities for others. Responsibility for deteriorating of these theaters is implicitly charged to the court order requiring their disposal. Besides the Liberty, in Pikeville, Ky., other theaters still undisposed of include the Marjorie Grand. Harlan, Ky.; the Strand, Cumberland, Md.; the Plaza, Malone, N. Y.; the Memorial, Mt. Vernon, Ohio; the Opera House, Lexington, Ky.; the Ada Meade, Lex- ington; the Viv, Corbin, Ky.; and the State and the Appalachian. Appalachian, Va. A decision from the Department of Jus- tice is to be looked for within another month or so, probably, although Robert L. Wright, in charge of motion picture consent decree matters for the division, refused to predict just when the decision will be made. He would not discuss the probable answer of the division, refusing- to comment when this reporter predicted that, it would not be in the affirmative. Snorting Instinct Moosup, Conn. — Mrs. Miriam Hess has used the element of surprise to build up a strong, regular Tuesday patronage over the past five years at the Moosup Theater. No ad- vance publicity on the dual to be shown is offered the public, and even at the box office that night, no information is given. It's "Take a Chance" night, and they do! Athens, 0. — Deck of playing cards or ' 10 copies of popular magazines published this year served as admission at a film show at the Athena Theater, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. The cards and maga- zines will be given to service men on troop trains. . . . — V . . .— Cedar Rapids, la. — Theater usherettes here are going all-out in the war effort. The gals are contributing their day off each week to farmers in and around Cedar Rapids who need farm help. 10 DAILY Thursday, July 8, 1943 Divorcement Bill Gets Quick Exhibitor Reaction "Just as Wrong as Ever," Kuykendall; Myers Favors Senate Hearings in Fall (Continued from Page 1) where, though abused by trade prac- tices, oppose it." Abram F. Myers, Allied's general counsel and board chairman, in re- sponse to a similar invitation to ex- press Allied's viewpoint, advised from Washington that Allied's board, meeting in Baltimore next month, would determine the support to be given the Kilgore measure. Myers added the personal belief that hearings by a Senatorial com- mittee next Fall, coincidental with the end of the New York consent decree's trial period, "would be most helpful." Full texts of the two exhibitor leaders' statements follow: KUYKENDALL: "The Neely bill is just as wrong as ever. It is unworkable and does not make sense in this industry. Any inspiration for it must come from misguided individuals. _ We cannot operate under its provisions. Sane-thinking exhibitors, every- where, though abused by trade prac- tices, oppose it. Let's keep our balance, now of all times. I can- not believe the Department of Jus- tice approves this bill, written in malice and spite." MYERS: "Support to be accorded the Kil- gore bill will be considered by Al- lied Board Aug. 11 and 12. Immed- iate action is not called for as Con- gress shortly will recess for six weeks. Theater divorcement is a standing policy of Allied and was reaffirmed in a resolution on May 6 last. The board then informed the Attorney General divorcement con- stituted the only adequate remedy. I personally feel hearings on the bill next Fall, coinciding with ex- piration of test period of consent decree, would be most helpful. Such hearing would develop defects of consent decree and reveal the mys- tery surrounding its negotiation and entry." PCC Reps. Have no Comment Supporting Divorcement Bill West Coast Bureau of THE 'FILM DAILY Hollywood — In absence of Execu- tive Secretary Robert H. Poole, who is out of the city on his vacation, representatives of PCC of ITO de- clined to comment as to whether their organization would press for enactment of the theater divorce- ment bill, or support it. Wotta Man Adam! Chicago — Caught on the marquee of Warners' Cosmo Theater here: "Adam Had Four Sons" "Seven Sweethearts" TO THE COLORS! * DECORATED * CORP. SHELDON A. WALSH, USA, formerly, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, awarded the Purple Heart. Photographer's Mate, 1. F. FLYNN, USN, form- erly with Technicolor, awarded the Air Medal for gallantry in action in the South Pacific area. LT. ROSS L. BLACHLY, USA, formerly with Eastman Kodak. Hollywood, decorated for meritorious action in the Southwest Pacific. — • — PROMOTED VAUGHN PAUL, USN, formerly Universal art director, Hollywood, to lieutenant (j.g.). CHARLES COOPER, USAAF, formerly general manager, Jack Kirsch Theaters, Chicago, to sergeant. — • — * ARMY * ERNEST RICHTER, technical advisor, Universal, Hollywood. BEN LOVELESS, transcription dept., Republic, Hollywood. JAMES THOMPSON, Apollo Theater, Chicago. EDDIE SEGUIN, publicity dept., B & K, Chicago. HERBERT L. JOSEPHS, son of the owner of the Triangle, Pittsburgh. JOHN JAFFURS, JR., manager, Star, Glassport, Pa. JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN, son of Nathan E. Gold- stein, president of Western Massachusetts Theaters, Springfield. Mass. MICKEY NUNES, son of Morris Nunes, head of Progressive Premiums, New Haven. WILLIAM DUCKWORTH, operator, Licking The- ater, Licking, Mo. LOUIS COLLINS, manager, Canton Theater, Can- ton, Mo. HARRY THOMS, manager, Clencoe Theater, Clen- coe, III. R. D. STALLINGS, manager, Imperial, Charlotte. — • — * NAVY * WILLIAM BROWN, shipper, 20th-Fox, Cincin- nati. WILLIAM WANG, Metro home office publicist. — • — * MARINE CORPS * ERNEST KORNCOLD, son of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Warner music composer, Holly- wood. — • — * ARMY AIR FORCE * CY JACOBSON, film buyer, Indiana-Illinois Theater Circuit, Chicago. * TO OFFICERS SCHOOL * RICHARD LEWIS, motion picture editor, Times, Indianapolis. Superb Delivery Record Is Hung Up by RKO Radio What appears as a unique record in modern film annals is about to be attained by RKO Radio in the mat- ter of delivering an announced sea- son's lineup virtually 100 per cent. Speaking to 300 delegates to the company's annual sales meeting in New York a year ago, Ned E. Depi- net, organization president, prom- ised 45 features and 185 snorts on the 1942-43 program. Only one, — "Grand Canyon," — will not be de- livered, and for the reason that its making would not be consistent with the policy of doing everything pos- sible to aid in the war's winning. The picture, it is declared by the company, was forced off the sched- ule of attractions because transpor- tation problems, gas rationing and the need for tire conservation made it impractical to film the picture on the distant Grand Canyon location. Bob Wile Joins Universal Robert Wile, recently editor of the Motion Picture Herald Round Table, has joined Universal as assistant to A. J. Sharick, manager of the Sales Promotion Department. Wile will devote most of his time to the de- velopment of sales promotional ideas and literature. Estabrook Adapting "Hairy Ape" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Jules Levey has signed Howard Estabrook who sce- narized "The Human Comedy," to adapt and write the screenplay of his "The Hairy Ape," which will be based on hit play by Eugene O'Neill. WB Midwestern District Head to be Named Today (Continued from Page 1) sales manager, presiding. Embrac- ing 14 exchange territories, the Chicago assemblage will number at least 110 and will be the largest of the three gatherings. Branch sales personnel attending here includes the Midwest District, for which a new district manager is expected to be announced by Kal- menson at today's session; the Southern District, headed by Ralph L. McCoy, and the Prairie District, headed by Hall Walsh. Home office delegation on hand in- cludes, in addition to Kalmenson, Joseph Bernhard, Arthur Sachson, Roy Haines, A. W. Schwalberg, Jules Lapidus, Norman H. Moray, Howard Levinson, Ed Hinchy, I. F. Dolid, Albert S. Howson. Charles Einfeld, director of ad- vertising and publicity, is due to arrive today or tomorrow to address the meeting before proceeding to New York for conferences on the launching of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army." Mort Blumenstock, in charge of advertising and publicity in the East, who was to have participated in the Chicago sales meeting, was detained in New York by the pres- sure of work on "This is the Army" and is expected to arrive here to- morrow. Stores Closed, Biz Declines Rochester, N. Y. — Saturday clos- ing policy, adopted for the Summer by local retail stores, is cutting Sat- urday matinee biz. i S I CI IN NEW POSTS SOL FRANCIS, special home office rep., Mono gram, Midwestern territory. WALTER DONAHUE, assistant office manager Columbia, Philadelphia exchange. BOB WILE, sales promotion dept., Universal home office. MAXINE SMITH, publicity director, J. Walter Thompson, Hollywood. RALPH LAWLER, Central Illinois district man- ager, Publix Great States Theaters, St. Louis. GLENN SHIPP, manager, Darb, Manteno, III. ROBERT ANDERSON, supervisor, Anderson The- ater Circuit, Morris, III. MILLARD McKIRGAN, manager, Grand, Piano, 111. EARL HOLDEN, manager, Imperial, Charlotte. ( See Mexico Training Field for Pix Execs. (Continued from Page 1) Universal — and it is understood that other distributors also have plans. Tip-off came when it was an- nounced that Richard Spierman and Mike Shatin, assigned here by War- ners some time ago, are slated for foreign distribution executive posts under Robert Schless. Spierman, at one time in India for RKO, will take over for Warners in South Africa, it is said, while Shatin, also ' not without foreign experience already — he was in Tokyo for some time — is said scheduled for an assignment to India. Columbia Hands Out Two Directorial Assignments West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Columbia has signed Victor Saville to produce and direct "Heart of a City." Picture, which will be in Technicolor, will be a Rita Hayworth starring vehicle. With the signing of a new produc- ing contract at Columbia, Lou Edel- man was also handed the assign- ment of producing a new Paul Muni starring vehicle, tentatively titled "At Night We Dream," which goes into preparation immediately. Night Club, Laching Talent, Shows Films Youngstown, O. — Paul Alvino, operator of the Rendezvous Villa, night club, has changed its name to the Theater Club and is offering movies three nights a week, and floor show entertainment and orchestra the other four nights. Using films solves the shortage of entertainers, according to Alvino. 3 A N IS V V M!!Z •1J I Z CH ) cl cl tl ^ M i5 I3 I) A 2 f> W 4ATH NYC Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought FILE COPY &O NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old X75fi 84, NO. 6 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1943 TEN CENTS MELLETTS OWI RESIGNATION REPORTED IN NTS "Magic Bridge" Speeds Post- War Equip. Editorial Scratch-pad . . . jottings -= By CHESTER B. BAHN === THE more you have an opportunity to size ' up what other industries are doing to cope with war-time problems, the more you are impressed with what film biz is accomplishing in that respect. ... In some cases, there's really no comparison. . . . Take, f'r instance, the railroads. . . . And what follows is based on personal experi- ence. ... In display copy in the daily press o' late, the lines have been stressing their war-time difficulties and how they're largely being solved. . . . That is, all but the lack of extra rolling stock to handle the increased traffic. . . . But there is emphasis in the copy on how the men in uniform are get- ting first call on accommodations, which is, of course, as it should be. . . . And no kicks from this 1943 civilian, who happens to have a couple of proxies in uniform this time. BUT are the boys in unform getting that heralded "break" from the railroads? . . . Well, your columnar reporter traveled the other week-end on a Pittsburgh to New York train on an "A" railroad. . . . The dozen-odd coaches were filled 90 per cent with men in uniform. . . . Sure, some of the coaches were de luxe and supposedly air conditioned. ... But the cooling equipment was out of order. . . . And the train crew was unconcerned. . . . The sanitary state of the coaches, some extremely ancient, ranged from dirty to just plain filthy. . . . A continuous stream of cinders sifted in the window frames. . . . Lavatories in some coaches were merely holes in the floor, with no flush facilities. . . . And there were no wash basins. DEFORE the train had completed half the " run to New York, many of the coaches were without drinking water and others without paper cups. . . . And by the time Harrisburg had been reached, service men were moving vainly through the train in search of a drink of water. . . . Sure, there were several intervening stops. . . . But there was no effort made to fill the water tanks or to replenish the supply of cups. . . . So, cramped in dirty seats, or sprawled grotesquely across them and their barracks bags in search of sleep, the service men — some of them bearing shoulder bars — (Continued on Page 2) Plan Embraces Special Survey Covering Require- ments of Individual Houses Film houses throughout the nation are potential beneficiaries of a new plan just instituted and announced by National Theatre Sup- 0 f National- ist National- Simplex- Bl oodworth, Inc., whereby not only will delivery of all post-war the- ater equipment be accelerated but made available to exhibition out- 1 e t s without advance "o p - tions" or down payments. Christened the "Magic Bridge" (Continued on Page 6) WALTER E. GREEN Coe Pays Eloquent Tribute to Industry West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Characterizing Holly- wood as the best known and most beloved "home town" on earth, Chai'les Francis "Socker" Coe, at a banquet of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honoring the motion picture industry said: "From this (Continued on Page 4) NEIC SPEAKERS Tibbett, Maj. Gen. Osborne to Address Conference At its meeting at the Hotel Astor last night the continuations commit- tee of the National Entertainment Industry Council, announcement was made that several speakers have been added to the roster of those who will deliver addresses at the first day's meeting of the Council, next Wednesday. Lawrence Tibbett, Maj. Gen. Frank Osborn and Win- throp Aldrich were those added to the list. Elmer Davis, OWI chief, and Ted Gamble of the Treasury De- (Continued on Page 4) , Army in Aleutians" Dispute Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — It looks as if Lowell Mellett will leave behind him when he retires next week from his posi- tion as head of the OWI motion pic- ture bureau one final disagreement (Continued on Page 6) Official Announcement of His Quitting Expected to Be Made in Capital Today Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — OWI will an- nounce today the resignation of Lowell Mellett, motion pic- ture chief, effec- tive on or about July 15. It was admitted by re- liable sources last night that Mellett has re- signed, although no official confir- mation was forth- coming. Mellett, former head of the Office of Gov- ernment Reports, had been chief of the domestic mo- tion picture bu- reau since OWI was formed over a year ago. Despite several misun- (Continued on Page 5) LOWELL MELLETT Goldwyn, Mulvey to Host RKO Convention Delegates Delegates to RKO Radio's twelfth annual sales meeting which starts a three-day session on Monday, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, will be (Continued on Page 6) Manpower Shortage Growing Graver Problem Likely, WB Sales Meet Told Kalmenson Sends Seed To Fill Midwestern Gap Chicago — Harry Seed, New York Metropolitan District Manager, for Warners, has been assigned to the Midwest district, comprising Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneap- olis, in an acting capacity for an indefinite period, it was announced (Continued on Page 5) Chicago — Warning that the grow- ing shortage of manpower may eventually confront the industry with a problem far more serious than that heretofore faced was sounded at Warners' regional sales meeting at the Blackstone Hotel here yesterday by both Joseph Bernhard, vice-presi- dent of the company, and Ben Kal- menson, sales chief. Both speakers, who addressed the (Continued on Page 6) Offer Morrison Co. Top Spot to Walker James J. Walker, former Mayor of New York and veteran film indus- try leader, commenting last night in an interview with The Film Daily, confirmed the Hollywood report that he had been offered the presidency of the new Morrison film company (Continued on Page 4) Owl Shows Clich In Mich. Drive-ins Detroit — Saturday Midnight shows for war workers in the city's two Drive-In Theaters have proved suc- cessful. Drive-ins are located at the eytreme outskirts, and are con- veniently accessible by highways from all parts of town. Attendance has been averaging around 50 cars to these late shows, with a night's total of perhaps 400 in each theater. Tfflt DAILY Friday, July 9, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 6 Fri., July 9, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address- Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, July 8) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. 161/2 163/8 161/2 + 1/8 18 17% 17% + i/2 Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2V2%) Columbia Picts. pfd.. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. East. Kodak 1 do pfd 1 Gen. Prec. Eq toew's, Inc Paramount RKO ■RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox 20th Century-Fox pfd. Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Para. B'way 3s55. . . iPara. Picts. deb. 4s56 NEW YORK Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs Sonotone Corp Technicolor Trans-Lux Universal Picts 3 171/2 66 80 22 6II/2 291/4 9% 943/4 21% 327/8 3 3 17 17 651/2 166 80 180 22 22 61% 61 1/4 + + Vs — Vi + 1 + '/4 % 28V2 29 + % 9 91/4 + 941/2 943/4 + 2H/4 21% + 32% 325/8 + Vs '153/4 891/2 BOND 771/2 CURB 33/4 13/4 3% 13% 14% 15 893/8 893/8 MARKET 77% 771/2 MARKET 3% 33/4 + 1/4 l3/4 13/4 3% 3% + 1/s 123/4 13 19% 19i/8 19% + Lehman Corp. Adds 15,000 Shares of 20th-Fox Com. Addition of 15,000 shares of 20th- Fox common to the Lehman Corp. stock portfolio in the June quarter is revealed in the investment house's financial statement for the fiscal year ended June 30. Gambles Opening New House Portland, Ore. — The new 750-seat Vanport Theater is scheduled for opening on July 15. Theater will be operated by the Ted R. Gamble in- terests, and will be under the per- sonal supervision of Willard Gamble. Scratch-pad . . . jottings (Continued from Page 1) endured a night that was 100 per cent nightmare. A DMITTEDLY, the war has made severe ** and unusual demands on the railroads. . . . But so has it upon the nation's thea- ters. . . . Yet contrast the physical condi- tion of the theaters with that of the rail- road coaches (at least on this particular railroad, which, incidentally, is one of those advertising in the dailies). . . . And com- pare, further, this industry's attention to the welfare of the armed forces with that described and you'll be just a bit prouder of film biz. Clearance Reduction Ordered in Ohio Case Arbitrator Robert H. Sanborn has ordered reduction of the clearance granted Warners' Ohio and Sigma Theaters, Lima, O., to three days over the Capitol, Delphos, O., in an arbitration hearing before the Cleve- land tribunal. Sanborn further stip- ulated that the Capitol may play pictures released by RKO, Loew's and Paramount not later than 21 days after Cleveland release date. Award came from an action brought by E. L. Staub, owner of the Capitol against Vitagraph, RKO, Loew's and Paramount which pro- tested the 14 days' clearance granted to Lima houses. Action against Vi- tagraph was dismissed and the costs divided between the complainant and the defendants. 16 mm. Pix for RCAF Camps New Dom. Exhib. Headache Ottawa — Increased competition is seen for theaters in the announce- ment 16 mm. films will be available at upwards of a hundred camps of RCAF simultaneously with the re- lease of the same product to first- run commercial theaters in a new arrangement for distribution of nar- row prints throughout the Air Force by Government-recognized auxiliary services. Complaint had been that airmen had to wait several months after theater premieres before 16 mm. fea- tures were shown in camp theaters. RCAF has organized a distribu- tion system of its own similar to that of film exchanges to expedite bookings. "U" Signs Tex Ritter For Seven Western Pix West Coast Bureau of THE' FILM DAILY Hollywood — Universal has signed Tex Ritter to star in seven west- erns for the 1943-44 season. They will be made by associate producer Oliver Drake, who made seven for last year's release, in which Ritter was co-starred with Johnny Mack Brown. Fuzzy Knight will again head the featured supporting cast. Congress Votes to Adjourn Tomorrow Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — The House late yes- terday joined the Senate in approving a recommendation that Congress be adjourned until Sept. 14, unless sum- moned for a special session before then. $1,000,000 Slander Suit Against 306 Dismissed Supreme Court Justice Morris Eder yesterday dismissed the $1,- 000,000 slander action brought by the Scoop 14th St. Theater Corp., owners of the City Theater, against Local 306, operators. The court granted the corporation leave to file an amended complaint in a damage action against the union, also nam- ing as a defendant Herman Gelber, head of Local 306. The damage ac- tion seeks $2,200 a day for 22 days of an alleged unlawful strike called by the union on April 30. The court dismissed the slander action on the grounds that the cor- poration did not state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action. The plaintiffs had charged that a Local 306 picket had called the owners of the house "tools of Laval." Five "U" Features to Get Relay-Runs in Criterion Several of Universal's top pro- ductions will occupy the Criterion's screen during the next few months, it was announced yesterday by that company. "Hers To Hold," with Deanna Durbin and Joseph Cotten in the top roles, follows the current "Bombardier" into the house. Sub- sequently, the Abbott and Costello comedy, "Hit the Ice," is ticketed for the stand. Other "U" attraction in the chain of bookings are Howard Hawks' "Corvette K-225," starring Randolph Scott; Walter Wanger's "We've Nev- er Been Licked," with Noah Beery, Jr., Richard Quine, Anne Gwynne, and Martha O'Driscoll; and the Tech- nicolor opus, "Cobra Woman," star- ring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu. COminG and G0IF1G "man- Warners Will Re-Issue Two James Cagney Films "The Oklahoma Kid," starring James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart and "Torrid Zone," starring Cagney and Ann Sheridan, are scheduled for re-issue by Warners to augment next season's lineup. "Oklahoma Kid" is tentatively down as a September release with "Torrid Zone" expected to follow a few months later. Current high pop- ularity of the stars plus fact that Warner Bros, has several thousand more accounts now than when the pictures originally came out are un- derstood to be among the reasons for reviving them. CHARLIE EINFELD leaves Coast today for New York. BRYAN FOY, Director, BOB MONTGOMERY, JACK GOLDSTEIN and JULES FIELDS are in Chicago for the premiere of "Roger Touhy, Gangster." CHARLES MORRISON leaves the Coast ^"day for New York to confer with Jimmy Wat the company's presidency. HARRY M. KALMINE, assistant general" ager of the Warner circuit, has gone to Pitts- burgh for the dinner given for Clair Meeder, who has been named assistant to Joseph C. Petrillo, head of the American Federation of Musicians. He'll be back on Monday. OSCAR F. NEU, head of Neumade Products Corp., is back from an extended business trip to the Middle West. JOHN R. WOOD, JR., business manager of the March of Time, has gone to Washington for the cocktail party for Charles E. Peppiatt, newly installed 20th-Fox branch manager there. GLORIA SWANSON is playing at the Erlanger, Buffalo, in "Let Us Be Cay," the Rachel Crothers comedy. W. E. J. (Bill) MARTIN, drama editor of Ihe Courier-Express, (Buffalo, and MRS. MARTIN are on a Great Lakes vacation cruise. DAVE COPLAN, United Artists Canadian division manager, returns to Toronto today after a short visit to the home office. STEPHEN SLESINCER, head of Stephen Sles- inger, Inc., has returned from Hollywood. Skouras and Silverstone To England Late in Month Accompanied by Spyros Skouras, 20th-Fox prexy, Murray Silverstone, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, plans to leave late in the month on a long-contemplated trip to England. In the event that company business prevents Skouras from going, Silverstone will make the trip solo. Trip, plans for which were formulated shortly after Sil- verstone joined the company, has been marking time pending comple- tion of the National Theaters deal, among other things. Remodel Rio Theater Rio de Janeiro — Luiz Severiano Ribeiro Circuit is remodeling the Palacio Teatro in the center of the city. A NEW SERVICE GEORGE L. STONE, President POSITION SECURING BUREAU, Inc. with 22 years of achievement in the commercial employment agency field announces the inauguration of a new departmet devoted exclusively to RADIO & MOTION PICTURES under the personal supervision of FRANK McGRANN formerly Exploitation Director of Columbia Pictures, and for 20 years prominently connected with theatrical, radio and motion picture organizations. 331 MADISON AVENUE, N. Y. C. Tel. MUrray Hill 2-6494 Certified^ ^Pp reciatioi^ ^,. to the. Republic Pictures aorporatioa. Saxi Jr ours. * San Q***"' \Oixr Z^aroLe*^ THE REHABILITATION OF THE MEN OF SAN Q * DAILY Friday, July 9, 1943 Coe Pays Eloquent Tribute to Industry {Continued from Page 1) town there reaches across the civil- ized world actual beams of light which illumine for mankind the high- est standard of living, of broadened education and rampant opportunity that history has yet devised. It is less than 50 years since the first showing of a motion picture. , In that time motion pictures have be- come an indispensable part of civil- ized living." Coe„ introduced by Judge Harlan G. Palmer as "a representative of an industry which, in making its home among us, has made us known as mo- tion picture capital of the world," spoke on "Hollywood Looks Toward a New World." Governor Earl Warren also voiced a tribute to the industry, stressing' the "breadth and depth" challenge the future world will pose to films. Coe assured his listeners that "the indus- try will meet that challenge with courage, initiative and fidelity. "Uncle Sam, in his greatest need, turned to motion pictures to educate, to train, to prepare men and women for the Herculean task of world-wide war," he said. "Not only did motion pictures respond: I am proud to tell you that the industry performed with- out a thought of, or collection of, profit. As world figures go, a mere handful of hu- mans is 20,000. Yet here in Hollywood that average number wraps the civilized world in that gaiety and drama which is motion pic- tures. "No subject is so abstruse as to deny itself expression on the silver screen. A new method of learning is ours. How simple it is to learn with laughter in lesson, with graphic demonstration of principles involved, with interest at fever pitch as truth unfolds. Around us a new world dawns. Philoso- phically and materially, change is the order of the day. Achievements of war will con- tribute to the processes of peace. On land, on sea and under the sea, in the air, the new will supplant the old. Our home life will alter commensurately. "The motion picture industry will be alert to its increasing responsibilities in that new life. With photographic fidelity it will reveal to all the who, why, when and where of the march of progress. First offensive against ignorance must be knowledge. What- ever imparts knowledge easily and pleas- antly houses ambition and routs ignorance. Persaps that is the highest calling of motion pictures, because it presupposes knowledge and demands that most vital of all pic- ture elements — entertainment." "It is clear," he told his listeners, "that a generation of several peoples have been in- doctrinated with spurious philosophies of leachery, ignorance and greed, War will overcome these benighted peoples and their wanton leadership, but peace will have the problem of their remnants and offspring. Education alone can restore decency and democracy. And the motion picture is great- est instrumentality of education available to man." WEDDING BELLS Seattle, Wash. — Herndon Edmond, former branch manager here for 20th Century-Fox, and Lorraine Armstrong of this city were married June 8 in Towson, Md., it is an- nounced. Peggy Dexter, British film player, and Lt. Joseph Rose of Minnesota, are engaged to be married. T T T • • • IT was "double feature" yester evening in the Chrysler Building's Cloud Club First oil. March of Time unleashed a special trade press preview of its latest issue, "Bill lack vs. Adolph Hitler" (and incidentally one of the company's best), and immediately thereafter held a reception and buffet supper for the genial and hard-hitting Howard Black, vice.-prexy of Time, Inc., and recently named sales and distribu- tion advisory solon by M of T From the 20th-Fox camp came Tom Connors, George Roberts, the three Bills (Clark, Gehring and Kupper). Martin Moskowitz, Murray Silverstone, Sam Sham, Dave Bader, et al, and from M of T the Messrs. Dick deRochemont and Phil Williams, plus Mary Johnson, assistant to Guest of Honor Black Ye Trade Press representatives comprised Don Mersereau, Chester B. Bahn, Sherwin "Sherry" Kane, Bill Formby. Jerry Jerauld, Mel Konecoff, Jim Cron, Mike Wier, Herb Fecke, Elizabeth Cunningham, Gertrude Merriam, Chet Fried- man, Floyd Stone, Charles Becker, and others Summary: The venue was lofty, and so was the quality of film and menu presented T ▼ T 0 0 0 IATSE celebrates its golden anniversary on July 17. . . . • William B. Jaffe, prominent film attorney and legal advisor to the New York Area's WMC, is back at his desk following a brief illness. . . . 0 Henri Elman, Chi. franchise holder for PRC, moves his exchange tomorrow to new and larger quarters The new address is 1327 5. Wabash Ave., and Henri will give a house-warming party to celebrate transplanting of his biz. ... 0 Universal will test Jackie Kelk when the "Homer" of the airwaves Aldrich Family arrives in Hollywood on Aug. 5. . . . 0 Columbia is shooting all-Sepia short, featuring Cootie Williams and His Band, with Laurel Watson, Eddie Vinson, and the Douglas Bros Harry Foster is directing, and Maxwell Cohn is in charge of production. ... 0 'Nother musical "notation": Korn Kob- blers band has landed the melody-purveying spot on WOR's "It Fays To Be Ignorant" program The lads have also completed a short for Paramount, titled "Rationed Rhythm". ... 0 Spri?igfield, O., wafts word that Maj. Hal Roach is assigned to the Materiel Division of the Army Air Forces at Wright Field His task is to standardize pic photographic equipment Hal and his wife (the former Lucille Prim of Los Angeles) make their home in Springfield T ▼ ▼ • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Nebraska Variety Club To Hold Jamboree Monday Omaha — The Nebraska Variety club plans an all-day theatrical jam- boree at Peony Park Monday, to give the public a chance to meet those in the show business. Herbie Kay is donating his services to the event, proceeds of which will go to Variety club charities. The bands of Norton Wells and Paul Moorhead also will play. Guest of honor will be Jane Wy- man. Sale of War Bonds and Stamps will be pushed during the big pro- gram which includes athletic events, dancing, swimming and an exhibition baseball game by boys from Boys Town. E. I. Rubin is general chairman. Basil Complaints Tilt Arbitration in Buffalo Buffalo — Buffalo arbitration trib- unal has jumped into second place in the country in number of cases, with the filing by Basil Bros. The- aters of their third and fourth de- mands within two weeks. Both are clearance cases, naming the "Big Five" as defendants. (The Film Daily, July 7). Two intervenors have filed in a previous case brought by Basil Bros, on behalf of the Apollo, Buffalo, asking reduction of present 14-day clearance for Shea's Elmwood over the Apollo to immediately after the Elmwood. Buffalo Theaters, Inc., intervened on behalf of the Elm- wood, and M. M. Konczakowski in- tervened as operator of the Regent and the Grenor Corp. as owners of the Regent's property. IN NEW POSTS LEW SCHREIBER, executive assistant to Darryl Zanuck, Hollywood. HENRY PLUDE, manager, Fort Theater, Rock Island, III. EMMETT LOCKARD, manager, Omaha Theater, Omaha. , — TED EMERSON, manager, Paramount 1 r, Omaha. -' FRED PLESS, manager, Uptown, Des Moines. GEORGE LAWSON, manager, Roosevelt, Des Moines. Offer Morrison Co. Top Spot to Walker (Continued from Page 1) by Charlie Morrison, but that "be- fore I can even consider it, I will have to consult primarily with my present associates, the garment in- dustry and Harry Brandt and the exhibitors whom I am now serving." One of the factors which will largely determine any acceptance by Walker of the Morrison offer will be, according to its recipient, "the time that it would require." Consideration of the offer, Walker added, is being given by him chiefly because of the intimate friendship which has existed over a number of years between him and Morrison. NEIC Adds Speakers For Council Conference (Continued from Page 1) partment are added speakers for Thursday. Eddie Cantor attended the session. He will send a message to the Coun- cil meeting next week, it was stated. The latest organization to join the Council is Local 802, AFM. Several other organizations have scheduled meetings for next week to act on ad- herence to the Council. These in- clude the Radio Directors Guild, League of New York Theaters, IATSE, AGMA and WAC. JULY 9 Claude C. Ezell Ralph Wilk Frank Namczy Al Steen 1 JULY 10 Dudley Murphy Sam Wood Joan Marsh JULY 11 Sally Blane Walter Wanger Friday, July 9, 1943 iftiu * DAILY Mellelf Reported Resigning from OWI (Continued from Page 1) derstandings with the industry, he was generally respected by all who df^ It with him, and the industry i ^—d in his support last month when Or^fjress threatened to eliminate the film bureau entirely. Only $50,000 was allocated for OWI's domestic film activities, finally although over $1,- 200,000 had been recommended by the budget bureau, and there simply was not enough that could be done by the bureau to warrant Mellett's remaining. The former Scripps-Howard editor said last night that he will return to his duties as a member of the Presi- dent's administrative staff, and said he did not expect to continue actively to work with the industry. Although Mellett will probably not leave OWI until late next week he will not be on hand for the meeting among major company representa- tives and OWI Director Elmer Da- vis and Domestic Director E. Palmer Hoyt, tentatively planned for early next week. Mellett said last night that he has not been asked to at- tend this meeting. (No date has yet been officially set' for the get- together, in which Hoyt and Davis hope to arrive at a satisfactory means of co-operation between OWI and the industry). Actually this meeting was planned before Mellett's resignation was re- ceived, but he was not asked to at- tend. This would indicate that his resignation came as no surprise to OWI officials, and seems to substan- tiate reports of friction between Mellett and others in the organiza- tion. There was no definite word on the status of Arch A. Mercey, Mellett's assistant, although his resignation is expected. Gene Buck Recovering Gene Buck, president of Ascap, underwent a minor operation at Presbyterian Hospital Medical Cen- ter. His condition is reported as excellent. STORKS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Veronica Lake gave birth yesterday to a three-pound boy, two months prematurely. Son was placed in an incubator and her phy- sician reported both apparently were doing well. She went to the hospital last week following a studio fall. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Lt. John Lowe, USN, and his wife, Ruby Keeler, are the parents of a daughter born here. A son, Ross Gaunt, Dolan, was born to Ken Dolan and his wife, Shirley Ross. £ REVIEWS Of the new fiLms A "Bomber's Moon" with George Montgomery, Annabella 20th-Fox 70 Mins. WEAK WAR MELODRAMA IS TOO IM- PLAUSIBLE TO BE OF MUCH INTEREST TO OTHER THAN KID AUDIENCES. This "Bomber's Moon" doesn't shine brightly. A minor war melodrama, it will take a lot of talking up on the part of ex- hibitors to get audiences more than passab- ly interested in it. Chiefly in the film's favor is a certain amount of routine excitement of an artificial order that will draw response primarily from the kids. For the most part the production is a collection of tag-ends of war films in which the hero and the Gestapo play at hide-and-seek. The film is completely lacking in orig- inality, offering a story that comes perilous- ly close to boredom as it picks its way through a maze of implausibilities. The chief blame for this goes to Kenneth Garnet and Aubrey Wisberg, who pieced the screenplay together from a yarn by Leonard Lee. Charles Fuhr didn't help matters by his unimaginative direction of the film. Produced by Sol M. Wurtzel, the picture is one of those preposterous yarns about an American pilot who, after he has been forced down on German territory, plays a game of tag with the Nazis in which he makes complete asses of the enemy. At no time does the film carry conviction. What happens is stuff made only for young minds. This time the hero takes a gal, a Rus- sian army doctor, with him on his flight from the Nazis. It isn't violating a secret to say that the fellow falls in love with the gal. The final set-to, the one in which our hero escapes to England in the plane from which the Germans plan to bomb a train on which Winston Churchill is a passenger, is one for the book. It has the one virtue of bringing the film to an exciting close. The acting in general is uninspired. Gsorge Montgomery is the hero and Ana- bslla the gal. Among the others in the cast are Kent Taylor, Walter Kingsford, Martin Kosleck, Dennis Hoey, Robert Bar- rat. Cast: George Montgomery, Annabella, Kent Taylor, Walter Kingsford, Martin Kos- Isck, Dennis Hoey, Robert Barrat, Richard Graham, Kenneth Brown, Lionel Royce, Vic- tor Kilian, Robert Lewis, Felix Basch, Edith Evanson, George Davis, Mike Mazurki, Chris- tian Rub, Ilka Gruning, William Edmunds, Gisela Werbisek, Guy Kingsford, Wallis Clark, Reginald Sheffield, Ferike Boros, Hermine Sterler. CREDITS: Producer, Sol M. Wurtzel; Di- rector, Charles Fuhr; Screenplay, Kenneth Garnet, Aubrey Wisberg; Based on story by Leonard Lee; Cameraman, Lucien Ballard; Art Directors, James Basevi, Lewis Creber; Set Decorator, Thomas Little; Film Editor, Robert Fritch; Special Effects, Fred Sersen; Sound, George Leverett, Harry M. Leonard; Musical Score, David Buttolph; Musical Direction, Emil Newman. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Boost Evening Scales Buffalo — Evening admissions have been advanced a nickel, to 55 cents, by Basil's Lafayette, downtown first- run. Afternoon and children's prices are unchanged. "Law of the Northwest" with Charles Starrett Columbia 57 Mins. PICTURE OF NORTH COUNTRY CON- TAINS ACTION AND VILLAINY GALORE TO SATISFY DEMANDS OF ACTION FANS. This action film is nothing more than the western formula in a Northwest set- ting. The hero this time is a member of the Royal Mounted who gets his man after a series of exciting incidents that create a whirlwind of movement that will stir young fans aplenty. The hero is played by Charles Starrett and the head baddie, Douglas Leavitt. The two battle it out nip and tuck right down to the finish line, with Starrett emerging the winner by a wide margin. The fight is over the determination of the villain to prevent the construction of a road to connect with the Alcan Highway, the strategic Alaskan highway. Leavitt has sinister reasons for not wanting the road built. He even resorts to murder to stop the construction work. In his effort to stop Starrett from getting the goods on him the villain tries every means of dis- posing of the hero. Starrett comes through triumphantly after several close shaves with death. What helps to add to the excite- ment is the fact that the villain is a big man in the community whose true character is not known by the people. Starrett puts plenty of bite into his performance, while Leavitt enacts the vil- lain nicely. Others in important parts are Shirley Patterson, Authur Hunnicutt, Stan- ley Brown and Donald Curtis. Luci Ward's screenplay got slam-bang direction from William Berke. Jack Fier produced. CAST: Charles Starrett, Shirley Patter- son, Arthur Hunnicutt, Stanley Brown, Douglas Leavitt, Donald Curtis, Douglass Drake, Davidson Clark, Reginald Barlow. CREDITS: Producer, Jack Fier; Director, William Berke; Screenplay, Luci Ward; Film Editor, Jerome Thorns Cameraman, Benjamin Kline; Art Director, Lionel Banks. DIRECTION, All Right. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Kalmenson Sends Seed To Fill Midwestern Gap (Continued from Page 1) by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, at the opening session of the Chicago regional meeting in the Blackstone Hotel yesterday. "Coasted Command" July 19-20 Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO Radio, announces that national trade screenings of "Coastal Command," English-made production distributed by the company, have been scheduled for Monday, July 19 at 11 a.m., with the following exceptions: Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m.; New York, 11 a.m., and 2:30 p.m.; Sioux Falls, 10 a.m.; and St. Louis, Tuesday, July 20 at 11:30 a.m. Rites Held for Mrs. Hand Funeral services for Mrs. Florence S. Hand, wife of Stanley W. Hand, Altec staff representative, were held at Manhasset, L. I. * SHORTS * "Pacific Island No. 43" (This Is America) RKO 17 mins. Excellent The work of the Navy in rehabili- tating the sick and wounded at a jungle medical center on an un- named island somewhere in the Pa- cific is the subject of the latest of the "This Is America" series of shorts released by RKO Radio. The treatment is skillful and the mate- rial highly absorbing and interesting. The result is a short of tremendous audience appeal the booking of which should more than amply re- pay the exhibitor. The picture re- veals one phase of the Navy's ac- tivities not commonly known. It thus becomes an eye-opener — a fact which gives it box-office worth apart from its merits as entertainment. The operation of the jungle hos- pital and the activities of the con- valescents are shown in expert fash- ion. Included are many scenes showing measures taken to safe- guard the health of the patients and the staff against tropical diseases. The camera also takes the audience to the Bethesda (Md.) Naval Hos- pital for glimpses of the training of medical personnel for service at the island medical center. With the exception of the Be- thesda scenes the footage was shot by Navy cameramen. Produced by Frederic Ullman, Jr., the short has been excellently edited by Jay Bona- field. "Trifles That Win Wars" (Passing Parade) M-G-M 11 Mins. Highly Exploitable Romance on the screen is not con- fined to boy-meets-girl stuff. John Nesbitt has captured the romantic in this latest tab reel, which is both intriguing and instructive, too. Ex- hibitors with a real flare for promo- tional showmanship can rouse their communities via a clever and novel campaign built around a bottle, an ordinary billiard ball, and a spider's web. These three are the basis of the picture. The breaking of a cer- tain bottle led to the discovery of our modern shatter-proof glass; the billiard ball to the broad avenues of today's and tomorrow's plastics; and the spider's web to the use of amaz- ingly fine and accurate sight-lines used in present optical instruments. All are of vital consequence in win- ning the current war. A good ex- ploiteer can raise more hob with this reel than with many a feature. It's decidedly worth booking. Films for Alaskan Outposts Seattle, Wash. — Ed Lamb, branch manager for RKO Radio, is asking for 16 mm. films to send to service men in isolated positions in Alaska. I "-,*. Based on the Batman Conic Magazine Feature appearing . j , '.'. in Detective Comics and Batman Magazines. A COlUTTIDia Chapter Play 10 Monday, July 12, 1943 Clark to Meet Execs. On N. Y. Decree (Continued from Page 1) for July 22, and will attempt to visit other regional offices of the Anti- Trust division before then, as well as later. From Denver he will prob- ably go to Los Angeles, where he ex- pects to talk with film executives. A New York trip is also contem- plated, as well as later visits to all the regional offices of the division. Clark has already invited exhibitors to show up personally at these offices and bring their complaints to him. The reintroduction of the bill or- iginally bearing the name of former Sen. Matthew M. Neely of West Vir- ginia— to prohibit theater ownership by distributors or producers — was done without his knowledge, Clark said yesterday. Sen. Harley M. Kil- gore reintroduced the bill Monday and said he had done so through an agreement with the Department of Justice." Clark was not disturbed by Senator Kilgore's action, and said that although the Anti-Trust Divi- sion has not definitely decided upon its policy in the case, Kilgore's ac- tion "is not embarrassing to us." TO THE COLORS! • DECORATED • LT. PARKMAN W. DAVIS, AAF, formerly East- man Kodak, Rochester. Air Medal. — • — * COMMISSIONED * MA). MILTON SPERLING, USMC. LT. MELVIN A. ANDERSON, USA, formerly with 20th-Fox los Angeles exchange. LT. DERR NEACLEY, USA, formerly with 20th- Fox Los Angeles branch. PROMOTED LT. SEYMOUR R. MAYER, Army Overseas Special Service Division, formerly New York district division manager for Loew's theater, to captain. CORP. JOHN SPRINGER, USAAF, former theater publicity director, Rochester, N. Y., to sergeant. — • — • ARMY * "HAP" HADLEY, JR., to West Point. D of A's War Food Play To Bow at the Crotona New York SPG Requests Quick Arbitration Action Preview Touhy Film Today Joliet, 111. — More than 500 law en- forcement officers of Illinois and ad- joining states will attend a preview screening of 20th-Fox's "Roger Touhy, Gangster," in Joliet prison, scene of the mobster's jailbreak to- day. Bryan Foy, producer, and Lois Andrews, feminine lead, will head the film group attending. Robert Montgomery, Hal Home's assistant, as well as Jack Goldstein and Jules Fields of Home's staff are here for the premiere. Crotona Theater, Skouras house in the Bronx, will be the site of the na- tion's first showing Wednesday night of the Department of Agriculture food play, "It's Up to You," in con- junction with community-sponsored war food shows and rallies featuring presentation of the stage attraction. According to Nick John Matsou- kas, director of the war effort de- partment of the Skouras Theaters Corp., the Crotona presentation will be followed by two more in the Bronx. One will be at the Ogden on Thursday; the other, at the Tuxedo on July 19. Both theaters are Skou- ras houses. Matsoukas is in charge of the New York area bookings of the food show. Each of the Bronx performances of "It's Up to You" will be preceded by a community-wide parade organ- ized by housewives. As a curtain raiser to the Bronx performances a 30-minute radio broadcast on the weekly Skouras Theaters war effort presentation, "This Is Our Cause," was staged yesterday over Station WINS, start- ing at 4:30 p.m. Film Close- Ups . . - By MARGARET T. RILEY Our complimentary copy of Film Daily's big, beautiful Yearbook has been at hand for some time, but we always run out of space too soon to set down a sampling of its won- ders. This is the sixth year we have received it and each time it gets better and more useful. Now that we are little more than an armchair critic — the gas taboo, no theatre near Boalsburg, and so many bugs on the beans and pota- toes— we appreciate more than ever the receipt of Film Daily and its annual volume full of all kinds of information about the industry. Aside from giving a complete report of the film industry's par- ticipation in the war effort (this takes pages and pages), the Year- book continues its usual sections listing all productions; records of players, directors, writers, camera- men; and reports on any phase of the film business you'd care to name. There are nearly 1000 theatres in Army camps in this country. . . . To the Shores of Tripoli was the Army box office favorite last year . . . all major companies provide 16mm. size films for showing of their features in combat areas. . . . One of our favorite sections is the Historical Highlights of the Motion Picture Industry, which starts off with a notation dated 1878 — the first known picture analy- sis of motion was dreamed up by Leland Stanford to prove his con- tention that a horse's four hoofs leave the ground at one time while running. The 1942 items recall the passing of John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Edna May Oliver, and May Robson, among many others. Pennsylvania's nearly 2,000 film theatres, thanks to the 1941 Legis- lature, may now open Sundays by local option if in the referendum which may be' held every four years (instead of the former five) 20 per cent (five per cent before) of the highest vote cast for any candidate request it. Reprinted from The Centre Daily Times State College, Pa. The membership of the Screen Publicists Guild of New York has called upon five major film compa- nies and two circuits for speedy ac- tion on the recently agreed-upon ar- bitration in present contract nego- tiations, it was learned on Friday. The film companies are Universal, Columbia, Paramount, RKO Radio, M-G-M, the circuits being Loew's and RKO Service Corp. The guild members also have moved for immediate further meet- ings with United Artists and 20th- Fox, whose contracts with the SPG do not contain arbitration clauses, and for early reopening of negotia- tions with Warner Bros. The War- ner Bros, contract comes up for wage discussion next month. In telegrams to the five film com- panies and two circuits the guild charged that "three months have elapsed since these negotiations were initiated and very little prog- ress has been made." The member- ship of the SPG accused the com- panies with "stalling" on negotia- tions. Carl Rigrod of RKO Radio has been elected second vice-president of the SPG as successor to Lawrence H. Lipskin, who recently resigned. Para, to Bare First Block at Sales Meet Curfew Cities Enforce Juvenile Curfew Laws Akron, O. — Mayor George J. Harter did not veto a curfew or- dinance to keep children under 16 off the streets after 11 p.m. and holding parents and guardians re- sponsible, but allowed it to become a law without his signature. Girard, O. — Curfew ordinance barring children under 17 from the streets after 10 p.m. has been ap- proved by City Council. The bill provides a penalty for parents whose children violate the measure. Conneaut, O. — City police are en- forcing a 10 p.m. curfew for all children under 16. St. Paris, O. — Village Council has passed an ordinance providing a 11 p.m. curfew for youths under 16 years of age. (Continued from Page 1) Pierre, Thursday through Saturday. District managers and district ad- vertising reps, arrive Wednesday to attend the FWTBT world premiere at the Rivoli that night. Neil Agnew, general sales " .; i- ager, will preside at the three-day session, while other home office execs, will participate. First block of pix for next season will be an- nounced. In all probability, the par- ley will substitute for the traditional sales convention, it was learned. First session Thursday will be ad- dressed by Barney Balaban, Adolph Zukor, Agnew, Charles M. Reagan, and Robert M. Gillham, while B. G. DeSylva will address the afternoon session. Friday morning's progTam includes discus- sions by Oscar A. Morgan, Gillham. Stanley Shuford, Al Wilkie, publicity manager, and Alee Moss, exploitation manager, on adver- tising and publicity campaigns for the first block of pictures for the new season. Louis Phillips of the legal department, and Claude Lee, director of public relations, will also speak. Friday afternoon's session will be devoted to further discussions of product and sales plans by Agnew, Reagan, Hugh Owen, Eastern division manager, and George A. Smith, West- ern division manager. Moss will preside at a special session for the district advertising representatives at which advertising and exploitation plans will be discussed. Screenings of new product will be held tor the delegates Thursday and Friday night. Conference will wind up Saturday morn- ing with individual sessions of the district managers with the division heads. G. B. J. Frawley is in charge of arrange- ments. District managers who will be pres- ent are: William Erbb. Boston; M. S. Kusell, New York City; Harry Goldstein, Cleveland; E. W. Sweigert, Philadelphia: John Kirby, Atlanta; Allen Usher, Chicago; R. C. LiBeau, Kansas City; Hugh Braly, Denver, Colo.: Del Good- man, Los Angeles; J. J. Donohue. Dallas: Gordon Lightstone, Toronto. District advertising reps who will attend include: Arnold Van Leer, Boston; Ed J. Wall, Albany; Sid Mesibov, New York City; J. M. Joice, Cleveland; Charles C. Perry, Cincinnati; Wm. Brooker, Philadelphia; James Levine, Pittsburgh: E. G. Fitzgibbon, Chicago; M. D. Cohn, Kansas City; James Lundy, Denver; Ralph Ravenscroft, Los Angeles; W. C Lewellen, Dallas; James C. Furman, Atlanta, and Win Barron, Toronto. Home office distribution executives who will attend, in addition to those mentioned, are: C. J. Scollard, J. A. Walsh, F. A. Leroy, H. J. Lorber, A- J- Dunne and Jack Roper. Seidelman Names Daff Foreign Sales Supervisor (Continued from Page 1) Far-East supervisor, to post of for- eign sales supervisor, with head- quarters at the home office. Daff joined the company 23 years ago as booker in the Melbourne, Aus- tralia, branch. He has visited 55 foreign countries in company's inter- ests, and was in charge of organiza- tion's offices in Japan before eleva- tion to Far-East supervisor post. Since the U. S. entered the war, he has limited his travels to India, Iran. Egypt, Turkey, Great Britain, Por- tugal, and South, East, Central and West Africa. He is said to be the only U. S. film executive to have visited Spain since the 1936 Civil War outbreak there. entlemen, take a bow! I .oday RKO salesmen from all over the country open their annual sales meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria. May I take this occasion to publicly express my sin- cere thanks and the genuine appreciation of our com- pany to the many thousand motion picture exhibitors from coast to coast who have made it possible for these salesmen to do the outstanding job they have turned in during the past nine months in selling our new and tremendously popular short subject series, "THIS IS AMERICA". When we started this series pretty much from scratch last Fall, these exhibitors, acting largely on faith, took on this brand new product with little more to guide them other than a firm faith in RKO and an abiding confidence in RKO's sales force. Today, as a result of this superb and coordinated effort of salesman and exhibitor, RKO can point with pride to a booking record on "THIS IS AMERICA" that is the envy of the industry. In behalf of RKO Radio Pictures I salute both the exhibitors and the salesmen who have made this possible. Gentlemen, take a bow! PRESIDENT RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. "THIS IS AMERICA" is produced by Frederic Ullman, jr., and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. 12 v% DAILY Monday, July 12, 1943 Three-Point Program for WAC Parley Friday War Pix Setup, Next Loan Drive, NEIC Relationship To Receive Consideration (Continued from Page 1) commence with a luncheon, will also include, as result of invitations al- ready dispatched, representatives of all other WAC branches. In the invitations sent by Fran- cis S. Harmon, executive vice-chair- man, to the Co-ordinating Commit- tee at the request of Chairman George J. Schaefer, and to the The- aters Division Executive Committee pursuant to the call of S. H. Fabian, subjects to be brought to discussion included : (1) Ways and means for provid- ing an adequate program of war in- formation through the screen; (2) Ways and means of co-operating with the Treasury in the Third War Loan Drive, Sept. 9-20; (3) Rela- tionship of the WAC to the National Entertainment Industry Council. General WAC Forum In addition, it is expected that the floor will be thrown open for a gen- eral WAC forum and interchange of ideas. The Treasury Department, through Ted Gamble, has formally requested Fabian to ask that the industry par- ticipate in the Third War Loan to an aggressive, comprehensive extent. (Film Daily exclusively, July 8). The dozen-day campaign, in which the industry will participate but not spearhead, will have as its goal a figure somewhere around $30,000,- 000,000. Kenneth Thomson, chair- man of the Hollywood Victory Com- mittee, and a member of the WAC Hollywood Division will, with WAC member John C. Flinn, be on hand. It is hoped that others from the West Coast will be present to dis- cuss potential co-operation. With the changed status of the Motion Picture Bureau of the Of- fice of War Information and the resignation of its chief, Lowell Mel- lett, the question of supplying the theaters with a continuing program of war information films is a per- tinent one. Harmon, who with Mel- lett, before Congress cut the OWI appropriation, fashioned the 52-week program of all gratis films which was to begin on Aug. 1, will present the situation as it stands today to the meeting. Schaefer to Present Aims Schaefer who has been tempor- ary chairman of the Continuations Committee of the NEIC, will present the aims and purposes of that or- ganization to the assembly. Members of the Co-ordinating- Committee expected to attend are: Walton C. Ament, Edward Arnold, Barney STORKS Pittsburgh — It is a six-pound daughter for Mr. and Mrs. Tony Stern, born at the West Penn Hos- pital here. Montreal "Y" Girls Stage Own City Council Meeting to Demand Films for Saves Over 12 Montreal — This municipality had a new ruling body Friday when a hundred girls from Notre Dame De Grace YMCA set up a City Council meeting in the city's Council Chamber and demanded admission of children over 12 to film theaters. They were conducted by Marian Best, their group leader, who took the mayor's chair. A proposal was debated at some length "that the minimum age for admission to picture shows be reduced to 12." When the vote was taken the motion carried, the only dissenting votes being those of girls under 12 years of age. The visitors were afterwards escorted round the building by the city police. Safeguards Gains— Bernhard Post-War Major Task, WB Sales Meet Told (Continued from Page 1) Hotel Blackstone, with General Sales Manager Ben Kalmenson pre- siding. These gains, which Bernhard said were attained in large measure through close co-operation between the sales organization and exhibi- tors, were listed by him as follows: 1. Extended runs; 2. higher quality product; 3. Substantial inventories of completed films before start of selling season; 4. Increase in percentage deals; 5. Expansion of film audience to all-time peak; 6. More equitable box-office prices. In the matter of extended runs, Bernhard, pioneer and consistent advocate of maximum playing time, said about 70 per cent of ex- hibitors now have been won over to the wisdom of this policy from a profit stand- point in addition to being a protective meas- ure under a war-time economy. Cites Film Quality Gains Great improvement in film quality has been made possible partly by the longer runs, encouraging- producers to concentrate more on top budget productions, he pointed out. Of distinct advantage to exhibitors, Bern- hard said, is the fact that whereas years ago a distributor started the new selling season with only six or eight definite stories and about 40 random titles, a company now opens its annual sales meeting with prac- tically a full year's quota of releases either completed or in various stages of production or preparation. Percentage deals, according to Bernhard, are on the increase and are bringing with them more aggressive showmanship on the part of exhibitor and distributor, to their mutual advantage. Audience I.Q. Higher Than Ever The picture-going audience today not only is the largest in history, and most consistent in regular attendance, Bernhard said, but its so called "intelligence level" has been raised several pegs, as shown by the widespread box-office success of scores of pictures once regarded as too highbrow for the masses. More equitable admission prices, already fairly well established in most of the impor- tant situations, will help to guarantee con- tinuance of quality product besides lifting the motion picture theater to the plane of dignity and respect it deserves as result of the great public service it renders, he de- clared. In order to insure preservation of these advancements and march on to even better things, Bernhard urged the Warner field force to be good ambassadors of their in- dustry as well as their company, to further the Warner "open-door policy" in every way possible and to maintain closer and more friendly relations than ever before with exhibitors. H. O. Execs. Go to Frisco The local regional was concluded Satur- day with a series of special group confer- ences on individual branch matters, and on Sunday the home office delegates left Chi- cago for San Francisco, where Kalmenson will conduct his third and final business con- ference starting Thursday. Westbound dele- gation includes Kalmenson, Arthur Sachson, Roy Haines, A. W. Schwalberg, Norman H. Moray, Howard Levinson and Albert S. How- son. Joseph Bernhard planed back to New York late Friday and Ed Hinehy and Mike Dolid left Saturday for New York. Friday morning's session wast a fast-mov- ing, three-hour affair, with preliminary talks by Bernhard and Kalmenson, after which Howson gave full details of completed pic- tures and list of story properties already set by Jack L. Warner for early production. James Coston, zone manager for Warner theaters, also spoke briefly on exhibition angles, with special comment on increasing success of extended runs. Friday afternoon wound up with a straight talk by Kalmenson on selling procedure. Concluding business sessions Saturday morn- ing devoted to group conferences with Kal- menson, Haines, Sachson, Schwalberg, Levin- son addressing the men. Three New WB Salesmen Presented by Kalmenson Chicago — Three new Warner salesmen were introduced by Ben Kalmenson at the regional meeting here. Frank Carter, former booker, was promoted to salesman in the Memphis branch, while Minneapolis has two newly appointed salesmen, Herb Blass and W. O. McFall. Balaban, Nate J. Blumberg, Oscar A. Doob, S. H. Fabian, Joseph H. Hazen, Edward L. Kuykendall, Abe Lastfogel, Mary C. MeCall, Jr., Abram F. Myers, Robert H. Poole, Martin J. Quigley, Philip Reisman, Herman Robbing, William F. Rodgers, Nicholas M. Schenck, Spyros P. Skouras, Kenneth Thom- son, Walter Vincent, R. B. Wilby, Nathan Yamins, Adolph Zukor. Theaters Division Executive Committee attendees will include: Joseph Bernhard, E. V. Richards, Arthur L. Mayer, E. L. Alperson, A. H. Blank, Harry Brandt, John H. Harris, E. L. Kuy- kendall, Sam E. Morris, Charles C. Mos- kowitz, R. J. O'Donnell, M. A. Rosenberg, Spyros Skouras, R. B. Wilby, Nathan Yamins, Leonard Goldenson, Ban Michalove. Invitations have been extended to the following exhibitor area chairmen: Lou R. Golding, R. B. Wilby, Sam Pin- anski, Al Bevan, Chas. Hayman, H. F. Kincey, John Balaban, Jack Kirsch, Jules Rubens, Ike Libson, Wm. Skirball, R. J. O'Donnell, Rick Ricketson, B. D. Cockrill, A. H. Blank, E. C. Beatty, Carl Buermele, Harry Katz, Marc Wolf, Elmer Rhoden, R. H. Poole, Chas. Skouras, M. A. Lightman, Har- old Fitzgerald, John Friedl, I. J. Hoffman, WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front Pittsburgh — The Exhibitors Servi*s.m hommers ot em to U St«H over Y- *- ^ seteen h^ -om the yery 4^*- ^ ^ t ^ -* *e nex ::;^t...yo-":bbi-¥^ot ^^jr" marquee . . . Y° ts yoo less . . W What Adverti»«9 teassss- Shangri-La War Stamp Drive! K*mm STANDARD & TY ACCESSORIES • TRAILER M p P I) A INC 21! W 44TH ST NYC B£SSS»« Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old 84, NO. 8 NEW YORK. TUESDAY, JULY 13. 1943 TEN CENTS WPB APPROVES BUILDING 100 PROJECTORS la.-Neb. Indie Unit Backs Allied on Divorcement President Leo F. Wolcott Advises Attorney General Of Attitude, Asks Action Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The first unaffiliated exhibitor organization to go all-out for divorcement, the Allied-Indepen- dent Theater Owners of Iowa-Neb- raska, Inc., has advised the Attorney General that it "fully concurs with and lends its unanimous support to the report of the general counsel to the Allied States Association board of directors dated April 30 and the resolution adopted by the board on (Continued on Page 20) Republic Increasing Musicals Production President James R. Grainger will conduct the first of Republic's cur- rent series of regular quarterly sales meetings today and tomorrow at the New York Athletic Club. In at- tendance will foe Maxwell Gillis and Sam Seplowin, Eastern and Central district sales managers, and ex- change representatives from those districts. Program schedules discussion of (Continued on Page 12) Scully, Depinet Reiterate Policies on Adjustments Columbus, O. — William A. Scully, Universale sales chief, defining the company's policy on adjustments, in a let'.er to Pete J. Wood, secretary of the ITO of Ohio, writes: "We can truthfully say that in (Continued on Page 15) Ascap's $1,260,000 Best Since >40 Split Business is good for composers, too. The largest royalty distribution made in any one quarter since 1940, Ascap yesterday split a $1,260,000 melon for the second quarter of 1943, ending June 30, among its membership and associated societies. All Tradeshowings of "Heaven Can Wait" to Be Before Paying Preview Audiences at Exchanges All tradeshowings of "Heaven Can Wait" will be held in combination with previews of the film in all of 20th-Fox's exchange centers under an innovation announced yesterday by Tom J. Connors, the company's distribution boss. The screenings, to which exhibitors will be admitted free, will be before regular theater audiences. This is said to mark the first time in the industry's history that this method of tradeshowing a film will have been used on a national basis. The step was taken by Connors on the theory that exhibitors would be able to benefit from the reaction of paying customers. The tradeshowings-previews are now being arranged, with dates to be an- nounced later. Cities Bid Address by Coe .Solid click of public relations pol- icy inaugurated by the MPPDA un- der the direction of Charles Fran- cis "Socker" Coe, vice-president and general counsel, is instanced by the fact that Coe returned yesterday from a transcontinental swing to find invitations from a score of cities piled up on his executive desk. In all probability, one will foe ac- (Continued on Page 15) Appeal Board Refuses To Reopen Fried Case A motion to reopen the Riant The- ater, Conshohocken, Pa., clearance award has been denied by the motion picture appeal board. Original com- plaint was filed by Harry Fried, op- erator of the Riant, against the five consenting companies and the Norris Amusement Co., operator of the Nor- (Continued on Page 21) Depinet to Reveal RKO Program Today Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio prexy, will raise the curtain on the com- pany's 1943-44 product lineup at this afternoon's fousiness session of the sales meeting which enters its second day at the Waldorf-Astoria today. Session is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in the hotel's Wedgewood Room, immediately following lunch- (Continued on Page IS) Dom. Youths to Register For War Work by July 24 Ottawa — A fourth manpower draft order announced by Labor Minister Humphrey Mitchell requires all stu- dents 16 to 18 years of age holding Summer jobs in theaters or film ex- changes to register before July 24 for transfer to essential war occu- ipations or farming, whether they (Continued on Page 15) Tax Deduction "Takes" Good FILM DAILY Survey Shows No B. O. Decline Century Circuit Wins Two Motions in Empire Fight Century Circuit has been victor- ious on two motions in its fight against Empire State Motion Pic- ture Operators Union to prevent con- solidation of the union with the (Continued on Page 12) Impact on the country's box-of- fices of the first pay-as-you-go- Fed- eral income tax deductions from the pay envelopes of America's work- ers was negligible, a nation-wide check-up by The Film Daily indi- cated last night. While exhibitors were of the im- pression that they were by no means (Continued on Page 21) Will Be Released Only To Theaters That Have Lost Machines in Fires Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Approval has been given by WPB for the building of 100 projectors for theaters to re- place burnt-out obsolete units for which necessary repair parts are not available. These machines will be started during the present quarter, but it is not likely that any of them will be available before the end of the year. A. G. Smith of the WPB Service (Continued on Page 4) OWI Wants Kastner For Overseas Pix Job Republic Abolishes Its Studio Publicity Dept. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Republic studio pub- licity department has been abolished with Walter Compton, head of the (Continued on Page 4) OWI is reported desirous of ob- taining the services of Lacy Kastner, assistant to Joseph McConville, Co- lumbia's foreign distribution chief, for an overseas film distribution as- signment. Understood that the OWI plan calls (Continued on Page 12) Canada's War-Time Info. Board Expanding Ottawa— While the OWI in the U. S. is shrinking through Congres- sional action, the Wartime Informa- tion Board in Canada, headed by John Grierson, is expanding. Ap- pointment of A. D. Dunton, news- paper editor, as assistant general manager and G. C. Andrew, of Tor- onto, to the office of board secre- tary, is announced. Information as to salaries and expenses of Grierson's Bureau recently were refused to the Canadian Parliament as not being in the public interest. TOE DAILY Tuesday, July 13, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 8 Tues., July 13, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. AUCOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Monday, July 12) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat }6% 16y2 163/4 Col. Piers, vtc. (21/2%) 18 17% 18 + % Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 3 3 3 Con. Fm. Ind. pfd East. Kodak 165Vi 165 165 do pfd 180 180 180 Cen. Prec. Eq 223/4 22y2 22% -f- Va Loew's, Inc 61% 61% 61% Paramount 30 293/4 30 + % RKO 95/8 9% 91/2 + Vs RKO $6 pfd 971/2 97 971/2 + 1 20th Century-Fox ... 23 1/4 23 1/4 23% + U/4 20th Century-Fox pfd. 33 V8 32% 33 Vs + V* Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15Vs 15 15'/8 do pfd 89 13-32 893/8 89 13-32+1-32 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55. . . 77y2 77i/2 77l/2 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. . . . 3S/8 35/8 3% Radio-Keith cvs 2 13/4 2 Sonofone Corp 33,4 31/2 3'/i — Vs Technicolor 13'/g 12% 13Vs + % Trans-Lux Universal Corp. vtc Universal Picts 19 19 19 + % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 773/8 79y8 pniinrn [film storage CORPjl ll If II V k ll 1600 B'WAY, N. Y. C. - CIRCLE 6-0081-2-3-4 HIM rXCH&MM DUTltlWTKM SttVICt G Levey Lining Up Nine Ace Writers for Staff West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Jules Levey, embark- ing upon the most ambitious pro- duction program in his career, is lining up nine topflight writers to do the scripts for the five big-budget pictures he will produce for United Artists release. Typical of the high- calibre names Levey is contracting is Howard Estabrook, who adapted "The Human Comedy." Estabrook will adapt and write "The Hairy Ape," which Levey will produce from the Eugene O'Neill play by the same name. Levey returns to production after devoting six months to confidential work for the Government in connec- tion with the war effort. While tour- ing the country in this connection, he talked to scores of leading ex- hibitors and exchange men regard- ing current box-office needs and this information will guide him in map- ping his program for United Ar- tists. Expect Film on Tunisian Campaign at End of July Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Completion of the film story of the Tunisian campaign, which has been under preparation by Colonels Frank Capra and William O. Keighley for several months now, is expected by the end of July, it was revealed yesterday by Army officials. Work has been going on in Astoria and Hollywood with thou- sands of feet of film on the North African action being studied. The completed film is expected to run about an hour, in black and white. It is being made for Army showing, but Army pressure for pub- lic showing is not at all unlikely — especially now that Lowell Mellett, retiring OWI pix chief and industry champion against odd-sized Army films, will be out of the picture. Carr, Executive Producer Of Monogram Productions West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Monogram Produc- tions, Inc., subsidiary of Monogram Pictures Corp., will again become active in production, W. Ray John- ston, president, announces. Unit, inactive for the past three years, will have Trem Carr as executive producer with Scott R. Dunlap and Lindsley Parsons producing. Monogram Productions' schedule includes "Lady, Let's Dance," star- ring Belita; Jackie Cooper in Ground Crew," "College Sweet- heart," "Black Beauty," "Trail of the Yukon," "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" and "Hot Rhythm." Goldstein Back in Office Cleveland — Harry Goldstein, Par- amount district manager, has suf- ficiently recovered from a six months' illness to be able to spend the after- noons in his office. Kalmenson Again Roosts Harry Seed Promotion of Harry Seed, former New York Metropolitan district man- ager for Warners, to the post of Midwest Dis- trict Manager, was announced yesterday by Ben Kalmen- son, general sales manager, who arrives in San Francisco from Chicago today for the company's third regional sales meeting. A successor to Seed in New York will be named in a few days. Seed assumes his new duties im- mediately, supervising the Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Minneapolis territories which are part of the di- vision under Roy Haines, Southern and Western division sales manager. It marks the second promotion this year for Seed. Only a few months ago he was advanced to the Metro- politan post from the Central dis- trict. HARRY SEED Hanson Starts Advertising Trade War on Newsreels Toronto — Oscar Hanson, president of Pioneer Films, is advertising in newspapers direct to theatergoers to use coupons asking exhibitors to book his Associated British News, imported from England for weekly release starting July 22. It is the first time in Canada any exchange has used newspaper displays to sell product to the public. Empire Universal Films has re- taliated with a trade announcement it already is releasing the British- Canadian Topical Weekly, and a trade war over newsreel rivalry has de- veloped. Watson Heads Sponsors for Premiere of "Army" Thomas J. Watson, president of the International Business Machines Corp. has accepted the chairmanship of the committee that will sponsor the world premiere of the screen version of Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army" for Army Emergency Relief at the Hollywood Theater, July 28. Mrs. Jack Laughlin Dead Detroit — Mrs. Esther A. Laugh- lin, wife of Jack Laughlin, former assistant manager of the Cass The- ater, is dead. Her husband and one son survive. Blackout for Indianapolis Indianapolis — Indianapolis will have a taste of a 35-minute blackout this week, sometime between the hours of 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. C0MIIIG and G0IDG CHARLES FRANCIS "SOCKER" COE has re- turned from the Coast. PAUL LAZARUS, JR., UA ad-publicity chief, leaves for the Coast Friday. CLAYTON LYNCH, Metro's L. A. branch man- ager, is in New York. JACK MAHLER, M-G-M talent scout, is in Louisville, Ky., from New York. F. E. "TED" O'SHEA, EDDIE AARON S* HAROLD POSTMAN returned to New York K.. .. - day from Cincinnati. CHARLES D. PRUTZMAN is off for Universal City tomorrow. MRS. PRUTZMAN will accompany him. HARRY GOLDBERC, director of advertising and publicity for Warner Theaters, left yester- day for Philadelphia and departs for Cleveland in connection with plans for the local pre- mieres of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army." JOHN A. BACHMAN, president of the Char- lotte Variety club and manager of Warners' ex- change in Charlotte, with three of his salesmen, HAROLD JORDAN, H. KEETER, and DEAN HOUSE, return today from Chicago. TOM DUN PHY of the Majestic, Bridgeport, Conn., is on sick leave in Maine. JOAN DUPEE, of the Vitagraph, New Haven, is vacationing on a ranch at Cinnabar in Peek- skill. ARTHUR DE BRA of the MPPDA returns today from the Coast via a Syracuse, Ind., stopover. AL SHERMAN, publicity consultant to the film and photo division of the Royal Norwegian Information Service of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, is in town. JAMES JOVANEY, general manager of the Globe Film Co. of Chicago, has arrived in the city for a week's stay to close pending deals on the company's newest attraction, "The Power of God." ALFRED DE LIACRE, JR., the Broadway pro- ducer, has gone to Hollywood. LOWELL GILMORE, actor recently signed to a contract by RKO Radio, has left for Hollywood for his first assignment. JOSEPH H. MOSKOWITZ, Eastern representa- tive of the 20th-Fox studios, accompanied by BERTRAM BLOCH, Eastern story editor, leave the end of this week for studio conferences. NORMAN FERCUSON, director of Walt Dis- ney's South American unit, is in Mexico City on a talent hunt. He is accompanied by HOMER BRICHTMAN and DAN KEEFE. FELIX JACKSON here to attend opening of "Her's to Hold," leaves for the Coast Friday. MRS. KEN GOLDSMITH and her four children are en route from the Coast with the remains of her late husband. He will be buried in New York. J. D. KENDIS will leave Hollywood July 23 for a swing around the exchange centers to sell his new Continental picture, "Teen Age." Sidney Blackmer Carl E. Milliken Cornelius Keefe i& 'A*. U V ;CV £ m *» u ^WvW £ko*6fc«« *%9%ph. *~JL \trOUH. YO-*Xa£**** *~C Mfc*^ -^.^mflBa^. CHARLES COBURN &T£lSEl^?^«b1J EDMUND GOULDING DAME MAY WHITTY Directed by Keep Selling The "Shangri La" Stamp Drive! Screen Ploy by Kathryn Scolo • Ffom the Novel and Ploy by Margaret Kennedy and Basil Dean Music by-Erich Wolfgang Kotngold - - - M Tuesday, July 13, 1943 Approves Building 100 Film Projectors {Continued from Page 1) Equipment Division, which has abso- lute authority over who gets these machines, intends to be extremely tough in letting them out. Getting approval for them, when such things as typewriters and laundry machines simply cannot be built for civilian use is a feather in the cap of the industry, since the authorities who approved the manufacture of them must have been firmly convinced of the value of the war job done by the industry. That they will approve the manufacture of more, however, is extremely unlikely, and the ser- vice equipment division will take great pains to make certain that the equipment goes to only those thea- ters where fires have burnt out the booths or where old machines are in such bad shape that repair is es- sential and repair parts not avail- able. The orders for these machines as well as for 50 sound systems, 100 lamps and 100 rectifiers, have been distributed among the manufactu- rers in proportion to the number of their products now in use by the- aters. These will be the first lot of such equipment for civilian use to be made in about a year and a half. An industry meeting will be held here Friday to discuss the possi- bility of making some new 16 mm. projectors for use by Government agencies, USO, etc., it was revealed yesterday by Harold Hopper, head of the motion picture section of WPB's Consumers Durable Goods Division. These will be entirely for war-related Government use how- Newspaper Contest In Cleveland on Way Out Cleveland — Local newspapers, it is reported, are cutting down on theater-newspaper co-operative ex- ploitation contests and it is further rumored that soon all such contests will be taboo here. This type of ex- ploitation has been extensively used by all Cleveland houses. WEDDING BELLS Roger Conant Clement, associated with Paramount legal department handling foreign matters, and Esther Augusta Riley were married last Friday at the Church of the Trans- figuration. Lake Arrowhead — Janet Blair and Sgt. Louis Bush, musical arranger with the Air Corps Band at Santa Ana, were married at the home of Frank Vincent yesterday. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Beverly Hills — Maria Montez and Joel Pierre Aumont will be married tonight. T V V It Happened Last Night. . . . • • • SINCE showmen are businessmen who operate theaters primarily ior profit (the balance of the general motive being to gratify their professional desire or hobby). Phil M. feels that this column should stress the trade angle of last night's brilliant get-together in the Waldorf- Astoria, engineered by a triumvirate comprising Walt Disney, Albert D. Lasker and Hostess Elsa Maxwell Close to 1.000 people, elite of the Fourth Estate, Society, the Armed Forces, Trade Unions, Public Life, and Screen. Stage and Radio, were present for a buffet supper and, more importantly, to witness a private, pre-release showing of Mister Disney's celluloid translation of "Victory Through Air Power," authored by Major Alexander P. de Seversky, who was the function's guest of honor So, if Miss Maxwell will pardon our "talking shop." and leaving the glamour to Society Editors, we would like to tell the Gentlemen of the Exhibition Field a few things of consequence to their pocketbooks Here goes: T T ▼ • • • FIRST off, you, Mister Exhib., are hereby assured that "Victory Through Air Power" is a glorious attraction,— magnetic and re- vealing in content; stirring in its treatment and timeliness; rich in its promise of Victory's attainment; and potently geared to swell theater coffers of every size and type of stand .One can raise an audible prayer of thanksgiving for the medium of animation, for Technicolor, and the unrivalled genius of Walt Disney It is an unbeatable combination wherewith to picturize the vital concepts of Major de Seversky on the subject of air power So much for the picture Now, and secondly, you, Mr. Exhib., have rarely if ever been offered a film of such multiple merit Phil M. happens to know, as he writes this, that tremendous interest in the picture is rife among heads of leading circuits, regardless of who owns them He also knows that their determination to play the new Disney opus spiings from two motives, namely, the Patriotic and the Pecuniary "Victory Through Air Power" will spur not only the war effort and hasten the end of the Axis, but it is one of those rare cinematic properties that will, at the same time, fill the old till No wonder that it has al- ready lured to it such powerful sponsorship among showmen ▼ TV 0 0 0 THIRDLY, Mr. Exhib., you have rarely, if ever in these war days, been offered a picture commanding such a huge ready-made audi- ence The promotional campaign, launched by UA's Paul Lazarus, Jr., in the interests of the. distributor, and David "Skip" Weshner. in the interests of the producer, (and ALL in the interests of the exhibitor), is a beauty The great news services are giving the pic a terrific "play," as are the nation's mags, radio, and commercial firms, chiefly the aero- nautical industry Among the myriad send-offs are via AP, UP, INS, King Features and other syndicates, Redbook, Time, Ladies Home Journal, Liberty. Look. The New York Times Magazine Section, Parade, major radio networks (110 spots at least!), Wright Aeronautical (with ad tie- ups in some 40 aviation mags), the Aluminum Co. of America (via maps), Lockheed (in 60 national mags with 70,000,000 circulation), Bendix (via co-op newspaper campaign), etc., etc Defense factories are plan- ning to sell in excess of 1,000,000 admissions to their employes This all adds up to exploitation put into practical dollars We wish we had room to tell you more Well, thanks Elsa, Walt and Al for your hospitality last night, but here we wanted to remember Mr. Ex- hibitor, and have them — AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! IN NEW POSTS •HERMAN EDWARDS, vice-president, American Ticket Corp., Chicago. ROBERT BEERY, city manager, Gregory Theaters, Vincennes, ind. HERMAN KAL, RKO Grand, Chicago. GEORGE LEFKO, sales manager, Warners, Chi- cago. WARD PENNINGTON, salesman, Paramount, Portland. MAX HADFIELD, booker, Paramount, Seaf JOHN KENT, salesman, Paramount, Seattle. BILL DUGAN, Concert Artist Bureau, Portland, Ore. CHARLES FLOHE, manager, Majestic, Grand Rapids, Mich. LEO BLANK, district manager, Monogram, Des Moines and Omaha. FELIX JACKSON and his wife are en route from the Coast to attend the opening of "Her's to Hold." Republic Abolishes Its Studio Publicity Dept. (Continued from Page 1) department, Len Boyd, his assis- tant, William Porter and Ambrose Barker to leave the lot in two weeks. The four girls employed in depart- ment are expected to be transferred to the stenographic department. Republic's home office plans to merge the local publicity department with its advertising and exploita- tion departments and will send a representative to handle material here. Only a skeleton department will be maintained at the studio. Short Subjects Forced, Says Philly Allied Unit Philadelphia — Direct charge that "unnecessary and unwanted short subjects are being forced" by dis- tributors is again made by Sidney E. Samuelson, business manager of Allied Independent Theater Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania, Allied af- filiate, in a bulletin just released to unit's membership. Largely devoted to the rentals sit- uation, bulletin contends that "the box-office problem of the independent exhibitor is aggravated by the gigan- tic film squeeze play being staged by the distributors." "Feature product, actually pro- duced and ready for release, is be- ing hoarded; old features and re- issues are being withdrawn and fea- ture prints have been reduced," bul- letin maintains, adding, "Now is the time for exhibitors to take a stand and make it stick." STORKS Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Bush are the parents of a six-pound son born on Sunday at the Mt. Vernon Hos- pital, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Bush is J exploitation manager of 20th-Fox| under Hal Home. ... m "am -l: // Melisse" . . . One of America's GREATEST WOMAN AD ARTISTS Does Her Impression of the Year's GREATEST WOMAN'S PICTURE For Paramount's Ad Campaign in the GREATEST WOMEN'S MAGAZINES "HpHEY'RE in the army now! I've just seen these 3 adorable stars in an ■*- advance screening of 'So Proudly We Hail,' and I think it's the greatest 'woman's picture' ever. It's the first dramatic LOVE STORY OF OUR WOMEN AT WAR . . . makes you feel like joining the Waves, Waacs, Red Cross — anything to help destroy the enemy — Quick! v ted ijn IT'S all about a bunch of lovely girls who are right in the thrilling thick of things at the front, and believe me you've never seen SUCH EXCITE- MENT as these girls get into — fight- ing through rough 'n tough sequences black and blue. "OEEING 3 STARS as famous as Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard and Veronica Lake in 3 great romances in one picture certainly puts a lot of ideas into your head . . . (Stop righting, boys — you can have the three of them — that is, for your walls!) 'T HEY have to snatch love on the run and there are parts and partings that will just about break your heart ... so don't for- get to bring your hankies, especially when Paulette — Boo Hoo! gulp. . mm. ->• J^- jn^ t t .. . . |[S^ PROUDLY Wr\U I THAT'S what I call a TERRIFIC ROMANCE! I mean between Claudette and George Reeves. She borrows a skirt from "Ma" McGregor to get married in — thought dungarees might be con- fusing. And they spend their wedding night in a fox-hole, of all things! ^\4 AND P/ ■ don't PAULETTE — if you mind — goes around wearing a black sheer night gown as an evening dress — to keep up her Morale she says. ND watch for that scene where she and Veronica have A REAL FIGHT— WoW! not bad — Slap, sc-ratch. . .meoW! 51NP- HEARD in the most unusual places, "What's up with Veronica?" Answer, "Her hair." Yessir, The Lake exposes her entire face for her country and she sure goes through something in this picture specially when she screams — "Sure I'm a nurse — an angel of mercy. But I want to kill, Yes KILL! every blood-stained Jap I can lay my hands on!" And when her buddies are about to be captured she walks cold as ice into the enemy lines and gives her beautiful self up to the Japs — (they think). But there's a catch to it — you'll see! OW take a good look at this, girls . . . It's Sonny Tufts, Paramount's NEW STAR on the male list. ..A big, tall, good-natured guy, handsome and blond, with a very interesting chest expansion and line. Wheww. . .Wheww. YES, this picture has all this for the girls and of course nothing missing for the boys. In one scene Georgie Reeves has to be bathed by Paulette. Says George — "No female is going to bathe ME!" but Claudette teaches him different ... and the part where Sonny tells Paulette "If you don't wait for me I'll break your neck!" Mmmm — he's Wonderful! And so is the production and direction, for V \\ ./ which I'd like to give Mark Sandrich the Melisse stamp of approval. — ^^^, HE'S put in loads of wonderful touches like the bit where one of the girls receives a package from home — a big pic- ture hat trimmed with cherries .. .Not what the well-dressed warrior will wear at the battlefront! . . . But this picture is so full of interesting and exciting things I can't begin to tell them all. Just SEE IT!" TTlsl/ssz In response to exhibitor requests, the foregoing art and copy material, condensed into full-page ad form as it will appear in the fan magazines, has been made AVAILABLE FOR LOBBY DISPLA Y in 40 x 60 two-color enlargements. WILL ADVERTISE IT IN 35,000,000 COPIES OF Good housekeeping . ^roman's Home Companion • cJfttcCall's Magazine Fifteen C^an Magazines (fm Pag«) jQjfe, dQpok, 7~ime, ^iberty, ^ed Book, Cosmopolitan True ^tory, American, (^\ick and ^ic {Full Columns) SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ITS PREMIERE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL * COLBERT GODDARD • LAKE in u + go Proudly * We Hail • a MARK SANDRICH production with George Reeves • Barbara Britton • Walter Abel • Sonny Tufts Directed bjf Mark SandMch • Written by Allan Scott • A Paramount Picture Tuesday, July 13, 1943 Vtifa 11 -V > R€VICUS Of THE R6UJ flLfllS :< " "The Sky's the Limit" with Fred Asfaire, Joan Leslie RKO 89 Mins. SWELL LIGHT COMEDY SATISFAC- TORILY TEAMS ASTAIRE AND MISS LES- LIE; STRONG BOX OFFICE SHOWING IN- DICATED. The sky's the limit on the entertainment ' 9fe of Fred Astaire's newest film, a light ^7dy that teams him happily with Joan Leslie. The dancing comedian breezes through his role to the complete delight of his fans, carrying Miss Leslie along with him to deserved success in a chain of situa- tions that are good for plenty of laughs. The emphasis in "The Sky's the Limit" is strictly on fun. Edward H. Griffith's di- rection holds the film to a snappy pace throughout and keeps the humorous content uppermost at all times. Only two or three dance numbers are permitted to break up the action, and none of them is spectacular enough to steer attention away from the story itself, which is the main thing in this film. As Astaire's singing and dancing partner Miss Leslie reveals a new assurance and poise in a part that calls upon her to ex- ercise her comedic talents. She serves as a good foil for the brash Astaire. Given nice production touches by David Hempstead, the film derives from a screen- play by Frank Fenton and Lynn Root which contains some surprisingly good comedy lines that fit the Astaire personality perfectly. The yarn is scarcely to be taken seriously. It is from first to last a gay romp in which Astaire has a chance to play the sort of role best suited to him — that of the cocky blade who makes himself obnoxious in his determination to win a fair heart, which happens to be Miss Leslie's this time. Astaire plays a Flying Tiger back home on a brief furlough before undertaking a new assignment. To avoid annoyance he dons civilian clothes and sets out on a round of fun on which he meets Miss Leslie, a photographer with whom her boss, a mag publisher, is in love. Astaire gets the gal after a lot of hilarious complications. Much of the comedy revolves around Astaire's efforts to keep his identity from Miss Les- lie. Astaire and Miss Leslie are supported by a fine cast in which Robert Benchley stands out strongly as the publisher. Benchley steals the show several times. CAST: Fred Astaire, Joan Leslie, Robert Benchley, Robert Ryan, Elizabeth Patterson, Marjorie Gateson, Freddie Slack and His Orchestra. CREDITS: Producer, David Hempstead; As- sociate Producer, Sherman Todd; Director, Edward H. Griffith; Screenplay, Frank Fen- ton, Lynn Rot; Cameraman, Russell Metty; Special Effects, Vernon L. Walker; Songs, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen; Dance Direc- tor, Fred Astaire; Musical Director, Leigh Harline; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Carroll Clark; Set Decorators, Darrell Sil- vera; Claude Carpenter; Soundman, Richard Van Hessen; Film Editor, Roland Gross. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Danger! Women At Work" with Patsy Kelly, Mary Brian, Isabel Jewell (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) PRC 60 Mins. PLEASANT LITTLE COMEDY WITH FRESH THEME PROVIDES GOOD ENTER- TAINMENT. Here is a pleasant little comedy, which has a fresh theme. It has been given good production by Jack Schwarz and his asso- ciate producer, Harry D. Edwards, with Sam Newfield's direction responsible for plenty of comedy. Patsy Kelly comes through with another splendid performance as a comedienne, while Cobina Wright, Sr., Betty Compson, Mary Brian and Isabel Jewell are among the principals. Patsy and her roommates, Mary Brian and Isabel Jewell, enter the trucking busi- ness when Patsy's uncle leaves her a truck. The girls agree to haul a gambler's para- phernalia from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. En route to Las Vegas, they pick up Cobina Wright, Sr. a socialite, who is afflict- ed with amnesia. They also give a ride to Wanda McKay, an heiress, who is flee- ing from her father, and Betty Compson, a fortune-teller. To complicate matters, the truck is chased by high-jackers and detectives seek- ing a $5,000 reward for finding Wanda Mc- Kay, and Cobina Wright, Sr.'s husband. Gertrude Walker and Edgar G. Ulmer wrote the original story and Martin Mooney the screenplay. Ira H. Morgan's photog- raphy is first-rate. CAST: Patsy Kelly, Mary Brian, Isabel Jewell, Wanda McKay, Betty Compson, Co- bina Wright, Sr., Allan Byron, Warren Hy- mer, Michael Kirk, Vince Barnett. CREDITS: Leon Fromkess in Charge of Production; Producer, Jack Schwarz; Asso- ciate Producer, Harry D. Edwards; Direc- tor, Sam Newfield; Authors, Gertrude Wal- ker and Edgar G. Ulmer; Screenplay, Martin Mooney; Cameraman, Ira Morgan, ASC; Art Director, Frank Sylos; Editor, Robert G. Crandall. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, First-rate. Schines Close in Bucyrus Bucyrus, O. — Southern Theater, a Schine house which has been operat- ing a week-end policy, is closed for the Summer. Micu-Becker Acquire Celina, O., Theaters Fort Wayne, Ind. — John Micu and Clarence W. Becker, owners of the Indiana and State theaters, have purchased a half-interest in two theaters in Celina, 0., the Ohio and the Fayette. The two Celina the- aters will continue to operate un- der the present management. Urges Confirmations of Bookings of War Shorts Eldora, la. — Plea that all ex- changes follow the example set by Metro and adopted by 20th-Fox in sending out advance confirmations of the block-booked Government- WAC free shorts distributed by them is voiced by Leo F. Wolcott, president of Allied-Independent Theater Own- ers of Iowa-Nebraska. "Prairie Chickens" with Jimmy Rogers, Noah Beery, Jr. UA-Roach 46 Mins. LATEST ROACH OFFERING IS OLD- FASHIONED SLAPSTICK THAT WILL MAKE A HIT CHIEFLY WITH KIDS. "Prairie Chickens" is out-and-out slap- stick aimed strictly at kids and adults not particular about the entertainment they get. This sort of stuff has been done to death on the screen. Only a person whose risibilities are easily touched will be able to work up more than a smile over the doings in the picture, which is the latest of the "stream- lined" features being turned out by the Hal Roach outfit. Time has worn some of the tricks in "Prairie Chickens" pretty thin. It is one of the film's assets that it runs but 46 minutes. What happens in the picture is purely for the kids. Although there's no end of rushing about, nothing much actually tran- spires in the course of the story, an extreme- ly silly affair. The plot has to do with the efforts of a crooked ranch foreman to drive off visitors who are interfering with his activities. Among the visitors are the owner, some cowboys and a boodle of beau- ties, who supply some sort of excitement for the men by rushing about screaming while clutching their garments. One of the foreman's pet devices is having his stooges make up as ghosts. The guy has the upper hand until Jimmy Rogers and Noah Beery, Jr., gets on the job and lower the boom on him. The shining light in the cast is Jack Norton, that perennial screen drunk. Play- ing the owner of the ranch, he runs away with whatever there is to run away with in "Pairie Chickens." He is responsible for most of the laughs in the film. Besides Rogers, Beery and Norton others in the cast include Joe Sawyer, Marjorie Wood- worth, Rosemary La Planche, Raymond Hat- ton, Ed Gargan, Frank Faylen. Hal Roach, Jr.'s direction is fast but no more. Fred Guiol produced from a screen- play by Arnold Belgard and Earle Snell based on a stoy by Donald Hough. CAST: Jimmy Rogers, Noah Beery, Jr., Joe Sawyer, Marjorie Woodworth, Rosemary La Planche, Jack Norton, Raymond Hatton, Marge Ann Deighton, Ed Gargan, Frank Fay- len, Dudley Dickerson. CREDITS: Producer, Fred Guiol; Director, Hal Roach, Jr.; Screenplay, Arnold Belgard, Earle Snell; Based on story by Donald Hough; Cameraman, Robert Pittack; Spe- cial Effects, Ray Seawright; Art Director, Charles D. Hall; Film Editor, Bert Jordan; Sound, William Randall; Set Decorator, W. L. Stevens. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. * SHORTS * "Sullivans" Via 20th-Fox West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Twentieth-Fox will finance and release the Sam Jaffe- Lloyd Bacon film, "The Sullivans," based on the combined stories of the five Sullivan boys who lost their lives on the cruiser Juneau. Film will be made on the Fox lot and part of the proceeds will go to the Sulli- van family. Jaffe will produce and Bacon direct. "Bill Jack vs. Adolf Hitler" (March of Time) 20th-Fox 17 mins. Excellent March of Time's latest release is easily one of the best of the series. It records an experiment in labor-man- agement relations that packs terrific interest. The subject is the defense plant operated by Bill Jack, who uses paternalism to the ultimate de- gree to get the most out of his work- ers. The footage shows the means by which Jack is able to attain a production record that has won him nation-wide attention. It is a fan- tastic success story which argues for the application of the human touch to dealings between boss and worker. The free services made available to the employes make up an amazing list. Practically everything is supplied free to the workers in return for their loyalty to the man- agement— a loyalty that drives them to give their all for the boss. Wage earners and employers alike will be drawn to the film, which has the potentialities of a strong box-office attraction. The subject has been di- rected superbly by Jack Glenn. Rich- ard 18'/4 18 I8I/4+ l/4 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd East. Kodak 165'/2 1647/8 165'/2 + Vi Cen. Prec. Eq 23 1/4 22% 23% + % Loew's, Inc 623/8 62 62% + % Paramount 30 29% 29% + % RKO 9% 91/2 95/8 + % RKO $6 pfd 971/2 97% 971/2 20th Century-Fox . . . 23% 23 23 — 1/4 20th Century-Fox pfd. 34 33% 34 + % Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15% 15% 15% do pfd 89 13-32 89 13-32 8913-32 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3% 3% 3% — % Radio-Keith cvs 2 17/8 2 Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% + % Technicolor 14% 13% 14 + 3/4 Trans-Lux 3% 3 3% Universal Picts 19 18% 18%— % "Canteen" Tops Army's B. O. Business in June Ace box office hit in Army motion picture theaters in June was UA's "Stage Door Canteen," it was an- nounced yesterday by Fred Bund, Jr., assistant director of the Army Mo- tion Picture Service. Other four outstanding features of the month from a box-office stand- point were, in order, "Coney Island," 20th-Fox; "Bataan," Loew's; "Aerial Gunner," Paramount, and "Action in the No- th Atlantic," Warners. It's the first time that the Army list showed only one "escapist" pic registering. "Bell Tolls" in Formal Bow Tonight at Rivoli Para.'s "For Whom the Bell Tolls" bows in formally at the Rivoli to- night as a benefit for the National War Fund in the wake of last night's press preview. Theater has been closed for two days to prepare for the premiere, including the installa- tion of 100-foot front that covers the building from sidewalk to roof. Idea for the front was developed by Alec Moss; design is by Howard Bay. Ranking Army and Navy officers, persons prominent in society, civic leaders and key figures in industry, the arts, business and finance will make up the world premiere audi- ence. Here from Hollywood for the opening' are B. G. DeSylva, Paramount executive produc- er; Sam Wood, producer-director of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," Dorothy Lamour, and her husband, Capt. William R. Howard, III; Betty Hutton and Mary Martin, both Para- mount stars; William H. Pine, Paramount producer, and others. Also present will be Barney Balaban, Stan- ton Griffis, Chester Colby, Wendell L. Willkie, N. Peter Rathvon, Floyd Odium, Maurice Newton, Edwin L. Weisl, Spyros P. Skouras, Nicholas M. Schenck, Jack Cohn, John D. Hertz, Stephen Callagrhan, A. Conger Good- year, Earl I. McClintock, Charles Francis Coe, William Phillips, George Skouras, Eugene Stetson, John Hertz, Jr., G. L. Porter, Serge Semenenko, Claude Lee, Francis S. Harmon. Para. Lab. Workers Pay Boost Okayed by WLB Motion Picture Laboratory Techni- cians' Union, Local 702, IATSE, has received WLB approval of wage in- creases for workers at the Para- mount Laboratory in Astoria, it was reported yesterday by John Franca- villa, president of the union. The increases, which are retroactive to March 8, 1943, are 10 per cent for those making less than $50 per week and five per cent for those earning $50 or more. The raises were pro- vided for under the terms of the union's contract with the laboratory running to March 10, 1945. Several other applications for wage increases are pending before the WLB. Among the firms involved are Warners, Pathe, and Paramount News. Espy Joining M. Selznick Agency as General Mgr. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Reeves Espy is join- ing the Myron Selznick agency as general manager, succeeding Charles Glett, who has entered the Signal Corps as a major. Espy has re- signed as assistant story editor at M-G-M to take the new post. William S. Shartin Joins United Artists Sales Dept. Chicago — William S. Shartin, who recently resigned as Warners Mid- west district manager, is joining United Artists sales department, ac- cording to Rud Lohrenz, local dis- trict manager. Charles Morrison Here For Talks with Walker Charles Morrison, currently in New York in connection with organi- zation of his new producing organi- zation, Morrison Film Co., expressed the hope that James J. Walker, for- mer Mayor of New York and film industry leader, would accept the presidency of the new venture. Characterizing Walker as unsur- passed in ability as well as under- standing of industry affairs, Morri- son stated that "it is worth forming a company to get Jimmy back in the business more actively," and added that he believed that the only bar- rier standing in the way of Walker's acceptance of the offer is the "in- tense loyalty he has to the indepen- dent theater owners whom he now is representing, and the garment in- dustry." Morrison hinted that he has several top-flight screen properties which will be put in production upon com- pletion of his plans to organize Mor- rison Film Co. Goldberg Asks Protection For Baltimore's Hilton In an unusual clearance complaint filed with the Washington tribunal, Thomas D. Goldberg asks that clear- ance granted the Forest and Gwynn Theaters, Baltimore, over his Balti- more house, the Hilton, be eliminated and that protection be granted the Hilton over the other theaters. Com- plaint was filed by Hilton Theater Co. as operator of the Hilton and names 20th Century-Fox and Forest Park Theater Co., operator of the Forest and Gwynn. Harford Theater Co., a Goldberg company, has also filed a clearance complaint naming 20th-Fox and the Boulevard and Waverly Theaters, operated by State Theater Co. Ac- tion asks elimination of the present 14-day clearance enjoyed by the Boulevard and Waverly over the Har- ford. Two Film Industry Men Called for Cuban Army Havana (By Air Mail, Passed by Censor) — Only two film industry men were called when the National Re- cruiting Board summoned over 3,000 men between 20 and 25 years of age, for military training in the Cuban Army. L. Villanueva, son of the manager of the Modernista and Marti Theaters, Cardenas and Lilo Yarson, actor who appears in "For Whom the Bell Tolls," were called. 1560 Broadway COMinG and G0II1G LOUIS W. SCHINE and J. MEYER SCHINE are in New York from Gloversville for the RKO Radio convention. RUBE JACKTER, Columbia's assistant general sales manager, leaves today for Washington and will return to New York over the week-end. CUS W. LAMPE. Schine division manager, is attending the RKO Radio sales meeting here. AL 0. BONDY, film distributor for Geri^ ., Electric Co., left his local headquarters yWk terday for Schenectady on business. MRS. EDWARD RAFTERY, wife of UA's prexy, was in Chicago yesterday. HARRY UNTERFORT, RKO-Schine city manager in Syracuse, is a guest at the RKO Radio sales conclave. JAY GOLDEN of the RKO-Paramount-Comer- ford pool, Rochester, is in New York attending the RKO convention. JIM BRENNAN, Schine district manager, is at- tending the RKO Radio sales sessions here. Alexander Preview Shuts Down for the Duration Alexander Preview Co., associate organization of Alexander Film Co., but not a subsidiary of the latter, has ceased operations for the dura- tion because of the raw stock short- age, it was revealed yesterday by J. Don Alexander, whose son, J. Don Alexander, Jr., is head of Alex- ander Preview. The move in no way effects Alex- ander Film Co., it was stressed. Preview has, since its inception a few years ago, devoted its facili- ties to the making of "coming at- traction" films, and during its exist- ence has sold an estimated $40,000,- 000 worth of such trailers. 44 Canadian Theater Fires, $146,611 Damage Toronto — No lives were lost through fire in Canadian theaters during 1942, it is reported by the Dominion Fire Commissioner. Dur- ing the year there were 44 fires causing damages totaling $146,611. Ten of these broke out in projec- tion rooms. Gilmore Retiring Sept. 1 Harry B. Gilmore, secretary of the Western Electric will retire Sept. 1 after 41 years of service, it was announced yesterday following a meeting of the Company's directors. Norman R. Frame, assistant secre- tary was elected secretary by the directors to succeed Gilmore. HELP IF YOU ARE HAVING DIFFI- CULTY FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR ANY VACANCY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION- CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (AGENCY) 331 Madison Ave. (43rd St.), N. Y. MUrray hill 2-6494 This Is The Picture Three years ago the Paramount studio dedicated its heart, its hands, its hopes, to the creation of an heroic film. Nine million man-hours of devoted care were lavished on it. Volumes of pub- licity have preceded it. Now, filmed in superb Technicolor, its 168 minutes of entertainment at last unfold upon the screen... These Are The dCovers "In spite of the things that were done to me, I never kissed any man until you. And now there are but three days and three nights — yet they're everything. Longer than the months of torture — longer than the years I've lived . • • There isn't anything else but 'now' — and we must live all our life in the time that remains." mamm This Is The e?tory d Towering high as its own craggy mountain peaks over all other best-sellers of this day and age. One million people bought it . „ . 5,000,000 read it . . . To 50,000,000 spread the fame of its superb romance: "Nobody can write as Hemingway can of a man and a woman together . . .This is a book, not of three days, but of all timec These Are . . . and all the others of that brave, lusty, brawling, life-loving band who flung a desperate challenge in the face of death — against crushing, hopeless odds. Gary Cooper as Robert Jordan who had come to offer his life for a country that was far from home — and a cause that was near his heart. Ingrid Bergman as Maria Of the Close-Cropped Hair "I do not know how to kiss, or I would kiss you — and I shall learn to kiss you very well." The People Akim Tamiroff as Pablo "Pablo was brave in the beginning . . . he killed more people than the cholera. But now he is finished. He is very much a coward and he will betray us all." Arturo de Cordova as Agustin "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." Katina Paxinou as Pilar 'She is of an unbelievable barbarous- ness,with a tongue that bites like a bull whip . . . She would have made a good man — but she is all woman, and all ugly." Joseph Calleia as El Sordo "Whether one has fear of it or not, one's death is difficult to accept . . . even at fifty-two, with three wounds in you, and surrounded on a hill.' This Is The ■■■-■. --^ For them the bridge was everything. For three breathless days their every thought, their every movement was consecrated to its destruction. And then — "there was a cracking roar and the middle of the bridge rose up in the air like a wave breaking, and they felt the blast of the explosion roll back against them ..." K99I These Are The eocenes THAT HELP FILL THE SCREEN WITH TUMULTUOUS ACTION AND TIGHT-LIPPED SUSPENSE a* * %*& i w* % ^~» ** ;-nfchi M ™> * )!«• ,, , HP 41 *r*3 -- ?■ -^ "fife? jt^K^ i The Siege on the Mountain Top ' LJ. ■-V ■MVaiti i~.~. "^flfijfc * 1 I-- 1 BW at j» % ■ i .-, ■ -afW-1 The Massacre at the Cliflp ;>-. V .*«. iL i r ' ■ ' I »^:iJ The Bombing of the Cafe The Defense of the Cave This Is ParamoV v>v>v> From the Celebrated N< Starring Gary £ooper PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY SamW DM "DBSM!* w,» AKIM TAMIROFF • ARTURO de CORDOV Screen Play I The Silling Bl by Ernest Hemingway 1 er£man gridS 30Cl B* G" De SYLVA' Executive Producer S©k@C3 (JOSEPH CALLEIA • And KATINA PAXINOU kidley Nichols J All America helped cast the most famous characters in modern fiction. There are one hundred individual roles, and among them new stars emerge and famous players attain a brilliance that will be recorded in motion picture annals. The production, direction, and writing enlisted leading talents of the him world. The grandeur of Technicolor in this picture has never been equalled. This Is The Policy 1 THAT WILL BRING MAXIMUM RETURNS FROM THIS TREMENDOUS PROPERTY TO THE BOX-OFFICES OF THE LAND $4.40 WORLD PREMIERE, RIVOLI THEATRE, NEW YORK, JULY 14 To be followed by RESERVED-SEAT RIVOLI THEATRE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENT To be followed by RESERVED-SEAT CARTHAY CIRCLE THEATRE, HOLLYWOOD, ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENT UNITED ARTISTS THEATRE, LOS ANGELES, ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENT To be followed by OTHER METROPOLITAN CITY ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER To be followed by SELECTED PRE-RELEASE KEY CITY JR0ADSH0W ENGAGEMENTS OCTOBER 1st To be followed by NATIONAL ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS DURING 1943-44 To be followed by \. RETURN ENGAGEMENTS FOR YEARS TO COME " *For the Benefit of The National War F This Is The Company THAT IS MAKING MOTION PICTURE HISTORY— aramsunt Wednesday, July 14, 1943 DAJLV 13 Show World Leaders Al NEK Conference 9 (Continued from Page 1) will meet for the first time to adopt plans for complete mobilization of the amusement business in the in- terests of victory over the Axis. The pnference will run through tomor- w. Representatives of 36 major na- tional organizations in the entertain- ment world will hear Brig.-Gen. Frederick Henry Osborn, chief of the Morale Branch of the Army, tell of the entertainment requirements of men and women in uniform. Theo- dore W. Gamble, director of the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Department, will talk on what show business can do to aid the Govern- ment in the coming war loan drive. Winthrop Aldrich will speak on the role of the entertainer in the future plans of the National War Fund, of which he is chairman. The highlight of the second day of the meeting will be a discussion of civilian morale and entertainment on the home front by Elmer Davis, OWI director. Also listed on the agenda is a dis- cussion of a pledge by members of every branch of the entertainment world to dedicate themselves to a greatly stepped-up program of enter- tainment to aid in the winning of the war. Other business of the meeting will be completion of a permanent organizational set-up for the NEIC in New York and other major enter- tainment centers. The idea of the NEIC, which will function as a service agency to chan- nel talent and facilities to points where they can best be used, grew out of a conference held at the Times Hall on June 3 and 4. The continuations committee ap- pointed at that time with George J. Schaefer, chairman of the WAC, as chairman will place before the show world representatives the results of its planning activities in behalf of fuller dedication of the amusement field to the war effort. "Canteen" in Fourth Week "Stage Door Canteen," which starts a fourth week tomorrow at the New York Capitol, is expected to go at least eight weeks there, it is understood. George Blake M. J. Siegel Dave Fleischer Charles Weinstein Stuart Stewart Zita Johann ALONG THE - |u™iinTTi Conventional Jottings: • • • TODAY marks "the end of the beginning." which is to say the current RKO Radio sales convention in the swank Waldorf-Astoria From this point on, the company and its distribution legions will buckle down to the task of making the 1943-44 season a humdinger, and there isn't a single official or delegate but that is certain it will be Yes'day. Phil M. swooped down on the big Park Avenue hostelry to chew the trade fat with some of the boys as they headed for their noon- tide menu fat It was good to see Al Selig again, up from down Pittsburgh and Washington way Al says that the perfect omen for some of the on-coming RKO Radio features occurred right while Ned Depinet was announcing the new lineup, — for darned if Oscar didn't poke his head in the convention hall door right then Both the morning and afternoon biz sessions were downright private, but Phil M.'s little nooze hound, "Snooper," managed to slither into the sessions and emerged with the following barking: T T T • • • COLONEL Carlos P. Romulo, present at the gallant last stand of General MacArthur in the Philippines, as the latter's chief aide, took a bow and received a spirited ovation The Grand Ball- room's unavailability this year to the RKO sales meet, by the by, necessitated the announcement of 1943-44 product being staged in the hotel's Wedgewood Room,— and to an overflow audience Distaff RKO-ites at the sales meeting were the alluring Rosalie Ross, of Rutgers Neilson's staff, and the charming Mildred Hartman of Aagie Schubart's department They worked like beavers outside the Sert Room, where the publicity typewriters hummed in the best City Room fashion RKO Radio, so Ned Depinet disclosed, has six Tim Holt west- erns now available for immediate dating by exhibs Tim com- pleted these half-dozen pix prior to his induction into Uncle Sammy's Army several months ago They'll be the only horse operas the org will have in the new season T T T • • • ANENT Prexy Ned, — he invited ye delegates to an open house tomorrow at GHQ, specifically the office of "Flash," house organ bailiwick GHQ was established by Salute's Jack (Ole Goose-Caller) Level as a clearing house for nooze of RKO-ites now in the armed forces lames R. Young, the Far East correspondent whose book, "Behind the Rising Sun," is destined to be one of RKO's best bets of the season, gave an off-the-record broadside about inside Japan Jimmy, vet- eran member o' the Fourth Estate, is a whale of a speaker N. Peter Rathvon. introducing his school pal, Floyd B. Odium, to the sales dele- gates, recalled that when they were schoolmates at the University of Colorado, Odium already had a keen financial flare, evidenced in his poker pickings, and his facility in getting elected to college committees with stipendiary privileges Capt. Ben Lyon held a reunion with his pals of the Phil Reisman foreign department staff Corporal Patricia Biddle of the WACs. formerly of the studio, dropped in to say hello, and chatted with her former boss. Perry Lieber Terry Turner, in charge of field exploitation under S. Barret McCormick, was able to see his staff en masse for the first time Spread all over the country, Terry has hitherto seen 'em singly or in pairs Cables of greetings to the delegates were read by Ned Depinet from branch managers in such scattered spots as Barcelona, Cairo, San Juan, P. R., Bombay, Stockholm, Chungking, Lisbon, London and Berne, — testimony to the fact that RKO carries on! P.S.: Good luck to you all, lads! And be sure to always T T ▼ AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Trade Man as Liaison Between OWI-Pix! (.Continued from Page 1) and Domestic Director Palmer Hoyt will probably see an offer by OWI to let the industry pick a man to carry on this work. Organizationally the future OWI industry liaison is pretty much of an open question, but it was learned that there will probably be a Holly- wood office apart from that of Ulric Bell, who represents the overseas branch. The main reason for this would be that the agency does not want to leave itself open to charges of censorship, since the overseas branch does exercise censorship, in effect. Bell's office, were it to take over the script clearance work formerly handled by Nelson Poynter, Mellett representative on the Coast, could find itself in a difficult po- sition if it rejected a script for overseas showing: because it could be charged that OWI was trying: to censor it for domestic purposes. Furthermore, clearing- of scripts for do- mestic purposes is probably a thing of the past. Officials here believe that the industry is not keen on this clearance, and they hope to have a man in Hollywood who would not find it necessary to work that way to ac- complish his ends. They hope to have a man in whom the industry has complete confidence to do an affirmative job there — suggesting information needs and providing background information for the studios. It is not unlikely that the same man will serve both in Washington and in Hollywood. OWI officials, if they have the man in mind, have been quite successful in non- cealing his identity. It is likely that they hope for the industry leaders to name the man. Arch A. Mercy, who has been assistant chief of the motion picture bureau under Lowell Mellett, will probably be on the scene for a time yet, having offered to stay to help liquidate the bureau. His future plans are believed to call for his accepting a post with the Army. News Agencies Cover 'Roger Touhy' Prison Show A big turn-out of Illinois law-en- forcement officers, newspaper corre- spondents and photographers, mag- azine writers and such national news agencies as the AP, UP and INS, totaling nearly 1,000 covered the Stateville Penitentiary preview showing of 20th-Fox's "Roger Touhy, Gangstei" in Joliet, 111., last night, Jack Goldstein, Eastern publicity di- rector for 20th-Fox reported last night upon his return by plane to New York. "Weather" at Roxy July 21 Twentieth-Fox's "Stormy Weather" follows "Coney Island" into the Roxy on July 21. WEDDING BELLS Geraldine Hucka, now a store- keeper in the WAVES and formerly with 20th Century-Fox exchange in Des Moines, was married to Lt. Rob- ert Jon Evans in Jacksonville, Fla. She is stationed at Jacksonville. 14 Wednesday, July 14, 1943 RK0 1943-44 Program to Stress Original Stories Five Features in Techni- color; New Series Added To New Season's Lineup (Continued from Page 1) Frank Ross and Edward A. Golden. Five of the new season's pictures are completed and eight are in pro- duction. Commenting on the program, N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO Corp. said, "Our 1943-44 product represents a careful selection which , we think the public will find of un- usual appeal. It is diversified and attractive, balanced between the ser- ious themes of our times and the gay comedies and musicals that are a tonic entertainment necessity to- day." Five to be in Technicolor Most of the program will be based on originals, three on magazine sto- ries, four on books and one on a play. Five features are to be filmed in Technicolor, in addition to all of the Disney releases. Top pictures to be produced at the RKO lots in Hollywood and Culver City under direction of Charles W. Koerner, include Ginger Rogers in "Tender Comrade," to be produced by David Hempstead from Dalton Trumbo's original story, and "The Gibson Girl," which Hempstead will produce in Technicolor. Fred As- taire and Joan Leslie will be starred in a musical while Cary Grant will head the cast of "Experiment Peril- ous," from the Margaret Carpenter best seller, also produced by Hemp- stead. Frank Ross Productions will make "The Robe," in Technicolor, from Lloyd C. Douglas' best seller. "Gov- ernment Girl," directed by Dudley Nichols from his own script adapted from the Adela Rogers St. John Ladies' Home Journal serial, will have Anne Shirley, James Dunn, Paul Stewart, Jess Barker, Una O'Connor and Harry Davenport in the cast. Edward Dmytryk will di- rect "Behind the Rising Sun" from Emmett Lavery's screenplay based on the book by James R. Young for- leign correspondent imprisoned by the Japs, with a cast featuring Margo, Tom Neal, J. Carrol Naish, Robert Ryan and Gloria Holden. Ross has completed the Jean Ar- thur-John Wayne starrer, "A Lady Takes a Chance" and will follow with "One Girl in a Million," also starring Miss Arthur. Eddie Cantor will produce and star in "Show Busi- ness" with a cast including Joan Davis, Frank Sinatra, Marcy Mc- Perfect Timing! West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Just as the Yanks and their allies were invading "Sicily," the Warners' studio was starting to make an Italian-language version of "Sergeant York." Abandoned Child's Adoption by Variety Club Hailed by Capital District as Capital Deed Albany — Top current topic among press and public here is the adoption by the local Variety Club of a three-year-old child left on the doorstep of St. Joseph's Church, a note pinned to his coat by the mother who wrote that she could no longer care for him. Little lad's adoption has driven home to Albanians at large the humanitarian work of the Variety Club and the great -heartedness of its showman members. Chief Barker C. J. Latta declares: "When we took over the financing and operation of the USO Club Canteen, we thought this was the biggest undertaking we have tackled. The adoption of the child has gained the greatest good-will that we have ever experienced in this community. It is planted in the minds of the public that the movie industry is doing considerable good work for the community as a whole." Guire, Dooley Wilson and others to be announced. Company's initial Bing Crosby feature will be "Down Melody Lane," to be produced by Hempstead who will also guide "Nurse Sister Ken- ny," to star Rosalind Russell. "One Hour of Glory" to be produced by Casey Robinson from his own script, will introduce the ballerina Touma- nova and Gregory Peck, star of Broadway. Jacques Tourneur will direct. Maureen O'Hara in Two Maureen O'Hara will be co-starred in two — with John Garfield in "Fal- len Sparrow" from Dorothy B. Hughes' best seller, and with John Wayne in "Tall in the Saddle," from Gordon Ray Young's magazine ser- ial. Robert Fellows will produce both. Fellows will also produce two starring Pat O'Brien — "The Iron Major," based on the life of the late Maj. Frank Cavanaugh, and "Marine Raiders." "Around the World" stars Kay Kyser with Mischa Auer, Joan Davis, Marcy McGuire, and Georgia Carroll, with Allan Dwan as producer-director. "Higher and Higher" features Michele Mor- gan, Jack Haley, Constance Moore, Marcy McGuire, Frank Sinatra, Paul and Grace Hartman, Leon Errol and Mel Torme, with production and direction by Tim Whelan. Fibber McGee and Molly are to be starred in "Heavenly Days," a Robert Fellows pro- duction, directed by Richard Wallace. Pearl Buck's "China Sky" will be produced by Emmet Lavery with a cast headed by Mau- reen O'Hara, Paul Henreid and Luise Rainer. Wally Brown and Alan Carney will be featured in a new Army life series produced by Bert Gilroy. First of this group will be "Adventures of a Rookie," directed by Les- lie Goodwins with Margaret Landry, Patti Brill and Richard Martin in the cast. Others will be "The Rookies in Burma" and "The Rookies in Berlin." Another new series, "Mr. and Mrs. America," will star Leon Errol. The Falcon, Gildersleeve and Lum 'n' Abner series will be continued. Geraghty on "Falcon" First of two Falcons to be produced by Maurice Geraghty, will be "The Falcon and the Co-ed," featuring Tom Conway. Harold Peary will, star in two Gildersleeves, "Gil- dersleeve on Broadway" and "Gildersleeve, Detective." both produced by Herman Schlom. "Are These Our Children?" will be pro- duced by Val Lewton with direction by As- sociate Prpducer Edward Dmytryk. "Seven Days Ashore" features Marcy McGuire, Fred- rie Slack and band, and Dooley Wilson, di- rected by John Auer. "An American Story" stars Margo, with Wally Brown, Alan Car- ney, John Carradine, Robert Ryan, Amelita Ward and James Bell, from Arch Oboler's script, produced and directed by Auer. Val Lewton will produce a twin-bill of four-reel features, "The Amorous Ghost" and "The Screaming Skull." Lewton's schedule also includes "The Curse of the Cat People," featuring Simone Simon, Kent Smith and Jane Randolph. "Lord Epping Has Plans," Stars Leon Errol in a Bert Gilroy produc- tion; John Auer will produce "They Creep by Night" and "The Fanatic of Fez" (ten- tative title) will feature George Sanders. New Disney Camera Process Schedules of independent producers whose product will be released by RKO includes Walt Disney's "Let's Go Latin," (tentative title), which will introduce a new camera process. Samuel Goldwyn will supply Bob Hope in "Treasure Chest," in Technicolor; "North Star," from the Lillian Hellman original with a cast including Anne Baxter, Walter Bren- nan, Walter Huston, Dana Andrews, Ann Harding, Jane Withers, Farley Granger and Erich von Stroheim, directed by Lewis Mile- stone, and Danny Kaye in "Up in Arms," supported by Dana Andrews, Dinah Shore, Constance Dowling and the Goldwyn girls. Herbert Wilcox has already completed in England, "Yellow Canary," starring Anna Neagle and Richard Greene and another Eng- lish-made production, "Escape to Danger" will co-star Eric Portman and Ann Dvorak. Sol Lesser will contribute "Tarzan's Des- ert Mystery," starring Johnny Weissmuller. First of two Lum 'n' Abner productions will be "So This is Washington," with a sup- porting cast including Mildred Coles, Alan Mowbray and Roger Clark, with Ben Hersh producing and Ray MeCarey directing. Ed- ward Golden will produce another special. 39 Two-Reel Shorts Of the 171 scheduled shorts, 142 are one- reelers and 29 two-reelers. Single reel series comprise RKO Pathe News, twice week- ly; 18 Walt Disney Technicolor cartoons; 13 Sportscopes and seven Flicker Flashbacks. Two-reel series are "This Is America." 13; Edgar Kennedy and Leon Errol comedies, six each; and "Headliner Revivals," four musical comedies, two starring Phil Harris and band and two starring Ted Fio Rito and band. RKO producers include David Hempstead, Casey Robinson, Robert Fellows, Emmet Lavery, Eddie Cantor, Val Lewton, Bert Gilroy, Maurice Geraghty and Herman Schlom. Producer-directors include Dudley Nichols, Tim Whelan, Allan Dwan, John Auer and Herbert Wilcox. Directors: Wil- liam A. Seiter, Lewis Milestone, Edward H. Griffith, Ray Enright, Elliott Nugent, Rich- ard Wallace, Edward Dmytryk, Jacques Tour- neur, Mark Robson, Leslie Goodwins and Wil- liam Thiele. Personality roster includes Ginger Rog- ers, Fred Astaire, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Danny Kaye, Jean Arthur, Olivia de Havilland, Eddie Cantor, George Sanders, Bing Crosby, Simone Simon, Paul Henreid, Pat O'Brien, Michele Morgan, Anna Neagle, Luise Rainer, Maureen O'Hara, Joan Davis, Kay Kyser, Johnny Weissmuller, John Garfield. Also, Toumanova, Gregory Peck, Richard Greene, Harold Peary, Lum 'n' Abner, Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Joan Leslie, Ann Shir- ley, James Dunn, Lupe Velez, Paul Stewart, Jess Barker, Una O'Connor, Harry Daven- port, Frank Sinatra, Marcy McGuire, Dooley Wilson, Glenn Vernon, Alan Reed, Hugo Haas, Ruth Warrick, Robert Ryan, Russell Wade, Mischa Auer, Georgia Carroll, Jack Haley, Constance Moore, Paul and Grace Hartman, Leon Errol, Mel Torme, Margaret Landry, Patti Brill, Richard Martin, Tom Conway, Freddie Slack and band, Kim Hunter. Greater Opportunity With Peace-Odium (.Continued from Page 1) industry's post-war future in an B.f^> dress before the RKO Radio salW meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria yes-"* terday. "I think the industry has estab- lished itself as it never was be- fore," stated Odium. "There is good reason why people are going to the theater, good reason why the pic- ture companies are getting film to carry on. It is because motion pic- tures are filling a real need, helping morale, helping build up production, helping the men at the front, and I think you people here should con- sider yourselves helpers in this effort.." Odium declared film "will carry America to the world because the world will be more conscious of America than ever before." The afternoon session, climax of the sales meet, was given over to the 1943-44 product announcement by President Ned E. Depinet. Morning session was addressed by Robert S. Wolff, metropolitan district man- ager; Robert Mochrie, general sales manager; Nat Levy. Eastern division sales manager and Walter E. Branson, Western division sales manager. Phil Reisman, RKO Radio vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, disclosed that plans are already under way for the presentation of pictures in European trerri- tories as they are freed of enemy occupa- tion. RKO Radio Sales Meeting To Close With NSS Buffet The final session of RKO Radio's three-day sales meeting which started Mrs. Catherine Reves Dies Detroit — Mrs. Catherine J. Reves, mother of Haviland F. Reves, De- troit correspondent of The Film Daily, died Sunday after several months' illness. She was office manager for her son for many years until illness forced her retirement. Interment will be in Woodmere Ceme- tery today. Monday at the Waldorf-Astoria Ho- tel, New York, will be called to or- der this morning at nine o'clock by Ned E. Depinet. Day's order of business will be de- voted to the new season's product as announced by Depinet yesterday. A recess will be called at 12:30 p.m. and the delegates will be hosted at lunch in the Wedgewood Room. The meeting will then be resumed at 2 p.m. In the evening at seven p.m. the delegates will be guests of National Screen Service at a reception and buffet supper in the Wedgewood Room. The homeward return of the delegates to their various offices throughout the United States and Canada will begin tonight and con- tinue through tomorrow. Add "Help Wanted!" Sound View, Conn. — Because of his inability to obtain an operator, John P. Glackin may be unable to open his Summer Strand here, usually open by Memorial Day or Fourth of July at latest. The sensational show that exposes the vicious Japs as the vilest villains the world has ever known! . . . Sensationally pro- mated!. . . Opening in August. . . Make your^ own booking plans NOW!... LOOK see why V*£ST*n TO ^ JBr- ^^JB8^"^Mrt^ They sell their THEY'RE WORSE THAN KILLERS! own daughters? mtm' They manhandle captive women! __^ They make war •"■"*£* women! Jg^fff j Tue« torture W«SSI _^-m*T\«L\ I ' I ^^0n3» II 1 1 iSLl II I IJ ^ond *orC' and MORE' h MARGO • TOM NEAL • J. CARROL NAISH • ROBERT RYAN • GLORIA HOLDEN Directed by EDWARD DMYTRYK • Original Screen Ploy by EMMET LAVERY MM Wednesday, July 14, 1943 IN* if"*- 1 Miiy 17 Rodgers Calls M-G-M District Conference (Continued from Page 1) nanager; Harold Postman, assis- ant to Rodgers; Howard Dietz, vice- jresident in charge of advertising md -ublicity; Silas F. Seadler, ad- m?* ~lig manager; William R. Fer- guson, exploitation manager. John 3. Flynn, Western division sales vnanager and John J. Maloney, Cen- tal division sales manager, will sit n. District managers who will at- iend the Windy City parley will lumber John J. Bowen, New York; ludolph Berger, Washington; Mau- -ice N. Wolf, Boston; Robert Lynch, Jhiladelphia; Charles E. Kessnich, Atlanta; George A. Hickey, Los An- gles; John P. Byrne, Detroit; Bur- Sus Bishop, Jr., Kansas City; Harris \ Wolfberg, St. Louis, and Samuel L Shirley, Chicago. Cairo House to Warners Cue to Post-War Plans? (Continued from Page 1) Dpera, Cairo's second largest theater. Following the run of "Casablanca" n July, the theater will be closed :or general renovation, reopening in 'September under the Warner man- agement. Lamar Swift Promotion Brings Editorial Praise Atlanta — Promotion of Lamar Swift from Waycross manager for jucas & Jenkins Theaters, Para- nount Theaters, Paramount affiliate, o Macon city manager for the same ompany has brought into full per- pective the intense popularity of iwift among the residents of Way- ross. In the featured editorial of he Waycross Journal Herald, the heaterman was publicly lauded for as many outstanding contributions |0 the community's well-being. ! Said the newspaper, in enumerat- ng Swift's accomplishments: "Way- ross and Ware County regrets io ose Swift even though delighted to :now he is moving upward in his hosen field of work. He earned a arge place in this city and county." 'articularly cited were his war and iivic activities. Solo Operation Boston — The Coolidge Corner The- ater has lost all of its staff except Manager Jack Markle. Four of his aides have gone into the armed ser- vices and Markle is compelled to do all of the work formerly done by the quartet since he has to date found it impossible to replace them with competent men or women. Rep. Gross At Alt-Time High Rogers Pix Biz in 100% Gain, Confab Told (Continued from Page 1) Prexy James R. Grainger, who is presiding. Meeting is being attended by Maxwell Gillis and Sam Seplowin, Eastern and Central district sales heads, and exchange men from their territories. Grainger told the delegates that the company will give Mary Lee a build-up campaign akin to that benefiting Roy Rogers, the campaign getting under way with release of "Nobody's Darling." Actress will get a starring role in "Hit Parade of 1944." Simultaneous openings of "In Old Okla- home," are scheduled for 20 important key situations, with the engagements to be backed by exhibitor co-operative ad campaigns, radio spot announcements, and 24 sheet posting, in addition to local exploitation. Today's session will center about discus- sion of sales policy, as well as productions scheduled for the immediate future, including "Brazil," "Atlantic City," "Gay Glades," "The Old Waldorf," and the Roy Rogers pro- duction, "Man From Music Mountain." All these productions will receive similar promo- tion in key cities. Yates and Grainger leave tomorrow for Chicago, where the second of Republic's sales meetings is to be held Friday and Sat- urday, at the Brake Hotel. Present at this session will be Midwestern District Sales Manager E. L. Walton, Southern District Sales Manager Merritt Davis, and exchange- men from these territories. Third and last meeting in the current series is to be held July 22-23, at the studio, where Yates and Grainger will be joined by Studio Head M. J. Siegel and Western District Sales Man- ager F. A. Bateman, as well as area ex- changemen. Alexander Sees Blow to Pix In Post-War U. S. Isolation (Continued from Page 1) to this country's world film trade, which will, if we enter upon firm and friendly commercial relations with other lands, reach unprecedented pro- portions, it was declared yesterday by J. Don Alexander, president of Alexander Film Co., of Colorado Springs. Here on a business visit, following the shift of the firm's local offices from 630 Ninth Ave. to 500 Fifth Ave., Alexander asserted that not only will American theatrical films, but also advertising films such as his organization produces, play a hugely important role in foreign lands. Alleviation of the interna- tional resentment which is certain to be a by-product of the conflict, as and when hostilities cease, and the burden of re-educating present- enemy countries, will fall squarely upon the American film industry, he added. Behind the scenes today, engineers and designers are fashioning blue- prints of myriad new products. With the eventual manufacture _ of the latter, selling and demonstration film will have to be made, instructing the public here and abroad in their use. We are naturally going to share our advances in all the various branches of art and science with the people of other nations, he said. A full 90 per cent of the film now being produced by Alexander Film Co. are directly tied to the war effort. These films are sponsored by na- tional advertisers as well as mer- chants in thousands of communities. Typical of this product are the Treasury Department-endorsed Bond and 'Stamp films. Currently, the company has about 150 salesmen cov- ering the U. S., and each carries his own 35 mm. equipment. Alexander stated that he would leave for Colorado Springs tomor- row, stopping off in Detroit and Chi- cago en route. Mrs. Alexander is ac- companying him on the present trip. Polio Outbreak Decreases Texas Grosses by 25 P. C. (Continued from Page 1) Beaumont. Cases have been re- ported from outlying places around these cities. Some estimates have placed the total box-office loss as high as 25 per cent. Raymond Willie, assistant gen- eral manager, Inter-State, estimates that the loss of juvenile trade is about 50 per cent of normal, being heaviest in the nabes. M. S. White, with a nabe in Fort Worth claims a Saturday drop of from 450-600 kids to 10 only, while Leon Lewis, Lib- erty, subsequent downtown, reports a heavy decrease. Willie told The Film Daily that while no requests have come from any Government authorities to the theaters to close, such suggestions have come from private sources, and in one area in Fort Worth a com- munity project of three days a week has closed. In Beaumont, according to S. L. Oakley, Jefferson, the Ctiy Health Officer has asked exclusion of children under 12. Swimming pools and Sunday schools have been closed in most of these places. State Health Officer Dr. Geo. W. Cox declares the spread of the dis- ease is epidemic, with upwards of 300 cases now reported, including some deaths. New cases are re- ported daily and the area of inci- dence widens with each report. In addition to the loss of the juvenile trade, the box-offices suffer adult losses — those who ordinarily attend the children, those who re- frain because the children are kept away, and those who abstain from attendance through their own fear. Report Chakeres Circuit Taking Sam Lee's Four Cincinnati — The Phil Chakeres Circuit, iSpringfield, O., is reported to have taken over four Kentucky theaters operated by Sam Lee, and located at Winchester and Frank- fort. More Chi. Men Face Extortion Indictment (Continued from Page 1) be filed before Sept. 7, when the six alleged Chicago gangsters named in the indictment, in addition to Louis Kaufman, business agent of Local 244, Newark operators' union, and John Rosselli, West Coast agent for the extortion ring, are scheduled to go on trial. They are charged with conspiracy to violate the Federal anti-racketeering statutes. Boris Kostelanetz, special assis- tant U. S. attorney general in charge of the prosecution, was questioned about the identities of those ex- pected to be added to the list of de- fendants. He refused to comment, although he did state that "the special Federal grand jury is still investigating." The six Chicago defendants, all assertedly members of the old Al Capone mob, plus Rosselli, are out on $100,000 bail each. Kaufman is free on $25,000 bail. New City Safety Code Goes to Omaha's Council Omaha — Fire Commissioner Wal- ter Korisko has introduced an ordi- nance in City Council providing for a new city safety code that would require free certificates of occu- pancy to be obtained annually by any public gathering place accom- modating more than 50 persons. The new rules, which have the unanimous recommendation of the Council, will come up for final ac- tion later this month and if passed will go into effect in October. They provide tighter regulations for fireproofing of decorations, tend- ance of exit doors, passageways to exits, fire extinguisher placement, posting of capacity notices, direc- tions to exits and quarterly inspec- tion by officials of the fire depart- ment. The number of exits would deter- mine capacity. Violators would be subject to fines up to $100 and to 90 days' imprisonment. Douglas House to Allison Terre Haute, Ind. — John Allison, has acquired the Virginia Theater, here from Harry Douglas, operator of the Cozy Theater, Duggar. "Aleutians" May Be Shown in 2 Versions Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — E. Palmer Hoyt, new domestic director of the OWl who has kept out of the Army OWI dis- pute on the length of Capt. John Huston's "Report on the Aleutians," has decided that both versions should be offered to the industry. It is now up to WAC, and it is believed here that WAC will offer to handle both ■n — p — p — n — »s — i n c 21! W A- 4 T H ST NYC EAKUP-The Truth About RITA HAYWORTH and VICTOR MATURE BIGGEST "BOX OFFICE GROSS" OF ANY MOVIE MAGAZINE MONTH AFTER MONTH THE PUBLIC PAYS MORE MONEY FOR PHOTOPLAY — THE INDUSTRY'S LUXURY MAGAZINE — THAN FOR ANY OTHER MOVIE MAGAZINE PUBLISHED ^^^^n Schine To Be Ordered to Dispose of 9 {See Column 3 Below) Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -IF DAILY =^t. 84, NO. 10 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JULY 15. 1943 TEN CENTS NEIC SETS PROGRAM^ ELECTS SCHAEFER New Eng. Indies Ask WPB Probe Pix Hoarding Letter Proposes That Gov't Agency 'Require' Distribs. Release Completed Product By FLOYD BELL FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Boston — George R. Farnum, former Assistant U. S. Attor- ney General, now representing more than 200 independent theaters in New England, yesterday released a letter to the WPB asking for im- mediate investigation of the extent to which major producer-distributors {Continued, on Page 4) RKO Radio to Boost Top Pix Pre-selling RKO Radio's top pix for 1943-44 will be given national advance pre- selling campaigns on a greater scale than ever before, S. Barret McCor- mick, director of advertising and (Continued on Page 8) Warner Frisco Meeting To Get Under Way Today San Francisco — Last of the three regional sales meetings being held by Warners this year will be called to order by Ben Kalmenson, general (Continued on Page 4) WB $450,000 Bid For 'Junior Miss' Tops Warners reported bid of $450,000 is said to be the top offered thus far for screen rights to "Junior Miss," Jerome Chodorov - Joseph Fields hit which has been playing on Broadway since Nov. 18, 1941. Other bids reported include: Wil- liam Goetz, $400,000 or $355,000 plus 25 per cent of the net; Colum- bia, $335,000 plus 30 per cent of the net and United Artists for Mary Pickford, $350,000 plus 45 per cent of the net. Buyer of the property is expected to be named within the next two weeks with the picture due for June, 1945 release. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" Acclaimed as Monumental B. O. Blessing at Its Premiere One of the most widely-read literary properties of modern times — Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls," romantic and tragic saga of the Spanish Revolution which was a dress rehearsal for the present World War, has emerged in all its stark and sensational glory upon the screen, brought thereto by Paramount. ... It represents .... the acme of motion picture mechanics and artistry. To showmen, wherever they may be under freedom's skies, or whatever the size or scope of their- outlets, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" stands as both a monumental box-office blessing and a monument to the vast potentialities of the screen in our day. (For full review, turn to Page 7. For report on last night's notable pre- miere, turn to Along the Rialto, Page 4.) 'Adequate' War Info. I D off J to Press Sale Pix Seen by Harmon Of 9 Schine Houses Full confidence that an adequate program of war information films will be formulated at tomorrow's joint meeting here of the WAC Co- ordinating Committee, Theaters Di- vision executive committee, and the chairmen of the exhibitors area com- mittees, was voiced yesterday by Francis S. Harmon, WAC vice-chair- man, in addressing the RKO Radio (Continued on Page 4) Para. District Managers To Discuss FWTBT Policy Policy by which "For Whom the Bell Tolls" will be roadshown throughout the country, will be dis- cussed at a Paramount district man- agers' meeting which gets under way today at the Pierre Hotel. Neil Agnew, general sales manager, will (Continued on Page 2) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Department of Justice intends to press for the dis- posal of the nine theaters the Schine Circuit reported last week it could not sell. Assistant Attorney General Tom C. Clark, chief of the anti-trust division, said it is not likely that the matter will be heard in court before September, but the Justice Depart- (Continued on Page 7) Would Stop Showing of "Roger Touhy, Gangster" Chicago — Contending that "Roger Touhy, Gangster," produced by 20th- Fox would wreak irreparable harm, damage and injury to the name, char- acter and reputation of Touhy, At- torney T. J. McCormick seeks a Fed- eral Court injunction against the (Continued on Page 2) Rep. Plans Own Radio Show Will Buy Time for Coast-to-Coast Program Depinet Drive, RKO's Tops; Prize Winners Announced Terming the recent drive which bore his name the company's most successful, Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio prexy, announced its winners at yesterday's session of the Wal- (Continued on Page 7) Plan for a Republic radio pro- gram, to be built around the stu- dio's talent roster and to be broad- cast over a national hook-up, Coast to Coast, was announced yesterday by Herbert J. Yates and Prexy James R. Grainger at the final session of the New York A.C. sales meeting. It is understood that the plan (Continued on Page 8) Dullzell, Brandt, Feinberg Fill National Offices; 24 on Co-ordinating Com. By LOU PELEGRINE FILM DAILY Staff Writer Plans for complete mobiliza- tion of the amusement world to advance the nation's war effort were adopted by leaders in every branch of show busi- ness yesterday at the opening session of the initial confer- ence of the National E n- t a i n m e n t Industry Coun- cil at the Ho- t e 1 Waldorf- Astoria. The conference, at which 42 ma- jor national or- ganizations in the entertainment world are repre- sented, runs through today. Officers and a co-ordinating com- (Continued on Page 8) GEORGE J. SCHAEFER Dlef Clearance Pad Approved by Board Stipulation agreed upon by Dlef Amusement Corp., all five signers of the New York consent decree and (Continued on Page 7) Grocers Deliver Ads For Halifax Exhihs. Halifax, N. S. — Exhibitors have found a solution to the problem of how to distribute hand bills and other advertising matter despite the short- age of boys willing to deliver the material. Operators of Halifax and Dartmouth theaters now deliver the matter in bulk to retail grocers who, in return for cash and passes, include copies in all out-going orders. In some cases, retailers display advertis- ing in their windows and get screen advertising mention in return. IKE DAILY Thursday, July 15, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 10 Thurs., July 15, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : Ceneral Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoirian (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL ^ (Wednesday, July 14) Am. Seat 17% Col. Picts. vtc. (2V2%) 19l/4 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2% Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. . 173/g East. Kodak 166 do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq 23 1/4 Loew's, Ine 63% Paramount 30 RKO 101/g RKO $6 pfd 997/s 20th Century-Fox 23% 20th Century-Fox pfd. 34'/2 Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15% do pfd 89 13-32 89 13- 17 18% 17% 19 + % + % 2% 171/4 165 2% 17% 165 — % — % — Vi 223/4 621/4 293/4 9% 97 23% 34 23 631/4 30 10 99% 23% 34 — % + 1 + % + % + 2% + % 15% 32 89 15% 13-32 + Vi NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 . . . . 77% 77% 77% Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... 3% 3% 3% + % Radio-Keith cvs. ... 2 1% 2 + % Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 33,4 Technicolor 14% 14% 14% + % Trans-Lux 3 1/4 3% 3% Universal Corp. vtc Universal Picts 183/4 183/4 18% + % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 77% 793/4 Western AMPTO Will Hold October Meet Pittsburgh — At a meeting held by the directors of the AMPTO of West- ern Pennsylvania a motion was ap- proved to hold their annual conven- tion in Pittsburgh in October. It will be a two-day business and social affair and the exact dates, as well as general chairman and committees, will be announced later. cominG mid GOinG £ HERBERT J. YATES and JAMES R. GRAINGER leave for Chicago today. ED KUYKENDALL, MPTOA prexy, is expected to arrive in New York today. CHARLES K. STERN, assistant treasurer of Loew's, is vacationing in Swampscott, Mass. NUR M. COKOOL, managing director of Trin- idad's Globe circuit, is a New York visitor. EDWARD J. MANN1X returns to the Coast tomorrow. JULES J. RUBENS, executive of Publix-Creat States Theaters, is a New York visitor. MOE SILVER, Pittsburgh zone manager for Warner Theaters, and HARRY FEINSTEIN, film buyer for that territory, are in New York for a few days. BUDD ROGERS, N. Y. rep. for Charles R. Rogers' releases through UA, accompanied by MRS. ROGERS leaves today for Belgrade Lake, Me. They will be gone for two weeks. SAM MARX and JOHN TWIST, M-G-M pro- ducer and writer, respectively, will leave for the West Coast Saturday after a brief visit to New York where they did preparatory work on "They Also Wear Wings." (AMES CAGNEY, who arrived in town on Tues- day, leaves for Massachusetts tomorrow. KENNETH THOMSON returns to the Coast next week. DOROTHY LAMOUR is at the Waldorf-Astoria from the Coast. Her husband, CA-PT. WILLIAM ROSS HOWARD, 3RD, is with her. DEWEY D. BLOOM, M-G-M Canadian field representative, is in New York for promotion conferences with William R. Ferguson, M-G-M exploitation manager. IRVING MARTIN, publicist at the Stanley Baltimore prior to joining the Merchant Marines, returned from a 3,900-mile convoy trip, is spending a brief leave here. MRS. SAMUEL GERMAINE, wife of the 20th- Fox booker, New Haven, is visiting in New Orleans with her son, Pvt. Tom Cermaine, form- erly at Vitagraph. LEO ROSEN, manager of the Strand, Albany, is at Lake Luzerne, returning Monday. HARRY GOLDBERG, Troy Theater, Troy, is in New York, while SID SOMMER, Lincoln, Troy, leaves Monday. Would Stop Showing of "Roger Touhy, Gangster" (Continued from Page 1) company. Touhy, serving a 99-year sentence at Statesville prison for kidnapping also faces an additional 199-year sentence for aiding pris- oners to escape. The Chicago Times story says 20th-Fox offered Touhy $1,000 for saying, "Crime does not pay," in the film, but he refused it. Attorney McCormick says that at the Federal Court hearing next week for an injunction, he will bring out that the appearance of state officials in the film gives it political aspects which are also unfair to Touhy. Small Pays $100,000 for Booth Tarkington Novel West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Edward Small has bought the new Booth, Tarkington book, "Kate Fennigate," for $100,- 000 and has set a budget of $1,400,000 for the picturization of the book. He is trying to get Claudette Col- bert and Susan Peters for the two leading feminine roles. Beverly Sitgreaves Dies Beverly Sitgreaves, 76, prominent on the American stage for 50 years, died yesterday in her New York apartment after a long illness. She had appeared in many theaters in Europe as well as in Africa and Aus- tralia. Funeral will be held tomor- row at noon at the Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home, 117 West 72nd St., under auspices of the Actors Fund of America. Aniline Stockholders Vote in a New Board Third board of directors since con- trol of the company passed to the Alien Property Custodian was elected by the stockholders of General Ani- line & Film Corp. Successor to Rob- ert E. McConnell, president and chairman of the board, will be elected at the board's organization meeting July 28. He resigned some months ago. New board comprises Neal Dow Becker, George W. Burpee, Colvin Brown, William F. Carey, Robert F. Carr, William H. Coverdale, Herbert P. Gallagher, John D. Hertz, Mat- thew J. Hickey, Jr., William F. Humphrey, Col. Louis Johnson, Thomas O'Hara, Dr. E. C. Williams, A. N. Williams and Dr. R. E. Wilson. Leo T. Crowley as Alien Property Custodian holds 97 per cent of the stock of General Aniline, formerly controlled in Germany. In 1939 the company absorbed Agfa Ansco Corp. "Heaven" Combination Showings Start Monday Combined preview-and-trade-show- ings of 20th-Fox's "Heaven Can Wait" will start in 30 cities on Mon- day and will extend through Aug. 2, it was announced yesterday by Tom J. Connors, sales chief. Pioneer Ore. Exhib. Dead Portland, Ore. — Leser Cohen, 85, one of the first theater operators in Oregon, and for many years oper- ating the Globe and Grand theaters, died at his home following a short illness. Cohen headed the Peoples Amusement Co. Ben Smith Recovers Ben Smith, Monogram salesman in Albany, is back on duty after a siege in the Albany Hospital, where he underwent a serious eye opera- tion. Saul Goldman's VARIETY PICTURES 1325 S. WABASH — CHICAGO THE FASTEST CROWING MIDWESTERN INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR Para. District Managers To Discuss FWTBT Policy (Continued from Page 1) preside at the sessions, which will continue through Friday. Other product and policy plans for the 1943-44 season will be taken up at the meeting and sales and adver- tising plans for the first block of pictures for the new season will be outlined. "Air Power" Premiere At Globe on Saturday I Walt Disney's "Victory Through Air Power" will have its world pre- miere at the Globe Saturday, Metro Asks James Be Deferred West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — M-G-M has asked a Beaumont, Tex. draft board to defer Harry James, classified 1-A after his recent marriage to Betty Grable, un- til he finishes his current picture. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION' with VIRGINIA WEIDLER, EDWARD ARNOLD and Five Important Guest Stars AN M-G-M PICTURE Gala Stage Revue • Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Jj<; BETTY GRABLE )C GEORGE MONTGOMERY* CESAR ROMERO CO*!* 1SIAND A 20TH CINTUBY.fOX PICTURE in TECHNICOLOR * PLUS A BIG STAGE SHOW * BUY Q ^ V V 7M.AVE. BONDS BV Vs# VV 1 50th ST. "DIXIE" * m Person with * ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY if TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOUR -fc MITCH AYRES A Paramount Picture -fa and his orchestra Cool PARAMOU NT Times Square EEH RODDY McDOWALL • PRESTON FOSTER "MY FRIEND FLICKA" and ROSEMARY LANE . PATRIC KNOWLES "ALL BY MYSELF" LoTweSTBTE ON SCREEN "BATAAN" WITH ROBERT TAYLOR Saxe-;;«^° itvi ■dV} * Splices' .otvca«vP^- *****%> ***** to oiCo^ .rtxetce w ft50 * ^iviV * S T °i V& art ^atd oUPs' VJ1 THIS STATEMENT! PETE SMITH'S "SEVENTH COLUMN" is the most widely advertised Short Subject of all time! (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, of course) Sell War Stamps to Launch Plane Carrier 'iShangri-La"! W- THE Thursday, July 15, 1943 DAILY 'Adequate' War Info. Pix Seen by Harmon {Continued from Page 1) sales meeting at the Waldorf-As- toria. Harmon, who appeared before the RKO Radio delegates at the request of Prexy Ned E. Depinet, quoted ex- tensively from the Congressional Record's pages, stressing Senatorial tributes to the industry for its "vol- untary co-operation" in aiding the war effort by exhibiting war infor- mation pix." "It is safe to say that for the months ahead of us, an adequate program will be continued," Har- mon asserted. The WAC vice-chairman, discuss- ing the various types of film which have "gone to war," stated that in- formation just given him by the War Department showed that as of Wed- nesday, July 14, the industry had delivered 5,137 features and 6,941 shorts to Army exchanges here and in London. These films are part of the more than 10,000 prints_ of cur- rent movies given by the industry for free showings to servicemen overseas. Warner Frisco Meeting To Get Under Way Today (Continued from Page 1) sales manager, in the Mark Hopkins Hotel this morning. Local conclave is for the West Coast District, headed by Henry Herbel as district manager. Home office sales executives who arrived yesterday to take part also include Arthur Sachson, Roy Haines, Nor- man H. Moray, A. W. Schwalberg, Howard Levinson, and Albert S. Howson. Marty Weiser, Western field rep, is on hand for the three-day meeting. To Fete Herman in Albany Albany — Variety Club is holding a testimonial for Leon Herman, for- mer UA salesman here, at the Ten Eyck, July 26. Herman is now with UA in Buffalo. Committee con- sists of George Jeffrys, Dick Hayes, Sidney Stockton, Bill Williams, Wel- den Waters and Neil Hellman. Ben Cammack Sam Schneider Raymond Hackett The Bell Rings Out! • • • LAST night the institutional and classical facade of the local Rivoli, operated at one time by Publix, looked down upon a dis- tinguished influx of industry potentates, national and civic leaders, high officers of the Armed Forces, Society big-wigs. Nabobs of the arts and commerce, and smiled And Y. Frank Freeman and his Paramount constituents and confreres, of whom there were legion on hand, had good cause to smile back, and did For Mister Freeman, et al. the event, — glittering world premiere performance of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" — , signalized a dream of three long years come true Over that span. Paramount had the. great Hemingway novel in prepara- tion and production, and now it was clocking its first paid admissions Before its release life is o'er, the latter will aggregate scores of mil- lions And of this vast "take," Messrs. Exhibitors will be the bene- ficiaries Many of their members hereabouts were in the audience last night, and thrilled in their showmen souls at the great film which is to come their way T T T • # • OTHER wreathed smiles at the premiere were worn by the officials of the National War Fund, enriched by the gate which totaled more'n $7,000 Each and everyone present slapped down $4.40 per pasteboard, and did it early and eagerly, for days ago the occasion was a complete sell-out For each $4.40 paid, the lucky one received the following: (1) the picture itself; (2) the satisfaction of aiding the USO and the other war agencies within the framework of NWF; (3) the initial public "look-see" at the precedent-making movie; (4) entertainment communion with their fellow greats; and (5) an unparalleled opportunity to add to personal prestige by clarioning to their circle of friends that they had actually seen FWTBT It was a big and bounteous bargain, boys! Mister Freeman, astute exec, that he is, must have translated it all into biz terms, perhaps saying to himself: "Umm, $4.40 a ticket is a giveaway! The picture cost us (here same rapid mental calculation) just $195.39 per foot" That, dear reader, is just about the McCoy answer FWTBT's expenditure amounted to $2,970,000, sans prints! T T T • • • JUST prior to the opening, NWF leaders, headed up by Winthrop Aldrich, president, and Prescott S. Bush, national campaign chairman, participated with Hollywood luminaries in a WMCA broad- cast from the Rivoli's lobby Prominent, among others in the celeb- rity-studded audience within, were Mrs. Winthrop Aldrich, Mrs. John Hay Whitney, Mrs. Ogden Reid. Miss Anne Morgan, Mrs. I. Borden Har- riman, Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mrs. Clarence Mackay, Miss Emily McAdoo, Elsa Maxwell (filmdom's favorite Social Register daughter), Mrs. Mar- shall Field, Mrs. Bernard Gimbel From the Armed Forces, — Major General T. A. Terry, Major General William Ottman, Major General Sanderford larman. Vice Admiral Adolphus Andrews, Rear Admiral Munroe Kelley, etc., etc Our crowd (oh, for rubber type right now!) included Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffis, Wendell L. Willkie, Floyd B. Odium, N. Peter Rathvon, Spyros P. Skouras, Francis S. Har- mon, Nicholas M. Schenck, Herbert J. Yates, George Skouras, Claude Lee, Jack Cohn, B. G. DeSylva, Sam Wood, Dorothy Lamour, John Hertz, Jr., Charles Francis "Socker" Coe, Neil Agnew (and his district manager brood in for today's meetin'), Mary Martin, Betty Hutton, Will H. Pine, Capt. William R. Howard, and scads more 'Twas a great premiere for a great picture! A doff of the chapeau to Alec Moss for the theater front and program! ▼ T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! N. Eng. Indies Ask Pix Hoarding Probe (Continued from Page 1) are withholding completed pictures and the justification for such prac- tice, if any. Farnum said he was representing the same group who recently opened an effort to have introduced in i - gress a bill establishing a ce. \g price on film rentals. Farnum's letter asked that the WPB "require" the majors to release to indies "all features completed and hoarded by them for future release," suggesting that if the distributors desired to withhold pix on comple- tion, "such part of the film stock as is not intended for the production of pictures for immediate release shall be re-allocated to independent producers." Text of Farnum's letter to the WPB follows: "On behalf of a group of independent motion picture exhibitors operating ap- proximately 200 theaters in New England, I hereby respectfully urge you to immed- iately investigate the extent to which the major motion picture producer-distributors are deliberately withholding completed pic- tures and the justification for such a prac- tice, and to take the necessary action to remedy such abuses as the facts may dis- close. "According to our information a large portion of the pictures already produced and now in the process of production are being so hoarded. "The practice of consuming a large part of the raw stock allocated to producers in the making of pictures which are not re- leased on completion but, on the contrary, are hoarded for some indefinite future re- lease, we feel is entirely inconsistent with the object and spirit of the rationing rules and is calculated to aggravate the abuses of monopoly and among other things, to promote the following evils. "First: It is artificially and drastically limiting the supply of pictures necessary to enable independent exhibitors to operate their theaters. "Second: It is giving the major producer- distributors a distinctly unfair advantage over independent exhibitors in bargaining for pictures and is enabling them to de- mand and obtain unreasonable film rentals. "Third: It is unjust and unfair to the public as independent exhibitors are re- quired to fix admission prices at a level that will enable them to survive and in the last analysis unreasonably high rentals de- manded by the producer-distributors for their pictures mean high admission prices. "We respectfully request that your board require the major film producer-distributors to release to independent theaters all fea- ture pictures completed and hoarded by them for future release, and in the event any pro- ducer-distributor does not desire to release all features on completion, we suggest that such part of the film stock as is not intended for the production of pictures for immed- iate release shall be re-allocated to indepen- dent producers to the end that the supply of film reasonably necessary shall be main- tained for the independent theaters and the public." 10 p.m. Sedalia Curfew Sedalia, Mo.— The City Council has passed an ordinance providing for a 10 p.m. curfew. STORKS Baltimore — Sam Ward, manager] of the Royal here, is receiving con- gratulations upon the birth of a.1 son at the University of Maryland) Hospital. «pH^ 1 i ^ - B UP*. Let's Keep Veiling Bonds I LITHOUS. Thursday, July 15, 1943 Dlef Clearance Pad Approved by Board (Continued from Page 1) Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. has been approved by the ap- peals board and a consent award ordered. Action resulted from an oTipeal to the board by Warner Bros. cuit, an intervenor, against an " W/ard in the clearance complaint filed by Dlef against the companies. Since the appeal the interested part- ies signed a stipulation which was awarded by the appeals board, as follows : The complaint against Vitagraph is dismissed. No clearance will be granted in licenses hereafter entered into by 20th-Fox, Paramount, K.KO and Loew's to the Stanley and May- fair Theaters, Newark, N. Y., over the Astor, operated by Dlef. Maxi- mum clearance of the Sanford, Irv- ington, over the Astor will be 14 days. Maximum clearance to be granted the Castle, Irvington, over the Astor will be seven days on pic- tures playing both clear and repeat runs at the Castle. Maximum clear- ance of the Savoy, Newark, over the Astor will be three days. Award does not affect clearance of the Ritz over the Astor. Costs of the appeal are to be borne by Warner Bros. Circuit Management and of the ar- bitrator equally by the parties. Schuyler Theater, N. Y. City Files Clearance Complaint Schuyler Theater, Inc., operating the Schuyler, 504 Columbus Ave. has filed a clearance complaint with the N. Y. Arbitration Tribunal claiming the seven days clearance granted the Arden, 876 Columbus Ave. is unreasonable as to time and area as there is no competition between the houses. Elimination of all clear- ance, or if the arbitrator finds there is competition between the theaters, reduction to one day, is asked. Loew's, 20th-Fox and RKO are named in the complaint. Mrs. Mary Pruniski Dead Little Rock, Ark. — Mrs. Mary Pruniski, 84, mother of Max Pru- niski, vice-president of Malco The- aters, Inc. is dead. Other survivors are a daughter, Mrs. J. R. Bauer WAR SERVICE ... on the Film Front "Shangri-La Stamp Clubs," formed by managers of the Century Circuit of 37 the- aters, are largely credited with ringing up $56,000 in War Stamp sales since July 1, according to Fred Schwartz. Club idea pits nabe youngsters against one another to see who can sell the most stamps by ringing doorbells, canvassing shops, etc. Highest tally in any one neigh- borhood nets the youngster a six-month pass to the house. (Continued from Page 1) ment has already made up its mind not to yield to the request of the Schine Circuit that it be permitted to retain the theaters. "Eventually they'll have to dispose of them," said Clark. Depinet Drive, RKO's Tops; Prize Winners Announced REVIEWS Of neW f I L m 5 D of J to Press Sale "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" 01 J Schine H0US8S with Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman Paramount 170 Mins. BOX-OFFICE POWERHOUSE, FOR ALL THEATERS, MAGNIFICENTLY PRODUCED AND ACTED, RANKS AMONG MEMORABLE FILMS. One of the most widely-read literary properties of modern times, — Ernest Heming- way's "For Whom the Bell Tolls," romantic and tragic saga of the Spanish Revolution which was a dress rehearsal for the present World War — , has emerged in all its stark and sensational glory upon the screen, brought thereto by Paramount at a declared cost, without prints, of $2,970,000, and an incalculable investment of time and genius. It is worth it all, for it represents throughout its approximately 15,200 feet, robed in Technicolor, the acme of motion picture mechanics and artistry. To showmen, wher- ever they may be under freedom's skies, or whatever the size or scope of their outlets, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" stands as both a monumental box-office blessing and a monu- ment to the vast potentialities of the screen in our day. Weighing the elements which have gone into its cinematic fashioning, first men- tion properly goes to Paramount's Y. Frank Freeman, who purchased the screen rights upon the recommendation of Cecil B. DeMille, and paid $150,000 for them. To Sam Wood, as both producer and director, must deservedly be extended the honors for hold- ing the vital reins of the vehicle, and driving it skillfully and surely to the very peak of eminence. Wood, therefore, has exposed himself to the dogmatically-expressed conviction of virtually all who have, in these exciting first stages of the picture's release, witnessed his directorial wizardry, that he is Oscar bound. So brilliantly has he handled the superlative cast, and dovetailed them in the transcending technical pattern, that the famed golden statuettes of the Academy may well descend en masse upon many of the histrionic participants as well as his production asso- ciates at the studio. To make the nation's marquees magnetic, and promotional campaigns rugged in patron appeal, Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman are the stars. Through them the im- portant element of romance is purveyed with richness and understanding, — a romance set off thrillingly and in bold relief against events, as ominous and chilling as the mountain fastnesses which form the story's locale, and the uncompromising warfare and attendant fatalistic suffering which surges about and above the peasant patriots. But Hemingway's story, the full flavor of which is captured thoroughly and magni- ficently by Dudley Nichols' screenplay, and interpreted and imparted so admirably by Sam Wood, owes much as a film of true greatness to the supporting cast. One comes away from the picture with a feeling of genuine awe at the performances of Akim Tamiroff, as Pablo; Katina Paxinou, as Pilar, of the whiplash tongue, homely features, and iron heart; Vladimir Sokoloff, as the hardy and weatherbeaten Anselmo; Mikhail Rasumny, as the gypsy; Joseph Calleia, as El Sordo; and all the other actors and actresses who emerge in the action. So familiar to millions is the story of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" that it needs neither tabloid telling nor much of comment here. There is beauty and effectiveness in the employment of the main title and those devoted to the picture's credits. What would ordinarily be a stirring climax sequence to many a big picture comes sweeping in at the outset, namely, the bombing of the cafe, and the journey of Cooper as the American, Montana-born professor of Spanish, who has joined the forces of the Republic in order to contribute to tyranny's defeat, to the mountain lair of some defending patriots following his blasting of a railroad bridge, and there to seek support of a similar mis- sion in order to wreck the men and armor of the foe. Vast emotional impact is given to audiences via the siege on the mountain top, the massacre of nationalists at the cliff, and the super-dramatic ending which depicts the bridge's destruction by Cooper, and his death at the hands of the foe. The photography by Ray Rennahan is superb, — at times even breath-taking — , and the Technicolor is gorgeous. Gordon Jennings' special photographic effects are also notable. To showmen who have not yet had the opportunity and consequent satisfaction of seeing FWTBT, a suggestion is in order. The film is a feast, and a long one. As pro- jected at the special press preview in Broadway's Rivoli on Tuesday night of this week, the picture had no intermission. It should have, because it will give patrons a chance to relax a bit, and better digest and appreciate the many rousing scenes. FWTBT is a "natural" for high-powered exploitation and audience-creation. Showmen can make any engagement as big as they want. The attraction is one that will live long commercially and in industry and public memory. So full of life itself, it could do no other. CAST: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff, Arturo de Cordova, Joseph Calleia, Katina Paxinou, Vladimir Sokoloff, Mikhail Rasumny, Fortunio Bonanova, Eric Feldary, Victor Varconi, Lilo Yarson, Alexander Granach, Adia Kuznetzoff, Leonid Snegoff, Leo Bulgakov, Duncan Renaldo, George Coulouris, Frank Puglia, Pedro Cordoba, Michael Visaroff, Konstantin Shayne, Martin Garralaga, Jean Del Val, Jack Mylong, Feodor Chaliapin. CREDITS: Producer and Director, Sam Wood; Executive Producer, B. G. De Sylva; Author, Ernest Hemingway; Screenplay, Dudley Nichols; Cameraman, Ray Rennahan; Music Score, Victor Young; Technicolor Color Director, Natalie Kalmus; Associate, Morgan Padelford; Special Photographic Effects, Gordon Jennings; Process Photography, Farciot Edouart; Art Direction, Hans Dreier, Haldane Douglas; Film Editors, Sherman Todd, John Link; Sound Recording, Harold Lewis, Don Johnson; Set Direction, Bert Granger; Production Designer, William Cameron Menzies. DIRECTION, Aces. PHOTOGRAPHY, Superb. (Continued from Page 1) dorf-Astoria sales meeting. Among winners were: Major contest for U. S. branches; First, Milwaukee: second. Denver: third, Kansas City: fourth, Portland. Oregon. For Canada: first, Vancouver: second, St. John. Group contest: Group one: first, Dallas; second, San Francisco. Group two: first, Indianapolis; second, Charlotte. Group three: first, Memphis; second, New Haven. District managers: first, L. S. Gruenberg, Rocky Mountain District: second, Ben T. Cammack, Southwestern District; third, Da- vid Prince, Southeastern district. Best salesmen : Metropolitan district, E. T. Carroll, New York; Northeastern district, W. H. Gardiner, Boston; Eastern district, E. T. Grover, Washington: Eastern Central district, R. Richardson, Cleveland; South- eastern district, P. Harrison, Atlanta; South- western district, C. Blakely, Oklahoma City; Midwestern district, M. Kassel, Chicago; Prairie district, W. Benjamin, Des Moines: Rocky Mountain district, H. Evans, Salt Lake City: Western district, L. Goldsmifh, Seattle: Canadian district, H. Hackimson, Toronto. Field men, major contest: first prize to be divided between Bob Hickey, field super- visor, and Ted Wynn, field man, Chicago; second, T. Bidwell McCormick, Denver; third, Fred Calvin. St. Louis. Kansas City. Home office representatives, major con- test: first, F. Duffy; second, J. Wangberg; third, J. J. Schnitzer. Short subject contest: first, Salt Lake City; second, Washington; third, Minneap- olis: fourth, Los Angeles; fifth, Memphis; sixth, Atlanta; seventh, Cleveland; eighth, Milwaukee: ninth, Seattle; tenth, Dallas. Canada: first, Montreal; second, Winnipeg. District managers: first, L. S. Gruenberg, Rocky Mountain; second, J. H. Maelntyre, Western. Crowds Jam B'way to See Notables at 'Tolls' Showing A crowd of several thousand per- sons gathered in front of the Rivoli Theater last night where Para- mount's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" played a benefit performance for the National War Fund — the first benefit to be given for it — and most of its members waited to see the film and other notables come out after the showing. Mounted policemen had little trouble in controlling the good- natured crowd, but most of those ordered to move on simply crossed the street and waited. WMCA broadcast from the lobby from 8:30 to 8:45. Those who ap- peared before the mike for brief speeches were Prescott Bush, na- tional chairman of the National War Fund, Senator Claude Pepper of Florida, Drew Pearson, Jack Benny, Dorothy Lamour, Betty Hutton, John Perry, Florida newspaper man, and B. G. DeSylva, Para.'s executive pro- ducer. Thursday, July 15, 1943 NEIC Sets Program, Elects G. J. Schaefer (Continued from Page 1) mittee of 24 were named to put into operation the NEIC's program of full dedication of the amusement forces of the country to the bolster- ing of morale in the armed services and on the home front. They will serve until Dec. 31. George J. Schaefer, chairman of the WAC, who presided, was elected national chairman of the NEIC. Paul Dullzell, president of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America, was chosen national vice-chairman; Harry Brandt, president of the ITOA, national treasurer; William Feinberg, secretary of the As- sociated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, national secretary. Named as territorial vice-chairmen were James H. Sauter, chairman of the United Theatrical War Activities Com- mittee, New York; Kenneth Thomson, executive secretary of the Screen Actors Guild, Los An- geles; Virginia Payne, president of the Chicago local of the Amer- ican Federation of Radio Artists, Chicago. Elected to the co-ordinating com- mittee were: George Heller, AFRA, chairman; John Anderson, Critics' Circle; Howard Bay, United Scenic Artists; Kermit Bloomgarden, Amer- ican Theater Wing; James Cagney, president, SAG; Leonard Callahan, SESAC, Inc.; Walt Dennis, National Association of Broadcasters; John C. Flinn, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Society of In- dependent Motion Picture Produc- ers; Frederick Gamble, War Adver- tising Council; Abel ©reen, trade press; Abe Lastfogel, president, USO-Camp Shows; Philip Loeb, Ac- tors Equity Council; Bert Lytell, president, Actors Equity; Milton Merlin, Eastern representative, Hol- lywood Writers Mobilization; Solly Pernick, business manager, Theat- rical Protective Union, Local 1; James F. Reilly, League of New York Theaters; Elmer Rice, presi- dent, Dramatists Guild; Dorothy Rodgers, executive secretary, War Writers Board; Morris Seamon, Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Union, Local 751, IATSE; Matt Shelvey, national director, American Guild of Variety Artists; Lawrence Tibbett, president, AFRA and American Guild of Musical Artists; Milton Weintraub, secretary-treasurer, As- sociation of Theatrical Agents and Managers; Blanche Witherspoon, ex- ecutive secretary, AGMA; Henry Jaffe, UTWAC. Lavish tribute to the amusement world, the film industry in particular, for its assist- ant to the nation in the task oi winning the war was voiced at the meeting'. Henry Morgenthau, Jr., secretary of the iury, wired that it was impossible to pay the entertianment industry as rich a tribute as it deserved. "What you have done, and what you are doing for your coun- try in this war i^ representative of the type of patriotism," he said. "As a citizen I am proud of you. As secretary of the Treasury I am more than proud, for Rep* Plans Own Radio Show Will Buy Time for Coast-to-Coast Program (Continued from Page 1) contemplates a show of at least 30 minutes, to be aired a minimum of once a week, with each program representing a $40,000 Republic bud- get. Company will buy the air time and there will be no resort to com- mercial sponsorship, it is said. If arrangements go through, the first program will hit the air waves about Sept. 1. Featured on the programs will be Roy Rogers and Mary Lee, while the shows will utilize virtually all stu- dio talent. Top Republic pix will get advance buildups and Ya-es also sees the new program as an oppor- tunity for the introduction of new talent. Republic has been using radio with increasing frequency recently and the results have been so satis- factory that the company's plan for its own show is said to be a natural result. Plan has been mulled over for about three months, prior to yesterday's announcement. SPG Protests Dismissal Of 3 Rep. Publicity Men W est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — In the first citation of the employment stabilization plan to protect the rights of workers in the motion picture industry, the Screen Publicists Guild protested to Republic Productions that dismis- sals of three publicity men announced for July 24 would be in violation of the Labor-Management plan for the Southern California area which the War Manpower Commission ordered effective for all essential employes July 1. ' Assurance was given the Guild by Howard Sheehan, studio manager, that Republic had no intention of violating either the em- ployment stabilization plan or the studio's contract with the Publicists Guild. Sheehan sated that dismissal notices would be re- viewed with regard to manpower regula- tions. Republic had given dismissal notices to Walter Compton, publicity director, and to Len Boyd, Ambrose Barker, and Kenneth Porter of his staff, stating that a reorgani- zation of the company's publicity, adver- tising, and exploitation operations was planned. Protest was filed by SPG on behalf of Boyd, Barker and Porter. It is understood that the provisions cited would apply equal- ly to Compton. The committee presenting the SPG position met with Sheehan, Al Wil- son, labor relations contact, and Hortense Stahl of the studio's legal department. Wil- son stated that Republic has not subscribed to the area plan and that the motion picture industry plan would not be effective until July 18. Lesley Mason, chairman of SPG commit- tee and a member of the WMC labor man- agement sub-committee, explained that em- ployment of the stabilization plan had been mandatory throughout the Southern Cali- fornia area as of July 1, and that special features agreed upon for extended availability certificates in the motion picture industry were to become effective July 18. I have come to depend upon you. It is im- possible for me to estimate the value of the help we are getting and, I hope, will continue to get from all you people in the enter- tainment industry. No other group can bet- ter sell the need for sacrifice. In view of the huge job that lies ahead, let me now call upon you to give us more help than ever be- fore." Morgenthau declared that those in the entertainment business "can do more, as individuals, to raise money and to build spirit than almost any other single group anywhere." Thanks of Servicemen The thanks of our servicemen for the en- tertainment made available to them by the show world were conveyed by Brig. -Gen. Frederick Henry Osborn, chief of Special Services, U. S. Army. Speaking at a lunch- eon session, Gen. Osborn assured those in show business that the armed forces of the nation "depend on you more than you realize." He said the show world had won "the gratitude, the love and the admira- tion" of the American soldiers. According to Gen. Osborn, the work of the nation's en- tertainment agencies will be "more important than ever" after the war. In touching on Army films being made by the Government, Gen. Osborn said that such pictures "should be shown the public only if and when the public wants to see them." "Anything else would be a denial of the democracy we are defending," he declared. • Other luncheon speakers who recognized the power of the show world in the war a;rainst the Axis were Ted R. Gamble, as- sistant to Morgenthau and national director of the War Finance Division of the Treasury, and Bert Lytell. Gamble's Salute to Trade Gamble saluted show business for "the magnificent job" it was doing "in bringing to the American people the true story of the war and for making them more aware of the great issues involved." He singled out the film industry for special praise. "We need you and need you badly," he said. The financial mobilization of the nation could not have been successful without "the wholehearted help of the theaters," Gamble added. Increase in the number of theaters acting a6 Stamp and Bond issuing agencies was held necessary to raise the quota sought in the coming Bond drive. Pledging all the entertainment world's re- sources to the Government in its hour of need, Lytell called upon show people at home to enlist as "soldiers in greasepaint" to bolster the national morale. Schaefer opened the conference with a silent tribute to members of the show busi- ness killed in the war. The WAC chairman referred to the con- ference as "only the beginning of a great movement." He said entertainment was a national asset and indispensable in wartime. Winthrop W. Aldrich spoke on the role of the entertainer in the future plans of the National War Fund, of which he is chair- man. He said the services of the show world were vital to the fund's campaign to raise $125,000,000. NEIC Program Approved Following completion of the permanent organizational set-up for the council in New York and other major entertainment centers, the delegates unanimously approved the NEIC program with certain amendments. Also endorsed by the conference was a pledge binding every person making his living from show business to donate "an average mini- mum of six weeks per year or an equivalent of 36 performances or 36 days' work" to the entertainment of those in the service and on the home front as an aid to morale The principles of the NEIC were embodied in a resolution presented' to the conference by Cagney. It was revealed at the meeting that in ex- cess of 75,000 members of the amusement industry are in the armed forces. Besides those already mentioned, others at the conference included Vera Allen, Adrian McCalman, Paul N. Turner, Richard MeCann Oliver Sayler, Merritt E. Tompkins, Ruth Richmond, Phil Gordon, Leo Brecher Her- man M. Levy, Barclay Leathern, Paul' Hein- ecke, Lillian Hellman, E. C. Mills Alan Corelli, Augusta Ocker, Robert J. O'Donnell Herman Gluekman, Arthur Mayer, Al Hard- ing, Jack Alicoate, William A. Fricke Mar- garet Speaks. Held on Bank Night Charge Whiting, Ind. — Carroll Bradley, manager of Indiana-Illinois circuit Hoosier theater, was released on $100 bail, after his arrest for per- mitting Bank Night in his theater. RKO Radio to Boost Top Pix Pre-selling (Continued from Page 1) publicity, told the delegates at yes- terday's final session of the twelfth annual sales meeting at the Waldorf- Astoria. "We will back up every big pic- ture with a point-of-sale explotf* j tion campaign spearheaded direcix I the individual box-offices," said Mc- Cormick. "We plan to make exten- sive use of radio throughout the year in addition to increased news- paper coverage which the company considers as the first line of box- office defense. "Although the 'Hitler's Children' campaign represented the largest individual motion picture promotional expense in the history of the industry, our newspaper campaign was more than doubled over any previous cam- paign," said McCormick. Use of national and fan mags, will be increased, RKO's ad chief declared. McCormick called the delegates' attention to the fact that the shortly to be released "Behind the Rising Sun" will get the same promotional treatment which proved so ef- fective for "Hitler's Children." Homeward trek of the RKO delegates be- gan last night. Many stayed over, how- ever, and will leave today and tomorrow. National Screen Service was host to the delegates at a reception and buffet supper last night in the Waldorf's Wedgwood Room. Seen On Albany's Film Row Albany — Exhibs. checking in along film row in Albany early this week were two namesakes, Charlie Wil- son, Bijou, Troy and Charlie Wilson, Lake, Indian Lake, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Jerry LaRocque, Fairy- land, Warrensburg; Bob Yates, Lake, Lake George; Abraham Slutman, head Schine booker, together with Bernie Dimond and Elmer Sichel of his staff; Johnny Gardner, Colony and American, Schenectady; Mrs. T. J. Ferguson, Copake; Mrs. Frieda Klein, Hunter, Hunter; Carl King, Maiden, Williamstown, Mass.; Sid Kallet, Kallet Circuit, Oneida; Harry Lamont, Lamont Theaters, Green- ville; Al Bothner, Palace, Troy; George Thornton, Orpheum, Sauger- ties; Walter Wertime, Chester, Ches- tertown. Luncheon for Sam Wood Paramount will be host for Sam Wood, producer-director of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," at a trade- press luncheon tomorrow in the Yacht Room at the Hotel Astor. IN NEW POSTS BEN COHEN, manager, Telenews, Cincinnati. JOSEPH KLEIN, manager, Crown, New London, Conn. WILLIAM H. EARLES, Ross Federal branch man- ager, San Francisco. SCOTT HILLAM, Ross Federal branch manager, Salt Lake City. C. L. CLOWARD, Ross Federal Branch manager, Seattle. E. C. L'BANNON, Ross Federal branch manager, New Haven, JAY STERN, Ross Federal branch manager, Detroit. W. E. HERR, Ross Federal branch manager, In- dianapolis. HERBERT M. ISRAEL, field checking supervisor, Warners, Chicago. 7&***&ULs IHEBEUTOUS M P ' Is 13 A INC. 1 THE MAR cT^FTlME current releases: "INVASION!" and "SHOW BUSINESS AT WAR t3«— WbQ*' In Today's Issue: The Equipment NewffSSbSbn Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought (See Pages 9 to 11) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old fc 84, NO. 11 NEW YORK. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1943 TEN CENTS DAVIS_ASKS MORE HELP FROM SHOW BIZ Para. Terms on "For Whom Bell Tolls "70-30 P. C. Editorial Wotta Week . . . for trade news By CHESTER B. BAHN VA/OTTA week for news, that which ™" is just passing into trade history! Consider: . . . The National Entertainment Industry Council takes final form, sets a program for the duration and — importantly! — looks beyond to continued peace-time service. Election of George J. Schaefer to the national chairmanship is a fine tribute to the man — and no less to the industry with which he has been so prominently identified. And it is tacit acknowledgment by all show biz too, of the brilliant per- formance by the WAC. So Congrats., George — and Congrats., NEIC. . . . o PARAMOUNT, with a "so-proudly-we-hail" ' flourish, finally unveils the long-awaited "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and the picture in the brilliance of its production, direction, performance, adaptation and Technicolor photography keeps faith with public, with exhibitor and with author. . . . And the latter was mighty important — make no mis- take about it. . . . Yes, FWTBT is another industry milestone, even without Wall Street's guess that it will roll up a $13,000,000 to $15,000,000 gross and with- out Paramount's announced 70 per cent terms. Minimum Scale for Adults $1.10; Children 75c; No Shorts, Games, Giveaways Paramount's sales policy for "For Whom the Bell Tolls," as outlined to the sales meeting at the Hotel Pierre yesterday by Neil Agnew and Charles M. Rea- gan, calls for: Terms of 70-30 per cent; solo ex- hibition, without any supporting attraction — even a short is barred — or use of games, giveaways, prizes or premiums by the theater, and minimum admis- sion prices of 75c for children and adults and $1.10 (Continued on Page 7) EUROPEAN WAR SEEN NEAR END May Close This Year, Says Barney Balaban NEIL AGNEW UNITED ARTISTS rolls up the curtain ** at a swank Waldorf-Astoria preview on Walt Disney's distinctive, intriguing and persuasive treatise, Major Alexander P. de Seversky's "Victory Through Air Power," and Walt encores as a foremost industry pioneer. . . . Parenthetically, this: When bigger and better parties are given un- doubtedly Elsa Maxwell aga'n will head the receiving line — but that won't be right away. o DKO Radio stages a three-day sales meet- '* ing at the Waidorf-Astoria which, for enthusiasm over company and product and leadership, tops all predecessors. ... If you want to see a prime example of personal magnetism, make it a point to see Ned Depinet in action on the sales rostrum. DEPUBLIC gives the trade— all arms— ,X something to think and talk about with the disclosure that it will buy radio time on a web, coast-to-coast, for its own radio show utilizing studio talent. . . . And many a radio fan will thank Herb Yates most (Continued on Page 6) WMC Has Super-List Of Essential Jobs Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Issuance of a super- list of critical occupations which might be included among all the various essential occupations is due to be announced this week-end by the . War Manpower Commission. This critical list is expected to be of far more importance to Selective (Continued on Page 5) Asserting that "this year may well be the most important one in our lives — it may well see the end of the war in Eu- rope," Barney Balaban, P a r a. p r e x y, pledged that the company will deliver the best product in i t s 31-year his- tory yesterday in addressing the Hotel Pierre sales meeting. Balaban de- clared that next year will see fin- a n c i a 1 indepen- dence for the company, through the elimination of senior securities, Tells NEIC Council OWI Will Be More Indebted to The Trade in Coming Years BARNEY BALABAN adding "I believe (Continued on Page 7) By LOU PELEGRINE FILM DAILY Staff Writer Disbandment of its domestic motion picture bureau as result of the sharp cut in Government funds for war information will com- pel the OWI to turn to the show world more than ever for assistance in discharging its duties. This was indi- cated yesterday by Elmer Davis, OWI director, in an add: ess at the closing session of the initial confer- ence of the National Entertainment (Continued on Page 6) Frisco Theaters Ask 48-Hour Exemption West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY San Francisco — Charles M. Thall of FWC disclosed yesterday that an (Continued on Page 7) OWI Is Seeking Film Men Kastner to Go Overseas on Distribution Kuykendall Scores Gov't Regulation With reports current that Congress when it resumes after the present vacation recess will see several other proposals for film legislation uncov- ered in addition to the recently in- troduced Kilgore divorcement meas- ure in the Senate, Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy, yesterday expressed unalterable opposition to any regula- (Continued on Page 5) Jules Alberti is Named Assistant to 20th-Fox Prexy Jules Alberti, well known in the- atrical and radio circles, and more recently associated with the Treas- ury Dept. as co-ordinator of star (Continued on Page 5) Two Arbitration Awards, New Clearance Complaint Two awards and a new clearance complaint were reported yesterday by the motion picture arbitration system. Albany tribunal reported that in the clearance action brought by Edsol Corp., operator of the Scotia Theater, Scotia, N. Y., arbitrator reduced the clearance of the Proc- (Continued on Page 6) Men with film distribution experi- ence and knowledge of a Continental country and its language are being sought by the OWI Overseas Motion Picture Bureau for assignments in presently occupied countries as the Allied armies re-take them from the Axis. Duties will be in connection with distribution of superimposed title and dubbed versions of Amer- ican films now being prepared. Notice of the Bureau's aim came (Continued on Page 7) Tom C. ClarU to be In L. A. on July 24 Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Tom C. Clark, As- sistant Attorney General, plans to be in Los Angeles on July 24, it was learned yesterday. While at the present time Clark has no appoint- ments there, it was said at the D of J that he does expect to talk with Coast industry leaders regarding the New York consent decree. 1W Friday, July 16, 1943 DAILY Vol. 84, No. 11 Fri., July 16, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117. 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address- Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXTCO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, July 15) Trade Units Meet Today On War Loan Participation WAC personnel, comprising the Co-ordinating Committee, the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Theaters Division, and Exhibitor Exchange committee chairmen, are meeting jointly today in the local Hotel As- tor, at the call of S. H. Fabian for the Theaters Division and George J. Schaefer for the Co-ordinating Committee, with invitations extend- ed by Executive vice-chairman Fran- cis S. Harmon. Degree of participa- tion in the third war loan campaign in September; formulation of an ade- nuate program of war information films; and relationship of WAC to rhe National Entertainment Indus- try Council are on the agenda, and an exchange of ideas on manpower and copper salvage probable. Ted Gamble, assistant to Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr., and National War Finance Director, will present facts on the third war loan. Harmon will speak on status of war information film program, and Schaefer is expected to discuss NEIC, its aims and purposes. Industrv leaders met with Elmer Davis, OWI director, at the Harvard Club vesterday in advance of today's WAC meeting. Rodqers Off to Chicago For Sales Conferences NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 17y4 17 17 — Vs Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) 19l/4 191/4 191/4 + 1/4 Columbia Picts. pfd. 40 40 40 — l/2 Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 17% 171/4 17l/4 — i/8 East. Kodak do pfd 179V2 1791/2 1791/2 — 1/2 Cen. Prec. Eq 227/8 223,4 223^ — i/4 Loew's, Inc 633/8 623^ 623/4 — i/2 Paramount 29% 29 29—1 RKO 10 9% 95/8 — 3/8 RKO $6 pfd 99S/8 961/2 96y2 — 33/8 20th Century-Fox . 243,4 23'/8 24 + % 20th Century-Fox pfd. 34 34 34 Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15% 1514 153/8 — 1/4 do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. . . . 35/8 3% 3% Radio-Keith cvs. . . . 2% 2 2 — % Sonotone Corp 3% 33,4 3% Technicolor 15% 14% 15 + % Universal Picts 173/4 173/4 173,4— % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 . 77% 80% HELP IF YOU ARE HAVING DIFFI- CULTY FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR ANY VACANCY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION- CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (AGENCY) 331 Madison Ave. (43rd St.), N. Y. MURRAY HILL 2-6494 William F. Rodgers, M-G-M gen- eral sales manager, leaves for Chi- cago today where he will preside at a meeting of company sales heads and district managers which will get under way Sunday. Home office ex- ecutives leaving tomorrow are: E. M. Saunders, assistant, eeneral sales manager; E. K. "Ted" O'Shea, East- ern sales manager; H. M. Richey. assistant to Rodgers, in charge of exhibitor relations; A. F. Cummings, branch operations manager; Harold Postman, assistant to Rodgers; How- ard Dietz. vice-president in charg-e of advertising and publicity; S. F. Seadler, advertising manager, and W. R. Ferguson, exploitation man- ager. Steps will be taken at the meet- ings at the Blackstone Hotel to carry out a nation-wide analysis of M-G-M accounts, based on the for- mula prepared at Cincinnati, where the first survey was made last week. Downs German Plane In First 6 Weeks of Action Staff Sgt. James J. O'Connell, manager of the RKO 23rd St. Theater until his enlistment in the Air Forces last year, was credited in news dis- patches from England yesterday with shooting down a Focke-Wulf 190 within sight of the Dover cliffs when the Flying Fortress of which he is a gunner was attacked over the Channel. Rated Aerial Engineer, Sgt. O'Connell went overseas six weeks ago. More Than Ample Product Assured, Says Kalmenson San Francisco — Keeping the exhib. in operation, as well as keeping the whole industry organization going from the production front to the theater end, is the most important order of the day and the sales or- ganization in the field must bend every effort toward this objective, Ben Kalmenson, Warners general sales manager declared yesterday at the opening session of the company's regional sales meeting in the Mark Hopkins Hotel. As far as product is concerned, Kalmenson declared, there will be more than ample for every need. He said the better quality pictures now being turned out are not only ab- sorbing more playing time but also bringing more money to exhibitors than ever before. The meeting will continue through tomorrow. COMIDG and GOIRG WILLIAM F. RODGERS, Loew's vice prex) and sales chief, goes to Chicago today. CHARLES REED JONES, Republic ad-publicity chief, leaves for Chicago today. Republic Opens Chicago Sales Conference Today WB Not High Bidder Reports originating in legitimate theater circles that Warners were the high bidders, with an offer of $450,000, for the screen rights to "Junior Miss" were denied yesterday bv Jacob Wilk, the company's East- ern production manager. Wilk said Warners "have never had the slight- est idea of offering such a sum." Harold Lewis Joins Small West Coast Bureau of THE FIJ.M DAILY Hollywood — Sergt. Harold Lewis, honorably discharged from the Army because of his age, has joined Ed- ward Small as production manager. Before joining the Army, Lewis was studio manager for RKO-Pathe. Chicago — Second in Republic's cur- rent series of sales conferences opens today at the Drake Hotel, where H. J. Yates, Sr. and Republic President J. R. Grainger join Midwestern Dis- trict Sales Manager E. L. Walton and Southern District Sales Manager Merritt Davis, and exchange-men from these districts. Home office reps, at the conference include William Saal and Walter L. Titus, Jr. Charles Reed Jones is to attend tomorrow's session. He will also attend the sales meeting to be held July 22-23, at the studio; and will then remain on the Coast for two additional weeks prior to his return to New York. BETTE DAVIS left New York last night f< Boston to visit relatives for a few days, aftei which she will head west to start work in "Mr Skeffington." NAT WOLF, Cleveland zone manap? (or Warner Theaters; J. KNOX STRACHAN, r- tising manager, and CORP. CHARLES A.- _i(T formerly of the booking office in that city and now stationed at Camp Clayburn, La., are in New York. HARRY GOLDBERG, director of advertising and publicity for Warner Theaters, is in Wash- ington today and returns to New York ow Monday. JUDY GARLAND is due in Harrisburg, Pa. Monday for a USO-Camp Shows appearance a- the Carlisle Barracks. AL STEEN of THE FILM DAILY staff returns from a Kansas City vacation over the week-end: PAUL N. LAZARUS, JR., UA director of ad- vertising, publicity and exploitation, leaves to- day for Hollywood conferences with UA pro- ducers. KAY BROWN, Sam Coldwyn's new story-talen department head here, arrives from the Coasl next week. FRED A. ROHRS, PRC's Southeastern sal manager who has been in New York for severa days, returns today to his headquarters in Wash ington, and continues shortly for a biz swin through his territory. B. B. KREISLER, Universal's shorts and news reel head, leaves today for Cleveland and Pitts- burgh, and is scheduled to return to the h.o. on Monday. JACK BENNY, LARRY ADLER, ANNA LEE and WINNIE SHAW appeared for USO Camp Shows last night at Camp Shanks, Orangeburg, N. Y. MITCHEL CONERY, who conducts a seven theater circuit in the Albany territory, leaves tomorrow for a vacation in Canada, including the steamboat cruise down the Saguenay Trail. IRVING MENDELSOHN, Paramount booker in Albany, is back from a vacation to Cape Cod. while HERMAN RIPPS, Metro branch manager there, is at Pine Mountain. Two Resign from Columbia West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Mis. Ad Schulberg has resigned as Columbia's talent scout, and Jack Mulcahy has resign- ed as a member of the studio's pub- licity department. Urges Catholic Boycott of "Moscow" in Rochester Rochester — "Mission to Moscow" which opened at the Century here yesterday, was rapped in the Cath- olic Courier as "without doubt the greatest travesty on truth ever per- petrated on the American public." The Rev. John S. Randal, diocesan director of the Legion of Decency, warned, "instead of asking that the price of admission be refunded, our people should protest its Rochester showing by staying away." The Recognized Standard Reference Book of the Motion Picture Industry THE FILM YEAR BOOK Published by and given free with a year's subscription to THE FILM DAILY J 501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY STARRING OF THE ARMED FORCES - GEORGE MURPHY GEORGE TOBIAS-ALAN HALE-CHARLES BUTTERWORTH-KATE SMITH MBrWrKSM Directed by I Keep Selling The "Shangri La" Stamp Drive! LESLIE * Lt ay by Casey Robinson and Ca rig Berlin's "This is the Aim) fwueedtnrJACK L. WARN ER and HAL B. WALLIS V everything «/se /V swa'/ by J comparison . Mi-1 %g HOUXW if,. , „„nf "> , '-i be reserved, at I pickets are selling tour weeks m seats, and seats may the option of the exhib. advance. L. A. Proposes Tax on All Amusements Admissions West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The revenue and taxa- tion and finance committees of the Los Angeles city council have recom- mended that theaters, cafes with cover charge, and all places of amusement should be taxed, putting a levy of one cent on all admissions. It is estimated that the proposed tax would result in theaters paying $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, Annually. Proceeds are desired for renovation of the Los Angeles sewer system. Top Brooklyn Strand Billing for Rogers Pic Republic's bid-budget Roy Rogers special, "Silver Spurs," gets top billing at the Brooklyn Strand, where it is opening Thursday, together with the studio's "Headin' For God's Country." Prior to its booking of the previous Rogers film, "Song of Tex- as," the Strand had never played a western attraction. What's in a Title? "Best Foot Forward" has stepped out as the top grosser of any Metro pic ever to play the Astor. Frisco Theaters Ask 48-Hour Exemption (Continued from Page 1) application for exemption from the 48-hou: week in theaters affected by the critical labor area ruling had been filed with the WMC regional office. The request for exemption was made by all theaters in the area, which includes all San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley and other East Bay and peninsula cities, on the basis of a survey of personnel and other conditions conducted by a committee headed by Thall and others. Thall said that inauguration of a 48-hour week would result in no saving of labor and that many would have to work seven days a week if the regulation were imposed. He said a ruling on the application could not, be expected for some consider- able time. FWTBT Features, Reviews Make All Wire Services "For Whom the Bell Tolls" world premiere at the Rivoli got an unpre- cedented number of syndicate and spot wire breaks a total of 20 — from New York, reviews and feature stories hitting the AP, UP, INS and NANA wires during the last five weeks. AP gave the premiere a double break, a review going out on its "A" wire last night while an in- terview with Y. Frank Freeman was also spotted. UP also carried inter- views with Freeman and Akim Ta- miroff and its wire review covered the pic's highlights. INS went for a review and a Buddy De Sylva inter- view, while NANA sent out a De Syl- va interview as a wire feature. Pic also cashed in with roto pages. Na- tional syndicate-wire service cam- paign was handled by Tom Waller's Para.'s regular home office contact. Broadway Theater Sold Trebuhs Realty Co., Inc., of which Lee Schubert is vice-president, has purchased the Broadway Theater from the City Bank Farmers Trust Co., as trustee of the Prudence Bonds Corp., for a reported $450,000. Buyer gave back a purchase money mort- gage for $250,000, due in seven years at 4% per cent. The FE TOUCH MARION F. C. NICKELL, head of copy writing dept., Filmack Trailer Co., Chicago. RUTH COHEN, secretary to Fred Joyce, UA pub- licity director, Chicago. (?jz6£$& ?7io&6&0?nvi ~~ ICTORY CARBONS 4" ^*EVo,CTI°c^CARBONS RECOMMENDED TRIM AND RAN6E OF ARC CURRENT FOR LAMPS USING COPPER COATED, HIGH INTENSITY, PROJECTOR CARBONS Arc Current — Amperes New Victory Carious — Size and Type 52-66 40-42 42-45 42-45 56-65 7 mm x 9 inch H.I., A.C. Carbons in both holders 7 mm x 12 inch or 14 inch "Suprex" Positive 6 mm x 9 inch "Orotip" C Negative 7 mm x 12 inch or 14 inch "Suprex" Positive 6 mm x 9 inch "Orotip" C Negative 7 mm x 12 inch or 14 inch "Suprex" Positive 7 mm x 9 inch "Orotip" C Negative 8 mm x 12 inch or 14 inch "Suprex" Positive 7 mm x 9 inch "Orotip" C Negative You can obtain maximum efficiency and economy from your Victory Carbons by observing the following simple rules. USE CARBON TRIM RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR PROJECTION EQUIPMENT. The Victory Carbon trims indicated in the above table were established by comprehensive laboratory and field tests to ascertain the best results obtainable in all types of equipment. OPERATE CARBONS AT SPECIFIED ARC CURRENT. Better projection and greater economy are obtained when recommended arc currents are maintained. The maximum allowable arc current is stamped on each Victory Carbon at the left of the trade-mark. CHECK FEED RATIO CAREFULLY. Changes of arc current alter the ratio of burning rate be- tween positive and negative carbons. On lamps equipped with adjustable feed and formerly operated above 45 amperes arc current, this ratio should be adjusted to meet the new current conditions. A bulletin describing operation of the new Victory High Intensity Carbons is available for distribution and will be sent promptly upon request. SAVE T H E COPPER Most of the copper used for plating copper coated projector carbons drops to the floor of the lamp house when the carbons are burned. Continue to save these copper drippings and turn them over to your supply dealer as designated by our government. QgyiCTORY BUY NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation LTH3 Carbon Sales Division, Cleveland, Ohio GENERAL .OFFICES 30 East 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. BRANCH SALES OFFICES New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco Building Remodeling imB^Mi^y^m\ Equipment Maintenance DAILY + * * • NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JULY 16. 1943 * * * * NO FUEL OIL ALLEVIATION IS EXPECTED Gov't Need For 16 mm. Equipment Urgent EQUIPMENT FIELD NOTES Joe Goldberg, Chi. theater supply dis- tributor, says that business is holding in good volume, and that his firm has turned over more than 100 pounds of copper drip- pings the past few months, any revenue therefrom goes to the Red Cross. William H. Powell, formerly with Bausch & Lomb, has been appointed secretary-treasurer of Schick, Inc. George Baetzel of B & L has ben awarded $1,000 by the company for an idea that reduced by 30 per cent the rejections of lenses for aerial cam- eras. Owen Howell, of the W. R. Howell Co., Oklahoma City, was a Chi. visitor the other day at the Motiograph plant. He was on a special mission to buy equipment for the armed services. Martin Printz, of Cleveland's Al- hambra Theater, is in California. Be- fore leaving, he contracted with NTS to repaint the theater throughout, and to provide new stage drapes. * * * F. J. Wenzel, of Wenzel Projector Co., is recuperating from a sinus operation. He is back at his desk, however, and declares the plant is still at full capacity on Gov- ernment contracts. Prank Van Husen, owner of West- ern Theater Supply, has left the hos- pital in Chicago after a 30-day stay, and is back in Omaha but still taking things easy. He is recovering from a fall. Fensin seating Co. is now making con- tracts with circuits and independents to service their seating requirements for the duration, including repairs and damage suf- fered from vandalism. Big stands up New Haven way are still having difficulty obtaining air- conditioner refrigerant material. What's more, some houses in the territory have no engineers to run the plants. Frederic Lackens, of the Hays Corp., Michigan City, has just been elected presi- dent of the National Industrial Advertisers (.Continued on Page 10) Projector Demand Biggest; Sharp Reduction Foreseen In Current 35 mm. Orders Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Manufacturers of 16 mm. photographic equipment will meet today with officials of the WPB Motion Picture Section here to re- view the entire production situation. It appears that the problem is not so much one of cutting down pro- duction as it is of stepping up sched- ules in order to meet the demands of the Army and the Navy, espe- cially for 16 mm. projectors. A thousand of these projectors are on order for the military, with the Navy now beginning to shift from 35 to 16 mm. booths even on board (Continued on Page 11) Name Liberty Ship For B & L Founder Rochester — A Liberty ship is to be named the S.S. Henry Lomb in honor of the Civil War hero and co- founder of the Bausch & Lomb Op- tical Co., the U. S. Maritime Com- mission has announced. Date of the launching has not been announced, but it is expected to be in August or September from the Fairfield yard of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. at Baltimore, Md. Seven workers of Bausch & Lomb will attend the launching, the com- pany said. A contest called the "Vic- tory Roll Call" began this week for (Continued on Page 11) ARMY-NAVY "E" FOR LIBRASCOPE 75 Second GPEC Subsidiary To Win Coveted Honor Earle G. Hines, president of Gen- eral Precision Equipment Corp. (for- merly General Theaters Equipment Corp.), a n- nounces that an- other one of its man uf acturing s u b s id i a ries, Librascope, Inc., of B u r b a n k, Calif., has re- eeived the Army-Navy "E" Award for ex- cellence in pro- duction of war material for the Navy. Libras cope, Inc., is managed by Herbert Griffin as president, who HERBERT GRIFFIN (Continued on Page 11) Calvin Co. Acquires Thea. and Building Kansas City, Mo. — The New Cen- ter Theater, at 15th and Troost, dark for several years, together with the vacant fireproof building which houses it, have been bought by the (Continued on Page 10) Detroit Theaters Improve Mork Studios Report 8 Jobs In Territory Eastman-made Telescopes Sight Navy's Fast Gun Rochester — A five-inch, rapid-fire gun that turns on plane, surface craft or submarine with 50-lb. shells depends for its aim on two Eastman Kodak Co.-made telescopes. The Navy telescope, Mark 61, and its companion piece, Mark 62, made (Continued on Page 10) Theaters' Supply Will Still Depend Entirely Upon Future War Needs Wa'hington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Fuel oil outlook for film theaters next Winter appears to promise about the same situation as last winter. The routine of get- ting ration books and certificates will be simpler, but the supply situ- ation, according to present esti- mates, seems to be about the same as last year for the rationed states. Only important change is the re- laxation in requirements for con- version of oil burners to coal. Be- cause of the difficulty in getting parts required for conversion, and because of the uncertainty regard- ing the coal supply and transporta- tion of coal to several areas, the- aters which burn less than 10,000 gallons of oil per year are, in sev- (Continued on Page 11) id-West RCA Service Made More Compact Chicago — RCA Service in 15 States, with Chicago as headquarters, has been combined under the direction of H. V. Somerville. J. P. Ware continues as Chicago district man- ager, with Paul Connet in charge of the Kansas City offices, and L. R. Yohis in charge of the Cleveland branch. T. M. Fisher heads the Chicago Photophone sales, while Paul Pfohl (Continued on Page 10) Detroit — Robert J. Mork, head of Mork-Green Studios, declares that exhibitors in this territory are con- tinuing steady improvement and re- placement of essential theater equip- ment, as available, despite wartime conditions. The company currently has eight jobs in progress in Michi- gan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Local jobs are: new stage draper- (Continued on Page 11) New "Silver Screen" To Debut After War Chicago — The Radiant Mfg. Co. here is working on a third-dimen- sion screen, it is disclosed by A. Wertheimer of that organization. It will be marketed under the trade name "Silver Screen," but not until war's end. Though company is now making screens for the Army and Navy, its regular theater trade is receiving servicing consistent with prevailing conditions. 10 EQUIPMENT NEWS cW< DAILY Friday, July 16, 1943 A Section of THE FILM DAILY compre- hensively covering the equipment field, pub- lished every second week by Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York City. John W. Alicoate, Publisher; Donalo M. Mersereau, General Manager; Chester B. Bahn, Editor; George H. Morris, Equipment Editor; West Coast Bureau, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal., Ralph Wilk, Bureau Chief. EQUIPMENT FIELD NOTES ' (Continued from Page 9) ^i Ass'n., and Walter A. Bowe, of the Car- rier Corp., Syracuse, the vice-president. * « * The 300-seat Varsity, Champaign, III., twin city of Urbana, was recently reopened by Theodore K. Anthony. While shuttered, it was thoroughly modernized. * * * Will DeVry and his family are spending their vacation days in northern Michigan, where Bill, to recoup a bit from his in- cessant biz grind in the interest of the war effort, will do a spot of fishing and golfing. * * * Our Editorial sanctum had a dis- tinguished equipment father and son drop in this week for a visit, accom- panied by P. A. McGuire, ad man- ager for IPC. Duo comprised John Griffiths, pioneer on motion picture optics and originator of the "lens chart" which bears his name, and tat- ter's offspring. Both ar'e with the Cap- ital in Ansonia, Conn., owned by War- ners who took this stand (and others) over from I. J. Hoffman. The Senior Griffiths has been in the same job there for 31 years, and Junior Griffiths for 25, — a total, between them of 46 years. Who can boast of record's equal? Senior is, by the by, past pres- ident of Local 273, New Haven. For Excellence in the Production f Motion Picture Sound Equipment IT'S A FACT! War-born DEVRY preci- sion Theatre- Projectors and Sound Systems pre- sent developments far beyond previously ac- cepted standards. DEVRY Corporation, 1112 Armi- tage Avenue, Chicago, 111. DeVRY Hollywood • CHICAGO • New York WHITEWAY ELECTRIC SIGN & MAINTENANCE CO. Thomas F. Flannery, President 315-17 W. Walton St. Chicago, III. Delaware 911 i Calvin Co. Acquires Thea. and Building (Continued from Page 9) Calvin Company, a local manufac- turer of educational films for mili- tary purposes and for the Depart- ment of Agriculture and Office of Education. Expansion of business necessitated larger quarters and the purchase will enable the buyers to group their operations under one roof. Remodeling and rehabilitation are expected to run from $25,000 to $30,- 000. The lower part of the theater floor will be raised to make a level projection studio with a 36-foot ceiling. The space released by the floor leveling will provide for a gar- age at the rear of the building. A little theater for private showings also will be on the big theater floor. The second floor will house the pro- duction department which includes writers and directors. Processing of films will be on third floor while the duplicating and printing will be on the fourth. - General offices and lounge will oc- cupy number five. The animation department will share the sixth with the Movie-Mite Corporation. The latter will overflow this space to occupy all the seventh floor, where this related unit of the company will No Gate Crasher, Sic Wind Removes Fence Houston — Damage of $300 was suffered by the Drive-ln Theater in this city's suburban area on July 8 as result of a freak storm. Wind, of gale force, sprang up just before the evening show and ripped up some 500 feet of fencing which sur- rounded the parking spact. Addi- tional damage was also done. Eastman-made Telescopes Sight Navy's Fast Gun (Continued from Page 9) at Kodak are used for sighting the dual purpose gun which has become the favorite armament for all sur- face ships. The telescopes are equip- ped with color filters for use in fog, twilight or glare, and with an il- luminator that causes the cross hairs, used in sighting, to light up at night. Modernize Geneva Theater Geneva, 111. — The Geneva Theater has been modernized, from canopy to stage. Indirect lighting, modern- istic carpets and distinctive poster boards were installed. continue to manufacture 16 mm. projectors for wartime use and for showing their films which they have been making for 12 years. usAIRco AIR CONDITIONING IS ENGINEERED To Meet the Job Requirements and Your Operating Budget .5 iJb&jt. THEATRE OPERATORS don't buy air conditioning M just for the privilege of hanging a sign from the marquee announcing "Air Conditioning Inside". 0 Theatre Air Conditioning is bought for just one purpose — to increase the number of buyers at the Box Office — to attract and induce people into their house as against the beach, the boat or a buggy ride. • When you buy Comfort Cooling from usAIRco you're doing business with an engineering staff that knows how to de- sign a system that fits the requirements of your house — is engineered for original low cost, and low daily operating costs. Many a time we've come out of a The- atre and asked — "What's the matter, is your cooling system broken?" — And the answer surprised us — "No, it's O. K. But it costs too much to run it for the few that are in there tonight. " The man who owns a cooling system that's so costly to operate, that he can run it only occasionally would be better off without such a system. So while he may have a perfectly engineered system, he has one that costs too much to use. usAIRco engineers the type of cooling system you can afford to buy and afford to operate every day — regardless of the size of your house — or your needs for plain air, evaporated cooling, cold water or re- frigerated air conditioning. usAIRco en- gineers can fill your needs precisely. The iobs you have planned for V-day should receive the attention of usAIRco right now. Write us about your plans. UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING CORPORATION Profits in Cooling for the Exhibitor Northwestern Terminal • Minneapolis, Minn. REFRIGERATED KOOLER-AIRE This Unit combines every phase of refrigerated cooling in a Single Unit. Manufactured in vari- ous sizes, it can be used singly or in combination with other units to give you the precise capacity you need. Books describing this system are available. We'll be glad to send you a copy. id-West RCA Service Made More Compact (Continued from Page 9) is in charge of the tube division. Sidney Robards has been placed in charge of the commercial research department, with J. L. Spanenberg, formerly of the Jewel Company, Barrington, 111., named assistant. ( B & H Promotes Schreyer Chicago — Carl Schreyer, formerly war purchasing expeditor for the Bell & Howell Co., has been named general purchasing agent. Exhibitors of America have many du- ties to perform these war days. You build unity and morale through motion picture presentations— and you promote and support the various government drives that are initiated to spur war production and civilian defense. RCA Service, like exhibitors, is carry- ing on important war duties: RCA en- gineers are rendering scheduled service to projection room equipment in thou- sands of theatres to "Keep 'em Run- ning"—and other RCA Service groups are installing military equipment and instructing personnel, in this country and at the battlefronts. The RCA Service organization is to- day more than nation-wide ... it is world-wide . . . serv- ing the home front and battlefronts too! RCA SERVICE CO., INC. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA Subsidiary Camden, N. J. Friday, July 16, 1943 w DAILY EQUIPMENT NEWS 11 Government Seeking More 16 mm. Equip. (Continued from Page 9) ship and for overseas entertainment screening. The only large military user of 35 mm. equipment, now that the Navy is converting to the smal- ler size, will be the Army motion fire service. It is unlikely that of the large machines used by other branches of either service will be taken out of use, but orders for new 35 mm. equipment will fall off sharply. Government officials make it plain that even with manufactu- rers of 16 mm. projectors working at capacity there will be no possibility of any equipment going to operators of 16 mm. theaters for public patron- age. The expansion of the 16 mm. "cir- cuits" seems to be a matter for post- war consideration — when it is likely that a large quantity of machines will be put on the market for the military. Some 35 mm. machines are also expected to go on the market, but it is believed that quantities of either type released will be insuffi- cient to flood the market. Librascope, Inc., Awarded The Army-Navy "E" Flag (Continued from Page 9) is also vice-president of the Interna- tional Projector Corp. and well known in the motion picture field. Company produces a computer of unique design for use by the Ord- nance and Aeronautical Departments of the Armed Forces. This is the second subsidiary of General Pre- cision Equipment Corp. to be awarded the Army-Navy "E" flag, the first being the CineSimplex Corp. of Syra- cuse, which in peacetime was en- gaged in the production of cameras for use in motion picture studios and for newsreel work. The six manufacturing plants of General Precision Equipment Corp. are presently operating at capacity both in the manufacture of their reg- ular motion picture equipment, most of which is for the various depart- ments of the Government, and also in the manufacture of instruments of critical and urgently needed types. WE CAN STILL SUPPLY alt standard 35mm. pre- cision projector replace- ment parts. We do not sell to theatres, direct. FREE — Our latest complete projector parts catalog. CtVE your dealer's name, when writing to get your copy of our catalog. WENZEL PROJECTOR CO. 2505-19 South Stat* St. Chlugo. III. Eastman's Manpower "Equipment" Comes From Many Walks of the World of Entertainment! Rochester — Musicians and actors are among the thousands of workers now aiding the war effort at Eastman Kodak Co. Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra members at the plant include Robert Sprenkle, William Versteeg, Nelson Wat- son, Nathaniel Paley, Herman Surasky and John Figueras. Others include: Howard Lawson, formerfy with the Trenton Symphony; Alfred Genazzio, with the Dallas orchestra; Albert Clapp, night club pianist; Frank Rivers, orchestra leader; Bob Brethen, ventriloquist, formerly in vaudeville; Bill Long and Larry Dowdell, vaudeville dancers; John M. O'Brien, former stage hand; Ronald Langley, formerly on the stage and radio; Thomas Keane, who once worked with both Blackstone and Thurston. Improvements Go On In Delroil Sector (Continued from Page 9) ies and stage equipment for the Col- ony Theater for Joseph Ellul; reno- vation of draperies and equipment in the De Luxe Theater for Asrian D. Rosen, and also in the Downtown Theater for Howard Hughes, who is readying the house for opening as a first-run. Schine Circuit has two jobs in progress: stage equipment for the Holland Theater, Belief ontaine, 0.; and stage draperies and wall pan- elling for the State Theater, Fos- toria, 0. Other jobs include: draperies and stage equipment for Manos Theater, Ellwood City, Pa.; front traveler and track for Capitol Theater, Flint, Mich., for W. S. Butterfield Circuit; and stage draperies and complete wall panelling for the Alhambra Theater, Cleveland. Popcorn, Added Attraction New Haven— The M & P Para- mount, downtown first-run, has added a popcorn machine to its lobby refreshment bar. SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write lor samples, prices or other information. Delivery Iree Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL T I C K E T (M\ COMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE. Vjg/ NEWARK, N. J. Sales Of/ices in Principal Centers LARGEST SELECTION OF Popcorn Machines We Buy — Sell — and Service All Makes — All Models Write us KRISPY KORN EQUIPMENT 120 S. Halsted St. CHICAGO, ILL. Name Liberty Ship For B & L Founder (Continued from Page 9) perfect attendance at work. A week before the date of the launching the names of the perfect record holders will be placed in a giant hat, and the first seven names drawn will be those to go. Anton Otto Fischer, widely known artist, now in the Navy, has been commissioned to make an oil paint- ing of the new ship. No Improvement Seen In Fuel Oil Supply (Continued from Page 9) eral States, no longer required to convert to coal. No conversion, re- gardless of how much fuel issued, is required of theaters in Florida and Georgia, while conversion is not re- quired of those houses which re- ceived less than 10,000 gallons of oil in the current heating year, end- ing Sept. 30, in the following States: North Dakota, South Dakota, Kan- sas, Nebraska, Missouri and the six New England States. Officials here are unwilling to go out on limbs, as they did so fre- quently last year, to predict what the supply situation will be this winter. Military operations, for one thing, are quite unpredictable, and there is grave question as to how much oil the services will need. They insist however, that failure to convert to coal will mean no heating oil ^for theaters in rationed States not men- tioned above. Houston's Azteca Burns Houston — The Azteca Theater, seating 350, was destroyed in a fire of unknown origin which razed the three-story brick and plastered-wall building. Glenn Improves Ashley Ashley, 111. — Albert Watson of Mount Vernon has sold the Ashley Theater to Frank J. Glenn. The new owner is remodeling and improving the house. Renovation includes an inclined floor, an air-conditioning system and a new modern front. use the National to post-war equipment National Theatre Supply's "Magic Bridge" will help you plan now for your post-war equipment . . . with- out "options" or down payments of any kind. National's "Magic Bridge" will close the gap between your post-war plans and their speedy realization. If you have not yet received your personal copy of the "Magic Bridge" Equipment Survey, ask for a copy at your nearest National branch. NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY Division of N ATIONAl-^*«jg^t'-BLU D WORTH, INC. A Gtn#ro( Precision Equipment Corp. Subsidiary M P P ID A INC 2 11 W 4-4- S T -N YC EASTMAN FILMS EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS Fort Lee Chicago Hollywood •' More than ever the maiit-v stay of the motion picture industry, with every foot contributing its full share of exceptional quality. i >■ Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought Bv The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old wt 84. NO. 12 NEW YORK. MONDAY. JULY 19. 1943 TEN CENTS GOV'T APPEALS FROM CRESCENT DECISION // Super-Escapist" Pictures Is Paramount' s Plan At Least a Third of Pix For New Season Slated To be Shot in Technicolor Paramount will mark the 1943-44 season by the release of "super-es- capist" films, Neil Agnew, general sales manager, told the company's sales execs, at the concluding ses- sion of the Hotel Pierre sales meet- ing here Friday. At least a third of the new lineup will be in Technicolor. Asserting that "the need for es- capist films to maintain morale and entertain our fighting forces has (Continued on Page 11) First-Runs Weekly For Overseas Troops Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Four first-run pro- grams weekly is the new rate for overseas showing of the 16 mm. prints given the Army by the in- dustry for America's fighting men. Distribution rate thus far has been (Continued on Page 6) Six Two-Reel Westerns On New Warner Program San Francisco — Warners shorts lineup for 1943-44 of 18 two-reelers and 68 one-reelers will include a series of six two-reel Westerns, it was announced here Saturday by (Continued on Page 6) Pa. Solons to Get Curfew Legislation Harrisburg, Pa. — Proposals for a state-wide curfew for minors and juvenile courts in every county will be offered to the 1945 Legislature to curb the rapid increase of juvenile delinquency. At a meeting held here by the Legislature's Joint State Government Comm'ssion, a study of parole and juvenile delinquency was started. It is expected that the committee will make reports on the recommenda- tions to be presented at the next session. Para. Guaranteeing Minimum 12*/%% Profit To Exhibitors Playing "Tolls" at 70-30% Paramount 70-30 per cent contracts for "For Whom the Bell Tolls" carry a rider guaranteeing the exhibitor a minimum 12Vi per cent profit, it was re- ported over the week-end in the wake of the company's New York sales meeting which closed Friday. FWTBT thus becomes the second pic in recent years to be offered at 70-30, with a guarantee to the theater. In the instance of GWTW, Metro gave the house a guarantee of 10 per cent of its gross receipts as a profit. Loew-Lyons to Make Three UA Features West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Arthur S. Lyons, vice- president of Producing Artists, Inc., organized last January to release through United Artists, will arrive in New York today to purchase story properties, to negotiate with writers for original musical and dramatic material and to lay the groundwork for anticipated production of plays on Broadway. Producing Artists, of which David (Continued on Page 3) War Shorts Program Wails on Conference Vacation 'A' Gas Order Stirs New Eng. Protests Boston — A storm of protest against the vacation gas order has arisen in the New England area. At first glance the exhibitors and operators were pleased over what they believed was some relief from (Continued on Page 6) WAC's Co-ordinating Committee, Executive Committee of the Theaters Division, and chairmen of the ex- hibitor exchange area committees, representing more than 8,000 houses, heard addresses Friday by Charles P. Taft, head of the Division of Rec- reation and Welfare of the Federal Security Agency, and Theodore R. Gamble, assistant to Secretary Mor- genthau and Director of War Financ- ing for the U. S. Treasury. Taft's address, delivered at the (Continued on Page 6) Authorizations for Film 180 Days Old Cancelled Workington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Authorizations more than 180 days old for 35 mm. film were cancelled at the week-end by WPB, through an amendment to (Continued on Page 6) it. Research Guiding WB Prime Factor in Strong Financial Position Watertown, Mass., Houses In Clearance Complaints Two clearance complaints have been filed with the Boston arbitra- tion tribunal. In one Consolidated Theater, Inc., operator of the Plymouth, Worcester, Mass., filed against all five claiming that the 30 days' clearance granted Loew's Plaza or the Elm Street Theater, (Continued on Page 11) An important contributing factor in the strong financial position being achieved by Warners as summarized by the Dow-Jones financial service at the week-end, was revealed in the discussions of sales policies at the series of regional meetings which closed Saturday in San Francisco. In formulating and carrying out these policies, which have placed Warners in the unique position of increasing gross income to an all- (Continued on Page 10) Would Amend Paragraph On Defendant's Acquisi- tion of More Theaters By P. R. RUSSELL FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Nashville — Assistant Attor- ney General Tom C. Clark, for the plaintiff, the United States Government, Friday appealed to the Supreme Court that the Crescent anti-trust case be remanded for a correction of the decree with refer- ence to asquisition of new theaters by the exhibitor defendants. Cres- cent and affiliated exhibitors are (Continued on Page 6) Reduced Scope for U.S.N. Incentive Pix Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The industrial incen- tive film program planned by the Navy is so far, at any rate, consid- erably smaller in scope than the (Continued on Page 10) Await Hoyt Ruling On Length of "Aleutians" Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A decision was ex- pected this week-end on a matter of great importance to the motion pic- (Continued on Page 6) Femme Cops Arrest 200 Theater Mashers Newark, N. J. — This city is defi- nitely no haven for the theater masher. At least 200 have been apprehended by a special police- women's squad recently appointed by Police Commissioner John Keenan, to make theatergoing safe for un- escorted theatergoing women. So well pleased is the police head with the results accomplished by his co-operettes that he plans to add at least six more to the squad to break up vandalism which in past months has cost local operators thou- sands of dollars in damages. a^a»«a»™ md$t DAILY Monday, July 19, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 12 Mon., July 19, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y.( by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as Eecond class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10. 0U one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (July 16) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Col. Picts. vtc. (2!/2%) Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . . East. Kodak do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox. . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd 89 13-32 NEW YORK Par. B'way 3s55 Par. Picts. deb. 4s56. High Low 19 19 3 2% 17 16% 66 166 1 178'/2 1 Close 19 + + 225/g 221/4 63i/2 63 293/8 285/g 10 95/s 98 97 243/4 23% 34 34 15% 151/4 3 17 66 79 22V4 _ 63 + 28% — 93/4 + 971/2 + 24 34 151/4 — Net Chg. V* Vb 'A 1 " Vz Vz 1/4 % Vs 1 89 13-32 89 13-32 BOND MARKET Robert, Raymond Hakim, Sam Coslow Leaving MGM West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Robert and Raymond Hakim and Sam Coslow, M-G-M pro- ducers are leaving the organization. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. C0.f INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St. Lot Angeles H The Broadway Parade H Picture and Distributor Theater Mission to Moscow (Warner Bros. Pictures) — 12th week Hollywood Coney Island (20th Century-Fox) — 5th week Roxy Stage Door Canteen (United Artists-Sol Lesser) — 4th week Capitol The Youngest Profession (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 4th week Music Hall Dixie (Paramount Pictures)— 4th week Paramount Best Foot Forward (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 4th week Astor Background to Danger (Warner Bros. Pictures) — 3rd week Strand Bombardier (RKO Radio Pictures) — 3rd week Criterion For Whom the Bell Tolls (Paramount Pictures) — 2nd week Rivoli Victory Through Air Power (United Artists-Walt Disney) Clobe Appointment in Berlin (Columbia Pictures) iRialto My Friend Flicka (Twentieth Century-Fox) (a-b) Palace All By Myself ( Republic Pictures) (a) Palace Wise Guy (Monogram I ictures) — Opens tomorrow (a) New York Stranger from Pecos (Monogram Pictures)— Opens tomorrow (a) New York ♦ FOREiGN LANGUAGE FEATURES ♦ The Russian Story (Artkino Pictures) — 7th week Stanley Creo en Dios (Crovos-Mohme) Belmont A Fire in the Straw (Herbert Rosener) — 3rd week (a) World Pledge to Bataan (Adventure Pictures) — 3rd week (a) World ♦ FUTURE OPENi JVGS ♦ Stormy Weather (Twentieth Century-Fox) — July 21 Roxy Hers to Hold (Universal Pictures) — July 21 Criterion The Constant Nymph (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 23 Strand This is the Army (Warner Bros. Pictures) — July 28 Hollywood Let's Face It (Paramount Pictures) — Aug. 2 Paramount DuBarry Was a Lady (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) (c) Capitol Mr. Lucky (RKO Radio Pictures) (c) Music Hall Bombers' Moon (Twentieth Century-Fox) (c) Rialto Squadron Leader (RKO Radio Pictures) — July 22 (a) Palace The Falcon in Danger (RKO Radio Pictures) — July 22 (a) Palace (a) Dual bill. (b) Subsequent run. (c) Follows current bill. (d) News film with English commentary. Republic Execs, in Chi. For Rogers P.A., Meeting Chicago — Opening session of the two-day Republic sales meeting here on Friday at the Drake Hotel was preceded by attendance of Herbert J. Yates, Sr., President James R. Grainger, Midwest District Sales Manager E. L. Walton, and South- ern District Sales Manager Merritt Davis, plus exchange men from these districts and home office officials, at the Oriental Theater's opening per- formance of Roy Rogers' personal appearance in connection with the first-run locally of his latest vehicle, "Silver Spurs." Large crowds greeted the western star in the Loop area, and lined up for several blocks on either side of the theater. At the sales meeting many wires were received from Re- public branches throughout the nation report- ing large volume of bookings for the new Rogers opus. Another indication of current Republic product strength outcropped at the meeting via receipts of news from Franchise Holder Jake Flax of Washington that "Some- one to Remember" had broken all house records at Baltimore's Valencia, backed by a strong promotional campaign. Home office representatives at the meeting on Saturday included William Saal, Walter L. Titus, Jr., and Charles Reed Jones. Ex- changemen contingent include Will Baker, Chicago; J. G. Frackman, Milwaukee; W. M. Grant, Minneapolis; F. R. Moran, Des Moines; Harry Lefholtz, Omaha; Nat Steinberg, St. Louis; Winfield Snelson, Atlanta; Harold Laird, Tampa; J. H. Dillon, Charlotte; N. J. Colquhoun, Memphis; L. V. Seicshnaydre, New Orleans; Lloyd Rust, Dallas; Russell I. Brown, Oklahoma City ; and Franchise Holder Robert F. Withers, Kansas City. Rites ior John Anderson Monroe, Conn. — Funeral services for John Anderson, drama critic of the New York Journal- American who died Friday, were held here Satur- day. He had been drama critic of the Journal-American and before that of the Evening Journal, since 1928. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; his mother, Mrs. Warren E. Anderson, Sr.; two sisters and eight brothers. Bob Gillham to Coast For Campaign on FWTBT Robert M. Gillham, Para.'s ad- publicity chief, left for Los Angeles yesterday to direct the opening cam- paign for "For Whom the Bell Tolls" at the Carthay Circle on Aug. 18. Bally in advance will be modeled on the campaign for the Rivoli opening here which cost Para, about $150,- 000. Planning to remain on the Coast for about a fortnight, Gillham in the weeks immediately ahead per- sonally will concentrate on FWTBT openings, including those in Chi- cago, where the pic is expected to start in two houses, Memphis or New Orleans — choice is yet to be made but N. O. is favored — and Washington. Last named bow will come after Labor Day. Proceeds of the Coast opening will go to the Los Angeles Area War Chest. Republic Rejects Protest Over Dismissal of Three West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Insisting it has au- thority under the basic agreement with the Screen Publicists Guild to make dismissals, Republic has re- jected the protest of the Guild over the firing of studio publicity depart- ment members. Al Wilson, labor contact for the studio, maintained that employes could be dismissed in accordance with any collective bargaining agree- ment that might exist. Republic has agreed to furnish severance pay to the employes dismissed. Rites Held ior Lawson Hollywood — Funeral services for Louis Lawson, 41, of the Columbia Studio auditing department, were held here last week. 5,000 Special Bookings Being Set Up for "Army" More than 5,000 special theater engagements are being set up for "This Is The Army" under a plan which Jack L. Warner will put into operation today on his arrival in New York from the West Coast. A large portion of the thousands engagements will have special \ mieres at advanced prices, following in general the policy of the world premiere of the film in New York at the Hollywood Theater on July 28. "So Proudly We Hail" At Music Hall Aug. 19 Paramount's "So Proudly We Hail*' will bow in at the Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 19, it was learned over the week-end. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER 'THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION' with VIRGINIA WEIDLER, EDWARD ARNOLD and Five Important Guest Stars AN M-G-M PICTURE Gala Stage Revue • Symphony Oreheitra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Jl< BETTY GRABLE JC GEORGE MONTGOMERY* CESAR ROMERO Cone? hiamd A iOTH CfNTUST.FOX flCTUIE lit TECHNICOLOR • PLUS A BIG STAGE SHOW * BUY Q ^V *y •*#■ 7ihAVE. BONDS l\V/A 1 50* ST. "DIXIE" - In Persen with ~k ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY * TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOUR if MITCH AYRES A Paramount Picture •fc and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square B WAY & 47th St. RODDY McDOWALL . PRESTON FOSTER "MY FRIEND FLICKA" and ROSEMARY LANE • PATRIC KNOWLES "ALL BY MYSELF" Lo?w?.STHTEr IN PERSON | ON SCREEN ■ Jackie Miles 1 "BATAAN" Eddie South 1 WITH & ORCH. ! ROBERT TAYLOR * J Monday, July 19, 1943 \/*\ DULY Loew-Lyons to Make Three UA Features (Continued from Page 1) L. Loew is now president, estab- lishes offices today in General Ser- vice Studios. While its initial block o^ "'x for UA calls for three million- c__,r pix next season, Loew said ovT^ the week-end that eventually PA will turn out from 10 to 18 top budget features annually. New company's, organizational blueprint, first announced in late January (Film Daily, Jan. 27), as finalized provides that top talent, both stars and directors, shall be- come heads of their own autonomous picture-making companies within the framework of the parent company with each personality enjoying full executive and production powers in addition to profit participation. "At the same time," Lyons ex- plained before leaving for the East, "each star or other artist will be completely free to work outside of his own company and will be avail- able to the entire industry. But there will be behind him a 'home' production unit which will, at his bidding, make stories of his own choosing, by his own methods and with profits for his own sharing. In this way creative talent will realize the greatest possible opportunities and security, artistic as well as finan- cial." PA's first film will be a musical as yet untitled, with music by George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter. Ira Gershwin, Kern and Porter have already been signed — and negotiations are under way with Irving Berlin. It will be pro- duced and directed by Rouben Ma- moulian, who has just returned from New York. There will be either in new or unpublished compositions more than $250,000 invested in mu- sic alone, it is declared. Loew and Lyons also disclosed or- ganization of another major company headed by Jack Benny, who will pro- duce a series of comedies with him- self as star. Clemente Giglio Dead Clemente Giglio, 57, Italian the- ater impresario in the U. S. is dead. Survivors include his widow, Gemma; a son, Pvt. Sandrino Giglio, USA; a daughter, Adele; a brother, Jos- eph and four sisters. Cuttings From the Wood Lot: • • • ONE of the busiest weeks of this or any other Summer along local Film Row had its virtual wind-up on Friday noontide when the Trade Press bunch broke bread with Sam Wood in the Hotel Astor's Yacht Room The producer-director of Paramount's 'Tor Whom the Bell Tolls" and the scribes discussed various angles and facets of the opus, and a good and enlightening time was had by all Sam is of the belief, — and he's in a position to judge — , that "Bell" was "one of the toughest of pictures to make," what with the enormous amount of location work at high altitude, the climatic conditions under which the Technicolor photography was undertaken, the difficulties of terrain, and ever so many other factors, not the least of which was the prob- lem of sound-interference from brooks in the mountainous-venue in some instances, tarpaulins were stretched, fence-like, along several hundreds of feet of brook-borders to keep the babble from reaching the mikes, and in other cases the tarps were actually stretched hori- zontally over the rushing streams and battened down with rocks The day airplanes were to fly over the mountain crest for the dramatic bombing scenes, a member of Wood's staff hurried up from the valley below to tell breathlessly that the Japs had just bombed Pearl Harbor and all planes had been grounded T T ▼ • • • FINDING a locale suitable for the bridge-destruction sequences, and in fact the bridge itself, was another vicissitude Something was almost invariably wrong, such as a gully being too shallow for dramatic and photographic purposes "The Good Lord," Sam soliloquized, "didn't know Hemingway was going to write the book, so He didn't build everything right" The film's pro- duction crew, upon whom Wood heaped praise along with Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, and the other cast members for being good outdoor people, "killed more rattlesnakes than St. Patrick" T T T • • • WOOD discussed attentively with the trade scribes the sug- gestion that FWTBT have an intermission in its roadshow engagements 'round the country, instead of being projected all in one big, continuous sitting ..... With equal attentiveness he weighed the matter of cut- ting down the pic's length somewhat, which may or may not be done, but probably will at the concurrence of his Para, associates The ace producer-director opines that close to 1,000 feet might be eliminated to advantage, and 'twill be interesting to see if this comes to pass before, other big key openings outside New York Anent the situation faced in the cutting of any film. Wood cited that when he directed the Red Grange starrer, "One Minute to Play," the film was cut down for a Coast showing in order to theoretically speed it up In the process, all immediately agreed, upon seeing the result, that the footage did have more momentum, BUT — the vital atmosphere of the football yarn was smothered So back went the deleted portions One of the most interesting aspects of the chat with Wood was his stressing the importance of photographing "thought," i.e., imparting via close-ups what a character is thinking, — and you'll note in FWTBT that many such shots are incorporated with powerful effect Present at the luncheon were Bob Gillham, Al Wilkie, Al Finestone, Don M. Mer- sereau, Chester B. Bahn, Charles "Chick" Lewis, Bill Formby, Sherry Kane, Tom Kennedy, Mori Krushen, Mel Konnecoff, A. W. Baremore, Chick Aaronson, Lou Pelegrine, James Jerauld, and Floyd Stone ...... T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! COMinG and GO I fid JACK L. WARNER arrives in New York today from the Coast. He will remain through the premiere of Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army," which Warner co-produced with Hal B. Wa I lis. ROBERT M. CILLHAM, who went to the Coast yesterday, will remain for a fortnight. A. W. SMITH, JR., Eastern sales manager of 20th-Fox, will be in Buffalo today for the testimonial dinner to be given by the Variety Club here for Sydney Samson, recently advanced from Buffalo branch manager to district manager for Canada. B. C. De Sylva left Friday for Hollywood, via a stop-over for a day in Toronto. NORMAN H. MORAY, A. W. SCHWALBERC, HOWARD LEVINSON and ALBERT S. HOWSON are en route to New York from San Francisco. BEN KALMENSON left San Francisco yesterday for a swing through the Southwest en route to New York. ROY HAINES, en route to New York from the Coast, is making stopovers in his Southern and Western division. B. B. KREISLER, short subject sales manager for Universal is due back today from a trip to Cleveland and Pittsburgh. BERT SANFORD, )R., Altec executive, has returned from an upstate New York tour. FRED A. ROHRS, PRC Southeastern division manager, has returned to his Washington head- quarters. E. WILLIAM FITELSON and MRS. FITELSON are en route to Mexico City. WILLIAM CROUCH, Soundies, Inc. executive producer, is in town. MAX MILDER, Warners British chief, is ex- pected to arrive in New York in August. VOLDEMAR VETLUGUIN has returned to the M-G-M studios. WIN BARRON, Paramount's director of sales promotion in the Toronto sector, leaves New York for his headquarters there today. OSCAR F. NEU, head of Neumade Products, is in Washington on business. JACK KIRSCH has returned to Chicago from New York. SAM WOOD leaves for the Coast in about 10 days. GEORGE BROWN, Paramount studio publicity chief, left New York Saturday for the Coast. CHARLES KOERNER, PERRY LIEBER, NAT HOLT and RODNEY PANTACES, who came to New York for the 12th annual RKO Radio sales meet, left New York by train for the Coast via Chicago on Friday. MURPHY McHENRY of Paramount's coast publicity staff left New York Friday for Holly- wood. ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD arrived Satur- day from Hollywood. EDWARD SCHNITZER, United Artists Westers division manager, returned today from an eight- week trip to exchanges under his supervision. RISE STEVENS left New York Friday for Hollywood. BETTY HUTTON left Friday for a two-week tour of Army camps under auspices of the U.S.O. JOSEPH H. MOSKOWITZ, New York rep. of 20th-Fox Studio, has postponed his trip to California until July 30. 28 Radio Serials Set To Plug "Army" As part of the vast radio cam- paign being put behind Warners film version of Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army," 28 leading network serials already have been set to in- sert plugs for the picture in their scripts. Mentions of the picture will be worked appropriately into the dialogue of the serials, and it is said it will be the first time a thing of this kind has been done on such a wide scale. List of shows includes practically all the NBC, CBS and Mutual network favorites. ■■ motion nt of importance for the ire-goers and the boxoffice takes place in ALDANY- DALLAS- DETROIT - OKLAHOMA CITY -ST. LOUIS and npon subsequent days in every other key city in the United States where the combination Trade Showing and Preview of ^Heaven Can Wait" takes place. We are happy to fiiave you judge the potentialities of this picture by observing the audience's and your own reaction. Results speak louder than words. You. Mr. Showman* will see for yourself. CITY PLACE OF SCREENING DAY & DATE & HOUR Albany Madison Theatre Mon. 7/19- - 8:30 P.M. Atlanta Fox Theatre Wed . 7/2 1- - 9:30 P.M. Boston 105 Broadway Wed .7/21- - 2:30 P.M. Buffalo Shea's Buffalo Theatre Thurs . 7/22- -11:00 P.M. Charlotte Carolina Theatre Fri. 7/23- -10:45 P.M. Chicago United Artists Theatre Wed .7/21- - 9:00 P.M. Cincinnati Palace Theatre Tues. 7/20- -10:30 P.M. Cleveland Hippodrome Theatre Fri. 7/30- -11:00 P.M. Dallas Palace Theatre Mon. 7/19- -8:15 P.M. Denver Denver Theatre Mon. 7/26- - 8:30 P.M. Des Moines Des Moines Theatre Wed . 7/2 1- - 9:00 P.M. Detroit Fox Theatre Mon. 7/19- - 9:30 P.M. Indianapolis Indiana Theatre Tues. 7/27- - 8:45 P.M. Kansas City Plaza Theatre Thurs 7/22- - 9:00 P.M. Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre Mon. 8/2- - 8:30 P.M. Memphis Loew's State Theatre Wed . 7/2 1- - 9:30 P.M. Milwaukee Wisconsin Theatre Fri. 7/23- -10:00 P.M. Minneapolis State Theatre Wed 7/21- - 9:30 P.M. New Haven College Theatre Tues. 7/20- - 8:00 P.M. New Orleans 200 So. Liberty Street Wed 7/21- - 2:30 P.M. New York City Roxy Theatre Thurs. 7/29- - 8:30 P.M. Oklahoma City Midwest Theatre Mon. 7/19- - 8:30 P.M. Omaha Paramount Theatre Wed. 7/28— • 9:30 P.M. Philadelphia State Theatre Fri. 7/23- - 8:45 P.M. Pittsburgh Senator Theatre Tues. 7/20— • 9:30 P.M. Portland Paramount Theatre Mon. 7/26- - 9:00 P.M. St. Louis Fox Theatre Mon. 7/19— ■8:15 P.M. Salt Lake City Centre Theatre Fri. 7/23- - 9:00 P.M. San Francisco 245 Hyde Street Wed. 7/21— ■ 2:30 P.M. Seattle Music Box Theatre Tues. 7/27— •10:00 P.M. Washington Columbia Theatre Wed. 7/28- - 9:00 P.M. CENTURY-FOX € 01 ym ^M^- Cl. tl A^kjf CJ^ s\ t, 1 AJbwiJ M$W ik^cl RESULTS! Above are just a few of the comments from the sneak previews held on the East and West Coasts Monday, July 19, 1943 Gov't Appeals from Crescent Suit Decision (Continued from Page 1) cited to appear in Washington, D. C, within 40 days from date "to show cause why the judgment rendered against them should not be cor- rected." The major reason for the Govern- ment's action in asking for a cor- rection in the decree is indicated by the following from a statement by Solicitor General Charles Fahy and made a part of the appeal: "Experience under the tem- porary order in the Schine case and the consent decree entered in the New York equity suit has demonstrated that the problem of the widespread elimination of independent competition by the large circuits cannot be solved by action taken after the ac- quisition occurs, is, as a prac- tical matter, impossible to re- store by decree of court a com- petitive situation after the com- petition in question has been eliminated by acquisition of the competitive theater or theaters. Unless the Government is given the remedy which the court in this case concluded that it was entitled to but rejected on ad- ministrative considerations, the Government believes that it will be unable to secure the contin- ued existence of independent theater competition which the Sherman Act contemplates." The following "assignment of errors and prayer for reversal," which is signed by Assistant Attorney General Tom C. Clark and Special Assistant Robert L. Wright, re- veals what the appellant is seeking to ob- tain through this action: "The United States of America, plaintiff in the above-titled cause, in connection with its petition for appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, hereby assigns error to the final order and decree of said district court entered on May 17, 1943, in the above titled cause, and say that in the entry of the final order and de- cree the District Court committed error to prejudice of the said plaintiff in the fol- lowing particulars: Cite Court's Errors "1. The court erred in entering paragraph 19 of the final decree which reads as fol- lows: '(19) that the exhibitor defendants, and each of them be, and they hereby are, enjoined and restrained from acquiring a financial interest in any additional theaters, outside Nashville, Tenn., in any town where there is already located a theater, whether in operation or not, unless the owner of such theater should volunteer to sell to either of the exhibitor defendants, and when none of said defendants, their officers, agents or servants are guilty of any of the acts or practices prohibited paragraph nine (9) hereof." "2. The court erred in declining to enter in lieu of said paragraph (19) of the final decree the provision contained in paragraph 29 of the proposed decrees submitted in ac- cordance with the court's conclusion of law No. 20, which provision reads as follows: " 'That the exhibitor defendants and each of them be, and they hereby are, enjoined and restrained from acquiring a financial interest in any additional the- aters outside of Nashville, Tenn. Ex- cept after an affirmative showing before this court that such acquisition will not unreasonably restrain competition.' "Wherefore, plaintiff prays that the final order and decree of the District Court grant- ing the relief set forth in paragraph 19 thereof and denying relief in accordance with the court's aforesaid conclusions of law No. Six Two-Reel Westerns On New Warner Program (Continued from Page 1) Norman H. Moray, shorts sales man- ager, as the company wound up its series of three regional sales meet- ings with Ben Kalmenson, sales chief, presiding. Thirteeen of the one-reelers will be re-issues. Program, to be wholly made at the Burbank studios with Jack War- ner supervising, will include a great- er number of subjects in Techni- color and will be marked by more diversification in content. Individ- ual series include: Twelve two-reel Featurettes. Six will be Santa Fe Trail Westerns. Other six will be Featurettes, a diversified group, ranging from kiddie revues and all-girl musicals to drama. . Six two-reel Technicolor Specials. Pro- duced in co-operation with various branches of the armed forces, these will be along the lines of "A Ship is Born." Twenty-Six one-reel Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes, in Technicolor. Cartoons pro- duced by Leon Schlesinger. Thirteen one-reel Sports Parades, in Tech- nicolor. Exclusive material from various fields of sports. Ten one-reel Melody Masters Bands. Each subject will be made an intimate musical re- vue, taking the band "Off the bandstand" for the first time and featuring a. group of specialties. Six one-reel Vitaphone Varieties. Novelty numbers, including another Howard Hill an- imal thriller. Thirteen one-reel Blue Ribbon Merrie Melo- dies, A 'Hall of Fame' group representing the best output of Schlesinger's cartoon subjects. Vacation 'A' Gas Order Stirs New Eng. Protests (Continued from Page 1) the drastic regulations of the past several months. But to their disappointment they find that the new regulations ac- tually work to the point of taking customers away. For it means that the man who wishes to drive to Ban- gor, some 300 miles, may obtain permission to do so if he uses his "A" cards. But the man who wishes to pile five kids and the wife into the car and drive down to a Summer picture theater or even to one of the suburbans still may not do so. The OPA is being besieged with inquiries as to why-the-heck it's all right for John Jones to drive to Montreal, but entirely wrong for Bill Smith to drive to Revere Beach. Trade Press Dines at '21', Sees "Heaven" Tonight Trade press screening of 20th- Fox's new Ernst Lubitsch produc- tion, "Heaven Can Wait," will be held tonight at 8:45 at the RKO 23rd Street Theater, and prior to the showing, trade press represen- tatives will be guests at a dinner in the 21 Club, starting at 6:30 p.m., which will be hosted by Sam Shain, director of trade relations for 20th-Fox. Charles Coburn, one of the prin- cipal actors in the new Lubitsch pic- ture, will be a special guest at the dinner and subsequent screening. 20 may be reversed and the cause remanded for the entry in lieu of said paragraph of a provision in accordance with said conclusions of law and/or such other and fit relief as the court may deem just and proper." Warners Pix Tie Up Stockholm Theater Stockholm (By Air Mail) — Warners has tied up the Park Theater, local deluxe house with a policy of long- run engagements. As a consequence, Warner product in release will play this theater exclusively, starting with the new season in August. Await Hoyt Ruling On Length of "Aleutians" (Continued from Page 1) ture industry. Palmer Hoyt, domes- tic director of the OWI, said Fri- day night that he expected to reach a decision this week-end on whether the agency shall clear for public showing the 50 minute version of the Army's "Report from the Aleu- tians." Although a shorter version, in two reels, is also available, the Army is insisting that the long ver- sion be shown in the nation's the- aters. Hoyt admitted Friday that he had decided earlier last week to recom- mend that the WAC be given its choice of the two versions, or al- lowed to take both. The film itself, made in full color by Capt. John Huston, is of exceptional merit com- pared with other Army films, and is certainly worthy of public show- ing. Its timeliness is waning, how- ever, while the Army holds out for the long version. Hoyt is well aware of the seriousness of the situation. He recognizes that the strong stand of the Army is now a test of the OWI, to determine whether that agency, without its motion picture bureau and with- out Lowell Mellett, will continue to exer- cise its full authority to clear Government picture releases, and whether OWI will, as did Mellett, continue to consider seriously the very real objections of the motion pic- ture industry to being forced to schedule odd-sized rent-free pictures. Hoyt decided last week to let the industry have its choice, but the Army's Bureau of Public Relations has now taken the position that the long picture must be shown or none at all. Hoyt is well aware of the importance of his decision, recognizing that if he gives away to the Army in this matter his posi- tion as clearance authority for Government films is very shaky. He will provide by his decision a rather definite indication of where the power regarding public showing for Army films lies hereatfer. If Hoyt bends to the pressure of the Army, the industry must then prepare for similar pressure — and prob- ably more effective. Complicating the mat- ter is the fact that the Army has on hand at least 200 full-color prints of the long version of "Report From the Aleutians." The figure may be closer to 300. Actors Equity Regulation Blocks FitzPatrick Plan St. Louis — The Actors Equity reg- ulation prohibiting the filming of any part of a show without payment to the stage company of an extra full week's salary has forced James A. FitzPatrick, producer of travel- ogue shorts for M-G-M, to alter his plans to include in his newest re- lease scenes from a performance at the St. Louis Municipal Opera. The shots would have cost the producer an additional $10,000 to make the short, which is about St. Louis. First-Runs Weekly For Overseas Troops (Continued from Page 1) three new shows each week, said the Army over the week-end, each in- cluding one feature and one sYT^ These programs are flown 1 larly to 18 overseas exchanges oy the Special Service Division, and, as revealed in Film Daily last week, over 4,400 feature prints and over 6,400 shorts had been sent abroad by the end of last month. The Spe- cial Service Division is especially proud of the frequent premieres which it offers American soldiers in the thick of the war. Although most of the new films sent over- sea circulate among the troops simultane- ously with their public showings here, on several occasions the Special Service Divi- sion has been able to screen outstanding pix considerably in advance of their opening here. A recent check by the division showed that of the pictures being advertised in the New York City papers, 33 already had been sent to overseas troops. Once abroad, of course, prints are not immediately seen by every soldier in a theater of operations, but move from one unit to another, with those on the end of the list inevitably somewhat behind. The present print order is 23. A recent report from the Persian Gulf on the en- thusiasm of soldiers over their opportunity of seeing pix from home included the com- ment that each film makes a circuit of 1,500 miles by plane, motor and rail before being returned to the Cairo exchange. The Special Service Division has a grow- ing number of projectors overseas, many of which tour on jeeps. There are some per- manent Army movie houses abroad, but more often the screenings are held outdoors, the audience sitting in a semi-circle on benches, much the same as in the sunset concert amphitheaters popular in this country. Authorizations for Film 180 Days Old Cancelled (Continued from Page 1) L-178. Producers of entertainment films will probably not be greatly af- fected if at all, but the producers of factual films, even on Government contracts may in some cases lose the use of film which they had been counting on. The amendment will hit, in the main, said one WPB of- ficial, producers whose "eyes were bigger than their stomachs." Sev- eral firms had obtained authorization for films as long ago as one year, used less than they had estimated for the immediate project at hand and thus had the authority for ad- ditional footage. If they used the additional footage at once they were all right, but if they waited the bal- ance of the unauthorized film was cancelled by the amendment. All authorizations written lately have contained time limits assuring reasonable early use of the authori- zation. Film producers and labora- tories, however, report that some old authorizations are still being used, with film production schedul- ing threatened by this unknown "floating demand." Rufus E. McCosh Dead Baltimore — Rufus E. McCosh, who engaged in free lance title work in the silent era, died here last week. Wk* ***** fSW'* ^w- ■ 1 j^g**"* -*■**. ^^^^(H t IP^'* ""* 48L %*. '**^f ^8 ■r, *<* «r a. ^i \ 1 * * WBmm ■ ■■<<-■ ■■ 00 ^9fe» '*i¥vm fo **¥< with Stars in Her Eyes! with Deanna in His Arms! V.with Terrific Raves! "Deanna Durbin scores her happiest grown-up portrayal in 'Hers to Hold,' a delightful modern comedy that opens up a brand new career for its star ... It remained for this Felix Jackson produc- tion to strike exactly the right note that will send the Durbin stock to its all-time high . . .in the immediate hit classification. Directed by Frank Ryan with a finesse which is buoyantly refreshing." • — Hollywood Reporter "This latest Deanna Durbin feature is right up to the minute, tuneful, entertaining, with sure-fire audience appeal. Co-starred with Joseph Gotten, actress turns in one of her most engaging and captivating performances . . . Picture should gross at the box office as a top Durbin presentation, and should be billed as such." — Daily Variety "If this isn't the best picture Deanna Durbin has ever made it will serve in that classification until a better one comes along. La Durbin has shed the last semblance of adolescence to emerge a glamorous, alluring, talented actress without loss of her golden voice. Certainly no picture could have' such strong appeal to the funny-bone and the heart without proving a boxoffice bonanza." — Boxoffice "Deanna Durbin's glamor and charm vie with her gorgeous singing voice in 'Hers to Hold.' She has developed into a charming and talented comedienne." — Louella Parsons "Deanna is more glamorous than ever." — Erskine Johnson, N.E.A, "Deanna Durbin is at her best in this latest offer- ing, in a role that shows her to be an exciting and glamorous star. It should prove to be one of the best boxoffice grossers of all the Durbin pictures. The fans will thrill with her in her every emotion." — Showmen's Trade Review DEANNA DdHBDI CHARLES WINNINGl Screen Play by Lewis R.I 1 A*l "Deanna Durbin again flashes forth as one of the screen's greatest stars— this time with a new viva- cious love allure distinctly all her own. In this one she very definitely registers glamor, but it is richer than as designated by the common use of the word. Since it is wholesome glamor — and all-American glamor — everyone will idealize and idolize." — Hollywood Motion Picture Review "This movie is chuckful of modern day fun, plenty of laughs and a tear or two. Deanna's tops!" ■Jimmy Starr, Motion Picture Editor, Los Angeles Herald and Express "Deanna is prettier and singing more beautifully than ever." — Harold Swisher, Motion Picture Editor, United Press Radio Service "Solid entertainment set for big grosses. It gives Deanna Durbin her greatest opportunity. This pic- ture also ushers Deanna into the ranks of the grownups, and she shows certain charm in her new maturity." — The Exhibitor "Deanna fares very well in the hands of her new producing-directing combination of Felix Jackson and Frank Ryan, who deliver a product of high boxoffice potentialities and strong promotional qualities . . . she is charming and lovely . . . and as the lady continues to grow in maturity so does her performance and vocal capacity, reflected here by renditions of mellow depth." — Motion Picture Daily "One of Deanna Durbin's strongest b.o. films . . . in "Hers to Hold" Deanna Durbin successfully and permanently completes transition from cine- matic subdeb to young ladyhood. Felix Jackson, as the star's producer, clicks solidly. He gets able assistance in direction by Frank Ryan." — Variety EVELYN ANKERS • GDS SCHILLING • NELLA WALKER • LUDWIG STOSSEL Based on a story by John D. Klorer • Directed by FRANK RYAN • Produced by FELIX JACKSON • Associate Producer, FRANK SHAW 10 Monday, July 19, 1943 War Shorts Program Waifs on Conference {Continued from Page 1) luncheon session at the Hotel Astor, dealt with the possible role of the industry in formulating a construc- tive program designed to educate 'teen-age youngsters of both sexes to their role in a war-time America. Gamble, calling the theater Bond is- suing agents the "cash-registers" of the Tresaury Department, asked the aggressive, comprehensive participa- tion of the industry in the forthcom- ing Third War Loan, beginning Sept. 9. While no official announce- ment emanated from WAC re- garding the screen program of war information, it is understood to include tentatively 52 re- leases, 26 to be one- or two- reel subjects, and 26 shorter subjects requiring speedy na- tional coverage, which may be shipped by the newsreels. The 26 full-length shorts would play off — to the customary 15,- 000-odd theaters — in 16 weeks. The shorter screen messages would get national screen cover- age in six weeks. Francis S. Harmon, WAC ex- ecutive vice-chairman, made it clear that no official statement would be forthcoming from WAC until after further conference with the Holly- wood Division of WAC, the News- reel Division and Palmer Hoyt, OWI Director of Domestic Operations. S. H. Fabian, Theaters Division chairman, opened the meeting of that Division, held in the morning-. Harmon read co-op. pledges from WAC Area Chairmen unable to attend and a report on finances was given by Arthur L. Mayer, treasurer. Herman Gluckman, assistant to the chair- man of the Distributors Division, reported that with the efficient distribution set-up ar- ranged by the Division headed by William F. Rodgers, the average OWI- WAC subject received between 15,000 and 16,000 book- ings. Record-high booking was established by "Paratroops," which got 15,719 bookings in 22 weeks. Vote War Loan Participation Gamble's address to the joint bodies was considered one of the most impressive tributes to the industry ever delivered by a Govern- ment official. The War Finance chief de- clared that the 4,700 theaters which have been designated official issuing agents for securities represented 10 per cent of all the Treasury's outlets for. Bonds and in some cases more Bonds were sold in theaters than in post offices. Industry participation in I the Third War Loan was voted unanimously. Fabian, reiterating the pledge that the in- dustry would do all in its power to accom- plish the results needed, declared that with the assistance of Oscar A. Doob, chairman of the Public Relations Division, and a spe- cial campaign committee, the best campaign possible would be outlined. First move will be to increase the number of issuing agents. The Treasury is working on an arrangement to make WAC state bond chairmen official members of the various state Treasury War Savings Staffs. Kenneth Thomson, chairman of the Holly- HOLLYWOOD DIGEST You Said It, Gal! Today's short short story comes via the marquee of the Washington Theater, Amsterdam Ave. at 149th St: "Edge of Darkness" "No Place for a Lady." SIGNED STEPHEN LONGSTREET, writer. Vanguard Films. WILLIAM CASTLE, director, Columbia. CEORCE CIVOT, termer, RKO. DOROTHY FORD, termer, M-G-M. HENRY and PHOEBE EPHRON, writers, 20th- Fox. ALEXANDER GRANACH, "The Girl from Lenin- grad, Cregor Rabinovitch-UA. RAMSEY AMES, termer, Universal. ASSIGNMENTS WILLIAM CASTLE, director, "Brothers Under the Skin," Columbia. LOUISE RANDALL PIERSON, screenplay, "Rough- ly Speaking," Warners. VINCENTE MINNELLI, director, "Heavenly Body," M-C-M. AL HALL, "My Client Curly," M-G-M. ROBERT KANE, co^producer, "The Sullivans,"' 20th-Fox. HARRY FLANNERY, art director, "The Padre," Paramount. ARCHIE MAYO, director, "Army Wife," 20th- Fox. DAVE CHUDNOW and JAY CHERNISS, music, "Harvest Melody," Walter Colmes-PRC. JOHNNY MATTISON, dance director, "Harvest Melody," Walter Colmes-PRC. WILLIAM CASTLE, director, "The Gamble of Boston Blackie," Columbia. CASTINGS AGNES MOOREHEAD and GEORGE GIVOT, "Government Girl," RKO; HERBERT MARSHALL and BONITA GRANVILLE, "Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble," M-C-M; HORACE McNALLY, ROBERT MIDDLEMASS, HOWARD FREEMAN, ROY GOR- DON, ERVILLE ALDERSON and HAROLD LAN- DON, "America," M-G-M; ROBERT SULLY, "The Heavenly Body," M-G-M; SIDNEY BLACKMER, "Broadway Rhythm," M-G-M; HENRY O'NEILL, "A Guy Named Joe," M-G-M; THOMAS MIT- CHELL, "Buffalo Bill," 20th-Fox; EDWARD FIELDING, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Para- mount; HERBERT RAWLINSON, "Doughboys in Ireland," Columbia. CHARES RUGGLES, "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," Paramount; HERBERT RUDLEY, "Rhap- sody in Blue," Warners; WALLACE BEERY, "Rationing," M-C-M; ROBERT HAYNES, "Is Everybody Happy," Columbia; MIMI FORSAYTHE, "The Cirl from Leningrad," Columbia; JOHN CARFIELD, "Deep Valley," Warners; THE ROSS SISTERS, "Broadway Rhythm," M-G-M; MICHAEL DUANE, "When My Baby Smiles at Me," Colum- bia; JOHNNY MACK BROWN and RAYMOND HATTON, "The Kansas Kid," Monogram; MYRNA DELL, "Lone Ranger No. 6," PRC; JUDY COOK, "Talent School," PRC. GEORGE SANDERS, "Nine Lives," RKO; STEPHANIE BACHELOR and MARION PIERCE, "His Butler's Sister," Universal; JACK HALEY, "One Body Too Many," and "Rhythm Ranch," Paramount; DAME MAY WHITTY, "Gas Light," M-C-M; RAMSAY AMES, "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," Universal; BILLIE BURKE, "Cildersleeve On Broadway," RKO; JONATHAN HALE, "Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA; THE ANDREWS SISTERS, "Sailors on Horseback" and "Hip, Hip, Hooray," Universal; WILLIAM Reduced Scope for U.S.N. Incentive Pix Exhib. Research Guiding WB Prime Factor in Strong Financial Position {Continued ft time peak while number of releases has been the smallest in the com- pany's history, the sales department Was guided largely by the findings of intensive research in the exhibi- tion field. Warners' extensive theater hold- ings, located in cities of all sizes and under all conditions of opera- tion, enabled the company to make a thorough study of every phase of exhibition and find out for itself ex- actly what confronts every type of exhibitor including those in commu- nities affected by wartime changes. Own Experience Cited With this data in hand, the sales department under Ben Kalmenson not only has been able to meet the problems of its exhibitor customers with fuller understanding and more practical co-operation through its "open door policy," but the findings of the Warner research department made it possible for the sales staff to convince many exhibitors that certain policies, notably extended runs, could be made profitable in their particular situations, by show- ing how it had been done in com- parable spots on the Warner circuit. om Page 1) This procedure is chiefly credited with helping to boost the company's accounts to what is understood to be the highest total ever attained by any film company, and re- sulting in Warner sales being $7,000,000 over quota in the first 40 weeks of this season. In analyzing Warners' improved financial status and estimating that third-quarter prof- its should top $2,000,000, as compared with $1,570,000 in 1942, the Dow-Jones service cites the company's unusual accomplishment in retirement of funded debt from a total of $126,000,000 in 1931 to slightly more than $30,000,000 this year; the savings in interest charges effected by recent refinancing which included retirement of all 6 per cent debentures and all preferred stock; substan- tial savings in operations through the pur- chase of property formerly leased and by the expiration of old unprofitable leases; excep- tionally strong position in the way of in- ventories of completed and paid-for pictures, and the excellent working capital position. For Debt Retirement Company has had about $5,000,000 annu- ally in cash available from its depreciation reserves for use in debt retirement, and in the current year the net earnings will pro- vide another $8,000,000, or about $13,- 000.000 in all. Debt has been retired in amounts of from $4,500,000 to $8,000,000 annually, and this year about $4,800,000 paid off up to May 29. Because of the basic financial policy of the company to continue wiping out funded in- debtedness, Dow-Jones says the indications are that no very large dividends will be paid on the common stock in the near future, although the board may consider a moderate dividend toward the end of this year. wood Victory Committee, and member of the WAC Hollywood Division, indicated that star participation via the "Caravan" would be possible. A "Heroes Caravan," with some screen personality as an emcee for each group, is also under consideration. Following Taft's address, a committee of seven was authorized to study and formu- late a practical youth program. Membership will comprise three from the Theater Divi- sion, two from the Hollywood Division, and one each from the Distributors and Public Relations Division. To Further Study NEIC Meeting concluded with a discussion of the National Industry Entertainment Coun- cil. George J. Sehaefer, who has been elected to the chairmanship of that body, outlined its aims and purposes. A committee will further study WAC affiliation with the NEIC. Attending, in addition to those mentioned, were: N. Peter Rathvon, Jack Alicoate, Adolph Zukor, Charles Moscowitz, Abe Last- fogel, Max Weisfelt, Sam Rinzler, John J. O'Connor, Walton G. Ament, Lou Golding, Sam Rosen, W. Crockett, Herman Robbins, M. A. Rosenberg, Nate Tamins, Maurice Wright, Ike Libson, Edward L. Alperson, Barney Balaban, Adrian McCalman, Joseph Hazen, Wm. F. Rodgers, H. M. Richey, Jules J. Rubens, Ed Kuykendall, Bob Wilby, Sam Morris, Dan Michalove, Phil Reisman, Bob O'Donnell, Leon J. Bamberger, Jack Cohn, Joseph Bernhard, Leonard Goldenson, W. C. Michel, Harry Lowenstein, Robert Paskow, Sam Shain, Don Jacocks, I. J. Hoffman, Sam Wheeler, Spyros Skouras. Allied Issues Brochure On Juvenile Delinquency (Continued from Page 1) Navy's original announcement in- dicated. One film has been com- pleted, another is nearly completed, and there is a possibility that tb~~^e more may be made. Actually,^ J program is smaller than that of h.« Army, which has already turned out seven of these incentive films, and has another in the works. The same distribution facilities are used by both services. The films are designated as "shots in the arm" for production, and will enjoy very limited circulation — "no more than 10 or 15 prints." The first film — on "De-boats, Submarine Fighters" — runs two reels, and others are expected not to average over 15 minutes. The second Navy film deals with Guadalcanal and is designed to show workers in several plants pro- ducing for the Navy the importance of the work they are doing. The Army has been working on a similar program for some months, with Maj. Dick Maybaum in charge of production. The program is carried on through the Industrial Service Division of the Bureau of Public Relations. As for commercial production, said the Navy spokesman, it is probable that some commercial footage will be used in produc- ing these films, but it will be used to "fill in." Both Army and Navy officers said they were quite surprised that the production of incentive films had suddenly come in for so much publicity. After all, said they, "movies are only a minor part of this pro- gram, and we don't have the time or the desire to go into competition with Holly- wood." A civilian official concerned in the gen- eral situation here, however, implied that more may have been contemplated, and that the Navy release was put out as a "feeler" to get the indiistry reaction. "There are 49.000.000 guys around here that want to be De Milles," he said, adding that Harold Hopper. WPB motion picture chief, and Lowell Mellett, former OWI film chief, have curbed the ambitions of these aspirants here- tofore. If these ambitions had not been stepped upon, he continued, Government raw stock allocations of 30,000.000 feet — exclud- ing Army and Navy footage, would have had to be closer to 300.000.000. Chicago — National Allied's com- mittee on juvenile delinquency, headed by Jack Kirsch of this city, at the week-end released a brochure pointing up the results of its cam- paign to enlist the nation's screens to help combat the spreading men- ace of kid hoodlumism and vandal- ism, and expressing gratification "at the quick and favorable response it has received from the producers to this important appeal." Brochure reprints Film Daily's recent editor- ial and other Film Daily news sto- ries as well as news stories from other trades. Jules Bledsoe Dead West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Jules Bledsoe, 44, Negro opera and musical comedy baritone, is dead. He appeared in both the stage and film versions of "Show Boat." Monday, July 19, 1943 vith glowing pride two or three years hence under normal condi- ;ions." As an example of the company's extensive program of "super-escap- :st" pictures to come, Agnew cited 'Let's Face It," Bob Hope-Betty Hutton starrer. As for Technicolor oroductions, the sales head referred to FWTBT, "The Story of Dr. Was- sell," "Riding High," "Lady in the Dark" and "Frenchman's Creek." "The technical advances in color have been so rapid that it seems each new picture brings something that never has been done before," Agnew asserted. While there has been mention of varying figures for the new sea- son's lineup, no definite announce- ment was forthcoming at the two- day sales session. Agnew contended himself with enumerating some dozen pictures, all previously disclosed and many already completed. Roster included in addition to those listed above: "Riding High," "So Proudly We Hail," "True to Life," "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek,' "No Time for Love," "The Uninvited," "Hostages." Lee Warns Para. Sales Force On Inequities in District Need for "eternal vigilance that no case of unfairness and inequity occurs inadvertently in your dis- trict, or having occurred inadver- tently, remains unadjusted" was stressed by Claude Lee, Para.'s di- rector of public relations, in ad- dressing the company's sales meet- ing at the Hotel Pierre Friday. "This responsibility rests heavily upon the shoulders of your district managers, to whom your department heads must look for thorough inves- tigation and intelligent considera- tion of any complaint that may arise," declared Lee. Other speakers included Oscar A. Morgan, shorts sales chief: Neil Agrnew. sales head: Charles M. Reapan. assistant sreneral sales manager: Hugrh Owen. Eastern division man- ager; Georpe Smith. Western division man- ager; Robert M. Gillham. ad-publicity direc- tor: Stanley Shuford, ad manager. Alec Moss, exploitation manager; George Brown, studio publicity manager; Louis Phillips, legal dept. : J. A. Walsh, chief statistician. The meeting wound up with division man- agers' conferences with the district managers STORKS Chicago — A son, David Michael, was born in Grant Hospital here to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Honigberg. Father now associate editor of the Billboard was formerly Film Daily staff correspondent in Pittsburgh. Wotta Memory! The boys were swapping trade recollections between sessions at Para.'s sales meeting at the Hotel Pierre Friday. "I remember when De M i lie made 'The Squaw Man,' began one. "That's nothing," broke in an- other, "I remember when you could get a good steak." The gabfest adjourned right there. Watertown, Mass., Houses In Clearance Complaints (Continued from Page 1) 45 days granted the Capitol and 60 days granted the Warner are un- reasonable. Company asked that maximum clearance be set at 30 days in all cases and that when a picture is moved over to the Elm St. from the Plaza, the 30 days start on the last day of the Plaza run. In the other complaint, Water- town Square Theater Co., operator of the Strand, Watertown, Mass., filed against all five claiming that the clearance granted the Coolidge is unreasonable and asking reduc- tion to seven days. At present Loew's gives the Coolidge 14 days, 20th- Fox gives 21 days while RKO and Vitagraph give 30 days. Veronica Lake Loses Son West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Prematurely born son of Veronica Lake is dead. Child was born after Miss Lake suffered a fall at her studio. and a session of the district advertising repre- sentatives, all of whom attended the two- day meeting. Friday evening, the delegates attended a special screening of "True to Life," one of the important pictures on the new season's schedule, and "Mardi Gras." first of the new series of two-reel "Musical Parades," in Tech- nicolor. Gillham praised Al Wilkie and his staff for the fine publicity campaign on FWTBT. Dele- gates gave Wilkie an ovation. Paramount Adds 12 to One Hundred Per Cent Club Ten Paramount salesmen and two booking managers have been selected for membership in the company's One Hundred Per Cent Club of 1943 as having shown the most progress and put forth the most effort during last year, Neil Agnew, general sales manager, announced at the final ses- sion of the company's two-day sales meeting at the Pierre Hotel, Friday. The company awards each member a $3,000 life insurance policy. Salesmen named to the Club are Edward H. Bell. New York; Weldon A. Waters, Albany; Herbert C. Thompson, Washington; William Twig, Cincinnati; William W. Sharpe, Charlotte; Thomas Frank, Des Moines; Harry H. Haas, Los An- geles; Donald R. Hicks, Salt Lake City; Irving J. Werthamer, Milwau- kee; Walter P. Wiens, Dallas. The booking managers are James R. Velde, Detroit, and John E. Kent, Seattle. Harmon, Disney, Fly On Inter-Amer. U of the Air Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— Francis S. Harmon, WAC executive secretary, Walt Dis- ney and FCC Chairman James Law- rence Fly will appear on the NBC radio program Inter-American Uni- versity of the Air on July 31, it was learned here Friday. Several other important figures in motion pictures and radio may also be heard. Mike Cianciolo, Memphis Nabe Operator, Stricken Memphis — Funeral services were held here Saturday for Mike Cian- ciolo, owner and operator of the Rosemary and Lincoln, local nabes, whose death occurred Friday from a heart attack. Cianciolo, native of Italy but a resident of Memphis since childhood, had been active in various charities. His widow, two sons and five daughters survive. Along the Rialto Film Daily Year Book Fuii of Fascinating Facts a^d Figures — Nearly 12 Thousand Twin-Bill Theatres; Chatter 'n' Comment By WILL BALTIN Motion Picture Editor ^fHEN IT COMES TO BOOKS of the year, The Film Daily Year Book wins our vote as the most engrossing volume of film facts and figures to reach this desk. Each spring we look forward with eagerness to its arrival, for within its covers is recorded motion picture history of the past year in brief, terse style plus considerable information of immense value to a motion picture critic and editor * * * I keep my copy of the year book under lock and key and thus have it available for instant reference when you 'phone this department seeking in- formation about your favorite player, the address of Pathe News, etc. * * * Last week our copy of the 25th anniversary issue of Film Daily Year Book arrived, bound in an attractive cover of blue and white * * * We spent a pleasant few hours thumbing through its abundant pages, devouring its palatable contents and digesting a wealth of information. Statistics as a general rule are cut [ "^ and dried but in the Film Daily Year : every day in pictures last year. Story Book they provide fascinating read- purchases by studios amounted to ing. We found the "Industry Sta- ! $4,975,000, with $300,000 being the tistics" portion of the 1,000-page top price paid to Maxwell Anderson volume of particular interest. For < for "Eve of St. Mark" and John example: Steinbeck for "The Moon is Down." Capital invested in the U. S. film ; industry is listed at $2,061,000,000. _. , ,,■<.-+*,.„., There are 200,000 persons employed , Figures show that 11,160 theatres in the industry, with an average an-!ar? PJ^ng d°uble features while nual payroll of $325,725,000. ^ 6>568 are offering single bills. The average daily film rental per Approximate annual taxes paid to j U- .S; theatre is listed at only $35— the Federal Government by the in-!wh.Vch was qulte a surPnse to tms dustry is $360,589,600. And $65,512,- : writer. 358 was spent in newspaper and magazine advertising during 1942. There is one moti0n picture the- , ~~~ , . atre seat for every 12 inhabitants in The annual Hollywood payroll is the tj. s the year book states, and listed as $157,300,000. And cost of there is one moti0n picture theatre film production last year approxi- j open in the tj. s. for every 8,000 mated $198,500,000. persons. The average run of any — ; __„ picture is 3% days per theatre and We learned that there were 550 average number of showings is 2Yz actors and actresses under contract times daily. last year, and that 376 features were j produced during the 12-month peri- od. We also found that the cost of negatives for photographing a fea- ture picture is $336,600, and thai it takes about 22 days to shoot an average film. Average weekly attendance at U. S. movie houses is listed at 90,- 000,000, but average daily attend- ance per theatre is 765 persons. These and many other facts make The Film Daily Year Book a cher- ished possession of every movie edi- Among extras there were 629 men, 271 women and 41 children employed tor, exhibitor and distributor. Reprinted from New Brunswick, .V. /., Sunday Times, May 9, 1943. 12 M. P.. P. 13. A. 2UW. 44TH ST N . V . L . = THE' k DAILY Monday, July 19, 1943 UDT Experiment with Femme Personnel Clicking 22 Women Employed Either As Managers or Assistants In Circuit's 18 Theaters By H. F. REVES FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Detroit — Use of women as theater managers, a wartime experiment re- luctantly started a year or so back by some few exhibitors, today looks successful to the top executives of United Detroit Theaters, who have experimented more extensively with women than any other circuit or exhibitor. With a circuit of 18 houses, the UDT group now has 22 women in managerial posts — seven as full managers, the rest as assis- tants. Other circuit operators have ex- perimented briefly with women as managers, some have them as as- sistants, and, still others are reluc- tant to make the break. In nearly every circuit office, there are wo- men doing duties that men formerly performed, up to buying and booking pictures, supervising personnel, and/ the like. In Detroit, however, these have so far tended to remain iso- lated cases, and only UDT has done it as a consistent policy. One wo- man who was named assistant man- ager for a circuit, is now content- edly functioning as cashier at an- other house on the same circuit, and the organization is seeking new male managers. UDT Policy Cashes In A comparison of the UDT policy of planning for and training women managers with the usual haphazard appointment of a woman with some theater experience to the job indi- cates the reason for the outstanding difference. UDT's personnel policy for years has favored the enforce- ment of a uniform operating policy in house management, with due con- sideration for the local problems of each house. Capable employes tra- ditionally have risen in the ranks from usher up to manager, and man- agers and assistants have frequently rotated between houses to get var- iety of experience, working, as as- sistants, under trained managers who knew the ropes. The same careful planning and training was adopted for the girls, who were not thrust into a manag- erial job without adequate prepara- tion. UDT has girls in a large num- ber of its houses as usherettes, and chiefs of service, as well as cashiers in all houses, when the war started. Personnel chiefs began to pick out the likely looking prospects for training and advancement. Adver- tisements were used in the newspa- Who Said the Shortest Distance Between Two Points Was a Straight Line, Anyway? Who said the shortest distance between two points was a straight line? Murray Silverstone, 20th-Fox vice-prexy in charge of foreign distribution, wants to know, and here's why: Recently, Silverstone received a letter from Ernest Fredman, managing edi- tor of the Daily Film Renter, London, a friend of long standing, in which Fred- man said that he was uncertain as to the whereabouts of his son, Lt. Eric S. Fredman, BEF, on active service. Shortly thereafter came a letter from 20th-Fox's manager in Algiers re- porting a pic deal made with Lt. E. S. Fredman, Bureau of Physcological Warfare, attached to Allied Headquarters. And so to London from New York promptly went a cable informing the widely known British trade editor of his son's activities. Studios' Executive Position Excellent West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Major studios at pres- ent are not seriously worried over the inroads that are yet to be made by Selective Service into the ranks of executives, producers and depart- ment heads, a checkup discloses. Studio representatives point out that the greatest damage has already been done and that the bulk of pro- duction tops and key men consists of men over 38 years old. In addition to the fact that most of the responsible posts are held by men more than 38 years old, occupa- tional deferments granted by the War Manpower Commission in April resulted in several department heads being deferred for 12 months. How- ever, these deferments are subject to revision in October, but no drastic changes in the length of the defer- ments is anticipated. Most of the department heads who volunteered for the armed services, or who were inducted, were succeeded by their chief assistants. Losses in the ranks of producers, when they occur, are rapidly filled, with some of the studios promoting directors and writers to producer- ships. Economic Re-birth In East Texas Towns Dallas — Early fears both of ex- hibitors and exchangemen of a busi- ness collapse in the purely agricul- tural small towns of East Texas, expected to follow a draining off of farm personnel into military ser- vices and war-work, have been re- lieved from totally unexpected sources, trade contacts have defi- nitely established. As summarized by Clyde Houston, 16-year M-G-M East Texas roadster, these sources are the increased in- comes on the farms, money sent home by war-workers, and the infil- tration of prosperity from national spending into remote places. Hous- ton says that this economic re-birth has sustained the box-office "take" and protected the revenues of the distributors. Patron types have changed. C. M. Cooper of Mart, finds faces never be- fore seen; more farm trade of more advanced years; town persons, not formerly regular attendants, and youths and children more liberally supplied with funds. This is con- firmed by Ed Dorbandt, Athens, and McLendon for his Tri-States circuit. A roll-call of East Texas exhibitors would show the same. The ... . FEMME TOUCH MRS. BERNICE COOCAN, Stanley, Baltimore, Md. Spain Stiffens Import Rales Designed to Halt Flood of Native Quickies Barcelona (By Air Mail) — The Spanish Government has changed the existing regulations whereby Spanish producers could import a certain number of foreign films for each picture they produce. This had led to the production of cheap and inferior Spanish features which were apparently made only to get an im- port permit Under the new regulations, all Spanish films will have to pass the approval of a new commission which will grant import permits only to those producers whose productions are regarded as artistically valuable. pers, indicating the possibilities of advancement toward managerial or other posts. The cream of the crop of ambitious girls was gleaned in this manner. It was nearly a year ago that the first full woman manager was appointed — Eleanor Stanton at the Bloomfield Theater, in Birm- ingham. She had the advantage of working in a neighborhood house a block away from one managed by the circuit's longest-estab- lished house manager, who was in a position to advise and render help. The experiment soon proved successful, as the many feminine appointments of today testify. Special Training Courses Meanwhile the regular training program was in operation. Not all candidates suc- ceeded, but those who did — and more are still going through the mill — found good posts awaiting them. The usual procedure has been to start the future managers as usher- ettes, advance them to cashiers, then to WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front Motion Picture Laboratory Techrr """"is' Union, Local 702, IATSE, at the i JA the month will launch a drive in the la-.- ri- tories for old clothes. The salvaged gar- ments will be donated to war agencies. The union has asked the co-operation of the employers in the drive. . . . _ V . . . — Chicago — Telenews theater in co-opera- tion with the U. S. quartermaster depart- ment, has installed a lobby display of the various packaged foods, used overseas by the armed forces. ... — V ... — Little Rock, Ark.— Ed Rowley, Jr., local WAC Public Relations chairman and man- ager of the Robb and Rowley theaters, has instituted a series of "Saturday Morning Kiddie Matinees" for the collection of scrap. Matinees, which will continue "as long as an ounce of scrap metal remains in Little Rock," have brought in over 600 lbs. of war-precious metals in the two per- formances already given. chief of service, and occasionally to a special post as secretary to a manager. Following this, they are given a course of training lasting six to 12 months. In this they are given training in every branch of theater operation, including publicity and advertis- ing, as well as daily routine operation and "housekeeping problems." UDT executives are enthusiastic over the "consistently satisfactory performance of the ladies who have followed the regular course of training," as one put it. Conscientious- ness, a sense of responsibility, and the knowl- edge that they must prove their ability to hold posts for two reasons — to prove the ability of their sex, and to meet male compe- tition when the war is over — are important factors in their satisfactory work. Maintain Neatness, Order Neatness of houses is one factor UDT ha> always stressed, and the standards of theii houses, observed by personal inspection, ha> not deteriorated in recent month, as it has in many theaters because of disorderly patrons and shortage of help — despite the obviou- scareity of replacements of many items. The housewifely instincts of the women manag- ers and assistants are evidently to be credi ted in large part with this desirable condi tion. Maintaining order in the average house i- something that the girls have been able ti do remarkably well, despite the exceptiona problems that Detroit, with its recent his- tory of violence, poses. Only special factoi here appears to be that the average would be disturber doesn't like to start a rea fight with a girl, when he knows that hi>i companions will be ashamed to back him ur — a sort of buried chivalry. General agree ment, however, is that a suitable male au- thority in reserve, possibly in the form of thel police, is desirable whenever real troubl seems likely to develop. TO THE COLORS! * PROMOTED * TOM CILLIAM, )R., son of the 20th-Fox branch manager, Chicago, to 1st lieutenant. * ARMY • ADOLPH J. SILVERSTEIN, 20+h-Fox home office exploitation department. * WAC* MRS. BARNEY OLDFIELD, former FILM DAILY correspondent, Lincoln, Neb. I FILE COPT 00 NOT BEMO^ VOL >4, NO. 13 NEW YORK. TUESDAY. JULY 20, 1943 TEN CENTS 3 CRESCENT COURSES FOR HIGHEST COURT Troops in Hawaiian Area Turn Against War Pix Reeling 'Round - - WASHINGTON =By ANDREW H. OLDER; —WASHINGTON A LTHOUGH he's been moving cautiously '* in everything he's done so far, there's io reason to believe that Tom Clark will >e a weaker anti-trust chief than was Thur- nan Arnold. ... He impresses as a smooth, tough — and darned decent — gent with a lot )f charm, a sense of fairness and a knowl- edge of human nature. . . . What he's ga- ng to decide to do in November regarding he New York consent decree, he hasn't Jecided yet. . . . We're fairly certain no ecommendation has come to him from Bob Wright. We do feel quite certain, how- ;ver, that he'll conscientiously determine what action to follow strictly on the basis )f the facts put before him. . . . It's a safe >et that he won't be turned aside from what- ever course he decides to pursue simply be- cause there's a war on, or because of pres- sure from others here in Washington. . . . Our guess is that the industry will get to mow Clark very well — and that he will jnjoy the respect of all those he comes in :ontact with, whether on opposite sides >r the same side of the fence. • • I OWELL MELLETT really did do a ter- ■"" rific job for OWI, when you consider ill the various phases of the work carried in by his office. Let's just mention the 50- idd war shorts for which a major share if the responsibility goes to him, his liaison nd research work for the studios, his im- iressive system for non-theatrical showings, is invaluable aid to the newsreels. . . . "hen remember that the entire operation |'f the bureau was carried on for no more han the budget for one good Class A fea- ure. . . . Elmer Davis has made it plain n several occasions that he is no enthus- iastic friend of Hollywood — for instance, in I radio address he delivered last Wednesday1 - e referred to all the nation's great in- srmation media. He mentioned every im- ortant media but motion pictures. That rror may have been a simple one of omis- ion, but at any rate it certainly does in- icate how slight is Davis' regard for the ■dustry. • • THE disagreements between Mellett and Davis are quite complex. Underlying ie whole thing was a personality clash, ut the various specific instances which fought these differences to the fore were {Continued on Page 2) Soldiers Expressing Defi- nite Preference for Musi- cals, Comedies, Whodunits By EILEEN O'BRIEN FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Honolulu, Hawaii (By Air Mail, Passed by Censor) — Soldiers in the Hawaiian area are getting tired of "war" pictures and express a defi- nite preference for musicals, com- edies and good mysteries. This trend has been observed by Capt. Donald W. LeGoullon and his staff who handle the motion picture (Continued on Page 3) HOLD LUCAS RITES TODAY Georgia Circuit Operator Was Paramount Associate Visual Education Field Attracts PRC Through the purchase of a major- ity stock control of Official Films, Inc., PRC is planning a post-war program of visual education films for universities, colleges and schools, it was announced yesterday by 0. Henry Briggs, PRC president. Official Films, Inc., is one of the (Continued on Page 8) Court Refuses to Quash Film Extortion Charges The six alleged Chicago gangsters charged with extorting more than $1,000,000 from film companies will have to stand trial in New York, ac- cording to a ruling made yesterday (Continued on Page 6) Atlanta — Funeral services will be held this afternoon for Arthur Lu- cas, 61, Paramount partner and di- recting head of the Lucas & Jenkins organization, who died here Satur- day. Services will be at the All Saints Episcopal Church and burial in the West View Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Harben Daniel, Savannah; William J. Vereen, Moultrie; I. L. Shields; Columbus; E. E. Whitaker, Camp Ellis, 111.; R. B. Wilby, William K. Jenkins, Roy M. Avey and T. H. Reed, Atlanta. Honorary pallbearers will be Rus- sell H. Leonard, Boston; Senators Walter F. George and Richard B. (Continued on Page 6) Bank of America Financing for PA Newly formed Producing Artists, Inc., is slated to deliver six pictures for United Artists' 1943-44 program and will be the first film company to operate on a profit-sharing basis with its players, directors and writ- ers, according to Arthur Lyons, vice- president. New enterprise was (Continued on Page 8) Can Affirm Decision, Order Correction or Direct More Hearings by Davies By P. R. RUSSELL FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Nashville, Tenn. — Although the appeal of the Crescent case to the Supreme Court, to be heard Aug. 25, was made by Assistant Attorney General Tom C. Clark and Special Assistant Robert L. Wright for the specific purpose of correcting the decree of Federal Judge Elmer D. Davies to make it mandatory for (Continued on Page 7) Ask SO SO Terms For "Army Extended Time Required; Duals Banned fjj Loew's Ohio, Cleveland Reopening After 5 Years Cleveland — Loew's Ohio, built in 1921 for legit., converted into a deluxe night club in 1935 and closed ever since 1938 is now undergoing extensive repairs in anticipation of a Sept. 1 opening. J. R. Vogel, Loew official in town last week, stated that the Ohio will be operated as a straight first-run. "For Whom the (Continued on Page 6) Selling terms for Warners' film version of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" call for a straight 50-50 split between the exhibitor and the distributor, with the latter's pro- ceeds going to Army Emergency Relief. Contracts already closed with exhibs. reveal that double-fea- turing is taboo, likewise previews and free lists, and extended time is called for. On the special advanced-price pre- (Continued on Page 3) Long "Aleutians" Version Okayed Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAU.Y Washington — Palmer Hoyt, OWI domestic director, has served notice that OWI will no longer insist upon exercising its authority to clear films of other Government agencies for release to the public. Fully aware of the importance of his decision, (Continued on Page 6) SMPE Tech. Conference Set for Hollywood Oct. 18 Society of Motion Picture Engi- neers will hold its 54th Semi-Annual Technical Conference in the Holly- wood-Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, (Continued on Page 3) Snap Up Chase Bank's 20th-Fox Preferred Chase National Bank's preferred stock holdings in 20th Century-Fox were snapped up in a hurry after be- ing offered by an underwriting group headed by Lehman Bros, and Blyth & Co., Inc. The stock was over-sub- scribed and the books closed shortly after going on the market yesterday. Chase had 665,715 shares of $1.50 no par convertible cumulative stock, representing 73 per cent of the 905,- 081 shares outstanding on July 13. They were offered at $33.50 per share. WW DAILY Tuesday, July 20, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 13 Tues., July 20, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : : : : : 'Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Monday, July 19) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET High Low 163,4 163,4 183/4 39'/4 2% 163/4 21% 63 1/4 281/z 9'/2 Close 163/4 — 183/4 — 391/4 — 2% . 163/4 21% — 631/4 — 28% _ 91/2 — Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) 183,4 Columbia Picts. pfd.. 40 Con. Fm. Ind 2% Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 16% East. Kodak I66V2 I66I/4 166% + do pfd 180 180 180 Cen. Prec. Eq 22 Loew's, Inc 63% Paramount 28% RKO 934 RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . 23% 23% 23% — 20th Century-Fox pfd. 333/4 33% 33% — Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15% 1514 15!/4 . do pfd 8913-32 8913-32 89 13-32 . NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3% RKO war 1% Sonotone Corp 3% Technicolor 15% Trans-Lux 3% Universal Pictures vtc. I81/2 Net Chg. 1/4 1/4 3/4 31/7 3% 1% 1% 33/4 3% 15% 15 V? 31/4 3i/4 18% 18% + 14 MANPOWER YES, WE BELIEVE WE CAN SUPPLY GRADED MANPOWER TO FILL ANY VACANCY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. CALL— FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, IN.C (Agency) 331 Madison Ave. (43rd St.), New York MUrray hill 2-6494 Reeling 'Round' - WASHINGTON (Continued from Page 1) invariably instances where Mellett was striving to carry the ball for the industry, while Davis usually showed himself unim- pressed by industry representations. . . Cer- tainly he was not greatly impressed by the importance of the job Mellett did, judging from his failure to put up any sort of a bat- tle during the budget hearings to retain the Mellett bureau despite united industry sup- port for it. . . . Palmer Hoyt, new domestic director, is believed somewhat more sympa- thetic. Although no one can tell how a former drama critic feels about Hollywood, Hoyt's regard for the industry may prove to be the key to future relations between Hollywood and OWI. • • A ND here's a "grapevine" tip: Keep a ■** box of aspirin handy. The motion pic- ture industry, along with several others, may be in for quite a headache this week. Sicilian Invasion Film To be Ready Shortly Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Film of the invasion of Sicily will be available to the War Department within a short time," the Special Activities Branch, Office of the Chief Signal Officer, disclosed yesterday. The Signal Corps Army Pictorial Service has a special production crew for handling motion picture film in operation in North Africa. Staff lays out the continuity, iden- tifies the film and puts background material on film to be used in con- junction with battle shots. Capt. Reynolds A. Scott, a Signal Corps motion picture photographer recently was awarded the Air Medal for making 9 operational flights over Kiska, is one of the men in North Africa. Capt. Scott is one of the three Signal Corps cameramen who made the action picture "Report From the Aleutians," about to be released to the American public. Variety Club Fetes Samson in Buffalo Buffalo— Variety Club's testimon- ial dinner for .Sydney Samson, who moves from the Buffalo branch man- agership to become general manager for Canada of 20th-Fox, drew more than 200 persons last night. E. K. (Ted) O'Shea and Dave Miller di- vided the toastmaster's assignment. Chairman Phil Fox read a tele- gram from Tom Connors, 20th-Fox sales vice-prexy, expressing his re- gret at inability to attend and laud- ing both Samson and his Buffalo successor, Ira Cohn. Five Femmes on M. H. Staff Radio City Music Hall, for the first time in its history, has added five girls to its service staff, it was announced yesterday by Managing Director Gus S. Eyssell. Step was necessitated because more than 11 former doormen and ushers are now with the armed forces. Rochester Rotarians To Hear Coe Aug. 3 Rochester — Charles Francis "Sock- er" Coe, vice-president and general counsel of MPPDA, will be here Tues- day, Aug. 3, to address the Rotary Club, city's leading civic organi- zation, it has been a n - nounced. Coe, w h o | will spend the day here, will be entertained by the local WAC and local theater managers, and will probably pay a visit to "SOCKER" COE Eastman Kodak Co. Preston "Duke" Hickey, field rep. of the Hays office, was here making arrangements for Coe's ap- pearance at the club. M-G-M Sets Trade Shows For Seven New Pictures Tradeshows for seven new pic- tures were announced yesterday by M-G-M. "Salute to the Marines" and "I Dood It!" will be shown in exchange centers on July 27, except in Albany where it will be screened July 26 and in Memphis on July 31. "Best Foot Forward" and "Young Ideas" will be shown July 29 ex- cept in Albany and Memphis where it will be screened on Aug. 2. "Tartu" and "Girl Crazy" will be screened Aug. 2-3 except in Albany where they are scheduled to be shown Aug. 9. "The Man From Down Under" will be shown Aug. 3 and 5 except in Memphis and Albany where they may be seen Aug. 7 and Aug. 10, re- spectively. British Crown Film Unit N. Y.-Bound for Shooting A crew of the Crown Film Unit, which produces war film for the British Ministry of Information, is headed for New York, where it will film the second half of a Technicolor production called "Western Ap- proaches," which tells the story of Atlantic convoys and their naval and aerial escorts. Among those in the party are Pat Jackson, director, and Dora Wright, production manager. Also in the group are two American sound tech- nicians of the U. S. Civilian Techni- cal Corps assigned to the Crown Film Unit. Jackson Park Trust Suit To Go to Trial on Nov. 1 Chicago — Jackson Park theater anti-trust case against Balaban & Katz and majors, has been set for Nov. 1 trial in Federal Judge Mich- ael Igoe's court. COMinC and GOMG JACK L. WARNER arrived from the Coast yes- terday. ED PESKAY blew into town from Hollywood yesterday. ROBERT COLDSTEIN of the New York Talent Department of 20th-Fox, has returned to New York after three weeks at the West Co- A studios. SPYROS SKOURAS, head of 20th',*f'% leaves today for the studio for conferences *ifli Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck. C. J. "PAT" SCOLLARD is in Washington to- day. DAVE WALLENSTEIN, B & K district man- ager, is spending his vacation at Cedar Lake, Wis. AL RAYMER, Indiana-Illinois circuit booking manager, and his family, are at Michigan City on vacation. ARTHUR S. LYONS, vice-president of Pro- ducing Artists, Inc., was among Coast arrivals yesterday. IRVING GREENFIELD, assistant to Leopold Friedman, Loew's general counsel, is vacationing at Lake George. MICHAEL TODD and HERBERT FIELDS have gone to Mexico City to confer with Cole Porter on the Broadway producer's next musical pre- senattion. STEVE EDWARDS. Republic special rep. in Chicago, goes to Milwaukee this week for the p. a. of Roy Rogers at the Wisconsin theater. MRS. TOM GILLIAM, wife of 20th-Fox's Chicago manager, and her son, JIMMY, have gone to Los Angeles for a month's visit with Mrs. R. C. Seery. M. M. RUBENS of the Great States circuit, this week returns to Chicago from an inspection tour. MERVIN HOUSER of the Paramount studio publicity department has returned to the Coast. BEN SHLYEN and MRS. SHLYEN are vaca- tioning in New York. Arthur Byron Funeral Rites Held on Coast West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Last rites for Ar- thur Byron, one-time president of Actors Equity, were held yesterday in the Wee Kirk o' the Heather in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glen dale, with cremation following. The ashes are being sent to the actor's old home in Maine for burial. Byron, 71, died on Friday of a heart ailment from which he had long been suffering. Columbia to Pay 68%c Columbia Pictures has declared a quarterly dividend of $.68% pel share on the $2.75 convertible pre- ferred stock, payable Aug. 16 to holders of record Aug. 2. Maurice Marks Katharine Stevens Muriel Evans Tuesday, July 20, 1943 W"S? Hawaiian Troops Turn Against War Pix {Continued from Page 1) section of the Special Service Di- vision of the Hawaiian Service of Supply. The section provides movies for all f^r-- Hawaiian islands and some of i )34outlying Pacific bases and therefore is an accurate measure of "GI" opinion. The most popular pictures in re- cent months, based on the requests for bookings and audience reaction observed by the staff are as fol- lows: "Road to Morocco," "Pride of the Yankees," "Mrs. Miniver," "Casa- blanca," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "The Hard Way," "Commandos Strike at Dawn," "You Were Never Lovelier and "Somewhere I'll Find You." The Hawaiian premiere of "Stage i Door Canteen" was held in McKin- ley High School auditorium and the packed G.I. house applauded vigor- ' ously throughout. The various Army units in the vicinity of the school I were alloted a limited number of ' tickets. Areas near the school were i selected, because of the 10 p.m. cur- few which requires that all persona, except those on official business, be off the streets at tbat hour. Following the original showing, "Canteen" made a tour of the ma- jor echelons, which took about a L week, and then went on tour of the outside islands. This will take about a month, after which it will be placed on the general circuit of Army posts and outposts on the is- land of Oahu. J SMPE Tech. Conference Set for Hollywood Oct. 18 (Continued from Page 1) f Oct. 18-22, inclusive, it is announced by the Board of Governors. Papers Committee chairman will be Dr. C. R. Daily, and personnel • of this committee and others will be announced shortly. Those intend- ing to submit papers for the Con- ference should communicate as early as possible with Dr. Daily, at Para- I mount Pictures, Inc., 5451 Marathon I St., Hollywood, Calif. WEDDING BELLS Cleveland — Announcement is made of the engagement of Tom Mooney, son of Milton A. Mooney of Co-op- erative Theaters of Ohio and Mrs. Mooney, to Marguerite Plunkett of this city. They plan to be married soon after Tom gets his pilot's wings next month in Miami, Fla. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Dorothy McGuire and John Swope were married Sunday. T T T Old Shots and New Tahes: • • • RIGHT now, many oi our khaki and blueiacketed lads of filmdom are shooting laps in the far-flung Pacific In effect, it is, among other advantages, taking revenge for the apparently forgotten Tragedy of Francis Boggs If the current generation of celluloid gents doesn't clearly remember what happened to Mister Boggs, Phil M. can shed some light on the affair, thanks to a letter received yesterday from Michael Robach, veteran pic figure and historian The Robach missive is highly interesting in contents as well as its physical appear- ance, penned as it is in variegated shades of ink which lend it an atmos- phere of Technicolor in the best Kalmus manner Mike, as Mister Robach is known to his intimates, declares that picture production in California was inaugurated by Francis Boggs and Thomas A. Persons for the Selig Polyscope Co., of Chicago "I find," he says "in the Moving Picture World, Volume 10, Nov. 11, 1911, page 455, that Boggs was shot through the heart by an 'insane' Japanese, while Col. W. N. Selig was only wounded by same, and was expected out of the hospital in a few days" Then Robach adds: "A later news item, not re- corded in my notes on the subject, was, as I remember, 'Col. Selig made a trip to the Coast from Chicago to attend trial as witness. The Jap got a life sentence at Alcatraz' " t y t • • • THIS-A AND THAT-A: Br'r Nunnally Johnson is buckling down to do a dramatization of Erskine Caldwell's book, 'Georgia Boy," at the behest of Jed Harris. ... # Mrs. B. V . Sturdi- vant, wife of the supervisor of Fox West Coast Theaters of Northern California, has moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco to be with her husband. ... # George (Paramount Shorts) Harvey is loyal to his field,— wearing shorts while vacationing down Shelter Island Heights way, famed stamping ground of E. C. (Ascap) Mills. ... • Sam Cum- mins' Pix Theater in Washington, D. C, is, he pens, going great guns with a special Summer program christened Frank Capra's Cavalcade of Films Showing comprises, each pic running for a full week, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Lady for a Day," "It Happened One Night," "Lost Horizon," "Broadway Bill," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washintgon," and "Y.ou Can't Take It With You" Cavalcade commenced June 30 and winds up Aug. 11 T T T • • • OVER at epicurean "21" last evening, 20th-Fox hosted a dinner attended by Guest of Honor Charles Coburn and the Trade Press Immediately thereafter, all hands were swiftly transported to the RKO 23rd Street Theater for a special sneak preview of Ernst Libitsch's new, socko, and delightful comedy, "Heaven Can Wait" Dear Friend Exhib., — here's a HONEY Among those present at repast and showings were, from 20th-Fox, Sam Shain, Jack Goldstein, Chccrles Schlaifer, Roger Ferri and Mrs. Ferri, Dave Bader, and, from the Pic Fourth Estate, Don M. Mersereau, Chester B. Bahn, Charles "Chick" Lewis, Ben and Mrs. Shlyen, Bill Formby, Jimmy Cunningham, Frank Leyen- decker, Chet Friedman, R. W. Barremore, Mel Konecoff, Al Picoult, Lou Pelegrine, Tom Kennedy, Jim Ivers, Jeannette Samuelson, John Stewart, Wanda Marvin, Jack Harrison, Mori Krushen, Floyd Stone, Morris (Metro- politan Photo Service) Leftoff, plus Alton (World Telegram) Cook Dinner was superb: Salmon; Chicken whisked up in chafing dish with cream and sherry; Watercress Salad; and for dessert. Blueberry Pie, Tom Connors, Bill Kupper; and Demi-Tasse T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! "This is the Army" Sold on 50% Terms (Continued from Page 1) mieres, exhib. 's share is to be 30 per cent, except in cases where the house can be prevailed upon to give more or all to Army Relief. Warner sales department is pointing out that, at the advanced prices and with the assured SRO on the opening night, exhibs. stand to get more on their 30 per cent than they would make on a regular picture with 70 per cent as their share. Pete J. Wood, ITO of Ohio secre- tary, in his latest bulleting to mem- bers, states the Warner terms for "Army" are 50 per cent up to the "Sergeant York" gross, after which different conditions apply. This could not be verified at the Warner home office yesterday, General Sales Manager Ben Kalmenson and other sales officials not having returned yet from the San Francisco regional meeting. Charles Einfeld, Warners' direc- tor of advertising and publicity, fol- lowing conferences in New York with Army Emergency Relief offic- ials, leaves tomorrow for Chicago for talks with Army Relief heads in that area concerning "Army's" Midwest premieres. Meanwhile, in the first several hundred playdates set for the pic- ture the Warner sales department is understood to have had almost 100 per cent success in booking ex- tended time for the engagement. Aim is to obtain the longest possible runs with a view of realizing maxi- mum proceeds for Army Relief. Largest B'dway Signs Leased by WB for "Army" Broadway's two largest signs, the world-famous display at the north end of Longacre Square and the block-long Wrigley sign across the street from the Hotel Astor, have been leased for the world premiere engagement of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," produced by Warners for Army Emergency Relief, it was stated yesterday by Mort Blumen- stock, in charge of Warner Adver- tising and publicity in the East. New Civic Operating Co. Albany — Charter papers have been issued to 572 South Salina Corp., Syracuse, to conduct theater biz, concern having filed incorporation papers here with the Secretary of State's office. Subscribers of record are George E. Smith, V. S. Matthews and Mary A. Warrian, Syracuse. Company will operate the Civic. STORKS Cleveland — It's a second daughter for Tony Stern, Warner theater head booker and Mrs. Stern. She has been named Linda Joy. ?*v ** St *7" '^^OBBAT.CREAT.G***' CHARLES COBURN PETER LORRE • BRENDA MA DAME MAY WHITTY • Dire« Uep Selling The "Shangri-La" Stamp Drivel RFECTLY PORTRAYING THE PERFECT STORY FOR THEM AND A SENSATIOf PERFORMANCE THE SENSATION/ 7**s / IE MOST UNUSUAL LOVE STORY IN YEARS AND YEARS EDMUND GOULDING Screen Ploy by Kothryn Scolo • From the Novel and Ploy by Moraoret Kennedy and Basil Deon> Music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold w DAILY Tuesday, July 20, 1943 f. Long "Aleutians" Version Okayed (.Continued from Page 1) Hoyt yielded to Army pressure and ok'd public showing for the 50-min- ute version of the Army's "Report From the Aleutians." A two-reel version was available and Hoyt had decided earlier last week to recommend that both ver- sions be offered WAC. It was un- derstood vthen that he would insist both be made available by the Army, Saturday, however, he decided final- ly, in the, face of Army refusal to offer the fehort version, to approve the longer film, contenting himself with a letter recommending that the Army reconsider and offer the two- reeler. He pointed out that the lat- ter would be seen by many more peo- ple and told The Film Daily that he will "continue to press for" re- lease of the short version. Loew's Ohio, Cleveland Reopening After 5 Years (Continued from Page 1) Bell Tolls" will be the opening at- traction and will be shown under a road-show policy. Films Distributors Takes Council on Books Shorts Films Distributors Corp. will re- lease the series of shorts produced by the Council on Books in Wartime under an arrangement with News- reel Distributors, Inc. First sub- ject, based on John Hershey's "Into the Valley," has been completed and the second will be based on Eve Curie's "Journey Among Warriers." Buys Clay, Ky.. Theater Cloverport, Ky. — E. J. Moskowitz, operating the Rio Theater here, has acquired the State Theater, Clay, Ky., from J. M. Blue. Cameramen Teaching Combat Photography West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Alvin Wyckoff, vet- eran cinematographer, has been in- structing eight classes for the Signal Corps in Combat Photography, for the past year. This is in conjunction with John Arnold of M-G-M, who had five classes; C. Roy Hunter of Para- mount, one class; Emil Oster of Co- lumbia, one class; and, Charles Clarke of 20th Century-Fox, one class. This was arranged by Wil- liam F. Kelly and M. MacFarland of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Research Council, and Fred Jackman, Sr., of the Amer- ican Society of Cinematographers. Wyckoff is now instructing 31 men who are with the Photographic Sec- tion of the U. S. Marine Corps. reviews of new mms "Silver Spurs" with Roy Rogers Republic 68 Mins. THIS ADDS ANOTHER EXCELLENT WESTERN TO LIST OF ROGERS VEHICLES; ACTING, STORY, PHOTOGRAPHY ACES. Roy Rogers continues his upward march in "Silver Spurs," a western that will stir the enthusiasm of his fans no end. Republic has done all within its power to supply its western ace with a vehicle guaranteed to advance his interests. The film possesses class and smartness, thanks coniderably to the production accorded it by Associate Producer Harry Grey. Any w^y one looks at it this is ace entertainment' with loads of action and excitement. Music and humor have been nicely blended into the story, which contains some excellent material and surprisingly good dialogue, for both of which much credit is due John K. Butler and J. Benton Cheney, who did the screenplay, and a darn good one, too. Smiley Burnette handles the comedy assignment beautifully. Rogers gets topnotch assistance from Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers in making the produc- tion musically attractive. The musical score contains six songs — "Jubilation Jamboree," "Back in Your Own Back Yard," "Hi Ways are Happy Ways," "Springtime in the Rockies," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "Horses and Women." In "Silver Spurs" Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers are pitted against a bunch of buddies headed by John Carradine, who plays the owner of a swanky bistro who has an eye on the ranch belonging to Jerome Cowan, a rich playboy whose chief interest is booze. Carradine inveigles Cowan into getting married with the idea of bumping him off and seizing the ranch from the widow. While Cowan is disposed of, the plot backfires through the courageous work of Rogers and his pals in exposing Carradine and bringing about his undoing. The cast is first-rate. Rogers is fine whether in action or in the throes of a song. Phyllis Brooks, a newspaper woman, is the wife of Cowan, whom she is tricked into marrying by her boss in an effort to get the truth. Rogers, Miss Brooks, Carradine and Burnette have able assistance from Joyce Compton, Dick Wessel and several others. The direction of Joseph Kane keeps the film always interesting. Reggie Lanning has provided some superb camera work. CAST: Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, John Carradine, Phyllis Brooks, Jerome Cowan, Joyce Compton, Dick Wessel, Hal Taliaferro, Forrest Taylor, Charles Wilson, Byron Foul- ger, Bob Nolan and Sons of the Pioneers. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Harry Grey; Director, Joseph Kane; Screenplay, John K. Butler, J. Benton Cheney; Camera- man, Reggie Lanning; Film Editor, Tony Martinelli; Sound, Tom Carman; Art Direc- tor, Russell Kimball; Set Decorator, Otto Siegel; Musical Director, Morton Scott. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Splendid. Nazis Holding Sergt. Bevan Springfield, Mass. — Staff Sergt. Donald J. Bevan, formerly of the Paramount theater staff and nephew of Harry Smith, general manager of the Western Massachusetts Theaters, Inc., has been officially listed by the war department as a prisoner of war of the Germans. "The Falcon in Danger" with Tom Conway RKO 73 Mins. LATEST OF SERIES IS ROUTINE MELO- DRAMA OF FAIR MERIT THAT OWES PLENTY TO CONWAY. The latest Falcon film, like the several predecessors in the series in which he has appeared since his brother, George Sanders, stepped out of the character, owes prac- tically everything to the personality of Tom Conway, whose nonchalance and easy-go- ing manner give the production a breezy quality that makes one forget the artificial- ity and commonplaceness of the story. In addition to Conway the film's asset column contains a fair amount of suspense and considerable movement. The Falcon's newest assignment involves an airplane mystery in which the principals are a millionaire and his secretary. A fortune in securities is missing and the question is who took them. The Falcon tries in- numerable leads out of which he makes a case against the millionaire, whose motive for killing his secretary (a male, by the way) was to get his hands on the securities. Any number of persons fall under suspicion, including the Falcon himself, before the case is solved. The best of Conway's fellow players is Amelita Ward, who serves as the Falcon's latest romantic interest. At the close of the film Conway is relieved to be rid of her. Some of the others are Jean Brooks, Elaine Shepard, Cliff Clark, Ed Gargan, Clarence Kolb, Felix Basch. Maurice Geraghty has the producer credit. William Clemens' direction keeps the pace fast. The screenplay, a routine job, was turned out by Fred Niblo, Jr., and Craig Rice. CAST: Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, Elaine Shepard, Amelita Ward, Cliff Clark, Ed Gargan, Clarence Kolb, Felix Basch, Richard Davies, Richard Martin, Erford Gage, Eddie Dunn. CREDITS: Producer, Maurice Geraghty; Director, William Clemens; Screenplay, Fred Niblo, Jr., Craig Rice; Based on characters created by Michael Arlen; Cameraman, Frank Redman; Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinidoff ; Art Di- rectors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller; Set Decorators, Darrell Silvera, Har- ley Miller; Sound, Jean L. Speak; Film Edi- tor, George Crone. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Find Theaters Already Observing Dimout Code New Haven — The State Police and Fire Marshal called a special meet- ing of exhibitors here for the pur- pose of explaining the final dimout and blackout regulations, which will be printed and distributed within the next few weeks. It was reported that theaters were already following substantially all the regulations pre- sented, and no further suggestions on additions or changes were made. Ray Murray Leaves Metro Resignation of Ray Murray of Hold Lucas Funeral Today (Continued from Pane 1) Russell; Congressman Eugene Cox; L. W. Robert, Jr., Washington and Atlanta; Ralph Smith, Elmer Oliver •; and Judge 0. Max Gardner, Gardner Wash.; Leonard Goldens/g ]^i Leon je Netter, Austin Keough, %&/ Con- " nors, Niles Trammell, Claude Lee and James A. Farley, New York; B B. Grossett, Charlotte^ E. W. Cub- hedge, Savannah; Harry Demuth Jacksonville, and Homer Edenfield Grover Parsons, Charles E. Kess- nich, James H. Butner, Harry G Thornton, Harry Ballance, Roberl Woodruff, Macon Martin, James D Robinson, W. S. Kirkpatrick anc John A. Briceall, Atlanta. Starting with Miles Bros., a filir. renting agency in New York in 1907 Lucas became a successful exhibitoi and distributor. In 1921, he opened the Lucas Theater in Savannah, one of the first theaters in the South tc be air-conditioned and the first tc serve as a community center foi civic groups. Two years later he joined with William K. Jenkins ir the formation of the present circuil which includes more than 50 the aters in Georgia. With Jenkins he also operated radio stations in Aug- usta, Savannah and Brunswick. Lucas was active in politics bu never held an elected office. He was former vice-chairman of the Fed eral Public Works Administratior and was chairman of the State Wai Savings Staff. Survivors are his widow, the for mer Margaret Cunningham; a brother, Harry Lucas; a daughter Mrs. Fred Storey, and a son, Lt John S. Lucas, now stationed in Eng- land. There are several grandchild- Court Refuses to Quash Film Extortion Charges (Continued from Page 1) by Federal Judge Murray Hulbert The court denied a motion for quash ing the indictment filed by Jame: D. C. Murray, defense counsel. Mur- ray had filed a demurrer to the in dictment, a special plea in bar anc a motion for a bill of particulars all of which were denied by thi court. The six are Louis Compagna, Pau de Lucia, Phil D'Andrea, Francis Maritote, Charles Gioe and Ralpl Pierce. Other defendants are Join Rosselli, former West Coast collec tor for the "syndicate," and Louis Kaufman, business agent of Newarl operators Local 244. The trial is set for Sept. 7. Boris Kostelanetz, special prosecutor, wil represent the Government. Lawrence Norris Dead Columbus, O. — Lawrence Norris Metro's short subject ad-publicity , brother of Walter J. Norris, manage] staff at the home office was announc- of Butterfield houses in Grand Rap ed yesterday. ' ids, Mich., is dead. Tuesday, July 20, 1943 TNI DAILY J Crescent Courses For High Court {Continued from Page 1) >escent or its affiliates to secure permission of the U. S. District Court ;o acquire any additional theaters n any_ situation where there is in- 'lepe- * v. .t competition, the Supreme "oui-v ./** affirming Judge Davies' de- ision in the entirety might put a onclusive end to the whole case with ill of its implications for the other najor anti-trust suits that are pend- ing. A high attache of the Nashville District Court states that, in addi- tion to a complete affirmation of the decision which is considered alto- gether unlikely at this time, the Supreme Court can follow one of two other courses. It can issue an order correcting the decision of the lower court with reference to fu- ture acquisition of theaters in com- petitive situations or it can order further hearings by Judge Davies. Hinges on Court's Attitude The appeal made by the plaintiff hinges on the attitude of Judge ,Davies with reference to all the- ater acquisitions. In the beginning jof the trial he stated that the Court was not interested in the way Cres- cent or its affiliates acquired any of the movie houses owned by them at that time and his findings of fact stated that "this Court does not 'wish to be faced with the problem "of having to make further decis- ions each time an exhibitor defen- dant might wish to acquire a the- ater." In his argument that no Court can do 'S anything about the acquisition of theaters 'which eliminate independent competition af- 'ter the acquisition is made, a part of the I appeal document filed by the Government, )! Special Solicitor Charles Fahy noted the fact that testimony revealed the acquisition by Crescent and its affiliates of ten the- aters in competitive situations. Mrs. Sudekum Included It is expected that Judge Davies will act before the Supreme Court hearing on a mo- tion by Chief Counsel George H. Armistead, Jr., on behalf of Crescent and other defen- dant corporations seeking the elimination I of certain passages in the findings of fact [; with a consequent alteration of the pro- posed decree and on three petitions from stockholders in Lyric Amusement Co.. Ken- U A-Disney Feature Sets Off Big Blast "How Victory Through Air Power Is Possible" — "Seversky Says Raids Can Blast Foes Out of War" were the eight-column heads which streamed across full pages of yester- day's New York Journal American de- voted completely to illustrations, cap- tions, and accompanying text descrip- tive of the UA-Disney opus current at the local Globe Theater. This edi- torial "blast" in behalf of "Victory Through Air Power" set promotional precedent for a full-length animated attraction. Prominently included in the full-page layout was a photograph of Major de Seversky whose theories on the war's winning were discussed. TO THE COLORS! • PROMOTED * LT. JAMES STEWART, USAAF, promoted to captain. JACK ANDREWS, USMC, formerly Hollywood, promoted to captain. — • — • ARMY * STANLEY FISHMAN, son of Zelig Fishman, New Haven. KENNETH BLEWETT, manager, Regal, Chicago. RICHARD RODEMS, Princess, Alton, III. MILTON HALE, executive secretary, Playgoers of Springfield, Mass. RAY THOMPSON, manager, Cateway, Chicago. * N A VY * IOSEPH HACKWORTH, manager, Grand, Alton, III. ROSWELL HOLMES, assistant manager, Strand, Westfield, Mass. * WAVES * LOUISE SMITH, Indiana-Illinois Circuit, La Porte, Ind. Reconsider Elimination Of Frisco Trolley Stops WAC Page to be Included In All Metro Press Books San Francisco — The Municipal Public Utilities Commission has voted to reconsider eliminating sev- eral streetcar stops along Market St. in the theater district at the behest of the theater industry, the California Theaters Association re- ported yesterday. Mrs. Hudda McGinn, secretary- manager of the CTA, said the com- mission had informed her the vote to reconsider the action would be taken July 26. The proposed "skip- stop plan" was to have gone into effect July 1, but the theater groups won a delay. The CTA organized opposition to the plan, going to merchants along the street for co-operation, on the grounds it would not solve any part of the city's congested traffic prob- lems. The intersections at which it was proposed the streetcars do not stop included Powell St., Jones and Mason. Opponents of the plan argued that an overcrowding of safety zones at 5th, 6th and other streets would re- sult. The "skip-stop plan" was pro- posed by the office of defense trans- portation. Mrs. Kate Hartnett Dead Mrs. Kate Hartnett, one of the oldest employes in terms of years spent with 20th-Fox died in Wash- ington last week, after a short ill- ness. tucky Amusement Co., and Lawrenceburg Theaters, Inc.. asking that the divestiture order in the proposed decree be voided as to them. This would bring the case up to date for whatever action the higher court may take. It may prove of later importance that in the citation of individual defendants to the Supreme Court hearing at Washington, the name of Mrs. Nettie Sudekum. wife of Tony Sudekum, half owner in the Muscle Shoals Theaters, Inc., along with Louis Rosenbaum, owner of the other half of the stock was included. Hitherto Mrs. Sudekum had not been considered as a defendant in the suit. The Supreme Court at the forthcoming hearing is expected to review at least a part of the testimony taken between July 7 and Aug. 29, 1941. the oral arguments of counsel on Dec. 1, 1941, and a hearing on motions on May 17, 1943, followed by the filing of a proposed decree, sections of which are the basis of the plaintiff's appeal to a higher court. Blackman Opens Offices Chicago — Edward Blackman, for- merly with Spitz and Adcock has opened an office at 33 North LaSalle for the general law practice. A complete page devoted to WAC- sponsored programs for exhibitors has been prepared by Ernest Emer- ling of Loew's and the WAC Public Relations Division. This page will be included in all M-G-M press books, and probably the campaign books of the other companies. Mrs. Margaret Moseley Dead Memphis — Mrs. Margaret Lee Moseley, for the past 20 years a projectionist for Paramount ex- change, is dead. She had been ill for some time. Mrs. Moseley was one of the oldest employes (in point of service) on Film Row. WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front A new Honor Roll, containing the names of 2,204 employes of Loew's Theaters, Metro, and Station WHN now in the armed services, has been placed in the lobby of the Loew Building. There are four gold stars. . . . _ V . . . — Rochester — This city's collective June Bond and Stamp sales were $170,000, toward which six theater men contributed $9,259. Loew's led the group by selling $5,426 worth of Bonds and Stamps while the Pal- ace Theater totaled $3,026. The remainder of the sum came from the Century, the Temple, and Riviera, and the Lake Theaters. Sergeant Schiller Cohen, formerly an em- ploye of Loew's, just back from 52 missions as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress, was responsible for War Stamp sales in amount of $1,450 at Loew's Metropolitan, Brook- lyn, opening night of "Bataan." Eddie Dow- den, of Oscar Doob's publicity staff, pre- sented Cohen to the audience and read the citation he received at the time he was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross, it was part of Loew's Shangri-La war Stamp drive. KING OF THE COWBOYS ROY ROGERS TRIGGER SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES in "SONG OF TEXAS' rfvvoW* HRST RUN M I- P ID A INC 2 H W 4- A S T DAILY Tuesday, July 20, 1943 N YC Visual Education Field Attracts PRC (Continued from Page 1) largest producers and distributors of 16 mm. non-theatrical educational and entertainment films, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Nashville. It has produced and distributed ap- proximately 60 shorts in the last three years. Three In Production In Brazilian Studios Rio de Janeiro (By Air Mail, Passed by Censor) — Production con- tinues in Brazilian studios with three pictures currently in work. Cinedia has " A Caminho do Ceu" before the cameras with Milton Rodrigues directing, while Atlantida is pro- ducing "Moleque Tiao" and Brasil Vita Filme is completing "Inconfi- dencis Mineira." No "Critical" List Decision Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— The War Manpower Commissiton has not yet reached any final decision on the matter of is- suing a new "critical" list of jobs entitling their holders to draft de- ferment. Announcement of the new list was scheduled to be made by WMC by this time, but the question has again become a matter for intra agency argument. Officials were hopeful that it may be thrashed out Thursday after they had failed to reach any conclusion yesterday. Lt. James Crouch Missing Indianapolis — Lt. James Crouch, navigator on a Flying Fortress, is reported missing in action since a raid on Nantes, France. Before his entry into the Army Air Forces in January, 1942, he was employed by the RCA Victor Division, RCA, in the local plant. Scott on Lost USS Helena Rochester — Wilfred C. Scott, for- mer Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. em- ploye who enlisted in the Navy in 1941, is believed to have been aboard the USS Helena, cruiser sunk in the battle of Kula Gulf. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged LOUIE WEINER, from the USAAF, to UA home office exploiteer. STANLEY GRISCOULA, from Hie Army, to Na- tional Screen Service, New Haven. JAMES TOWNS, from the Army, to Broadway Theater, Dover, N. H. BEN SEICEL, from the Army, to manager, Whalley, New Haven. HAROLD LEWIS, from the Army, to production manager for Edward Small. HERBERT LYONS, from the Army, to B 0 K pub- licity dept., Chicago. SGT. LOU LUSTY, frmo the Marine Corps. HOLLYWOOD DIGEST SIGNED HUGH MARLOWE, termer, M-C-M. DONALD DOUCLAS, termer, RKO. BENSON FONC, "Charlie Chan" series, Mono- gram. ASSIGNMENTS JACK CUMMINGS, producer, "Hold On to Your Hat," M-C-M. ERNST LUBITSCH, producer-director, "All Out Arlene," Warners. IRVING PHILLIPS and E. E. VERDIER, screenplay, "The Bamboo Blonde," RKO. DAVID HEMPSTEAD, producer, "None But the Lonely Heart," RKO. WALLACE FOX, director, "The Honor System," Monogram. WILIAM BEAUDINE, director, "Romance of Avenue B," Monogram. PHIL ROSEN, director, "Charlie Chan in the Secret Service," Monogram. CASTINGS DENA PENN, "One Hour of Glory" (tentative title), RKO; RUSSELL WADE, "Ghost Ship," RKO; GRACE MacDONALD and DAVID BRUCE, "The Professor Goes Wild," Universal; EDWARD FIELDING and TOODLES WEAVER, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Paramount; LORETTA YOUNC, "And Now Tomorrow," Paramount; MARIA PALMER, "Revenge," RKO. Northern Calif. Exhibs. "Declare Independence" San Francisco — Seven-plank "Ex- hibitors' Declaration of Independ- ence" has been promulgated here by the Independent Theater Owners of Northern California. Text of "dec- laration" follows: "Refuse to make any deal which you cannot afford." "Refuse to play any picture at a certain loss." "Refuse to give up all your Sun- days." "Refuse to do business with any distributor whose policy and terms are notoriously unfair, arbitrary and arrogant." "Refuse to believe 'this is our only deal.' " "Refuse tin cup methods of buy- ing." Refuse to believe, that Red Blood- ed Americans will continue to take the licking the Distributors are handling out without doing some- thing about it." N. J. Associated Theaters Reelects Dollinger Prexy All officers of Associated Theaters of New Jersey were re-elected at the fifth ennual meeting last week. Personnel includes: Irving Dollinger, president; H. H. Lowenstein, presi- dent of the board; Jack Unger, vice- president; Sidney Seligman, treas- urer and David Mate, secretary. Jos- eph Siccardi was elected office man- ager, replacing Harry Lowenstein who resigned. Leavitt In Red Cross Post Cleveland, O. — Sanford Leavitt, as- sistant to M. B. Horwitz, general manager of the Washington Cir- cuit, has received an appointment as assistant field director for the Red Cross, with orders to report in Washington for duty on July 26. Leavitt, who is married and the father of a three-year-old daughter, is the son of Joe Leavitt, who oper- ates the Independent Screen Room in the Film Building. Lippert House to FWC San Francisco — The Studio The- ater in Vallejo, is now being oper- ated by the Fox West Coast The- aters, the California Theaters As- sociation announced today. It for- merly was a Lippert house. Lack of Foreign Films Closes Hub's Fine Arts Boston — After 12 years of opera- tion, the Fine Arts theater has closed for the duration and Manager George Kraska who inaugurated in Boston the showing of foreign films, has taken a temporary position as relief manager for Loew theaters, currently being at the Orpheum for three weeks and then transferring to the State for a month. Kraska gives as the reason for closing the lack of foreign films and the too strenuous competition af- forded by the large circuit theaters. M & P Closes Hub Esquire Boston — Esquire Theater in Bos- ton's Back Bay has closed for the Summer and perhaps for a longer period. Henry Kalis, managing di- rector, has been transferred to an- other M & P spot. Holdovers Set a Record In Buffalo First-Runs Buffalo — Downtown first-run houses are setting a record for hold- overs this week. "Mr. Lucky" at the 20th Century and "Stage Door Can- teen" at Shea's Great Lakes are in their third weeks, and "Coney Is- land" at Shea's Buffalo is playing a second week. Only new bill is Abbott & Cos- tello in "Hit the Ice," heading a dual at Basil's Lafayette. The fifth first-run, Shea's Hippo- drome, has been taken over by Gen- eral Motors for its Victory Revue, "It's Only the Beginning," a stage and screen program for GM em- ployes. Use of a downtown first-run house for such a purpose is believed without precedent here. Bank of America Financing for PA 5 ; 1: lr : 1 (Continued from Page 1) launched by Lyons and David L Loew, the latter serving as presi- dent and business head of the com- pany, while Lyons will be/rv,, Pr°-i duction chief. Financing P "^ jeing||f( handled by Bank of Amerf&i. A New York office will be established shortly. Clients of the A & S Lyons agency will be the backbone of the com- pany's talent, the artists having their choice of taking a salary for their work or participating in the profits of the pictures. As Lyons de- scribed it yesterday in New York, the company was designed for the preservation of the stars and the op- portunity for the newcomers. Jack Benny is scheduled to pro- duce three pictures for Producing Artists, while PA, itself, will pro- vide three others. First will be a musical on a lavish scale and the second will be a Jerome Kern mus- ical. The third may be a story about Belgium in the present war. Another musical may be based on the unpublished works of George Gershwin. A separate unit may be formed by Jerome Kern. Lyons said that because of the participating arrangement, a pic- ture's over-all expense would be less than one produced by a major com- pany. h Selznick and Cooper Pix As Film Classic Re-issues Film Classics, Inc., has acquired five David 0. Selznick productions and two produced by Merian C. Coo- per for re-issue during the next 21 months. Pictures previously were dis- tributed by United Artists and RKO. They are obtained in a deal nego- tiated with Col. John Hay Whitney, Jr. Product included in the deal are "A Star is Born," "Little Lord Fauntleroy," "The Young-- in Heart," "Nothing- Sacred," "Made for Each Other," "Becky Sharp" and "Danc- ing Pirate." See Further Meetings On Naming of OWI Film Chief Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Possibility of fur- ther meetings with industry leaders by OWI domestic director Palmer Hoyt, before the naming of a man to serve as OWI Motion Picture Chief, was mentioned last night by an official close to Hoyt. The latter could not be reached for comment but it is not believed that any meet- ing is actually scheduled as yet. :; "Army" Into WB Memphis House After Remodeling Memphis — Warners' Theater will close for one week, beginning July 30, to undergo remodeling, repairs '. and painting, according to Howard Waugh, zone manager. The theater will reopen Aug. 6, with "This is the Army." Picture is expected to run a month. Repeats at Waterbury Plaza Waterbury, Conn. — The Plaza has adopted a policy of repeat pictures. IN NEW POSTS NATHAN J. COULD, manager, Grand, Alton, III. WILLIAM GRADY, Princess, Alton, III. LARRY O'NEIL, manager, Suffolk, Holyoke, Mass. ■1H ■I Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought >H Remove 0© NOT ^ The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old FDAILY' rcj34. NO. 14 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1943 TEN CENTS , Z: MAJORS APPEAL TO WMC ON 48-HOUR WEEK Foreign Mail-Check Shows Pix Copy Gets Over Editorial Post-war . . . Jones9 views By CHESTER B. BAHN - ji/ICTORY — and peace — may be months * distant (although Barney Balaban told 'aramount's sales meeting last week- i :nd that the end of the European war /ell may come this year), but there are increasing signs of awareness in industry anks of the necessity for giving attention siow to the shape of things to come in he post-war period. Largely, however, the expressions have teen confined to those voiced by execu- tes of major companies. One of the first, f not the first to stress the inescapable jroblems was Harry M. Warner, who spoke tut in early January on the urgency for Immediate post-war planning. Since then >thers have pointed up various phases — •he coming battle of titans for the restored oreign market, the possibility of inflation with its menace to all arms, the rehabilita- tion of theaters once the war ends, to :ite a few. [ Is the individual exhibitor and indepen- dent circuit operator less conscious of to- morrow's problems than the major execu- tive?— a moot question, that. As a cue o what the theater man is thinking these Jays, your columnar reporter steps aside to present five solicited paragraphs from fhe typewriter of John J. Jones of Chicago's lones, Linick & Schaefer circuit: Si o IT'S difficult to put in few words my • feelings regarding doing our part to :ombat inflation — and the discussion of a post-war program. . . . Much will require doing after Victory ... to remodel — modernize — refurnish — and provide funds for erection of new theaters where needed. i . . Unless theaters are allowed healthy profit their ability to amass cash will be limited. . . . It's an industry problem. . . . Major distributors, affiliated theaters will possess ample means. . . . But can't do job alone. "Hollywood forgets exhibitors did more than their share to make industry impor- tant. . . . Fine theaters created markets for finer films. . . . Many top Hollywood stars were discovered and encouraged by exhibitors playing vaudeville. . . . Numerous leading producers and distributors were theater men. ... All branches of the business are dependent on exhibitors for accurate patron information. . . . "Financial statements of distributors re- (Continued on Page 2) Degree of Regularity Var- ies Widely, Survey Made By Paramount Establishes A world-wide foreign mail-check survey, conducted by the Paramount Foreign Publicity Department dur- ing the first six months of this year, shows that motion picture publicity and advertising material sent as printed matter is reaching film com- pany foreign offices and publicity (Continued on Page 4) Kuykendall, Bernhard Checking WPB Change Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, was in Washing- ton yesterday to try to fathom some new developments in WPB, and to determine how they will affect the- ater operation. Warner Bros, vice- president Joseph Bernhard, is ex- pected here today on the same mat- ter. The whole thing is shrouded in secrecy thus far, but it is not ex- (Continued on Page 4) Lyon Will Appoint Newsreel Contact Man Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Selection of a man to serve as Government contact with the newsreels, filling the void left by the folding of Lowell Mellett's Motion Picture Bureau will be an- nounced soon by George Lyon, chief (Continued on Page 4) Willkie's Book Sold to Fox for Cash and % For what is reported in publish- ing circles as the largest down pay- ment ever made for film rights to a book, 20th-Fox has acquired "One World," best seller by Wendell L. Willkie, its board chairman. Closing of deal was announced yes- terday by Simon & Schuster, Inc., the publishers. Spyros Skouras is understood to have negotiated for 20th-Fox. Top down payment for a book previously is said to have been $175,000 paid by Warners for "Saratoga Trunk." Price of "One World" is described as in "excess of $250,000," and in- cludes a percentage provision, it is said. "One World" has sold in excess of 1,600,000 copies to date. Darryl F. Zanuck will produce the pic for 20th-Fox. Early scheduling is expected. Expect Decision In Few Days on Scollard Plea for Companies OWI Will Continue As "Clearing House" The OWI made it clear yesterday that it will continue to serve-as clear- ing house between the motion pic- ture industry and all Government (Continued on Page 11) Sicilian Invasion Shots In Next Week's Newsreels -Shots of the Sicily invasion are expected to be available for news- reel distribution in next week's re- (Continued on Page 4) Allied Board To Set Policy Divorcement, Decree and Suit Reopening Up Warners Will Re-issue Six Foran Westerns In addition to the two-reel West- erns being produced as part of the Vitaphone short subject lineup for 1943-44, Warners will reissue a group of six Dick Foran outdoor features as part of its new season program. (Continued on Page 9) A national policy on theater di- vorcement, reopening of the Gov- ernment's trust suit and the exten- sion of the New York consent de- cree is expected to be adopted by Allied's board of directors Aug. 11- 12 when the body convenes in Bal- timore. It was reported yesterday that Al- (Continued on Page 4) \ -J By ANDREW H. OLDER Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The major compa- nies yesterday, through C., J. "Pat" Scollard, Paramount branch opera- tions chief, and Attorney Sidney Bromberg of Loew's, petitioned the Washington area office of WMC that local film exchanges not be required to go on a 48-hour week. It was decided at a New York meeting re- (Continued on Page 9) WAC Committee of 7 Charts NEIC Course Affiliation of the WAC with the newly organized National Entertain- ment Industry Council probably will be determined by the recommenda- tions returned by an ex officio com- mittee comprised of the chairmen of (Continued on Page 9) Three State Legislatures "Alive" Although Recessed With the adjournment of the Ala- bama legislature on July 2, no state now has its solons in session, al- though three state legislatures have recessed until next month. They (Continued on Page 9) RCA "What's New?" Show to Tap Films The screen will be among the fields that will be tapped for ma- terial in a one-hour weekly "kaleidos- copic" program to be sponsored by RCA under the title "What's New," The broadcasts will go out over 158 Blue Network stations from Maine to Hawaii beginning Saturday, Sept. 4. The hour will be 7 to 8 p.m. Don Ameche will be master of ceremonies. The program will fea- ture "anything new and important" in every field of activity all over the world. Timeliness will be stressed. C'l N I I D * — *?" S H 1* *r M HZ N I A 1 1 V N i I 0 Wednesday, July 21, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 14 Wed., July 21, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL {Tuesday, July 20) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 16i/2 161/2 I6V2 — Vi Col. Picts.vtc. (2i/2%) 18 1/4 17i/2 171/2 — 11/4 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. 17- 16% 163/4 East. Kodak 180 180 180 do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq 21 1/2 21 3/g 21 3/8 — 1/2 Loew's, Inc 63 62 1/4 62i/2 — % Paramount 28 Vi 277/8 28 Vi + 'A RKO 9% 91/4 93/8 — i/8 RKO $6 pfd 95 931/2 931/2 — 1 20th Century-Fox .. 235/8 23 23 1/2 — Vis 20th Century-Fox pfd. 34 33% 33i/2 — 1/4 Warner Bros 15'/8 14% 14%— % Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para.-Ficts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram iPicts RKO War. . . ., 1% 1% 1%— % Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% Technicolor 15% 14% 15 — % Trans-Lux 3% 3% 3% — % Universal IPicts. vtc. 18% I8V2 I8I/2 Universal Picts 18% 18% 18% + % CAROLE LANDIS arrives from the Coast this morning. ERNST LUBITSCH is expected here from the Coast on Monday to attend the Aug. 4 Roxy premiere of "Heaven Can Wait," which he produced and directed for 20th-Fox. He will return West on Aug. 6. Refuse Assessment Slash Detroit— The Michigan State Tax Commission has refused to reduce the assessment for tax purposes on tae Palms-State Theater, first-run house. Appeal was taken by own- ers of several large downtown prop- erties when the city assessors in- creased valuations recently. Pres- ent figure will be "frozen" for three years. "Duke" Clark Subbing For Harry Goldstein Neil Agnew, Paramount general sales manager yesterday announced the appointment of M. R. "Duke' Clark, Los Angeles branch manager, to serve temporarily as district man- ager for Cleveland, Cincinnati, De- troit and Indianapolis, during the ill- ness of Harry Goldstein. Goldstein has been granted a six-month leave of absence to recover. Headquarters of the district are in Cleveland. Chester J. Bell, Denver branch manager, has been promoted to suc- ceed Clark as branch manager in Los Angeles. Announcement of Bell's successor in Denver is expected to be made shortly. Coe to Make Two Talks In Rochester on Aug. 3 Charles Francis Coe will make two addresses in Rochester on Aug. 3 when he speaks to the Rotary Club at noon and to executives of East- man Kodak officials, civic, political, religious, educational and women's club leaders in the evening. His evening address on the subject of "Motion Pictures Look Toward a New World" will inaugurate the new Eastman State Street Auditorium. During the afternoon, the MPPDA general counsel will confer with film people, radio commentators, editors and newspaper men. The local WAC will participate. Paramount Announces Its First New Season Block Paramount's first block of five pictures for the 1943-44 season was announced yesterday by Neil Ag- new, general sales manager. The group includes "Let's Face It," a musical starring Bob Hope and Betty Hutton; "True to Life," with Mary Martin, Franchot Tone, Dick Powell and Victor Moore; "Hos- tages," starring Luise Rainer, Ar- turo de Cordova, William Bendix and Paul Lukas; "The Good Fellows," comedy-drama with Helen Walker, James Brown and Cecil Kellaway, and "Tornado," starring Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly. Blumenstock to Chicago Mort Blumenstock, in charge of Warners advertising and publicity in the East, will accompany Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity, to Chicago tonight for con- ferences with Army Emergency Re- lief officials on nation-wide premieres of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army." "Claudia" in Omaha Bow Omaha, the home town of Dorothy McGuire, who has the title role in 20th-Fox's film version of the play "Claudia," will be the site of the world premiere of the production. The picture will bow on Aug. 19 at two houses there, the Omaha and the Paramount. Post-war . . . Jones9 views (Continued from Page 1) fleet gigantic results. ... So much so it wouldn't be out of line for them to an- nounce 10 per cent or 15 per cent reduc- tion on flat rentals . . . and a 'cut' of some sort on percentage pictures. . . . Air lines recently did that. . . . Sometimes it seems the motion picture industry forgets it's a volume business — as such it should consider public benefit — that doesn't mean politicians — but people. . . . Majors should pass on portion of their good fortune to theaters and they in turn, when possible to the public. . . . "FOREIGN markets will open soon to ' tremendous backlogs of big pictures. . . . All made and paid for. . . . Only cost will be distribution. . . . Exhibitors who carried the load when the foreign markets closed — now should share in the same. . . . Most businesses cut prices at every op- portunity. ... If exhibitors are given worth-while 'break' they will be able to build reserves. . . . Erect new theaters. . . . Modernize old ones. . . . And thus provide more revenue in the future for manufac- turers. . . . "The move taking cognizance of respon- sibility to the public must start at the top. . . . Major circuits with large holdings can lead the way. . . . Definite post-war plans must be made to combat inflation when War Bonds are cashed. ... To com- bat increased competition of television, better travel facilities, etc. . . . Discussing trade practices is a fine thing. . . . But without plans for after the war, we won't have much of a trade to practice on." 152 Field Employes of 20th-Fox Now In Service Latest figures compiled by the company disclose that 152 field em- ployes of 20th-Fox are in various branches of the armed forces. Here's the breakdown: Albany, 4; Atlanta, 7; Boston, 6; Buffalo, 1; Charlotte, 11; Chicago, 9; Cincinnati, 7; Cleveland, 5; Dallas, 10; Denver, 4; Des Moines, 5; De- troit, 7; Indianapolis, 5; Kansas City, 5; Los Angeles, 5; Memphis, 5; Min- neapolis, 4; New Haven, 5; New Or- leans, 2; New York, 7; Oklahoma, 6; Omaha, 2; Philadelphia, 1; Pitts- burgh, 5; Portland, 2; St. Louis, 1; Salt Lake, 2; San Francisco, 3; Seat- tle, 2; Washington, 4; Calgary, 2; St. John, 1; Toronto, 4; Vancouver, 1; Winnipeg, 2. Sturdivant Succeeds Bowles San Francisco — California The- aters Association, Inc., has elected B. V. Sturdivant prexy to succeed A. M. Bowles. COMinG and G0II1G iPVT. MAX GENDEL, of the Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" public relations unit is in Philadelphia working on the local campaign. IRVING BERLIN arrives in New York this noon from the Coast for conference with Army Emergency Relief and Warners executives on "This is the Army' premieres. NEIL SULLIVAN, ace RKO Pathe Ne(*\,eim eraman, is scheduled to leave shortly', the North African front as an accredited camera correspondent. NORMAN ELSON, general manager of the Trans-Lux Theaters, will be in Philadelphia today and in Washington tomorrow, returning to New York on Friday. DOROTHY LAMOUR is in Baltimore with her husband, CAPT. WILLIAM ROSS HOWARD, 3rd, visiting the lafer's family. HERMAN RIFKIN of Republic Pictures, Boston, was a New Haven visitor for the frist time since his hospital stay after the Boston night club fire. JOE ERDANG, of Aetna Cleaning, up from New York to make the Loew-Poli circuit with! Harry Shaw. MRS. BEN LOURIE, wife of the new Columbia, Chicago salesman, Ben Lourie, moves this week from New Haven, his former post, to join Ben in Chi. VIRGINIA WEIDLER will start a P. A. en-' gagement in Philadelphia Friday. On Thursday she will visit Baltimore. MELVIN HIRSH, President of Crystal Pictures, left yesterday for a sales trip through Phila- ' delphia, 'Pittsburgh ■ and Cleveland. SPYROS SKOURAS stopped off in Washington on Creek War Relief business. HENRI ELMAN is en route from Chicago to New York on booking deals. Slott-Benisch Deal Confirmed Chicago — Nate Slott confirms the purchase of the Elmer Benisch the- aters, the Lindy, Madlin and Cen- tury. All Benisch personnel will be retained. Down to Four-a-Week Broadbrook, Conn. — Milton Gold- berg, operator of the Broadbrook, has cut his schedule tc four-a-week, instead of daily. C. E. O'Bryan's Mother Dead Detroit — Mrs. Eliza A. Pickering, 67, is dead. She was the mother of Clarence E. O'Bryan, theater man- ager for United Detroit Circuit, and of Beryl O'Bryan, of the Butterfield Theaters office staff for many years. Reynolds Arbitration Adjourned Detroit — Hearing of the complaint brought by Howard T. Reynolds, op- erator of the Family Theater, Grand Rapids, in the Detroit tribunal, has been adjourned until Sept. 8. ■■ Agnew Confirms 30 On Paramount Lineup Paramount's new program will be flexible to meet the needs of the times as they develop, Neil Agnew, ,; general sales manager, said yester- day in announcing that approximate- ly "' features would be released by the iipany in the 52 weeks start- ling Sept. 24. That Paramount plan- j tied to release 30 pictures for the 'looming season was exclusively dis- closed in The Film Daily on May 11. T Agnew pointed out that in war times the tastes of the public change ^rapidly and that Paramount's pro- |>ram would be geared to meet any situation that may arise. He as- ierted that the studio would deliver ;he best product in the company's Jl-year history, with emphasis on oig productions. He reiterated a orevious statement to the effect that it least one-third of the 1943-44 pro- gram would be in Technicolor. ['_ Among its more important pictures ?or the new season will be "Lady in he Dark" and "Frenchman's Creek," (>oth in color, while in the field of •omantic comedy "No Time for Love" vill be a highlight. "The Unin- vited" also will be one of the bigger (ictures of the year, described as a i iiew type of love-mystery play. Mus- cals will have a dominant spot on he program, as well as farce com- idies, adventure dramas and "su- ler-escapist" entertainment, Agnew aid. 'Army" Opening Deferred Cleveland, O. — Harry Goldberg, iVarner official, was in town this /eek in the interest of "This is the i.rmy," originally set to open July 4 at Warners' Hippodrome, but 'ostponed until an August date. Jaw Reports Teater Missing Indianapolis — Charles Leslie Tea- sr, formerly employed at the RCA- rictor division of RCA, was among he missing in a Merchant Marine asualty list released by the Navy. i — durante In Camp P.A/s : Jimmy Durante will make six vol- nteer appearances during the next iree weeks at Army camps and Navy ;ations. Tour will be under USO- amp Shows auspices. Ken Maynard Lenore Ulric Lawrence A. Urbach I. F. (Mike) Dolid Of Men and Maids: • • • DRAMA-LADEN dispatch by Daniel de Luce from Allied HQ, North Africa quoted in part AP Photographer Herb White's account of the landing of U. S. forces in Sicily "The skipper of my ship, Lt. H. R. Fleck, of New York City, is a World War veteran and dean of the skippers of this kind of vessel (landing craft) He made the causeway to shore with pontoons and our tanks and other things rolled into Sicily ready for action" Lt. H. R. Fleck, dear reader, is none other than Harold Fleck of Peerless Vaporate, film treatment process! T T T • • • FILM Fair-Sex: Ladies of the Variety Club out Cleveland way, along with their friends, have just held a meetin' in that Tent to organize a program of activities in behalf of the city's Stage Door Canteen and the USO They have been providing large store of food for these organizations, plus eagerly extended per- sonal services * Elsie Roberts, U of Houston (Texas) beauty and National Collegiate Bond Queen, leaves the Lone Star State in a few days for Hollywood for an RKO Radio two-week test that may result in a six-month contract Her mother will accompany her to Ye Coast When pic officials and stars were in Houston last May for opening of "Bombardier," Elsie, then newly-acclaimed in her freshman year as National Collegiate Bond Queen, was on hand as a member o' the welcoming group of theater people ..At that time, Charles Koerner, RKO Radio's vice-prexy in charge of production, met her and suggested a test, telephonic arrangements for which have just have been completed with Ben Piazza, casting director Since attaining a national prominence last Spring, Elsie's mail has averaged some 200 letters a week from all comers of the globe They came mostly from our soldier and sailor lads, with whom the comely Elsie is a "pin-up" sensation. ... * Anent Houston, Mrs. Al Lever, wife of Interstate's city manager, is one of the four semi- finalists in the women's championship flight of the War Bond Golf Tournament. ... % On the more dour side of femme doings is dis- patch from Springfield, III. where the weekly Citizen's Tribune is ad- vocating that the community's theater managers get out the old 27- second slide which reads: "Ladies, Please Remove Your Hats" Cause of this outburst is prevalence of picture hats (can it be the power of suggestion,? we ask) among Springfield women, and the custom .of leaving them on at the movies One redeeming feature (according to the nooze story) is that the lady of today is more polite about the hat nuisance than her mother was— probably because there are no hatpins and veils ▼ ▼ T • • • MEN'S DEPARTMENT: Just in case you more'n 200 pic guys who attended that swell testimonial dinner which the Variety Club tendered in Buffalo's Hotel Statler on Monday night to Syd Samson, promoted from Buffalo branch manager to General Manager for Canada for 20th-Fox, didn't see from more removed tables what gift, in addition to the friendship scroll you all signed, was given to him, — 'twas a diamond-studded, platinum wrist watch. . . • Frank Smith manager of the RKO Palace in Chi. is in charge of the big stage show to be pre- sented for the Navy on the night of July 30 in the huge Chicago Stadium More than 20,000 persons are expected to witness the spectacle. . . • Metropolitan bookies are betting 2-to-l that Herb (Jay Emanuel) Miller WAS at the Sam Wood luncheon t'other day Y T ▼ • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! DATE BOOK July 22-23: Republic regional, North wood studios. Holly- July 26: Leon Herman testimonial, Ten Eyck Hotel, Albany. July 28-29: Kansas-Missouri Theaters Association convention, Kansas City. July 29: Loew's stockholders special meeting, home office. Aug. 3: Charles Francis "Socker" Coe addresses Rochester, N. Y., Rotary Club and Eastman meeting. Aug. 11-12: Allied board meeting, Baltimore. Sept. 9: ITOA installation luncheon, Hotel As tor. Sept. 9: Third Victory Loan drive opens. Sept. 15: First Fall meeting of Ampa. Oct. 18-22 SMPE technical conference, Holly- wood-Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. Akron Enforces Curfew; Violator's Parent Fined Columbus, O. — While Mayor Floyd Green has signed a curfew bill, ef- fective immediately, banning all Co- lumbus youngsters under 17 from the streets after 10:30 p.m., spe- cifically forbidding attendance in places of amusement and entertain- ment after that hour, unless ac- companied by elders, the first case of curfew violation in Akron re- sulted in a fine of $25 and costs against a parent for permitting his 12-year-old son out after the 11 p.m. deadline. In Columbus, too, the pen- alties are against parents. For the first offense a child will be taken home and his parents warned, but for the second offense the parents or guardian may be fined up to $10, and for the third and later offenses, penalties are up to $25 fine and 10 days in jail. Other curfew developments in Ohio are: ALLIANCE — City Council has passed an ordinance setting- a 10 p.m. curfew for boys and girls under 16, streamlining- a measure originally passed in 1908. WARREN — Thoug-h the city's curfew or- dinance long in existen.ce prescribes a 9 p.m. deadline, officials have decided to permit children of 16 and under to stay out until 10 p.m. Later than that, they must be accompanied by oldsters. SALINEVILLE — Children under 14 must be home by 10 p.m., council decided, after a committee of women requested a curfew measure. KENT — Council passed a curfew ordi- nance, following petitions signed by 1,500 residents, to keep kids under 15 off the streets after 10 p.m. Cities where curfew legislation is pend- ing, but held for further consideration, in- clude Salem, Canton, and Delaware. WEDDING BELLS Las Vegas, Nev. — Gertrude Niesen has been married here to Albert Greenfield, Chicago restaurateur. Sgt. Elliott Kronish, formerly at the Loew-Poli division office, New Haven, and now at Bangor Airfield, will be married July 27 to Ruth Sand- ers of Bangor. mm 3% Wednesday, July 21, 1943 DAILY Allied Board to Set Policy At Meet (Continued from Page 1) lied plans to take a definite stand on a number of industry problems and at the same time start the ma- chinery moving toward putting its policies in action. Meanwhile, independent sentiment on theater divorcement and renewal of the Government suit appears to be divided. While some sections of the country apparently are opposed to the decree and all of its provis- ions, other sections are taking a passive attitude and not caring much what happens as long as full-sea- son selling is restored. Regional West Coast meetings con- ducted by the Pacific Coast Con- ference brought about a decision to map out a program for changes in the consent decree which would be submitted to the Department of Jus- tice prior to Nov. 20. It was indi- cated that the independents all up and down the coast would stand to- gether on recommendations for re- visions. Loew's Theaters June War Bond Sales at $1,661,257 Loew's theaters War Bond depart- ment reports Bond and Stamp sales for the month of June totalling $1,- 661,257, exclusive of Bond sales to employes through payroll deduction plan and to executives. This brings the Loew theater booth sales since Sept. 1, last to $30,000,594.40, with an additional total of $5,391,728 to employes. From March, 1942 to June 30, 1943, period during which Loew's have acted as Bond sales- men, the grand total of sales has reached $41,633,521. C. C. Moskowitz, Loew executive, points out that the theater booth sales doubled immediately after Loew's theaters became official Treasury issuing agents. New York area theaters of the Loew circuit piled up a June total of $1,216,877, of which $129,202 was in War Stamps. Loew's out-of-town houses sold a total of $444,380. Mid-West Mayor, Circuits9 Boohing Chief, Plans City Haul ($) to Help Blast Axis North Chicago— Mayor John Dromey of this lively cummunity of some 12,000 is still a showman, his official standing notwithstanding. Before taking office, he was Great States theater chain's head booker headquartering in Chicago. Now he's staging, in fact tonight, a big civic celebration with the aid of the Great Lakes Naval Band and co-op. of Billy De Wolfe, well-known film comic; John Carter, radio singer; and the Tune Toppers,— all Great Lakes Naval Station sailors. Affair's objective is to raise $75,000 for a fighter plane to be named City of North Chicago. Sid Schatz, owner of the local Sheridan Theater, is also co-operating. Bob Elson, former ace WGN sports broadcaster will serve as master of ceremonies. WAR SERVICE . . .on the Film Front Pix Ads, Blurbs Get Overseas But Degree of Regularity Varies Widely (Continued media in satisfactory condition, but in widely varying degrees of regu- larity. The survey covered 34 foreign countries, but so far only 14 of these have been heard from in the first 100 replies. Returns from the 14 coun- tries show that mail-checks acknowl- edging receipt of material have come back to New York on 100 ac- tual deliveries of publicity and ad- vertising material. 105 Days to Cairo The quickest New York-to-foreign- country mail, according to the sur- vey, is on material sent to Mexico City, which arrived at that city in 11 days. The longest time for mail to reach the same destination was 34 days. The slowest point-to-point delivery was from New York to Cairo, which took 105 days for the delivery of a single parcel. Countries from which 10 or more returns have been received are: Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Trinidad and Venezuela, all in the Western Hemisphere. Parcels took from 20 to 64 days to reach Argentina; from 12 to 34 days to reach Cuba; from 11 to 34 days from Page 1) to reach Mexico; from 21 to 41 days to reach Trinidad; and from 40 to 64 days to reach Venezuela. Two mailing's each to Honduras, New Zealand and Uruguay respectively took from 48 to 62 days, 39 to 91 days and 34 to 54 days. Eight parcels sent to Puerto Rico took from 15 to 67 days. Two acknowledgments from Australia show that one parcel took 29 days and another took 35 days to reach Sydney. Eight re- turns from Brazil show that delivery took from 28 to 41 days. One parcel, sent by case with other material, took 77 days to get to England. Five mailings to Guatemala took from 24 to 49 days. 20 Other Countries Checked Mail-check forms sent with parcels to 20 other countries including Chile, Colombia. India, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey have not come back to New York, although the first parcels containing these were mailed as long ago as Feb. 25. It is believed, however, that returns from many of these spots are now on the way back by boat mail. Material for Sweden, it should be pointed out, is sent via London for spe- cial handling from that point. In no instance was it indicated that any of the material was not received in either good or fair condition. In almost every case condition of the material was said to be good, despite the fact that every single parcel had to be opened and inspected at at least one point of censorship and sometimes at several. Detroit — Keyed to the current Allied drive in Sicily and subsequent points North and as a prelude to the theaters partici- pation in the Treasury Department's Third War Loan beginning Sept. 9, t\\a? ^ted Detroit Theaters are running an '. ..sion Bond Campaign. Houses are showing a special trailer urging Detroiters to "join the invasion and hasten the day of Victory" by buying an "invasion bond." The bonds are accompanied by a decorative sticker in honor of the Sicilian attack. Exhibitors who adopt this plan may ob- tain a negative of the trailer from the National Screen Service. Buy "Cisco Ed" Stories Writ Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Phil Krasne and Sam Burkett have bought the rights to "The Cisco Kid" stories from 20th- Fox. They have not selected a star as yet. C'est La Guerre? A visitor at Mort Blumenstock's office, during one of the season's muggiest days found the atmos- phere pretty warm for a supposedly air-cooled sanctum. "What's wrong with your cooling system?" the caller asked the War- ner exec. "Search me," replied Mort, "it worked swell all last winter!" Kuykendall and Bemhard Checking WPB Reorg. (Continued from Page 1) pected to have as serious conse- quences as appeared last week. Al- though the nature of the changes cannot now be revealed, insofar as the organizational setup is concern- ed, there is a possibility that exhibi- tors will have to increase their pa- per work for Washington, that con- trol over theater service will pass to men who have no known industry authorities among them, and that these men will have within their au- tority the right to regulate hours of operation. These are all remote pos- sibilities, it must be emphasized, al- though it is definite that there has been a change in authority over some operations with which theaters are concerned. Training Film Meet in Chi. Chicago— A two-day Mid- Western visual training films meeting has been scheduled for the University of Chicago, Friday and Saturday with exhibits from 20 manufacturers, ac^ cording to W. F. Kruse of Bell & Howell. Lyon Will Appoint Newsreel Contact Man (Continued from Page 1) of the OWI News Bureau, to whom the newsreel assignment has fallen. Lyon worked with the newsreels for several months prior to the forma- tion of OWI, when he was head^of the press section of the OEM Di- vision of Information. Lyon told The Film Daily yes- terday he hopes to have a "corking good newsreel man" put on his staff soon, a man the reels will have com- plete confidence in and who can "talk their language." Although OWI will not maintain a crew and will offer no footage to the reels, Lyon hopes to supply them with a steady flow of good story ideas. He hopes these stories will offer sufficient latitude so that all five reels can go in and shoot and each come out with a dif- ferent story, rather than having "one story and four carbon copies," as he puts it. Sicilian Invasion Shots In Next Week's Newsreelsi (Continued from Page 1) leases. Norman Alley, News of the Day cameraman representing the Al- lied newsreel pool, has arrived here with between 4,000 and 5,000 feet of film. The Navy and Coast Guard! also have brought back considerable footage. Film is said to be now in Wash- ington for reviewing and may be released to the newsreels tomorrow for next week's issues. Army-Navy Receives 12,000 Feet of Film On Sicily Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Twelve thousand feet of news pictures on the Sicilian invasion were received by the Army's Bureau of Public Relations and the Navy here yesterday and will be run off this morning. Eight thousand came from .Army and newsreel pool men in the Mediterranean area, while the other 4,000 was brought back from the Mediterranean by Nor- man Alley, ace cameraman who was with the Navy in the invasion area Drop Wednesday Shows Rochester — Wednesday shows have been dropped for the Summer by the Empress, operated by Harry Tish- koff. Omaha Adopts Curfew Law, Effective July 27 Omaha — The City Council has passed the 10 p.m. curfew ordinance, but still has reached no agreement on a means of warning those undei 16 to get off the streets at 10. The law becomes effective July 27. Commissioner Harry Knudsen sug- gested four air raid sirens be blowr at 10, but Commissioner Roy Tow! objected this might make air raic warnings confusing. The ordinance was introduced tc give police a means to combat a ris- ing tide of juvenile vandalism thai has been common in theaters as wel as in other public places. Parents are made liable with fines running from $1 to $100 or ajail sentence li the penalty is not paid. 10 p.m. Jamestown Curfew Jamestown, N. Y. — Curfew ordi nance has been revived here afte a lapse of several years. Curfei hour is set at 10 p.m. MHH / A ';»v, \ /^ The Strangest Love Story Ever flu \ V * 4 ;\ 0, 'ne of the great love- dramas of today, filmed against a background of flaming destruction! THE THRILLS C 0 MM A WARF •l BLOOD AND SWEAT AND TEARS COMES THIS MEMORABLE DRAMA! ESS?* »• v* i< >**"R. Frank; CORNEL WILDE, "Four Jills and a Jeep," 20th -Fox. VINCENT PRICE, "Woodrow Wilson," 20th- Fox; GRANT MITCHELL. "See Here, Private Har- grvoe," M-C-M ; JACKIE MORAN, "Andy Hardy's Trouble," M-G-M; RONALD GRAHAM, "Greenwich Village," 20th-Fox; WALLY BROWN, ALAN CARNEY, JOHN CARRADINE, ROBERT RYAN, AMELITA WARD and JAMES BELL, "An American Story," RKO; CEORGE GIVOT, "Government Girl," RKO. STORY PURCHASES ARCHIBALD RUTHLEDGE'S "The World's Big- gest Negro Business," 20th-fox. WLLIIAM HARD'S "The Typographical Union: Model for All," 20th-Fox. LOUISE RANDALL PIERSON'S "Roughly Speak- ing," Warners. EILEEN JOHNSTON'S play "Jeanne d'Arc," M- G-M. PAUL GALLICO'S "Romance of Henry Menafee," M-G-M. THOMAS WADLETON'S "Army Brat," M-G-M. BOOTH TARKINGTON'S "Kate Fennigate," Ed- ward Small. FRITZ LIEBER, JR.'s "Conjur Wife," Universal. WALTER GRAHAM'S "A Hundred Girls and a Plane," PRC. LOU BROCK'S "Door to Dardanelles," PRC. "Hold On to Your Hats," M-C-M. H. I. PHILLIPS' "All Out Arlene," Warners. HELEN DE WITT JOHNSTON'S "The Lady of the Lampoon," RKO. RICHARD LLEWELLYN'S "None But the Lonely Heart," RKO. Warners Will Re-issue Six Foran Westerns (Continued from Page 1) Selling of these pictures already has started, and the first three, "Song of the Saddle," "Cherokee Strip" and "Prairie Thunder," are expected to go in release by October. When originally released, about five seasons ago, the Foran pictures received only limited distribution. With the growing scarcity of sec- ond features for double bills, Warner sales executives considered it op- portune to revive the series. Three State Legislatures "Alive" Although Recessed Canadian Sendoff for "Mission" Toronto — Following the Canadian premiere of "Mission to Moscow" at Shea's Theater, executives of 12 prominent Dominion organizations headed by William Dunn, treasurer of the Labor Council and member of the War Labor Board Advisory Com- mittee, joined with Dr. L. T. Morgan, Department of Economics, Univer- sity of Toronto, in sending a tele- gram to Jack L. Warner, commend- ing the picture. TO THE COLORS! • PROMOTED • THOMAS ORCHARD, USNR, former assistant producer, March of Time, promoted to lieutenant commander. Scroll to List Theaters Playing "This is the Army' Jack L. Warner, who arrived in New York on Monday from the Coast, said yesterday that when the company presents the proceeds from Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" to the Army Emergency Relief, the check will be accompanied by a scroll bearing the names of all the- aters that played the pic. Warner, who co-produced "This is the Army" with Hal B. Wallis, is here conferring with Army Relief officials on the Broadway world pre- miere of the picture and the long list of special advanced-price pre- mieres to be held throughout the country following the New York opening. Follies Girl" Into Earle "Follies Girl," the William Row- land Production made for PRC has been booked by the Warner Circuit in Philadelphia to play at the Earle sometime in August. This is the first PRC picture to play at the Earle Theater. (Continued from Page 1) are Missouri, Wisconsin and New Jersey. While a large number of bills af- fecting the motion picture industry were introduced in most states, none of any importance became laws. Most of them either died in com- mittee or failed to reach a committee hearing. The anti-blind checking measure in New Jersey is said to be still alive ijnsofair 'as consideration is (con- cerned, although the odds appear to be overwhelmingly against its pas- sage with only a slight possibility that it will reach a hearing at the coming session. Only Six Starting Bui 50 Shooting IV est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Production's pace slackens again this week with only six new pix getting the gun, but the total before cameras stands at 50. The check-up: At Columbia: Six shooting. At M-G-M : Eight shooting, includ- ing "Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble," with Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Sara Hadan, Herbert Marshall, Bonita Granville, Marta Linden, Lee and Lyn Wilde, Keye Luke and Jean Porter. Carey Wil- son producing and George B. Seitz directing. At Monogram: Two shooting. At Paramount: Six shooting, including the Pine and Thomas Production, "Timber Queen," melodrama of hard-hitting action geared for comedy, starring Richard Arlen and Mary Beth Hughes, with June Havoc, Sheldon Leonard, George E. Stone, Dick Pureell, Tony Hughes, Edmund MacDonald, Bill Haade, Clancy Cooper, Dewey Robinson, Horace McMahon, Jimmy Ames and Al Mur- phy. Frank McDonald directing. At RKO-Kadio: Five shooting, including "Gildersleeve On Broadway," starring Har- old (Gildersleeve) Peary, with Billie Burke in a prominent role. Gordon Douglas di- recting. Sam Goldwyn: Shooting two. At Republic: Two shooting. At 20th Century-Fox: Four shooting. At United Artists: Three shooting, includ- ing Samuel Bronson's "Jack London"; Gregor Rabinoviteh Production, "The Girl From Leningrad"; and, Harry Sherman's "Texas Masquerade," Hopalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd, with Andy Clyde, Jimmie Rogers, Mary Correll, Russell Simp- son, J. Farrell McDonald and June Pick- rell. George Archainbaud directing. At Universal: Seven shooting, including "The Professor Goes Wild," with Grace McDonald, David Bruce, George Dolenz and Lois Collier. Reginald LeBorg directing, Frank Gross, associate producer. At Warners: Five shooting, including the Jesse L. Lasky production, "Rhapsody in Blue," film story of the composer's life, starring Joan Leslie and Robert Alda, with Charles Coburn, Morris Carnovsky, Paul Whiteman, Al Jolson, George White, Oscar Levant, Virginia Sale, Christian Rub and George Riley. Irving Rapper directing. WAC Committee of Seven To Chart NEIC Course (Continued from Page 1) WAC's seven divisions, it was learned yesterday. No immediate action is indicated. In all probability, the ex officio com- mittee will study the NEIC program and setup for several weeks, and pos- sibly a month, before formulating its recommendations. George J. Schaefer is chairman of both the WAC and the NEIC. Preliminary discussion of WAC af- filiation at last week's WAC confer- ence here disclosed a variety of opin- ion on the subject, it is understood. Guilford Drops Matinees Guilford, Conn. — The Guilford Theater, usually looking forward to the Summer season, has cut out all matinees this year. Pleasure driving ban has hurt business severely along this beach section, where summer cottages are far from the theater. Shoot Table Tennis Short A table tennis short, produced by Max Cohen for Columbia, and fea- turing Coleman Clark, former na- tional champion, and Allan Thomas, will go into production this week at the Westchester Country Club, Rye, N. Y. Harry Foster will direct with casting handled by Max Rich- ards. A/C Ray Ellis Dies in Crash of Plane Waco, Tex.— A/C Ray F. Ellis, 20, former page boy at the RKO Radio home office, was killed in a AAF training plane crash Wrij, Monday near this city. The pS^ eighth RKO gold star, Ellis had taken his preliminary training at the Preflight School at San Antonio, and had been trans- ferred to the Army Air Base at Waco only a short time before he met death. 10 w k DAILY Wednesday, July 21, 1943 A -V RCVI6UJS Of THE nCIU FILfllS £• > 'Behind the Rising' Sun" with Margo, Tom Neal, J. Carrol Naish RKO Radio 89 Mins. POWERFUL DRAMATIC EXPOSE OF JAPAN, PACKING ROMANCE, RUGGED ACTION AND BIG PROMOTIONAL VAL- UES. In the welter of war films to date, the chief accent has been upon exposing to the view of freedom-loving millions the nefariousness of the Nazi system, the brutality of its exponents, and the unbridled atrocities of its military machine. But now the full and revealing spotlight has been turned by RKO Radio, through the in- strumentality of James R. Young's re- vealing and authoritative book, upon the Far Eastern end of the Axis, Japan, — termed by Ambassador Joseph Grew as our prime enemy. "Behind the Rising Sun," title of both book and picture, is a stirring account of Japan, both in the present war and in the years immediately pre- ceding the conflict. Let it be clear here and now to exhi- bitors everywhere that this is no pedantic documentary film, but a slash-bang meller, based on facts, which will lift audiences out of their seats as the result of head- long action, stark events, and, at times, breathless excitement and scenes which rouse the onlooker both to indignation and a realization of the fierce foe with whom we are locked in combat in the Pacific sectors. Fundamentally, "Behind the Rising Sun" is something of a companion piece to the heavy-grossing "Hitler's Children" in that it dramatically discloses the nature of the Japanese militarists; their credo as a feudal class that the common man must be kept in bondage; that they are destined to rule the whole world; that the youth of the nation must be harnessed and educated for global conquest; and that the releasing of the most unspeakable manifestations of savagery is justified means to an end. The story which the picture recounts is of an American-educated Japanese boy who assimilates and finally champions the tenets of the ruling privileged social and military class; sacrifices all decency and honor, save to the system he embraces; and finally, after bearing despicable false- witness against the girl he professes to love, and against his American friends residing in Tokyo, meets death in the plane he is piloting as U. S. bombers blast the Japanese capital. There are bristling sequences of tortures and kindred cruelties against the American foreign colony and the helpless people of invaded China. But neither Young nor his cine- matic interpreters have failed to show the redeeming fact that the underprivileged citizens of Japan possess decency, and are the repository of potential democracy who will have their day when the war lords are finally defeated. Naturally the casting of the film pre- sented problems, but, none the less, the story is convincing. Margo, as the good- hearted daughter of a lower-class family, is truest to type. Tom Neal does well as the central male character, notwithstand- ing dissimilarity to a Japanese ethnologi- cally. J. Carrol Naish plays creditably the part of the liberal Japanese publisher "Coastal Command" RKO 62 Mins. BRITISH DOCUMENTARY FILM DE- PICTS WORK OF COASTAL COMMAND OF RAF IN SUPERB FASHION. The work of the Coastal Command of the RAF is depicted most effectively in this production made by the Crown Film Unit, producers of British war films re- membered gratefully for that superb docu- mentary, "Target for Tonight." The film under discussion is an ex- cellent documentary in which the heroism of the members of the Coastal Command is shown dramatically but without resort to hysterics. There is nothing in this film that smacks of fakery. The realiza- tion that everything in the production is real lends a "Coastal Command" a fas- cination that it would not have had other- wise. One gets an impression of cool ef- ficiency from observing the men of the Coastal Command in action. The film's matter-of-fact quality is one of its strong- est attractions. One cannot help but be immensely im- pressed at the sight of the British guardians of the air going quietly about their danger- ous every-day task of spotting submarines and other hostile forces that threaten Great Britain's lines of supply. Most of the footage in the film is de- voted to the work of the crew of a Sunderland flying boat in trading and put- ting out of action a cruiser raiding British shipping. The stalking of the German raider creates moments of high excitement. The identities of those who appear in the film are clouded in anonymity. The cast is made up wholly of British service personnel attached to the Coastal Com- mand of the RAF. The film was made under the supervision of Ian Dalrymple with the full co-operation of the RAF and the British Navy. The direction of J. B. Holmes is simple and direct. It is to be praised for permitting of no mock heroics. Jonah Jones' photography is graphic and represents a first-rate job. who at length commits hara-kari for his having so blindly espoused the cause of tyranny. Supporting cast is adequate, Edward Dmytryk's direction peppy, and Russell Metty's photography good. One of the attraction's highlights is the fight between Robert Ryan, an American athlete, and Mike Mazurki, cast as a Jap wrestler. Film should drag in plenty of coin wherever played. It has big promo- tional possibilities. CAST: Margo, Tom Neal, J. Carrol Naish, Robert Ryan, Gloria Holden, Don Douglas, George Givot, Adeline DeWalt Reynolds, Leonard Strong, Iris Wong, Wolf- gang Zilzer, Shirley Lew, Benson Fong, Lee Tung Foo, Mike Mazurki. CREDITS: Director, Edward Dmytryk; Author, James R. Young; Original Screen- play, Emmett Lavery; Cameraman, Russell Metry; Special Effects, Vernon L. Walker; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinikoff; Set Decorations, Darrell Silvera, Claude Car- penter; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agos- tino, Al Herman; Recorded by James G. Stewart; Film Editor, Joseph Noriega; Assistant Director, Ruby Rosenberg. DIRECTION, Peppy. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. 'Bar 20' with William Boyd, Andy Clyde UA 54 MINS. FAST-FACED WESTERN HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO PLEASE HORSE-AND- SADDLE FANS. "Bar 20," Harry Sherman's latest addi- tion to the Hopalong Cassidy series, has more than enough to please the horse-and- saddle fans. Action is pretty constant throughout and there is plenty of excite- ment to keep western devotees on the alert. The film marks the debut of a new member of the trio around whom the action centers in the series. He is George Reeves, who replaces Jay Kirby. As the youthful member of the team, Reeves shows himself to be a personable fellow in his initial role in a Hopalong film. Once more Victor Jory is the chief villain, whom he plays ac- ceptably. The entire cast, in fact, is good, as westenrs go. Andy Clyde gets plenty of laughs, as usual. Some of the other players are Dustine Farnum, Douglas Fowley, Betty Blythe, Bob Mitchum, Francis McDonald. While the plot of "Bar 20" is old stuff, it has been developed with a world of punch. Jory is not suspected as being the crux of all the villainy until Boyd, Clyde and Reeves enter the picture by rescuing Miss Blythe and Miss Farnum, mother and daughter, from a group of brigands who get away with jewelry to be used at Miss Farnum's wedding to Mitchum, to whom the stuff belongs. Jory holds the jewelry for ransom in a plot to get a few acres of land belonging to Miss Farnum and her mother. Several innocent persons fall under suspicion, among them Mitchum and Boyd and his pals, before the jewels are recovered and everything is cleared up. Harry Sherman produced the film well, having had the benefit of capable direction by Lesley Selander. Morton Grant, Norman Houston and Michael Wilson collaborated on the screen play. Lewis J. Rachmil was associate producer. CAST: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, George Reeves, Dustine Farnum, Victor Jory, Douglas Fowley, Betty Blythe, Bob Mitchum, Francis McDonald, Earle Hodgins. CREDITS: Producer, Harry Sherman; Di- rector, Lesley Selander; Screenplay, Morton Grant, Norman Houston, Michael Wilson; Associate Producer, Lewis J. Rachmil; Cameraman, Russell Harlan; Art Director, Ralph Berger; Film Editor, Carrol Lewis; Sound, Jack Noyes; Set Decorator, Emil Kuri. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Press Safety Inspection Of All P. R. Pix Houses San Juan P. R. (By Air Mail) — All theaters in Puerto Rico are be- ing inspected from the standpoint of public safety by order of Lo- renzo J. Noa, Insular Superinten- dent of Insurance. Government inspectors already have visited all towns and cities be- longing to the districts of Humacao, Guayama and San Juan, where the largest motion picture houses are located. The district of Arecibo is about wholly inspected. Work will soon begin in Mayaguez, Ponce, and Aguadilla. "Petticoat Larceny" with Joan Carroll, Ruth Warrick RKO 61 Mins. MISS CARROLL'S YOUTHFUL APPEAL HELPS MAKE THIS FAIR FAMILY EN- TERTAINMENT; LAUGHS BOOST FJ lo U Joan Carroll's youthful charm shoulc much to put over this film as family en- tertainment in the neighborhood theaters. The production is a fair little comedy in which most of the laughs are dished out by a trio of crooks played by Tom Ken- nedy, Jimmy Conlin and Vince Barnett. As a child star in radio melodramas who rebels at her material, Miss Carroll is the focus of attention in this picture. The girl who lives with her aunt (Ruth War- wick), abandons home and takes up with Kennedy, Conlin and Barnett with the idea of learning how crooks really act and talk. Her disappearance creates a furor. The search for her is led by Walter Reed, publicist for the broadcast- ing company by which Miss Carroll is employed. Discovery of Miss Carroll's identity inspires an ex-convict (Paul Guil- foyle) to kidnap the youngster. The girl is rescued with the help of Kennedy, Conlin and Barnett, who by now have turned honest as a result of their asso- ciation with the child. Miss Carroll's prank has the effect of obtaining better material for her. Worked into the story is a romance between Miss Warwick and Reed. The acting is adequate for the purposes of a film such as this. Ben Holmes' direction makes for plenty of action and swiftness of pace. Bert Gilroy produced the film from a screenplay by Jack Townley and Stuart Palmer. CAST: Ruth Warwick, Joan Carroll, Walter Reed, Wally Brown, Tom Kennedy, Jimmy Conlin, Vince Barnett, Paul Guil- foyle, Grant Withers, Earl Dewey, Charles Coleman, Cliff Clark. CREDITS: Producer, Bert Gilroy; Director, Ben Holmes; Screenplay, Jack Townley, Stuart Palmer; Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinikoff; Camera- man, Frank Redman; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller; Set Decora- tors, Darrell Silvera, Al Fields; Sound, John C. Grubb; Film Editor, Harry Marker. DIRECTION, All Right, PHOTAGRA- PHY, Okay. "Land of Liberty" Still Getting Bows for Trade They still talk about "Land of Liberty," Charles Francis "Socker" Coe, vice-president and general coun- sel of MPPDA, said yesterday in discussing his trip to the West Coast. In big cities or small towns the story is the same; warm tribute to the producers who contributed the film, the distributors who handled it and the exhibitors who showed it, often as a purely patriotic gesture, according to Coe. "Personally," Coe added, "I think the saga of 'Land of Liberty' epi- tomizes the contribution our entire industry can make when exhibitors, producers and distributors extend a I joint effort." Wednesday, July 21, 1943 TIC 11 DAILY Ohio Exhib. Com. to Tie In with L of D Todelo, O. — Formation of what he termed a "conference committee" to take quick action on motion pictures classified as "C" (condemned) by ^N'-ional Legion of Decency head- ers in New York City has been proposed by Martin Smith, presi- dent of the ITO of Ohio. Smith said that he would appoint Leo T. Jones, Upper Sandusky, to take initial steps for the formation of such committees in the five dio- ceses of the state. Jones, a member of St. Peter Parish, operates the- aters in Upper Sandusky, Forest and Carey. The committee plan calls for or- ganization in each Ohio diocese of a group composed of Catholic lay- men who have no connection with the motion picture business, a num- ber of Catholic theater owners and a number of non-Catholic operators. Representation on the committee of theater exhibitors would provide te necessary connection with mo- tion picture distributors, Smith said. If the bishops were favorable, a diocesan representative would be in- vited to assist them. He believes that immediate action could be affected by such a commit- tee upon telegraphic receipt of C classifications from the national headquarters of the Legion of De- cency. He emphasized that only prompt notification from the Legion of Decency would enable the com- mittee to take immediate action to dispose of what he called "quick dates." Action of the ITO is an aftermath of the showing in Toledo of the C version of "Lady of Burlesque" by Loew's Valentine, Loew's Esquire, the Palace and the Colony. Follow- ing ignoring of a public protest by Toledo Council of Catholic Women, Toledo Deanery, the four theaters were penalized for three summer months by the women's organiza- tion. Jones said that the showing of "Lady of Burlesque" in Toledo by Loew's Valentine was on a quick date arrangement. This means, he said, that the United Artists office in Cleveland had permission to begin the first-run of the picture before cuts ordered by the Ohio Board of Censors could be effected. WB Managers to Vacation New Haven — Warner Theater man- agers from this zone vacationing as of July 24 include R. Mailer of the Strand, New Britain; E. Daley, Strand, Amesbury, and J. Melincoff, Warner, Lawrence. Shields' Kent to Evans Seattle, Wash. — Ernie Shields has sold the Kent theater to R. B. Evans, former operator of the Che- ney in Cheney. Shields plans a i lengthy vacation for his health. reviews of new fums "Heaven Can Wait" with Gene Tierney, Don Ameche 20th-Fox 112 Mins. ACTING, PRODUCTION, TREATMENT, PHOTOGRAPHY MAKES THIS LUBITSCH COMEDY FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAIN- MENT. Everything about "Heaven Can Wait" points to grosses beyond the ordinary. Twentieth-Fox has taken extraordinary pains and spent lavishly to insure the pre- sentation to exhibitors of a film abounding with entertainment of the sort that stirs audiences to an enthusiastic pitch. The film is notable for a number of things. Chief among these are the story treatment, the acting, the camera work, the direction and the settings. The treatment is grown-up in keeping with the heme of he film. Here the Ernst Lubitsch influence is extremely noticeable. It mani- fests itself in the smart, sophisticated quality of the diversion — a quality that marks heavily the Lubitsch talent. The acting in this swell piece of en- tertainment is something to rejoice over. The roles have been lightly acted. Attractive indeed is the work of Gene Tierney and Don Ameche in the starring parts and of Charles Coburn, Spring Byington, Al- lyn Joslyn, Eugene Pallette, Marjorie Main, Laird Cregar, Signe Hasso, Louis Calhern and others in lesser assignments. One of the supreme delights of the film is the Technicolor photography, which makes "Heaven Can Wait" a great visual treat. Credit in this department must go to Edward Cronjager. The picture owers a tremendous debt to the direction of Lubitsch, who has ex- tracted a full measure of wit and satire from the Samson Raphaelson adaptation of the Lazlo Bus-Fekete play which forms the basis of the production. The Lubitsch touch is evident in the gay, tongue-in-cheek nature of the story. Another vital asset of the picture is its settings, which are rich, expensive and authentic-looking. Here the bow goes to Art Directors James Basevi and Leland Fuller and Set Decorator Thomas Little. The story takes the character played by Ameche from birth to death, a span of 70 years. It opens with Ameche apply- ing for admission to Hell on the strength of his romantic escapades. The Devil de- cides he is not a fit subject for Hell and dispatches him to Heaven. Lubitsch, doubling as producer, has given the picture a classy production. CAST: Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, Charles Coburn, Marjorie Main, Laird Cregar, Spring Byington, Allyn Joslyn Eugene Pallette, Signe Hasso, Louis Cal- hern, Helene Reynolds, Aubrey Mather, Michael Ames, Leonard Carey, Clarence Muse, Dickie Moore, Dickie Jones, Trudy Marshall, Florence Bates, Clara Blandick, Anita Bolster, Nino Pipitone, Jr., Claire Du Brey, Maureen Rodin-Ryan. CREDITS: Producer, Ernst Lubitsch; jager; Musical Score, Alfred Newman; Art Directors, James Basevi, Leland Fuller; Set Director, Thomas Little; Film Editor, Dorothy Spencer; Special Effects, Fred Sersen; Sound, Eugene Grossman, Roger Director, Ernst Lubitsch; Screenplay Samson Raphaelson; Based on play by Lazlo Bus-Fekte; Cameraman, Edward Cron- Heman. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. * SHORTS * "The Fly In The Ointment" (Phantasy Cartoon) Columbia 7 Mins. Inconsequential Mildly diverting fare, recounting the tiff between a tough-guy fly, who finds himself caught in a fierce spider's web, and the occupant there- of. Something of an 0. Henry twist is injected at the finale when the fly is all set to devour the spider. Set it down as a run-of-the-mine cartoon without much specific interest. Oc- casionally the dialogue and some of the animation are above the dull level. "North Star" for Russ Showing John S. Young, personal aide to Admiral William H. Standley, has requested a print of Samuel Gold- wyn's "The North Star" for earliest possible showing to high Soviet of- ficials at the American Embassy in Moscow. Still shooting, the film will not be ready for release before Fall, at which time a print will be made available to Ambassador Standley. OWI Will Continue As "Clearing House" (Continued from Page 1) agencies wishing the industry to dis- tribute and exhibit war information films. A Washington dispatch to the contrary was published yesterday. A formal request from Palmer Hoyt, newly-appointed Director of the Domestic Branch of the OWI, arrived at WAC headquarters, sub- mitting the 47-minute War Depart- ment Technicolor film, "Report From the Aleutians," and requesting that it be made available to motion pic- ture theaters desiring to play it. Total of 194 prints of this film are available for theatrical use, pro- vided the Program Committee of the Theaters Division approves this film, which is being screened for lo- cal members of this committee to- day at 4 p.m. Members of the Dis- tributors Division are also attending this showing. This is the first official communi- cation received at WAC headquart- ers since Hoyt's appointment as head of the Domestic Branch, and marks a resumption of the intimate rela- tionship between the OWI and WAC which has existed since the estab- lishment of the OWI over a year ago. «^f" [ROY ROGERS TRIGGER \ KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN WE MOVIES in 'SONG OF TEXAS' A \ REPUBLIC PICTURE^ auVoMJA TWns /toot"** msT run &oop MR*, P£44fa, Deanna Durbin completes her romantic coming-of-age in "Hers to Hold/' In the process she brings untold joy to her admirers and promises of heavy grosses to the exhibitor. In her latest film Miss Durbin stands forth a fully-blossomed personality with a warmth, a poise and an assurance never before flashed by the singing star. Also evident are considerable growth as an actress and development along comedy lines that is a pleasant surprise. Pitted against players like Joseph Cotten and Charles Winninger, she gives an account of herself of which she may well be proud. The convincing quality of her portrayal of a rich girl in love with an aviator of no financial or social standing bears witness to the expansion of her talents." — n deanna DURBIN Joseph GOTTEN Directed by FRANK RYAN • Produced by FELIX JACKSON • Associate Producer, FRANK SHAW* (A tel, AHJttt CHARLES WINNINBEF Evelyn Ankers Gus Schilling Nel la Walker Ludwig Stosse) Screen Play by Lewis R. Foster Based on a story by John D. Klorer Theater Men Won't Suffer By WPB Adjustments THE Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought {See Column 2 Below) -1? DAILY The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old ffi. 84, NO. 15 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1943 TEN CENTS REPORTJONSENT DECREE TO BE RENEWED Local 306 Takes Empire's Members Into the Fold Indie Union Continues as Legal Entity Until Cent- ury Case is Determined Ending 12 years of bitter labor strife, local 306, Operators, yester- day accepted into membership and merged with the Empire State Mo- tion Operators Union, a New York State chartered indie organization. Local 306 added the 234 men of the Empire to its membership of 2,155. Formal exchange of documents end- ing the long labor battle were made in the office and witnessed by Mayor F. H. LaGuardia. With the merger 100% union- (Continued on Page 6) Harold Field Adds Six Iowa Theaters Des Moines, la. — In one of the big- gest theater deals in Iowa during recent years, the Harold D. Field in- terests of St. Louis Park, Minn., pur- shased six houses in the state. The deal included the Lake, Tracy and Vista theaters at Storm Lake, owned by George Norman, and the {Continued on Page 9) Ecuadorean Rep. Lauds Industry's War Job West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The motion picture in- dustry is doing a great job toward ouilding better understanding be- tween all members of the United Na- (Continued on Page 7) WFA Bans AAA Use of Motion Pictures Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — "Preparing, dis- tributing or exhibiting motion pic- tures" is prohibited under a gag placed on the 200,000 State and County employes and committeemen of the Agricultural Administration Agency by the War Food Adminis- tration. The gag prevents discus- sion by the AAA agents of the Government's farm programs. Tele. Ready For Post War Market Television receivers in any de- sired size, with screens from six to 24 inches wide, will be available as soon as it is possible to recon- vert radio manufacturing plants after the war, Ralph R. Beal, research director of RCA said yesterday. "Unquestionably," he commented "television receiving sets will be within the range of the average pocketbook and we expect to be able to do a good job of program- ming without too many awkward growing pains." Beal noted that it is impractical to name the price range of television receivers at this time. Kuykendall Unworried By WPB Reorg. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Confidence in the continuation of amicable and mutual- ly helpful relations between WPB and American theater owners was predicted yesterday by Ed Kuyken- dall, MPTOA head, in Washington in order to keep apprised of the {Continued on Page 6) Polio Epidemic Increases Throughout Texas Area Dallas — With polio cases increas- ing and new points of incidence re- ported daily, theater box-offices in (Continued on Page 7) Several Changes to be Embodied in the Provisions Of Decree After Nov. 20, According to Report; No Indication as to Effect of Exhib. Recommendations Renewal of the consent decree in the New York equity case with several changes in its provisions looms as the assured procedure after Nov. 20, it was reported reliably yesterday. While there has been no official an- nouncement as to the Department of Justice's intentions, sources close to the situation have indicated that the decree will be continued. What the changes in the decree will be have not been disclosed, but it is understood that some revisions in the arbitration system are on the docket. A thorough study of the (Continued mi Page 9) Metro Seb Up New Exhib. Aid Program M-G-M has no desire to roll up profits at the expense of exhibitor losses, Howard Dietz, director of promotion, said yesterday in com- menting on the company's decision to set aside $125,000 to be used for exploitation and promotional aids for its customers in adversely af- fected areas. Decision was made at the recent two-day conference of sales executives, district managers and publicity and advertising repre- sentatives. Small town theater men whose (Continued on Page 5) Para. Sets Sales Record With Single Block of Pix Paramount established an all-time sales record on a single block of pic- tures during the last three weeks when 3,202 independent contracts were signed for the sixth and last group for 1942-43, Neil Agnew, gen- eral sales manager, announced yes- terday. This is more than double the previous high mark established on the fifth group, he said. Each individual week of Block 6 (Continued on Page 6) Sees Larger Far East Market War Giving Better Knowledge of U. S. Urges Stricter Policing Of Ail-Night Theaters Detroit — A strong recommendation for better policing of all-night the- aters, especially along Woodward Ave. follows the first inquiry into (Continued on Page 8) Developments born of the war will have the effect of improving the Far East tremendously as a market for American film product, it was pre- dicted yesterday by Nick Perry, Co- lumbia's managing director for Aus- tralia and New Zealand and super- visor for the Far East, who is on (Continued on Page 7) rr Aleutian" Okay No Tip to OWI's Policy Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Palmer Hoyt, OWI Domestic Director, said yesterday that his approval of the long version of the Army's "Report from the Aleutians" for public showing des- (Continued on Page 6) Chaplin Suing Selznick, Others on 20th-Fox Deal Institution of a suit by Charles Chaplin, in his own behalf and that of all United Artists stockholders, against David O. Selznick, UA, 20th- (Continued on Page 9) Visions Expanded Australian Field Post war possibilities for American films in Australia yesterday were de- scribed as "immense" by Nick Perry, Columbia managing director for Aus- tralia and New Zealand. He noted that patronage is now so good he fears a saturation point is being reached in view of the duration ban on new theater building. Perry sees no reason to believe that Australia will not defreeze American film funds as have other British Empire nations. TO* WW DAILY Thursday, July 22, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 15 Thurs., July 22, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. Copyright, 1943, by THE FILM DAILY (Wid's Films and Film Folk) FINANCIAL (Wednesday, July 21) NEW YORK STOCK High Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. <2'/2%> I8I/4 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2% Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. . 17 East. Kodak 167 do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq 21 S/8 Loew's, Inc 62% Paramount 29 MARKET Net Low Close Chg. I8I/4 181/4 + % 'i% "vk :\::: 167/8 17 +l/4 67 167 — i/2 RKO 9% RKO $6 pfd 93 20th Century-Fox . . 23 1/2 20th Century-Fox pfd. 33% Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 15 do pfd NEW YORK BOND Para. B'way. 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros. dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB Monogram Picts 3% RKO War 1% Sonotone Corp 3% Technicolor 15% Trans-Lux 21% 215/8 + i/4 623/8 623/4 + % 281/2 29 + 1/2 91/s 93/8 92 93 — 1/2 231/s 231/2 33i/2 335/s + i/s 14% 147/8 MARKET ' MARKET 31/2 31/2 1% 1% 3% 37/8 H3/4 147/B MANPOWER YES, WE BELIEVE WE CAN SUPPLY GRADED MANPOWER TO FILL ANY VACANCY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. CALL— FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, IN.C (Agency) 331 Madison Ave. (43rd St.), New York MUrray hill 2-6494 cominc (MD G0MG CHARLES BETHELL, manager and operator of the Cinema Savoy, Nassau, Bahamas, is in Miami looking up bookings. HARRY COHN starts back to the Coast to- morrow. PETER COLLI, Warners Central American supervisor, is in New York from Havana. ARTHUR SACHSON, Warners' assistant gen- eral sales manager returned yesterday from the Coast. BEN KALMENSON and other home office execs who attended the regional sales meeting in San Francisco are making stopovers on the way East. IRVING BERLIN arrived in New York yesterday afternoon by plane from the Coast -to be on hand for the world premiere of his Warner film, "This is the Army." STEVE . BROIDY, Monogram vice-prexy, and N. EDWARD MOREY left yesterday for Boston; they will return to New York early next week. PETE ROSIAN is here from Cincinnati. JOE WALSH, RKO Pathe director, has re- turned to his desk from Indianapolis where he shot scenes at the Riviera Swimming Club for a subsequent "Sportscope." MATT SAUNDERS, Poli, Bridgeport manager, is off for a vacation in Chicago. LOUIS B. MAYER and HOWARD STRICK- LINC are expected to arrive here from the Coast over the week-end. ERNST LUBITSCH leaves the Coast tomorrow for New York. NORMAN ELSON returns tomorrow from Washington. FORTUNAT BARONAT goes to Hollywood to- morrow. NORMAN AYERS, Eastern district manager for Warners, was in New York yesterday conferring with Arthur Sachson, Jules Lapidus and other home office executives. HARRY CRAHAM is in town from Atlanta. W. F. RCDCERS returns from Chicago tomor- row. HOWARD DIETZ, SI SEADLER and BILLY FERGUSON arrived from Chicago yesterday. E. M. SAUNDERS, E. K. O'SHEA, A. F. CUMMINGS, EDDIE AARON and HAROLD POST- MAN return to New York today. H. M. RICHEY comes in from Washington to- morrow. WILLIAM J. GERMAN, vice-president and treasurer of J. E. Brulatour, Inc., left yesterday for Rochester. IRVINC DOLLINGER and his wife are on a Canadian lake cruise. HARRY LOWENSTEIN is vacationing at Schroon Lake. Republic Opens Studio Sales Conference Today West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Republic's third and final sales meeting in company's current series opens today at the studio, with sessions concluding to- morrow night. Herbert J. Yates, Sr., President James R. Grainger, Western District Sales Manager F. A. Bateman, and exchange-men from this district will participate in dis- cussions similarly to those recently held in New York and Chicago. Among chief topics will be the new season's product, promotion plans for future deluxe attractions, and the continuing promotional sup- port accorded to Roy Rogers, with emphasis on standout success of the campaign in Chicago. Following exchange reps, will at- tend the meetings today and tomor- row: Franchise Holder J. T. Shef- field, Northwest territory; Branch Managers F. M. Higgins, Seattle; J. H. Sheffield, Portland; Gene Ger- base, Denver; H. C. Fuller, Salt Lake City; John Frey, Los Angeles; and Sid Weisbaum, San Francisco. William Saal and Charles Reed Jones of the home office are attend- ing the studio meeting also. "Stormy Weather" Opens Big "Stormy Weather," 20th-Fox mus- ical, yesterday opened at the Roxy and the Alhambra, uptown, to rec- ord crowds, it was announced by Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of sales. At the Roxy, the opening day figure equalled that of "Coney Island," company's biggest grosser to date. Twins Die at Birth Bridgeport, Conn. — Vincent Pal- meri, manager of the Merritt, Bridge- port, lost his twin sons at birth. Morrison Cites "Progress' On Departure for Coast Charles Morrison, who recently journeyed to New York in the inter- ests of setting up his own motion picture producing outfit with James J. Walker as its president, declared last night as he left with Mrs. Morrison on their return trip to Hollywood that progress has been made with reference to his project. He denied reports current in trade circles that he is talking a specific association deal with any one major distribution outfit, and indicated that details essential to such a move have not been completed by him. "There are many considerations re- maining to be settled,' Morrison said, "such as literary and other properties, directors, writers, etc., and it will take two months, and possibly more, for me to set up these and additional organization angles." Walker, he pointed out, has definite commitments to fulfill before he could take over firm's helm. "In the meanwhile," he added, "we will coast along putting plans in shape." Hughes Detroit House Set for Aug. 15 Bow Detroit — Opening date of Aug. 15 has been tentatively set by Howard Hughes, for the Downtown theater. The 2,000-seat first-run house has been dark six years. Re-seating is being completed this week, and total cost of remodeling will run about $60,000. House will use stage shows, in addition to independent or other film product, George McCall, How- ard Hughes' representative, dis- closed here. Opening run of "The Outlaw" is expected to run eight to 10 weeks, followed by the stage show policy. AGVA to Discuss 20% Tax With Treasury Steps to lighten the burden placed upon the variety artist by the pres- ent application of the 20 per cent withholding tax are being sought by the American Guild of Variety Ar- tists. To this end executives of the Guild will visit Washington to dis- cuss the situation with the Treasury Department. AGVA will sugr ' +. that the variety performer be mitted to deduct immediate and cur- rent expenses incurred on any en- gagement before deduction of the withholding levy. AGVA's contention is that it is unfair to deduct the 20 per cent tax from a performer's gross salary without first making provision for agent's commissions and other dis- bursements the variety artist is com- pelled to make by the nature of his work. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Lena HORNE Bill ROBINSON Cab CALLOWAY and his band sm&#. & # A 20th CENTUDY FOX PICTURE P O X Y 7> 84, NO. 16 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1943 TEN CENTS MPTOAUNITS TO TRY^ CONCILIATION PLAN Chaplin's Selznick Accounting Suit Asks Million Editorial "What's in. ... a name?" = By CHESTER B. BAHN = WHAT'S in a name?" ... If the ghost of the Bard still has a lingering doubt, it — or, if you prefer, he — might profit by cogitating Metro's announcement of the week that the company has appropriated an initial $125,000 budget to be expended sole- ly and especially for exploitation and promo- tional aids to its small-town customers hard hit by conditions arising from the war. . . . For verily, it is not for nothing that Metro's other name in this industry is "the friendly company." . . . • METRO'S approach to the pressing and frequently acute problem of the "little fellow" is an distinctive as is its action in setting aside a specific sum for the given purpose. . . . The import of Howard Dietz's comment, "We intend to stimulate trade in every section of the country that has suffered from the shifting of population during these abnormal times," will not escape the observant. . . . Efforts to amelior- ate the plight of the exhib. in situations where the war has taken its toll of movie- goers heretofore have been largely of the "adjustment" variety. . . . There's nothing wrong with that, of course. . . . • DUT the new Metro approach may be ** still better. . . . Perhaps a more inten- sive exploitation and promotion campaign in those spots where business has fallen off sharply under the impact of war-time con- ditions can restore and maintain box-office levels. . . . It's possible, surely. . . . And in that connection, you need only recall how there were those who cried out that with the loss of the foreign market, all was lost. . . . Yet more thorough cultivation of the domestic market by distributors and exhibitors alike has raised company earnings to peak figures. ... Of course, war-time prosperity has helped — that's patent and cheerfully conceded. . . . • DUT equally patent is the fact that the ^ industry, put to the test, found itself a new audience of 5,000,000 weekly in a year. ... It could be that there are still more where those millions came from. . . . Metro's experiment, within a reasonable period, may provide the answer. . . . And this columnar commentator has a hunch that the $125,000 — note it's a starting bud- get— will prove one of the best investments (Continued on Page 2) Complaint Turns Spotlight On Selznick-UA Agree- ment, 20th-Fox Named Suit was formally filed yesterday in New York Supreme Court by Charles Chaplin, suing on his behalf and all other stockholders of United Artists Corp. similarly situated, against David O. Selznick, David O. Selznick Productions, Inc., Vanguard Films, Inc., Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. and United Artists Corp. Complaint charges that David O. Selznick and David O. Selznick Pro- ductions in the latter part of 1942 sold, assigned and transferred lit- (Continued on Page 6) Adult Delinquency Northwest Problem Pittsburgh 1st Runs Tilt Prices a Dime Pittsburgh — Effective over the week-end and with the change of current programs, Loew's Penn, Stan- ley, Warner, J. P. Harris, Senator, Fulton and Ritz Theaters, all first- run downtown houses, increased their adult admission prices by approxi- mately 10 cents; children's admis- sions remain the same. Kansas-Missouri Ass'n Among First to Sponsor Dispute Settling Method Soviet Purchases Warners' "Moscow Portland, Ore. — Adult delinquency is as great if not greater problem than juvenile vandalism and hood- lumism in this territory, with cir- cuit executives and house managers reporting theater maintenance as a result one continuing headache. As an example of what operators (Continued on Page 7) McConville Names O'Mal- ley Foreign Ad-Pub. Head Joseph A. McConville, Columbia vice-president and foreign manager, yesterday announced the appoint- ment of David A. O'Malley as direc- tor of foreign advertising and pub- (Continued on Page 4) The Soviet Government has pur- chased "Mission to Moscow" for dis- tribution in Russia and a master print is now en route there by air, it was learned authoritatively yes- terday in the wake of published sto- ries to the effect that Premiere Sta- lin had nixed the Warner pic as re- leased in the U. S. for exhibition within the Soviets. Considerable confusion as to exact (Continued on Page 7) Hearst-Sponsored Festival As "Rising Sun" Send-Off Boston — A new twist in premiere bally, RKO Radio will launch "Be- hind the Rising Sun" here to the accompaniment of a giant War Bond boxing-wrestling-musical festival in Boston's Garden, the latter curtain- raiser set for Aug. 1, two days ah«ad (Continued on Page 6) Affirm Gary Case Dismissal Appeal Board Hits Combined Actions $22,000-Plus for Army Relief from Pic's Debut World premiere of Warners' film version of "This Is the Army" at the Hollywood next Wednesday will yield Army Emergency Relief well in ex- cess of $22,000. Ticket sale alone will hit that figure, while proceeds from the program will swell it. Practice of combining in one ar- bitration proceeding two separate and distinct causes of action against separate and distinct defendants and interveners was criticized by the ar- bitration appeal board which af- firmed an arbitrator's decision dis- missing the clearance case filed by the Palace Theater, Gary, Ind. Complainant had named some of (Continued on Page 4) Use of conciliation before resort- ing to arbitration will be tried by some MPTOA units shortly, it was reported yesterday. Among the first to adopt conciliation is the Kansas- Missouri Theater Association which is sponsoring its first conciliated complaint this month. It is reported that the Charlotte, N. C, unit has been practicing con- ciliation for some time without any publicity and it appears likely that the system will be taken up more (Continued on Page 4) McMurphey Gets OCR Amusement Post Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Exhibitors will deal hereafter with George W. McMur- phey on matters affecting theater operation. McMurphey, with long experience in Government, most re- (Continued on Page 6) Report Pickford-Gordon Close for "Junior Miss" An agreement whereby Mary Pickford and Max Gordon will ac- quire the screen rights to "Junior Miss" was reportedly reached yes- (Continued on Page 7) 36-40 for 20th-Fox as Budget Skyrockets West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Boosting its budget to an all-time high of $41,000,000, 30 per cent more than the top figure in the past, 20th-Fox will make a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 40 features for 1943-44, according to production plans finalized here by Spyros Skouras and Joseph M. Schenck with Darryl F. Zanuck. Peak allocations go to Wendell L. Willkie's "One World" and "Wilson," both of which Zanuck will personally pro- duce. THE' iynw k DAILY Vol. 84, No. 16 Fri., July 23, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : : : : : : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. _ Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL, {Thursday, July 22) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High low Close Chg. 163,4 1634 163/4 + l/4 ) 181/2 181/2 18l/2 + l/4 Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. <2'/2% Columbia Picts. pfd.. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. . East. Kodak do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO$6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd, Univ. iPict. pfd Warner Bros do pfd 23/4 23/4 23/4 — l/8 17 1634 17 16734 1671/2 1673/4 + 3/4 215/8 21 3/g 213/g — 1/4 63 625/g 63 + 1/4 291/s 2834 29 91/2 91/4 91/4 — i/8 94 93 93 231/2 231/4 233/g - i/8 333/4 331/2 333/4 + 1/s 15 I43/4 I43/4 — 1/g NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. 8-way 3s55.... 771/2 77i/2 77i/2 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... 354 354 35/8 — i/8 RKO war 1% 134 134 Sonotone Corp 3% 334 3% Technicolor 15% 15y8 15% + 3/8 Trans-Lux 3i/8 2% 2% — 14 Universal Picts. vtc. 18'/4 18V4 I81/4 N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Met. Playhouse, Inc. 2nd deb. '45 Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 Ampa's Membership Com. Headed by Paul Benjamin Ampa's membership committee for the new year, announced yesterday by President Vincent Trotta, em- braces Paul Benjamin, NSS, chair- man; Phil Laufer, Rivoli; Jonas Rosenfield, 20th-Fox; Blanche Liv- ingston, RKO; Fred Odium, Broad- way Uptown, and William McKee, Ross Federal Service. "What's In... . . . a name?" (Continued from Page 1) that Leo the Lion, et al (meaning essen- tially William F. Rodgers and Howard Dietz) have made. . . . • INCIDENTALLY, it might be, in fact, it ' should be noted, that Metro does not stand alone to benefit from the investment. . . . If it turns up a host of new customers or increases the frequency of film attendance by the established house clientele, the bene- fits generally will be spread around Metro's competitors as well. . . . That's important, too, although Metro's announcement mod- estly spoke only of its desire to aid "exhib- itors whose prosperity is considered by M-G-M so important to the community life of America." Buffalo Theaters Files As Basil Intervenor Buffalo — _ Buffalo Theaters,' "Inc., has filed as intervenor in two clear- ance cases brought by Basil Bros. Theaters. On behalf of Shea's North Park and Shea's Kensington, Buf- falo, it intervened in case brought for Basil's Varsity, and on behalf of Shea's Bellvue, Niagara Falls, it in- tervened in case brought for Basil's LaSalle, Niagara Falls. The five signers of the New York consent de- cree are defendants in both actions. In the Varsity case, Basil asked reduction of clearance of four to ten days favoring Schine's Granada to immediately after the Granada. S. G. Theater Corporation, Gloversville, for the Granada, and Dipson The- aters, Inc., for the Amherst inter- vened previously. In the LaSalle case, Basil asked reduction of present clearance of 35 days favoring the Bellvue, Cataract and Strand, three Niagara Falls first-runs, to "a reasonable time, as determined by the arbitrator." Cat- aract Theater Corporation had in- tervened previously for the Cataract and Strand, Hayman houses. Duncan, Okla., Exhib. Files "Run" Complaint Charging that Paramount has re- fused to license second-run product to the Ritz Theater, Duncan, Okla., J. A. Guest, operator of the house, has filed a demand for arbitration in the Oklahoma City tribunal. Guest claims that second-run is sold by Paramount to theaters of the Grif- fith circuit. He also asks for reas- onable clearance. Apollo Hearing on Aug. 12 Buffalo — First hearing in arbitra- tion case brought by Basil Bros. The- aters for its Apollo, Buffalo, has been postponed to Aug. 12 before Arbitrator Roland H. Tills. Roffman Joining Hillman Richard H. Roffman joins the staff of Hillman periodicals as of Aug. 1 as director of publicity and promo- tion. In his new association, he will be connected with Movieland mag- azine as well as others of the Hill- man chain. Friday, July 23, 19^ Marvin Grieve Cited On Italian Mission Marvin M. Grieve, former mem- ber of Mort Blumenstock's Warner Bros, advertising department, now 2nd lieutenant, USAAF, was cited by the War Department as co-pilot of a B-26 bomber which took part in an attack over Italy. While returning to its North African base, his plane was able to escape enemy planes through the bravery of its pilot who ordered the crew to jump while he remained at his post and was killed. 160 "Aleutians" Prints To be Shipped in Week Theatrical release is now assured for the 47-minute Technicolor film, "Report from the Aleutians," made by the Army Signal Corps and sub- mitted to the WAC by the OWL Pic will be available to theaters which may wish to book it in each exchange area. William F. Rodgers, chairman of the WAC Distributor Division, is requesting the chairmen of the various Exchange Managers Com- mittees to handle its release in their own exchanges as was done with "Prelude to War." It is expected that the 160 prints available for theatrical bookings will be shipped within a week and an- nouncement of exact release date then determined. By arrangement with Hal Home, of the WAC Public Relations Divi- sion, the 20th Century-Fox press book department is preparing a cam- paign book, which will be delivered to houses from National Screen Ser- vice exchanges. There will be a trailer, and pre- liminary discussions are being held to determine its length, also whether it will be in color or in black and white. FWC Planning Roadshows For Alcazar in Frisco San Francisco — Fox West Coast announced yesterday that negotia- tions for acquiring Sid Grauman's Alcazar theater here are being con- cluded by Charles P. Skouras, presi- dent of National Theaters, and Grau- man. The Alcazar, closed for several months, will be reopened about Sept. 1 under the FWC management if Skouras and Grauman reach an agreement, B. V. Sturdivant, north- ern California FWC supervisor, said. The theater will be used exclusive- ly for roadshows, with reserved seats at advanced prices. Fox West Coast plans to spend between $25,000 and $50,000 remod- eling the Alcazar, Sturdivant said. G-B N. Y. Co. Dissolves Albany— Gaumont British Picture Corp. of America, New York City, has filed a certificate of voluntary dissolution in the office of the Sec- retary of State. Papers were filed through Adolph Schimel, attorney, 1250 Sixth Ave- COMIIIG and GOIflG CEORCE A. SMITH, Para.'s Western division manager, plans to leave Monday on a tour lil exchanges in his territory. ROBERT M. CILLHAM, arrived on the Coa; yesterday from the East. LEN DALY of the United Artists foreij publicity department, who has been in Mexic City the past two months, leaves Mexic 'oda for Havana. f MRS. VINCENT TROTTA is in ChiJIgp I visit her son, Vincent, Jr., a seaman secon class now training in aerial gunnery at tli Naval Pier there. Mrs. Trotta will visit Mii waukee before returning to New York. HARRY M. KALMINE, assistant general mana ger cf Warner Theaters, and HARRY GOLDBERC director of advertising and publicity, return \ New York today from Philadelphia. OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND, is expected in Ne> York the first week in August for a brie visit. MICHAEL TODD, the Broadway producer, back from Mexico City. JANE LAWRENCE of the cast of "Oklahoma will head for the Coast the beginning of Augus LEE SHUBERT has left town for a Mexica vacation with C. P. CRENEKER, his press rep resentative. JACK COETZ and ARTHUR GOTTLIEB, Iea\ next week for California and a tour of Unit! Artists exchanges in conjunction with a ne "World in Action" shorts series which UA wi distribute for Warwick Pictures. ARTHUR GREENBLATT, PRC sales chief, leave Hollywood Monday for Frisco, Seattle, Denvei Omaha, Chicago and New York. CHARLES SKOURAS and CHARLES A. BUCK LEY are due here Monday from the Coast. JACK HOEPFLER, Great States circuit cit manager in Quincy, III. has gone to his Summe home at Grand Marais, Minn. GEORGE FREEMAN, manager of the Loew Poli Springfield, Mass., has returned from hi vacation spent at Hampton Beach, New Hamp shire. DON WIDLUND of Jam Handy arrived yes terday from Orlando, Fla., and left last nigh for Detroit. HANK LINET left last night for Pittsburg) in connection with Universal's "We've Neve Been Licked." GRACIE FIELDS returns to England shortly. t July 23 Harry Cohn Albert Warner Aileen Pringle Florence Vidor Lewis Innerarity Ray Cozine Whitney Bolton Joseph Seiden Gale Page Gerald K. Rudulph July 24 Alan Curtis Nick Tronolone Dailey Paskman July 25 William C. DeMille Lila Lee Mortimer D. Sackett Phil I ipe De Lacy Johnny Hines Harry H. Zehner Bob Wolf Al Pearce Cy Seymour Arthur Lubin We doff our hats to Mr. \Van§er . • . Within a year, Walter Wanger lias given to this industry, two significant boxorrice attractions in "Eagle Squadron" and "Arabian Nights." Mr. Wanger has now completed "We've Never Been Licked/ the rirst picture or America's youth in unirorm, inspired hy the righting sons or Texas A&M. We helieve that "We've Never Been Licked" will not only he an impressive successor to "Eagle Squadron" and "Arabian Nights/ hut that in impor- tance and boxorrice quality it will even surpass these outstanding pictures. SELL WAR STAMPS EVERY DAY IN THE "SHANGRI-LA" JULY DRIVE "VCCD DIGEST SIGNED KAY KYSER AND ORK, two pictures, Columbia. CHARLES COBURN, "Knickerbocker Holiday," Producers Corp. of America. WILLIAM BEAUDINE, director, "Sweethearts of the U. S. A.," Monogram. JEANNE BATES, termer, Columbia. HARRY DAVENPORT, two pictures, RKO. X*'" LEE CARMES, cameraman, termer, Hunt Strom- berg. CASTINGS MERLE ORE-RON, GEORGE SANDERS and SIR CEDRIC HARDWICKE, "The Lodger," 20th-Fox; HUGO HAAS, "One Hour of Clory," RKO; HARRY DAVENPORT, "Government Cirl," RKO; JEANNE BATES, "The Gamble of Boston Blackie," Co- lumbia; HARRY BARRIS, "When My Baby Smiles at Me," Columbia; JAMES BROWN, "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," Paramount; ISABEL RAN- DOLPH, "Standing Room Only," Paramount WILLIAM iBENDIX, "Bowery After Dark," 20th- Fox; MARGARET LANDRY and MICHAEL READ "Gildersleeve on Broadway," RKO; DR. AL BERT COATES, "Gaslight," M-C-M; JOHNNY DOWNS and ROBERT LOWERY, "College Sweet- heart," Monogram; MIDRED HARRIS, GEORGE MELFORD, VICTOR POTEL, CHESTER CONKLIN, DOT FARLEY, "Hail the Conquering Hero," Paramount; JOHN HODIAK, "Lifeboat," 20th- Fox. • SCHEDULED "Bowery After Dark," producer, WALTER MOROSCO, 20th-Fox. - Hearst-Sponsored Festival As "Rising Sun" Send-Off (Continued from Page 1) of the 75-city world debut of the pic in New England up-state New York. Festival will be backed by Hearst's local sheets, the Record, the American and the Sunday Ad- vertiser. As outlined here yesterday by S. Barret McCormick, RKO's ad-pub- licity chief, the colossal premiere stunt will have as its climactic fea- ture a bout between Lt. James J. Braddock, USA, ex-heavyweight champ and Charlie Strack, 240- pound wrestling title holder. Author James R. Young will speak, while RKO will assemble a group of Far Eastern correspondents and writers. Margo, pic's star, will at- tend as will Government and state officials and military leaders sta- tioned in the Boston area. Other festival features will be additional boxing: and wrestling: bouts, and bands and vocal entertainers, with the entire show to be broadcast over the Yankee Network of 21 stations. Admission to the Garden, which has a capacity of 25,000, will be free to all service men in uniform, and to civilians upon the showing- of a War Bond. RKO will be represented by a delegation from New York including- N. Peter Rathvon, Ned E. Depinet, Robert Moehrie, S. Barret Mc-Cormick, Walter Branson, Nat Levy, Ed- ward Alperson. There will also be a number of circuit heads and prominent exhibitors, as well as RKO Radio's northeastern dis- trict manager Gus Schaefer, and branch managers Ross Cropper of Boston, Barney Pitkin of New Haven, Max Westebbe of Albany, and Elmer Lux of Buffalo. Local arrangements of the show are being- handled for RKO Radio by Terry Turner, head of the field exploitation force, assisted by Harry Reiners, Bob Hickey, Don Prince and Ralph Bang-hart. ■):■. ip met it Re' Ck or;. li lis *pt, C-. s fed feci Friday, July 23, 1943 DAILY ; U. S. Chance to Do Spanish- Language Pix Lost Chilean Film Industrial- ist Cites Higher Costs And National Differences Br RALPH WILE West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Hollywood has lost its $ 3>|ice to make Spanish-language fSSs, if the chance was ever feas- ible commercially, which he doubts, according to Jorge Delano, Chilean film industrialist, artist -and pub- | lisher, who is here on a visit under the auspices of the Co-ordinator of Inter-American Affairs. He declared I Latin America is making its own I motion pictures and will do so in I greater degree after the war. Delano said Argentina, Mexico and [ the southern republics are making I their own pictures for a tenth of the \ cost assumed by. Hollywood. He pointed out that differences in na- I tional customs, and language usages, [ and truer classification of the ac- | tors to the proper parts were among [the reasons for Latin- America's ra- \ pid expansion in the production of films. Delano reported that Argentina is making 100 average-grade pictures a year and Mexico another 100. No Chilean films are being made at present, but will be when conditions are normal. Senor Delano's son, Jorge Delano, Jr., has been in Hol- lywood a year studying production methods with an eye to going into business with his father in South America after the war. Senor Delano is a distant cousin of President Roosevelt. He made pictures in Chile some years ago and came to Hollywood in 1930 to study sound. Report Pickford-Gordon Close for "Junior Miss" {Continued from Page 1) terday, although no deal has been signed. Price is said to be $410,000 or $355,000 down and 35 per cent of the profits. The authors will decide this week which deal they will ac- cept. United Artists will release the picture next June if the pact is signed. Observe "Comerford Day" Scranton, Pa.— "Comerford Day" it Dunn's Lake, when members of :he Boy's Club are entertained, will je observed today. This yearly cus- ;om was established by the late M. 3. Comerford, founder of the Com- ;rford Chain, who each year up un- ;il the time of his death, arranged ind participated in the activities. WEDDING BELLS Scranton, Pa. — The marriage of ■eanne Cannon, Strand, to James teilly, is scheduled to take place sometime during August. TO THE COLORS! * TO OFFICERS SCHOOL * SEYMOUR BECKER, advertising assistant, THE FILM DAILY, reports to Fort Benning, Ca. MARTIN SHEARN, formerly manager, Palace, Tarentum, Pa. * ARMY * LARRY CURTIS, Columbia home office exploita- tion dept. CARL COVERNESS, manager, Riviera, North Tonawanda, N. Y. DANIEL LIND, manager, Victor, McKeesport, Pa. * COAST GUARD * JOHN ZOMNIR, office manager, M-C-M, Pitts- burgh. — • — * WAVES * ENSIGN ETHEL F. ROSENBERG, daughter of Fred D. Felt, Philadelphia theater oper- ator, in charge of WAVES recruiting head- quarters, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — • — * MERCHANT MARINE * FRANK SHEFFIELD, salesman, Republic, Den- ver. Soviet Buys Warners' "Mission to Moscow" {Continued from Page 1) Soviet status of "Moscow" existed yesterday. Warners issued no state- ment, but from sources close to the company it was ascertained that a deal for the pic had been closed and a lavender print shipped by air. If the ban story, originating with North American Newspaper Alliance and published in New York first by the Times, was factual, the pro- ducer-distributor obviously was with: out word to that effect. New York Daily News picked up the NANA story yesterday as the basis for an editorial raspberry. London Daily Telegraph In Potshot at "Moscow" London (By Cable)— The Daily Telegraph took a potshot at War- ners' "Mission to Moscow" following its preview here, basing its attack on the purge sequences. "History is marching down Holly- wood Blvd. in a false face to the mingled strains of the Internationale and the Star Spangled Banner," the Telegraph charged. Warner Executives Huddle in Chicago Chicago — A group of Warners ex- ecutives, including Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager; Charles Ein- feld, director of advertising and pub- licity; Mort Blumenstock, in charge of advertising and publicity in the East; Roy Haines, Western and Southern division sales manager; A. W. Schwalberg, supervisor of ex- changes, and Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager, con- ferred here yesterday. Einfeld and Blumenstock came on from New York to address Army Emergency Relief officials on nation- al showings of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," with Kalmenson and Haines also participating in the ses- sion. Entire group will return to New York over the week-end. "Hers to Hold" Gives Criterion New Record With a new opening day record for the Criterion set and a new high for the week in prospect, Univer- sal's "Hers to Hold" is expected to continue for about four weeks there, it was learned yesterday. Deanna Durbin starrer can't stay beyond that time, however, due to Loew cir- cuit commitments. Adult Delinquency Northwest Problem {Continued from Page 1) are facing these days, there's the case of a new 1,250-seat house open- ed about a year ago by the Ever- green circuit in a certain military center. Today, the house looks 10 years old. The carpets and furni- ture must all be replaced. Lava- tory destruction bills have been run- ning around $300 a month, in the women's lavatory as well as the men's. The favorite trick is to put bottles down toilets. It has been necessary to refuse to admit any to the theater if obviously carrying a bottle of liquor. It is almost impossible to secure light bulbs for theater marquees, and also batteries for usher flash- lights, according to theater men. Willkie on Air Tomorrow Wendell L. Willkie, 20th-Fox board chairman, will participate in a pro- gram combating racial hatreds to be broadcast over the CBS network tomorrow from 7 to 7:30 p.m. IMT ^*J" KING OF THE COWBOYS ROY ROGERS TRIGGER SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES "SONG OF TEXAS' /irtotae* FIRST RUN ^ NOTICE! /l I 2 H 1 u J N N Z Starting Sept. 8, I will begin shooting "Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, His Life and Loves" because I am con- vinced, after a thorough examination of the subject matter and public interest in it, that there is definitely a vast market for such a powerful and unique story. It will NOT be a war picture. It will be an intimate, searching dramatization of the personal life of one of the most sinister, yet fascinating, scoundrels in world history. The main theme of the gripping story will revolve around his attempts to seduce the one girl who had the strength of character and courage to resist his mad desires. The entire story is based upon actual facts. The director will be Alfred Zeisler, who, as head producer and director at the UFA studios in Berlin, inadvertently came in personal contact with the Propaganda Minister and other high German officials. I assure you that "DR. PAUL JOSEPH GOEBBELS, HIS LIFE AND LOVES" will be designed as an outstanding boxoffice attraction and will be produced lavishly and knowingly. W. R. FRANK PRODUCTIONS GENERAL SERVICE STUDIOS, HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA ■ II DO NOT R EMO^ir Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old IS 84, NO. 17 NEW YORK, MONDAY, JULY 26. 1943 TEN CENTS D. C. EXCHANGES EXEMPTED FROM 48 HOURS Griffith Pre-Trial Conference Set for Sept. 13 Gov't Assigns H. L. Flurry To Assist Federal Attor- ney at Fall Court Hearing Oklahoma City — A pre-trial con- ference in the Government's anti- trust suit seeking to dissolve the Griffith Amusement Co., filed in 1939, has been scheduled for Sept. 13 by Federal Judge Edgar S. Vaught in whose court the case rests. The Government claims monopoly, combination with distributors and producers to restrain sale of film to (.Continued on Page 9) June Admission Tax Collections Decline Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Amusement tax col- lections for June on May business, fell off sharply according to figures released today by the Bureau of In- ternal Revenue. The national total {Continued on Page 8) Canadian Theaters to Get Pix on Basis of '41 Pacts Toronto — Canada's Wartime Prices Board has adopted the "fair share" principle in the distribution of prod- uct for the new season. Allocation (Continued on Page 9) WB "A" and Pfd. Time Up More Than 150% On the strength of its top-bracket productions, on which the company is now concentrating exclusively Warners has increased its "A" and preferred playing time by more than 150 per cent in the past season, playdate records of the company re- veal. In the matter of "A" time alone Warners is understood to be get- ting more such playing time than any other company. This garnering of choice play- dates has combined with extended runs to give the company its cur- rent all-time high in billings. McMURPHEY WILL STUDY INDUSTRY New OCR Amusement Head Formerly Managed Theaters; May Appoint Industry Operations Executive Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — In order to "fit the industry into the war effort," consid- erable study of the motion picture industry, along with the entire enter- tainment field will be necessary, George W. McMurphey said Friday. McMurphey is to head the Amuse- ment and Recreation Section of the Service Trades and Distribution Di- vision of the Office of Civilian Re- quirements as soon as his transfer from OPA is approved by the Civil Service Commission. An order was signed last week giving OCR a "co- ordinating" authority over amuse- ments as well as many other phases of civilian life. McMurphey made it plain that he is not interested in a "make work" program. Emphasizing his lack of (Continued on Page 10) Schines Win Second Ohio Consent Award Cleveland — Schine's Norwalk and Moose Theaters in Norwalk are granted elimination of the seven-day clearance heretofore enjoyed by Warners' Ohio Theater, Sandusky, with the understanding that the Nor- walk houses may play pictures im- mediately upon conclusion of the Sandusky run, by a consent award (Continued on Page 10) Law and Order Rally as Counter to Vandalism Newark, N. J. — First of a series of "Law and Order" rallies for boys, conceived as a means to curb juvenile vandalism throughout this area, was held Saturday at the Broad St. The- (Continued on Page 9) McNufl May Block Super-Critical List Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Possibility that WMC Director Paul V. McNutt may step in to block the issuance of the proposed super-list of "critical" oc- cupations, which has been under dis- cussion for some time by the Essen- tial Activities Committee of WMC, rose at the week-end. The commit- (Continued on Page 7) Messinger Quits Canada's Wartime Prices Board Toronto — Lou Messinger, promi- nent official of the Wartime Prices Board, has resigned with the an- nounced intention of returning to commercial activities. For the last (Continued on Page 8) Moves To Dismiss Appeal Crescent Counsel Claims Judgment Not Final WAC's Harmon, OWI's Hoyt on Coast for Confabs Francis S. Harmon, executive vice- chairman of the WAC, and Palmer Hoyt, recently appointed director of the domestic branch of the OWI, are due in Hollywood this morning for meetings with the executive commit- {Continued on Page 8) Nashville — A motion to dismiss the appeal to the Supreme Court in the Government anti-trust suit against Crescent Amusement Co. and others was filed Friday by George H. Armistead, Jr., and William Wal- ler, defense cousel. Motion was entered in behalf of Crescent, Cumberland Amusement Co., Lyric Amusement Co., Rockwood (Continued on Page 9) Scollard Notified In WMC Letter; Ruling Does Not Affect Essentiality Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Washington film ex- changes have been granted an ex- emption from the 48-hour work week order, C. J. "Pat" Scollard, Paramount chief of branch opera- tions, was notified at the week-end. Scollard, who was here with Syd- ney Bromberg, Loew's attorney, last Tuesday presented a letter stating the case for film row, signed by nine major distributors and the Washing- (Continued on Page 8) July's Arbitration Case Spurt "Amazes Industry attorneys are expressing "amazement" over the sudden spurt in the number of arbitration com- plaints filed in July after a period of comparative inactivity. Twelve new complaints have been filed in (Continued on Page 8) "One World" Will Be Made in 9 Languages Twentieth-Fox will produce Wen- dell Willkie's "One World" in eight foi*eign languages in addition to English it was announced at the week-end. Languages will include (Continued on Page 9) Cleveland Weighs Juves' Segregation Cleveland — The City Law Depart- ment and Police Capt. Arthur V. Roth, chief of the department's juvenile bureau have under con- sideration the drafting of a law segregating in motion picture thea- ters children under 16 not ac- companied by adults, as a means to control juvenile delinquency. Capt. Roth and assistant law director Joseph H. Crowley are working toward that end in co-operation with George W. Erdmann, secretary of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhi- bitors Association. —77 Monday, July 26, 1943 DAILY Vol. 84, No. 17 Mon., July 26, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN Publisher General Manager Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL a (July 23) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High ow Close Chg. Am. Seat Col.'Picrs. vtc. (2'/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd Con Fm. Ind 23,4 23/4 23,4 Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 163^ 163/4 163/4— i/4 East. Kodak 167y4 166 166 — 1% do pfd Cen. iPrec. Eq 213/4 21 % 21 3^ + % Loew's, Inc 63y2 63l/4 63'/2 + Vi Paramount 28% 2&Vi 28y2 — '/2 'RKO 93/8 9i/8 9i/4 RKO $6 pfd 94 94 94+1 20th Century-Fox . . 13% 23Vs 23l/8 — Vt 20th Century-Fox pfd. 34 33% 333/4 Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 14% 14% 143/4 do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3'/2 33/8 33/8 — V4 RKO War 1 % ^3^ \% Sonotone Corp 3% 33/4 33/4— % Technicolor 15'/4 15 15 — V4 Trans-Lux 3 3 3 + Vs Universal Picts. vtc. 18% 18 18% + V4 N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Met. Playhouse, Inc. 2nd deb. '45 Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 Ray Murray to Columbia Ray Murray joins Columbia's home office publicity department today, and will function as trade press con- tact under Hortense Schorr. Re- cently with Metro's shorts depart- ment, Murray formerly was Jay Emanuel's New York correspondent for the Exhibitor string. 10 P.M. Grand Rapids Curfew Grand Rapids, Mich. — The City Commission has adopted a 10 p.m. curfew law, effective Aug. 19. H The Broadway Parade H Picture and Distributor Theater Mission to Moscow (Warner Bros. Pictures)— 13th week Hollywood Stage Door Canteen (United Artists-Sol Lesser) — 5th week ' Capitol Dixie (Paramount Pictures) — 5th week Paramount Best Foot Forward (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 5th week Astor Victory Through Air Power (United Artists-Walt Disney) — 2nd week Globe Appointment in Berlin (Columbia iPictures) — 2nd week.. Rialto The Constant Nymph (Warner Bros. Pictures) Strand Hers to Hold (Universal Pictures) Criterion Mr. Lucky (RKO Radio Pictures) Music Hall Stormy Weather (Twentieth Century-Fox) Roxy Squadron Leader (RKO Radio Pictures) (a) Palace The Falcon in Danger (RKO Radio Pictures) (a) Palace Wise Guy (Monogram Pictures) (a) New York Stranger from Pecos (Monogram Pictures) (a) New York ♦ TWO-A-DAY RUN ♦ For Whom the Bell Tolls (Paramount Pictures)— 3rd week Rivoli ♦ FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURES ♦ The Russian Story (Artkino Pictures) — 8th week Stanley Honeymoon Nights (Grovas) Belmont ♦ FUTURE OPENINGS ♦ Bombers Moon (Twentieth Century-Fox) — July 30 Rialto Let's Face It (Paramount Pictures)— July 28 Paramount Hit the Ice (Universal Pictures) (c) Criterion DuBarry Was a Lady (Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer) Capitol Heaven Can Wait (Twentieth Century-Fox) (c) Roxy So Proudly We Hail (Paramount Pictures) (c) Music Hall Coney Island (Twentieth Century-Fox) (a-b) — July 29 Palace Calaboose (United Artists) (a)— July 29 ..Palace This is the Army (Warner Bros. Pictures)— July 28 Hollywood (a) Dual bill (b) Subsequent run. (c) Follows current bill. Rep. Ad-Publicity Heads To Spend Time in Field West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — New promotional set- up for Republic, announced by Her- bert R. Yates at the West Coast branch managers' convention which closed at the studio Friday, will see a rotation of duties for Charles Reed Jones, in charge of all advertising; Steve Edwards, assigned to handle all publicity, and Len Boyd, new liaison for the New York ad-pub- licity department on the Coast. Rotation plan is designed to enable each of the trio to spend much time in the field gaining first hand infor- mation on show problems and trends. Jones, Edwards and Boyd will have authority to select men to represent them in the field and to augment the present staffs in New York and Hol- lywood. Republic's ad - publicity - exploita- tion budget for the new season calls for a $3,000,000 minimum, to be ex- pended as directed by the new setup. Canada is slated for a campaign comparable to that staged on this side of the international line. RKO Radio Home Office Reps. Meeting in Chi. Chicago — Annual meeting of RKO Radio's home office representatives opens here today at the Blackstone Hotel, with A. A. .Schubart, manager of exchange operations, and his as- sistant, William J. McShea, presid- ing. Meetings will continue through tomorrow. Attending the sessions are Elmer Sedin, Jack Schmitzer, John Wang- berg, William Burke, Jack de Waal, Dan Nolan, Otto Braeunig, Frank Duffy, Ted Carey and Ray O'Brien, the latter being office manager of the Chicago branch. Lobby Broadcast Set For "Army's" Premiere World premiere of "This is the Army" will be exclusively broadcast by Station WMCA from the lobby of the Hollywod Theater on Wed- nesday night, from 8:15 to 8:45 with Jerry Lawrence and Ethel Colby providing description and in- terviewing notables. The program comes at an hour which the station does not ordinar- ily relinquish except for President Roosevelt's talks. By order of Gen. Sanderford Jar- man, commanding general of Anti- Aircraft Artillery, Atlantic Sea- board, a battalion of troops num- bering about 250 men, with 15 huge AA lights and 30 Belfour French AA guns, will establish a post at and in the vicinity of the Hollywood Theater, where "This is the Army" has its world premiere Wednesday night. The men will police the area and lend color to the opening. Unit also will be permitted to open its lights into the sky during the evening's activities. Nine Warner Executives Return to N. Y. From Trips Nine Warners executives are back in New York today following west- ern trips and tours. Charles Einfeld and Mort Blumen- stock returned over the week-end from Chicago, where they conferred with Army Relief officials on Irv- ing Berlin's "This is the Arma" Ben Kalmenson is back fromT ur of the south and midwest following his regional sales meetings in Chi cago and San Francisco. Roy Haines and A. W. Schwal- berg, who also visited some key cit- ies en route East, and Norman H Moray, Howard Levinson and Al- bert S. Howson, who stopped off at the Burbank studio, after the Frisco meeting, have now returned to New York. Jules Lapidus is back from a trip to Pittsburgh. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Lena HORNE Bill ROBINSON Cab CALLOWAY and his band : W"" ij&i A 20lh CENTURY FOX PICTUM PLUS A BIG D f\ Y V 7th Ave. STAGE SHOW KUA I * 50th St. Army Flying "Army" Print To New York Wednesday Warners' scheduled press screen- ing of "This Is the Army" tomorrow afternoon at the home office is off. Print will not arrive until Wednes- day when the Army is flying it in from the Coast. Special Army pre- view to which critics will be invited will take place Wednesday afternoon at the Hollywood theater. Smith Quits UA Post West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Cresson Smith, UA branch manager here, left the com- pany Saturday to retire to his Red- lands ranch. "DIXIE" • m Person With * ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY * TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOUR if MITCH AYRES A Paramount Picture -^r and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square EQ B'WAY & 47th St. TOM CONWAY • JEAN BROOKS "THE FALCON IN DANGER" and SQUADRON LEADER "X" ANN DVORAK • ERIC PORTMAN loTwSTHTE ON SCREEN "WHAT'S BUZZIN' COUSIN" ANN MILLER ROCHESTER First N. Y. Showing T IN PERSON 'SLAPSIE' MAXIE ROSENBLOOM & HELD OVER JACKIE MILES i IN 1943-44 Ite* fy, '* *fe '"eft, w <*ta * iAllA ■I «?J 4 \ ■ Paramount Pictures uffn the part of some committee mem- bers as to whether the critical list Should be brought out. Although Jie committee majority is reported ,o favor bringing it out, there is trong opposition. One member - lointed out Friday that the compil- ng of a list of "critical occupa- ions" is nothing new. It has been liscussed for two years, he said, Recalling that long before we were n the war, the United States Em- ployment Service had such a list for ts own use. Although obviously - ipposed to the issuance of such a oist, he was not at all certain that t would be blocked although _ sev- - iral broadcasting jobs are believed tinder consideration for inclusion on he list. There are no motion picture obs included. Sent Curfew Enforced Kent, O. — Kent's new curfew law requiring children under 15, unac- companied by adults to be off the streets between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. is now in effect. The ordinance, backed by the PTA, was signed yesterday 'by the mayor. JULY 26 C. L. Yearsley Charles Butterworth Nat Levine The Midas Touch: • • • DESPITE the high commercial mindedness of our theater- men o'er the land, there is a factor affecting their pocketbooks which begets considerably less attention than it deserves Phil M. refers specifically to the aura and national grossing advantages which spring from a feature picture's presentation at Radio City Music Hall To begin with, there is no first-run outlet in the country comparable to Mister Gus S. Eyssell's emporium when it comes to glorifying any at- traction selected for presentation At once the metropolitan populace is flagged as to pic's merit — the filmgoers hereabouts knowing full well that if it's good enough for RCMH, it's good enough for them In these days of rapid communications (plus the mysterious manner in which word gets around via chatter), it isn't long e'er John Q. Public in both key and hamlet alike learns directly and from the "underground" that a certain opus is a Music Hall selection This is particularly true within the trade, because our distribution gents, good traders that they are drive home to outlets that the picture they are vending has grabbed an RCMH booking True, the wily exhib, scrapping for terms, may minimize the importance of RCMH engagements to the film salesman, — but that's all part of the game ▼ T T • • # BUT, notwithstanding a degree of consciousness on the part of many showmen re RCMH bookings' value to their own box- offices, there are those who are prone to view the phenomenon with amazing complacency Most exhibs are wise to the fact (ALL distribs are) that a RCMH engagement, just per se, imparts to a picture a huge potential "take" That comes under the heading of, as we have mentioned above, "national grossing advantages" On the side of aura, there is much to be said and appreciated You can call it an intangible, if you like, but it's definitely more than that Perhaps the best way to come by a conviction is to attend a RCMH dress rehearsal Thereat, everything prepared in con- nection with the stage show is pointed-up to enhance the feature film After all, RCMH is a film theater The pointing-up, how- ever, is done so exceedingly well that literally millions of Americans instead of saying "I went to Such-and-Such (naming the film's title) yesterday," clarions "I went to the Music Hall yesterday" The handsome "bonus" of RCMH divertissements lures regularly a plethora of patrons into the big stand The Rockettes have their dyed-in- the-wool fans, just as the stars of any feature have So have the Corps de Ballet, the Symphony Orchestra, the Grand Organ, and all the other sub-divisions of the show Legions of entertainment- seekers properly place on their respective and deserved pedestals such executive artisans as Leon Leonidoff, Russell Marhert, Florence Rogge, Bruno Maine, Eugene Braun, Nat Karson, Willa Van, Marco Mon- tedora, H. Rogge, Erno Rapee and his associate conductors, Frank Nowicki and Jules Silver; Richard Leibert and Harry Campbell, presiding at the Grand Organ keyboards; and other staff mem- bers T T T • • • LITERALLY a flood of genius and maze of mechanics con- tribute to the fashioning of the stage show, setting off to maximum ad- vantage the toil, time, yes and dollars, which Hollywood has poured into the screen offering Accompanying RCMH's current attraction, RKO Radio's "Mr. Lucky," — packaging in the customers — is a brilliant surrounding program, typical of how Mister Eyssell glorifies the feature films he plays, and adds lustre and gold for exhibs subsequently playing them AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! COMMA and G0IJ1G OSCAR NEU, president of Neumade Products, is in Chicago attending the Mid-West Forum. SPYROS SKOURAS, 20th-Fox prexy, returns to New York today from the Coast. MADELEINE WHITE of Monogram returns to- day from a short vacation. LOUIS PHILLIPS has arrived on the Coast for a three-week stay. FRANCIS HARMON and PALMER HOYT ar- rive in Hollywood today. IRVING SHIFFRIN of RKO left for Hollywood Friday. A. A. SCHUBART and WILLIAM McSHEA of RKO are in Chicago. EDWARD SCHN1TZER, UA western division manager, left over the week-end on a tour of the exchanges in his territory. He will be gone for about three weeks. ARTHUR JEFFRY, of the UA publicity depart- ment, is now enjoying the first week of his vacation at Belle Harbor. Gordon Gets Six Months For "Junior Miss" Choice Max Gordon and his associates in the ownership of "Junior Miss" have been given six months to decide which of two offers made by Mary Pickford for the screen rights to the play they will accept. An an- nounced in The Film Daily on Friday, the owners have a choice between $410,000 outright or $355,- 000 plus 35 per cent of the picture's net profits. It is said to be the highest price ever paid for the screen rights to a play or story. United Artists received permis- sion under the terms of the pur- chase to release the film version in June, 1944, a year earlier than the release date on which Gordon and the writers had insisted. "Junior Miss" completes its New York run on July 31 after chalking up more than 700 performances. Fire Damages NFB Building Ottawa — Undetermined loss was caused the National Film Board building Friday afternoon when fire started in the film cutting room. Three workers and a number of fire- men were injured. Expect Willkie Will Defend Chaplin Suit Wendell L Willkie, as senior part- ner of Willkie, Owen, Otis, Farr and Gallagher, prominent law firm which was appointed special counsel to 20th-Fox at company's board meeting on April 9, 1942, at which time Will- kie himself was elected chairman of the board, will play an important role in defense of the million dollar suit which Charles Chaplin, in his own behalf and that of UA stockholders, formally brought on Thursday against 20th-Fox, David O. Selznick, David O. Selznick Productions, Vanguard Films, Inc., and United Artists Corp., it was reported on the week-end. Plaintiff is represented in the action by Schwartz & Frohlich, veteran mo- tion picture legalists. M* V^V DAILY Monday, July 26, 1943 July's Arbitration Case Spurt "Amazes (Continued from Page 1) July and the month has a week to go. Five of the new cases were filed in Boston and two in Buffalo, while in June three were filed in Buffalo and two in Boston, making a total of seven new cases in Boston and five in Buffalo. While no concrete reason has been established for the upswing in ar- bitration complaints, one theory is that with business at a new high in most spots, exhibitors have the money to seek adjustments now so that they will be in a more advan- tageous position if, and when, the present high grosses taper off. Some attorneys see no other rea- son inasmuch as a majority of the theaters are playing to capacity and couldn't hold any more patrons re- gardless of the clearance situation. Latter group of lawyers speculates on the possibility of a relationship between the approaching expiration of the New York consent decree and the exhibitors' squawks. Two Arbitration Cases Are Docketed in Boston Two demands for arbitration were filed in the Boston tribunal at the week-end, both involving clearance. One was docketed by the Newport Theater Co., an E. M. Loew unit, operating the Paramount Theater, Newport, R. I. Complaint asserts that the Paramount now plays prod- uct second-run subject to 60 days after the Strand in Newport and 60 days after the Opera House, except pictures from 20th Century-Fox which demands 90 days' clearance for the Opera House. Complainant asks that all clearances to the Strand and Opera House be reduced to 14 days. The Plaza Theater, Derry, N. H., is seeking a reduction of clearance now granted to the State, Crown and Strand in Manchester and the State and Tremont in Nashua, all of which have 30 days over the Plaza. Com- plainant wants the Nashua clearance abolished or reduced to one day and the Manchester clearance reduced to seven days. L. A. Theater Is Denied Clearance Adjustments Clearance relief for the Los Feliz Theater, Los Angeles, has been de- nied by the arbitrator who found that the evidence presented at the hearings did not justify the charges. Complainant claimed that the 49-day clearance given to the Los Angeles first-runs was unreasonable and IN NEW POSTS W. W. McKENDRICK, salesman, Monogram, Seattle. JOHNNY MORPHET, booker, Monogram, St. Louis. WILLIAM McHALE, copy chief, Kayton-Spiero Co., Inc., New York. Bed Cross Pix Service Grows Wounded at Front and at Home See Movies Expanding motion picture depart- ment of the American Red Cross is now servicing 170 Recreational House theaters in hospitals through- out the U. S., assuring twice-weekly showings of current films to military patients only. Seating capacities of the auditoriums range from 125 to 1,200 seats, the latter found in the Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island. Average attendance at each showing is 400. All expenses for this service are paid by the Amer- ican Red Cross from its contribu- tions by the American public. For the wounded and sick men who cannot be moved from their hospital beds the Red Cross has set up a 16 mm. ward service which is made available to all Army hospitals of 100 beds or more. There are 400 of these portable units in operation. Ward shows are given at least twice a week, and sometimes daily, except Sundays. This special 16 mm. service also is operated overseas by the Red Cross and in many cases movies are shown to the men while they are waiting to be removed from dressing stations close to the front. Pictures to be shown in hospitals are carefully selected by the Red Cross. All war film are eliminated and the emphasis is placed on musicals and comedies with an WAC's Harmon, OWI's Hoyt on Coast for Confabs (Continued from Page 1) tee of the WAC Hollywood division and the directors of three producer associations. All industry matters of mutual concern to the OWI, the WAC in Hollywood and to the producers will be discussed at these informal ses- sions. Harmon and Hoyt will meet with the executive committee of the Hollywood division at a luncheon to- day, presided over by E. J. Mannix, vice-president, and with the Asso- ciation of Motion Picture Producers, headed by Y. Frank Freeman, to- night. Tomorrow afternoon they will confer with the Independent Mo- tion Picture Producers Association, president of which is E. W. Chad- wick, and a session with the Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers, headed by Loyd Wright, is slated for tomorrow night. Harmon will remain until Thurs- day so as to confer on the indus- try's participation in the third War Loan drive. asked that the clearance be cut to 35 days when the Los Feliz charged 35 cents and 21 days when the house charged 40 cents. Arbitrator found that the existing clearance was not unreasonable and dismissed the case. It's "Diamond Empire" "Diamond Empire" is the title se- lected for the re-issue of "Rhodes," the Gaumont British picture prev- iously released by 20th Century-Fox and shortly to be re-issued by Film Classics, Inc. occasional drama if it is not too heavy. The programs usually run one hour and a half, and if the feature does not take up all the time it is supplemented by comedy and community sing- shorts. Bookings for the current month include such pictures os "Coney Island," "The More the Merrier," "Tennessee Johnson," 'Happy Go Lucky," "It Ain't Hay," 'Lady of Burlesque," "Some- thing to Shout About," "Once Upon A Honeymoon," "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and others. The therapeutic value of movies for con- valescent patients in military hospitals is so well recognized by the medical profession that the showing of films has been made an integral part of the hospital schedule. It constitutes a passive recreation which is medically approved, particularly for patients who are still too ill to take any active part in entertainment activities. Usually it is the first type of amusement to which the patient turns the moment he is able to be out of bed, for he can be taken to the recreation hall in a wheel chair by an attendant without physical effort in order to enjoy himself. Screen entertainment enables him to take his mind off his troubles for an hour or two, to live in a world of make-believe tempo- rarily and return, refreshed mentally, to his routine with a renewal of spirit highly essential to his recovery, according- to Army doctors. Edward Doyle, national director of the hospital motion picture service, who super- vises the operation of this Red Cross enter- prise, has expressed his thanks to the mo- tion picture industry by saying: "It is understood that without the indus- try's whole-hearted co-operation, the Amer- ican Red Cross would not have been able to operate this extensive motion picture program." Messinger Quits Canada's Wartime Prices Board (Continued from Page 1) month, he had been assigned duties in connection with establishing raw film quotas in connection with the proposed reduced supply to labora- tories at Toronto and Montreal cov- ering next season's product under a plan which gave highest priority to needs of Federal Government's Na- tional Film Board. Messinger had dealt with officials at Washington and Ottawa on the new film control policy when his resignation was announced from Government service. Rudnick Gets 2 Years On Conspiracy Charge Boston — Samuel Rudnick, a con- tractor, was sentenced to two years in jail Friday following his con- viction of conspiracy in connection with the Cocoanut Grove night club fire last November, which cost 492 lives. Rudnick filed an immediate appeal through his counsel. Three other men were acquitted on conspiracy to evade the building laws. They were: James Welansky, brother of Barnett Welansky, now serving a 12-15 year prison term for manslaughter; Theodore El- dracker, city building inspector and David Gilbert, Rudnick employe. Abe Lyman Set at Strand Abe Lyman and his Orchestra will appear in person at the New York Strand with the run of Warner's "Watch on the Rhine," starting Aug. 27. Exchanges Exempted From 48 Hour Ruling (Continued from Page 1) ton area WMC office sent a letter notifying him that his plea was sue cessful last Saturday. The question of essentiality of Washington exchange workers, i: the eyes of the U. S. Employment Service is still to be settled. ^-^1- though Scollard and local maif \:% were told last month that the vt-Jsh- ington office does consider film ex- change workers essential, the local officials have since asked that a petition for essentiality be submit- ted for further consideration. It must be approved by the regionnal office here, as well as by the local office. In no event will a determination by the local office that film work- ers are essential affect Selective Service consideration of film workers. In view of the increasing likeli- hood of a national labor draft, how- ever, it would be an important de- cision. Admission Tax Collections Declined During June (Continued from Page 1) was more than three and a half mil- lion under the May collections of $14,625,615, amounting to only $11,- 109,476.77. June collections, last year were slightly higher, adding up to $11,550,144.36. Collections from the Third New York (Broadway) area showed con- j tinued improvement, with the total rising by $100,000 from May collec tions of $1,865,159 to $1,967,604.43. This was considerably better than the $1,703,492 realized from this area in June, 1942. Theater admissions accounted for $1,787,404.37, as against only $1,571,313 a year ago and $1,622,991 a month earlier. Col lections on brokers sales rose from under $15,000 in the May collection and only about $9,000 in the June, 1942, collection to $17,405.21, while the collections from roof gardens and cabarets dropped off from $227, 248 in May to $162,745. Exhib. Ass'n to Hear Lee At the invitation of R. R. Biechele president of the Kansas-Missouri Theater Association, Claude Lee, di rector of public relations for Para- mount, will address the Silver An- niversary convention of the organi- zation, to be held at the Phillips Ho- tel, Kansas City, next Wednesday and Thursday. TO THE COLORS! * ARMY * MAXWELL SELIOMAN, Warner Bros, home of- fice still dept. MARVIN W. ROSE, National Screen Service, Seattle. Monday, July 26, 1943 DAILY Moves lo Dismiss Crescent Appeal (Continued from Page 1) Amusement Co., Cherokee Amuse- ment Co., Anthony Sudekum and Kermit C. Stengel and is described as a "motion to dismiss the appeal filed by the plaintiff in this ease on the ground that the appeal is I nremature in that at the time of the , ■« — -ng there was pending undisposed 4>L by the Court a motion of Cres- cent Amusement Co. to amend the findings of fact and to make ad- ditional findings, filed May 27. Undisposed of motions filed by I Cumberland, Rockwood, Cherokee and Kentucky Amusement Co. on March 23 and supplements to these motions filed on March 26 were re- vealed in an attached form signed by the clerk of the court. Crescent motion was based on claims that the judgment of the court was not final because of these motions and that therefore an ap- peal could not be made as no men- tions of the pending motions and pe- titions was made in the appeal filed by Assistant Attorney General Tom C. Clark and Special Assistant Robert L. Wright. Crescent and af- filiated defendants demand in their appeal that copies of these motions and petitions pending be made a ( part of the plaintiff's appeal record. Judge Elmer Davies is in Louisiana due to the death of his mother and is i not expected back in Nashville until i about Aug. 1. "One World" Will Be Made in 9 Languages (Continued from Page 1) German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, French, Turkish, Arabic and Span- ish and it is planned to show the picture in Axis and Axis occupied countries as soon as they are occu- pied by Allied forces. Darryl F. Zanuck, who will pro- | duce the film, leaves Hollywood for New York this week to discuss pro- duction details with Willkie. "Rhine" Showing Today Warners will tradeshow "Watch on the Rhine" at 2:30 p.m. today in the home office projection room. "Murder on the Waterfront" also is ; being screened this morning at 10. WEDDING BELLS Engagement is announced of Eve- lyn Rosenfeld, secretary to Jesse T. Mills, Loew's comptroller, to Charles Lehrer. Latter is not connected with the industry. Marriage will ° take place in September. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Iris Adrian is now Mrs. George Jacobi. The husband is owner of New York's Club 78 and Jake's. HCLl_y>VC€D DIGEST SIGNED CEORCE CIVOT, termer, RKO. RANDOLPH SCOTT, three pictures, 20th-Fox. ASSIGNMENTS CHARLES R. MARION and TIM RYAN, screen- play, "The Sultan's Daughter," Monogram. PHIL ROSEN, director, "Charlie Chan in Secret Service," Monogram. BERTRAM HORLICK, screenplay, "The Little Church Around the Corner," Monogram. ROBERT WILMOT, director, "Harvest Melody," Walter Colmes-PRC. TITLE SWITCHES 'So This is Washington," formerly, "Dollar a Year Man," RKO. 'Underdog," formerly, "The Man from Wash- ington," PRC. 'Two Worlds," formerly, "Strange Music," PRC. CASTINGS LUISE RAINER, "China Sky," RKO; ARTURO de CORDOVA, "Cagliostro," Paramount; RAN- DOLPH SCOTT, "Only the Stars are Neutral," 20th-Fox; JIMMY DURANTE, "Ziegfeld Fol- lies," M-C-M; MARY ANDERSON, "Lifeboat," 20th-Fox; PHILIP DORN, "Passage to Mar- seilles," Warners; MILES MANDER, "Cover Girl," Columbia; ALLYN JOSLYN, "Passport to Dakar," Universal; BETTY RHODES and JOHN- NIE JOHNSTON, "National Barn Dance," Para- mount; ELIZABETH PATTERSON, "Hail the Conquering Hero," Paramount; MARY BETH HUGHES, "Rhythm Ranch," Paramount; ELEAN- OR STEWART, "Thundering Hoofs," Harry Sherman-UA; LOUISE BEAVERS, "Jack London, " Samuel Bronston-UA; CLAUDIA DRAKE, "Col- lege Sweetheart," Monogram; HOOT GIBSON and KEN MAYNARD, "Death Valley Rangers," Monogram. SCHEDULED "Manhattan Rhythm," producer, JACK SCHWARZ, original, MARTIN MOONEY, PRC. Law and Order Rally as Counter to Vandalism (Continued from Page 1) ater, here. Approximately 500 teen- age youths attended. Rally was sponsored by Newark Post, American Legion, and the Es- sex County Council, Jr. OUAM. Each youngster attending was asked to designate a particular or- ganization with which he will affili- ate. Listed were the Robert Treat Council, Boy Scouts; Newark Boys' Club; Red Shields Boys; Robert Treat Cadets, and the white and colored branches of the local YMCA boys' recreational department. Purpose of making the boys pledge their allegiance to one of these groups is primarily "to get these boys off the streets," a spokes- man for the sponsoring group de- clared. "Given new interests, they will respond and eventually juvenile delinquency and vandalism will dis- appear," he said. The movement has the endorse- ment of other civic, social and re- ligious groups which will, in turn, sponsor similar rallies at the Broad Street Theater. Canadian Theaters to Get Pix on Basis of '41 Pacts (Continued from Page 1) will be based on 1941 contracts to insure a proportionate delivery of product to Dominion theaters. Any departure from the formula must be okayed by the Board's Administra- tor. Griffith Trial Conference Sept. 13 (Continued from Page 1) other independent operators and other factors as covered in the num- ber of similar suits filed over the country. The suit also attacks the clearance contracts and charges spe- cial concessions given Griffith by the distributors. H. L. Flurry of Dallas, special assistant to the Attorney General, is scheduled to assist Charles E. Dier- ker, U. S. District Attorney, in pre- trial hearings on the case. Fay Courteney Dead Fay Courteney, who appeared in silent films, dramatic stock and more recently in radio, died here last week. STORKS St. Louis — A daughter, Maureen, was born to Mr. and Mrs. James J. Brassil. Mrs. Brassil, the former Mary Louise Barrett, is the oldest of five daughters of David F. Bar- rett, Film Daily's staff correspon- dent. Trailer Fights Vandalism National Screen Service has just completed production of, and has available to theaters at a nominal price, a trailer designed to combat vandalism in film theaters, organi- zation announced on the week-end. The trailer points out that people who cut seats, and otherwise dam- age theater property, are working for Hitler, and asks co-operation of all patrons. 114 Names on 20th-Fox Roll of Honor Plaque Twentieth-Fox plaque with IT4 names of home office personnel from executives to office boys was placed Friday in the company's reception offices on 56th St. Bronze Roll of Honor will carry all names of home office personnel leaving for the du- ration. ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF THE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES ^ 'SONG OF TEXAS' /taod&i FIRST RUN M 10 IDE iJfffW* * DAILY Monday, July 26, 1943 McMurphey Will Study Industry (.Continued from Page 1) authority to speak officially for OCR before he becomes a part of organi- zation he declared that, "if there is a job to be done, we will do it." He has no idea whether or not any great amount of regulation of the motion picture industry is necessary, he said, and admitted that he was impressed by a presentation of the case against Government interfer- ence with the industry put before him last week by Allen G. Smith, amusements chief of WPB's Service Equipment Division. McMurphey himself has had some experience with theater management, and has made it plain that he will rely largely upon experienced heads in the business. He was for three years — 1929-32 — manager of theaters in Portland, for Fox West Coast and Paramount Publix. Since then, until coming to OPA last year, he has been in the radio, advertising and merchandising fields. Despite the experience, McMur- phey is not certain that he will stay long in direct charge of the enter- tainment field. He said Friday that he is thinking seriously of trying to find an industry man to bring in as operating head of the division. Although the full scope of OCR authority is hot yet clear even to those most directly concerned, it ap- pears that the agency will serve in a position within WPB analogous to that of the Office of War Mobiliza- tion among all the various war agen- cies. Authority to enforce its pro- gram does exist, said one OCR of- ficial, pleading that he was too un- familiar with the order to explain it in detail. Two functions stand out as most important among those of the OCR. The first is its right to determine es- sentiality of an industry, or a part of that industry, on, respectively a national and a local basis. It is con- ceivable for instance, that if an ex- hibitor is faced with closing for lack of scarce repair parts, or fuel oil, OCR might refuse to permit him to receive these parts because there are sufficient theaters in the area to ser- vice the public. On the other hand it might exercise extreme pressure to procure the needed parts or the fuel oil for him because if he closes his doors his area will have inade- quate screen facilities. The second major function prom- ises to be what has been described variously as determination of and setting of "standards of operation" for an industry. Here the presenta- tion of industry problems as pre- sented by Smith may prove to be of real value in balking any attempt to decide arbitrarily that theaters must, for instance be open uniform hours, charge uniform prices or any- thing of that sort. Actually, it is not likely that any such move would be attempted. Although Harold Hopper in the Consumers Durable Goods Division, and Smith in the Service Equipment reviews of new mms "Appointment in Berlin" with George Sanders, Marguerite Chapman Columbia 77 Mins. FAST SPY MELODRAMA SHOULD MAKE GOOD BOOKING; ACTING OF PRINCI- PALS PROVES BIG HELP. In "Appointment in Berlin" Columbia has put together a most satisfying spy melo- drama which completes its course with speed and dispatch. The story elements have been exploited to good advantage, while the acting lifts the whole to a high level of entertainment. The exploitation possibilities have been enhanced by patterning the main character after Lord Haw Haw. The difference in this instance is that the prototype of Haw Haw is in reality working for the British Government. To a certain point the story is made up of familiar material — material, however, which has been given a good treatment Sanders plays a cashiered RAF wing com- mander who is engaged for counter-es- pionage work. His assignment is to work his way into the confidence of a German spy ring by romancing Marguerite Chapman, sister of Onslow Stevens, head of the vil- lains. To carry out his work effectively Sanders has to be made out to be a traitor to his country. He is taken in by the spy ring and is given the job of broadcasting to the British people propaganda designed to destroy their morale. Sanders cleverly uses the broadcasts to supply the British with bits of secret information about the Nazis. When the Germans discover the ruse, Sanders and Miss Chapman, who has no sympathy for Nazism, are killed in an ex- citing climax in which they prevent the invasion of England. Ernest performances are given by Sanders and Miss Chapman. In addition to Stevens their support includes Gale Sondergaard, Alan Napier, H. P. Sanders, Don Douglas and several others. Samuel Bischoff gave the film a good production. Alfred E. Green's direction is commendable. Horace McCoy and Michael Hogan did the screenplay from a story by B. P. Fineman. CAST: George Sanders, Marguerite Chap- man, Onslow Stevens, Gale Sondergaard, Alan Napier, H. P. Sanders, Don Douglas, Jack Lee, Alec Craig, Leonard Mudie, Fred- eric Worlock, Steve Geray. CREDITS: Producer, Samuel Bischoff; Director, Alfred E. Green; Screenplay, Hor- ace McCoy, Michael Hogan; Based on story by B. P. Fineman; Cameraman, Franz Planer; Art Director, Lionel Banks; Film Editors, Al Clark, Reg Browne; Musical Director, M. W. Stoloff; Set Director, George Mont- gomery; Musical Score, Werner R. Hey- mann. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Division will retain direct control over raw stock and other production materials and theater equipment and supply problems respectively, OCR will probably be empowered to direct them. There remained some doubt Friday about OCR authority over the Hopper office but none apparently concerning the Smith office. Any problems of supply come within OCR authority McMurphey believed, explaining that his office would at- tempt to "Give general guidance" to all those concerned with supply. "Spotlight Scandals" with Billy Gilbert, Frank Fay and Bonnie Baker (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Monogram 79 Mins. SWELL CAST OF EXPERIENCED EN- TERTAINERS COME THROUGH WITH A MODEST-BUDGET WINNER. This is a new type of picture for Banner Productions. Yes, it is a class low-budget with a good cast of performers. Ably made, and so decorative that the only way you could tell its cost is small, would be to get a peek at Banner's ledgers. Frank Fay and Billy Gilbert make a great comedy team. It's not so much that these gentlemen are masters of the art of milk- ing lines and situations — but their exper- iences, which if combined would stretch from here to who-knows-where, give the entire proceedings a polish not often found in the work and best efforts of neophytes. Then, too, the film is studded with solid en- tertainment names. Bonnie Baker, Henry King and Herb Miller and their bands, (under the supervision of Monogram's maestro Eddie Kay), 'Butch and Buddy, and the Radio Rogues are just a few. The dance numbers directed by Jack Boyle are cute and sprightly. Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz, assisted by Barney Sarecky, offer a nice background of production, and director William Beaudine keeps the story telling smooth. The tale smacks slightly of the Hal Skelly hit "Burlesque" — with the girl part toned down. Frank Fay, the none too successful vaudeville comic, finds himself stranded in a small mid-western city. He is thrown in with the local barber, Billy Gilbert, who one night helps him out with his act as a stooge from the audience. Accidentally the team catches on, and by fluke gets big time booking. Then comes success for the broken down actor and the barber. They hit the heights and are finally playing their own show on Broadway, under the sponsorship of a very clever producer, namely, Harry Langdon. When things are rosiest, Fay is offered a job in radio at a fat salary. There is a catch, however. He must do it alone. Of course, he refuses. Gilbert finds out, "double-crosses" his pal into taking the deal, and in so doing breaks up their friendship. Alone, Fay does very well, until one day a girl is accidentally killed in a fail from his penthouse apartment. He is arrested, has no money, and Gilbert pays off without his knowing it. The tag, which is so good most directors are afraid to use it for fear of the cry of "corn" has the two meet again on the boards of another broken down theater in almost the same situation as their first meeting. This is a good picture. It will make any buyer happy, be it an exhibitor, or a guy who buys his look at it from the little ticket booth out front. CAST: Billy Gilbert, Frank Fay, Bonnie Baker, 'Billy Lenhardt, Charles K. Brown, Butch and Buddy, the Radio Rogues, Harry Langdon, Iris Adrian, Jimmy Hollywood, Eddie Burtell, Syd Chalton, James Bush, Claudia Dell, Eddie Parks, Betty Blythe, Henry King, Herb Miller, Lottie Harrison, Jim Hope and Jack 'Boyle. CREDITS: Producer, Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz; Associate producer, Barney Sarecky; Director, William Beaudine; Cam- eraman, Mack Stengler; Editor, Carl Schines Win Second Ohio Consent Award (Continued from Page 1) signed last week by Frank Pelton, arbitrator. The award further pro- vides that pictures shall become available to the Norwalk houses 21 days after territorial release date without regard to Sandusky. De- fendant distributors in the case, filed in April, were Loew's, Inc., Par^ mount and Vitagraph. Complaina the Norwalk Theater Corp., was re] resented by Jerome Friedlander of Benesch, Marsteller, Friedlander and Morris. This is the second consent award won by Schine within the past few months. The other one affected the Van Wert Theater, Van Wert, in which the complainant theater was granted a reduction from 14 to three days of the clearance granted War- ners' Ohio and Sigma Theaters in Lima. Gable-Stewart- Wyler Pic? It's All News to Army Report that Capt. Clark Gable and Lt. James Stewart would star in a Hollywood-made pic about the Amer- ican and British air forces with Maj. William Wyler directing, published Friday in Hedda Hopper's syndicated column, was dismissed as without foundation both in Washington and on the Coast by responsible military spokesmen. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — "Just a beautiful dream" was the comment of a high War Dept. official after he had spent some time checking reports that Clark Gable, James Stewart and Maj. William Wyler would go to Hollywood to make a feature on the British and U. S. Air Forces. Three officials in various parts of the War Dept. checked on the reports, pub- lished last week, for The Film Daily and all came up with denials. 75 Griffith Managers Attend Parley in Tulsa Tulsa, Okla. — Managers represent- ing 75 Griffith theaters in this area met here last week to discuss vari- ous projects the houses are now en- gaged in or preparing to start and heard company President L. C. Grif- fith tell what the circuit would do for the war effort. Also speaking were: B. J. Mc- Kenna, general manager; C. B. Akers, assistant general manager; H. R. Falls, buyer; H. 0. Stark, head booker, and H. M. Loewenstein, treasurer. Division managers present were: L. A. Chatham of Tulsa, Fred H. Jackson of Norman and Claude F. Motley of Lubbock, Texas. Pierson; Musical director, Eddie Kay; Dance director, Jack 'Boyle; Technical director, Dave Milton. DIRECTION, Good PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. EASTMAN FILMS More than ever the main- stay of the motion picture industry, with every foot contributing its full share of exceptional quality. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS Fort Lee Chicago Hollywood M I3 P RH ID 13 I ST 2 {J W 4 4 ~S T 2IFL NYC WALTER WANGER'S Spectacular Triumph BEEN LICKED INSPIRED BY THE FIGHTING SONS OF TEXAS A. & M w,th Richard Quine • Anne Gwynne ■ Noah Beery.Jr. • Martha O'Driscoll • Harry Davenport William Frawley- Edgar Barrier- Bob Mitchum and Bill Stern 0F RAADR'°YS HT0™G i Reilly Roine, Nick Gn Directed by John Rawlins a universal picture Look up your figures on Walter Wanger's "Eagle Squadron and "Arabian Nights"! "We've Never Been Licked" will lick these two! 0 SELL WAR STAMPS EVERY DAY IN THE_"SHANGRI-LA" JULY DRIVE] Cto-*'* — * — w"'th West Coast Exhibs. On Decree (See Column 4 Below) Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Picture* Twenty-Five Years Old )>L. 84, NO. 18 NEW YORK. TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1943 TEN CENTS DISTRII& WILLING TOJSTUDY COMPLAINTS Production Costs Up 100% in 3 Years — Warner Warner Studio Chief Says CJosts Up 20-25% Over Year Ago; Quality Rises Paced by what he described as Hol- lywood's "amazing competition," war-time conditions and, important- ly, the public's appetite for qual- ity p i x , studio production costs as of today are 20 to 25 per cent ahead of last year and approximate- ly 100 per cent higher than they were three years ago, Jack L. War- ner, WB vice- president in charge of pi-odue- JACKL. WARNER tion* said at the home office yesterday. In the course of a trade press {Continued on Page 10) $2,208,027 Earnings Increase for Loew's A net profit increase of $2,208,027 was reported yeste: day by Loew's, Inc., for the 40 weeks ended June 10, 1943, over the corresponding period of 1942. Loew's current 40-week earnings, after all charges, were (Continued on Page 11) Note Slight Rise in P. R. Imports of Film Footage San Juan, P. R. (By Cable— Passed by Censor) — Film footage totalling 4,853,617 feet was imported by Puerto Rico from the United States (Continued on Page 11) 20 Chi. Houses Still Resort to Premiums Chicago — Twenty Chicago thea- ters are using dinnerware this week for premiums, but triples have stead- ily declined, until only a half dozen are using them. More theaters are using "flesh" programs. 20th-Fox Chicago Session to Follow N. V. Regional; Coast Meeting Set for Aug. 11-13 Chicago — Twentieth-Fox will hold the second of three regional sales meet- ings at the Blackstone Hotel here on Aug. 5, 6, and 7. The meeting will fol- low an initial one to be held in New York at the Hotel Astor on Aug. 2, 3 and 4. The Chicago sales conference will be followed by a final one to be held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 12 and 13. Tom Connors, distribution chief of the company, will preside, and Spyros Skouras, president, will address the meeting. Charier New Theater Managers Union Here War Shorts Program Holiyw'd WAC Okays A new union, the Motion Picture Theater Managers and Employees, Local 152, CIO has been chartered and will seek to organize managers, assistant managers, cashiers, door- men, ushers and matrons in the five boroughs of New York City plus Suffolk\, Nassau and Westchester Counties. An office of the union, which was launched by the Office (Continued on Page 10) Chakeres Acquires Five Theaters In Kentucky Wincester, Ky., — Charkeres Thea- ters, Inc., of Springfield, O., bought the Clark Theater here for $16,000 at a bankruptcy sale and shortly after announced the purchase of two other theaters here and two in Frankport, Ky. The other two purchased here were (Continued on Page 6) West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The new program of war information films, calling for 26 full length short subjects and 26 War Information Film Bulletins, was en- dorsed here yesterday by the Execu- tive Committee of the Hollywood Division of the WAC. Palmer Hoyt, director of the domestic branch of the OWI, and Francis Harmon, ex- (Continued on Page 10) Crescent Unopposed to Gov't Appeal's Demands? Nashville, Tenn. — There is docu- mentary evidence in the files of the Court of Federal Judge Elmer Davies in directing that Crescent Amuse- ment Co. and its affiliated exhibitor defendants has not offered any op- postion to a Federal Court exam- ination of hearing on the purchase (Continued on Page 11) Biz Oft 10% Since July MO But Take is Above Same Period in '42 Sets Aug. 14 for Trial Of Zevin, Browne Aide New York Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday postponed the trial of Isador Zevin, ex-secretary to George E. Browne, former IATSE head, until Aug. 16. Zevin is charged with perjury before a special Fed- eral grand jury investigating al- leged racketeering in the film in- (Continued on Page 10) After an unusually strong week following the Fourth of July holiday, running contrary to the customary drop box office business fell off some- what in each of the past two weeks, going about 10 per cent below the week ending July 10, a tabulation of 60 key-note reports shows. Broad- way's individual showing for the fortnight is slightly better than the country at large. Explained as chiefly seasonal, the (Continued on Page 11) MPTOA Says Sales Chiefs Prefer to Consider Each Situation Individually Five major companies have ex- pressed a willingness and a desire to adjust complaints of independent exhibtors but they prefer to deal with the exhibitor, himself, rather than with an association represen- tative, it is indcated in a current MPTOA bulletin. Replies to a letter to the general sales managers from the MPTOA committee on product, prices and policies point out that the doors of (Continued on Page 8) Clark Seeks Exhib. Reaction to Decree West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — During his brief stay here, Tom C. Clark, Assistant At- torney General in charge of the Anti- Trust Division and War-Fraud Unit of the D of J, conferred with repre- sentatives of exhibitor organizations and distributors regarding their re- action to the New York consent de- cree. No formal statement was issued regarding the meetings or details (Continued on Page 8) Local 306 Would Reopen Century-Empire Contract Following receipt of a formal re- quest by Century Circuit addressed to the Empire State Motion Picture Operators Union asking for the re- (Continued on Page 6) Italian Versions of 40 Pix Held Readg Italian versions of 40 films are being held ready for distribution in Italy by American picture companies as soon as that nation capitulates to the United Nations, it was dis- closed yesterday by a spokesman for the overseas branch of the OWI on the heels of the news of the fall of Mussolini. _ TNI Vol. 84, No. 18 Tues., July 27, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, .Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL {Monday, July 26) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET High Low Close Am. Seat 16% 16y8 16%- Col.Picts.vtc. (2i/2%> 1714 1714 171/4- Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fin. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 16V4 16'/8 16% East. Kodak 165 do pfd 180 Gen. iPrec. Eq 22% Loew's, Inc 64% Paramount 28% RKO 9% RKO $6 pfd 94 20th Century-Fox . . 22% 20th Century-Fox pfd. 33% Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros 14% 14 do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. _deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3% RKO war. ../..,.:.. 1% Sonotone Corp. ..... 3% Technicolor .. . 15 Trans-Lux L. . Universal Picts. L ..* Net Chg. - % - Vi 165 180 21% 63% 27% 8% 92 22% 33% 165 — 180 21% — 637/8 — 273/4 — 8% — 92 — 22% — 33% — % 13/4 % ¥4 % 2 1% % 14% % 3% 1% 33/4 14% 3% + 1% — 3% + 14% - N.B 1 # % % . . «■ — WE PROBABLY HAVE REG- ISTERED WITH US THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE VACANT POSITION YOU ARE TRYING TO FILL. CALL— FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 Madison Ave. (43rd St.), New York MURRAY HILL 2-6494 OWI Men Staying on Job Until New Head is Named Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Several members of the staff of the defunct OWI News Bureau remain with the agency at this time both, in Washington and Hollywood, pending determination of a man to handle OWI industry rela- tions. Arch A. Mercey, assistant chief under Lowell Mellett, offered to stay on the job until the new setup was effectuated and his offer was ac- cepted. Several others are likewise still on hand. Complete freedom in staffing his office will be accorded the new man, whoever he might be, James A. Al- len, deputy director of the domestic branch, said Friday. Neither he nor Palmer Hoyt, domestic director, had any idea who the man will be. Hoyt is now in Hollywood where he is meeting with WAC heads this week in an effort to straighten out the various problems of co-operation be- tween OWI and the industry. Francis J. Harmon, executive vice-president of WAC is also on hand. Rep.'s "Atlantic City" Gets Technicolor's Dyes West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Republic will dip "At- lantic City" and some of its other im- portant pix next season in Techni- color's dye vat, according to Herbert J. Yates. As the company's final regional sales meeting closed here at the week-end, Prexy James R. Grainger predicted that "In Old Oklahoma" will yield a $3,000,000 income. He added that gross figures on "Flying Tigers" would reach $2,500,000, those on "Icecapades," $1,500,000 and add- ed that gross figures on "Hit Parade of 1943" were nearing the $2,000,000 mark. "Junior Miss" Pic Version Will Start Late in Year West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Mary Pickford's pro- duction unit which will produce "Junior Miss" for United Artists will be known as The Pickford Com- pany. Production is expected to start late this year with talent to be recruited from the legitimate stage and little theaters. A prom- inent director has been signed and his name will be announced shortly. This . will be Miss Pickford's first production venture since 1936. She also plans to make a picture depict- ing Girl Scout activities, basically a 'study of the youth movement throughout the world. Fete Samson Thursday Toronto — Sydney Samson, recent- ly appointed Canadian district man- ager for 20th-Fox, will be feted with a dinner at the Royal York Hotel, Thursday night, to be given by W. C. Gehring, Western division man- ager. Some 200 Canadian exhibitors are expected to attend. DAILY Tuesday, July 27, 194: When Manager Weds Manager, It's News! Detroit — When one theater man- ager marries another theater mana- ager, it's news. Larry Wenkowski, manager of the Ramona Theater for United Detroit Theaters, and Josephine Hormel, manager of the Rosedale for the same circuit, were quietly married down at Bowling Green, O., in prob- ably the first marriage between thea- ter managers on record. Fact that UDT has been a national leader, as recently reported in FILM DAILY, in the employment of fem- inine managers, is the background for this event. The bride is giving up her thea- ter post. Albany Variety Club Fetes Leon Herman Albany — Variety Tent last night toasted Leon Herman, former UA salesman in this territory and now with UA in Buffalo, at a dinner in the Ten Eyck Hotel. Chief Barker C. J. Latta was the toastmaster. The committee arranging the din- ner embraced George Jeffrys, Her- man's successor here, Dick Hayes, Welden A. Waters, Bill Williams, Sidney Stockton, Fred Sliter and Neil Hellman. The three-year-old baby recently adopted by Variety Club after he had been abandoned on a church steps here was introduced last night to members of the club. All efforts to locate the parents have been unavail- ing and Variety has pledged itself to give him a good home and pay for his upbringing. Dominion's Italian War Short Under Press Fire Toronto — Complaints are being registered in print and verbally re- garding the nature of the National Film Board short, "Gates of Italy" to the effect the Canadian Govern- ment picture, produced by John Grierson, actually glorifies the enemy. One writer suggests the film could have been made in Italy and asks what message was intended in the picture while another reviewer declared the short extolls the glory of Italy while lives of Canadian soldiers are being lost through handi- work of Italians. Russians Sub-Titling "Mission" According to a United Press dis- patch, "Mission to Moscow" is now being sub-titled in Russian for dis- tribution in the U.S.S.R. Informants claimed that work is proceeding rapidly and that the film will be shown throughout the country soon. Barney Shooker Hospitalized Denver — Barney Shooker, Colum- bia salesman, is spending a month in St. Luke's hospital recovering from an illness. C0MIHG and G0IDG S. J. GREGORY, Alliance Theater circuit ex ecutive, has returned to Chicago from the Wes Coast. GEORGE TOBIAS, is en route back to Hi Coast from 'New York after a month in East making p.a.'s at Army camps for the and at the New York Strand. R. H. BRANDT, auditor for the Allianc Theater circuit, Chicago, is vacationin Michigan. I' ui„=. TED LEVY, head Warner booker has retul to Chicago from a Wisconsin vacation. C. R. ABBEY, FILM DAILY rep. in Rochester; MRS. ABBEY and their two sons, BILLY and JIMMY, are spending two weeks at Wa Wa Island in Lake Huron near the Georgian Bay district of Ontario. CORP. CHARLES ALBERT, ex-Warner the- ater booker at Cleveland, has returned to Camp Claibornne, La. from New York and Cleveland CORP. RICHARD PITTS, former movie editor of the Charlotte, N. C. Observer, is spending a week in that city. JAMES R. YOUNG, author of "Behind the Rising Sun," was in Rochester yesterday for RKO. EUGENE LORING has arrived from the Coast to stage the dances in Billy Rose's "Carmen lones." J. HOWARD CARNISH, FILM DAILY'S Buffalo staff correspondent, is in New York. KATINA PAXINOU leaves the Coast Aug. 6 to make radio appearances in connection with "For Whom the Bell Tolls." MARIA OUSPENSKAYA is en route East. O. HENRY BR1GCS, PRC president, left Holly- wood Saturday for the home office. He will stop over at Chicago and Detroit. ERNST LUBITSCH arrived from the Coast yes- terday and immediately left for Washington to confer with WAC Col. Hobby on his next 20th- Fox film, "All-Out Arlene." Canadian Film Board Spent $306,531 in Year Ottawa — Cost of operations by th National Film Board in the fiscal year 1942-43 was $306,531 and, in addition, work to the value of $1, 228,893 was performed and paid for by other departments, it is reported in a House of Commons return. The return said the board had 18 per- manent employes and 442 tempor ary. There has been 348 films re- leased to theaters by the board and 808 for other purposes. Chi. Warner Club Outing Chicago — Local Warner club, will hold its Summer outing Aug. 11 vi.° the Steamer Grand Rapids. Joseph Quillan Natalie Moorhead Lawrence Gray Charles Vidor Albert Wetzel hello show world. tomorrow is Warner Day inNewYotk. ) at 3 great* hour will stnfce for the industry* And the curtain* viili put on 9 wonderful treat -for America* Wonderful for one and all in picture business Wonderful for Army Emergency Relief .-> The warnet W*A of F£cture< EVERY CENT OF PROFIT OUT OF ITS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION WILL GO TO ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF STARRING MEN OF THE ARMED FORCES * GEORGE MURPHY * JOAN EESEIE * It RONALD REAGAN - GEORGE TOBiAS -ALAN Directed by Screen Pljy by Casey Robinson and Capt Claude 8inyon. Based on the Stage SI,ow Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" • Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin • Produced by J Keep Selling The "S/iangri La" Stamp Drive! HALE - CHARLES BUTTERWORTH 3nd KATE SMITH L WARNER *nd HAL B. WALKS HB m le predicted that ''Heaven Can Wait" was an event for the boxoffice as well as the $ motion picture theatre-goers. Here is what the leading trade papers had to say after witnessing the combination Trade Showing and sneak Preview. ~-. "A solid piece of entertain- ment. Full of fine perfor- mances. Don Ameche better than his past best. Gene Tierney establishes herself as actress of ability and versa- ^ tility. Picture is best to come from Lubitsch talent." William R. Weaver. M. P. Herald "Just what the exhibitors and the public have been waiting for. Here is a film for exhibi- tors who want heavy box- office lines." Bill Formby, Boxoffice #\ 'Here is as fine a piece of en- tertainment as the customers are likely to find anywhere. Twentieth Century-Fox has a gem of a picture here — one that exhibitors will find a pleasure to merchandise!" "Chick" Lewis, Showmen's Trade Review "Geared for big grosses and holdovers. It's a cinch for i profitable holdovers in the key situations and will click in the subsequents as well." Mori Krushen, Variety y "First class entertainment. Points to grosses beyond the ordinary. A film abounding with entertainment of the sort that stirs audiences to an en- thusiastic pitch." Lou Pelegrine, Film Daily 'Colorful comedy should lead up in the money. Heaven Can Wait, but the public should^ not be kept waiting for this light, delightful comedy with its out of this world theme." Mel Konecoff, Exhibitor CENTURY-FOX SELL WAR STAMPS EVERY DAY IN THE "SHANGRI-LA" JULY DRIVE! ¥ OAJIY Tuesday, July 27, 1941 Of New Tax Dangers Warning that exhibitors face a grave danger in increased Federal admission taxes, Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, in a current or- ganization bulletin urges exhibitors to call on their local Congressmen during the present recess and ex- plain to them what an added tax would mean. Kuykendall contends that an ad- ded admission tax and other special taxes might come "out of resent- ment aganst our dollar publicity, boastful statements about record- breaking box office receipts, huge increases in corporation profits, fabulous prices paid for screen rights to books and plays and so on and on without end, without discretion and without giving a thought to the con- sequences." Stories of big profits that will go to charity from a single picture gives the impression to outsiders that such inflated profits accrue on all pictures, Kuykendall writes, and adding that "double the present Fed- eral admission tax means a new and additional tax burden on the industry of $150,000,000 every year from now on." Declaring that this industry is just as patriotic as any other, Kuykendall said that "we will never squawk or object to paying taxes on the same basis as they are levied on other business and on other re- tail sales." It is the singling out of the picture business for special tax- ation that will bring protests from MPTOA, he said. Local 306 Would Reopen Century-Empire Contract (Continued from Page 1) opening of the wage clause in the current contract, Local 306, Opera- tors, IATSE, has countered with an official notification that it now is the bargaining agent for Empire, subse- quent to last week's merger, and has asked that all points covered in the pact be reopened. WEDDING BELLS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Her marriage to Lieut, (j.g.) Cylos Dunsmoor, U.S.N., in April has been disclosed by Claire Trevor. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Greer Garson and En- sign Richard Ney were married in Santa Monica over the week-end. Indianapolis — William E. Herr, manager for the Ross Federal, and Ruth Osborne, a native of Kennel- worth, 111., wre married. Couple will reside at the Spink Arms Apartment Hotel in this city. What's Cookin' and on Ice: • • • SMALL WORLD DEPT.: Brig. Gen. Edward P. "Ted" Curtis of Eastman Kodak, now stationed in North Africa, pinned a distinguished Flying Cross on an airman who, six years ago, used to caddy for him at the Country Club of Rochester, but Ted didn't recognize the re- cipient until the latter stood up proudly at the ceremony ....-• Flyer is staff Sergt. Richard M. Hasbrouck, Jr., and received the DFC on June 30, — the day he started for home. Said Ted: "I recognized him because he looked exactly as he used to on the golf links" T T T • • • TRADE WINDS: Despite a torn tendon in his right leg, George Bilson of Warner Bros, was on hand at the Hollywood Canteen to keep intact his nine month's record of never being absent from his job as Captain of the bus boys Bilson, by-the-by, has completed a modern horror story, "The Monster of Paris," which is winning at- tention of several studios. ... • Unusual in the way of going-away gifts for Army-bound lads: When Maxwell Seligman of WB's still department left last Friday to don Uncle Sam's khaki, he was presented with a real orchid (a committee of girls pinned it upon Max's lapel). • Joseph de Valdor, veteran international journalist, has been ap- pointed local correspondent of Les Dernieres Nouvelles Daily of Algiers. • Personnel of Cleveland's RKO Palace surprised District Manager Clem Pope with a back-stage birthday party on Friday, and. presented him with a wrist watch. ... # No pic to date has grabbed such in- tensive and widespread editorial comment as Disney's animated opus of Major P. de Seversky's "Victory Through Air Power,"— and latest such editorial appeared in yesterday morning's New York Times. • And far and wide yes'day was published the text, or highlights, of Vice-President Wallace's address in Detroit In the speech, film- land figured prominently via this: "The American press, radio, school and church,— yes, and movies too, if you please—, are free from dom- ination. When they are free from domination by either government or corporate interest, they can hold up to our people, the vision of the freedom and abundance of the America that is to be" T T T • • • ODD-END-A: Lieut. Vance Schwartz, former WB circuit exec, has been placed in charge of six Army theaters located at Camp McCoy, Wis. ... • Lt. Cmdr. Bob Montgomery, who recently returned from the South Pacific, will be emcee at the "Meet Your Navy" show, to be staged in Chi's huge Stadium this coming Friday night Proceeds from the big event will go toward support of the Chicago Service Centers. ... • Ray Branch, Allied Theaters of Michigan's prexy, is raising another true showman right in his own family His 11 -year-old son, Dickie Branch, actually learned to play a Hammond electric organ in one evening, when suddenly called upon to be a church organist He had previously studied piano and a standard organ, but had never played the electric instrument His feat was considered so amazing that the noozepapers chucked the account into husky headlines. ... • Alan (FWTBT) Tamiroff has been 'lected prexy of the recently-formed Russian American Mutual Aid Society, a charitable organization created for the purpose of assisting needy Russian actors Other members of the association include Director Lewis Milestone; Eugenie Leontovich, actress; Director Anatole Litvak; Tama Shayne, actress; plus Mischa Auer, Sarecky Mamoulian, and others. ... • Charles Francis "Socker" Coe, MPPDA vice-prexy, is slated to take part in the Four Freedoms War Bond Show in Rochester on Aug. 3, in addition to addressing Rotary Club there T T T AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! IN NEW POSTS ii T. C. CARLSEN, superintendent parts manu- facturing, Bell & Howell, Chicago. MARTIN J. (Mike) HOCAN, sales department, United Artists, Atlanta. F. ARTHUR SIMON, city salesman, Universal, Cleveland. GENE VOCEL, salesman, Universal, Buffalo. L. ASHBY ARBOCAST, assistant manager, Lyric, Stuart, Fla. HARRY FURST, manager, Plaza, Stamford, HARRY LEVINE, salesman, Monogram, Haven. RICHARD COHEN, booker and office manager, Monogram, New Haven. TONY SERA, manager, Tivoli, Springfield, III. AVI NEE TIOCO, manager, Esquire, Springfield, III. JOHN SHEMAN, branch manager, Monogram, Toronto. Chakeres Acquires Five Theaters In Kentucky (Continued from Page 1) the Town Hall and Leeds Theaters from Sam D. Lee. The two Frank- fort theaters, the Capitol and Grand, were also owned by Lee, who will retire. All buildings housing the motion picture equipment were leased to Chakeres. The Clark Theaters, closed for several months, had been operated by Harry Schwartz and George Myers of Lexington. Handling the transactions were Phil Chakeres, head of the Ohio company, and his general manager, Frank Collins. Two Jacksonville, N. C, and Two Shelby, N. C. Houses Sold Charlotte, N. C— H. H. Everett of Charlotte and Worth Stewart of Dunn, joint owners of a growing cir- cuit in this state, have purchased the Onslow and State theaters in Jack- sonville, from J. C. Johnson. Pos- session passes Aug. 1. In Shelby, William H. Webb, vet- eran theater owner and operator, has sold two theaters, the Rogers and the Carolina, to the Colonial Thea- ters, Inc., of Valdese, George Car- penter president. Webb, who retains and will oper- ate Shelby's, The Webb, owns other pic houses in Gastonia and Kings Mountain. Allison Buys in Dana, Ind. Terre Haute, Ind. — J. M. Allison, former owner of the Virginia Thea- ter here, has purchased the Dana Theater at Dana. STORKS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A seven-pound, 14- ounce daughter was born to Lana Turner Sunday at Hollywood Hos- pital. Father is Pvt. Stephen Crane, USA. Chicago — Al Leonard, manager of the B & K Nortown Theater, is the father of a 7% -pound baby girl, born at the Evanston Hospital. ! One year in the making nd soon to be released by Columbia... I one o f he most ambitious roductions in the ompany's history BUY WAR STAMPS EVERY DAY! SELL WAR STAMPS EVERY DAY! ■■■■■M BBBHBH kseI 1HV jftlU * DAILY Tuesday, July 27, 1943 Clark Seeks Exhib. Reaction to Decree (.Continued from Page 1) disclosed. The ITO of Southern Cali- fornia and Arizona, which went on record some time ago in opposition to the decree, was represented at confabs with Clark, It is understood chief complaints made by exhibitors generally who opposed the decree is that they are being forced to pay higher rentals because of blocks-of- five or less, selling, and that the arbi- tration provision has proved a fail- ure. Chief purpose of Clarks pres- ent trip is to check work on war- fraud. (The Film Daily first disclosed that Clark would confer with exhib- itor leaders on the future of the con- sent decree on July 12). Republic Employes Sue Under 1938 Labor Law Des Moines, la. — Two former em- ployees of the Republic Pictures ex- change here have filed suit in Dis- trict Court to recover $3,628.48 for over-time and liquidation damages. Francis Kappler, former head booker and office manager is seek- ing $3,291.20 and Erma Jean Schultz, made a claim for $337.28. Kappler resigned recently and joined the Paramount exchange in St. Louis. The suit is based on provisions of "the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" relating to payment of time and a half for all hours over 40 hours a week. The petition sets out that the act pro- vides that an employer who violated the act by failing to pay overtime, is in addition to the overtime, liable lor liquidated damages of a like amount. Stating: that he worked for the company from April 6, 1941, to May 19, 1943, Kappler claims that during- the period he worked 1,210 overtime hours for which he received no compensation. Miss Schultz, who worked for the firm from Oct. 28, 1941, to last May 14, is claiming' overtime for 124 hours. Both Kappler and Miss Schultz stated they were paid 91 cents an hour on a 40-hour a week basis. Phil Sherman Turns Exhib. New Haven — Philip Sherman, for- merly Warner exchange manager here and in Ontario, Canada, has leased for 10 years as of Aug. 1, the 658-seat Hamilton, Waterbury. Op- erators for the past year were Fred Quatrano, Robert Schwartz, and Wil- liam Sirica, owners of the building. "Bob" Winton Stricken Cleveland — Marvin "Bob" Winton, about 60 years of age, and stagehand at the Hippodrome Theater for the past 30 years, died this week of a heart ailment, was ill three weeks. Surviving are his wife and daughter, Jane. Harry Ryan Dies in Chicago Chicago— Harry Ryan, Warner ex- change chief projectionist, is dead from heart attack. His wife and son, Lt. Donald Ryan, survive. Burial will be today from Little Flower Church. reviews of new mms "Watch on the Rhine" with Bette Davis, Paul Lukas Warner 114 Mins. HELLMAN PLAY MADE INTO DRAMA- TIC MASTERPIECE; DIRECTION, ACTING AND PRODUCTION TOPS. Let the adjectives fly! Never have unrestrained terms of praise been more deserving than in the instance of the film version of "Watch on the Rhine." The Brothers Warner have every right to snap their buttons over the job they have done in bringing to the screen the Lillian Hellman play striking a telling blow at Fascism. They have given a new stature to the play's thesis, creating a genuine dramatic masterpiece that is certain to wield tremendous box office power. Lovers of drama have a supreme treat in store for them. From start to finish they will be held engrossed by this taut and forceful recital of one man's battle against the evil that is Fascism. They will be moved to the depths by as gripping and poignant a tale of bravery and self- sacrifice in the interests of a cause as has ever come to the screen. The emotional impact will be beyond measuring, as will be the satisfaction derived by those who go in for entertainment of this nature. Cast, director and author have united to create one potent scene after another, each done with a sincerity that one doesn't experience too often on the screen. They have touched the heights with the humanity and courage of their creation and gained the undying thanks of all who relish finer films. The screenplay of Dashiell Hammett, to which has been appended additional scenes and dialogue by Miss Hellman, is something to shout about, being a grand job of cel- luloid dramaturgy. Opening in 1941, it tells with touching dignity the story of a leader of the German underground who comes to the United States with his American wife, who has not seen her homeland since before her marriage to him in Europe. When the man's identity is discovered by a Nazi- loving Roumanian nobleman who is a guest at his mother-in-law's palatial home, the fellow is constrained to commit murder to save himself from being exposed. Producer Hal B. Wallis has assembled a perfect cast for the film. Among the players are five from the Broadway cast. They are Paul Lukas, Lucile Watson, George Coulouris, Eric Roberts and Frank Wilson. Lukas does a whale of a job as the underground leader. As his wife Bette Davis gives a highly emotional performance that is easily among her best. Between them Lukas and Miss Davis tear out your heart time and again. Miss Watson is immense as Miss Davis' mother. Coulouris plays the Nazi rat superbly. Another great performance is given by Geraldine Fitz- gerald as Coulouris' unhappy bride who finds herself free at the end to marry Donald Woods, Miss Davis' brother. Others who give outstanding performances are Woods, Beulah Bondi, Henry Daniell, Donald Buka, Roberts, Janis Wilson, Kurt Katch. Herman Shumlin, who produced the play on Broadway, functioned as director with superlative results. Max Steiner's score is aces; so it the camera work of Merritt Gerstad and Had Mohr. CAST: Bette Davis, Paul Lukas, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lucile Watson, Beulah Bondi, George Coulouris, Donald Woods, Henry Daniel, Donald Buka, Eric Roberts, Janis "The Stranger from Pecos" with Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton Monogram 55 Mins. ALIVE WITH ROUGH STUFF, THIS WESTERN SHOULD GIVE THE KIDS A SWELL TIME; COMEDY BIG ASSET. Johnny Mack Brown and Raymond Hatton join forces in "The Stranger from Pecos" to supply western fans with a rip-snorting piece of entertainment. They help to keep the action noisy and fast all the way through. Brown and Hatton appear as a pair of U. S. marshals drawn to a western com- munity by the activities of a gang of out- laws bent on seizing everything in sight. The villains maneuver matters so that the blame for their acts is placed on the shoulders of an innocent young chap. Brown and Hatton make it their business to es- tablish the young fellow's innocence and obtain evidence against the outlaws. To achieve their end Brown and Hatton are compelled to pass themselves off for what they aren't. The first, posing as a bad hombre, joins the brigands. The other poses as a prospector. Between them they amass enough evidence to put the villains out of operation. In carrying out their as- signment they have to face danger time and again, but they always succeed in coming out with their skins whole, not, however, until a good dose of excitement has been administered. The film is perhaps a shade better than the preceding Brown westerns. The star, too, shows to better advantage, giving a most vigorous performance under the punchy direction of Jess Bowers, who also gets the credit for the screenplay. Hatton is a great asset to the film, his comedy hitting the mark solidly. Assisting Brown and Hatton is a creditable group of players, among them Kirby Grant, Christine Mc- Intyre, Steve Clark, Sam Flint, Roy Barcroft. Scott R. Dunlap produced capably. CAST: Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Kirby Grant, Christine Mclntyre, Steve Clark, Sam Flint, Roy Barcroft, Robert Frazer, Edmond Cobb, Charles King, Bud Osborne, Artie Ortego. CREDITS: Producer, Scott R. Dunlap; Director, Jess Bowers; Screenplay, Jess Bowers; Cameraman, Harry Neumann; Film Editor, Carl Pierson; Art Director, Ernie Hickson; Musical Director, Edward Kay; Sound, Glen Glenn. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Lou Marks at Camp Bliss Cleveland — Lou Marks, M-G-M salesman, recently inducted into the Army, has been assigned to duty at Fort Bliss, Tex. Wilson, Mary Young, Kurt Katch Erwin Kaiser, Robert 0. Davis, Clyde Fillmore, Frank Wilson, Clarence Muse. CREDITS: Producer, Hal B. Wallis; Direc- tor, Herman Shumlin; Screenplay, Dashiell Hammett; Based on play by Lillian Hellman; Musical Score, Max Steiner; Cameramen, Merritt Gerstad, Hal Mohr; Film Editor, Rudi Fehr; Art Director, Carl Jules Weyl; Sound, Dolph Thomas; Set Director, Julia Heron; Special Effects, Jack Holden, Ed- win B. DuPar; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. DIRECTION, Aces. PHOTOGRAPHY, Aces. Distributors Willing To Study Complaints (.Continued from Page 1) the companies are open to any ex- hibitor with a just complaint. The committee was set up by the board of directors at its meeting in New__^ York in May and was formed to af range with each distributor for the creation of some method of handling complaints at the home offices the complaints to refer to "unfair film prices, policies and practices." The protests were to be made by inde- pendent exhibitors through their local exhibitor associations. The letters asked each sales chief to outline the method he would pre- fer to follow. W. F. Rodgers, sales head of M-G-M, said it had been the habit of his company's customers to con- sult with the branch managers, a practice which has worked out satis- factorily. He said that a complaint involving film prices should not be filed with the association first but only after other efforts have failed. Neil Agnew, Paramount's sales head, said all of the field men had been instructed to give all complaints fair attention, pointing out that the branch and dstrict managers were the satisfactory contact in all such matters. If those efforts fail, he ' added, home office executives were available. "It appears to me," he wrote, "that with the opportunity to discuss disagreements with any or all of these executives, it should hardly fail to bring about a satis- factory conclusion to any complaint." T. J. Connors, sales head of 20th Ceitury-Fox, wrote that his com- pany's policy "has been to sell pic- tures on the basis of their true value to each individual theater, taking into consideration each individual thea- ter's problems." Realizing that shifts in population have adversely affected some theaters, 20th-Fox has instruct- ed its managers to give every con- sideration to the individual situations when the facts are made known and substantiated, Connors said. Where dealings with the branch heads fail to materialize in a satisfactory con- clusion, the division managers and the home office officials are open for a review of the facts, he concluded. Robert Moehrie, RKO sales chief, replied in a similar vein, recommending- that com- plaints first be submitted to the branch manager and appealing- up tp the home office where neg-otiations along- the way have failed. William Scully of Universal said his com- pany would be glad at all times to discuss any inequities in a contract, but that Uni- versal did not care to deal with any ex- hibitor representative or through an exhibitor association. No replies were received from Warner Bros., Columbia or United Artists. The MPTOA bulletin suggests that ex- hibitors follow., the- courses recommended by the sales chiefs arid to proceed on their own. adding that the committee on product, prices and policies would continue to function for the purpose of assisting the aggrieved exhib- itor where he has hot been granted the consideration outlined by the particular dis- tributor in question. ill STANDARD ACCESSORIES • SPECIALTY ACCESSORIES • TRAILERS v G\o^ ^\°° -r^-:>-r---r*-^r-^ ** »••%,•*; a as *»*.♦ **s p ;■**•!• MrLt*^ \n ••■♦ • *W*? NAT.nMA. tfPPEN, S E ■ rf* PR/Z£ BABY QF TH£~mOUSTRY C O R PQS AT in 10 THE' jftiu ^ DAILY Tuesday, July 27, 1943 Pix Costs Up 100% In 3 Years— Warner (Continued from Page 1) interview, which covered a variety of subjects — Vice-President Henry Wallace's Detroit speech of Sunday, the Warner production of Berlin's "This Is the Army," headed for a world premiere here tomorrow, the impact of present distribution methods on pix quality, his personal antipathy to dual and triple feature programs and his studio's plans for the new season, Warner made these observations and disclosures: Sees Big "Army" Gross "This Is the Army" — termed by Warner "100 pictures in one" — will gross between $5,000,000 and $10,- 000,000 in the domestic market. The company is finding circuits and indies equally receptive and co-operative so that the Army Emergency Relief may reap the maximum benefit. Ad- vanced b.o. scales are not being re- quired, except for gala openings, be- cause of the desire to get wide dis- tribution quickly, a goal dictated by the pie's great morale value. Normal clearances will rule for "Army" bookings. Twenty-five 16 mm. prints for free service exhibition overseas will be en route by air before the week ends. Warner praised Irving Berlin's co-operation. Quality Up 100 Per Cent The present method of distribu- tion, marked by fewer releases and longer runs, has raised the quality oi pictures about 100 per cent. "The market should not absorb more pic- tures than it is today," Warner de- clared. "It is ridiculous to take a picture off the screen until it has run its course. The old practice of several changes a week can be traced back to vaudeville booking practices. Un- deniably, fewer pictures mean higher quality. As far as Warners are con- cerned, we will never go back to making 'B junk'." The Burbank studio plans to tackle the juvenile delinquency problem next season throuerh a feature, "Marked Children." Cuts Short Output Warners' output of shorts is now down to 104 "g'ood reels" as against a one-time peak of 600 reels. Research to determine the potentialities of the educational film market in the post- war period is under way by the company. The same situation prevails as to television. The studio thus far this year has turned out 30O training' reels for the Army's Signal Corps and 50 similarly restricted reels for the Navy. From this no-profit progTam for the services, Warners is gaining1 invaluable ex- perience in the documentary field. "Can't Kid Public" The company, it was pointed out, for several years has been interested in the in- formative pic from an entertainment angle, and in this connection, has held to the pre- mise that the pictures must be "believable." "You can't kid the people anymore," War- ner asserted. "They're definitely up with you and even ahead of you." Talkies, in Warner's opinion, have increased the intelligence of movie audiences 1,000 per cent. Perhaps the best remedy for product dis- sipation and other exhibition evils, in War- ner's opinion, would be the en masse trans- portation of all theater operators to Holly- wood for a two-year mandatory stay to study production. "They wouldn't go back and dissipate product," he assured. "The exhibitor," he continued, "necessarily must change with changing production." As an illustration of how production has changed reviews of new films * SHORTS * "Report from the Aleutians" (In Technicolor) WAC-Signal Corps 47 mins. Corking Leaving aside the moot question as to whether a shorter version — two reels — would be better suited to the average exhibitor's program needs, this U. S. Signal Corps war pic, photographed in Technicolor under the direction of Capt. John Huston, is a honey, and should find a. ready public acceptance in all types of film houses. With the campaign against Kiska continuing — as this review is typed the press services are carrying dis- patches to the effect that the Japs have completed a new airfield there, indicating they intend to fight it out — the subject is "hot," and the wise exhib. will ask for quick book- ings. Film traces the Jap strategy which led to the seizure of the Aleutians, and the uphill fight by our forces to establish a base for a counter offensive largely waged through the air. The job done by the Army engi- neers is impressive and something to cheer, but the piece de resistance, naturally, is the bombing raid on the strongly entrenched Japanese base. This raid has been splendidly pho- tographed, and the footage, from take-off to the "bombs away" and the return, is gripping and spine-ting- ling. Captain Huston, of course, could be depended upon to do a dra- matic cutting job, and that he has done. Comparisons have a way of being odious, but for this reviewer's money, "Report from the Aleutians" rates with the best of the American war pix to come along. Mrs. Armanda Rowe Dead Detroit — Mrs. Armanda Oliver Rowe is dead after several months' illness. She was the wife of George V. Rowe, manager of the Fox Thea- ter Building. New Spokane Tax Yields Spokane, Wash. — Theater and amusement operators in this area paid $24,024 to the city in taxes on admissions during May and June. This is the first return under the new law. in one phase. Warner recalled that one of the early James Cagney pix cost $151,000 while not so long ago, Cagney alone got $150,000 for his work. The WB production head reiterated that the company had fixed no set number of re- leases for 1943-44. In discussing forthcom- ing product, he cited particularly "The Watch on the Rhine," "Thank Tour Lucky Stars," "Destination, Tokyo," "Old Acquaint- ance," "The Desert Song," "Adventures of Mark Twain," "Saratoga Trunk," "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "Rhapsody in Blue," among others. The last named, he said, would be "equally as important as 'Yankee pared in importance with "Sergeant York." Doodle Dandy'," while "Mark Twain" he com- * SERIAL * "Batman" Columbia 26 Mins. Batty Stuff If this serial keeps up the pace set in the initial chapter, it should have no trouble satisfying the youngsters a lot. The first chapter opens with a bang and never stps the fireworks until the fadeout. The action is utterly fantastic and can be taken seriously only by the young. The older fans are more prone to laugh at the wrong time. The central character is a Govern- ment agent assigned to break up a Japanese sabotage ring headed by J. Carrol Naish. He goes about his work rigged up to suggest a bat. The deeds the batman performs put a fearful strain on the imagination. Naish is painted as a pretty horrible guy. He has a charming trick of changing his captives into zombies when they re- fuse to co-operate with him in his nefarious labors. The villan's chief concern is to seize all the radium lying around for use in his dia- bolical plan of destruction. The hero is played by Lewis Wil- on, who is aided in his patriotic work by Douglas Croft. Rudolph C. Flothow is the producer. The Victor McLeod-Leslie Swabacker- Harry Fraser screenplay is based on the Batman comic magazine feature. Lambert Hillyer's direction is breathless. New Theater Mgrs. Union Chartered in New York (Continued from Page 1) and Professional Workers of Amer- ica, has been opened at 1560 Broad- way. The union has a potential mem- bership of 20,000 and already has be- tween 1,900 and 2,000 members, ac- cording to D. F. Barreca, president. It is estimated that there are 1,200 theaters in the area over which the union will have jurisdiction. The charter was obtained through the signature of five RKO managers, five Loew managers and five Skouras managers. Sidney Larschen is secre- tary-treasurer. 20th-Fox Cleveland Outing Cleveland — Twentieth Century- Fox will hold its annual Summer outing Aug. 16 at nearby Fels Lake. Short subject booker, Miss "Mickey" Altschule, is in charge of arrange- ments. Show "Lucky Stars" Aug. 16 "Thank Your Lucky Stars" will be nationally tradeshown by Warners on Aug. 16, it was announced yes- terday by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager. Hollyw'dWAC Okays War Shorts Program (Continued from Page 1) ecutive vice-chairman of the WAC, were special guests at the meeting presided over by E. J. Mannix, divi- sional vice-chairman. The shorts program was proposed and adoptr at recent meetings in New York \ the Theaters Division and the Na- tional Coordinating Committee. The 26 full length shorts are to be played in the 16,000 pledged theaters in 16 to 20 weeks after release. The 26 Film Bulletins will not exceed 250 feet and will go with the newsreels. Hoyt said that a successor to Low- ell Mellett of the OWI will be an- nounced in Washington in about two weeks, adding that in the meantime an adequate program will go forward through the co-operation of the WAC and the OWI. Mellett's unit com- pleted six shorts before OWI film production was abolished. These will be added to four shorts produced by the CIAA. Two more will be pro- duced by the National War Fund and the Red Cross and 14 by various film producers with 677 prints of all the films. The 250-foot Film Bulletins will be allocated by WAC to pro- ducers. Present at yesterday's luncheon were Y. Frank Freeman, Walter Wanger, Mark Sandrich, Trem Carr, Kenneth Thomson, George Brown, Fred W. Beetson, Loyd Wright and Adrian McCalman, in addition to those mentioned. Sets Aug. 14 for Trial Of Zevin, Browne Aide (Continued from Page 1) dustry. He is expected to be called as a Government witness in the forth- coming trial of the eight alleged racketeers who are accused of ex- torting more than $1,000,000 from picture companies. TO THE COLORS! * COMMISSIONED * J. E. FULD, USN, formerly vice-president Amer- ican Ticket Corp., Chicago, commissioned a lieutenant. — • — * ARMY * SABU, Hollywood. IAMES S. POLLAK, RKO publicity department, Holylwood. PAUL MIZE, manager, Delray, Delray Beach, Fla. * NAVY * JOHN WAYNE, Hollywood. — • — * MARINE CORPS * MRS. MURIEL STUERWALD BLEIER, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y. — • — * ARMY AIR FORCE * ROBERT CUMMINGS, Hollywood. — • — * NAVAL AVIATION * ADOLPH iBROUCKHEART, RKO maintenance de- partment, Hollywood. .; 'c ii i ■ Tuesday, July 27, 1*43 DAILY 11 Theater Biz Drops 10% Since July 10 {Continued from Page 1) decline still leaves the aggregate intake from 10 to 20 per cent ahead of last year at this time. Current margin over 1942, however, is the lowest shown since the first of the veyar, and this is taken to indicate ! jt a leveling off is near due either , saturation point in attendance or a curtailment of admission price increases, or both. No positive effects of the 20 per cent withholding tax are traceable as yet. Exhibitors contacted by key :ity correspondents point out that even with the tax deduction the majority of workers, exclusive of some white collar employees, are as well or better off than two years ago with the added advantage from a itheater standpoint that the public has fewer available luxuries and other goods on which to spend its free cash. Even a further seasonal drop for the next few weeks will .not be a matter of concern, many [exhibitors state. Among the outstanding box- of- ;(ke attractions currently, according -to correspondents' reports, are "Stage Door Canteen," "Action in the North Atlantic," "Coney Island," "Dixie," "Constant Nymph," "Mr. Lucky," "China," "This Land is Mine," "Presenting Lily Mars," ["Bombardier," "Hit the Ice," "Crash Dive." Note Slight Rise in P. R. Imports of Film Footage (.Continued from Page 1) during the 1943 fiscal year, as against 4,790,166 feet during the previous year. Mexico supplied | Puerto Rico with 318,895 feet during the last fiscal period, as against 737,880 during the earlier year. From Argentina came 268,357 feet in the period ending in 1943, as compared with 246,134 feet in 1942. i Admission taxes paid by Puerto 'jlRican theaters in the fiscal year lended 1943 amounted to $333,553.20, [as against $183,884.09 for the pre- ceding period, according to figures given out by the Office of Informa- tion. Joe Howard Gets $35,000 For "Time, Place and Girl' Albany — Joe Howard, veteran trouper who serves as emcee on radio's "Gay Nineties Revue," is touring upstate Fabian Theateis for a series of p.a.'s. Howard signed a contract here with Metro calling for $35,000 for his play, "The Time, the Place and the Girl." Appeal Lease Decision Youngstown, O. — An appeal from Judge Erskine Maiden's recent deci- sion granting lease rights to the Pal- ace Theater from Aug. 1 to the Dall- mer Co., headed by Attorney Gerald F. Hammond, has been filed by the New York Life Insurance Co. HOLLYWOOD DIGEST SIGNED CLARENCE BROWN, producer-director, Interna- tional Pictures Co. (William Coetz). NUNNALLY JOHNSON, producer-director, Inter- national. WILLIAM BENDIX, two pictures, Paramount. MILTON STIEFEL, dialogue director, Columbia. WILLIAM E. WATTS, dialogue director Columbia. DELTA RHYTHM BOYS, termer, Universal. WILLIAM L. PEREIRA, production assistant, David O. Selznick. ALFRED DRAKE, termer, Columbia. ASSIGNMENTS F. HUCH HERBERT, screenplay, "Since You Went Away," David O. Selznick. SAM NEWFIELD, director, "Career Girls," PRC. FREDDIE RICH, musical score, "The Life of Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA. PAUL GERARD SMITH, script, "Lady, Let's Dance," Monogram. CASTINGS MICHAEL O'SHEA, "The Eve of St. Mark," 20th-Fox; JACK JENKINS, "Rationing," M-G-M; FAUL KELLY, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Para- mount; MONA MARIS, "Tampico," 20th-Fox; JANE DARWELL, "Government Cirl," RKO; VAN JOHNSON, "The White Cliffs of Dover," M-C-M: MARY ANDERSON, "Lifeboat," 20th-Fox; DELTA RHYTHM BOYS, "Crazy House," Universal; JANET SHAW, "Sundown Trail," Universal; CHARLES DINCLE, "The Professor Goes Wild," Universal; NEIL REAGAN and JAMES CAR- PENTER, "Doughboys in Ireland," Columbia; EDDIE MARR, "Rhapsody in Blue," Warners ROBERT STANFORD, "Is Everybody Happy?,' Columbia; JUNE VINCENT, "Set to Music,' Universal; MABEL PAIGE, "Going My Way," I Paramount; LOWELL GILMORE, "One Hour of Glory," RKO; BILLJE BURKE, "Gildersleeve on Broadway," RKO- JOHN HARVEY, "Pin-Up Girl," 20th-Fox; CANDY CANDIDO, JOHN DUNCAN, GENEVIEVE GRAZIS and DOUG LEAVITT, "Col- lege Sweetheart," Monogram; MADY CORRELL and JACK TRENT, "Texas Masquerade," Harry Sherman-UA; ARMIDA and JACK LaRUE, "The Girl from Monterey," PRC; BARTON MacLANE and CHARLOTTE WYNTERS, "Underdog," PRC; MARJORIE MANNERS and SHELDON LEONARD, "Harvest Melody," PRC; LOU CROSBY, "One Hour of Glory," RKO; AGNES MOORHEAD, "Government Cirl," RKO; MICKEY ROONEY, "National Velvet," M-C-M; WALTER HUSTON, "Dragon Seed," M-G-M; TOMMY BATTEN, "Ra- tioning," M-C-M; FRANK CRAVEN, "The Life of Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA; FEDOR CHALIAPIN, "The Girl from Leningrad," Gregor Rabinovitch-UA. STORY PURCHASES "Village in August," Lee Sabinson. DR. SEUSS' "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry St.," George Pal. HARRISON HOWELL'S "Coldbrick Champs," Sam Katzma'n, Jack Dietz-Monogram. TITLE SWITCHES 'Going My Way?," formerly, "The Padre," Paramount. 'Passport to Suez," formerly "Night of Ad- venture," Columbia. SCHEDULED 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey," Ben Bogeaus-UA. 'Every Thursday Off," producer, RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, author, SALKA VIERTEL, Paramount. $2,208,027 Earnings Increase for Loew's (Continued from Pane 1) $9,453,838 compared with $7,245,811 tor the 40 weeks ended June '4, 1942. Per share earnings on the average common stock, after deducting divi- dends on the preferred in 1942, since retired, were $5.67 compared with $4.08 last year. Company's share of the operating profit after subsidiaries' preferred dividends was $28,764,013 compared with $18,186,456 for the same 40 weeks in 1942. Company's share of the profit before Federal taxes was $22,341,536 against $11,147,401 for the same period last year. Reserve for Federal taxes for the 40-week period was $12,887,698, while the taxes for the same period last year totaled $3,901,590. Reserve for contingencies this year was $3,800,000 against $4,600,- 000 last year, while the reserve for depreciation this year was $2,622,- 477. Depreciation reserve last year amounted to $2,439,055. Bausch-Lomb's Hornung Dead Rochester — William H. Hornung, 80, oldest employe of the Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. in point of service, died here. Crescent Unopposed to Gov't Appeal's Demands? {Continued from Page 1) of any theater by any one of the corporations. Months ago, a docu- ment was filed by Chief Counsel George H. Armistead, Jr. inviting the Court to fix and approve a plan of operation of its theaters by the defendants exhibitors, with all "pro- visions subject to the approval of the Court after a hearing at which all in- terested parties shall have the op- portunity to present objections and be heard." Petitions to intervene in the suit, filed by stockholders of Kentucky Amusement Co.. Lyric Amusement Co., and Lawreneeburg Theaters. Inc., now pending- before Judge Davies, express a willingness on the part of stockholders holding' a 50 per cent interest in each of these corporations to submit all problems of acquisition, disposition, and op- eration to a trustee appointed by the District Court. This apparently equals, if not exceeds. any degree of Federal supervision that the local court or the Department of Justice might demand. Special Solicitor Charles Fahy, in a docu- ment filed with the plaintiff's motion for an appeal on the provisions in the proposed de- cree in the Crescent case, admits that D of J efforts to right all wrongs to owners of ac- quired theaters in competitive situations in the Schine and Paramount cases, haven't worked out satisfactorily, altogether reveal- ing that their interest is primarily in these larger litigations and only incidentally in the Crescent suit itself. Exchange Employes Picnic New Haven — Local 41-F and 41R of exchange employes joined 95 strong for an annual picnic at In- dian Grove yesterday. Robert Hoff- man and Phil Gravitz were in charge of arrangements, which included luncheon on the terrace, dancing, swimming, and games. ^W ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN WE MOVIES in 'SONG OF TEXAS' REPUBLIC PICTURE^ /tootle* FIRST RUN AMri 5N«A* FZ£Vf£ty/ Sneak preview results prove it's better "audience" than "Eagle Squadron" and "Arabian Nights"! Wanger does it again with "We've Never Been Licked!" GET EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN TOWN TO BUY WAR STAMPS IN THE "SHANGRI-LA" JULY DRIVE NOT REMOvl: V$L.)84. NO. 19 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1943 TEN CENTS AUSTRALIA RELEASING AMERICAN J»IX COIN Smith-Howell To Get Further Gas Consideration Editorial Scratch-pad . . . jottings j±= By CHESTER B. BAHN = IRVING BERLIN'S "This Is the Army," ■ the Warner film version of which finally has its world premiere at the Hollywood here tonight, undoubtedly will be followed into celluloid by the untitled play which Moss Hart is now writing about the Army Air Forces. ... An inquiry to the AAF Branch of Army Emergency Relief brought the re- ply that it "naturally feels that there is every possibility that a motion picture will be made at the end of the legitimate run of the Army Air Forces show". ... So far, of course, there have been no discussions. . . . The Hart show, which the dramatist himself will stage with an all-AAF cast, will go into rehearsal Oct. 1 and should hit Broadway in November. . . . Lt. Col. Dudley S. Dean is the show's executive manager, and his assistants are Lt. Irving P. Lazar and Lt. Benjamin Landis. ... As to what major studio might be interested, this only definitely can be said: There is little likeli- hood that it will be Warners. . . . Jack L. Warner stated here this week that the com- pany had no plans to do another production a la "Army." ODT Tells Carrier and Exhibs. to Show Report On July Delivery Needs IT IS axiomatic in this biz that you can't ' afford to stand still. ... It is also axiomatic that, to make money, you have to spend money. . . . The recent notable progress of Republic underlines both, and for further emphasis there are these in- structions voiced by Herbert J. Yates to Ex- ecutive-Producer M. J. Siegel at last week's Coast sales meeting: "Throw away the rubber band on Repub- lic's bank roll, toss Republic's hat into the personality and directorial buying-ring — meet any price competition, and corral the biggest names possible from screen, stage and radio and secure outstanding story ma- terial regardless of cost." | Yep, times have changed, and Republic wisely has changed with them. . . . Which explains why Jimmy Grainger can report Republic pix grossing up to $2,500,000 and a company income potential of $3,000,000 for such new product as "In Old Oklahoma." IF YOU want an added reason for being 11 happy you're part of film biz these days, you might give a thought or two to its penchant for keeping faith with its customers in the face of war-time difficulties as great (.Continued on Page 2) Syracuse — J. J. Haykel, district manager of the Office of Defense Transportation yesterday instructed Smith & Howell Film Service and ex- hibitors in the Albany area to get together to work out plans for furth- er conservation of gas, tires and equipment and to submit an actual operations report to ODT for the month of July. When this is done further consideration of Smith & Howell's application for increased (Continued on Page 6) D00B IN WAR FINANCE POST Named Committee's Assistant National Director 48-Hour Exemption Unnecessary in D. C. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — No exemption from the 48-hour week is needed by Wash- ington area exhibitors, they were told yesterday by the local WMC office. Full-time workers are, and have been for many months putting in a full 48 hours, and part-time (Continued on Page 6) Haas Appointed Denver Para. Branch Manager Oscar A. Doob, head of advertis- ing and publicity for Loew's theaters, has been given a leave of absence to serve as as- sistant national director of the War Finance C o m m i ttee in charge of adver- tising. Doob will serve in the in- terests of the $15,000,000,000 War Loan drive and will head- quarter in W a shin g ton. Nicholas M. Schenck, presi- dent of Loew's, gave Doob a leave until mid- October. The Loew theater exec, is chair- OSCAR A. DOOB (Continued on Page 6) Promotion of Harry Haas from a salesman in Paramount's Los An- geles to branch manager in Denver was announced yesterday by Neil Agnew, general sales manager. Haas (Continued on Page 3) Usher and Cleaner Problem Chief Woe The problem of obtaining ushers and cleaning help is becoming more acute every week and exhibitors are (Continued on Page 3) To Lead Loan Drive Olda. Exhib. to Direct 4-Billion Campaign Says "One World" Paves Way to Political Charges West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Twentieth - Fox, in filming Wendell L. Willkie's "One World" as a feature, is paving the way for accusations against the in- dustry "of using the screens for a direct political motive, namely to (Continued on Page 3) Appointment of L. C. Griffith as general chairman of the forthcoming industry campaign in behalf of the Third War Loan, Sept. 9-20, was an- nounced yesterday by S. H. Fabian, chairman of the theaters division and head of the WAC bond activities. Griffith, who is WAC exhibitor head for the Oklahoma City exchange area, arrives here tomorrow for a series of conferences with WAC offi- (Contimied on Page 6) All Funds to June 30, 1944, to be Released; To Set New Deal Later American distributors having money tied up in Australia due to monetary restrictions will soon be able to take their funds out of the country, it was announced yesterday. The Australian government has agreed to release all funds due Amer- ican producers and profits of the Australian subsidiaries up to June 30, 1944. After that date, the matter again will come up for consideration (Continued on Page 3) Ben Thau May Head OWI Film Bureau West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — It is reported that Ben Thau, veteran M-G-M executive, is being seriously considered as a suc- cessor to Lowell Mellett as head of the OWI Motion Picture Bureau. Others said to be under considera- (Continued on Page 6) Glass Leaves UA for PA; Walt Compton Succeeds West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — George Glass, United Artists West Coast publicity director for the last three years, moves over to Producing Artists, Inc., newly (Continued on Page 3) "This Is the Army" Set for Gala Debut The Broadway sector goes Army tonight with the world premiere of Warners' adaptation of Irving Ber- lin's "This Is the Army," staged and filmed for Army Emergency Relief, at the Hollywood. Opening, a sell- out, with tickets scaled from $55 down, will attract a notable audience, with the Army contingent headed by Lt. Gen. Hugh A. Drum. Army is putting on a 400-man show and dis- play in the theater area, with Army band giving a street concert at 8 p.m. THI Vol. 84, No. 19 Wed., July 28, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor : Publisher General Manager Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (.Tuesday, July 27) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 165/8 16!4 IS'A — Vs Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) 17l/8 161/4 I6I/4 — I Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind." 2% 1% 1% + Va Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. 16V8 16l/8 16'/8 East. Kodak 165V8 163'/2 163Vi — ll/2 do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq 21 1/2 20y8 20'/8 — 1 Vz Loew's, Inc 63 62 62 — V/s Paramount 28y4 26 263/8 — 1 % RKO 8% 8i/4 8l/4— % RKO $6 pfd 91 88l/4 88l/4 — 3% 20th Century-Fox ... 22'/2 2V/% 21 1/4 — 1 20th Century-Fox pfd. 335/8 31% 31% — 1% Warner Bros 14% 13% 13%— % NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts .... 3*4 3% 3l/8 — % RKO war 1% 1% 1% Sonotone Corp Technicolor 14l/2 13y2 13% — % trans-Lux Universal Picts. vtc. 17% 173,4 17% — % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Met. Playhouse, Inc. 2nd deb. '45 Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 Ray Johnston Marries Saturday West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — W. Kay Johnston, president of Monogram, and Doris Deupress, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Lane Deupress of Fort Worth, Tex., will be married Satur- day in the Pueblo Oratorio of the Chapman Park Hotel, Los Angeles. Earl Stitzer Dead Richmond, Va. — Earl Stitzer, man- ager of the Capitol for the past sev- eral years, died here at the Johnson Willis Hospital, after a short illness. He is survived by his wife and two children. Scratch-pad . . . jottings (.Continued from Page 1) as those faced by any sphere of commerce. . . . Sure, admissions in some situations have been advanced, but the percentage of in- crease is far below price advances in other lines. . . . But the screen today undeniably is offering higher quality product, if any- thing, and quantity, save in those instances where house policy has changed, is general- ly maintained. . . . Contrast that with. . . . well, take the candy bar, which, like the movies, caters to a mass "audience". . . . Have you noticed how the size of the pre- war five cent bar has shrunken? . . . How the packaging is mainpulated to disguise the smaller size? . . . How many of the old, familiars have faded from the counters, giving way to new brands in ounce pack- ages offered by the same manufacturers, thus permitting two bars where one ruled before? . . . How prices have been raised? But don't get me wrong. . . I like candy bars. Ad Coin for 'Dr. Wassell' Cut to Tolls' Pattern Because it promises to be Cecil B. DeMille's greatest picture "The Story of Dr. Wassell" will be given an advertising and publicity cam- paign comparable to that of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," Neil Agnew, Paramount's sales chief, announced yesterday. Agnew said that ar- rangements were being made where- by a percentage of the gross receipts would be given to the Navy Relief Society. Providence Police Nix Bathing Beauty Contest Providence — "Miss America" com- petition which manager George Cron- in of Empire theater here had sched- uled for Aug. 9-13, with winner to be dubbed "Miss Rhode Island" and sent as State's entry in Atlantic City Beauty Pageant, won't be held. City Amusement Inspector George W. Cowan is reported to have informed the theater management the Bureau of Police and Fire would not condone any "bathing beauty contest," so the whole deal has been called off. PRC to Service Southern W. Va. Via Cincinnati Cincinnati — Nat Kaplan, branch manager, for PRC, announces the servicing of southern West Virginia, will be conducted through the Cincy office, beginning Aug. 1, instead of at Pittsburgh. Kaplan announces ex- pansion of the offices and personal. DAILY Wednesday, July 28, 1943 Film Classics to Release 32 Pix Before March, '45 Having acquired seven David O. Selznick and Merian C. Cooper pro- ductions for re-issue, Film Classics, Inc., will release 32 features start- ing Aug. 1 and extending over a period of nearly two years to March, 1945, it was announced yesterday by George Hirliman and Irvra Shapiro. OI the 24 Gaumont-British films pre- viously acquired by Film Classics from 20th- Fox, two will be released every month. The five Selznick productions and the two Cooper pictures will be released on the basis of one every three months, with the initial one g-oing' out Sept. 1. A special release has been set for 'Hari-Kiri People," formerly "Thunder in the East," on Aug-. 15. Para, to Show First Block For 1943-44 on Aug. 9-10 Trade showings of Paramount's first block for the 1943-44 will be held in all exchange centers Aug. 9 and 10. The group consists of "Let's Face It," which will be shown on the afternoon of Aug. 9; "True to Life," afternoon of Aug. 10; "Hostages," morning of Aug. 10; "The Good Fellows," morning of Aug. 9, and "Tornado," afternoon of Aug. 9. In New York, "The Good Fellows" will be shown at 2:30 on Aug. 9 at the 20th Century-Fox screening- room; others will be shown at the Normandie Theater. COMinG and GOfflC PAUL LAZARUS, JR., leaves Hollywood Friday for New York. F. J. A. MCCARTHY left yesterday for Nash- ville. FRANK N. PHELPS, Warner Theaters executive in charge of labor relations, will be in Albany tomorrow. SI FABIAN and ED SCHREl'BER of *'■ VAC return today from Washington. J. HOWARD GARNISH, Buffalo staff "in for THE FILM DAILY, returned there from New York last night. A. A. SCHUBART and WILLIAM J. McSHEA return tomorrow from Chicago. TOM C. CLARK, Assistant Attorney General. returns to Washington over the week-end from the Pacific Coast. RALPH WILSHIN of National Screen is here from the Coast. MARION SALWITZ, of Warners' New Haven exchange, visited with Victoria Cusanelli Leach. booker at the New Haven exchange for many years, in Norfolk, Va. EUGENE O'BRIEN, formerly at Columbia, New Haven, now a corporal at West Palm Beach Fla. in for a furlough. JOE SHULMAN, of the Rivoli, Webster and Wethersfield Theaters, Hartford, is vacationing at Cape Cod. JOHN R. WOOD, JR., business manager of The March of Time, is vacationing at Ocean City, N. J. PHIL A. WILLIAMS, advertising director of The March of Time, is back at his desk from a week's stay at Siasconset, Nantucket, Mass. ANNE BAXTER is bound for New York from the Coast for a vacation. FRANK O'BRIEN, Richmond city manager for Wilmer and Vincent, and MRS. O'BRIEN are vacationing in New York. .: Mf V" *MW ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES In "SONG OF TEXAS' yt HR5T RUN JfVednesday, July 28, 1943 W*\wJLY Australia Releasing imerican Pix Money (Continued from Paqe_ \) ti light of Australia's overseas ex- hange position. It is estimated that all American ,1m companies have between $3,000- 00 ?-r- $4,000,000 tied up in Aus- raliipL. Jays "One World" Paves Nay to Political Charges (Continued from Page 1) ssist in Willkie's candidacy for 'resident," Pete J. Wood, secretary f the ITO of Ohio, has wired Darryl \ Zanuck at the studio here. So far as is known, Allied's Ohio rganization is the fr st to register critical reaction to 20th-Fox's pur- hase of the Willkie best seller which he studio plans to make in nine 'ir.guages. Whether Wood's wire vill touch off a barrage of "anti" Lllied action, or whether it merely effects Ohio's inbred anti-interna- ionalism has the trade guessing. t: Wood, who wired that "the condem- nation heaped upon the industry for Mission to Moscow' will undoubted- V be duplicated," suggested that ir.- tead of a feature, 20th-Fox make a two-reeler documentary film to be istributed gratis to exhibitors" and hat Zanuck uses his "remarkable ;enius and energy" to make more pix ike "Shores of Tripoli," "Hello 'risco," "Flicka" and "Coney Island." jrlass Leaves UA for PA; Walt Compton Succeeds (Continued from Page 1) ormed company of David Loew and Arthur Lyons, as head of advertising nd publicity. He will be succeeded it UA by Walter Compton who was ppointed yesterday by Paul Lazaius. ; Compton has been with Republic for | he last seven years and in recent ears has been in charge of that ompany's studio publicity opera- ions. \ W. Spencer Dead Blanchester, O. — F. W. Spencer, ormer theater man died here. His iaughter is Mrs. W. Crist, wife of Doc" Crist, owner of The Ripley, lipley, O. Blanche Mehaffey Edward Marfindel Skeers Gallagher ALONG THE Pk$MD> Only Just Begun To Star!: • • • MUSIC, 'tis said, hath charms The tune-laden feature iilm. whether of the war or nay. makes it easier for America's millions to walk in Duty's path with the weight of the conflict's cares and worries on their shoulders And to the exhibitor there is charm in music His business symphony, which makes possible the efficient operation of his house in wartime, provides the wherewithal for the purchase of Bonds in maximum volume, and makes possible his own and much of his com- munity's activities in behalf of Victory, is the clinking of coin as it pours into the ole box-office till Both of these facets of present-day filmdom. — from the patron's and showman's standpoint — . bring to mind the intriguing Case of Deanna Durbin Her latest Universal vehicle, "Hers To Hold," is not only a rich example of the timely, music-studded opus which the public wants, but a timely example of music-studded richness which the theater operator needs Fans are heading eagerly for the new film, as is evidenced by the heavy "takes" reported from hosts of situations where it is now playing T V V • • • THAT "Hers To Hold" is making turnstiles click with the frequency of machine-gun fire is not altogether a novelty in the annals of Durbin pix From the time of the young star's debut in features via "Three Smart Girls," she has enjoyed unique success, hurtling virtu- ally overnight to stardom, and then hanging up repeated triumphs in rapid succession Then she was tagged as a prodigy,— primarily because of her idealizing and refreshing personality Today, the Case of Deanna Durbin is precisely what we say here ,— intriguing Her vocal skill is far above what it was formerly, and her personality even more magnetic From a pretty child-star, with what might be termed adequate histronic ability, she has grown into an adult luminarx with great performing skill Her glamour enchants potions of the feminine gender, giving her intense box-office value on that important score Equally magnetic is she to the male coterie In "Hers To Hold," she has what it takes to make the femmes admire and imitate her, and the swains, all the way from knee-pants to 4-H and far beyond, go "Whoo-Whoo!" in the best Hugh Herbert manner It all adds up to one inescapable conclusion, namely, that Miss Durbin is a full-fledged butterfly, no longer in the kid cocoon, and only just beginning to really spread her wings Her present is big Her future even bigger She is one of the very, very few members of the film acting profession who has been able to withstand the transition from juvenile ranks to adult status, and be better in the latter than the former V ▼ V • • • MUCH of the credit for Deanna Durbin's present high estate in the hearts of public and press is due to the intelligent and strategic guidance at the hands of Universal's studio-ites It was not easy to convert a girl in early 'teens (the pretly prodigy) into a young woman in early twenties whom khaki-clad and bluejacketed lads now pin-up and look upon with ga-ga, wolfish eyes, and whom gals, young and old, view as a magnetic model In this triumphant metamorphosis, con- siderable credit likewise goes to Felix Jackson, producer of "Hers To Hold," who collaborated in the writing of several of Deanna's previous pix His knowledge of her as a person and an artiste has provided with exactness the best channels for her ability Miss Durbin, like- wise is a mighty factor in her own success She has conscientiously "stuck to her knitting" in Hollywood, — every stitch a good, clean one She has only just begun to star, — and gross! V V ▼ • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! IN NEW POSTS HAROLD WISE, booker, Universal, Chicago. JULES CHAPMAN, office manager, PRC, Chicago. HENRY PORTER, sales staff, FRC, Chicago. EDWARD C. MAY, manager, Kentucky Theater, Maysville, Ky. LARRY HENSLER, salesman. Warners, Des Moines. GEORCE GLASS, publicity-advertising head, Pro- ducing Artists, Inc., Hollywood. HARRY HAAS, Paramount branch manager, Den- ver. Usher-Cleaner Problem Chief Woe of Exhibs. (Continued from Page 1) finding the situation one of their biggest headaches in theater opera- tion. The turnover of ushers and other personnel is so great that uniforms have to be altered almost every week, while new assignments must be made to fit the staffs from day I to day, according to reports. An indication of the condition may be seen in a report from Richmond, Va., where Stewart Tucker, man- ager of the State Theater, boasts of a veteran service staff because the oldest member from the point of service has been with him for three weeks. In New Haven, it is reported that some managers are favoring the elimination of standees and ushers and placing only one floor man on each floor. Experiments along that line are said to be in the offing. Exchanges are turning more and more to girl employes. Twentieth Century-Fox has announced that more girls have been promoted to positions of revenue responsibili- ties than had been similarly ele- vated in the prior five years. As more men go into the armed ser- vices, booking desks are being filled rapidly by women. Haas Appointed Denver Para. Branch Manager (Continued from Page 1) succeeds Chester J. Bell, who recent- ly was named exchange manager in Los Angeles. The new head of the Denver branch is a veteran of the first World War and started in the film business as an assistant theater manager in Wichita, Kans., later be- coming manager of the Criterion in Oklahoma City. He joined Para- mount as an assistant shipper in 1924 and was made a salesman in 1932. It. James McCracken Nazis' War Prisoner Richmond, Va. — Lr. James B. Mc- Cracken, formerly of the Byrd The- ater staff, has been reported by the War Department as a prisoner of Germany. He was reported missing on April 17 after arriving overseas on April 4. I Screen Play by Casey Robinson and Capt. Claude Binyon • Based on the Stage I Show Irving Berlin's "This is the Army"- Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin Directed by J that's the ticket! ADMISSION FIFTY- FIVE DOLLARS FOR TONIGHT'S OPENING OF THE PRODUCTION THAT MARKS A NEW STEP FORWARD AND UPWARD FOR THE MOTION PICTURE AND ITS PEOPLE. THIS FIRST ENGAGEMENT, LIKE ALL THOSE TO COME, IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF. WHEN THE FINAL ENGAGEMENT IS CONCLUDED, THE AMERICAN MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR ONCE AGAIN WILL HAVE PROUDLY DEMONSTRATED THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS SPIRIT AND PATRIOTISM. OF THE ARIV1ED FORCES LESLIE * Lt. RONALD REAGAN -CHARLES BUTTERWORTH- KATE SMITH Cr^WH Wednesday, July 28, 1943 Smith-Howell to Show Operations Report (Continued from Page \) gas rations will be given by the local ODT office. Smith & Howell's request is be- lieved here to be the first for more gas to be filed by a film carrier. Decision followed a hearing at- tended by E. Douglas Leishman, rep- resenting the Schine interests; Sid- ney Kallet, of the Kallet Circuit; D. R. Houlihan, 20th-Fox Albany book- er, and Francis Smith representing Smith & Howell in the film carrier's plea. Carrier held that is has insufficient gas alloted to handle the Buffalo dis- trict, now operating on a four day a week schedule and the Albany ter- ritory, operating on five days. Com- pany claims that Albany cannot get by on four deliveries weekly as there is insufficient express service in small communities in the South and South- western parts of the territory. Proposed application of Smith & Howell Film Service to the Public Service Commission for permission to discontinue its service franchise in Southern New York for the dura- tion has been called off, it is under- stood. Hearing was to have been held today. L. C. Griffith Will Lead Industry Loan Drive (Continued from Page 1) cials. After Aug. 10 he will head- quarter at the WAC headquarters until the end of the drive. Griffith's duties will be to coordi- nate a campaign that will include wide-spread use of the bond premiere idea, star-tour participation, the ex- tent of which is now being considered by the Hollywood Victory Committee, inter-industry sales, plus general ex- ploitation within theaters to increase the sale of the smaller bonds to the degree necessary. War Loan's goal is $15,000,000,000; industry quota is $4,000,000,000.- Fabian said that Griffith had been appointed with the confidence of the entire WAC. ]Vo "Army" Com. For Dayton; House S.R.O. Asked over the telephone about setting up a local committee for the premiere of "This is the Army," Bill Keyes, owner and operator of the Victory, Dayton, 0., laconically replied to a Warner home office official, "Don't need any committee. I sold out the entire house myself." It developed that Keyes had disposed of all the opening night seats, scaled from $5.50 to $3.30, in 48 hours, had paid for his own seats and for those of the critics. Accomplishment will add some $6,000 to the Army Emerg- ency Relief Fund. TO THE COLORS! * DECORATED * WILLIAM EPPERSON, USAAF, formerly, Valencia Theater, Chicago, awarded Distinguished Fly- ing Cross for bravery in the South Pacific area. * PROMOTED * SAM LEVIN, USAAF, former manager, Belpark, Chicago, to captain. GIL MIXON, USA, formerly Northshore Theater, Chicago, to sergeant. * ARMY * DAVID I. GOLDSTEIN, son of Nathan E. Gold- stein, president of Western Massachusetts Theaters, Inc., Springfield. JOHN SIMON, Terminal Theater, Chicago. CEORGE HENGEL, service chief, Riveria, Chicago. IACK MERCER, voice of Popeye, Paramount Famous Studios. * NAVY * MAMNIE TRAUTENBERG, head booker, RKO, Cincinnati. WALLACE OBUCHOWICZ, Biltmore, Chicago. AL ADAMS, Tivoli, Chicago. * MARINES • BOB RICHARDS, Belpark, Chicago. Find 48-Hour Exemption Unnecessary in D. of C. (Continued from Page 1) workers are not included in the terms of the order. Eequest of local exhibitors for ex- emption was tabled when Govern- ment officials and exhibitors agreed that exemption would not alter the situation. Exhibitors' request for a position of essentiality, in local WMC eyes, will be considered fur- the:, it was indicated, and exhibi- tors felt more optimistic about this request than the last time the matter was brought up. Exhibitors had asked several weeks ago that they be excepted from the terms of the 48-hour order, be- cause of the large number of Gov- ernment workers and young people employed on pa: t time. District of Columbia law forbids the employ- ment of youngsters under 18 for more than 30 hours per week. Twenty houses in the city and sub- urbs operate 45 hours or less, and rather than require that these in- crease their hou: s of operation the WMC agreed that they need not demand 48-hours weekly of all their employes. About 55 per cent of the area's theaters operate over 48 hours, and their full-time employes have been putting in that much time for many months now, with huge over- time checks a regular thing at al- most all theaters. Some few opeia- tors do not put in 48 hours in one booth, but these in almost every in- stance do relief work elsewhere be- cause of the shortage of booth work- ers. The essentiality request — which in no way affects draft deferment — was passed over some time ago be- cause local WMC officials were un- willing to differentiate between thea- ters and other forms amusement, but there is a good chance now that they will draw the distinction. Ex- hibitors made the point that physical well - being, for one thing, is a requisite for enjoyment of many of the other forms of amusement, whereas that is not so far for the enjoyment of motion pictures. Buettner, Italian Captive Alton, 111. — Vernon H. Buettner, formerly of the Grand theater ser- vice staff is reported a prisoner of war in Italy. He participated in several engagements in the Tunisian campaign, before his capture. 12 WB War Casualties; 2,351 Now in Service A dozen gold stars on the Warner Bros, service flag, which number 2,351 former employes now on active duty for Uncle Sam, marks the 12th casualty to date among Warnerites on the fighting fronts. Number in service is about 15 per cent of the company's normal employe complement, the highest percentage of any major film organi- zation. It includes 635 from the Bur- bank studio, with five casualties; 422 from the Philadelphia theater territoiy, three casualties; 209 from the home office; 224 from exchanges, one casualty; 130 from Washington theater zone, one casualty; 133 from Chicago zone; 117 from Cleveland zone, one casualty; 110 from the New England zone, one casualty; 61 from Albany zone, one casualty; 140 from Pittsburgh zone; 50 from West Coast theaters; 90 from New York metro- politan and Newark zone; 24 from Ace Film Lab., 6 from Warehouse. Flying Fortress Crash In Texas Kills Wirt Evanston, 111.— Richard K. Wirt, former Varsity theater service chief was fatally injured in an air accident, during the routine flight of a Flying Fortress in Texas. Lt. Roy Stealy Missing In Raid on Germany Chicago Heights, 111. — Lt. Roy Stealy, former Lincoln theater ser- vice chief, is reported missing in ac- tion in a flight of a Flying Fortress, over Germany. Stealy had been credited with several planes shot down on numerous raids over Europe. Wood, Entering Service, Closes Canton Theaters Cincinnati — Orville Wood, has closed The Majestic and The Dover, at Canton, for the duration. He is serving- with the armed forces. Closing Huntington Fox? Huntington, W. Va. — The Fox, colored house, is reported closing Aug:. 5. Doob Named Assl. Director of WFC (Continued from Page 1) man of the Public Relations Division of the WAC and during last year's September Billion Dollar Drive di- rected the outstanding publicity cam- paign which contributed so J^jgely to the drive's success. I WAC and Army Discuss War Loan Participation Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Si Fabian, Harry Brandt and Ed Schreiber, represent- ing the WAC theaters division, con- ferred briefly yesterday with Oscar Doob, now assistant national direc- tor of the War Finance Committee and Army officials concerning Army- industry co-operation in the third war loan drive, in September, and with war manpower officials. Topic of their discussion with WMC was not revealed, but is be- lieved that they were here to try to clarify the future status of the lists of essential occupations and jobs. Theaters are not presently included on the essential lists, although they receive consideration from local draft boards in many cases, because of the inclusion of picture production. Status of these lists in view of the forthcoming list of "critical" jobs — not expected to include more than 200 in all — is still a matter for con- jecture. In general, said the WMC official, we "discussed manpower problems affecting theaters." Ben Thau May Head OWI Motion Picture Bureau (Continued from Page 1) tion for the spot are Ted Gamble, Oregon exhibitor who has made a good showing as one of the assistants to Secretary Morgenthau on War Bond sales, and Hal B. Wallis, War- ner executive producer. WB Canadian Sales Meet In Montreal Next Month Toronto — Warners will hold its Canadian sales conference in Mon- ti eal during the eary part of August, with managers and salesmen in at- tendance from the six key cities. Last year the meeting was held in Toronto. Moscow Sees "Mission" Moscow — The Russian version of Warner's "Mission to Moscow" hit the screens here yesterday. STORKS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A son has been born to the John Garfields. The infant has been named David Patton Gar- field in honor of Lieut. Gen. George S. Patton. "MY KINGDOM FOR A COOK", COLUMBIA COMEDY, TO HAVE AUG. 31 RELEASE IpC gh Hit In Tradition Of Studio's 'Greats' To Star Charles 'Dingle' Coburn A new comedy from Columbia is always interesting screen news, but when the studio that has turned out so many laugh hits claims a new one belongs up there with the memorable big ones, it's worthwhile to sit up and take notice. "My Kingdom For A Cook," accord- ing to Columbia officials, is such a comedy. It will be released Aug. 31. The talk at Columbia's home office is that this Charles Coburn starrer has that certain laugh -provoking some- thing that meant great success for "The More The Merrier," "Mr. Deeds," "You Can't Take It With You," "Here Comes Mr. Jordan," "The Awful Truth," "My Sister Eileen," "It Happened One Night," "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" and many other Columbia hits in a light vein. Exhibitors will be glad to know, say Columbians, that Charles "Dingle" j Coburn has even a bigger chance to strut his inimitable stuff than he had in "Merrier," with the result that "My Kingdom For A Cook" is another 1 picture guaranteed to give audiences 'a Dingle. Supporting Coburn are Marguerite Chap- i man, Bill Carter (of stage fame), Isobel Elsom, Edward Gargan. Directorial honors I go to Richard Wallace, while P. J. Wolfson j produced. The screen play is by Harold Gold- i man & Andrew Solt; and Joseph Hoffman i & Jack Henley. The story has to do with Rudyard Morley, world-famous British author, who decides to go to America to do his bit. But bit or no bit, the biggest thing in Morley's life is his stom- ach. His lovely daughter, Pam, runs it a bad second in his thoughts. His adventures in a small New England town, where he makes his presence thoroughly felt, and ends up by stealing his hostess' cook, even though Pam meanwhile has fallen in love with his hostess' son, make for some of the gayest, giddiest farce in years, accord- ing to executives who have seen the picture. "Kingdom" is Coburn's first starring job since Columbia upped him to stellar roles. This followed the character comic's amazing success in "The More The Merrier." So unusual was the Dingle role in "Mer- rier" that Columbia used the character idea as a "teaser" element throughout its exten- sive radio campaign on the picture. Literally millions of radio listeners became Dingle- conscious even before the picture's release date, and tens of millions more joined them 1 after "Merrier" began its phenomenally suc- cessful career at the boxoffice. GB£~ THAT'S , - (Advertisement) zmmfMMMfi] ma ■!"__. Jm U&^ / N T G OfUVMT *«»»■« X^ y cm 6.00S1-2.3-4 sroiACt « c a. mojktion soom m.M ixchamoj ntmiunoN sikvki "This Ms. . . . the Army' (Continued from Page 1) city, village, town and hamlet in these United States is a potential patron for "Army." No, that Warner estimate of a $10,000- 000 domestic gross for the picture is not out of line. .. .except that it could be ex- ceeded. It will, if the exhibitor recognizes op- portunity. Biechele Warns KMTO To Be Sincere in Complaints Kansas City — Lively discussions on producer - exhibitor agreements highlighted yesterday's session of the Kansas-Missouri Theater Associa- tion. R. R. Biechele warned mem- bers that complaints be sincere and complete before bringing them to the conciliation committee table. He discouraged the use of lawyers with- out knowledge of the industry. Organization went on record as in favor of the New York consent de- cree and members said they would back its retention in November. Allan Named Mono. Mgr. For Province of Quebec Montreal — Izzy Allan, who repre- sented Empire-Universal in Winni- peg, has been appointed Monogram manager for the province of Quebec with headquaiters in Montreal. Offices will be established on Monk- land Ave. in the premises formerly occupied by Empire-Universal. Clearance Reduced For Szold-Kerasote Houses Chicago — Existing clearance held by the Madison and Palace Theaters, Peoria, over the Avon, Beverly and Varsity Theaters has been reduced by H. J. Clark, arbitrator. Com- plaints were filed jointly by Adolph Szold and George Kerasote. Clearance on Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox and Loew product was fixed at 70 days, formerly 74 to 90 days. On Warner pictures, which the Avon plays fourth run, clearance was set at 95 days. The Beverly and Varsity will have the same clearance on Warner product as was fixed for the other four companies. GPE 6 Months Net is $669,726 General Precision Equipment Corp. and its subsidiary companies report for the six months ended June 30, 1943, a consolidated net profit of $669,726 after provision for depre- ciation and for estimated Federal in- come tax and excess profits tax. Japs Hold Roy Barnes Chicago — Roy Barnes, former B & K Covent Garden theater service staff man, is a prisoner of the Japs, according to word from the Red Cross to his parents. He was in the Marines and fought in the South Pacific. Reports Heavy Demand For Hollywood Material West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Despite the newsprint shortage resulting in the elimination of pages and reduction of type sizes in many newspapers, reports re- ceived by the Industry Service Bur- eau indicate a definite trend toward increased movie coverage in the na- tion's newspapers. George Brown, chairman of the West Coast branch of ISB, reports that several metropolitan dailies have expanded space being devoted to Hollywood activities and are brightening their pages through lav- ish use of stills. A report from Hubbard Keavy, local AP bureau manager, estimated conservatively that, in response to a steady demand from editors for Hollywood material, AP is carrying out of Hollywood an average of 6,000 to 7,500 words in movie fea- tures weekly, in addition to complete news coverage and sport features. Requests of four companies for permission to sell pin-up pictures of stars in kits to be merchandised to servicemen through post exchanges and canteens; were rejected by the Bureau which is on record as being opposed to such commercialization of service fan's interest in screen personalities. Hauser to Head Para.'s Studio Shorts Publicity Mervin Hauser has been appointed West Coast publicity representative for Paramount short subjects, it was announced yesterday by Oscar Mor- gan. Hauser has been a member of the regular Paramount studio pub- licity set-up under George Brown for several years. He assisted in the New York premiere of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and currently is helping to launch the Los Angeles piemiere, after which he will de- vote efforts exclusively to short sub- jects. Increasing importance of Paramount's shorts production on the Coast warrants a full time pub- licity man, Morgan said. Milwaukee's Alhambra To be Warners' First-Run Milwaukee, Wis. — First-runs will be played at the Alhambra which will reopen the third week in August, and will be operated by Warners. The theater is being redecorated, but the equipment, such as the air condition- gin and sound is considered by War- ners to be in good condition. In the last quarter century, the Alhambra has been opened and closed nearly a dozen times. Built in the fashion of an English music hall, the theater seats about 2,500. New Pact for Block Bertram Block has received a new long-term contract as Eastern story editor of 20th-Fox. COMinG and GOIHG NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Lena HORNE Bill ROBINSON Cab CALLOWAY and his band A 20lh CENTURY FOX PICTURE PLUS A BIG D f\ V" Y 7th Ave- STAGE SHOW K W W I * 50th St. "DIXIE" * m Person with ~k ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY * TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOUR it MITCH AYRES A Paramount Picture *fc and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square CEJEE B'WAY & 47th St. BETTY CRABLE in "CONEY ISLAND" GEO. CESAR MONTGOMERY ROMERO "CALABOOSE" Among those leaving for the Coast tomorrow are JOSEPH M. SCHENCK, JOE MOSKOWITZ, JACK WARNER, CHARLES EINFELD, ARTHUR LYONS, CLIFFORD ODETS and WILLIAM R. WILKERSON. SAM KESTENBAUM, PRC's exploitation man- ager, leaves the home office today for Phila- delphia in advance of the Earle Theater eng? ment of company's "Follies Girl" which o| there tomorrow. He returns to New York\ • Monday. ROBERT HUSSEY, in charge of the Universal studio radio department, returned to the Coast last night. JUDY GARLAND is back on the Coast from a New York trip. DOROTHY LAMOUR arrives back on the Coast on Saturday. KATINA PAXINOU, Creek actress who made such a hit in "For Whom the Bell Tolls," leaves the Coast for New York on Aug. 6. BILL BISHOP, M-C-M mid-Western publicity director, is spending his vacation in Wisconsin. Loew°s STATE ON SCREEN VIRGINIA WEIDLER "THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION" ,• . * , "DU BARRY WAS A LADY," tke Tecknicolorful Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Musical Comedy yields tkis impression of tke Du Barry Girl from famed artist Skimin. m UtfU/l£^£4 WAS ^$W- ^oWa^-Tlla^ 1^ay Let's Keep Seiiing BonJs.' starring • RED SKELTON LUCILLE BALL v_X XJi JL^I XJi .JTV JlJi _L| JLi X VIRGINIA "RAGS" 0'BRIEN*RAGLAND*MG * TOMMY DORSlY • AND HIS BAND 1 Screen Play by Irvinfj Brecher • Adaptation by Nancy Hamilton Additional Dialogue by Wilkie Mahoney • Based oh the Play Produced by B. G. DeSylva • And Written by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva With Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Directed by ROY DEL RUTH • Produced by ARTHUR FREED LITHOU S A Thursday, July 29, 1943 Brandt, Schaefer Top NEK Committees (Continued from Page 1) proposals suggested for realization of the NEIC aims. The committee is headed by Philip Loeb, with Anita Grannis serving as vice-chairman. Jr^js Grannis also has been added to j5/NEIC's co-ordinating committee. Jnirry Brandt has been named chair- man of a membership committee. Other picture people on this commit- tee are George J. Schaefer, national chairman of the NEIC, and John C. Flinn. Schaefer also was appointed chairman of a committee charged with making arrangements for a mass rally on Sept. 20 at which will | be announced pledges from those in the industry to contribute six weeks a year or their equivalent to the na- tion's war effort. The NEIC will hold its next meet- ing on Sept. 21, with the co-ordinat- ing committee scheduled to meet again on Aug. 5. New Managers Union May Start CIO-IATSE Conflict (Continued from Page 1) ater Managers and Employees Local 152, CIO, in New York, it was in- dicated yesterday. The IATSE claims a large membership of the theater managers in this territory and the new union is regarded by the IA as an unnecessary invasion. The new union is starting a cam- paign to bring into its fold the man- agers, assistants, ushers, cashiers, doormen and matrons in the theaters of the five boroughs and Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester Counties. Indications are that a bitter fight for supremacy will develop during the next few months. Loew s Movie Guide 4th Year Starts on Sunday Loew's Theaters Movie Guide, ap- pearing daily in the eight major New • York City newspapers, will begin its fourth year on Sunday. During the last 12 months, Loew's has spent $483,000 for this medium which lists the daily attractions in 69 neighbor- hood houses and which has served to reduce the volume of telephone calls to approximately 25 per cent of their former number. Guide was conceived by Oscar Doob and is handled by Ernest Emerling. Clara Bow William Powell Dennis D Caplin From Berlin (Irving) To Broadway: • • • WHEN the history of the present war is written in terms of the motion picture's contribution to Victory, the name of Warner Brothers will be in the forefront In the Book of Memorables Dates will be July 28, 1943, and, therewith, in substance, this notation: "At their Hollywood Theater in New Yorr City, the Warner Brothers held the world premiere of Irving Berlin's 'This Is The Amy,' all profits from the film's distribution going to Army Emergency Relief" Last night that debut took place, — a brilliant debut, studded with notables, military pageantry and the material sinews of war Outside the. institu- tional Hollywood Theater crowds thrilled at the token display of might which comprised 400 officers and men, jeeps, trucks, anti-aircraft guns, a camouflage unit whose display included desert and tropics material, while the night was filled with music presented by an Army band Standing in the close-packed throngs, the eyes of this correspondent, nostalgically, if you will, turned from the Hollywood's facade to that of a little theater virtually across the street, — a house, where on another summer's evening, Aug. 7, 1926, the same Warner Brothers introduced Vitaphone to the industry and to the world Not since that advent of the articulate screen has the House of Warner so greatly benefited the trade, the nation, and mankind, as it did last night through the un- leashing of "This Is The Army" ▼ TV • • • WHY this dogmatic assertion? Consider what the picture means To the cause of free institutions it is a vast con- tribution To our Army's welfare it represents overwhelming "reinforcement" And to the trade it offers an attraction of un- paralleled timeliness and power, both in the matter of entertainment content and that content's exploitability For the film's fash- ioning, filmland and its customers are indebted to the Warners them- selves, their production aides, and to Irving Berlin and the Army authorities The indebtedness is likewise deep in the instances of Hal B. Wallis, associate producer; Michael Curtiz, director; Casey Robinson who scripted the screen version; and Kate Smith and numer- ous others, who, in 'common with the aforementioned, donated their services Rich laurels also rest on the brows of Charles Einfeld, WB's director of advertising and publicity, who came East to direct the promotional campaign, and Mort Blumenstock here in New York, along with Whitney Bolton from the Coast— all working in brilliant co-ordination with the "This Is The Army" public relations unit billeted in the h.o. under Sgt. Ben Washer ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • EINFELD'S campaign is a monumental affair whose potency is best realized by citing the fact that, notwithstanding public interest being currently riveted on crucial world happenings, the entire nation has been and is being totally flagged in behalf of the picture All- time record in radio "breaks" has been attained, — dialog insertions in more than 30 network script shows; more than 50 network musical "breaks" leading up to the premiere; and transcriptions distributed to over 800 radio stations, etc Some 8,000 New York stores are carry- ing displays, and hotels and restaurants via menus and ads are boosting the pic You can't get into a taxi, but that "This Is The Army" cards ride with you Harnessing of the great Wrigley sign in Times Sq. is a promotional triumph for WB So are countless other facets of the campaign Mr. Exhib, you have never played a picture which will beget you so much co-operation from and within your community, nor one through which you can render so much service, dispense so much desired-entertainment, and see so much coin roll in T ▼ ▼ • • « AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! ! ! WLB Okays SOPEG Pay Hike for Three Cos. (Continued from Page 1) workers at United Artists, National Screen Service and Paramount. Wage increases of $3 to $5, with an $18 minimum for messengers and $20 for clerical workers at United Artists are retroactive to Nov. 21, 1942. Two hundred employes will benefit. A $20 minimum, retroactive to Sept. 1, 1942, has been okayed for a sim- ilar number of clerical workers at NSS. The board's decision is still pending on a $3 general increase. Minimum salaries at Paramount have been fixed at $18 for messengers and $21 for clerical workers. Increases are retroactive to Oct. 5, 1942. Also approved by the board was the in- corporation of Paramount's cost-of- living bonus into the salaries of ap- proximately 500 white-collar work- ers covered by the SOPEG's contract with the company. Meanwhile the WLB in Washington has before it a dispute between the SOPEG and Loew's, UA and 20th-Fox in which are in- volved office workers at the companies' New York exchanges. The dispute is over the ' alleged refusal of the firm's to grant closed shop and other conditions demanded by the union. The SOPEG has formally requested the re-negotiation of wage provisions in its con- tracts with Loew's, Columbia, 20th-Fox and RKO-Radio. The wage clauses in the contracts expired yesterday. Charlotte Peterson, SOPEG organizer, has been named vice-president of the union as successor to Anne Mathews. Ellen Davidson. Sam Shapiro, Eoche Rosen, Betty Gynt and Lilyan Miller have been named to fill vacan- cies on the executive board of the SOPEG. Tonight the SOPEG will take part in a home-front rally of white collarites to be held at Manhattan Center under the spon- sorship of the UOPWA. Eight Warner Re-issues Distributed in Canada Toronto — In addition to its regu- lar schedule of 1942-43 releases, War- ners has sold eight re-issues for Can- adian distribution in the current sea- son. Group includes "The Oklahoma Kid," "Strawberry Blonde," "Torrid Zone," "It All Came True," "Dark Victory," "Angels With Dirty Faces," "They Drive by Night," and "The Bride Came COD." Results are understood to have been highly gratifying, with "The Oklahoma Kid," a James Cagney- Humphrey Bogart vehicle, topping the list in amount of business done. This picture also will be re-issued in the U. S. starting in September. Bob Campbell Rites Held St. Louis — Funeral services were held here for Robert E. (Bob) Camp- bell, veteran member of Local 143 Operators, who died of a heart at- tack at his home. Mrs. Will Aschman Dead Chicago— Mrs Will Aschman, wife of DeVry's Wisconsin distributor, is dead. She will be buried Friday in Milwaukee. M A GAY PROGRAM %SsfflfflBam 14 TKmccai T4a THE MUS.CA! H,T of rH%AvRA0E OF 704,.. A Fw^"^c »2*»£l HONEY" ■ R°^OGKS.Kl„90f0NGOFTEXAS.. '' — we noun ANS7Hih?Ar- "-^yri* , , ** MNE VWWB^£* $£> « RhZ" o; THE ta a „ "KING orTHri0"dBab°'^0 ■""^ ^"-•J*:, THE COWBOYS"' ""d TRIGGER «,. "Ble,> with Roy KviL? ** A u%^0^rSBA°i;;, J' W ^SgSgs . F MUSICAL HITS! 4i « ...to S?0*S ^untf^ ^ — weP° IgjUtf^**, coh%artr.«. '"d w A ^Ub* with Hot Shots, ^e Bvroni • rt-WHoO8ie0o\e^n8'Ge i^p*^ P 1CIURE IK' wu DAILY Thursday, July 29, 1943 OCR Uncertain When Setup Will Be Ready {Continued from Page 1) made to assert any authority in the amusement field. Donald R. Longman, chief of the Service Trade and Distribution Di- vision of OCR, says he is uncertain when he will be able to set up an organization to work in the amuse- ment field. "What we're looking into more than anything else," he said, "is what we've got ourselves into." There seemed to be general agreement here that that's the im- portant thing now. Almost no one has any clear idea of the actual scope of OCR authority, although Longman mentioned manpower as a major interest. At present, Longman said, there simply is no amusements section in OCR, Authority over amusements exists on paper, but there is no in- tention to exercise it until the proper personnel is on hand. Longman said he definitely intends to bring in an industry man, and indicated that McMurphey's term as titular amusements chief will prob- ably be brief. He does, however, expect to retain McMurphey in the organization, and it is likely that the latter will serve with Longman, with general authority over the vari- ous sections of Longman's division. McMurphey is not yet officially a part of OCR. Loew Stockholders Act On New Exec. Pacts Today (Continued from Page 1) vice-president and treasurer; Louis R. Mayer, production head; J. Robert Rubin, vice-president and general counsel, and Lawrence A. Wein- garten, production supervisor. It is proposed that Bernstein's contract, which expires Dec. 31, be extended to Aug. 31, 1945, at his present salary. A new contract for Mayer to run to Aug. 31, 1946, will be asked. Rubin's contract, which expires Dec. 31, will be extended to the same 1946 date, if the stockhold- ers agree, while Weingarten, whose contract expires at the end of this year, will be re-signed until 1946 under the proposals. Bonuses and salaries remain unchanged, it is understood. Feminine Vandalism In Conn. Pic Theaters New Haven — Managers and opera- tors report continued vandalism in theaters in the state. Some houses repaint ladies' rooms as often as every two weeks because of lipstick decoration on walls. Seats are ripped, chair backs bent forward by pressure of feet, nails and other small objects thrown into the audi- ence. Some houses have supernum- eraries, but strictest vigilance doesn't suffice to eliminate all such incidents. reviews of new fums "THIS IS THE ARMY" Starring Men of the Armed Forces and George Murphy, Joan Leslie, Lt. Ronald Reagan, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Kate Smith Warner Bros. 121 Mins. SUPERB MUSICAL DESTINED TO MAKE BOX OFFICE HISTORY VIA QUALITY TREMENDOUS TIMELINESS AND APPEAL. Warner wizardry— nothing short of that quality— has made Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army" into what is unquestionably the most potent and appealing musical of its type ever to come out of Hollywood. Its power and perfection are at once a challenge to the vocabularly of any responsible reviewer. The time, care, skill and enthusiasm which have gone into the production on the Burbank lot have paid rich dividends — to the House of Warner an incalculable degree of prestige, resulting from consummate showmanship, but most of all from that unselfish patriotism of the Brothers which caused them to acquire and make, with all their ability and resources — financial, artistic, and mechanical — the Irving Berlin property into a milestone in motion picture annals; to the nation and its people, an attraction which will thrill them, fill them with pride, and flood their beings for long days to come with more substance than perhaps any shadow drama has ever done before; to exhibitors, a feature that is pure, 100 per cent entertainment and one destined to pile up for them grosses of which they have only dreamed heretofore. It takes no sage to reach the patent conclusion that it can pile up a far greater "take" than any previous or contemporary picture released on a so-called straight policy, even without the price-scale to be initiated for introductory key engagements, and which have as their purpose the raising of "plus" funds for Army welfare — as witness last night's $55 top at the world premiere in New York. From start to finish, one of the strongest impressions gleaned from the pulsating foot- age, resplendent in gorgeous Technicolor, is the astonishing attribute of the motion picture, as a medium, to give almost unbounded sweep to story and settings. As a stage offering, "This Is The Army" was magnificient. As a movie it's sensational. The screenplay, primary as all intrinsically fine things are, recounts essentially the story of a dancing star (George Murphy) who is drafted in World War I and produces "Yip, Yip, Yaphank." Thus the Murphy characterization parallels biograph ically this actual facet of the career of Irving Berlin himself. With the outbreak of the present war, Murphy, crippled by his leg wound in the former conflict, conceives of a new Army show, and as a theatrical producer sets out to stage one, with his son as associate. The latter, spurred by the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, goes into the Army; refuses to marry his sweet- heart, Joan Leslie, for fear of leaving her a widow, and finally finds himself stage manager of "This Is The Army," playing in New York and later going on tour of principal U. S. cities. The Murphy-Leslie romance does end in marriage on the very night the show itself ends. Much of the picture is devoted to production, comedy and specialty numbers from "Yip Yip, Yaphank," in eye-filling fashion, and from "This Is The Army," likewise exquisitely embellished. Laughs come in a constant procession, making the film a top-flight feast on the point. But it is the series of production numbers that lifts the audiences out of their seats. Highlights include Kate Smith's rousing rendition of "God Bless America" (meant originally to be part of Berlin's "Yip, Yip, Yaphank" score); the sequence showing the cast being assembled from fliers, tank corps, infantry, artillery, and other units; the "This Is The Army, Mr. Jones" number; the minstrel num- ber; the Navy and Air Force numbers; the "command performance" attended by Presi- dent Roosevelt in Washington; Sgt. Joe Lewis and the marvelous Negro performers in "That's What the Well-Dressed Man in Harlem Will Wear;" "! Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen" sung by Sgt. Earl Oxford; the gripping finale, "This Time IsTheLastTime;" and other splendid scenes. The musical score has few, if any, rivals. Berlin himself ap- pears in a climax spot to sing his unforgettable "Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning." Cast is splendid, and Michael Curtiz has imparted ace direction. So fre- quent is the spacing of entertainment "pearls" on the long chain of 121 minutes of flashing action that it is impossible to mention the many who have turned in memorable performances. Suffice it to say that "This Is The Army" is a kaleidoscope of wonderful components. It is a credit to all who participated in its making. They and the film itself represent industry history, not in the making but made! CAST: George Murphy, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Dolores Costello, Una Merkel, Stanley Ridges, Rosemary De Camp, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Peterson Frances Langford, Gertrude Niesen, Kate Smith, Ilka Gruning, Lt. Ronald Reagan, Sgt. Joe Louis, Sgt. Tom DAndrea, Sgt. Julie Oshins, Sgt. Robert Shanley, Cpl. Herbert Anderson; and as soldiers, — 1st Sgt. Allan Anderson, Sgt. 'Ezra Stone, Sgt. James Burrell, Sgt. Ross Elliott, Sgt. Alan Manson, Sgt. John P. Mendes, Sgt. Earl Oxford, Sgt. Philip Truex, Cpl. James MacColl, Cpl. Ralph Magelssen, Cpl. Tileston Perry, Pvt. Joe Cook, Jr., Pvt. Larry Weeks, and the Allan Trio. CREDIT: Producers, Jack L. Warner, Hal B. Wallis; Director, Michael Curtiz; Screenplay, Casey Robinson, Capt. Claude Binyon; Based on Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army;" Music and Lyrics, Irving Berlin; Cameramen, Bert Glennon, Sol Polito; •ilm Editor, George Amy; Technicolor Director, Natalie Kalmus; Sound, C. A. Riggs; Art Directors, Lt. John Koenig, John Hughes; Special Effects, Jack Cosgrove; Set Decoration, George James Hopkins; Montages, James Leicester, Don Siegel; Technical Advisor, Lt. Col. Frank McCabe; Production Numbers, Leroy Prinz, Sgt. Robert Sidney; Orchestral Arrangements, Ray Heindorf; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. DIRECTION, Superb. PHOTOGRAPHY. Brilliant Hurricane Closes Texas Theaters (Continued from Page 1) swept clean, and screen water-dam- aged from rain. Cooling Towers were knocked from the Kirby, Met, and Majestic Thea- ters, Houston, while the De Luxar> Nabe in Delman lost its back end a/ Cooling Tower. Effects of the winc^-*" which reached official rate of 132 miles per hour, took toll as far north as Waco, where the Orpheum lost its roof capping. All of the above are Interstate houses. Raymond Willis, assistant general manager, accompanied by C. E. Holmes, heating and ventilating en- gineer, and J. C. Skinner, sound en- gineer, left Dallas early Tuesday to be joined by Jake Elder, construc- tion manager, to assess damages and re-instate operation. Jack Groves, operator of a Houston nabe, reported no damage. Other towns immediately affected lying between Houston and Galveston are Bay City, Goose Creek, and Pelly, from which no theater reports have been received. Lou Greenley, Veteran Film Salesman, Killed Detroit — Lou Greenley, a film salesman for 17 years was killed instantly when the car in which he was riding turned over, near Gray- ling. He was formerly with Nate Schultz, subsequently Monogram franchise holder in Cleveland, cov- ering ho for several years, and later with Grand National, Monogram and United Artists in Detroit, and also with UA covering Ohio and Minneso- ta at various tmes. Greenley gave up selling a few months ago when his health failed for a time, and went with the OWI, being, at the time of his death, World-Wide Supervisor of OWI Mo- bile Units. His widow, Belle, survives. Body was cremated at White Chapel Cemetery. Governor Martin is Host At Disney Air Film Show Harrisburg. — Gov. Edward Mar- tin of Pennsylvania and Mrs. Martin were hosts last night for a special showing of "Victory Through Air Power," at the Executive Mansion here. Gen. Marshall to See "Army Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Gen. George Mar- shall, Army chief of staff, and sev- eral other top officers will see "This is the Army" this afternoon at the War Dept. offices. Irving Yergin of Warners' home office publicity staff will host the occasion. Navy Secretary Frank Knox and Admiral Ernest L. King were guests of the Paramount exchange yester- day at a screening of 2,800 feet of Navy footage from the South Pa- cific area. Thursday, July 29, 1943 » DAILY $220,000,000 for '43-44 Hollywood Production Hollywood Studios Tilting Budgets for New Season, Despite Program Slashes {Continued from Page 1) would be unwise, it may be noted that .the calendar year 1941, production r^enditures were estimated to total 185,000,000 while for the i942 cal- endar year, according to The Film Daily Year Book, the Hollywood total was $198,500,000. The estimate of $220,000,000 is predicated on such announcements as 20th-Fox's that it will spend $41,- 000,000, and Republic's that it is jumping its budget $6,000,000 and available information on the top- budget pix plans of all leading com- panies. Many Pix in Upper Brackets RKO has not set budgets for 80 per cent of the productions it will make for the new year, but it already has several very costly productions in preparation including "The Gibson Girl," to be made in Technicolor; "Show Business," to be produced by Eddie Cantor. Frank Ross will make ':The Robe" in Technicolor, while Casey Robinson's initial picture as a producer is "Revenge," which Jacques Toumeur is directing. Warners studio representatives yesterday paid no complete budget had been set nor would they make any estimates. However, Warners have several high budgeted pictures on their slate headed by "Battlecry." "Shine On, Harvest Moon," "The Rhapsody in Blue," "The Horn Blows at Midnight" to star Jack Benny; "Destination, Tokyo" and "Conflict." M-G-M representatives also decline to make any definite estimates but the Culver City plant will expend large sums on such prop- erties as "Quo Vadis," "Dragon Seed," "First 50 Years" and "National Velvet." Columbia's large-budget pictures include "Cover Girl," "Ten Per Cent Woman," "Hey. Rookie," "Tropicana" and "Sahara." Twentieth-Pox has announced its outlay will be $41,000,000 with Darryl F. Zanuck to personally produce "Wilson," to be di- rected by Henry King, and Wendell Willkie's "One World." Paramount's "Frenchman's Creek" may hit $3,000,000 mark while "The Story ot Dr. Wassell" calls for an expenditure of that figure. "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby, will be heavily budgeted as will an untitled San Francisco story to be produced and di- retced by Mark Sandrich. "V" to Spend $30,000,000 Universal, which is advancing its total production budget to about $30,000,000, for the new season, has more than nine pix in the double-A bracket. At the Chicago sales convention, five features were placed in the super-special bracket — "For All We Know," "Hip, Hip Hooray," "Passport to Dakar," "Gung Ho" and "Looking for Trouble." Other top budgets are allocated to the three Abbott-Costello comedies, the two Deanna Durbin vehicles, the Charles Boyer starrer, "72 Hours," the Olsen and Johnson comedy, "Crazy House," "Phantom Lady" and "All My Love, Joe." United Artists producers will spend be^ tween $18,000,000 and $22,000,000. High budgeted UA pictures will consist of "Since You Went Away," "The Life of Jack Lon- don," "Dishonored Lady." "Tomorrow Never Comes," "One Man's Family." "The Giant Women," "The Raft," "The Girl from Lenin- grad," "Duffy's Tavern," "The Hairy Ape," "Petticoat Lane," "There Goes Lona Henry," "The Moon Their Mistress.'.' A giant musical from Producing Artists, Inc., an unselected Story from William Cagney Prods., and one from Sol Lesser. Republic will spend $16,000,000 which is $6,000,000 above its old budget. It will make large appropriations for "Atlantic City," "The Man from Frisco," "Gay Blades" and "The Fighting Seabees." 35% Boost by Monogram No figure was available from Monogram TO THE COLORS: ■k DECORATED + Danville, III., commissioned a 2nd lieu- tenant. CAPT. REYE SCOTT, USAAF, producer of j — * — "Kukan," awarded the Air Medal in the -^- TO OFFICERS SCHOOL + DONALD DRAKE, Globe Theater, Scranton, Pa. Aieutians. — • — * COMMISSIONED * RICHARD E. SMITH, USAAF, formerly Capitol, Nick and Weston Seek Indictment Abatement (Continued from Page 1) from a 'group of local motion pic- ture theater owners in the Fall of 1937. The motion was filed by Sigmund M. Bass, counsel for Nick and Wes- ton who are serving Federal prison terms for violating the Federal anti- racketeering act in connection with collection of moneys from theater owners to stop increases in pay for members of Local No. 143. Bass contended that since the state court indictment has been pending for more than four terms of court and has not been called to trial through no fault of Nick and Weston the case should be dismissed under Mis- souri law. New Glazer-WB Pact Calls for One Annually West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — One of the most un- usual deals between Warners and a producer has been consummated be- tween Jack L. Warner and Benjamin Glazer with latter signed to a straight four-year contract calling for one production annually under the Warner banner, and also giving him choice of stories acquired by studio. This supersedes the contract Glazer signed with Warners approxi- mately one year ago. Thus Glazer will be permitted to devote a portion of his time to free-lance and make independent productions. RKO to Tradeshow First 1943-44 Block Aug. 16-19 RKO's first block of five for the 1943-44 season will be nationally trade screened Aug. 16-19, Ned Depi- net announced yesterday. Group consists of "A Lady Takes a Chance," ' The Fallen Sparrow," "Adventures of a Rookie," "The Seventh Victim" and "So This is Washington." • but a company representative said the new budget will easily exceed that of the old by 35 per cent. Among Monogram expensive pictures will be "Ground Crew," "Fighting Quartermaster," "Hitler's Women," Latin Quarter," "Lady, Let's Dance" and a second Baleitta picture. While no figure was available from PRC. it's new budget is more than double that for 1942-43. Among important pictures on PRC's list are "Talent School." "Waterfront," "Har- vest Melody," "Jive Junction" and "Troc- adero." * WAC* ELEANOR BLAKELY, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester. N. Y. Lipton Acting Chairman Of WAC Public Relations (Continued from Page 1) the WAC Public Relations Division in the place of Oscar Doob, who will serve as assistant national director of the War Finance Committee for the Third War Loan Drive. Doob was given a leave of absence by Nicholas Schenck at the request of Secretary of the Treasury Morgen- thau. Lipton will carry on Doob's duties with the WAC which in the past directed the activities of the Army and Navy relief, Red Cross War Fund, March of Dimes, etc. Proposes Liaison Board for Hollywood (.Continued from Page 1) board would eliminate the need for the director to have a Hollywood office. Proposal was made at a meet- ing of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. At the meeting it was a n - nounced that Wanger and David O. Selznick had each volunteered to make one war information short for the program of 26 decided on by the OWI and the WAC. Other members of the Society are expected to volun- tee; later. "Dixie" Ends Six-Week Run at Para, on Tuesday Paramount's "Dixie" will be the fourth picture to play the Paramount Theater, Broadway, mo:e than five weeks when it completes its six-week run next Tuesday. Only three other pictures matched or exceeded "Dixie's" run; they were "Star Spangled Rhythm," eight weeks; "Road to Morocco," seven weeks, and ' Holiday Inn," six weeks. WW V •^#" ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES ,■'"'""■- in "SONG OF TEXAS' HERS TO HOLD BUSINESS WAY ABOVE ANY OTHER DEANNA DURBIN PICTURE! f{Ofua" f SELL WAR STAMPS EVERY DAY IN THE "SHANGRI-LA" JULY DRIVE _ ^tfj/ca. c ' "'O'er " ' anl< S/,o In Today's Issue, The Equipment News Section {See pages 7 and S) Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old F DAILY 2 L. 84. NO. 21 NEW YORK. FRIDAY. JULY 30. 1943 TEN CENTS CLARIFY DRAFT STATUS OF THEATER MEN Theaters Still Closed in Texas Hurricane Area Editorial Scratch-pad . . . jottings By CHESTER B. BAHN PETER EDSON, whose ear is to the Wash- ington ground for the New York World- Telegram, in an editorial page dispatch this week concluded with, "Unquestionably, the coming political campaign . . . will be one of the dirtiest campaigns in history. That's why it bears such close watching from here on in" . . . Which recalls that on June 23 you read in this same Page One, Column One, space a forecast that the Presidential campaign is certain to see film biz, or at least some segments of it, dragged in. . . . You can Jouble that in spades today, for it is pretty obvious that what Marcia Winn is writing for the Chicago Tribune on Hollywood is political in motivation and in ramifications. . . . The publisher of the Windy City daily happens to be the same Col. Robert R. McCormick whose GOP political convictions and those of 20th-Fox's Wendell L. Willkie are as far apart as the poles. . . . The months to come inevitably will bring a show-down. . . . • IF what D. C. Speaker grapevines from Washington, where the isolationist vs. anti-isolationist pot boils merrily although Congress has recessed, those forces which were so signally routed when they staged the Senate industry "witch hunt," are pre- paring to try again, with or without an inquiry of some sort as a backdrop. . . . Pending the end of the Congressional recess, however, you can anticipate a variety of sniping. . . . Fair samples would be the attention paid "Mission to Moscow" in cer- tain quarters, press and others, and the current Tribune "exposes" of Hollywood. . . . • THE ITO of Ohio reportedly has regis- ■ tered opposition to 20th-Fox's plans to make a film version of Willkie's "One World," a telegram sent to Darryl F. Zanuck expressing apprehension that it will bring duplication of industry condemnation heard in the wake of the filming of "Mission to Moscow" and the accusation that it is politi- cal use of the screen. . . . However honest that statement may be, it undoubtedly will be adopted as a "line" by those who would smear the industry for one reason or an- other. Fortunately, both fhe industry and Willkie have demonstrated their respective abilities to take care of themselves. . . . And 20th- (Continued on Page 2) All Galveston Houses, Houston Nabes Unable to Operate After Hurricane Dallas — Rain which followed Mon- day's hurricane in the Galveston- Houston area is holding business at a standstill. All houses in Galveston and all Houston nabes have been closed since Monday afternoon as a result of the power breakdown which followed the 132-mile wind and heavy rain. Jefferson Amusement Co. houses in Goose Creek, Pelley, Bay City, (Continued on Page 3) Gov't Turns Against Propaganda Shorts! Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington- — Along with the de- mise of the OWI as a production agency, Washington is beginning to become "unsold" on the value of out and out propaganda shorts as morale builders. Not only do reports from large cities and the hinterlands indicate that the shorts program has per- haps been pushed a little too far (Continued on Page 3) "Big S's" Top Execs. Huddling on Decree Top executives and counsel for the five companies that are parties to the New York consent decree will hold a series of meetings during the next few months to discuss the various aspects of the document which expires Nov. 20. Inasmuch as it has been indicated that the decree will be continued after that date, the discussions re- portedly will involve recommenda- tions for possible changes in the provisions. One session was held last week, but a spokesman said that no agreement had been reached on any specific point and that the meet- ing was held merely to exchange ideas. Contracts Extended For Four Loew Execs. Bell Assumes Hollywood Industry OWI Duties West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ulric Bell, in charge of the OWI Foreign Bureau in Hol- lywood, will also assume duties as OWI motion picture representative on the Coast. Stockholders of Loew's, Inc., yes- terday approved the extension of con- tracts of four top executives to 1946 on the same salary and profit shar- ing basis on which they are now (Continued on Page 6) Mrs. Karl Hoblitzelle Dies at Dallas Home Dallas — Mrs. Karl Hoblitzelle, wife of the Interstate President, died at her home Wednesday night after several months illness. Mrs. Hoblitzelle had only recently re- (Continued on Page 3) Reade May Sell His Circuit Says He is "Entertaining" an Warners' Canadian Sales Meet in Montreal Aug. 12 Montreal — I. Coval, Montreal man- ager for Warners, announced yester- day that the Canadian sales confer- ence will be held in the Mount Royal Hotel Aug. 12 and 13. - Offer Walter Reade is "entertaining" an offer to buy his 39 theaters, the cir- cuit owner said yesterday. Reade, who has been ill, said that if he was sure that his recovery now were permanent he would be reluctant to dispose of the circuit, although the offer was an attractive one. Reade would not identify the bid- (Continued on Page 3) wmmm Deferred Men Need Not Switch to War Plants, WAC representatives Told Theater employes deferred on legi- timate grounds do not have to switch to war plants in order to retain their present classifications, the WAC has been informed by the War Manpower Commission and the National Selec- tive Service System. Re-affirmation of this important fact was sought because of the ac- tions of several draft boards which had instructed theater employes to (Continued on Page 6) Loew's 4th Quarter Biz Maintains Gain Fourth quarter business of Loew's, Inc., is keeping pace with the in- crease reported for the 40 weeks ended in June over the 40-week per- iod of last year, it was said yester- day by David Bernstein, vice-presi- dent and treasurer, following the special meeting of the stockholders. This would indicate that the final (Continued on Page 3) Booking Conditions Bring Localization of UA Adv. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The change in booking conditions, which has made _ simul- taneous openings in key cities im- (Continued on Page 3) Films in War Plants Reduce Absenteeism Exhibition of films in war plants is a tremendous aid to morale and cuts down absenteeism heavily, ac- cording to the results of a survey made by the National Recreation Association. The survey discloses that film entertainment produces a relaxation that helps the output of war workers. Supplying the recre- ational requirements of defense workers is cited by the organization as one of the most important prob- lems with which industry and the community have to deal. 1W Vol. 84, No. 21 Fri., July 30, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL {Thursday, July 29) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 163/g IS 16 Col. Picts. vtc. (2'/2%) 16% 16i/2 16% + 1 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2% llA 2% — Vs Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 15% 155/8 15% + i/8 East. Kodak 163'/2 163 163 + V4 do pfd 1771/2 177l/2 1771/2 — 21/2 Gen. Prec. Eq 21 203/8 21 + % Loew's, Inc 6134 6OV2 60 Vi + T/2 Paramount 27 26 26% RKO 83/4 81/2 85/8 + i/4 RKO $6 pfd 91 90 90 +1 20th Century-Fox .. 223/8 21% 22 + l/2 20th Century-Fox pfd. 323/8 32% 32% + l/2 Warner Bros 14l/8 13% 13% + % do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 33/8 3% 3% + 14 RKO war 15/8 1 1/2 ii/2 Sonotone Corp 3% 33/4 3% + % Technicolor 14% 14% 14% + 1 Trans-Lux 3% 2% 3%+ % Universal Picts. vtc. 17 1634 17 N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Met. Playhouse, Inc. 2nd deb. '45 Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 Ampa Talks Relief Funds Ways and means of most efficient- ly raising funds for its proposed re- lief operations headed the agenda of yesterday's meeting of the Ampa directorate, held at 1 p.m. in the Blue Room, West 44th Street. Also discussed at the session were plans for the organization's Fall meetings. Einfeld Returns West Charles Einfeld, director of adver- tising and publicity for Warners, leaves today for the Coast. Jackson County, Mo., Cuts Theater License Fees 50% Kansas City, Mo. — Jackson County has reduced county license fees on movie theaters about 50 per cent. After several meetings with thea- ter owners and operators, the reduc- tion was announced this week by the county counselor's office. With some 45 brackets covered by the list of fees for amusement places, the li- cense fee was the only one modified. The annual reductions made as classified by admittances charged are: Less than 15 cents, $50 to $25; 15 to 35 cents, $100 to $50; 35 to 45 cents, $200 to $100; 45 cents to $1, $300 to $150 for theaters seating 2,000 or fewer and $400 to $200 for theaters seating more than 2,000; $1 or more, $500 to $250. Seasonal houses, such as Drive-Ins, operating only in Summer, will pay $10 a month. Latin American Newsmen To Be Guests of IFRC A group of Latin American news- paper men from Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela will be entertained at a luncheon on Aug. 17 by the Inter- national Film Relations Committee which concluded the arrangements at a meeting yesterday. The committee welcomed Dave O'Malley, newly ap- pointed foreign publicity director of Columbia, as a new member. Dave Blum of M-G-M, chairman, conduct- ed the sessions. Tom Edwards Made Prexy Of Kansas-Missouri TO Kansas City — Tom Edwards yes- terday was elected president of the Kansas-Missouri Theater Owners As- sociation. Others put in office were Homer Strong, vice - president; George S. Baker, secretary and Fred Meyn, treasurer. New directors slate comprises Edwards, George Hart- mann, George Griffith, C. E. Cook, Strong, Meyn, Clarence Schultz, J. E. Pennington, R. R. Biechele, Stan- ley Schwartz and Baker. Claude Lee told the delegates that Paramount district managers, branch managers and salesmen had been instructed by the home office to be eternally vigilant that no case of unfairness or inequity occurs inad- vertently. N.B. WE PROBABLY HAVE REG- ISTERED WITH US THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE VACANT POSITION YOU ARE TRYING TO FILL. CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 Madison Ave. (43rd St.), New York MURRAY HILL 2-6494 Friday, July 30, 1943 DAILY Scratch-pad . . . jottings (Continued from Page 1) Fox, it is evident, too, has no intention of pussy-footing or pulling its punches. . . . Witness that in last Sunday's New York Times Colonel Zanuck was quoted as saying that the forthcoming special, "Woodrow Wilson," will serve as an object lesson for Americans against isolationism and that "One World" also will present a tacit argu- ment against isolationism. 80 Attend Samson Luncheon in Toronto Toronto — Sidney Samson, newly appointed Canadian district manager of 20th Century-Fox was welcomed to his new post at luncheon attended by 80 industry leaders with W. C. Gehring of the home office officiating as master of ceremonies. Gehring announced that James P. O'Loghlin is being retained at full salary as general manager of the Canadian company as tribute to his long ser- vice. He is now seriously ill. Samson was welcomed by Mayor Fred Conboy and greetings were ex- tended by Col. John A. Cooper on behalf of the Canadian Motion Pic- ture Distributors, Haskell M. Mas- ters, general manager, Odeon Circuit and President J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Canadian. COMInG and GOInG MARY WORSTELL, Metro booker, New Haven is spending her vacation at Irvington, N. J. LOUIS B. MAYER, MARVIN SCHENCK and HOWARD STRICKLING go to Chicago today PAUL LAZARUS, JR., leaves Hollywood today tor New York following UA producer conferences O. HENRY BRICCS, PRC prexy, returned tc New York from the Coast yesterday. ARTHUR GREENBLATT, vice-prexy in charge of sales,, mains on the Coast for another two weeks, f MISS E. PARADEIS of Pam-O-Film Exchange Buffalo, is currently in New York on business. JULES FIELDS, of the 20th-Fox exploitation department, is in Omaha in connection with ths world premiere of "Claudia." ARCHE MAYERS, executive assistant to Jules Levey, is en route to the Coast on company business with stop-overs in Chicago, Kansas City, and Wichita. MORRIE ROIZMAN, March of Time film edi- tor, leaves for Hollywood today on a vacation. BETTY HUTTON returned to New York yes- terday after a two-week USO Army camp tour to attend the opening of "Let's Face It," at the New York Paramount next Wednesday. ROBERT SMELTZER, Warners' district manager for the mid-Atlantic area, returns to his Wash- ington headquarters today following a home office visit. Scratch "Moscow" in Tenn. Knoxville, Tenn. — Without stating his reason, manager Eugene Street has announced the cancellation of a showing of "Mission to Moscow" at the Tennessee Theater, of the Wilby- Kincey circuit. ■W V^ ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN WE MOVIES in 'SONG OF TEXAS' BOOKED BVJ«« MM /faotfc* riiisT run .Friday, July 30, 1943 TOf DAILY Waller Reade May Sell His Circuit (Continued from Page 1) der for the theaters, but it is under- stood that the prospective buyer is another established circuit which would not be restricted from expan- sion by the consent decree. oThe Reade circuit operates thea- ters in New York and New Jersey, two of which are operated by RKO, one by Loew's and one by Leo Brecher. Loew's Fourth Quarter Business Maintains Gain (Continued from Page 1) quarter will show a 30 per cent in- crease over the same quarter last year. The 40-week earnings, after .all charges, were $9,453,828, a 30 per cent rise over the same 40 weeks of 1942. Army's Public Relations Unit Wins Einfeld Praise Work of the public relations unit of Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army," consisting of Sgt. Nathan Shenker, Sgt. Ben Washer, Pfc. Max Gendel, Pfc. Alfred Palca and Pvt. Max Wilk, was praised in the high- est terms yesterday by Charles Ein- feld, Warner ad-publicity director, who returns to the Coast today. All members of the unit previously were in show biz. "These boys in uniform," said Ein- feld in his tribute, "gave their as- signments everything they had." Ruth Rosenberg to Coast Rube Jackter, Columbia's assistant general sales manager, loses his sec- retary of long standing, Ruth Rosen- 1 berg, on Aug. 1. Miss Rosenberg is leaving New York for Hollywood where she is planning to remain and continue her association with the ! motion picture industry. Takes Elizabeth, W. Va. Wirt Cincinnati — James Vogeding has taken over The Wirt, colored house at Elizabeth, W. Va., and changed the name to Elizabeth. JULY 30 Robert Bennett Holmes Herbert Duke Hickey JULY 31 James Flood E. Gilbert- Golden Fred C. Quimby Patter and Chatter: • • • OUT of Hollywood reviewing mills are issuing irom trade scribes currently a helluva lot of favorable notices on current and yet- to-be-released Monogram product Especially noteworthy in such trade reviews are three adjectives which are the tip-off to alert industry folks that the Mono, features are built on anything but heavy, "problem" story lines The three little words, occurring so frequently as (1) bright. 2) cheerful, and (3) escapist Circuits and exhibitors please note T ▼ T • • • COAST casting strategists ivill be downright blind if they don't give some immediate attention to what John Q. Public is saying about young Lon McCallister, the lad, who, you will recall, had such a circumstantially tough time getting a kiss from Marjorie Riordan in UA-Lesser's "Stage Door Canteen" There's something about the kid that scores like all get-out with audiences You can argue that it's the particular characterization, if you like, but that's about as strong a contention as a gallon of tea made with one tea-ball Incidental- ly, "Stage Door Canteen" is in its sixth playing week 'round the country and going stronger than the stuff you find in a Russian samovar T T T • • • A VENGE PEARL HARBOR! Mrs. Karl Hoblitzelle Dies at Dallas Home (Continued from Page 1) turned from John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. Mrs. Hoblitzelle was dis- tinguished in her own right as a Broadway musical comedy star with stage name of Esther Walker. Her maiden name was Esther Thomas. The Hoblitzelles were married in 1920. As a Dallas citizen, Mrs. Hob- litzelle was prominent in many civic and social activities, and latterly in Red Cross work and efforts in many divisions of the war interests. Other survivors are her mother, Mrs. Ella Thomas of Louisville, Ky. and three sisters and four brothers. Interment will be in Belfontaine Cemetery, St. Louis Mo. Five-Hour Waiting Line On "Army's" First Day By noon yesterday, the first day of its continuous run following Wed- nesday night's $55 top world premi- ere, Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army" had them lined up at the Hollywood Theater with a five-hour wait for seats, resulting in a new opening day record for the house and auguring a long run and hefty grosses for the soldier musical pro- duced by Warners for Army Emer- gency Relief. Illinois Blackout Tomorrow Chicago — A test blackout will be staged in all Illinois cities, except Chicago, tonight. Booking Conditions Bring Localization of UA Adv. (Continued from Page 1) possible and lack of readily avail- able advertising space in national magazines have caused United Art- ists to do much more localizing of its advertising, according to Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., UA's advertising and publicity head, who leaves for New York today after conferring with the company's local producers. He said UA is concentrating its advertising in newspapers and radio and will have to increase its advertising ex- penditure for radio in case of further- curtailment of newsprint. Lazarus, Jr., declared the company is making ambitious advertising plans for David O. Selznick's "Since You Went Away," but that his pres- ent visit has been primarily con- cerned with the campaigns made on "Hi Diddle Diddle," produced by An- drew L. Stone, and "Johnny Come Lately," by William Cagney Produc- tions, and starring James Cagney. The visiting executive pointed out that UA is in a very healthy condi- tion, from a production standpoint, and that in addition to "The Girl from Leningrad," being made by R. and F. Productions, and "Jack London," being produced by Samuel Bronston Productions, other UA pro- ducers have shooting scripts practi- cally completed. Hal Halperin Hospitalized Chicago — Hal Halperin, Theater- Authority member is confined to St. Luke's Hospital. Texas Houses Still Closed From Slorm (Continued from Page 1) Channel City and La Porte were damaged, the Alamo, Pelley, being completely destroyed. Other houses suffered varying degrees of damage and all are closed due to a lack of power. Port Arthur reports 19 inches of rain with somewhat less for Beaumont. Government Turns Against Propaganda Shorts? (Continued from Page 1) but the same appears to be true abroad. Reports fiom the embassies here indicate that foreign audiences are not particularly swayed by the special shorts. The general belief around here now is that the best morale screening would include bangup newsreel se- quences and the veiled messages carried in good Hollywood entertain- ment productions. War films, purely aside from any box office considera- tions, are held to an excellent morale job when they are really good, but poor war films, of which there have been a surplus do more harm than good. England, which has long been run- ning an extensive program of Gov- ernments war shorts, has cut its rate recently from two a month to one a month mainly because the British public appeared to be getting fed up with the shorts. This growing disinterest in push- ing any program of war shorts plus the strong industry opposition to letting advertisers get a foothold in theaters, is believed to make any attempt by large national advertisers to sponsor one and two-reel war shorts for theatrical distribution a wasted effort. Benjamin Leo Stricken Stamford, Conn. — Benjamin Leo, operator of the State, Springdale, for the past 12 years died at Stam- ford Hospital suddenly after a heart attack. In 1929 Leo was in charge of all Fox metropolitan theaters. He leased the State some time later, then purchased the building. He had closed the house for the Summer- some three weeks ago, because heat and the pleasure driving ban were hitting business too hard. Army Planes9 Crash Kills James W. Coss Wheeling, W. Va.— A/C James W. Coss, AAF, who was manager of the Pike Theater here before enter- ing the service, was instantly B£-» killed when his plane crashed \~*5 with another above Dothan Field, Ala. His body was brought home for funeral services and burial. A GLOWING TRIBUTE TO A GLORIOUS STAR! DEANNA DURBIN'S contributions to the motion picture business, both as a person and perrormer, nave never been better appraised tban in tbis tribute by Phil M. Daly START PLANNING NOW FOR THE 3rd WAR LOAN DRIVE-SEPT. 9th-20th Wednesday, July 28, 1943 CWlSuiy Only Just Begun To Star!: • • • MUSIC, 'tis said, hath charms The tune-laden feature film, whether oi the war or nay, makes it easier ior America's millions to walk in Duty's path with the weight oi the conflict's cares and worries on their shoulders And to the exhibitor there is charm in music His business symphony, which makes possible the efficient operation of his house in wartime, provides the wherewithal for the purchase of Bonds in maximum volume, and makes possible his own and much of his com- munity's activities in behalf of Victory, is the clinking of coin as it pours into the ole box-office till Both of these facets of present-day filmdom. — from the patron's and showman's standpoint — . bring to mind the intriguing Case of Deanna Durbin Her latest Universal vehicle, "Hers To Hold," is not only a rich example of the timely, music-studded opus which the public "wants, but a timely example of music-studded richness which the theater operator needs Fans are heading eagerly for the new film, as is evidenced by the heavy "takes" reported from hosts of situations where it is now playing T T ▼ • • • THAT "Hers To Hold" is making turnstiles click with tlie frequency of machine-gun fire is not altogether a novelty in the annals of Durbin pix From the time of the young star's debut in features via "Three Smart Girls," she has enjoyed unique success, hurtling virtu- ally overnight to stardom, and then hanging up repeated triumphs in rapid succession Then she was tagged as a prodigy,— primarily because of her vocalizing and refreshing personality Today, tlte Case of Deanna Durbin is precisely what we say here,— intriguing Her vocal skill is far above what it was formerly, and her personality even more magnetic From a pretty child-star, with what might be termed adequate histronic ability, she has grown into an adult luminary with great performing skill Her glamour enchants pations of the feminine gender, giving her intense box-office value on that important score Equally magnetic is she to the male coterie In "Hers To Hold," she has what it takes to make the femmes admire and imitate her, and the swains, all the ivay from knee-pants to \-H and far beyond, go "Whoo-Whoo!" in the best Hugh Herbert manner It all adds up to one inescapable conclusion, namely, that Miss Durbin is a full-fledged butterfly, no longer in the kid cocoon, and only just beginning to really spread her wings Her jyresent is big Her future even bigger She is one of the very, very few members of the film acting profession who has been able to withstand the transition from juvenile ranks to adult status, and be better in the latter than the former T T ▼ • • • MUCH of the credit for Deanna Durbin's present high estate in the hearts of public and press is due to the intelligent and strategic guidance at the hands of Universal's studio-ites It was not easy to convert a girl in early 'teens (the pretiy prodigy) into a young woman in early twenties whom khaki-clad and bluejacketed lads now pin-up and look upon with ga-ga, wolfish eyes, and whom gals, young and old, view as a magnetic model In this triumphant metamorphosis, con- siderable credit likewise goes to Felix Jackson, producer of "Hers To Hold," who collaborated in the writing of several of Deanna's previous pix His knowledge of her as a person and an artiste has provided with exactness the best channels for her ability Miss Durbin, like- wise is a mighty factor in her own success She has conscientiously "stuck to her knitting" in Hollywood, — every stitch a good, clean one. . . . . She has only just begun to star, — and gross! T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! *d V*Vouo Friday, July 30, 19431 Contracts Extended For Four Loew Execs. (Continued from Page 1) serving. One stockholder offered an amendrnent to the profit sharing plan which would require an al- lowance of $4 a share on the com- mon stock before the executives could share in the profits. The present plan calls for an allowance of $2 a share. The amendment was voted down by a vote of 2,790 shares in favor and more than a million shares against. The four men whose employment contracts were extended to Aug. 31, 1946, were David Bernstein, vice- president and treasurer; Louis B. Mayer, general of production; J. Robert Rubin, vice-ipresident and general counsel, and Lawrence Wein- garten, production supervisor. The meeting was conducted by Eugene Leake, a director and mem- ber of the audit and finance com- mittee. The stockholders, by a unanimous vote, gave a vote of confidence to the officers and directors of the company. Special Master's Report Filed in Pathe Lab. Suit Report of his findings on charges that improper items had been in- cluded in costs charged to Pathe Laboratories by duPont Film Manu- facturing Corp. has been filed by James L. Dohr, special master ap- pointed by Judge John C. Knox of the U. S. District Court in the suit of Pathe against duPont. The case comes up for trial in the Fall. The report, which covered a period of I'd months, asserted that Pathe had been over- charged $111,188 if the company were en- titled to he hilled at the "formula price" on certain materials. The suit involves an addi- tional 10-year period for which computations has not yet been made. The special master further held that the practice of E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co. of charging- inter-plant profits in computing costs of certain film was improper. He up- held duPont on certain of the charges, such as depreciation, shipping expenses and power, but ruled that the addition of 30 per cent profit to experimental expenses was improper. WEDDING BELLS Rochester — Ensign Stanley Feny- vessy USNR and Doris Goodman of Chicago, were married in Temple Beth Israel, Boston. They will re- side in Washington after Aug. 1. Cincinnati — Robert Waring Bugie, son of Harry Bugie of Republic Pic- tures married Elizabeth Rose. The young couple left for Dyersberg, Tenn., where Lieut. Bugie is sta- tioned, as a co-pilot of a Flying Fortress. Chicago — Jack Clark, former War- ner employe, now in the Signal Corps and a brother of Sam Clark, publicity director, married Jerry Houlahan at Carthage, Mo. REVIEWS Of ll€UI flLfllS 'I Dood It' with Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell M-G-M 102 Mins. SKELTON A WOW IN HIS BEST COM- EDY TO DATE; BIG BUSINESS INDICATED FOR LAVISH MUSICAL. Metro dood it. And how! The studio's latest Red Skelton comedy is a humdinger that looks like a million. Grosses are certain to look like that, too. For there is no doubt that here is the best Skelton film to date. The production proves amply how funny that comic can be when he has the right material to work with. In this production he has a vehicle that fully meets the requirements of popular en- tertainment. In "I Dood It" Skelton will wow his audiences in the role of a presser who puts on the ritz with clothes belonging to the customers so that he can make an impression with Eleanor Powell, musical comedy star about whom he is nuts. There's a rival (Richard Ainley), but that doesn't dampen the ardor of our hero. What makes it all the more hilarious is the fact that Miss Powell doesn't know Skelton is a lowly presser. That is, she doesn't know it until after she married to the fellow to spite Ainley. There is a lot of by-play in which the comic is mistaken for a mil- lionaire by a theatrical producer (Thurston Hall) who is looking for an angel. Miss Powell alters her view of Skelton when the latter makes a hero of himself by foiling a plot to blow up a store of lend-lease ammunition in a warehouse next to the theater where she is playing. Musically the film is everything it should be. Expansive and glittering production numbers serve as settings for some fine songs composed by a galaxy of tune creators that includes Don Raye, Gene dePaul, Lew Brown, Ralph Freed, Sammy Fain, Count Basie, Cole Porter, Vernon Duke, John La- Touche, Ted Fetter, Leo Robin, Richard Myers. These have collaborated on six numbers, "Star Eyes," "So Long, Sarah Jane," "One O'Clock," "Swingin' the Jinx Away," "Taking a Chance on Love' and "Jericho.' Also to be considered are sev- eral lavish dance numbers effectively staged by Bob Connolly and two special spots, one featuring Lena Home, the other Hazel Scott. The Home and Scott se- quences are bigtime stuff. For the younger generation there is the added treat of immy Dorsey and his orchestra. The screenplay of Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy and the direction of Vincente Min- nelli maneuver Skelton into some extremely uproarious situations. There is one silent sequence in which Skelton struggles with a false beard that will knock the customers in the aisles. "I Dood It" definitely is Skelton's film. Miss Powell proves an excellent foil for him. Sam Levene stands out among the others at Skelton's boss. Of the others, Ain- ley, Patricia Dane, Hall, John Hodiak and Andrew Tombes are the best. Jack Cummings produced with superb taste and a prodigal hand. Ray June's camera work is worthy of note. CAST: Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell, Richard Ainley. Patricia Dane, Sam Levene, Thurston Hall, Lena Home, Hazel Scott, John Hodiak, Butterfly McQueen, Marjorie Gateson, Andrew Tombes, Jimmy Dorsey and orchestra, Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly. CREDITS:. Producer, Jack Cummings; "What's Buzzin' Cousin?" with Ann Miller, Rochester, John Hubbard Columbia 75 Mins. FREDDY MARTIN HELPS BOLSTER BOX OFFICE POSSIBILITIES OF THIS COMEDY; MILLER, ROCHESTER ALSO GOOD. "What's Buzzin' Cousin?" isn't the hepcat stuff that its title suggests, although there are a couple of strains of hot music. The title, in fact, is absolutely meaningless in this instance. The exhibitor will have to look to Ann Miller, Eddie Anderson (Rochester) and Freddy Martin and his orchestra for the audience appeal of this film, a mild comedy with none-too-strong a story. Miss Miller re- gales the customers with several peppy dance numbers. Rochester deals out some comedy which, while not exactly new, manages to squeeze a fair number of laughs out of the patrons. 'But, perhaps, the strongest at- traction of all is Martin. The baton wielder floods the film with melody in a wide variety of musical offerings topped by his own swing arrangement of Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody, one of the film's high moments. The Martin aggregation has 10 tunes to play around with. The yarn has a quartet of chorines trying to make a go of a hotel in a deserted town. The place has been inherited by Miss Miller. Upon the scene come the Martin boys with Rochester and John Hubbard, a vocalist. The place is turned into a night club at Hubbard's suggestion, but it's no go until a gold rush starts as a result of Rochester's misplaced bridgework. Subsequently the joint is sold by the chorines to a group of racketeers at a fat profit. The romance is taken care of by Hubbard and Misss Miller. Jack Fier produced and Charles Barton contributed lively direction. Harry Sauber is responsible for the screenplay, which is based on a yarn by Aben Kandel. CAST: Ann Miller, Eddie Anderson (Rochester), John 'Hubbard, Freddy Martin, Leslie Brooks, Jeff Donnell, Carol Hughes, Theresa Harris, Roy Gordon, Bradley Page, Warren Ashe, Dub Taylor, Betsy Gay, Louis Mason. CREDITS: Producer, Jack Fier; Director, Charles Barton; Screenplay, Harry Sauber; Based on story by Aben Kandel; Cameraman, Joseph Walker; Art Director, Lionel Banks; Musical Director, M. W. Stoloff; Film Editor, James Sweeney; Set Decorator, Joseph Kish; Dance Director, Nick Castle; Songs, Walter Samuels, Saul Chaplin, Charles Newman, Lew Pollack, Jacques Press, Eddie Cherkose, Don 'Raye, Gene Depaul, Wally Anderson, Walter Donaldson, Mort Greene. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Jack Baker Quits Filmack Chicago — Jack Baker has resigned as advertising manager of Filmack Co. Director, Vincents Minnelli; Screenplay, Sig Herzig, Fred Saidy; Cameraman, Ray June; Recording Director, Douglas Shearer; Musical Director, /George Stoll; Dance Director, Bob Connolly; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Set ecorator, Edwin B. Willis; Film Editor, Robert J. Kern. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Aces. Clarify Draft Status Of Theater Workers i f (Continued from Page 1) get jobs in war plants or Jose their status. S. H. Fabian, who, with Harry- Brandt, conferred with Government^ officials, said that the men they njij" ; ft with declared officially that thf' was no basis for such ruling on the part of any board. "If a theater man is deferred," Fabian said, "because of physical disability, dependency or over-age, it does not affect his status in the least if he keeps his present job in a theater." Fabian also said that it was not the intent of the theaters division of the WAC to obtain deferment for any employe "if the facts do not warrant it." It was pointed out that in cases where a legitimately-de- ferred theater employe is told to change his job by his board, it is advisable that the WAC be notified immediately. The WAC will then communicate the facts to specified individuals in the selective service who have promised prompt action. Morgan in Charge of Republic's B. A. Branch Buenos Aires (By Air Mail) — Passed by Censor) — A branch office of Republic has been set up here by Morris Goodman with Guy P. Mor- gan in charge. Morgan was for- merly United Artists manager in Ar- gentina. The branch is known as Republic Films of Argentina, which has absorbed Cinematografia Almar former distributor for Republic in Argentina. F'j t Mary Dawson, Gallitzin House Operator, Killed Gallitzin, Pa. — Mary Dawson, who has been operating the Victoria here for her brother, Kenneth Dawson, now with the armed forces in Africa, was instantly killed when she fell under the wheels of a train at the local railroad station in saying good- bye to relatives who had been visit- ing with her and her blind mother. Funeral services will be held today. STORKS :■: ion F Hartford — Maurice Shulman, oper ator of the Webster, Rivoli and Wethersfield Theaters, is father of| a baby girl, weight 8 pounds 10%; ounces, Maxine, born at Hartford Hospital. Samuel Kuperstein, manager of ^ the Hippodrome, Bridgeport is alsoj f father of a baby girl. Springfield, Mass. — Edward Car- roll president of the Carroll Inter- ests, owners of the Stuart in Boston and the Riverside Park-In, Agawam, is the father of a son born at Wessori Maternity hospital. Building Remodeling Equipment Maintenance * * * * NEW YORK, FRIDAY. JULY 30. 1943 * * * * iSREENJEES BIG POST-WAR EQUIP. BOOM Coast Stands Set Up Air-Raid, Fire Precautions ■louses' Co-operation with rhe Los Angeles Fire Dept. And TDB Aimed at Safety >: West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Preparation of fire equipment charts by the Los Angeles Fire Department for all film and egitimate theaters, and instructions issued to all managers to make daily mecks on location of every piece of [ire-fighting equipment has as its purposes not only proper prepara- tion for potential air-raids, but also a deterrent in the matter of theater fires generally, inasmuch as there has been a wave of such blazes in 'jtnany sections of the country during ,the present war, it is pointed out {Continued on Page 8) Dallas Exhibitors Building Reserves Dallas — Reserve accounts to total more than $300,000 are being built ip for post-war construction and Remodeling by small circuits and ndividual operators in this area. Move is the result of a bulletin from Sol. H. A. Cole, president of Allied Jf Texas, to its members, which em- phasized that such planning is the ;heater man's best protection from ;he economic collapse and depres- sions which followed World War I. Equipment men have reacted to ";he scheme with spontaneous en- (Continued on Page 8) Just File It Under: This Uncertain World Broadway's theater purchasing agents began hastily thumbing-over lightning rod catalogues within the week as a thunder storm swept into Manhattan with a lightning bolt sock- ing a tree right next to Radio City Music Hall. Some of General Elec- tee's engineers, it is reported, had said that no lightning could strike within a mile radius of the Empire State Building, because that struc- ture, a huge lightning rod itself, would attract all of Jove's thunder- bolts. Equipment Field Notes ANNOUNCEMENT is made by J. A. Milling, manager of RCA's Bloom- ington, Ind., plant, that his company has applied to WLB for a 7 per cent wage in- crease for about 1,200 hourly employes. He declared that the organization believes that the raise is necessary to offset a 7.5 per cent rise in the cost of living, and a 16.5 per cent increase in food prices in Bloomington since last Summer. W & W Candy Co., Detroit, is being incorporated with a Michigan charter by Lew Wisper and Frank A. Wetstnan, owners of W & W Theaters. The new company carries on the centralized can.- dy buying service of the circuit, but will not operate candy counters in the theaters, which are run by different concession companies. Capitalization is $10,000. * * * Casimi Griglik and H. C. Struzynski have organized the Universal Screen Print Co., with offices at 3757 West North Ave., Chi- cago, to manufacture and distribute film lithographs. Ethel Meding of the WAVES former- ly of Eastman Kodak, Rochester, has been assigned to the new photographic laboratory at Anacostia, Washington, D. C, where she is editing microfilm. * * * Early on the morning of July 24, the Festa Theater, Kansas City, Mo., film house, was damaged by fire. Loss is placed at some $20,000, half of which was to contents. Herman lllmer, operator, indicates that he will repair and re-open the stand as soon as possible. * if * W. N. Carnasion, owner of the Park Theater in Starke, Fla., has had the house re-decorated. The marquee is highly patriotic in its trim red, white and blue, while the lobby is in old rose. Foyer is in Russian blue, and, tying-in these different colors is the poster display illuminated in the rain- bow hues. * * * Warner circuit in Chi. will re-open the Alhambra, Milwaukee, during the third week in August. Theater has been closed many times during recent years, but WB, in its true showmanship fashion, will put in a first class program, re-decorate the house, and make the stand's operation per- manent. A five-and-a-half-day work week has been put into effect in several depart- ments up at Bausch & Lomb's Rochester plant on a trial basis. It replaces a six-day week, but the move is said to be only experimental for the summer months. Schedule has been adopted to give workers more daylight hours for relaxation and recreation. If the new schedule interferes with produc- tion requirements — back goes the six- day week pronto. New equipment is being installed in the Kiwanis Theater, Tavares, Fla., which will make it modern in every detail. % % * Manager Kay Porter will have a brand new office when improvements to the Temple Theater, Perry, Fla., are completed. Entire house is being painted and decorated. George E. Porter is owner of both the Temple and Foley Theaters. * * * Miss Peggy Houters of Eastman Kodak, Rochester, has a special interest in a cer- tain Flying Fortress. It's the "Peg o' My Heart," named for her by the plane's pilot. Fred Wehrenberg has let contracts for the construction of an addition to the brick chimney of his Cinderella Theater out St. Louis way. * * * H. O. Yost, T. W. Pyle and W. C. Leshan- na have organized the Chicago Transformer Co. with offices at 208 So. LaSalle St. to manufacture and distribute electrical equip- ment to the trade. * * * Sergeant Tom Hamilton is missing in ac- tion in Europe where he was attached to an Army Flying Fortress. He was formerly with Tom Flannery's Whiteway Service. Chester Roloff, brother of Bill Ro- loff, advertising manager of DeVry Corp., was in Chicago visiting relatives. Chester is with the Army Air Force, stationed at Ft. Summer, N. M. Keen Exhibitor Interest Manifested Via Response To Survey Is Barometer In wake of recent introduction by National Theatre Supply Co. of its "Magic Bridge" post-war equipment plan, Walter E. Green, organization's president, declares that extraordi- nary returns have resulted from ev- ery section of the country, with exhibitors manifesting sharp interest in acquisition of new theater equip- ment as quickly after Victory as possible. Response received to date, Green declares indicates that all forms of equipment replacements are being considered by showmen, involving projection and sound units, chairs, (Continued on Page 8) Ochs Plans lo Build A $100,000 Drive-In Columbus — Announcement is made here of a theater building project in- volving approximately $100,000 to start as soon as building restrictions and auto driving rationing are allevi- ated. Herbert Ochs, managing director of the Dayton Drive-In Theater at Dayton, announces that his company has leased a 40-acre tract of land on E. Main St., between Rosemore Ave. and Old Country Club Rd., to be used for a Drive-In Theater, concessions and parking space. The lease ex- tends for 15 years, effective from July (Continued on Page 8) Chi. Equip. Official Plays All the Keys Chicago — F. J. Wenzel, president of Wenzel Projector Co. here, is one gent who doesn't let the other fellow do it if he can do it himself. The big exec, sees personally that all orders sent in for repair and re- placement parts by firm's dealers and customers are filled and shipped. It's some task when you consider that the plant is working full blast on orders both for the armed forces, pic exhibitors, and other channels. _ H 8 • EQUIPMENT NEWS W Friday, July 30, 1943 DAILY A Section of THE FILM DAILY compre- hensively covering the equipment field, pub- lished every second week by Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York City. John W. Alicoate, Publisher; Donald NT. Mersereau, General Manager; Chester B. Bahn, Editor; George H. Morris, Equipment Editor; West Coast Bureau, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal., Ralph Wilk, Bureau Chief. Big Equipment Boom Is Foreseen by Green (Continued from Page 7) screens, cooling and ventilating equipment, lamphouses, marquees, electrical units, and other necessities for use both within the theater and for exterior purposes. What the "Magic Bridge" plan, basically a survey of exhibitor needs, specifically reveals, Green asserts, is that there will be a tremendous boom in the equipment field following ces- sation of hostilities, and, as a conse- quence, the company is girding for this obvious development, so that all customers can be officially served. He added, "Judging by the comments of many exhibitors, National's 'Magic Bridge' post-war equipment plan is especially pleasing to these exhibi- tors because it is not based on any required deposits of money or ad- vance payments, but is predicated on the exhibitor's building his own post-war equipment fund through the purchase of War Bonds by the exhibitor himself." McNabb Announces Boost Of Carlsen in B & H Setup Chicago— J. H. McNabb, president of the Bell & Howell Co., makers of motion picture equipment and optical devices, anounces the delegation of T. C. Carlsen to the position of super- intendent of parts manufacturing. He started with the company in 1927 as a tool and die apprentice, and went to assistant to the plant engi- neer, then to chief methods engineer, and while in these responsible posi- tions acquired the necessary directive ability to fill his present post. For Excellence in the Production of Motion Picture Sound Equipment IT'S A FACT! War-bom DEVRY preci- sion Theatre Projectors and Sound Systems pre- sent developments far beyond previously ac- cepted standards. DEVRY Corporation. 1112 Armi- tage Avenue, Chicago, 111. DeVRY Hollywood • CHICAGO • New York Dallas Exhibitors Building Reserves (Continued from Page 7) thusiasm as the list of far-seeing exhibitors grows. Typical type of planning is the case of Will and Ed Dorbandt, operators of the Dixie and Liberty Theaters, Athens, Tex. The partners have heretofore divided profits but from now on plan to leave them in a fund to recondition the Dixie and rebuild the Liberty. Estimates for the Dixie include: 900 chairs at $8, $7,200; new carpeting, $1,500; rearrangement of front and interior reconditioning, $5,000— $13,- 700 of new business from one small theater. Candy Days In Chicago Are of "Hard" Variety Chicago — Vending candy is any- thing but a "sweet" chore for film theaters in this sector. To begin with, many theater owners are find- ing it tough to secure sufficient candy supplies for their machines. Cir- cuits have been hard hit by the con- fection famine, with number of candy bars offered to patrons shrinking each week. Secondly, the Fire Department of- ficials are getting hard-boiled again over theater owners who permit popcorn machines and candy count- ers to clutter up their lobbies. Many have been ordered to take them out. Claim is that this equipment is vio- lating fire laws, and, if violations continue, exhibs. will be hauled to court. Screen Sales Reported Omaha — Western Theater Supply has sold screens to the following theaters: Chief, Weeping Water, Neb.; Doric, Elk Hart, Kan.; Com- munity, Aurelia, la.; Quinby, Quin- by, la.; Coronado, Ewing, Neb.; State, Hastings, Neb.; Boyd, Spen- cer, la. The Temple, Mount Pleas- ant, la., has purchased satin front curtains and automatic stage drapes. Bad News for Axis! Rochester — An Eastman Kodak Co. chemist is reported to have in- vented a deadly new explosive, much more powerful than TNT. It is said that a streak of the substance on a sheet of paper will make the paper explode when it's lighted. Stairs to Fill Ork Pit New Haven — Loew-Poli will fill its former orchestra pit with section stairs, which will be attractively cov- ered and form an added exit, LARGEST SELECTION OF Popcorn Machines We Buy . — Sell ■ — and Service All Makes — All Models Write us KRISPY KORN EQUIPMENT 120 S. Halsted St. CHICAGO, ILL. Penthouse on Wheels Is Photographic Tool Rochester — A penthouse on wheels has been constructed on the roof, eight stories up, of an Eastman Ko- dak Co. building here. It has no tenants. Designed as a photographic tool, the house rotates on a center post and a semi-circular rail to provide shadows of a required nature at any time of day. Of particular value in taking a series of "shots," the semi- revolving penthouse enables a pho- tographer to work all day with the same shadows. Ochs Plans to Build $100,000 Drive-In (Continued from Page 7) 1, 1943, to 1958. Type of construc- tion will follow that of the Dayton Drive-In, now in its second season of operation. A circuit of Drive-Ins is planned for construction after the war. In the meantime, properties are being acquired. Ochs, former Warners Bros.' district manager, plans to make his headquarters in Columbus. G. E. Gregory Is Promoted To O-CF Vice-Presidency Toledo, O. — George E. Gregory, formerly director of sales of Owens- Corning Fiberglas Corp., Toledo, has been promoted to vice-president in charge of commercial development, working closely with John H. Thomas, general sales manager. Board of directors was enlarged to include the following four new mem- bers: W. B. Zimmerman, vice-presi- dent in charge of manufacturing and sales; Games Slayter, vice-president in charge of research and develop- ment; Harry R. Winkle, treasurer; and Dr. E. C. Sullivan, vice-chairman of the board of directors, Corning Glass Works. Gilbert, Film Veteran, Retires Rochester — Herbert D. Gilbert re- tired here on completion of 46 years with the Eastman Kodak Co. Gilbert was the 450th person to be employed at the plant. WE CAN SUPPLY all standard 35mm preci- sion projector replacement parts. We sell only through Dealers, but if your dealer is unable to supply your requirements, write us di- rectly and we will give you the name of the dealer able to serve you. FREE:— Our latest com- plete Parts Catalogue is now available. Ask for it and give us the Dealer's name serving your Com- munity. WENZEL PROJECTOR COMPANY 2509 South State St. Chicago, III. Coast Pic Theaters r In New Safety Move i (Continued from Page 7) here by channels close to the prob lem. Instruction to the managers were issued to some 25 zone inspectors of the Theater Defense Bureau at »», recent meeting of the exhibitor I ganization. Both inspectors and tht- aters have been given copies of the equipment-placement forms. Mana- gers have also been advised that if they use duly-appointed air-raid war- dens as volunteers to augment their fire and panic staffs, such workers are covered by Federal compensa- tion insurance, as well as by theater liability insurance. Yesterday at 7:30 p.m. here, and in the surrounding territory, the first of a series of communications net- work test calls was initiated. Through this network, all theaters are noti- fied of air-raid alerts and, according to M. A. Anderson, network chair- man, it requires but seven minutes to pass the information to 236 thea- ters in the city. Zone inspectors are to attend weekly theater fire and panic drills. Noted Engineer Is Named Gen. Aniline & Film Head George W. Burpee, partner in en gineering firm of Coverdale & Col pitts, was elected on Wednesday toE presidency of General Aniline &, Film Corp. to succeed Robert Ej McConnell, resigned. The new official, a graduate of; Bowdoin College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is recog nized as one of America's foremost engineers. jj WHITEWAY ELECTRIC SIGN & MAINTENANCE CO. Thomas F. Flannery, President 315-17 W. Walton St. Chicago, III. Delaware 91 li I ';■■ SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write lor samples, prices or other information. Delivery tree Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL T I C K E TfipVCOMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE. \°Z/ NEWARK, N. J. Sales Offices in Principal Centers 3 A N -|J1Z -LS tr-17 M HZ IS I CI CI CHI d cl H I! Mil 4 *:i k y -. In v irth il xv Si: ltd b »: Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought 'LE COPY DO NOT R>^r,L w ' REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old fOL. 84. NO. 22 NEW YORK. MONDAY. AUGUST 2. 1943 TEN CENTS ARMY'S SIZE TO GOVERN EQUIP. DISPOSAL Treasury Cold to Copper Penny Collection Plan Reeling 'Round -- WASHINGTON 5= By ANDREW H. OLDER — —WASHINGTON !kA/AR Manpower Commission officials 11 * v are reported looking askance at those ines found in front of some theaters during ate morning and afternoon. . . . But before 'hey jump to the conclusion that the lines nclude many young men and young women vho might be otherwise occupied, they should do a bit of checking. . . . They could ind that a large percentage are filling 'swing shift" war jobs and that theater ittendance is on their limited free time. . . . 'After all, the "swing shift" worker needs — ind is entitled to — recreation and amuse- ment. • • IT'S too bad UA couldn't use the recording made by the Army's Special Service Divi- sion of reactions to "Stage Door Canteen" 'abroad after viewing the Sol Lesser film. . . It's a terrific thing, we're told by Army Officers, but unfortunately the recording s bad and it won't take many playings. Meither can it be transferred. • • DY NOW, no doubt, you're all convinced "^ about the toughness of the freon situa- tion, but let's just add the clincher. Allen Smith, who heads WPB's amusements ■branch, moved his office last week, and seemed very happy about it. The reason being that there's no air-conditioning sys- tem in the building where he now is. He was pleased because there was a system in the building where he had been, but it was lot in operation because no freon could be made available. ... • OWI, it appears will retain its function of allocating raw stock for all civilian purposes. ... • Earl vlinderman, who used to work with Lowell Mellett in the OWI film bureau, is the lew information officer for the Federal Communications Commission. Out of the frying pan into the fire? .... • The Forthcoming manpower "critical" lits isn't OHN W. ALICOATE : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU - General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (July 30) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 163/8 15% 15'/2 — Vi Col. Piers, vtc. <2Vi%> 17 I61/4 16'/4 — Vi Columbia Pic ts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2% 1% 2*A Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 15% 15% 15% + Vs East. Kodak 162Vi 162Vi 162Vi — Vi do pfd 1771/2 177'/2 177Vi Cen. Prec. Eq 21 203,4 20% — % Loew's, Inc 61 Vi 59 Vi 59Vi — 1 Paramount 267/8 25 Vi 25% — 5/s RKO 83/4 8Vg 8Vi — Vs «KO $6 pfd 89'/2 88 Vi 88 Vi — l7/8 20th Century-Fox .. 22 Vs 20% 213/8 — 5/„ 20th Century-Fox pfd. 32Va 31% 313/8— % Warner Bros 14 13% 13% — Vi do pfd 89 13-32 89 13-32 89 13-32 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... . 3% 3% 3Vi RKO war 1% 1% 1% Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% Technicolor 15 14% 14%— % Trans-Lux Universal Picts. vtc. 17 16% 16% — % MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St. Loj Angeles comiriG mid GOinG JACK L. WARNER and CHARLES EINFELD ar- rive on the Coast today from New York. S. J. GREGORY, Alliance prexy has returned to Chicago from Balboa Beach, Calif., where his family has a cottage for the Summer season. VIRGINIA WEIDLER arrived in Rochester on Friday for a three-day engagement at the RKO Temple there. EARLE W. SWEICERT, Paramount's Philadel- phia district manager and J. E. FONTAINE, Washington branch manager, were New York visitors Friday. WILLIAM ERBB, Boston district manager, also visited the home office late last week. LEONARD GOLDENSON, Paramount vice-pres- ident in charge of theater operations, and LEON NETTER, theater department executive, returned Friday from visits in Atlanta and New Orleans. ARTHUR LYONS, vice-president of the re- cently formed Producing Artists, Inc., left over the week-end for Hollywood. LOU WEINBERG, sales executive for Columbia, leaves New York today for Atlanta and New Orleans. He is scheduled to be back at his home office desk the middle of next week . FRANCIS S. HARMON returns to New York today from the Coast. MITCHELL RAWSON, who went to Boston Fri- day, returns early this week. ARCHIE MAYERS has arrived on the Coast from New York. JAMES NASSER and CHARLES LEONARD are here from the Coast. PAUL N. LAZARUS, JR., director of UA's advertising, publicity and exploitation, arrives in New York today after a two-week visit in Hollywood. A. MONTAGUE, Columbia's general sales man- ager, left the home office on the week-end for a business trip to Chicago and New Orleans, and will return in about 10 days. Reeling 'Round- - WASHINGTON (Continued from Page 1) of top-flight entertainers. . . . The industry knows what its talent is doing for service- men here and abroad and the public knows in an off-handed way. . . . Industry thanks should go to the Steinbeck for a moving story no reader of which will forget the sacrifice of top stars to keep our fighting men happy. • • I ONG range note: It may be that pix will finally come in for some congres- sional attention later on this year. An investigation of OWI seems almost a cer- tainty, and pix'll come in on it. Advertisers Told to Try Television Medium Now (Continued from Page 1) in the opinion of Samuel H. Cuff, program director of television sta- tion W2XWV, owned and operated by Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc. Speaking before the American Television Society, Cuff said that W2XWV had offered its facilities to all interested agencies and ad- vertisers for experimentation. He said that advertising leaders already had recognized the potentialities of television and several were conduct- ing experimental programs or were planning to do so. "Now, when the television audi- ence is necessarily limited by war- time restrictions, is the time for the advertisers to test the medium, 'play around' with television and ex- perience the growing pains of pro- gram development — by trial and er- ror— so that when television becomes full-blown they will be ready for it," Cuff said, adding that "there is only one way to understand tele- vision and that is to actually use It." Cuff told the society that tele- vision is not as complicated as most pei'sons believe. "Canteen" Registers UA Peak for Extra Time UA's current release, "Stage Door Canteen" has been accorded more ex- tra playing time in more theaters throughout the U. S. than any other of the company's previous pix, Carl Leserman, UA general sales manag- er, said Friday. This additional playing time has been noticeable in practically all of its first group of key engagements. Pic has received extra playing time in both big and small town situa- tions. Starting off with its opening at the Capitol here where it is now in its sixth week, "Stage Door Canteen" made further history when, for the first time in the theater's 23-year record, it played three weeks at Loew's State, Cleveland, and follow- ing the State run, was moved over to the Stillman where it is now in its second stanza. Pic, Leserman also cited, is now in its fifth week in Ciney, fourth in Philly. Mon- treal and Atlantic City, and third in Frisco, Chicago, Allentown, Erie and Youngstown. In Providence after a successful first run at Loew's the picture has been moved over to the Carlton thus giving- it four weeks in that city. In Seattle "Stage Door Canteen" opened day-and-date at both the Music Hall and Paramount and is now in its second week at the Paramount. While in Baltimore, following three weeks at the Century, the pic is now in its second week at the Valencia. In Denver, it played day-and-date at the Denver, Esquire, and Aladdin and is now playing similar engagements at the Broadway and Rialto. In Los Angeles after day-and- date runs in four first-run houses the pic- ture was moved to the 4 Star Theater where it is now in its third week. Para's Indie Contracts on 6th Block a Record For the fourth successive week, contracts with independent exhibi- tors for Paramount's sixth and last block for the 1942-43 season have established a new high mark, ac- cording to Neil Agnew, general sales manager. Independent contracts in four weeks of selling now total 4,- 064, which, according to Agnew, is the greatest number sold on any block in the corresponding period. The total is 1,659 more than the previous mark established on the fifth block, Agnew said. Warners Canadian Meet Postponed To Aug. 19 Montreal — Warners has set back its Canadian sales meeting for a week and the two-day conference is now scheduled for August 19-20 in the Mount Royal Hotel here Wolfe Cohen, Canadian district man- ager, and all branch managers and salesmen for the Dominion, will at tend the meeting. £Sh Among home office executives ex pected for the sessions include Joseph Bernhard, vice-president; Ben Kalmenson, general sales man ager; Mort Blumenstock, in charge of advertising and publicity in the East; Arthur Sachson, assistant general sales manager; A. W Schwalberg, supervisor of exchange operations and Norman H. Moray. short subject sales manager. [I ■\ r NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Lena HORNE Bill ROBINSON Cab CALLOWAY and his band A 20th CENTURY FOX PICTURE PLUS A BIG B f\ V V **•» Ave. STAGE SHOW K W Alt 50th St. D "DIXIE" • In Person with * ANDREWS SISTERS BING CROSBY if TIM HERBERT DOROTHY LAMOUR ir MITCH AYRES A Paramount Picture if and his orchestra Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square E23U3 B'WAY & 47th St. BETTY GRABLE . GEO. MONTGOMERY "CONEY ISLAND" — and — "CALABOOSE" NOAH BEERY. JR. • JIMMY ROGERS loTv?. STATE ON SCREEN VIRGINIA WEIDLER "THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION" I Monday, August 2, 1943 T» DAILY Treasury (old to Copper Penny Plan (Continued from Page 1) *ged. More than one-quarter of all ;he copper pennies issued by the Treasury and still in circulation :ould be collected by this means in i single week. About ten and one- lalf billion copper pennies have \ "S* coined by the Treasury and are nVin circulation — except for those ost or stored away. These include :opper estimated at about 30,000 ons. Figuring that 12,000 theaters oarticipate in the drive for a full veek, at an average admission price )f 33 1-3 cents, and figuring total veekly admissions at 100,000,000, wo and one-half billion copper pen- lies could be collected in one week. The rub is that the Treasury ioesn't want to retire copper pen- lies, even though WPB feels that ■he copper which might be salvaged s virtually needed. The new steel jennies are being minted at ca- >acity speed of only about 50,000,000 )er month, Treasury sources reveal, ind withdrawal of any large quan- ity of copper pennies would hamper xade. The rate of production of the lew pennies is only the normal re- rairement for pennies to supplement ;hose already in circulation. Pennies ire more needed today than ever be- iore because of various new direct I ;axes, etc. says the Treasury. i Harry Bredenham Dead West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Funeral services were 'ield Thursday at All Saints Episco- pal Church, Santa Monica, for Harry Bredenham, 52, who died suddenly of a heart attack. He was at one ftime a district sales manager for First National in London and has also been a special sales represen- tative for Paramount. He was with Myron Selznick Agency from 1931 to 1943 and was with William Morris office at time of his death. FWTBT Opens on Coast Aug. 16 West Coast Bureau of THE FILM tDAILV Hollywood — Para.'s FWTBT is low set to open at the Carthay Cir- :le on Aug. 16. Seat sale opens ;oday; premiere at $5.50 benefits the Los Angeles Area War Chest. Myrna Loy Jack L. Harold Mohr Warner Passing Summer Parade: • • • PRIDE and satisfaction can excusably grip filmland On desk-top as we pen this item is the 1943 Infantile Paralysis Fund- Raising Appeal report issued by Basil O'Connor Total net collec- tions were $5,527,590 (about $1,500,000 higher than any previous year), and of this record sum YOU of the pic industry subscribed or were the direct channels through which $2,086,596.12, or close to 40 per cent of the total, went to this great cause! It is a signal triumph for the entire motion picture business, acting in humanitarian concert under the Drive leadership of Nicholas M. Schenck and Harry Brandt It is a triumph especially for those stricken with the dread poliomyelitis And it is a dark defeat for those great-of-spleen who hate an industry great-of-heart T ▼ T • • • RICHARD HUBBELL, former tele consultant of For- tune mag, movie director for M of T, author of "4000 Years of Tele- vision, and other distinguishments, has joined N. W. Ayer's radio dept. as writer-director. . . . * Maj. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., has just become associated with public relations firm of Russell Birdwell and Associates. ... • Daniel Ponticelle, former booker of WB's local exchange, is on leave following completion of basic training at U. S. Naval Training Station, Sampson, N. Y T ▼ T • • • IF this corner were a member of the Motion Picture Acad- emy's adverting award committee (if there were such a thing for the purpose of determining who'd grab an Oscar for unique and effective ads), a prompt ballot would be cast for the recent trade ad conceived by Stanley Shuford to clarion Paramount's billboard campaign in New York anent FWTBT The ad, by-the.-by, appeared in a competing trade paper, which fact in itself qualifies Phil M. as an impartial judge, or at least something along that line T T T • • • POPEYE the Sailor Man is in the Army now Jack Mercer, who has been the screen voice -of the spinach-guzzling gob for the past 11 years, has been inducted and leaves for camp on Aug. 3, so clarions Sam Buchwald, gen. mgr. of Paramount Famous Studios Jack, story and gag man for the outfit, has a trick set of vocal pipes which permit him to talk way-down-in-the-cellar-like His voice is a versatile affair, furnishing speech and other sounds for Para, cartoon creations The voice of spindly-legged Olive Oyl [in Brooklyn the verse of Olive Earl), string-bean sweetheart of the movies' Popeye, is that of a bee-utiful young lady, who in real life is the wife of (you guessed it!)— Jack Mercer! T T T • • • SPEAKING of shorts, and speaking of speech, the aviator audience down Atlantic City way has voted as one of the most suc- cessful camp shows yet presented there the new musical revue staged for the 709th Air Corps Training Group by Henry E. (New York) Lester, former film shorts producer, now with the. film division of the Air Forces Br'r Lester, at one time associated with UA in Europe, has made various tab reels in this country, including work for the Dept. of Agriculture and other agencies o' the Government Plan oi the show, which was a musical potpourri, was suggested by Capt. Charles B. Vaughan, CO. of the 709th. Pvt. Art Simon, former concert singer, worked on the produc- tion with Lester A new unpublished musical number, "Song of the Flying Cadets," was presented by Pvts. Kahn Keene and Joe DeVoe Show flashed forth on the well-trod boards of the Atlantic City Basic Training Center T T ▼ • • « AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Skouras lo Address 20lh-Fox Convention (Continued from Page 1) head. The three are also scheduled to speak at the Chicago and Los An- geles meetings, the one to start Aug. 5, the other on Aug. 11. Andy W. Smith, Jr., Eastern sales manager, will preside at the New York sessions. Among those who will address today's session are: William J. Kupper, executive assist- ant to Connors; Edmund Reek, vice- president and production manager of Movietonews; Lowell Thomas; Lew Lehr; Ed Thorgersen; Paul Terry; Westbrook Van Voorhis; John Wood* George Roberts, Phil Williams of March of Time; and William Clark, short subjects sales manager. Others who will attend the meet- ing from the home office will be W. C. Gehring, Jack Schlaifer, Murray Sil- verstone, Hermann G. Place, W. C, Michel, Sydney Towell, Felix Jen- kins, Dan Michalove, Jules Alberti, Larry Kent, W. J. Eadie, M. Mosko- witz, J. Sichelman, E. H. Collins. Also, T. Shaw, C. A. Hill, W. J. Clark, Rogrer Ferri, Harry Buxbaum, H. A. Mersay, I. Lineer, J. Bloom, H. Fenster, E. McEvoy, M. Caplan, H. Reinhardt, M. Goodman, Nat Brower, Hettie G. Baker, Stella Seidel. Florence Johnston. Georgre Roberts, Charles Goetz, Winton Burrhus, Edmund Reek, Jack Darrock, Russell Muth, Tony Muto, Ed Thorg-ersen, Lowell Thomas, Lew Lehr, Vyvyan Donner, Mabel Cumming's, Robert Montgomery, Richard Condon, Rodney Bush, Charles Schlaifer, Jack Goldstein, Chester Feitel, Jules Fields, Ted Lloyd, Tom McCabe, Richard Dube, Sam Shain, M. Kinzler, Ed Hollander, J. Novat, Murray Schaffer, G. Gomperts, W. Allen, S. Pierce, R. Owen, Irving: Maas, Albert Cornfield, E. S. Fraeer, Leslie Whelan, Paul Terry. Harvey Day. William Weiss, Howard Black, John Wood. From the New York exchangre will come Ray Moon, Joe St. Clair. Morris Sanders. Morris Kurtz, Abe Blumstein, Elliott Mc- Manus, Nathan Harris, Belmont S. Gottlieb, Joe Lee, Georgre Blenderman. Besides New York, exchanges represented will be Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washing-ton, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans, Dallas, Memphis and Oklahoma City. Leroy Phelps Joins PFC Leroy G. Phelps, formerly with the domestic film production unit of the OWI, has joined the Princeton Film Center, Princeton, N. J. His first assignment will be on the production of a series of 35mm. films for the Co-ordinator of Inter-American Af- fairs which are now being prepared by the Princeton Film Center. Trade Enthusiastic At 'l/'-'Armjj' Co-op. Filmdom on the week-end doffed its collective chapeau to another salient example of inter-industry co- operation in behalf of the war effort, — the including by Universal News- reel of an 80-foot clip of the New York world premiere of Warners' "This is the Army." The clip, placed prominently in the current issue of the newsreel, uses musical back- ground from the film and clarions to the public that the attraction's profits go to Army Emergency Re- lief. MM » DAILY Monday, August 2, 1943 :< :< Reviews of the new nuns a & "Salute to the Marines" with Wallace Beery M-G-M 101 Mins. BEERY APPEARS TO GOOD ADVAN- TAGE IN ROBUST, FAST- MOVING COLOR FILM STRONG IN COMEDY. This film is not what one might expect from the title, which carries the promise of a well-considered, dignified tribute to the Marine Corps. The fact that the film was made with assistance from the Marine Corps and is dedicated to that branch of the service lends substance to that promise. Instead what one gets for the most part is a sentimental comedy about a big oaf of a sergeant major in the Philipppines who retires after thirty years' service only to find he can't get the Marine Corps out of his system. The above is not by the way of criti- cism of the entertainment value of the film. It is merely meant to set the record straight. For the truth is that, for all its routine quality, "Salute to the Marines" will draw heavily at the box office. The reasons are not hard to find. For one thing, the film has a generous quantity of simple, direct and easily-assimilated comedy. For another, it has a lusty all-out performance by Wal- lace Beery in the role of the old-timer. Yet, again, it has action without stint, fine Technicolor photography, a sweet romance between Beery 's daughter (Mari- lyn Maxwell) and a Marine lieutenant (Wil- liam Lundigan) and a climax packed with excitement. Beery's inability to adjust himself to civilian life makes him very much of a trial to his wife (Fay Bainter). The fellow, with no combat service to boast of despite his long years in the Marine Corps, gets a chance to fight when the Japs attack the Philippines after his return to civilian life. He makes himself a hero by rallying the ci- vilians against the invaders and fighting a delaying action until the arrival of rein- forcements. The battle sequences are highly realistic and bring the film to a rousing end. The death of Beery and his wife by a bomb lends a sobering touch to the story. Beery gives better account of himself than he has in some time. The film is almost wholly his. Miss Bainter, Miss Max- well, Lundigan, Reginald Owen, Keye Luke, Ray Collins and Donald Curtis back him up well. The direcion of S. Sylvan Simon possesses vitality. George Bruce wrote the screen- play from an adaptation by Wells Root of a yarn by Robert D. Andrews. Charles Schoen- baum and W. Howard Green get credit for the camera work. Arnold Gillespie and Warren Newcombe contributed some thrill- ing special effects. John W. Considine, Jr., merits a nod for his work as producer. CAST: Wallace Beery, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen, Keye Luke, Ray Collins, Marilyn Maxwell, William Lundigan, Donald Curtis, Niah Beery, Sr., Dick Curtis, Russell Glea- son. Rose Hobarr. CREDITS: Producer, John W. Considine, Jr.; Director, 5. Sylvan Simon; Screenplay, George Bruce; Adaptation, Wells Root; Based on story by Robert D. Andrews; Cam- eramen, Charles Schoenbaum, W. Howard Green; Musical Score, Lennie Hayton; I Sound, Douglas Shearer; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Set Decorator, Edwin B. Willis; Special Effects, Arnold Gillespie, "Hi Diddle Diddle" with Adolphe Menjou, Martha Scott UA-Stone 72 Mins. STONE'S INITIAL PRODUCTION IS SCREWY AND SOPHISTICATED FARCE COMEDY WITH PLENTY OF ENTERTAIN- MENT. "Hi Diddle Diddle" gives Andrew Stone Productions a favorable send-off. The new outfit's initial effort boasts of considerable entertainment. It's a crazy, sophisticated farce that throws reason right out of the window for the sake of laughs. There isn't a serious moment in the whole of it and the peppy pace doesn't give the interest much chance to lag. Aside from its entertainment appeal, the picture wil benefit from curiosity certain to be stirred by the presence in the cast of Pola Negri, star of yesteryear, who returns to American films in "Hi Diddle Diddle" after an absence of many years. Although Miss Negri's role, that of a temperamental opera singer, is not unduly large, it is a showy one that shows her off to nice advan- tage. In her comeback picture the actress finds herself in good company. Chiefly to be noted are Adolphe Menjou, Martha Scott, Bi Hie Burke and June Havoc, all of whom keep the bubble always in the air in this comedy romp. Other players who fill their roles nicely are Dennis O'Keefe, Walter Kingsford, Barton Hepburn, Paul Porcasi. Menjou plays a gay, charming scoundrel and man-about-town married to Miss Negri, by whom he is supported. He gets a chance to try his bag of tricks when Miss Burke tells him that she has lost her fortune to a swindler. In his eforts to recover the sup- posedly lost fortune he gets himself involved in a number of compromising situations with the ladies. The fellow is prompted by the fact that his son (O'Keefe), who is a sailor, is married to Miss Burke's daughter (Miss Scott). After he has recovered the money, Menjou discovers it was a gag. Andrew Stone has produced and directed with happy results. The screenplay has been provided with many smart and titillat- ing lines and situations by Frederick Jackson. A novel touch is a cartoon sequence cre- ated by the Leon Schlesinger organization. CAST: Adolphe Menjou, Martha Scott, Pola Negri, Dennis O'Keefe, Billie Burke, June Havoc, Walter Kingsford, Barton Hep- burn, Georges Metaxa, Marek Windheim, Eddie Man-, Paul Porcasi, Lorraine Miller, Richard Hageman, Bert Roach, Chick Chan- dler, Ellen Lowe, Barry McCollum, Joe Dev- lin, Hal K. Dawson, Andrew Tombes, Byron Foulger, Ann Hunter. CREDITS: Producer, Andrew Stone; Asso- ciate Producer, Edward Finney; Production Manager, Carley Harriman; Director, An- drew Stone; Screenplay, Frederick Jackson; Cameraman, Charles Schoenbaum; Musical Director, Phil Boutelje; Film Editor, Harvey Manger; Set Decorator, Earl Woodin; Songs, Foster Carling, Phil Boutelje. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Moscow" Not for Alliance Chicago — Alliance Theater cir- cuit will not book "Mission to Mos- cow," according to Pete Panagos. Warren Newcombe; Film Editor, Fredrick Y. Smith. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. "Someone to Remember" with Mabel Paige, John Craven, Dorothy Morris Republic 80 Mins. REPUBLIC HITS MARK WITH FILM PACKED WITH HUMAN INTEREST ELE- MENTS; MABEL PAIGE RATES POSIES. In "Someone to Remember" Republic has delivered a honey of a picture for family audiences. There is something about the film that gets you. It is one of those pro- ductions in which the human factor is every- thing, in which the story is told with a warmth and an understanding beyond re- sisting. There are tender moments as well as humorous ones to claim the attention in a tale of exceptional merit that has been developed with fine skill. The production is heavily in debt to Mabel Paige, who dominates the film in grand style, carrying the burden of the acting in the central role — that of an old lady who refuses to abandon the hotel suite she has occupied for a quarter of a century even after the place is taken over by the local university and converted into a men's dormitory. The woman is justified in her stand by an iron-clad lease giving her own- ership of her premises. What holds her to the place is the hope that some day the irresponsible son who disappeared some 25 years before will return to her. She feels that if she moved out he might not know where to find her. She finds happiness in the thought that one of the students is her grandson. Death very kindly claims her the day before the boy's father, the man she thinks is her son, makes his appearance. We say kindly because the man turns out not to be her son at all but a stranger bearing the same name. It is disclosed at the end that the son is dead — a fact kept from her for fear the shock might kill her. Miss Paige plays the old lady with great sweetness and gentleness. By underplaying she prevents the film from becoming unduly sentimental. It is her best film role to this writing. She gets fine support from John Craven, as the student Dorothy Morris, as the lad's sweetheart Charles Dingle, as the college's building superintendent, and Har- ry Shannon, as an old friend. Craven and Miss Morris handle the romantic assignment splendidly. Robert North acquitted himself capitally as associate producer. Credit Robert Siod- mak with a fine job of directing. Ben Ames Williams supplied the story from which Frances Hyland contrived the screen- play, which has plenty to recommend it. CAST: Mabel Paige, John Craven, Dorothy Morris, Charles Dingle, Harry Shannon, Tom Seidel, David Bacon, Richard Crane, Chester Clute, Russell Hicks, Leona Maricle, Made- line Grey. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Robert North Director, Robert Siodmak Screenplay, Frances Hyland Based on story by Ben Ames Williams; Cameraman, Jack Marta; Musical Director, Walter Scharf; Film Editor, Ernest Nims; Sound, Dick Tyler; Art Director, Rus- sell Kimball; Set Decorator, Otto Siegel. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Honeymoon Lodge" with David Bruce, June Vincent Universal 63 Mins. FARCE COMEDY HAS ENOUGH HU- MOROUS SITUATIONS TO GET IT BY AS FAMILY FARE ON DUALS. There are just about enough funny situ- ations in this farce comedy to get it(ht-jn double-feature programs. Exhibitors * Will have to look for little help from cast names, for the simple fact is that neither of the two top players, David Bruce and June Vincent, carries any box office weight. The; most important names, names that carry any significance with audiences, are those of Harriet Hilliard and Ozzie Nelson and hi: band, and these are both in secondary spots. The story has its moments, several of them quite humorous. It presents Bruce and Miss Vincent as playwrights whose mar riage has gone on the rocks. In an effort to mend matters they decide to re-enact their meeting and the events that led up to their marriage. They go back to the Sierras resort where their romance was born and try to recapture the past. From the timet the two board the train that take; them to the resort one complication' after another comes up to confound their plan of reconciliation. The husband finds himself thrown in with Miss Hilliard, a singer at the resort, while the wife acquires Rod Cameron, a rancher, as an admirer. The fun hinges on the fact that neither Miss Hilliard nor Cameron knows that Bruce and Miss Vincent are man and wife. Bruce gets into plenty of trouble before a happy ending is achieved. The cast is adequate for the occasion. Miss Hilliard gives out with several song numbers, one of them with Nelson, that help the film along a lot. Also of assistance are spots featuring the dance combinations of Veloz and Yolanda and Tip, Tap and Toe. The film, on which Warren Wilson served as associate producer, was directed by Ed- ward Lilley with fair results. The screen- play is by Clyde Bruckman, who worked from a story by Wilson. CAST: David Bruce, June Vincent, Roc Cameron, Harriet Hilliard, Franklin Pang- born, Ozzie Nelson and band, Veloz and Yolanda, Tip, Tap and Toe, Bobby Brook; Hattie Noel, Ray Eberle. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Warren Wilson; Director, Edward Lilley; Screenplay, Clyde Bruckman; Based on story by Warren Wilson; Cameraman, Paul Ivano; Art Direc- tor, John Goodman; Sound Supervisor, Bern- ard B. Brown; Film Editor, Russell Schoen garth. DIRECTION, fair. PHOTOGRiAlPHY Good. Sues for Bank Night Award Council Bluffs, la. — Orren W Coulter filed suit in district court a1 Council Bluffs against three theaters seeking judgment of $900 over a Bank Night award. Coulter alleges his name was drawn for the $900 that he was at the back door of the theater and got around to the stage within the alloted time, but was re- fused the money. The theatei claimed he had not been on the stage within the time limit. ta£- Monday, August 2, 1943 V%Ss i theater Vandalism teen on Increase i (Continued from Page 1) Damage amounting to $104 was ione to exit doors when youths, ranging from 12 to 19 years of age, (tried to break in, while broken sky- dights cost the theater $150. The mayor has presented a curfew meas- e to the Common Council. •pJoston, which up to now has had w cases of theater vandalism, is suddenly faced with the problem with an increase of destruction of accessories and furnishings. Drastic curfew laws are being con- sidered in Tennessee. In Nashville, a curfew ordinance regulating the ,1 presence of minors on the streets between 10 p.m. and 7 p.m. has been drawn up. A smilar measure has been adopted by the Kingsport, Tenn., city council. Chattanooga, jis attempting to combat the delin- quency problem by a series of broad- casts over Station WOOD. In Newark, N. J., special police ■!, officers are becoming familiar figures Lin neighborhood theaters. Stationed pat the box offices with instructions jto question all unescorted young- sters, the officers often turn away boys under 16 or warn them against the consequences of vandalism. Arrest of a 12-year-old boy in ii Minneapolis is expected to result in I rounding up a gang of theater van- il dais who have slashed seats in doz- l ens of movie house here this year. C. B. Stiff, district manager of |i Minnesota Amusement Co., said the vandals have ripped leather seats, o torn out the cotton padding and i have started fires which could i have resulted disastrously if they ii were not caught in time. il Curfew laws are being considered ^ in cities from coast-to-coast, it is ii reported. WEDDING BELLS 0 West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Los Angeles — W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogram, was mar ' ried Saturday to Doris Daupree of 1 Fort Worth, Tex. HCLLyWCCD DIGEST Pittsburgh — Three Film Row em- ployes became brides during the past week; Audrey Hammer, of the Co- lumbia exchange, Bertha Mathews, of Universal and Josephine Marra of 20th Century-Fox, the bridegroom of each being a service man. Chicago — Florence Burke, secre- tary to Claude Rubens, Great States maintenance head, was married to Pvt. Martin Bukoll of Camp Clai- borne, La. Rochester — Engagement of En- sign William George Bausch, USNR, son of Carl Louis Bausch of the Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. and Mrs. Bausch, and Miss Mary Barbara Dawson has been announced. SIGNED PERRY COMO, termer, 20th-Fox. JANE LAWRENCE, termer, Columbia. ALBERT DRAKE, termer, Columbia. WILLARD PARKER, termer, Columbia. NEIL HAMITON, termer, David O. Selznick. JOSEPHINE VON MIKLOS, script, "Since You Went Away," David 0. Selznick. CLYDE BRUCKMAN, script, "Swingtime Johnny," Universal. STEVEN RICHARDS, termer, Warners. SHIRLEY BILLER, termer, RKO. NINA FOCH, termer, Columbia. BOBBIE LARSON, five pictures, Alexander Stern- 'FRC. IRVING SHEPARD, technical adviser, "The Life of Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA. ERNEST PASCAL, writer-producer, Samuel Bron- ston-UA. ASSIGNMENTS FREDDIE RICH, musical score, "The Life of Jack London," Samuel Bronston-UA. MONTE BRICE, script, "Call All Stars," Colum- bia. CLIFFORD ODETS, screenplay, "None Out the Lonely Heart," RKO. ALEX GOTTLIEB, producer, "Janie," Warners. JOHN RAWLINS, director, "When Ladies Fly," Universal. FRED KOHLMAR, producer, "And Now Tomor- row," Paramount. JACK CONWAY, director, "Dragon Seed," M- C-M. PANDRO S. BERMAN, producer, "Dragon Seed," M-C-M. HENRY HATHAWAY, director, "Home in In- diana," 20th-Fox. WALLACE FOX, director, "The Girl from Mon- terey," PRC. STEVE SEKELY, director, "Hitler's Women," Monogram. CHARLES BRACKETT and BILLY WILDER, screenplay, "Olympia," Paramount. LESLIE CHARTERIS, original, "Lady on the Train," Universal. HILLARY LYNN, script, "Where Are My Chil- dren," Herman Millakowsky and Jeffrey Bernerd. • CASTINGS PERRY COMO, "Bowery After Dark," 20th- Fox; GAIL RUSSELL, DIANA LYNN, JAMES BROWN and BILL EDWARDS, "Our Hearts Were Young and Cay," Paramount; YASCHA BUNCHUK and ALAN UINEHART, "Tropicana," Columbia; CUS SCHILLING, EDWARD NORRIS and JEROME COWAN, "Set to Music," Universal; RAGS RAG- LAND, "The Canterville Chost," M-G-M; DON- ALD DICKSON, "Up in Arms," Samuel Goldwyn and "Harvest Melody," PRC; MARGARET O'BRIEN and JACKIE JENKINS, "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes,' M-G-M; ALPHONSE MARTEL, BRYAN WASHBURN, RENEE WHITE and TERRY FROST, "The Girl from Monterey," iPRC; BUS- TER CRABBE, "Jungle Fury," PRC. JUNE VINCENT, "Set to Music," Universal; JANET SHAW, "Sundown Trail," Universal; NEIL HAMILTON, "Since You Went Away," David O. Selznick; GREGORY PECK, "The Keyes of the Kingdom," 20th-Fox; MORCAN CONWAY, "The Life of Jack London," UA; STUBBY KRUCER, "Destination, Tokyo," Warners; ANN BROWN, "Rhapsody in Blue," Warners; DOOLEY WILSON, "Show Business," Eddie Can- tor-RKO. LORETTA YOUNG, "When Ladies Fly," Uni- versal; JOEL McCREA, "And Now Tomorrow," Paramount WALTER HUSTON, "Dragon Seed," M-C-M; SHIRLEY ROSS and CHARLES STAR- RETT, "Barnyard Canteen," Columbia; STEVEN RICHARDS, "Passage to Marseille," Warners; NANCY GATES, FREDDIE MERCER and LILLIAN RANDOLPH, "Gildersleeve on Broadway," RKO; EDWARD McNAMARA, "Johnny Come Lately," Cagney-UA; BOBBIE LARSON and JAN WILEY, "Underdog," PRC; VEDA ANN BORC, EDGAR KENNEDY and ANTHONY CARUSO, "The Girl from Monterey," PRC. TO THE COLORS! • DECORATED • BRIG. GEN. EDWARD P. (TED) CURTISS, USAAF, formerly Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y., awarded the French Legion of Honor and the American Legion of Merit for his service in the North African campaign. * ARMY * FRANK NICKENS, theater manager, Knoxville, Tenn. EDWARD HEMBREE, JR., manager, Princess, C'eveland, Tenn. THOMAS BELLO, JR., son of the operator of the Capitol, Nanty-Glo, Pa. JOE CONTI, screen and night club player, De- troit. Holdovers General for "Lucky/' Says Mochrie RKO's "Mr. Lucky" is being held over generally for extended playing time according to reports from the field which indicate new box office records and capacity business, Rob- ert Mochrie, general sales manager, announced at the week-end. Picture went into the second week of the Music Hall on Thursday and report- edly piling up a gross dollar intake for the day exceeding any day in the first week with the exception of Saturday and Sunday. Mochrie said that "Mr. Lucky" was topping grosses established by two previous RKO hits, "Hitler's Children" and "Pride of the Yank- ees," the latter at increased prices. Exhibitors Win and Lose On Appeal Decisions (.Continued from Page 1) Angeles County. Complainant had charged that the 91-day clearance granted to the Vogue Theater in the same town was unreasonable and asked for a sliding scale clear- ance based on admission prices and ranging from seven days when 30 cents was charged to 365 days when five cents was charged. The arbitrator found that 91 days constituted unreasonable clearance and fixed the schedule at 70 days on admission price of 20 cents and 45 days on admission price of 25 cents at the Southgate which appealed the decision and the appeal board modi- fied the award, fixing the maximum clearance to the Vogue at 49 days, provided, and as long as, the South- gate shall charge an adult evening admisson price of at least 20 cents, exclusive of tax. The five consenting companies were defendants. The appeal board affirmed the ar- bitrator's decision in the complaint filed by the M. J. M. Operating Co. which operates the Beacon Theater in East Orange, N. J. Complain- ant had charged that the seven-day clearance granted to the Ormont The- ater over the Beacon was unreason- able and asked that it be eliminated or reduced to one day. While the houses are a mile apart, competition exists under the meaning of the con- sent decree, according to the arbitra- tor who dismissed the case. Upon appeal, the appeal board agreed with the findings of the arbitrator. THIRD WAR IOAN SEPT 9th lo 20*. GET READY' CENTURY-FOX 0*\lWVf Monday, August 2, 194: -Ct tt REVIEWS OF TH6 n€UI fILmS A W "Murder on the Waterfront" -with John Loder, Warren Douglas Warner 49 Mins. ACCEPTABLE FORMULA MELODRAMA IS MARKED BY FAST ACTION AND COM- PACTNESS OF STORY. "Murder on the Waterfront" is a compact melodrama which packs plent yof action in its limited footage. The film has high speed, which is due primarily to the direc- tion of B. Reaves Eason, and story with well-sustained suspense, for which much of the credit goes to Robert E. Kent, who did the screenplay from a play by Ralph Spenser Zink. Kent obtained good results with formula material. Although the cast has little marquee power, it performs competently. The strong- est name in the line-up is that of John Loder. Among the other players are Warren Douglas, Joan Winfield, Ruth Ford, Bill Crago, Bill Kennedy, William B. David- son, Don Costello and James Flavin. The story revolves around the murder in a waterfront warehouse of the inventor of a vital thermostat for use on planes. Many persons are suspected of the crime, each with a logical motive. Among them are Loder, a naval surgeon; Miss Winfield, a showgirl; Costello, a knife thrower; Ruth Ford, his assistant. Douglas plays a young sailor, Miss Winfield's husband, who almost becomes a victim of the killer. The mur- derer turns out to be a ship's officer work- ing for the Nazis who wanted the secret of the thermostat. The character, played by Bill Kennedy, is disposed of by Costello with a bayonet after an exciting set-to with the authorities. This film makes a good short filler on double bills on which the top feature is extra long. CAST: Warren Douglas, Joan Winfield, John Loder, Ruth Ford, Bill Crago, Bill Kennedya William B. Davidson, Don Cos- tello, James Flavin, Bill Edwards, Ross Ford, DeWolf Hopper, John Maxwell, Phil Van Zandt, Frank Mayo, Fred Kelsey. CREDITS: Director, B. Reaves Eason; Screenplay, Robert E. Kent; Based on play by Ralph Spenser Zink; Cameraman, Harry Neumann; Film Editor, James Gibbon; Art Director, Stanley Fleischer; Sound, Stanley Jones; Set Decorator, Casey Roberts; Dance Director, Matty King. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Bette Davis Pix Getting Heavy Repeat Bookings (Continued from Page 1) tire nation, with more than 200 re- peat engagements recorded in the past week for the western territory alone. Two other Davis films, "The Man Who Came to Dinner" and "In This Our Life," are also getting heavy rebookings. The first has been re- booked in 2,950 spots and the latter in 2,900. "Watch on the Rhine," Miss Davis' latest picture for Wai ner, will lead off the company's new season with a Labor Day general release. Her next release will be "Old Acquaintance." "Headin' for Ood's Countr ' with William Lundigan, Virginia Dale Republic 78 Mins. WAR ANGLES GIVE DEGREE OF PALAL- TABLENESS TO OLD ROUTINE TALE ABOUT ALASKA. "Headin' for God's Country" trots out the old story of villaiiny and the mysterious stranger up Alaska way. The only differ- ence is that the villains are the Japs and a fifth columnists whose real colors are not revealed until the film is toward its close. By giving the film this modern dressing, Republic has made the produc- tion passable entertainment for the audien- ces it seeks to reach. On the matter of action there is no ground for complaint. Things are kept humming all through the footage, thanks mainly to the direction of William Morgan. The story has William Lundigan as the mysterious stranger who has the audience as well as the citizens of a remote Alaskan village guessing. His identity is never too clearly established — fault which doesn't harm the film much. Lundigan runs afoul of the law but squares himself with plenty to spare when he warns the people of a sneak Japanese attack and leads them in a skirmish that routs the enemy. Several good angles have been worked into the story to make it more saleable. Lundigan and Virginia Dale take care of the romance. The latter is in charge of the weather station which is seized by the Japs at the start of the battle with the villagers. The best performance is turned in by Harry Davenport, as a villiager who be- friends Lundigan and stands up for him. The others are no more than adequate. Players not already mentioned who have important roles include Harry Shannon (he's the villain), Addison Richards, J. Frank Hamilton, Eddie Acuff. Armand Schaefer served as associate pro- ducer, while Elizabeth Meehan and Houston Branch did the screenplay from a story by the latter. CAST: William Lundigan, Virginia Dale, Harry Davenport, Harry Shannon, Addison Richards, J. Frank Hamilton, Eddie Acuff, Wade Crosby, Skelton Knaggs, John Bleifer, Eddy Waller, Charlie Lung, Ernie Adams, Eddie Lee, James B. Leong, Anna Q. Nilsson. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Armand Schaefer; Director, William Morgan; Screen- play, Elizabeth Meehan, Houston Branch; Based on story by Houston Branch; Cam- eraman, Bud Thackery; Musical Director, Morton Scott; Film Editor, Arthur Roberts; Sound, Earl Crain, Sr.; Art Director, Russell Kimball; Set Decorator, Otto Siegel. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. 79 Key Situations Now Rising Sun" Debut in Additional bookings of four key situations bring the total to 79 for the multi-city world premiere of RKO's "Behind the Rising Sun" set for tomorrow in New England and upper New York State. Spearhead- ing the premiere will be a boxing- wresting - radio - musical festival, called a "Buddy Party," at the Bos- ton Garden tonight. "Young Ideas" with Susan Peters, Herbert Marshall, Mary Astor M-G-M 77 Mins. PLENTY OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BE FOUND IN THIS COMEDY; WORK OF CAST PROVES A BIG ASSET. Audiences will find loads of fun in this comedy about two young people who plot to break up their mother's marriage to a chemistry professor. The youngsters are played by Susan Peters and Elliott Reid, who practically steal the show with their con- spiratorial antics, which at times are very hilarious indeed. Mixed in with the comedy are some good romantic moments in which the participants are Miss Peters and Richard Carlson, an instructor at the university where Marshall is employed. The romance between Miss Peters and Carlson is important to the story because it opens the girl's eyes to the vileness of the conspiracy between her and her brother to bust up mother's marriage and drives her to make amends by getting brother to call the whole dirty business off. it must be said for the youngsters that they are never really vicious, their plot being more the re- sult of their youthful exuberance than any- thing else. The acting is a great help to the film. Miss Peters and Reid are pretty effective as the cause of all the trouble, while Herbert Marshall as the stepdad and Mary Astor as the mother are beyond reproach. The mild professor's transformation into a man of ac- tion by the necessity of keeping his marriage intact has been engineered in the most amusing manner by Marshall. Others who contribute a lot to the entertaining quality of the film are Carlson and Allyn Joslyn. Jules Dassin has directed skillfully, while Robert Sisk has produced smartly. Ian Mc- Lellan Hunter and Bill Noble have done a creditable screenplay. CAST: Susan Peters, Herbert Marshall, Mary Astor, Elliott Reid, Richard Carlson, Allyn Joslyn, Dorothy Morris, Frances Raf- ferty, George Dolenz, Emory Parnell. CREDITS: Producer, Robert Sisk; Director, Jules Dassin; Screenplay, Ian McLellan Hunter, Bill Noble Cameraman, Charles Lawton; Musical Director, David Snell; Re- cording Director, Douglas Shearer; Art Di- rector, Cedric Gibbons; Set Decorator, Edwin B. Willis; Film Editor, Ralph E. Winters. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. McPherson Testimonial In Detroit on Aug. 10 Detroit — Variety Club of Michigan will hold its major social event of 1943 to date on Aug. 10, combining two events in one because of wartime restrictions. First will be a testi- monial banquet to John R. McPher- son, who resigned a few weeks ago as Chief Barker, to handle the New York office of National Screen Ser- vice. Second will be the Club's annual golf tournament, expected to draw a full complement of prizes, to be held together with the dinner at Knollwood Country Club, Birming- ham, Mich. Harry Gilbert, former manager of Allied Films, is in charge of ticket sales. "Here Comes Kelly' with Eddie Quillan, Joan Woodbury and Maxie Rosenbloom (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Monogram 64 Mins. BRIGHT AND CHEERY COMEDY IS EX- CELLENT "ESCAPIST" ENTERTAINMENT. Here is one of the best little como^.,, that has come from the modest budget fWti in many moons. It is bright, cheery and has been well directed, acted and produced. William T. Lackey has given the picture expert production guidance, while William Beaudine, veteran comedy director, has pro- vided a lively tempo and a large laugh total. Charles R. Marion concocted a fun- laden script, based on a story by Jeb Schary. Eddie Quillan, Sidney Miller and Maxie Rosenbloom garner most of the laughs, while Ian Keith, Joan Woodbury, Mary Gordon, Luis Alberni, Armida and Emmett Vogan are among the other principals who do excellent work. Eddie Quillan is a cocky youngster, who cannot keep a job, because he socks first and asks questions later. His pal, Sidney Miller, finally gets him a job as process server, where his ready fists are of value. Eddie's sweetheart is Joan Woodbury, who is secretary to Ian Keith, a suave attorney, is quite a playboy. Eddie and Sidney learn that Keith is wanted by the law and reach him just be- fore he tries to take Joan to Canada. CAST: Eddie Quillan, Joan Woodbury, Maxie Rosenbloom, Armida, Sidney Miller, Mary Gordon, Ian Keith, Luis Alberni, Charles Jordan, Emmett Vogan. CREDITS: PRODUCER, William T. Lackey; Director, William Beaudine; Author, Jeb Schary; Screenplay, Charles R. Marion; Cameraman, Arthur Martinelli; Musical director, Edward Kay; Editor, Carl Pierson. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Mi Pei C IPI ■a' »■' s a w !y port L. C. Griffith Certain Of Loan Drive Support (Continued from Page 1) week-end preliminary discussions with WAC execs before returning to Oklahoma City. "This is a great opportunity for the entire industry to work togeth- er on one of the most important war jobs it has ever undertaken," he said. "The Third War Loan will need the greatest degree of co-operation from every single person in the in- dustry. One of the reasons I was happy to accept the post of general chairman for the campaign was that I was certain I could count on that; co-operation to make this job anoth- er industry success." Griffith will return to New York on Aug. 10. While in Oklahoma City Griffith is expected to outline the personnel of the campaign com- mittee. In show business since 1915, Grif- fith and his brothers have built up a circuit of more than 300 theaters, said to be largest indie circuit in the country. Monday, August 2, 1943 DAILY Army's Post- War Size to Rule Equip. Disposition May Bridge Gap Until Peace-Time Manufacture Can Be Fully Resumed (Continued from Page 1) sible that much of this equipment will be put on the market, and thus jn^.y bridge any existing gap until ^cetime manufacture can be re- somed at normal pace. 1 Thus far, not a single theater has Deen forced to close because it has ■been unable to get repair parts. WPB has been able in every legiti- mate case to procure the needed 'material, but repair and replacement ure two different stories. The re- placement picture is extremely diffi- cult, and WPB appreciation of the :aeed for new equipment was recent- ly indicated. However, sale of a portion of the projectors and other Equipment by the Army and the Navy .•nay be a stern necessity in another :ouple of years if the war is pro- longed. The military will not re- lease enough to flood the market, and manufacturers will have plenty Df buyers here and abroad for new machines. Navy Program Extensive The Navy now has about 2,000 projectors on hand and another 5,- 000 on order. There is no accurate figure for the Army, but AMPS cer- tainly has a major portion, of the projectors held by the Army. Each of the 1,041 theaters — as of June 24 — has at least two projectors, and the other equipment in the booths is the most modern and efficient ob- tainable. Were it not for the needs of the military, however, it is vir- tually certain that the film equip- ment manufacturers would have been completely converted to other prod- ucts for the war period. How many more theaters are to be built by AMPS is an open question. It depends solely up- on the size to which the Army- in-training grows. More than 900 have been built since the begin- ning of the present expansion of the Army. AMPS, which has been operating since 1921, had less than 100 theaters three years ago. Today they are attempting to provide one seat for every seven men in the Army, although this proportion is no accurate guide to the size of the Army. Present seating capacity is over 723,000, and estimated attend- ance for the year is 225,000,000. The theaters are being built in three sizes at present — 1,000 seaters, 500 seaters and 364 seaters. The latter are recreation-type buildings, adaptable for other needs. Nearly all the houses are of wooden con- struction, although at some of the permanent camps steel girders were used and the wooden sides can be replaced after the war with con- crete or some other more permanent material. The original contracts called for wooden benches, but divi- dends from theater operation have been used in many cases for the More Than 40% of Fox West Coa t Have Held Their Present J < u Managers 'tUnder Year West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — War's terrific drain on theater manpower, particularly that in the managerial category, is pointed up by the fact that more than 40 per cent of Fox West Coast managers have held their jobs less than 12 months, according to Charles Skouras. FWC now has 20 femme managers and more than 40 other femmes as assistants. Circuit has lost 450 men to the armed forces. National Theaters' total contributions to the services is more than 1,160 to date. No Army Pressure for Tunisian Film Showings Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Likelihood of Army pressure for public showing of the Tunisian campaign film, now being put together by Col. Frank Capra and Capt. John Huston, grows slim- mer day by day. Picture will be feature-length and without any ele- bent of timeliness as completion is not looked for before the end of August. purchase of regular theater chairs. In addition, many exhibitors have donated old seats to post theaters, and some of the service men run- ning the theaters have "promoted" regular theater seats. Some Air-Conditioned Some of the theaters are plain, others quite elaborate, usually in the architectural style native to the area in which they are located. Several are air-conditioned, although those built most recently are not. In many camps the men have elaborated on the structures, with several boasting' murals which any theater owner would be proud to have in his house. . At only a few of the camp theaters are matinees given, but the houses are used for orientation and training films as part of the regular routine. Usually the entertainment program is a night affair, with two and three showings seven nights of the week. Admission is 15 cents straight, with books of ten tickets for $1.20. The house is staffed by a commissioned officer and as many as a dozen enlisted men. Nearly aU large camps have at least two theaters, with 11 the largest num- ber at a single post. Of the 11, three seat 1,038, four seat 1,000, three seat 500 and one 364. Prints are "shuttled" back and forth in order to keep to a minimum the time required for a film to make a round of the entire circuit. Prints of the newest pictures are kept to a 30-day schedule, with 97 prints of the more popular (two-day) and 83 of the less popular (one-day) features rented to AMPS for the 30 days during which the circuit is to use them. The same print often serves two nearby theaters simultaneously. Rentals are on a percentage basis. Fires are kept to an absolute minimum, and Fred Bund, assistant to Director R. B. Murray, says nearly all of them start out- side the projection booths. Two men are constantly on duty in the booths, and fire equipment is. of the best. Distributors are lavish in their praise of the condition in which prints are returned to them after traveling the 30-day AMPS circuit. Average program, runs close to two hours, with 100 minutes the minimum. Not all the pix are new, with revivals extremely popular. AMPS began booking "revival weeks" 15 years ago, and today there is a revival night once weekly at all the post theaters. Revivals do as well as new Class B features. Post Houses Salvage Copper The Army post theaters have been salvag- ing copper and other materials right along, with copper salvage stressed especially since April of last year. It is estimated that the posts can turn in 4,000 pounds of copper yearly, but because collections are made at the individual camps there are no figures available on what is actually turned in. Zanuck Rejects Wood's Criticism of "One World" (Continued from Page 1) Willkie's book, "One World," Dar- ryl F. Zanuck said, "I personally would not think of criticizing a fam- ous painting from a rough sketch or idea, and could not understand how Wood could be qualified to give an opinion on a picture before it is in its final form." Ozep Resumes on "Girl" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — After an absence of three days due to an attack of the flu, Feodor Ozep resumed the direc- tion of "The Girl From Leningrad," being made by R. & F. Prods., for UA. Equip. Men lo Meet On War Problems (Continued from Page 1) Amusement Section, will journey from Washington to Chicago for the sessions on Sept. 18 and 19, and will not only conduct a school of in- struction for dealers and manufac- turers, but will also take up person- ally individual dealer problems. Deal- ers' meeting will be in session all day on Sept. 18, and the joint meeting of dealers and manufacturers will be held on the 19th, closing with a ban- quet on the latter date. Initial day of the conclave, will be devoted to the affairs of the Asso- ciation itself. Shoot "Community Sing" Short A "Community Sing," short pro- duced and directed by Ben K. Blake for Columbia release goes into work the first of the week at the Para- mount organ studios. Featured will be the Song Spinners, with Lew White at the organ. Max Richards is handling the casting. [■y» ■ 'i w» ^ — ^n— ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF THE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES SONG OF TEXAS' REPUBLIC > PICTURE^ rfiMWtW FIRST RUN (J z < h 1/1 n u ~ >- N Z €: u Did you forget something? » This industry of ours has reason to be proud. One hears fine things: "You fellows are doing a great war job!" "There's no appeal you film folk overlook!" But have we in New York forgotten our very own? The Greater New York Fund must go on. Here Protestant, Catholic, Jew join hands in a thrilling brotherhood of democratic charity to answer need, without question of creed! Four hundred and six charities are included in this once-a-year call to each of us. If you've responded — thanks! If youVe forgotten the unfortunate in our midst, please think of them today with a check to GREATER NEW YORK FUND (Send through your own company representative or direct to Headquarters, n West 42nd St., N. Y. C.) Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought file copy DO NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old /OL. 84, NO. 23 NEW YORK, TUESDAY. AUGUST 3, 1943 TEN CENTS ALUEDMAY OFFER ANEW "SELUNGPLAN" D of J to Submit Exhib. Complaints to Distribs. Indie Groups Asked to Pile Ideas on Consent Decree with Department Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A full portfolio of exhibitor complaints, reactions and suggestions will be tossed in front of production and distribution heads by the Department of Justice when serious conferences regarding the de- partment's November course are held, assistant Attorney General Tom C. Clark indicated yesterday. Clark, who returned last week from a trip to the Pacific Coast, said that he had asked several independent exhibi- (Continued on Page 4) Momand Case Verdict Seen in 60-90 Days Oklahoma City — It will be from 60 to 90 days yet before Federal District Judge Bower E. Broaddus will be able to hand down a decision in the Momand anti-trust case, the trial of which was concluded early last February, he has informed The Film Daily. Momand's multi-million dollar ac- (Continued on Page 5) 250 Attend First of 3-Day 20th-Fox Meeting Here With 250 men in attendance at the first of three-day New York meet- ings, Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of distribution of 20th Cen- (Continued on Page 5) Des Moines Theater Trying Triple Bills Des Moines — The Grand Theater, East Side Des Moines theater, is us'ng a triple bill for three days as an experiment. It is the first time any Des Moines theater has tried three films on one bill. Reason for the experiment is competition with the Eastown Tri-States Theater. The Grand is an independent house. Both theaters change programs three times a week but the Eastown is using only dual programs. Harlem Theaters Curtail Programs in Wake of Outbreak: Observe Curfew to Keep Order Although film theaters in Harlem were declared by their operators to be open for business yesterday in the wake of the heavy outbreak of lawlessness of Sunday night and Monday morning, the stands were compelled to curtail their programs last night because of the 10:30 p.m. curfew ordered by New York's Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia. Spokesmen for theater interests declared in the late afternoon that they would wholeheartedly co-operate with the city in its moves to preserve public order. Reclassify Fathers For Oct, Induction Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Reclassification of pre-Pearl Harbor fathers within the 18-37 age group, in order to make them available for induction after October 1, has been ordered by Selec- tive Service headquarters here. As- surance was given this morning by both WMC Director Paul V. Mc- Nutt and Major General Lewis B. Hershey, Selective Service director, that calls for these men will be kept to the absolute minimum. They will be taken only after all those avail- (Continued on Page 6) NLRB Okays SOPEG Pay Increase for Republic The National War Labor Board has approved the wage clauses in the contract signed on April 7, 1943, between Screen Office and Profes- sional Employes Guild,, Local 109, UOPWA, CIO, and Republic Pictures. The contract, affecting 56 home of- (Continued on Page 7) One-Third of Freon Needed is Available Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Only one-third the quantity of freon gas needed for the most essential civilian uses will be available this month, Allen G. Smith, WPB amusement chief, was told yesterday. Smith inquired on be- half of Lewen Pizor's Chelton Thea- ter in Philadelphia. This new 700- seater is badly in need of about 200 pounds of freon in order to keep its (Continued on Page 7) OWI Proposes Duplicate Negatives Sent to Italy The OWI has proposed to the major companies that they send du- plicate negatives of the 40 pictures, clubbed in Italian, which were sent overseas preparatory for showing in Italy if, and when, that country falls. The proposal was made on the theory that Italy may become an open market. By having duplicate (Continued on Pace S'* 272-Seater Plays Pix 6 Days Unique Policy in Texas Town of 6,500 Pop. Local 306 May Protest Joelson Case to F. D. R. Incensed by failure of the War Labor Board to settle a long-stand- ing controversy between the Opera- tors Local 306, AFL, and the Joelson Circuit, officers of the union yester- day were planning to protest direct- (Continued cm Page 6) Dallas — Five- and six-day engage- ments for the top pictures from all distributors in the 272-seat Elite Theater at Bonham, Tex., population 6,500, is the unique operating policy of Maj. H. S. Cole. Cole's search for a policy led him to consider long runs for the outstanding at- tractions. His proposals to the ex- changes for these runs were listened (Continued on Page 7) Details Expected at Allied Board Meeting in Bait. Aug. 11-12 That Allied may offer a new "sell- ing plan" is indicated in a current national bulletin which points out that details will be supplied at the forthcoming board of directors' meet- ing in Baltimore on Aug. 11-12. The bulletin explains that certain details were omitted from Abram F. Myers' report on the consent decree at the Detroit board meeting, "particularly in reference to a selling plan to enable the directors to confer with (Continued on Page 4) Doob Says Industry In Drive Spotlight The motion picture industry is both in the spotlight and "on the spot" in the Third War Loan Cam- paign which the Treasury Depart- ment will launch Sept 9, according to Oscar Doob, who in his new capa- city as assistant national director of the War Finance Division, conferred with WAC heads over the week-end. Doob said that he doubted if many (Continued on Page 5) Work Procedure Mapped Out by NEIC Committee At a meeting yesterday at Ac- tors Equity the National Entertain- ment Industry Council's projects committee set up a work procedure in the NEIC's program fully to (Continued on Page 4) Vandalism on Wane In Cleve. Houses Cleveland — Theater managers here report that vandalism in the theaters is on the wane. While seat slashing continues to be a favorite indoor sport of juveniles, there isn't nearly as much of it as there was a month ago. Vigilance on the part of man- agers, coupled with the end of cycle, is held responsible for the decline. ";.. Claudia Cassidy Succeeds Smith Chicago — Claudia Cassidy has been named drama editor of the Chi- cago Tribune, succeeding Cecil Smith, resigned. Mae Tinee con tinues as head of the film depart ment. I*; : ft s Tuesday, August 3, 1943 DAILY One-Third of Freon Needed is Available {Continued from Page 1) cooling system operating, but the fluid will not be available. A total of 600,000 pounds of freon is needed this month for essential civilian uses as food freezing, but ,r>nj^ one-third that amount will go m.- civilian channels. All comfort ciroling systems have been ruled out as recipients, and likewise soda foun- tains, bars, etc. The situation is not likely to ease measurably before winter, and even then it is doubtful that any freon could be made avail- able for theaters. Ex-Little Rock Theater Manager Dies in Crash Little Rock, Ark. — Sgt. Robert Lee Collins, 21, radio operator and gun- ner stationed with an anti-submarine squadron in the Latin - American area, was killed in the crash of an airplane July 25, according to a War Department message to his wife here, Sergeant Collins was manager of the Royal Theater (Robb & Rowley) in Little Rock before his induction Sept. 10, 1942. He was a graduate of Little Rock High School and Little Rock Junior College. Sets "Lassie" Trade Shows M-G-M will tradeshow "Lassie Come Home" on Aug. 17 in New York and Los Angeles, and in all other exchange centers on Aug. 24, it was announced yesterday. IN NEW POSTS -LEO FORMATO, sales manager, M-G-M, Phila- !., delphia. i-!-F. RAIMO, manager, Rialto, South Norwalk, Conn. (LH. M. LYON, manager, Palace, South Norwalk, Conn. G. ). HARVEY, manager, Carde, New London. CEORCE POLLITZ, manager, Buck, Biloxi, Miss. . ROBERT KELLY, Interstate Theaters publicity head, Fort Worth, Tex. " '"10HN HICKEY, Interstate publicity, Houston. RAYMOND CROSSETT, story editor, Internation- al (Pictures, Hollywood. iOBERT HARVEY, manager, Vogue, Sydney, N. S. •IENRY J. DEVEAU, manager, Capitol, Sydney, N. S. ',. R. JONES, manager, Kent, Moncton, N. B. OE COLDBERT, manager, Indiana Theater, In- dianapolis. AOl ESSERMAN, house manager, Circle, In- dianapolis. VILLIAM ROSEMAN, manager, Haltnorth, Cleve- land. IARRY WERNIMONT, manager, Strand and Capitol, Marshalltown, la. EROME R1ETH, assistant manager, Iowa, Cedar Rapids, la. OE KEARNS, booking dept., B & K, Chicago. DWARD KREUTSKY, booker, Universal, Chi- cago. : EN ELKINS, manager, Nita, Chicago. RVINC PEARLMAN. buyer and booker, Nate Slott Circuit, Chicago. I. M. ISREAL, Warners, Chicago. OM KETTERING, RKO publicity staff, Chi- cago. Omaha Curfew Law Will Not Affect Kids After 10 P.M. if Doing Legitimate WorU Omaha — A new interpretation was thrown on the new curfew law for children under 16 which went into effect last week. Police Commissioner Rich- ard Jepsen said that children under 16 will not be molested after the curfew hour of 10 p.m. if doing legitimate work, proceeding on errands at the direc- tion of their parents, or conducting themselves properly in theaters or other- wise not causing trouble or idling in public places. L. A. "Bells" Premiere Backed by Big Campaign West Coast Bureau of THE FILM -DAILY Hollywood — What is said to be the most comprehensive campaign in local theater history is backing the Hollywood premiere of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" at the Carthay Circle Theater on Monday evening, Aug. 16, and Robert M. Gillham, director of advertising, exploitation and pub- licity for Paramount, has mapped out the biggest advertising barrage ever set for a film in Los Angeles. The advertising campaign started yesterday with major advertisements in Los Angeles newspapers. Con- trary to usual practice, Gillham an- nounced, the campaign will not be curtailed with the premiere but will continue throughout the engagement. The outdoor advertising campaign calls for a total of 420 24-sheets posted jn the Los Angeles metropoli- tan area in addition to all available painted bulletins. The premiere itself will be broad- cast by one of the major network stations with Walter Abel as master of ceremonies. There will be six daily participa- tion programs, covering KNX, KECA, KFI, KFWB, KHJ and KFAC. Briggs Clarifies PRC Status in 16 mm. Field Clarifying the recent announce- ment that PRC Pictures, Inc., had ac- quired majority stock control of Of- ficial Films, Inc., engaged in produc- ing and distributing 16 mm. non- theatrical, educational and enter- tainment films, O. Henry Briggs, president of PRC, issued the follow- ing statement: "The deal whereby PRC secured control of the stock of Official Films, Inc., does not alter or abrogate our present arrangement with Pictorial Films, Inc., whereby Pictorial Films, Inc., acts as distributor of PRC product in the 16 mm. non-theatrical fields." McClintic Ruled Out Supreme Court Judge Sidney Bern- stein has ruled that Guthrie McClin- tic, Broadway producer, is not en- titled to share in the $142,000 recov- ery made by Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes, authors of the play "Dishonored Lady," in the plagi- arism action involving M-G-M's "Let- ty Lynton." The court held that the recovery was for damages for un- authorized use of copyright by M-G-M and did not involve the mo- tion picture rights, in which McClin- tic holds an interest. NLRB Okays SOPEG Pay Increase for Republic {Continued from Page 1) fice workers, calls for individual wage increases of from $2 to $5, with minimum salaries of $18 per week for messengers and $20 per week for clerical workers. The in- creases are retroactive to Dec. 14. "Rhine" World Premiere in Atlantic City Aug. 6 Atlantic City — This resort will get the wo: Id premiere of Warner's "Watch on the Rhine," starring Bette Davis and Paul Lukas. Picture opens Aug. 6 at the Warner Theater. New York Strand opening is set for Aug. 26, with general release on Sept. 4. 272-Seater Plays Pix for Six Days (Continued from Page 1) to rather skeptically in the begin- ning, but after several tests had been made, the plan was found to be a success. Branch managers only had to con- vince their home offices that it was more profitable to take the 272-seater than to demand the 900-seat Amer- ican which makes three changes a week. It was found that the extra playing time more than offset the number of seats. Bookings are made on the basis of guarantees and splits and straight percentages. The booking plan has simplified negotiations for product and pro- vides for early release of pictures. Business effect has stimulated trade generally. The scheme was in effect long enough prior to any war ac- tivities to allow this conclusion, ac- cording to Cole who asserted there had been a general increase of pub- lic good will and picture prestige since the policy was adopted. Mo. Sales Tax Permanent Jefferson City, Mo. — Governor Donnell has signed the bill that makes permanent Missouri's two per cent sales tax. ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN WE MOVIES 'SONG OF TEXAS' yiawv1 FIRST m M P P 13 A INC 2!3N 44ST TW^« h yc DAILY CHARLES (DINGLE) COBURN STARS IN NEW COMEDY LAUGH RIOT! CHARLES COBURN AND FRIENDS IN HIGH LIGHT SCENE from new Columbia comedy. Mr. Coburn, who gave such a memorable performance as 'Dingle' in "The More The Merrier" brings new delight to the screen as Rudyard Morley ... a very British British author who comes to America in search of a cook. CHARLES COBURN, MARGUERITE CHAPMAN and stranger in a hilarious interlude on a Pullman speeding through the night in "MY KINGDOM FOR A COOK" . . . Columbia's merry successor to "The More The Merrier". THE LADY IN THE PICTURE IS MARGARET, MR. COBURN 'S British cook who causes all the trouble that leads to all the laughs in the new Columbia comedv "MY KINGDOM FOR A COOK". Mr. Coburn ... the now famous 'Dingle' in "The More The Merrier" matches that superlative performance in this new comedy. MARGUERITE CHAPMAN, BILL CARTER, BETTY BREWER in a scene from "My Kingdom for a Cook" . . . Columbia's comedy successor to the now famous box-office wallop ' 'The More The Merrier". Mr. Coburn is starred and gives a wonderful performance. RUDYARD MORLEY IN A TYPICAL POSE. As the whimsical 'Dingle' in "The More The Merrier" he was something of a riot. In this new role he's a sensation. Oh yes, the real name is Charles Coburn. And the picture is "MY KINGDOM FOR A COOK". Columbia's August release. tffm fOR A COOK t {Advertisement) Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old VOL. 84, NO. 24 NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1943 TEN CENTS ftEGARDJILMS' PEACE-TIME SHIFT SIMPLE Mich. Independents Polling Public on War Pix Sample Poll in Upstate Theater Shows Preference for Fewer War Pictures Detroit — A move for a sampling- poll of public opinion on war films, along the lines of the "Gallup polls," has been launched by the Michigan Independent Exhibitors Association "As exhibitors, we are all very vitally interested, and should know whether the number of war pictures should be sharply reduced or increas- ed," Joseph P. Uvick, secretary- treasurer of the MIEA, said. "This is something for all other ex- hibitor organizations to work on. Why must we let the producers guess and decide everything for us? No one is in a better position than we are to ascertain what our cus- (Continued on Page 11) Coe Says U. S. Pix Explode Propaganda Rochester, N. Y. — American-made motion pictures, portraying the drama of struggle and achievement in the lives of free peoples every- where, will explode whatever propa- ganda mines might be hidden in ideological pictures that may be pro- duced abroad, Charles Francis Coe, vice-president and general counsel (Continued on Page 12) Warners' Aug. Billings Expected to Rise 25% On the basis of bookings already set for playoff this months, Warner Bros, billings for August, wind-up month for the 1942-43 season, will top last year by 20 to 25 per cent de- spite 33 per cent fewer releases, the (Continued on Page 11) Havana Prices Cut To Offset ISew Tax- Havana — All first and second-run theaters here have reduced their ad- mission prices in order to offset the recently-imposed admission taxes. , : ^ 'j NEW PACTS FOR RATHVON, DEPINET Seven-Year Contracts Are Awarded to RKO and RKO Radio Presidents With Options to Buy Common Stock New long-term contracts for N. Peter Rathvon and Ned E. Depinet were announced yesterday by Floyd B. Odium, chair- man of the board of RKO Corp. The term of each of the contracts is seven years. RKO Corp. has entered into a contract with Rathvon covering his services as its president and the chief executive officer of its sub- s i d i a r ies. RKO Radio has entered into a contract with Depinet cov- ering his services and the executive N. PETER RATHVON as its president in charge of world-wide distribution of its pictures. Previously RKO Radio completed a contract with Charles W. Koerner as executive vice-president in charge of p r o duction, also on a sev- en-year basis. RKO has granted to each of the execu- tives the option to purchase 50,- 000 shares of its common stock at $8 per share-. Term of the op- tion is seven years, subject to appropriate pro- visions relating to earlier term- ination and sub- NED E. DEPINET ject to certain conditions, including the approval of the stockholders at their next meeting. Agreements also contain certain provisions limiting the exercise of a portion of the o'p- (Continued on Page 7) First of Allied's "Clinks" in Sept. First of a series of "buying clin- ics" to be conducted by Allied East- ern regional units will be held next month in New Haven, according to (Continued on Page 11) OCR Starts to Move in on Amusements Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Office of Civilian Requirements started to move in the amusements field yesterday, tak- (Continued on Page 7) Astor Goes Into Production 24 Features to be Made for 1943-44 Season Navy M. P. Service Signs for Universal Newsreel The United States Navy Motion Picture Service has signed an ex- clusive contract, effective until June 30, 1944, with Universal News where- by Universal will service the bi- weekly issues of the newsreel for showing aboard ships on duty with the U. S. Navy. Expansion of Astor Pictures Corp. into a national independent organi- zation with its own producers was reported yesterday. Astor, which hitherto has confined itself principal- ly to the re-issue of past successes, plans to have 24 new features for the 1943-44 season. R. M. Savini, president, is sched- uled to arrive in Hollywood today to sign contracts with two producers (Continued on Page 12) Changeover Will Not Re- quire Problems of Other Industries, Survey Shows Motion picture industry's problem in reconversion to peace-time activity will be among the simplest of any big in- dustry, and plans for effecting the required changeover already have been fairly well completed by the majority of leading producers, dis- tributors and exhibitors, a Film Daily suivey and analysis of the situation reveals. In contrast to heavy manufactur- ing industries which are now turn- ing out war materials and will re- quire both time and large sums to convert plants and equipment back to production of civilian consumer (Continued on Page 10) Exhibs. to Aid OPA On Black Marketing The nation's exhibitors will short- ly embark on a campaign to enlist Americans in stamping out the black market. This campaign, which finds the industry for the first time co- operating on a national scale with the Office of Price Administration, will be pegged on one of the regular (Continued on Page 10) 20th-Fox Execs. Leave Today for Chi. Confab Twentieth Century-Fox executives, including Spyros P. Skouras, Tom J. Connors, W. J. Kupper, W. C. Gehring, A. W. Smith, Jr. L. J. Schlaifer, Hal Home and others, following yesterday's closing of its (Continued on Page 7) Chi. Censor Board Okayed 93 in July Chicago — Local censor board last month approved 93 pictures, repre- senting 302,000 feet. There were no rejections nor were there any pic- tures "pinked," although six cuts were made during the month. Vol. 84, No. 24 Wed., Aug. 4, 1943 10 Cents IOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN Publisher General Manager Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Tuesday, Aug. 3) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. 153/4 153/4 153/4 + 1/4 ) 15% 15 153/4 + 1/4 Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2V2% Columbia Picts. pfd.. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. . East. Kodak do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd 89 2V4 15'/g 161 1/2 1771/2 193/4 603/g 251/2 8 1/4 88 20% 3 U/2 123/4 21/4 21/4 — Vs 15 15 — 1/4 161 161 1/2 1771/2 177i/2 191/4 19% — % 59 60 + % 24% 25!/2 + 1 7% 81/4 + % 87 87 3^ + % 19% 205/8 + 7/g 311/s 311/4 -f y4 12% 123/4 + y4 13-32 89 13-32 89 13-32 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3 3 Radio-Keith cvs. ... 1% 13/8 Sonotone Corp 3% 3% Technicolor 14 131/2 Trans-Lux 3 2% Universal Picts 16'/2 16'/2 3 1% 3% 14 3 16'/2 + % + Vi + Vs + Vs "Du Barry" is Held Over In 16 of First 20 Dates M-G-M's "Du Barry Was a Lady," which follows "Stage Door Canteen" into the local Capitol at the end of the latter's run, has held over in 16 of the first 20 cities in which it has played, the company's home office declared yesterday. In its newest showings, the pic- ture has ranged from 180 to 306 per cent over house normals, equaling "takes" of "For Me and My Gal" and eclipsing such rugged grossers as "Presenting Lily Mars," "The Human Comedy" and "Bataan." WAC Public Relations Group Backs 3rd War Loan At a special buffet luncheon tend- ered to the executive committee of the Public Relations Division at WAC headquarters, the members of that division told David Lipton, newly- appointed division chairman, that they were solidly behind the indus- try participation in the forthcoming Third War Loan. At this luncheon Lipton introduced the two men, Ray Beall and A. P. Waxman, who will serve as chairman of the publicity committee, and cam- paign publicity director, respectively. Beall, on leave of absence from his post as publicity and advertising di- rector of Texas Interstate Theaters, will remain in New York for the duration of the campaign. S. H. Fabian, theaters division chairman, reviewed the preliminary decisions which had been reached, and outlined the broad objectives of the campaign. The sense of the assembly was that this was undoubtedly a major effort for the industry, possibly the most comprehensive ever attempted, and that it would need 100 per cent co-operation from all industry branches to insure success. It was felt that the emphasis would be on exhibitor participation via Bond pre- mieres and special events in and around the theater, to complement the projected "Star Caravan" and "Heroes Air-Mada." Under way at the moment is a press book, size yet to be determined, which the PRD expects to send out to exhibitors around Aug:. 15. Also discussed was the possibility of form- ing a national "Invasion Bond Army," with a special button to be given to those buying Bonds at the theaters during the campaign. Those attending in addition to those already named were: Maurice Bergman, Malcolm Kingsbury, How- ard Dietz, Ernest Emerling, Harry Goldberg, James Sauter, Si Seadler, Vincent Trotta, Harry Mandel, S. H. Fabian, Herman Gluckman, Chick Lewis, Bill Formby, Jack Harrison, Paul Lazarus, Jr., Martin Quigley, and Ed Schreiber. Texas-Wide Premieres For "Never Been Licked' Universal will hold state-wide nremieres of "We've Never Been Licked" in Texas between Aue\ 12 and 16. it is announced by William A. Scully, company's vice-president »nd general manager. The Walter Wanger production will be heralded by a state-wide broadcast over CBS and a 10-day radio campaign over 27 local radio stations. Campaign is being conducted by Interstate Circuit in behalf of open- ing's in some 20 important Texas situations, including Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio. Houston, Aus- tin. Galveston and El Paso. A spe- cial program will emanate from Tex- as A. & M., the college that inspired the picture. DAILY Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1943 Debate Extension of Army Incentive Film Program Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Expansion of the Army's incentive film program is now being debated at the War De- partment, with announcement ex- pected soon of plans to ship 16 mm. prints of the orientation series made by Col. Frank Capra to plants work- ing on Army material. An order is expected to be issued soon for 16 mm. prints of "Prelude to War," "The Nazis Strike," "Divide and Conquer," "Battle of Britain" and perhaps the fifth in the series — "Battle of Russia," the last ex- pected here within the next two weeks. Although production for the in- centive film program, now handled by Major Dick Maybaum, is not ex- pected to expand greatly, it is like- ly that a fairly large number of army films — and possibly some industry material — will be shipped in 16 mm. reels to war plants. These are to be shown at lunch hour, between shifts and at other times when they will not pull workers off the job. There is no charge for them. The program is designed as a boost to morale, and about half a dozen spe- cial subjects have been put together by Major Maybaum from Army footage. These subjects are expected to be made up largely of material from the fighting fronts, and their ef- fectiveness is in part dependent upon the success the Army enjoys here- after in getting good combat foot- age. Seek Priorities to Start Blank Memorial Hospital Des Moines, la. — The Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital is expected to get a priority rating for materials from the War Production Board so that construction may get started shortly, it was disclosed by State health commissioner Walter Bier- ring who has stressed the need for the buliding. The proposed hospital, first an- nounced last April, is to be finance.! by a $125,000 gift from Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Blank, given in memory of their son, Raymond, who died March 7. Blank is head of Tri-States and Central States Theaters. The hospital will be devoted entirely to the care and treatment of children. COfllinG and GOIHG STANTON CRIFFIS returns to New York early next week from the Coast. MORRIS MECHANIC, owner of the New Theater, Baltimore, is visiting his brother, Wil- liam Mechanic, in Miami Beach. CHARLES MOSS, managing director of the Criterion Theater, leaves for Hollywood tomor- row, to visit the studios and look at pictures which are scheduled to play the Criterion with- in the next few months. LOUIS DE ROCHEMONT, March of Time pi^ duction chief, has arrived in New York from' Portsmouth, N. H. FRANK N. PHELPS, Warner Circuit execu- tive in charge of labor relations, is in Phila- delphia today. BETTE DAVIS has left Chicago for the Coast. BOB SAVINI arrives today in Hollywood. JOHN JENKINS, co-franchise holder for Astor Pictures in Dallas, arrives here today. HENRY KING is in town. "Rising Sun" Opens to All-Day Capacity in Hub SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write lor samples, prices or other information. Delivery free Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL T 52 I C K E T fffiS COMPANY GRAFTON AVE. \££f NEWARK, N. J. Sales Offices m Principal Centers Boston — RKO's "Behind the Rising Sun" had its first performance at 8:30 yesterday morning at Keith's Memorial Theater and at 9:15 all three box offices had to stop selling tickets. Crowds eager to see the picture jammed the lobbies and blocked the streets, waiting for a chance to get in. All day long there was not a vacant seat in the house. Because of the great crowds the schedule of showings was rear- janged for seven personal appear- ances of Margo, the star of the pic- ture, James R. Young, author of the book, and Lieut. James J. Brad- dock, ex-heavyweight champion of the world who participated in the big "Cigarettes for Our Buddies" ex- hibition they staged Monday night before 25,000 people at the Boston Garden in which Braddock, as Ameri- can, met Charley Strach, champion wrestler in a catch as catch can box- ing and wrestling bout parallelling the sensational fight shown in the picture. Keith's memorial opening yester- day spearheads a 79-city world prem- iere in New England and New York state. I '* 1 est budge history to bring v ovi vvll • Every now and then the screen brings forth a picture that captures the emotions of all . . Just such extraordinary film entertainment is Columbia's Wiwnar, b has the tears ^ sweat... the joy... the heart, Edward G. Screen Plav bv Fra„t m.^ .. . . **M km^^^mimmnw Bor£,en Ch"« • Oirecied fcy »|UMM -»'GLBNfnD IE ™'"*«"ii»ntta One of the striking newspaper ads to sell this "" " nicture! rMfe .HI^IlE Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1943 any executives at present is the ype of entertainment. A sudden toppage of the war within the next ix months would catch most com- anies with at least several costly ?ar films that might be thrown out f timeliness or otherwise dated in uch a way as to lose much of their ublic appeal. This situation, how- ir, is rapidly being righted, The Im Daily checkup reveals, with ppanies taking greater pains to id too many stories falling in s category. n the other hand, the industry s not intend to let up on pictures igned to maintain morale and > speed the day of victory, and, stated by Jack L. Warner recent even if the war should end un- ectedly some day and thereby the box office appeal of several pictures, any company will be 1 to write off the investment. s is considered a much wiser cy than letting up too soon, War- stated. Manpower Strong ri manpower, the industry will le out of the war especially ng. There will be a consider- number of new stars, now being 'loped, to sprinkle in with the rn of the favorites now in war ice, and the many new techni- 3 being trained in connection the motion picture branches of armed forces will assure im- ment in studio efficiency and ferity. Jturn of many top writers to i-time endeavor promises not an upswing in quality and sity of stories but many new p and approaches in the way screen entertainment. heaters and exchanges, which met the current manpower rtage with considerable resource, 1 be in a position to operate with all-time high in efficiency when e i r full staffs of thoroughly ined employes are returned to m. Financial Status Good Vnother highly important develop- Draft Curfew Laws *. For Two Ohio Towns Kenton, 0. — City Council has uthorized the drafting of an or- nance requiring unescorted chil- ren under 16 years of age to be off he streets by 10 p.m. A 10:30 p.m. urfew for youths under 17 is now in peration, in London, 0., having been lassed as an emergency measure by Wage council. WEDDING BELLS Friends of Mitchell Franklin secre- tary of Franklin & Herschorn thea- ter circuit, with base at St. John, N. B., were cheated out of an op- portunity to participate in his nup- tials, when contrary to previous plans, he was married in New York city hall to Miss Agnes Margaret Yorke, a St. John school teacher. Chicago — Patricia Herzog, secre- tary to Burton DePue, managing director Burton Holmes Lab, was married to George Lippl of the AAF, stationed at Chanute Field. New Haven — Warrant Officer El- liot V. Kronish, formerly of the Loew-Poli division office here, was married to Ruth Sanders of Bangor, Me., this week, and the couple flew from Bangor to New York for a honeymoon trip. Halifax, N. S. — Annabel Maclsaac, on the office staff of R. S. Raddich, FPC regional director, was married to Fred Cuvelier, of Halifax. Memphis — Glenys Thomas, Nation- al Screen Service, and Joseph Klod- cinski, of the Air Corps Fourth Fer- rying Group, were married. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — Announcement has been made of the marriage of Rosalie Vukotich to Lt. John C. Buz- noski here. Lt. Buznoski before re- cently receiving his commission at Camp Lee, Va. was the manager of two Army theaters, and prior to his enlistment into the Army, owned and operated the Capitol, Button- wood, and the Bandbox, Mifflinburg. Cleveland — Edith Kanter, Colum- bia, secretary, and Sidney Jacobs were married here. Omaha — Clara Rolen of the Uni- versal Exchange, was married to Pfc. George Semerad. La Grange, 111. — Rose Marie Zinn, manager of the Park, was married to Erik O. Nielson. She resigned her managership. Chicago — Al Weinberg, Filmack Trailer Co. office manager, and Ruth Spear are married. Chicago — Florence Burke, secre- tary to Claude Rubens, Great State Theaters maintenance manager, was married to Pvt. Martin Bukoll, USA. M & P Adopts an Earlier Program Break in N. H. New Haven — The downtown M & P Paramount has adopted a new poli- cy of an early 8:05 evening break in the program and an 11:00 p.m. fin- ish, as compared to the 11:45 aver- age in most of the downtowns. Jim Darby, manager, states the patrons have reacted favorably, because it gives them an opportunity to snatch a late bite and make last busses or trolleys. Program has been similarly rearranged at the M & P Allyn, Hartford. Gates Ferguson Joining Princeton Film Center Gates Ferguson, recently a mem- ber of the public relations staff of N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc., New York, is now associated with the Prince- ton Film Center, Princeton, New Jersey. Ferguson was formerly ad- vertising manager of B. F. Goodrich and the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation. He served for several years as a director of the Association of National Ad- vertisers. ment for the future stability of the industry is the all-around improve- ment taking place in the financial foundations of leading companies. Not only are funded debts, bank loans and other obligations being retired at the most rapid rate in the history of the business, but cash reserves also are being set aside as a safe- guard against unforeseen contingen- cies. Paramount, by calling its four per cent debentures outstanding, joins Loew's as a company without senior securities in the hands of the public. Paramount called the last of its debentures— $16,684,000 — in July. Typical, too, of the healthy progress in this line is the case of Warner Bros., which had a funded debt of around $110,000,000 back in 1931 and now has less than $40,000,- 000 still to be retired. Simplification of capital structures also have been effected by 20th Century-Fox and Universal, with others in prospect. School for Foreign Field Preparations to resume wide- scale activity in the foreign field also are under way. Several com- panies are schooling men for foreign posts, while practically all com- panies, openly or quietly, are moving rapidly to build up French and Italian versions. Warners, for ex- ample, have a number of French dialogue and Italian versions com- pleted; Paramount has prepared two Italian versions already and is set- ting another. Thus far, however, no company insofar as is known has tackled German versions. Warners also are very active in the acquisi- tion of foreign theaters and sites, with a number of South American, Mexican and Scandinavian, North African, Australian properties al- ready acquired. The big part being played by motion pictures in entertainment of the men in service is regarded by industry executives as a highly fav- orable post-war factor. They feel it will instill the regular film going habit in hundreds of thousands of young men who rarely attended pic- ture shows before being inducted. Exhibs. to Aid OPA On Black Marketing (Continued from Page 1) WAC war information films, "Black Marketing," which will be released on Aug. 19. A statement from Prentiss M. Brown, addressed to "The Exhibitors of America," was received at WAC headquarters as information on the various aspects of the campaign was being sent out to WAC exhibitor, dis- tributor and public relations chair- men. A special trailer will be attached to the film, which was produced by the OWI, asking the movie-goers to sign the "home-front pledge" as they leave the theater. The pledge says: "I pay no more than top legal prices; I accept no rationed goods without giving up ration stamps." The pattern of conducting the cam- paign will find the local OPA repre- sentative contacting the WAC exhib- itor chairmen in a similar area. The OPA will supply display material, as well as pledges. "I have observed," Brown stated, "the manner in which exhibitors have aided the Treasury in the sale of Bonds, the War Production Board in the collection of the all-important scrap metal — and I am certain that you will be able with your campaign to educate hundreds of thousands of people to the need for their co-opera- tion in holding down the cost of living and sharing fairly the food, the shoes, the gasoline and all the other things that war has made scarce. "By giving your audiences a chance to see the film 'Black Mark- eting,' you are doing an important war service for the nation, and by urging the people of your community to make — and keep the Tiome front pledge' you are helping protect America from the perils of inflation and want. "It is a fine thing to know that the exhibitors of America plan to take such an active part in this vital job on the home-front." Walker on Air Postmaster General Frank C. Walker will be a guest on "Washing- ton Reports on Rationing" Sunday afternoon. The rationing program is presented as a public service by the Council on Candy as Food in the war effort and sponsored by the National Confectioners' Association. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged IRVING MARTIN, from the Merchant Marine, to assistant manager, Century, Baltimore, Md. )AMES JURNEY, from the Army, to manager Delray, Delray Beach, Fla. AL CAMPBELL, from the Army, to 20th-Fox, Omaha. Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1943 THI DAILY 11 Mich. Indies Poll Public on War Pix (Continued from Page 1) t.omers want, and in turn advise pro- ducers." Sample poll was taken in an up- state theater, selected to give a typi- cal cross-section of war workers and their families, in a residential »«,rea, under Uvick's own supervision. /jludience on the occasion of the poll was about 400. About 50 indicated that they wanted war films with about the same frequency as in re- cent months — but these included a large percentage of children. About 250 indicated, however, that they wanted the number of war films at least cut in half. Reactions against excessive num- ber of war pictures is finding ex- pression in the letter boxes of the newspapers, with patrons writing in, typically, "Why, oh why, does Holly- wood think it must feed us and stuff us with nothing but war pictures?" Reaction here is considered of ex- ceptional importance, because of the large numbers of war workers and transients. Allied "Buying Clinics' to Start in New Haven (Continued from Page 1) Irving Dollinger, regional vice-presi- dent. It is Bollinger's intention to hold these clinics every 60 days in key cities along the Eastern sea- board. 'Competent film buyers will meet with Allied members and give advice and assistance on making film deals according to the purpose of the proj- ect. Members will be permitted to bring their buying problems to these clinics. Plan was outlined and approved at the recent New Jersey Allied con- vention and Eastern regional con- ference in West End, N. J. Irwin Wilsey Dies Chicago— Irwin Wilsey, 54, inven- tor of the panorama gunnery trainer, manufactured by Devry Corporation for the armed forces, is dead. A sister survives. Burial will be at Sheldon, Iowa. IXow RCMtl Fans Take Cary for Grant-ed! With Music Hall patrons, Cary Grant is a prime favorite. The tall- dark-and-handsome star with the cleft and chiselled chin is currently, via RKO Radio's "Mr. Lucky," play- ing his 17th screen engagement at the big stand, — a record for a top male star. Opposite Cary, in this de- served and lucky "marathon," have appeared the following femme lumin- aries: Katharine Hepburn, Jean Arthur, Irene Dunne, Joan Fontaine, Ginger Rogers, Martha Scott, Rosa- lind Russell, Laraine Day, Grace Moore, Carole Lombard and Kay Francis. Mr. Lucky — and how! Lyon Not Yet Ready to Name Newsreel Contact Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Palmer Hoyt, OWI domestic director, returned yester- day from Hollywood expressing satisfaction with conferences with industry leaders. He is not ready yet he said to name the man to suc- ceed Lowell Mellett as OWI motion picture chief, but he hopes to be able to do so soon. Representative of the major news- i eels were asked yesterday by George Lyon, chief of the OWI do- mestic news bureau, to suggest to him a good man to serve as OWI newsreel aide. Responsibility for working with the newsreels fell to Lyon with the sharing of the func- tions of the OWI picture bureau. OWI Domestic Director Palmer Hoyt, Deputy Director James A. Allen and James Rogers and Lyon met for nearly two hours yesterday with the newsreel men, discussing every phase of Government news- reel co-operation. Industry men present included A. J. Richard and Bob Denton of Para- mount; Walton Anient, newsreel de- fen s e committee chairman, and George Dorsey of Pathe, Tom Mead of Universal, M. D. Clofine and J. C. Brown of News of the Day, Edmund Reek and Tony Muto of Movietone, E. M. Gluckman of All America, and WAC Newsreel Co-ordinator laude R. Collins. Drafting of Fathers to Get Congressional Opposition Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The draft of fathers in October seems destined to run into a bit of trouble when Congress re- sumes sessions September 14. Two bills which would knock out the plans of the WMC for drafting of pre- Pearl Harbor fathers in October are now pending and there is a possibili- ty that one or both of them will get action before the end of September. By that time, however, the motion picture industry may have lost thousands of fathers to agriculture, war production plants and other jobs held to be essential. Actually Congress will have only 16 days in which to block the Octo- ber draft of fathers, and it is not likely that it can push anything through fast enough to block WMC. Even if it did, a presidential veto is not unlikely. A bill introduced by Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Mon- tana, to defer the drafting of fathers until January of next year and one in- troduced by Rep. Paul F. Kilday of Texas to force the taking of all available single men and married men without children before starting on fathers are both pending before the Senate Military Affairs Com- mittee. The Kilday Bill has already been passed by the House. Signs Barbara Bel Geddes West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Hunt Stromberg has signed Barbara Bel Geddes, 19-year- old Broadway actress, to a long- term contract. She is the daughter of Norman Bel Geddes, modern de- signer. Warners' Aug. Billings Expected to Rise 25% (Continued from Page 1) company's sales department records indicate. Annually at this time the company conducts its August Bookers Month with a view to dating all unplayed product of the past season and at the same time getting as much addi- tional business as possible on pre- vious seasons' releases. Results this year not only show marked increase in playing time for current product, but with repeat bookings of earlier pictures the aggregate business in the first week of August will exceed the same period last year by 25 per cent, it was said. Average number of playdates for a big picture, which formerly ran around 11,000 counting repeat book- ings, now exceeds 14,000 in the case of pictures like "They Died With Their Boots On," "Man Who Came to Dinner," "In This Our Life," "Now, Voyager," "George Washing- ton Slept Here," "Male Animal," "Juke Girl" and more than a dozen others, while attractions like "Serg- eant York," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Casablanca" and the new entry "This is the Army" will exceed 20,000 bookings as a result of unusual re- peat dates, some of them coming back for six and eight times. WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front Loew's Brooklyn and Queens theaters are cooperating with the War Finance Commit- tee of the Treasury in the distribution of tickets for the game on Aug. 26 at the Polo Grounds between the All Star Service Team and the Professional Ball Players. The game is sponsored by the baseball writers in the metropolitan area. . . . — V . . .— Kansas City — Circuit and indie, houses have approved an OCD plan whereby young- sters collecting 50 or more pounds of scrap will receive a salvage ticket which will act as admission to all Kansas City theaters any time before Sept. 1. Exhibitors are also showing special trailers and giving up show time for special speakers in co-opera- tion with the drive. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Exhibitor campaign cur- rently being conducted in the lobbies of Los Angeles theaters to recruit blood donors for the Red Cross plasma banks is resulting in just under 500 registrations a week, according to Jack Lowe, local WAC Co- ordinator. More than 80 per cent of those who have signed up have kept their pledges. «NT V KING OF THE COWBOYS ROY ROGERS TRIGGER SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES in "SONG OF TEXAS' yletotae* First run 12 IHfl jFftw • »k rtAiiv Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1943 DAILY Coe Says U. S. Pix Explode Propaganda (Continued from Page 1) of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, told an au- dience of Eastman executives and workers in an address delivered here last night at the Eastman State Street Auditorium. "The first function of the motion picture is to portray the drama of living," he asserted. "Life is, and will continue to be, lived differently in different part of the globe. We have seen that the first act of tyran- ny anywhere is to make it impossible for subjugated people to see Ameri- can films. We know that no propa- ganda-laden picture can stand against American films. Effect of Propaganda "We know that the first effect of vicious propaganda films is to empty theaters. But that does not mean that entertainment can be insensible to the great forces clashing in the world. That's the stuff of which drama is made and drama is enter- tainment. "The field of film visualization has vastly expanded," he said. "Recent animated drawings indicate to me that no subject is so abstruse as to deny itself clear expression on film. Millions of men returning from war will come to us habituated both to study and to teaching by film. The graphic element of the motion pic- ture will be added to the written and spoken word. To the arduous concentration of mere study will come the illuminating relief of en- tertainment, of contrasting values, of natural compensations as they cannot otherwise be visualized and grasped." Third Dimension Coe predicted that even greater effects would be achieved when a third dimension is added to the screen. "I have no hesitancy," he declared, "in expressing the belief that from great research institu- DATE BOOK Aug. 5-7: Twentieth-Fox Midwestern regional sales meeting, Blackstone, Chicago. Aug. 11-12: Allied board meeting, Baltimore. Aug. 11-13: Twentieth-Fox Western regional sales meeting, Ambassador, os Angeles. Aug. 12: John R. McPherson testimonial, De- troit. Aug. 12: Michigan Variety Club golf tourna- ment, Knowlwood Country Club, Birmingham, Mich. Aug. 12-13: Warners' Canadian Sales confer- ence, Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal. Sept. 9: 1TOA installation luncheon, Hote' Astor. Sept. 9: Third Victory Loan drive opens. Sept. 15: First Fall meeting of Ampa. Sept. 17-19: Theater Equipment Dealers Pro- tective Association meeting, Bismarck Hotel, Oct. 18-22 SMPE technical conference, Holly- wood-Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Presenting Interesting Personalities • • • JOHN JOSEPH. National director of publicity, advertising and exploitation for Universal. Born July 12, 1898, in Hinsdale, III. Attended public schools of that Chicago suburb, of Westfield, N. J., and Indianapolis. Graduated from University of Chicago in 1920, when he joined the Shubert Theaters' Chicago publicity staff, which he later headed. Left Shubert organization in 1923 to become motion picture critic and amusement editor of Chicago Herald-Examiner. Moved to Balaban & Katz advertising department in 1927, remaining there until 1931, when he was made mid-West advertising director for RKO. Came into present high post six years ago, when Nate Blumberg resigned as vice-president in charge of RKO Theaters to assume the presidency of U. Modest to an extreme, few persons know of the ramifications of his position which he so carefully hides beneath his publicity-ad- vertising title, but which have established him in the company's top-most councils. An indefatigable worker, he's high-strung, but always soft-spoken. Loyalty to his carefully picked roster of subordinates is one of his outstanding characteristics. Typifying other executives who have come into U under the Blumberg regime, he is thoroughly exhibitor-minded. He was first of the national publicity-advertising chiefs to maintain per- manent offices on the West Coast, convinced that close touch with the actual making of pictures provided the opportunity of furnishing improved service to theater operators and newspaper editors. Farsighted, he constantly has an ear to the ground for changing trends in film bally and sales methods. Uppermost in his thoughts, at all times is the question: "How can we increase our assistance to buyers of U product?" He's a stickler for things ethical, because he wants to see the industry go forward on a solid foundation. He is married to the former Lorene Winn. He has one son, John W. who gave up his final year at the University of California at Los Angeles to join the U. S. Army Air Force. Weight, 135 pounds. Height, five feet eight. Eyes, brown. Hair, brown. To Submit New Juvenile Delinquency Law in Ind. Indianapolis — New juvenile court law which may be more effective in dealing with juvenile delinquen- cy in Indiana will be submitted at the next session of the Indiana Gen- eral Assembly, as a result of a plea by James A. Emmert, state attorney generpl, to the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys' Association, to draft such a measure. In discussions of the juvenile delinquency problem, the prosecutors attacked the current law as inadequate. M-G-M Pittsburgh Branch Dedicates its Honor Roll Pittsburgh — In a ceremony in- augurated by Bryan D. Stoner, branch manager, the local M-G-M exchange this week dedicated its honor roll, listing 10 employes. Saul Gottlieb, sales manager, unveiled the roll by releasing the service flag con- taining ten stars, representing the following: Harry Lockhart, Joseph Stack, Allan Tolley, John Freinstein, Edward Banaszak, Norbert Sosinsky, Henry Mulbauer, Edward Fitzpat- rick, Max Shabason and John Zomir. tions like your own will come to us that third dimension of depth which will make of the screen an opera stage, a stage upon which may be released a world of drama and laughter, with realism unsurpassed." Coe paid tribute to the achieve- ments of Eastman which manufac- tures enough film annually to en- circle the earth's equator several times, and also for its work of pio- neering with the Eastman Teaching Films in the humane fields of medical and surgical photography. 600 Colleges Use Film "Over six hundred American col- leges now have courses in motion picture appreciation. There are more projectors in America's school- rooms than in America's theaters. Educators the country over are plan- ning new uses of the pedagogic film. "Americans have a right to look forward to a new world with con- fidence and courage," Coe declared. 'We know that this hour of history endures the torment of Nazi and Fascist generations indoctrinated in the ideologies of lechery, of lust and of ignorance. The war will over- come the leadership of these genera- tions but only the peace can ex- terminate their spurious philoso- phies. Only the peace can open the eyes of their remnants and their offspring. Here, perhaps, films will serve the purpose transcendent of all others; here the quick application of oral-visual training which has so in- comparably contributed to the achievements of war, will just as bountifully contribute to the process- es of peace." New Newsreel House Akron, O. — Gayety, former bur- lesque house, opened July 30 as the Newsreel, House will operate through to 2 a.m. Sunday, accom- modating all shifts of war workers. Astor Pictures Set To Deliver 24 Pix {Continued from Page 1) who will make pictures exclusively for Astor. Other producers also will be sought for Astor's lineup. Of the 24 features planned, six will be musicals and six will be west- erns. The balance of the program will be determined later, it was said^ First two pictures are scheduled ta be delivered Oct. 15 and it is planned to release one feature every two months thereafter. Astor's distribution system also is to be expanded and "nationalized." "■"s.vini will cover his present fran- chise offices in the West, while Jac- ques Kopfstein, general sales man- ager, will cover the Eastern branches. Mexican Pictures Make Bow in 2 Havana Houses Havana — Mexican pictures are making their debut in the Fausto and Alcazar Theaters of the Smith circuit. Policy was adopted, it was said, because of the improvement in Mexican production and the apparent scarcity of American-made pictures. DIGEST DA W J. S<*17 MHZ CASTINGS EDWARD DURST, "Revenge," RKO; DOROTHY CISH, "Our Hearts Were Young and Cay," Para- mount; NOAH BEERY, JR., SAM LEVENE, and DAVID :BRUCE, "Gung Mo," Universal; DEANNA DURBIN, "Lady on the Train," Universal; CON- STANCE WORTH and STANLEY CLEMENT, "Cover Girl," Universal; NANCY KELLY, and H. B. WARNER, "Hitler's Women," Monogram; IGOR DOLGORUKI, "One Hour of Glory," RKO; RICHARD DIX, "The Chost Ship," RKO; ROB- ERT RYAN, "Tender Comrade," RKO; BOBBIE LARSON, CONRAD BINYON, ELIZABETH VAL- ENTINE, PAUL BRYANT, JACK KENNEDY and GEORGE ANDERSON, "Underdog," PRC. BARBARA EVEREST, "Gaslight," M-G-M; VEDA ANN 80RG, "Standing 'Room Only," Para- mount; WOLFGANG ZILZER, "Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, His Life and Loves," W. R. Frank; HERMAN HACK and OZZ1E WATERS, "Texas Masquerade," Harry Sherman-UA. • STORY PURCHASES ISOBEL LENNART'S "Star Bright," M-C-M. MYLES CONNOLLY'S "Nine Lives," RKO. HOWARD FAST'S "Citizen Tom Paine," Frank Tuttle and Franchot Tone. ERIK CHARRELL and CHARLES O'NEAL'S "Junc- tion to Heaven," M-G-M. MARION PARSONNET'S "The Guy from Mike's iPlace," Edward Small. JOHNSTON McCULLEY'S "Love's Trading Post," Monogram. FERENC MOLNAR'S "Olympia," Paramount. REOPTIONED BRIAN DONLEVY, three pictures, M-C-M. MARJORY LORD, William Cagney. ' -SCHEDULED "Rome Revolts," Jack Schwarz. "Home in Indiana," story, GEORGE ACNEW CHAMBERLAIN (from "The Phantom Filly"). "Jive Junction," producer, LEON FROMKESS; di- rector, EDCAR ULMER, IPRC. "Music Without Bars," original, HAL POWELL, PRC. W o Cl t^ Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought FILE COPY DO NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old VOL. 84. NO. 25 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1943 TEN CENTS CLARK JWOULD COMBINE ANTI-TRUST^ CASES Dismissal of Florida Anti-Trust Case is Filed Distribs. Agree to Cut Clearance to 70 Days; Seven Companies Named Stipulation agreeing to dismissal rf the anti-trust action brought igainst seven film companies by J. P. and Josephine F. Benitoa, owners and operators of the Modern The- ater in Miami and the Liberty in Liberty City, Fla., was filed in New York Federal Court yesterday by Emil K. Ellis, attorney for the plain- tiffs. According to Ellis, the com- panies agreed to reduce the clear- ance on pictures from 150 to 180 days to 70 days. The plaintiffs had charged the de- (Continued on Page 4) Smith-Howell Litis Deliveries Embargo Albany — In the wake of appear- ance by Francis Smith of Smith- Howell Film Service and a committee from the Joint Distributors-Exhibi- tors Co-ordinating Committee cm Transportation before ODT in Syra- cuse last week, Smith-Howell has lifted its embargo on certain South- err, tier houses. The embargo accomplished the (Continued on Page 11) All But Two Storm-Hit Theaters Operating Again Dallas — All houses affected by the Gulf storm have resumed operations except one in Pelley, destroyed, and one house, the Lamar in LaMarque, not previosuly reported, which lost its cooling tower and roof. Playtime lost varied from one day (Continued on Page 9) 6 A. M. lines Start For "Let's Face It" Those early morning lines are back at the Broadway Paramount. "Let's Face It" opened yesterday to busi- ness that topped the "China"-Harry James combination last April. Lines formed 'at'.6 a.m. and by 8:30 the theater was packed. Bruen and Harvey of PCCI TO A to Confer In Washington With Clark on Consent Decree West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Hugh Bruen and Rotus Harvey, trustees of PCCITOA trained out yesterday for Washington, where they will confer with Tom C. Clark, United States Assistant Attorney General, on matters pertaining to New York consent decree. Bruen arranged this meeting in Washington with Clark while Clark was in Los Angeles, requesting that Abram F. Myers of Allied States' committee be present also. Clark expressed his desire to hear representatives from all ex- hibitor groups, augmenting complete detailed information from PCCITOA. After leaving Washington, Bruen and Harvey will go to Baltimore acting as PCCITOA observers at Allied's board meeting, scheduled there Aug. 11 and 12. "Army" First Week Brings in $80,000 First full week of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" at the Holly- wood Theater, ending last night took in an estimated $52,500, plus almost $27,000 from the single advanced- price premiere performance the night of July 28, or a total of nearly $80,000, with all profits being turned (Continued on Page 4) Added Admission Tax Is Seen as Doubtful New Critical Occupations List May Appear Soon Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Issuance of the new list of "critical" occupations by the War Manpower Commission within the next 10 days was held likely yes- terday by a responsible WMC official. Although the list is even now under- going last-minute revisions, he is confident that its release will not be delayed much longer. It is being (Continued on Page 12) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Although a strong drive for a national sales tax has been promised for the Fall by num- erous members of Congress, there appears at this time to be no serious intention of adding an extra tax to those already collected on theater ad- missions. The question of an addi- tional tax on admissions did come up (Continued on Page 9) Majors May Handle More British Short Subjects Proposal that the major companies take on some more British short sub- jects for distribution will be made today to the MPPDA board of direc- tors by George Archibald of the British Information Services. Five short action films currently (Continued on Page 9) Chaplin Case Gets Extension Answers to Complaint Are Now Due Aug. 31 "Aleutians" Allocation Of Prints is Announced The War Activities Committee yesterday released the final arrange- ment for the distribution of prints of the War Department Technicolor film, "Report From the Aleutians." The 175 prints turned over to the (Continued on Page 9) Confab Next Week May Grant Schine Request for Delay in Selling Houses Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Department of Justice has been asked to delay any action on the Schine Circuit request that it be relieved of the obligation to sell any more theaters and be per- mitted to expand until determina- tion of the Government course in the New York case. A conference will be held next week on this request, and it is not unlikely that it will be granted. A conference was originally scheduled for Tuesday of this week, but it was cancelled at the last mo- ment when Tom Clark, anti-trust head, had to go out of town. Although there are different cir- (Continued on Page 9) Set Cost Differences Adjusted by WPB Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A situation whereby the Hollywood studios found them- selves with different preference rat- ings for set construction materials as well as different set cost limits, has been solved satisfactorily, Har- old Hopper, WPB motion picture (Continued on Page 12) Second 20th-Fox Meet Opens in Chicago Today Immediately following the clos- ing of the first of three regional sales meetings at the Astor yesterday, executives of 20th-Fox started for Chicago to attend the second meet- (Continued on Page 12) With defendant answers due to be filed on Aug. 10 in the $1,000,- 000 action recently brought by Charles Chaplin, on his own behalf and all other UA stockholders simi- 1 a r 1 y situated, against David O. Selzni'ck, David O. Selznick Produc- tions, Inc., Vanguard Films, Inc., Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., and United Artists Corp., a stipula- (Continued on Page 9) Army Acquires 8 Houses in Algiers Eight small theaters in Algiers have been acquired by the U. S. Army, through the Red Cross, to be used to supplement the 16 mm. showings for soldiers. Distributors here have been asked to supply 35 mm. prints which will be paid for by the Red Cross. l&Sk DAILY Thursday, August 5, 194J Vol. 84, No. 25 Thurs., Aug. 5, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : Ceneral Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Wednesday, Aug. 4) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 15% 15% 15% Col. Picts.vte. (2y2%) 15V4 15V4 15'/4 — 1/2 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2 'A 2!/4 2% Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . 15 15 15 East. Kodak 162y2 161 1/4 161 % — 1/4 do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq 19% 19l/8 19?/8 + l/2 Loew's, Inc 61% 60 60^ + 3^ Paramount 26y4 25 Vi 25Vi RKO 85/8 8% 81/2 + 1/4 RKO $6 pfd 88 87% 88 + 1/4 20th Century-Fox ■ . . . 21 1/8 2<^ 203,4 -f 1/8 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31% 31 Vi 31%+ Vi Warner Bros 13i/2 12% 13% + % do pfd 89 13-32 89 13-32 89 13-32 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55... 77'/2 77i/2 77i/2 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 3% 3 3 Radio-Keith cvs. ... 1 Vi 13/8 1 Vi + % Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% Technicolor 13% 13Vi 13%— 1/4 "Hoodlum Saint" For Metro West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— M-G-M will film the sotry of the late Dempster MacMur- phy, Chicago newspaper and utili- ties executive who used the name of St. Dismas, the penitent thief on the cross, in his various philanthropic activities, under the title of "The Hoodlum Saint." Casey Robinson will write the scenario. POSITIONS FILLED QUICKLY CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITIONS SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y.— Tel. MO. 2-6494 Pic Hoarding Complaint May Go to Dept. of Justice Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — ■ Possibility of com- plaint to the Department of Justice against "picture hoarding" by the majors loomed today after receipt, by Harold Hopper, WPB motion picture chief, of a second letter from George Farnum, Boston attorney representing a group of independent exhibitors in Massachusetts. Farnum had written WPB on July 13 asking that film be denied producers who did not use it to make and distribute pictures at once. There was never any possibility of WPB action on the alleged hoarding', as Hopper said even before Farnum's well-publicized complaint was received by WPB. Allen G. Smith of the Service Equipment Division's amusement branch wrote Farnum last week suggesting' that WPB had no authority in the matter. It is a question of fair trade practices, said Smith, suggesting complaint to the Department of Justice if Farnum intended to pursue the matter. Smith added that' Hopper would send a fuller explanation. On Monday Hopper wrote substantially the same information as Smith, and enclosed a copy of the raw stock order, L-178. Yes- terday he received another letter from Far- num, who had apparently not received his Monday letter, asking for his explanation of WPB's decision not to act in the matter. He repeated his complaint against alleged picture hoarding, stating: that "an injus- tice" is being done both the independent ex- hibitor and the public. One of Farnum's letters indicated that he had no intention of giving up his fight on the matter, and a complaint to the Dc- partrne" ! of Jus. ice is not unlikely. Whitney Bolton to Serve Col. Here and Hollywood Whitney Bolton, veteran publicist and journalist whose signing of a term contract to serve in the estab- lishment of a Coast-to-Coast pro- gram of special handling of selected pictures for Columbia was announced this week by Harry Cohn, company's president, will, it was declared at the home office yesterday, operate out of Hollywood and New York, and will leave for the latter city soon after Sept. 1 to begin advance work on "Cover Girl," and will also initiate preliminary plans for "Sahara," the oncoming Humphrey Bogart vehicle. Bolton, whose career includes dis- tinguished service in the field of dramatic criticism, has been with Warners' studio as publicity director thereat, and negotiated termination of that association to join Columbia. Rank, Rose to Produce Pix for Para, in England West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — In association with Arthur Eank, David Rose, Paramount managing director in Great Britain, will produce pictures in England for Paramount. Paul Soskin will be their producer. The initial picture will be "Signed With Their Honor" by James Aldridge, to be followed by Sir James Barrie's "Admirable Crich- ton," and "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals"; and a story dealing with the Royal Air Force. Rose is en route to New York from Hollywood. 20th-Fox Hosts Cocktail Party for Ernst Lubitsch Twentieth Century-Fox hosted a cocktail reception for Ernst Lubitsch in the Perroquet suite of the Waldorf- Astoria yesterday evening in recog- nition of his ace direction of "Heav- en Can Wait." Among those present were Spyros P. Skouras, Sidney Towell, Joe Pin- cus, Tony Muto, Col. Jason Joy, Jack Alicoate, Don Mersereau, Abel Green, Henry King, Mr. and Mrs. William Formby, James Jerauld, Mel Kone- coff, Carole Landis, Irene Thirer, Dorothy Masters, Jimmy Dunn, Ben Schlyen, Alfred Lee, Colvin Brown, Mme. de Grippenberg, Andes Em- bricof , Jack Goldstein, Lou Pelegrine, George H. Morris, G. E. Blackford, Sherry Kane, Al Steen, Charles Beck- er, Mike Wear, Major and Mrs. Alex- ander P. de Seversky, Gracie Fields, Hermann Place, Larry Kent, Dick Condon, Miss Daphne Skouras, Glen Neville, John Chapman, Maurice Sil- verstone, Annie Laurie Williams, Zach Freedman and Jack Stuart. Edsol Corp. Files Appeal from Arbitrator's Award Albany — Edsol Corp., Scotia, which operates the Scotia Theater, first of the Schine Circuit house* to be sold in the divestiture pro- ceedings, has appealed the recent award of the arbitrator Charles J. Ranney. Edsol Coip. applied for elimina- tion or reduction of clearance held by the second-run Fabian Circuit Plaza Theater, Schenectady, in a complaint filed against the big five. RKO Radio Pictures was subsequentiv dis- missed from the complaint during the hearing. The decision cut from 35 to 28 days the clearance held by the first-run Fabian houses in Sche- nectady but left the 14 days clear- ance held by the Plaza Theater over Scotia. Howard M. Antevil of Gloversville is the attorney of record. WAC Execs. Meet in Wash. Today with Hoyt, Docb A group of War Activities Commit- tee representatives are in Washing- ton today conferring with Palmer Hoyt, chief of the Domestic Division of the Office of War Information, and Oscar A. Doob, assistant na- tional director of the War Finance Division. The discussions with Hoyt center- about the OWI's plans for the fu- ture insofar as they concern the WAC and the projected film pro- gram. The meeting with Doob takes place this morning and will be at- tended by S. H. Fabian and Harry Brandt. The subject of this meet will be on industry participation in the Third War Loan, which begins on Sept. 9. Those who made the trip include: M. A. Rosenberg, Ed Kuykendall, R. B. Wilby, Joseph Bernhard, Charles Moskowitz, Dan Michalove, George Skouras, Arthur L. Mayer. COMinG and GOIflG JAMES R. GRAINGER, president of Republic returns to his desk today from Chicago. HARRY BRANDT is scheduled to go on 1 Saratoga vacation beginning tomorrow. JAMES SHARKEY and SAM BARRETT of Co- operative Theaters of Michigan are New Yor visitors. PHIL ENGEL, Warners' field representative the New England territory, is here for office conferences. LILLIAN BROWN, former secretary to "Skip" Weshner, leaves Monday for Hollywood where she will be secretary to David O. Selznick. EDWARD A. GOLDEN and ROBERT S. GOLDEN , return to the Coast tomorrow. HARRY GOLDBERG is in Albany to conduct a meeting of Warner circuit managers and ad vertising men on "This is the Army." JACQUES KOPFSTEIN, general sales manage of Astor Pictures, left last night for a tour 01 the Eastern exchanges. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CON DOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BONDr PARAMOUNT squS Lena HORNE Bill ROBINSON Cab CALLOWAY and his band srvfitiL 20lh CENTURY FOX PICTURE PLUS A BIG B f\ V V 7*h Ave. STAGE SHOW K W W ¥ ft 50th St. B'WAY & 47th St. WALTER HUSTON • ANN HARDINB "MISSION TO MOSCOW" "TWO SENORITAS FROM CHICAGO" JOAN DAVIS • JINX FALKENBERC loTv?.STRTE On Stage JOAN CRAWFORD FRED MacMURRAY "ABOVE SUSPICION" With a heartful of gratitude to all who helped in the making of "Lassie Come Home" Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer keeps faith with them by in- serting this special message in the trade press. Showmen will thank us for urging them to attend the trade showings. The great book by Eric Knight, author of "This Above All" has become an immortal motion pic- ture destined to pack the theatres of the land with thrilled audiences. "Lassie Come Home" will be nation- ally advertised and powerfully pro- moted everywhere so that America may know the wonderful picture it is. RODDY McDOWALL- DONALD CRISP- Dame May Whicty Edmund Gwenn • Nigel Bruce • Elsa Lanchester • LASSIE Screen Play by Hugo Butler • Based Upon the Novel by Eric Knight Directed by FRED M. WILCOX • Produced by SAMUEL MARX "I urge every exhibitor to attend the trade shows of LASSIE COME HOME!" The First Two TRADE SHOWS of METRO-GOLDWYN^MAYER'S TECHNICOLOR TRIUMPH "LASSIE COME HOME' NEW YORK CITY Tuesday, August 17th ar 10:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. M-G-M SCREENING ROOM 630 Ninth Avenue LOS ANGELES Tuesday, August 17th at 2:30 P.M. 20th CENTURY-FOX SCREENING ROOM 2019 So. Vermont Avenue • Watch Trade Press for Complete List of Nationwide Trade Showings Thursday, August 5, 194: DAILY "Army" First Week Brings in $80,000 (Continued from Page 1) over by Warner Bros, to Army Emergency Eelief. "Army" topped the "Casablanca" opening week record, which included Thanksgiving, by more than 25 per cent, exclusive of the advanced price premiere. Seating only 1,475, the Hollywood has been playing to capacity and standees almost continuously since the opening day. Number of per- formances has been increased from six daily to eight, with nine on Sa- turday. $100 Top Premiere For "Army" in Memphis Memphis — Local special price pre- miere of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," Warner Bros, release for Army Emergency Relief, will super- sede Broadway's $55 top by getting $100 apiece for its front-line seats. First of the $100 ducats were bought by Abe Plough, of Plough, Inc., makers of St. Joseph Aspirin. The Memphis engagement, start- ing tomorrow night, will be the first following last week's New York pre- miere. M. A. Lightman is chairman of the First Nighters' Committee, working with Howard Waugh, War- ner Theaters zone manager. "Army" Day-and-Date In 2 Milwaukee Houses Milwaukee — Following its ad- vanced-price premiere on Aug. 20 at the Warner Theater, Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" will play simul- taneous engagements starting next day in the Warner and the Alhambra. Latter house, which has been closed, is being reconditioned and reopened by Warners especially for this occa- sion. According to present plans, the one special price performance of "Army" here will take in at least $20,000. College Girl Gets Role West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Holylwood — Marjorie Hinshaw, signed by Warner Bros, two years ago, with contract held up for two years to allow her to complete her college course at the University of California, has reported at the studio and will make her screen debut in "The Devil, George and Rosie." Ann Morriss Reginald Owen Burton King Emanuel Cohen M. A. Lightman Robert Taylor Robert Vignola A. C. Brauninger Exhibitor Profile: L. C. Griffith • • • JUST a iew days ago, Henry Morgenthau & Co. (Uncle Sam's Treasury Department to you) took in a new "partner" of a well-known film partnership. — the so-called Griffith circuit — , and gave him the post of General Chairman to conduct the industry's forthcoming campaign in behalf of the Third War Loan It was a choice widely acclaimed within the trade and throughout the nation, for L. C. Griffith is a super- salesman, and has been that from long before World War I to now If OPA had selected Showman Griffith to administer foodstuff-supply, prices, et al, this versatile gentleman could point to experience along that line, too Long before he became prexy of Griffith Amusement Co., the Griffith-Consolidated Theaters, Inc., and the Griffith Southwestern Theaters, E. C. worked hammer and tong as a traveling salesman of grocery staples, and, like everything else, made a decided success of it. T T T • • • BUT somewhere in the Griffith blood-stream coursed a flare for the amusement field So, 1915 found him and his two brothers founding an enterprise of their own down San Marco, Tex., way It was dedicated to acting as representatives for various pro- ducing and distributing companies Right in that same year L. C. bought his first pic stand,— the Grand Opera House in said San Marcos It was the acorn from which a great oak was to grow, namely, one of the largest chains of indie theaters in the country, a chain which now comprises more than 300 links While on the road, the brothers, serving via their pic distributing venture, became acquainted with many exhibs. throughout the Southwest, and, in 1917, formed a partnership in the operation of two Oklahoma theaters That local partner-manager plan of operation, in which each manager is a partner in the company, was so successful that it attracted keen interest in exhibition circles So did the showmanship of the Griffith boys It wasn't long before both angles were widely imitated By the Spring of 1926, Griffith Amusement Co. had been formed L. C, who knew that the problems of one exhibitor were the problems of all, had shown the value of an org in which each could benefit from mutual experience In following years the org grew A com- pany was formed in New Mexico and Texas Griffith-Consolidated was established for expansion in the Oklahoma territory, and an addi- tional company was set up for the Kansas City sector T T T • • • NOT only was L. C. a salesman who "delivered the goods" in the instances of his grocery-vending career, and as a distributor and exhibitor, but was and is a sparkplug in aiding worthy causes In 1939, he organized (and became the first Chief Barker of) the Oklahoma Variety Club, Tent 22 The charitable services of this organization are nationally known, and the Oklahoma Division has supplied a mobile unit equipped with sound and projection providing weekly entertainment for children in orphanages, homes for the underprivileged, crippled children's hospital, and other persons who cannot normally have the pleasure of seeing movies A $45,000 Health Center, which will house private health agencies, is also being erected, and will be main- tained by Tent 22 With a fund of experience and energy, such as few men have, L. C. was a "natural" for the appointment to head-up the industry's end of the September "Third War Loan" campaign For he knows showmanship, knows the industry, — and it knows him Around him, and the big job at hand, filmland's sons will rally with all that eagerness needed for a great showing P. S.: Nice going, Mr. Morgenthau! _ _ • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR via the Third War Loan Drive! Florida Anti-Trust Case is Dismissed (Continued from Page 1) fendants with granting preference and special privileges to the Para- mount and Wometco theater chains in the greater Miami area. The com- plaint alleged that the defendants entered into a conspiracy with the two theater chains, which operate houses in the area, to eliminate co petition and restrain trade via ex- clusive exhibition contracts. They had sought an injunction and treble damages. Ellis would not comment on whether there had been any fin- ancial settlement. The defendants were Paramount Pictures, Loew's, Inc., RKO Radio Pictures, Vitagraph, Inc., 20th-Fox, Columbia, and Monogram Pictures Corp. Contract for Dane Clark West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Warner Bros, has giv- en a contract to Dane Clark, the young actor who made his first screen appearance in "Action in the North Atlantic," and is now appearing in a featured role in "Destination Tokyo." WAR SERVICE . . .on the Film Front Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — Mixed metal and iron scrap totaling 3,369 pounds collected at the scrap matinee held at 12 Comerford and several indie houses in Luzerne County. Campaign was sponsored by WAC under John Comerford. . . . — V . . .— Menasha, Wise. — Over 12,00 pounds of scrap paper was turned over by Robert Kautzer, manager of the Menasha Theater, after a free show run for those bringing a bundle of scrap paper as admission. Boston — Shangri-La War Bond drive netted $1,502,000 in sales in the Dorchester- Mattapan area. Drive was held at the film industry's official War Bond stand on Boston Common under the general chair- manship of Harry Wasserman of M & P Theaters. Kenneth Forkey, representing the indies., and Al Laurie, representing M b P, assisted. Chicago — Cigarette shows staged by Al- liance Theater Circuit houses in the past two weeks have netted $4,000 worth of cigarettes which will be shipped to mem- bers of the armed forces at various fronts, Pete Panagos reports. Circuit plans to hold similar drives every few months. Spike Jones and his City Slickers, who have been outdrawn at Omaha's Orpheum only by Tommy Dorsey, set something of a record for war service work during their week in Omaha. The Slickers ap- peared in the city's largest department store to boost Bond sales, gave a perform- ance for night shift students at the Fort Crook automotive school, visited the post hospital and helped the WAVES with their recruiting program from the stage of the Orpheum. NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK TOWNS THE GREATEST SIMULTANEOUS AREA OPENING ALL HISTORY * THE TOWN BOSTON, MASS. BUFFALO, N. Y. ALBANY, N. Y. PROVIDENCE, R. I. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. WORCESTER, MASS. BRIDGEPORT, CONN. SCHENECTADY, N. Y. LOWELL, MASS. FORTLAND, ME. LAWRENCE, MASS. AUGUSTA, ME. PORTSMOUTH, N. H. BURLINGTON, VT. LEWISTON, ME. CONCORD, N. H. FITCHBURG, MASS. BANGOR, ME. MANCHESTER, N. H. NASHUA, N. H. NEW BEDFORD, MASS. PITTSFIELD, MASS. GREENFIELD, MASS. RUTLAND, VT. PRESQUE ISLE, ME. WATERVILLE, ME. KEENE, N. H. BRATTLEBORO, VT. CLAREMONT, N. H. FALL RIVER, MASS. ' ST. ALBANS, VT. ST. JOHNSBURY, VT. FALMOUTH, MASS. PLYMOUTH, MASS. HYANNIS, MASS. BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME. BUZZARD'S BAY, MASS. BRUNSWICK, ME. SPRINGFIELD, VT.. ROCHESTER, N. H. SANFORD, ME. GLOUCESTER, MASS. S. NORWALK, CONN. NORWICH, CONN. STAMFORD, CONN. WILLIMANTIC, CONN. ; NEW LONDON, CONN. TORRINGTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. A HARTFORD, CONN. . DANBURY, CONN. TROY, N. Y. UTICA, N. Y. GLOVERSVILLE, N. Y. PLATTSBURG, N. Y. HUDSON, N. Y. SARATOGA, N. Y. AMSTERDAM, N. Y. . GLENS FALLS, N. Y. WATERTOWN, N. Y. ONEONTA, N. Y. SARANAC LAKE, N. Y. ■'; ELMIRA, N. Y. ITHACA, N, Y. JAMESTOWN, N. Y. NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. ROCHESTER,' N. Y. SYRACUSE, N. Y. . AUBURN, N. Y. GENEVA, N. Y. CORTLAND, N. Y. HORNELL, N. Y. BINGHAMTON, N. Y. OSWEGO, N. Y. LOCKPORT, N. Y. WARSAW, N. Y. THE STATIONS f Yankee Network) WNAC-BOSTON WTHT-HARTFORD WLNH-LACONIA, N. H. WEAKl-PROVIDENCE WATR-WATERBURY, CONN. WRDO-AUGUSTA, ME. WICC-BRIDGEPORT WFEA-MANCHESTER, N. H. WCOU-LEWISTON, ME. WAAB-WORCESTER WNBH-NEW BEDFORD WHAI-GREENFIELD, MASS. WCSH-PORTLAND, ME. WBRK-PITTSFiELD, MASS. WSYB-RUTLAND, VT. WLLH-LOWELL, MASS. WHYN-HOLYOKE, MASS. WASR-FALL RIVER, MASS. WNLC-NEW LONDON, CONN. WLBZ-BANGOR, ME. WEIM-FITCHBURG. MASS. WHEB-PORTSMOUTH, N. H. WCAX-BURLINGTON, VT. WAGM-PRESQUE ISLE, ME. WKNE-KEENE, N. H. WMAS-SPRINGFIELD, MASS WGY-SCHENECTADY WGR-BUFFALO WKBW-BUFFALO WSYR-SYRACUSE WENY-ELMIRA WHCU-ITHACA WHAM-ROCHESTER WNBF-BI NGHAMTON WIBX-UTICA WOKO-ALBANY WABY-ALBANY ERI G WYO • ; / iRATION COVE lillboards screaming from e tand and on railroad stations . . . Newspap nit the area devotin column after column t and bus through nt page e show t sensation of sensations . \ . and millions of people crowding tosee- From the Pages of Life of James R. Young's Startling Book MARGO • TOM NEAL • J. CARROL NAISH ROBERT RYAN • GLORIA HOLDEN Directed ^ EDWARD DMYTRYK • Original Screen Play by EMMET LAVERY NEXT BIG AREA PREMIERE.. THE ENTIRE NORTHWEST, FROM CALIFORNIA TO CANADA ... 50 CITIES . .. STARTING AllfillST 10TH BULLETIN! Boston, Mass. -"Behind The Rising Sun", opening at Keith's Memorial Theatre, Tuesday, August 3rd, gave the house a new all-time money record, beating by almost $2,000 the highest single day's business on record, and playing to more people than had ever crowded into the house before on any one day, including all holidays. rhursday, August 5, 1943 CfKrSuY Would Combine All Unti-Trusl Cases iffy ( (Continued from Page 1) •.umstances in each case, Clark said yesterday that he would welcome •,ome "rule of thumb" to work out he Schine, Griffith, Crescent and few York cases all at once. He >ointed out that any recommenda- the Department might make on the Schine case would prob- not be ruled upon by the Buf- alo court before October, by which ,ime he expects to have clearly in nind his Department's course for November. Schine had originally asked merely 'or an extension of the time during .vhich it is ordered to dispose of all ;heaters acquired since the filing of ;he complaint against it and the en- uring of the consent decree in May L942. This request followed submis- sion last month of a report in which ,he circuit declared that forcing it ;o get rid of these theaters was "out- rageous" in view of the acquisitions Dy the majors between the time the New York suit was filed against them md their consent decree entered in- to. Since that time they have made it plain that they are willing to sell if similar policy is followed in sim- ilar cases. Schine attorneys denied Clark's :harge that they had bought theaters in order to eliminate evidence which might be given of alleged unfair competitive practices by the circuit. Clark insists that if the circuit ever decides that it wants to try the case, however, "we're ready for them." Detroit All-Colored Houses Feel Biz Drop Detroit — Changes of patronage trends in houses with colored at- tendance are the latest in a series of audience shifts which have puzzled local exhibitors for the past two years. Patronage in the all-night theaters and downtown houses where mixed groups have existed before appears about back to average com- position, following the recent race riots. Percentage of colored trade is about the same as before, and business, in fact, is good. Some loss of patronage however, has occurred in certain instances in houses serving practically an all- colored trade. "Aleutians" Allocation Of Prints is Announced All But Two Storm-Hit Theaters Operating Again (Continued from Page 1) in Beaumont to four days in some of the smaller places. Bookings were not seriously disturbed, although some frequent-change houses will ask for re-bookings on some sub- jects. Meyer Marks Dies Chicago — Meyer Marks, 48, found- er of Marks Theater Circuit with his brother Louis, died yesterday. A' son, Lt. Julian Marks, bomber pilot, and a daughter, Paulette, survive. TO THE COLORS! * COMMISSIONED * STANLEY AUERBACH, USA, son of A. Auerbach, owner of the New Strand, Chicago, com- missioned a 2nd lieutenant. WILLIAM PARK, USN, formerly Paramount News makeup editor, commissioned a lieutenant k commander. * ARMY * NIE DAVIS, office manager Warner ex- change, Memphis. JONNIE PENNEL, city service man with Film Transit, Memphis. jHARLES LINDAU, JR., son of the owner of the Lindau Theater, Chicago. OSEPH CABEL, JR., operator, Dox Theater, De- troit. (Continued from Page 1) WAC distributors division by the War Department have been allocated to exchanges on a basis established with the experience gained in the dis- tribution of a previous War Depart- ment film, "Prelude to War." The press book on "Report From the Aleutians" is being rushed to completion by the WAC Public Rela- tions Division and will be available to exhibitors from National Screen Ser- vice exchanges. The print breakdown, with the companies handling the film in the various territories, follows: Albany, Paramount, 3; Atlanta, 20th Century-Fox, 7; Boston, Colum- bia, 8; Buffalo, Warner, 3; Charlotte, Republic, 4; Chicago, 20th Century- Fox, 7; Cincinnati, Paramount, 6; Cleveland, 20th Century-Fox, 6; Dal- las, RKO, 7; Denver, Paramount, 3; Des Moines, Columbia, 4; Detroit, Metro, 7; Indianapolis, United Artists, 4; Kansas City, United Artists, 4; Los Angeles, Columbia, 10; Memphis, Metro, 4; Milwaukee, 20th Century-Fox, 4; Minneapolis, Universal, 7; New Haven, RKO, 3; New Orleans, Metro, 4; New York, RKO, 18; Oklahoma City, Paramount, 4; Omaha, Warner, 3; Philadelphia, Metro, 7; Pittsburgh, Metro, 5; Port- land, Universal, 4; St. Louis, War- ner, 4; Salt Lake City, Warner, 3; San Francisco, 20th Century-Fox, 8; Seattle, RKO, 4; Washington, War- ner, 10. Answers in Chaplin Case Due Aug. 31 (Continued from Page 1) tion, granting extension of time to Aug. 31 for said answer to the com- plaint, was announced yesterday. Sources close to the action, coin- cident with the announced extension, declared that, if, as and when trial is reached, a major array of legal talent will be engaged in the battle, there being a strong possibility of Wendell L. Willkie serving as special counsel for 20th-Fox, with Dwight, Harris, Koegel & Casky, plus White & Case, and probably Willkie, Owen, Otis, Farr & Gallagher, etc., repre- senting the defendants in opposition to the veteran Schwartz & Frohlich While no indication whatever re- garding settlement of the action is current in local film circles, chan- nels close to Chaplin and his legal representatives appear anxious to have the case come to trial at the earliest possible time. New York Supreme Court is asked in the original complaint to require and compel the defendants to restore to UA the sum of $1,000,000 more or less, found due upon accounting as the result of Selznick, et al having allegedly been the beneficiaries of a deal whereby 20th-Fox acquired lit- erary properties comprising "Keys of the Kingdom," "Claudia" and "Jane Evre," notwithstanding an agree- ment which existed between UA, David O. Selznick, and David O. Selznick Productions, Inc. Added Admission Tax Is Seen as Doubtful (Continued from Page 1) a year ago, during a tax study by the house ways and means commit- tee, but no action was ever taken on it. That action will be taken now seems unlikely, in view of the stepped up admissions tax rates recently in- stalled, observers say. It is not im- possible that an additional war levy might be approved, but it does not seem likely now. There has been no recent dis_cussion among interested congressmen of either such a tax as this or a general increase in the amusement tax rate. Majors May Handle More British Short Subjects (Continued from Page 1) are being handled by five major com- panies and Archibald is expected to ask the executives to distribute others that are already here or ex- pected over shortly. The five now being distributed are "The Last Hazard," by RKO; "Kill or Be Killed," United Artists; "Com- mon Cause," 20th Century-Fox; "These Are the Men," M-G-M, and "In the Drink," Warner Bros. WAC Distrib. Division Meets at Warwick Tues. William F. Rodgers, chairman of the distributors division of the WAC, has called a meeting of his division for Tuesday at the Warwick Hotel. Rodgers is hopeful that, a method of distribution of the OWI shorts will have been devised by that time so that distribution plans can be made. The division also will discuss its participation in the forthcoming Third War Loan drive. MtWRlMONY *mm00& CENTURY-H3X 10 DAILY Thursday, August 5, 1943 ,\ ik Reviews of the new turns :< :< T! t "Let's Face It" with Bob Hope, Betty Hutton. Paramount 76 Mins. EXHIBITORS SHOULD CLEAN UP WITH LATEST HOPE PIC; PLENTY OF LAUGHS IN STORE FOR CUSTOMERS. "Let's Face It," Bob Hope's latest cine- matic venture will roll up handsome grosses for the exhibitor. There is too much entertainment in this film to arrive at any other conclusion. And one says that in the face of the fact that the picture is not the best of the Hope pictures. But, best or no best, the production has what it takes to make the customers happy and the thea- ter man richer. Hope has been provided with a script that permits him to strut his stuff with no restraint — which is a guarantee of laughs without end. As a soldier who gets himself involved with a trio of lonely wives with two other buddies in his effort to obtain enough money to be married to Betty Hut- ton, the comic is tremendously funny. The complications are hilarious and endless, reaching their climax when the husbands of the lonely hearts suddenly appear on the scene with a trio of girl friends of their own. Hope gets himself into plenty of trouble with the camp authorities in his endeavor to keep his rendezvous with the three ladies. Hope and Miss Hutton are excellently paired. Dave Willock and Cully Richards play the comic's buddies nicely. As the three wives who try to become romantic with the boys to get even with their hus- bands. ZaSu Pitts, Phyllis Povah and Eve Arden are topnotch. Raymond Walburn, Andrew Tombes and Arthur Loft enact the husbands well. Again Joe Sawyer has a role as a tough sergeant. Some of the others deserving mention are Marjorie Weaver and Dona Drake. The comedy stacks up as fast and furious entertainment, thanks chiefly to the direc- tion of Sidney Lanfield. Harry Tugend did the screenplay, based on a musical play by Dorothy and Herbert Fields and Cole Porter which was suggested by a play by Norma Mitchell and Russell G. Medcraft. Three tunes are featured. Two, "Let's Face It" and "Let's Not Talk About Love," are by Cole Porter. The other, called "Who Did? I Did, Yes, I Did," was composed by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Fred Kohlmar is down as associate producer. CAST: Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, ZaSu Pitts, Phyllis Povah, Dave Willock, Eve Ar- den, Cully Richards, Marjorie Weaver, Dona Drake, Raymond Walburn, Andrew Tombes, Arthur Loft, Joe Sawyer, Grace Hayle, Evllyn Dockson, Andria Moreland, Kay Lina- ker and Brooks Evans. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Fred Kohlmar; Director, Sidney Lanfield; Screen- play, Harry Tugend; Based on musical play by Dorothy Fields, Herbert Fields, Cole Porter; Suggested by play by Norma Mitch- ell, Russell G. Medcraft; Cameraman, Lionel Lindon; Songs, Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn- Jule Styne. , DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Canteen" Begins 7th Week "Stage Door Canteen," Sol Les- ser's United Artists film hit, begins the seventh week of its New York premiere engagement at the Capitol today. 'Calaboose' with Jimmy Rogers, Noah Beery, Jr., Mary Brian UA-Roach 45 Mins. ROUTINE WESTERN COMEDY IS COM- PENDIUM OF OLD HUMOR THAT WILL APPEAL TO THE UNSOPHISTICATED. "Calaboose" is the latest of the short features turned out by the Hal Roach organi- zation. The picture is short on good come- dy as it is on footage. It is a hammer-and- tongs affair that works hard for what laughs it draws. The gags and situations, which are of ancient vintage, will reach their mark only with audiences that are not too particular about their entertainment. One thing must be said for the film. It is fast and always popping like a fire- cracker, even though what happens doesn't amount to very much. The story is set in a western town where the jail is a much- sought-after place because the sheriff's daughter is a pretty thing who makes life in the calaboose not at all unpleasant. Among those who work themselves into the joint is Noah Beery, Jr., Beery is constantly getting himself involved in trouble with the help of Jimmy Rogers. The two young men prove themselves use- ful at the end by bringing a gang of outlaws to boot. The cast is barely more than adequate. Mary Brian helps to share the romantic burden of the film. Rogers, Beery and Miss Brian are assisted by Bill Henry, Paul Hurst, Marc Lawrence, William Davidson, Jean Porter and Iris Adrian. The Arnold Belgard screenplay, based on a story by Donald Hough adapted by Harvey Thew, is a strictly routine job which was directed with considerable commotion by Hal Roach, Jr. Glenn Tryon produced. CAST: Jimmy Rogers, Noah Beery, Jr., Mary Brian, Bill Henry, Paul Hurst, Marc Lawrence, William Davidson, Jean Porter. Iris Adrian, Sarah Edwards. CREDITS: Producer, Glenn Tryon; Di- rector, Hal Roach, Jr.; Screenplay, Arnold Belgard; Adaptation, Harvey Thew; Based on story by Donald Hough; Cameraman, Robert Pittack; Art Director, Charles D. Hall; Musical Director, Edward Ward; Set Decorator, W. L. Stevens; Sound, William Randall; Film Editor, Bert Jordan; Special Effects, Roy Seawright. DIRECTION, So-so. PHOTOGRAPHY, All Right. Nine New Pictures Start At Studios This Week West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Nine new pictures are scheduled to go into production this week. At Columbia: Six shooting, includ- ing, "Cowboys In the Clouds,'' western. At M-G-M: Nine shooting, includ- ing "Rationing," comedy, starring Wallace Beery. At Monogram: Four shooting, including, "Hitler's Women" and "East, of the Bo.wery," initial release in the East Side Kids series on the 1943-44 program. At Paramount: Six shooting, including. "Henry Aldrieh's Code of Honor." At PRC: Three shooting, including, Jack Scbwarz production, "The Girl Prom Mon- terey." musical. At RKO-Radio: Six shooting, including. "Higher and Higher." musical. Samuel Goldwyn: One shooting. . At Republic: Three shooting, including, "The Law Rides Again" with Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson Monogram 59 Mins. KIDS WILL GET A BIG WALLOP OUT OF THIS OLD-FASHIONED WESTERN BASED ON COWBOYS- AND -INDIANS PLOT. "The Law Rides Again" is an old-fash- ioned western — which means that fury and violence run rampant, with the story tak- ing a back seat. The effect is strengthened by the presence in the cast of Ken May- nard and Hoot Gibson, whose names have always been associated with bang-up horse operas of the good old days. Western fans also will find in the line-up such stalwart old-timers of the sound-and-fury sagas as Jack LaRue, Kenneth Harlan and Bryant Washburn. What the film lacks in polish and plausibility is more than made up in swiftness and action. It's cowboys and Indians again in "The Law Rides Again." The Indians haven't been on the warpath for many moons; so perhaps it was felt that it was about time that they were stirred into life again on the screen. The story is compounded of the old blood-and-thunder stuff that goes over big with the kids. The Indians in this case are inspired to a fighting pitch by the villainy of a dis- honest Indian agent (Harlan). Maynard and Gibson are a couple of deputies dis- patched to the scene to find out what the trouble is all about and try to remove the cause. LaRue, a convict, offers to help them ferret out the villain but double- crosses them instead. Our heroes find themselves in a tight spot as a result and have a tough time convincing the sheriff that they are on the level. When the going against the villain and his cohorts gets too tough the U. S. Cavalry comes to the rescue and puts Harlan and company out of business. Robert Tansey produced the film from a screenplay by Frances Kavanaugh. The direction of Alan James emphasizes action all the way. CAST: Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson, Betty Miles, Jack LaRue, Emmett Lynn, Kenneth Harlan, Chief Thunder Cloud, Bryant Wash- burn, John Bridges, Fred Hoose, Charles Murray, Jr., Hank Bell, Chief Many Treaties, CREDITS: Producer, Robert Tansey; Di- rector, Alan James; Screenplay, Frances Kavanaugh; Cameraman, Marcel Le Picard; Film Editor, Fred Bain; Sound, Lyle Willey; Musical Director, Frank Sanucci. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. May Examine Starr Betty Crosney, administratrix of the estate of Sam Bernard, filed notice in New York Federal Court yester- day for the examination of United Artists Corp. via its agent, Martin Starr, in connection with her suit against Edward Small Productions charging unlawful production of a film version of "Friendly Enemies." "Man Prom the Rio Grande." starring Don Barry. At 20th Century-Pox: Three shooting. At United Artists: Gregor Rabinoviteh shooting one: Harry Sherman shooting two: and Samuel Bronston, shooting one. At Universal: Seven shooting. At Warners: Six shooting. "Adventure in Blackmail" with Clive Brook and Judy Campbell English Films, Inc. 72 Mins UNDISTINGUISHED ROMANTIC COM-, EDY WHOSE STORY AND DIRECTION- RELEGATE IT TO PROGRAM STATUS. Filling a niche in the so-called pros -n picture category, "Adventure in Bf mail" issues from the British mart with a British cast with accents as heavy as York- shire pudding and generous helpings of beef. Emeric Pressburger's story, while somewhat ingenious as screen idea, borders too clearly on the illogical to meet the theatergoer's mind, generally speaking. But this quality might have been overcome to a major degree were the direction nearly as imaginative as the screenplay. It isn't, — and to the point of being stilted, at least from U. S. screen standards. Clive Brook and Judy Campbell, along with the other players, excepting a few "bit" characterize tions, move through the piece in a manner which causes the onlooker on this side of s the big pond to wonder whether "Adventure in Blackmail" is a satire on the romantic u comedy drama. Frequently, Brook, and less often, the comely Miss Campbell, read their lines with downright Shakespearean flavor. In short, the atmosphere of the picture is too serious to be funny, and too funny to be serious. Perhaps all this is a harsh ap- praisal, in that the attraction was made for British audiences, somewhat unlike our own. But inasmuch as it has been determined to release "Adventure in Blackmail" in the domestic field, the all-over criticism holds and is honestly justified. Brook is a hand- some, famous and clearly wealthy play- wright whom Judy Campbell blackmails into marriage in misguided revenge from al- leged injustice to her brother. In counter revenge, Brook marries the girl. She does her best to make him unhappy, and he does ditto. Inherently, of course, they are in love, — a situation as hard to logically swallow as a good size beef bone. In the reapprochement processes they go from riches to rags, and pretty much back again at the finale, which has Brook and his heart- throb both in World War II uniforms and the glow of finally-achieved marital bliss. Supporting cast is adequate, but not par- ticularly exciting. The direction and pho- tography have little claim to distinguished ^ rating. CAST: Clive Brook, Judy Campbell, C. V. France, Marguerite Allan, Percy Walsh, Dennis Arundell, George Merritt, David Home, Charles Victor, Aubrey Mallalieu. Tony Bazell. CREDITS: Director, Harold Huth; Screen play and Co-Director, Roland Pertwee; Pro ducer, R. Norton; Associate Producer, Michael Brooke; Author, Emeric Pressburg- er; Cameraman, Jack Cox; Film Editor, Sid- ney Cole; Musical Director, Mischa Spol- iansky; Recording Director, A. W. Watkins. DIRECTION, (Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Ditto. C 3t- Earl Minderman With FCC Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Earl Minderman, formerly director of research and in- formation for the OWI motion pic- ture bureau, and before that WPB information director, has been ap- pointed director of information of the Federal Communications Com- mission. n ■r I '■ Thursday, August 5, 1943 TOW DAILY IT P. R. First-Run Biz lockets Up to 85% By E. SANCHEZ ORTIZ FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent San Juan, P. R. (By Air Mail)— Increased employment registered in he San Juan area during the past r&months is being reflected, in box- \fce receipts of the principal mo- flm picture houses. In some cases, he gain in grosses has been over >5 per cent. During the six months' period from January to June, box-office receipts iiit the Paramount theater were: 1st j.ix months of 1943, $102,509 against !54,600 in 1942; Metro theater, $68,- i,S00 in 1943 against $52,400 in 1942; Matinezo theater, $49,500 in 1943, against $28,650 in 1942. These figures do not include re- ceipts for the rest of the island, but ;over the largest motion picture louses in the metropolitan area of 3an Juan where the Federal and ln- mular government offices are located lind where the greatest increase in iobs has been registered during the period. This increase in grosses also represents the corresponding in- crease in taxes put into effect since March 1943 when the new law be- am e effective. The new act (No. 137), levies an 'internal revenue tax on the opera- tion, for profit, of any public show, 'including motion picture houses — scaled as follows: One cent on the price of admission when it does not Exceed 10 cents; and two cents for jach 10 cents additional or fraction thereof, when the price of admission is more than 10 cents. Tax is paid by the purchaser of the admission ticket and the proceeds are trans- ferred by the Treasurer of Puerto Rico into a special Public Welfare Fund for aid services, including old age pensions, care for needy chil- dren, the blind, etc. Business is not expected to hold ip with an increased trend, accord- ing to film exchanges representa- tives, on account of the decrease in appropriations of the Federal gov- ernment for relief jobs, and due to :he fact that most of the principal projects have been completed. The F.W.A. for instance has appropria- tions amounting to $7,000,000 to hold on until November and many workers have already been laid off STORKS Chicago — 01' Doc Stork delivered lew sons to Edwin Moore, Wayne Langston and Walter Vance of the 3urton Holmes Lab's, engineering staff in a single week. Seattle, Wash. — It's a boy for Sari and Mrs. Nelson. Earl is Uni- versal Newsreel cameraman. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The Franchot Tones ire the parents of a son. REVIEWS Of SHORT SUBJECTS "Champion Maker" (Sportscope) RKO 9 Mins. Entertaining This short offers new proof that, while the subject of swimming has served repeatedly as film material, it has still to lose its interest and fresh- ness. The reel under discussion is ex- ceptionally good. It does an effective job of demonstrating the work of Charles L. (Bud) Sawin, noted swim- ming mentor, in developing swim- mers of championship calibre. Many topnotch aquatic stars are caught in action. The subject has been photo- graphed superbly. Sports lovers will find this short irresistible. "Victory Vehicles" (Walt Disney) RKO 8 Mins. Very Funny Possible means of meeting the gas and rubber shortage are shown in Local 306 Asks Immediate Action on Salary Cut Case The War Labor Board's delay in taking action on the 25 per cent cut in salaries to the projectionists at the Kingsbridge Theater here is caus- ing repercussions in the industry, Local 306 has informed William Davis, WLB chairman, via a tele- gram. The local pointed out to Davis in the telegram that the matter has been pending before the board since April and asked for an immediatee statement as to when action could be expected. Exhibitors Service Co. Dispute Goes to the WLB Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A contract dispute between the Exhibitors Service Co. of Pittsburgh, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL, has been certified to the War Labor Board by the Department of Labor. Seventy employes are affected, with the dispute covering wages, hours, overtime pay, premium pay and va- cations. from other Federal agencies due to decrease in funds for the current fiscal year. However, there is plenty of purchasing power among the per- sons in the higher brackets for in- dustry and commerce due to wartime activities. The board of directors of the Puer- to Rico Film Board has recognized with the following elected for the fiscal year: Robert Schoham, (Metro) president; Carl Ponnedel (UA) sec- retary, and John P. Donahue (Para- mount) vice-president and treasurer. Charles Moss to Coast Charles Moss, managing director of the Criterion Theater, leaves to- day for Hollywood. He will visit the studios for a look at the films which are scheduled to play the Criterion following the current "Hers to Hold" and Walter Wanger's "We've Never Been Licked." this Walt Disney Technicolor car- toon. Various ideas are demonstrat- ed by the Goof with fine humorous results. Finally the Goof demon- strates an idea of his own — the pogo stick. The fellow does wonders with the device. This is a very amusing item. "Broadway Dimout" (This Is America) RKO 15 Mins. Good As a tour of Broadway in war- time the latest of the "This Is Amer- ica" series rates plenty of attention. The film is a fast, kaleidoscopic sub- ject that takes the audience in and out of the Broadway spots, big and small, hoity-toity and plebeian, catching the spirit of the Main Stem and showing various phases of life in that sector of the city. It in- troduces the audience to such per- sonalities as Helen Hayes, Gypsy Rose Lee, George Balanchine, How- ard Bay and Brock Pemberton. In- cluded are glimpses of Broadway during its nightly dimout. Here is a booking that packs a lot of interest. It represents one aspect of America that cannot be overlooked. Nat Kar- son has contributed nice direction. Smith-Howell Lifts Deliveries Embargo (Continued from Page 1) elimination of Friday night service to the Southern tier and no deliv- eries were made to Walton, Windsor and Stamford. Effective Aug. 3, the embargo was lifted and service resumed to the points affected. Dan Houlihan, 20th Century-Fox booker, Doug Leischmann, Schine Circuit and Sid Kallet, Kallet Circuit were members of the joint committee appearing in Syracuse last week. As a result of the hearing, Smith- Howell withdrew its application be- fore PSC to suspend service into the Southern tier for the duration and six months thereafter. Jacob Schreiber Returns to Show Biz in Detroit Detroit — Kiska Operating Co. has been issued a Michigan corporation charter "to buy and sell theaters." Company, capitalized at $1,000, lists as stockholders Jacob Schreiber, cir- cuit owner who retired from active operation about three years ago, Mrs. Lottie Jacobson and Erward Jacobson. vypp *** ROY ROGERS TRIGGER I KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN WE MOVIES "SONG OF TEXAS' /taode* Tiiit tw c 12 iw DAILY Thursday, August 5, 1943 Femmes Taking Key House Spots in Hub Boston — Without fanfare, women are beginning to replace men in many of the key jobs in theaters in this area. Already half a dozen women man- agers are in evidence. The large E. M. Loew circuit with its 50 or more houses has three women man- agers in the Boston district and is planning to have more. One of these women is in a theater where former- ly there was considerable trouble over vandalism. Oddly enough since the placing of the woman as man- ager in charge vandalism has disap- peared almost to the zero point. The Lockwood and Gordon circuit has several women key officials now, so also have the Warners in various parts of New England. Many of the larger theaters now have women ushers. Some have wo- men treasurers, all have women cashiers and box-office attendants. And in at least one instance the old time "doorman" has become instead a very modern "doorwoman." Women pages are taking the place of page boys in those de luxers which enjoy the luxury of having such em- ployes. Lawrence Lipskin Joins Donahue & Coe Agency Donahue & Coe, Inc., announces the addition of Lawrence H. Lipskin to its copy staff. Lipskin was for- merly chief copy wiiter at Columbia Pictures Corp. Prior to that he served on the editorial staffs of sev- eral metropolitan newspapers, as critic, writer and reporter. He is a graduate of Amherst College. Paramount Sells 4,364 Contracts on Reissues In the first five weeks of selling, "Union Pacific" and "Souls at Sea," Paramount reissues, have reached the high mark of 4,364 independent exhibitor contracts, Neil Agnew, Paramount general sales manager, announced yesterday. HCLLyWCCD DIGEST ASSIGNMENTS FRED MYTON, script, "Jungle Fury," PRC. HOWARD ESTABROOK, another script, Jules Levey-UA. EDDIE KAY, musical director, "Hitler's Wo- men," Monogram. CASTINGS OLCA SAN JUAN, "Rainbow Island," Para- mount; MARIE McDONALD, "Standing Room Only," Paramount. REOPTIONED CECIL KELLAWAY, Paramount. EDDIE FOY, JR., Paramount. Touhy Gets Temporary Restraining Order To Halt Picture Based Upon His Career Chicago — A temporary restraining order to prevent the exhibition of 20th- Fox's "Roger Touhy, Gangster" has been issued by Federal Judge William Holly in the action brough against the company in behalf of the former gang leader around whose life of crime the film is built. Argument will be heard tomorrow on the granting of a permanent writ. Counsel for Touhy contends release of the film would harm the former gangster's case, which is due to come up for trial soon, and would be injurious to his pride and his family's interests. The action came close upon the heels of a preview of the film at the Joliet Prison, where Touhy is a guest. Second 20th-Fox Meet Opens in Chicago Today (Continued from Page 1) ing, which opens at the Blaekstone there today for a three-day stand. Delegates to the Astor meeting left for their respective territories at the close of the final sales conferences, at wThich Andrew W. Smith, Jr., Eastern sales manager, presided. The home-office contingent that de • parted for the Chicago meeting in- cluded: Spyros Skouras, Tom Con- nors, William J. Kupper, L. J. Schlaifer, Smith, W. C. Gehring, Felix Jenkins, Hal Home, Sam Shain, Paul Terry, John Wood, Martin Mos- kowitz, Jack Sichelman, W. J. Clark, G. A. Roberts, Roger Ferri, Jack Bloom, Clarence A. Hill, Ted A. Shawj, Edwin H. Collins, Irving Maas, Leslie Whelan, Harvey Day. William Weiss, Morris Caplin, Irving Lmcer, Jules Alberti, Phil Williams of March of Time. About 300 persons are expected to be present from the home office and the following exchanges: Albany, Boston, New Haven, Buffalo, Cin- cinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit Milwaukee, Calgary, Montreal, St. John, Toronto, Vancouver, and Win- nipeg. Exchanges will be represented as follows: ALBANY — H. S. Alexander, Fred G. Sliter, Ben Dare, Daniel Houlihan. BOSTON — E. X. Callahan, M. N. Grass- green, J. A. Peloney, Frank Drew, M. Sim- ons, S. Horowitz, Norbert E. Murray, J. B. Rosen, Harold L. Beeeroft, S. Berg. NEW HAVEN — B. A. Simon, E. Wright, S. Germain. BUFFALO — Ira H. Conn, W. C. Rowell, G. E. Diekman, George Sussman, E. Jauch. CINCINNATI — J. J. Grady. Leavitt J. Bugle, J. A. Needham, E. C. Naegel, Irving Sochin, Robert McNabb, Robert O. Laws, James W. Christian, James Neff. CLEVELAND — I. J. Sehmertz, T. C. Alley, E. R. Bergman, S. N. Liehter, Raymond Sehmertz, F. J. Hunt. CHICAGO — H. R. Beiersdorf, Tom R. Gil- liam, Arnold L. Monette, H. Loeb, H. Gooda- mote, Milton E. Simon, A. M. Van Dyke, Edward Safier, De Witt Adams, Herndon Edmond. Jack Eckhardt. DETROIT — Lester Sturm, A. D. Knapp, E. A. Westeott, Roy Carrow, Floyd Keiller, L. Sanshie. MILWAUKEE — J. H. Lorentz, Morris Horowitz, George Edgerton, Carl Michel, Al Levy, Meyer Kahn. CALGARY — V. M. Skorey, F. L. Scott, Bertram Cooper. MONTREAL — Edward English, James F. Pearson. ST. JOHN — R. G. March, L. S. Kerr. TORONTO — Sydney Samson, H. J. Bailey, W. J. Reid, Lionel Lester, J. W. Powis. VANCOUVER — J. E. Patterson, Robert A. Cringan. WINNIPEG — J. H. Huber, Charles Krupp, A. Smith. The Chicago meetings will be conducted by Connors, Kupper, Gehring and Schlaifer. Sydney Samson, newly appointed Cana- New Critical Occupations List May Appear Soon (Continued from Page 1) reviewed this week by regional WMC representatives, including William G. Hopkins of California, who are expected to suggest some deletions and additions. Although it was reliable reported that the list did not, on Monday, include any motion picture jobs, Washington officials who should know are certain that cameramen, sound technicians, film 6utters and film editors will be included when the list finally appears. Efforts to verify this prediction were unsuc- cessful yesterday, with no word yet as to whether these classifications have been added since Monday. Any revisions made to the list this week will be reviewed today by the WMC essential activities committee. There has been no work yet on a second non-deferrable list, although members of the EAC have kept a backlog of jobs to be designated as not entitling ■ their holders to deferment on occupational grounds since the first list appeared early this year. Al- though it has been reported that a revised list of non-deferrable jobs will appear next month, this is not at all certain at this point. It may not be found necessary. The announcement that fathers will be drafted beginning in October is one factor which makes revision of the list of non- deferrable occupations unlikely, since the Father draft announcement is admittedly in- tended to force fathers in large numbers to shift to essential war work. In the meantime, there were rumors in Washington that a sharp distinction may be drawn by WMC between activities directly concerned with tue war and those merely "supporting the war effort." Just how this arbitrary line might be drawn was not in- dicated, but if WMC does intend such a dis- tinction it is unlikely that any entertainment activity would be included in the primary group. This distinction, it is reported, would affect both selective service and labor utili- zation. If it is planned, it might provide a lest for the authority of the newly-ex- panded Office of Civilian Requirements, whose job it is to insure essential civilian needs. Pat Duggan Again Heads Goldwyn's Story Dept. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Pat Duggan, after an absence of several months during which he functioned as Eastern story editor for Samuel Goldwyn, has re- turned to the Goldwyn Studio to re- sume as story head there. Kay Brown has resumed the Eastern post. dian manager, will head the Canadian con- tingent. Don Ameche, star of "Heaven Can Wait," who is coming to New York for the Roxy premiere of the picture, will stop off ai. Chicago to attend at least one of the meet- ings. Set Cost Differences Adjusted by WPB (Continued from Page 1) chief, said yesterday. Negotiations are proceeding to determine whether the studios should remain under the authority of the construction order L-41. Hopper returned from the Co/ S recently to find that practically evey-' studio had been given a different rating. M-G-M, for instance, was allowed a set cost limit far exceed- ing the $25,000 okayed for Samuel Goldwyn and numerous other in- equities were proved. These have been worked out now, with uniformity among the various studios once again provided. AA-3 ratings on lumber and hardware are set for the studios, and AA-5 on ex- pendables such as paint, sandpaper, etc. It may be some time before a de- cision is reached as to whether stu- dio sets should be removed from the authority of the construction order. Except for sets, nearly everything covered by the order is in the na- ture of permanent or semi-perman- ent construction. A member of the WPB construction branch is expect- ed to leave this week for Hollywood to look over the situation there. Studios have cut down tremendous- ly in their use of critical materials, it was pointed out here, with the prodigality of past years completely eliminated. It is estimated that the cost of set materials at their present rate of use runs hardly over $600,000 annually now. Boston Burlesque With Pictures is New Policy Boston . — Boston's two burlesque houses, one the famous "Old How- ard" with popular Al Somerby as its long-serving head, the other the Glove with no less popular Max Michaels as its directing genius will both reopen next week with bur- lesque bills and this time with fea- ture pictures to add to the fare giv- en their patrons. Both the Old Howard, famous for its slogan, "always something doing at the Old Howard" and the Globe have been thoroughly modernized and renovated during the summer and both will run continuous per- formances starting at 9 a.m. B. A. Deluxe Houses Raise B.O. Scales Buenos Aires (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — The abundance of spending money has worked to the improvement of film business in Argentina despite the bad slump which recently hit prices and exports generally. There is much speculation on whether film business will eventu- ally reflect this slump. Evidence that the people have more dough to spend is seen in the fact that the deluxe houses have raised their scales. _L S-frtr- MHZ 3NI V CI hi Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought DO NOT REMOV The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAILY' %OL 84, NO. 26 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1943 TEN CENTS SEE INCREASED FLOW OF WAR FILM FOOTAGE i • Woman's Angle Attractions Are Paying Off Big Studios Are Seen Gearing 943-44 Season's Lineups To Satisfy Femme Tastes H j With the percentage of feminine .aim patrons considerably increased under war-time conditions, pictures vith a good woman's angle have )een the season's leaders, as a class, n point of high grosses, and Warner Bros., which claims the strongest 'emme-appeal lineup in the industry, :redits its record 1942-43 business ..n a large measure to the special at- tention paid this type of entertain- nent. "Woman's pictures" which were {Continued on Page 11) DWI Gets New Pledge Df Exhibitor Co-op. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Palmer Hoyt, OWI lomestic director, and James Allen, 'ieputy director, met yesterday with representatives of the WAC theaters jiivision to discuss future OWI ex- hibitor co-operation. Hoyt had al- ready conferred with producers, dis- tributors and the guilds in Holly- wood. , The industry representatives re- {Continued on Page 6) Scouts as Vandalism Curb Urged by Ed Kuykendall St. Louis — Ed Kuykendall, presi- dent of the MPTOA, has suggested that the motion picture theater own- ers and managers of the country en- {Continued on Page 7) RCA Net Down, But Total Gross Rises RCA yesterday reported a net in- come of $4,918,794 for the first six months of 1943, a decrease of $77,- 223 for the same period last year. Total gross from all sources, however, was $141,001,366, an increase of $51,565,900 over the 1942 period. The $14,204,800 Federal income tax was a factor in the slight drop-off of the net. THEATER-GOING HABITS CHANGING? First-Runs Speculate On Possible Loss of Pre-War Standbys, "the Regulars" Extensive changes in the theater- going habits of patrons, particularly as regards the theaters they most often attend, may result from to- day's top grosses recorded by first- runs. Downtown operators wonder whether their pre-war standbys, "the regulars," so-called, who at- tended the first-runs week after week, will put up with current long lines and standing room accommo- dations, or whether they will turn to neighborhood houses for their film entertainment and so get into the habit of attending the nearby and less crowded theaters. Situation is pointed up by the fre- quent lines in front of Broadway houses and by reports from Chicago, {Continued on Page 7) . Renewal of British Shorts Pact Expected Major companies are expected to renew their agieement for the hand- ling of British war shorts. Top executives yesterday heard George Archibald's proposals for the renewal of the agreement, and, while no de- cision was reached, it is understood {Continued on Page 7) Move Started to Change O. C. to 24-Hour Town Oklahoma City — Efforts to change Oklahoma City into a 24-hour town and lift the ban on the midnight cur- few on local theaters have been started by A. F. Schmitt, manager {Continued on Page 6) New Canadian Labor Call Hits Theaters Ottawa, Ont.— Fifth labor call-up order of the Dominion government for compulsory transfer of males from 16 to 40 years to war or farm industries again hits the theater business. Those engaged in making signs, lobby and advertising dis- plays have been notified to report be- {Continued on Page 7) East St. Louis Theater Wins Cut in Clearance St. Louis — The unreasonable clear- ance complaint of Dr. G. J. Hobbs, owner of the 40th Street Theater, East St. Louis, 111., against 20th {Continued on Page 6) Paramount Earnings Rise Gains in Quarterly, Half- Yearly Report 20-Fox Meeting Pays Tribute to Service Men Chicago — Rousing tribute to the men and women of 20th-Fox serv- ing in the armed forces of the United States and Canada highlighted the opening session yesterday of the company's three-day regional sales meeting being held at the Blackstone Hotel with 300 representatives of {Continued on Page 6) Paramount Pictures estimates its earnings for the second quarter end- ed July 3, 1943, at $3,827,000 after interest and all charges including estimated provision for all Federal normal and excess profits taxes. This amount includes $673,000 represent- ing Paramount's direct and indirect net interest as a stockholder in the combined undistributed earnings for the quarter of partially owned non- consolidated subsidiaries. Earnings {Continued on Page 6) Standard of Material Now Coming in is Far Better, Says Co-Ordinator Collins Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — An increased flow of topflight action footage suitable both for newsreel and feature use is looked for in the near future by Newsreel Co-ordinator Claude R. Collins. The general standard of ma- terial coming in now is far better than that of a few months back, ac- cording to Collins, and it is likely that this quality will continue to pick up as a result of increased co-opera- tion among pool correspondents and {Continued on Page 12) See Liberalization of Decree Section X Liberalization of Section X and broadening the powers of the arbi- tration system appear to be the most likely changes in the consent decree after Nov 20, reliable sources in- dicated yesterday. Section X, dealing with designated {Continued on Page 6) Order Washington Mgr. To Find Essential Job Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Despite the recent announcement that key theatermen may no longer be ordered by Selec- tive Service Boards to find work in {Continued on Page 12) Rosten Quits OWVs Domestic Bureau Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Leo C. Rosten, form- er film writer and author of the re- cent sociological study of Hollywood, has resigned as assistant domestic director of the OWI, it was revealed yesterday. Rosten, whose name has been considered for the post of mo- tion picture chief for the agency, said he will return to writing. He was policy official for OWI on treat- ment of stories dealing with the enemy. Vol. 84, No. 26 Fri., Aug. 6, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. AUCOATE : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. ' Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Kalph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Cas.;l!o de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, Aug: 5) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2Vi%> 15Vi 15'/2 15V2+ I/4 Columbia Piers, pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2V4 2l/4 2l/4 Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 15 15 15 East. Kodak 160% I6OV4 160% — 1 do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq 20 19% 20 + Va Loew's, Inc 61 1/4 61 61 + % Paramount 25% 25% 25 Va — % RKO 8 1/2 8% 83/a — Vs RKO $6 pfd 90 89 90 +2 20th Century-Fox . . 21 20% 20% 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31% 31% 31% — % Univ. Pict. pfd. Warner Bros 13/8 12% 123/4— % do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs 1 Vi 1% 1% — Va Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% Technicolor 13% 1 3 1/2 1 3 Vi — % Trans-Lux Universal Picts N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57.... 80% 82% Wife Saves Harold Lloyd's Life in Vault Explosion West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Silent Harold Lloyd comedies, valued at $2,000,000, were destroyed in an explosion and fire that gutted the film vault at the Lloyd estate in Beverly Hills. Lloyd was overcome by smoke from the fire and his life was saved by his wife, Mildred David Lloyd, who caught him as he collapsed in the doorway of the vault and dragged him to safety in the fresh air. Secrecy is Imposed Regarding "Critical" List Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Deliberations on the forthcoming "critical" list were not concluded yesterday by the WMC Essential Activities Committee and at least one more meeting is expected next week. Officials are confident, however, that the list will be made public next week. The committee chairman has im- posed a cloak of secrecy on the de- liberations, with members forbidden to mention any jobs included, or even to reveal whether jobs within specific industries are included. It appeared doubtful yesterday that motion pic- ture jobs will finally be on the list, although four of them are known to be up for consideration — camera- men, cutters, editors and sound tech- nicians. A member of the EAC did make it plain, however, that the drawing of any line between essential activi- ties directly concerned with war pro- duction and those which merely "sup- port the war effort" is not likely. The committee has considered such dif- ferentiation for some time but has re- jected it, holding that "one essential activity is as essential as another, there should be no differentiation be- tween the 35 essential fields." Reports that such a move are in the wind were credited to regional WMC heads, meeting here this week. It is known that in many areas an unofficial set of priority ratings has been adopted by WMC and USES offices, with the direct war group given preference in labor recruit- ment. Santa Monica Organizes Theater Defense Bureau Holylwood — Organization of a Theater Defense Bureau in Santa Monica was announced by Com. R. S. H. Venable, director of civilian de- fense for the beach city. Simultane- ously, Venable picked John Hall of Rosemary Theater, as chairman, and Tom W. Baily as director. The latter heads the Los Angeles Bureau established two days after Pearl Harbor. Zone inspector is Leon Levy, with a second to be named this week. Members of the Santa Monica bureau are Mrs. A. Armour, Ber- nard Leavitt, George Page, Earnest Strum, Beach Abrams and Lois Fisher. Adherence to a 28-point safety program has been pledged by all exhibitors of Santa Monica along with a policy of self -policing and gov- ernment to maintain a rigid standard of civilian defense within theaters. M. E. Lee Resigns Des Moines — M. E. Lee, veteran booker for Central States Theater Corp. has announced his resignation. Announcement of his successor will be made later. Perry Como Signed Perry Como, who is currently clicking in a personal appearance at the Strand Theater, New York, has been placed under a term con- tract by 20th Century-Pox. DAILY NEIC to Aid Third War Loan and National Fund At the NEIC meeting last night the committee decided to make its chief aims aiding in the third war loan and the National War Fund drive. Vice - chairman James E. Sauter presided in the absence of Chairman George J. Schaefer. The committee decided on the ap- pointment of a committee, whose members will be named later, to go to Washington to confer with the Treasury Department on how NEIC can best aid in the third war loan. The Treasury and the War Fund will be asked to send representatives to the next NEIC meeting in New York next Thursday which will be devoted entirely to NEIC co-operation in the two campaigns. The all-entertainment rally to pledge six weeks of service in the war effort was advanced from Sept. 20 to Aug. 23 when a meeting will be held at midnight in some New York theater. A report from the projects committee was submitted by Philip Loeb, chairman WPB Commends Calif. Theaters' Hosiery Salvage West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Southern California theaters have just completed another vitally important war activity — the collection of thousands of pounds of discarded silk and nylon hosiery. So successful was the drive that Zach Farmer, salvage director for the War Production Board, said: "The thea- ters have done a remarkable job of salvaging silk and nylon; in fact, through their organized efforts we feel that they have scraped the bot- tom of the remaining silk and nylon supply in this territory." WPB officials in Southern Cali- fornia have asked the War Activities Committee to prepare an outline of the complete salvage plan for pos- sible use in other parts of the coun- try. Farmer said it is the most satis- factory and productive means yet devised for the collection of silk and nylon. Cornelius Vanderbilt Joins Russell Birdwell Major Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., author and world traveler, has be- come an associate in the public re- lations firm of Russell Birdwell and Associates, it was announced by Rus- sell Birdwell, head of the company. Major Vanderbilt will spend equal time in the Birdwell offices in New York City, Washington, D. C, and Beverly Hills. In the latter place he will concentrate on the motion pic- ture accounts in co-operation with Birdwell and his staff and in the other centers will be concerned with the post-war planning of the Bird- well organization, as well as taking an active part in the commercial and industrial accounts. COMinG and GOING JAMES NASSER, prominent Coast exhibitor and associate of Andrew Stone, is in town confer- ring with UA executives on "Hi Diddle Diddle," Andrew Stone's initial release. CHARLES LEONARD, publicity representative for Andrew Stone Productions, is in town on business. HASKELL MASTERS, general manager of the Odeon Theaters of Canada, is in town at the Warwick. <£-•« ' MARCO arrives in New York tomorrow \ a week's stay. RICHARD F. WALSH, IATSE prexy, is ex- pected back from the Middle West Monday. DON AMECHE is en route from the Coast for the Roxy premiere of 20fh-Fox's "Heaven Can Wait," in which he has the chief role. MAX STEINER, composer and musical director on the Warner Bros, studio staff, leaves New York today for the Coast. IRVING A. MAAS, assistant director of the International department of 20th-Fox, left yes- terday for the company's regional meeting in Chicago. KATINA PAX1NOU, the Creek actress, arrives here from Hollywood on Monday on a two-week vacation. H. ALLEN SMITH arrives on the Coast on Monday from New York to start work under a writing contract with Paramount. PAULETTE CODDARD is slated for a USO- Camp Shows tour upon completion of work in Paramount's "Standing Room Only." Goetz-Spitz Not Limited To Financing Other Units West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Representatives of Goetz-Spitz International Pictures denied a published report that its chief function would be to finance other producing units and said the report was probably caused because of negotiations now pending which, if consummated, would result in the organization's financing the Broad- way presentation of Cheryl Craw- ford's new play, "One Man's Venus," with John Wildberg as the stage pro- ducer. Stage and Screen If you see your favorite theater manager, equipment man or editor poring intently over a bulky vol- ume neatly done in white cover, it is more than likely that he is indulging in his favorite business and pleasure of going through the twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the Year Book of Motion Pictures published by Film Daily. The text this year is marked by a great many new and up-to-the-minute features, it has reviews and comment and factual summaries in one of the most complete assemblies of needed information in the amusement field that has ever been undertaken. Even in the face of wartime restrictions, the volume is one that no person in, or interested in show business can be without. Typographically and as to layout it is a beautifully done job. Reprinted from the Evening World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska June 2, 1943 ^ tfP '^L--*^- ^ *f <&fi* ■o$° « „AHD WHAT A COMBINATION FOR ANY SITUATION! Mom WOOU^ ■* UNA O'CONNOR • ALAN MOWBRAY Directed by John Stahl Produced and Written for the Screen by Nunnally Johnson From the Novel by Arnold Bennett "H^ CENTURY-FOX « 91 Friday, August 6, 1943 DAILY Paramount Earnings Show Further Gains {Continued from Page 1) for the quarter ended July 4, 1942, were $2,908,000 including $482,000 share of undistributed earnings of partially owned non-consolidated subsidiaries. Earnings for the six months ended July 3, 1943, on the same basis are estimated at $7,387,000 including $1,- 374,000 share of undistributed earn- ings of partially owned non-con- solidated subsidiaries, while earnings for the first six months of 1942 were $5,823,000 including $1,026,000 share of undistributed earnings of partial- ly owned non-consolidated subsidi- aries. Eng. Subsidiaries Included Earnings for the 1943 periods in- clude the company's full share of film rentals and earnings of its Eng- lish subsidiaries, the share of film rentals and earnings of all other sub- sidiaries operating outside the West- ern hemisphere (including those operating in Australia, New Zea- land and India) being included only to the extent that revenues there- from have been received or de- termined to be receivable in dollars. Earnings for the 1942 periods in- cluded only those subsidiaries which had operations in the Western hemi- sphere, the operations of all other foreign subsidiaries (including those operating in England, Australia, New Zealand and India) and the company's share of film rentals therefrom being included only to the extent received or determined to be receivable in dollars. $1.02 Per Share The $3,827,000 of estimated com- bined consolidated and share of un- distributed earnings for the quarter represent $1.02 per share on the 3,- 752,136 shares of common stock outstanding on July 3, 1943, which compares with $.94 per share on the common shares then outstanding (after providing $189,063 for ac- crued dividends on then outstanding first preferred shares) for the quart- AUGUST 6 Irvin Shapiro Leo Carrillo Hoot Gibson Victor Francen Frank Tuttle Lucille Ball Louis K. Sidney AUGUST 7 Ann Harding Billie Burke Rudolph C. Ising AUGUST 8 Joe Orlando Al W. Schwalberg John Hobble Sylvia Sidney 100% for Army Tulsa, Okla. — Ralph Talbot, presi- dent of Ralph Talbot Theaters, will contribute his entire share of the special premiere receipts of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" to the Army Emergency Relief Fund. The Warner Bros, production for Army Relief will have its local opening Aug. 11 at the Orpheum Theater. 20-Fox Meeting Pays Tribute to Service Men (Continued from Page 1) the home office and 15 exchanges, five of them Canadian, in attendance. The flags of the United States and the Dominion were raised as the Can- adian contingent entered the meeting hall headed by Sydney Samson, gen- eral manager of the company in Can- ada. Murray Silverstone, head of foreign sales, who was unable to at- tend the Chicago regional, drew a special salute in behalf of 20th-Fox's employes in the service from all the company's foreign branches flying the flags of the United Nations. The meeting was opened by Tom Connors, distribution head. The ses- sion was conducted by W. J. Kupper, William Gehring and L. J. Schlaifer. President Spyros Skouras, Connors, Samson and Hal Home will address the delegates today, when the prod- uct will be discussed. At the close of the meeting tomorrow the home- office contingent will leave for the Coast regional to be held in Los An- geles on Aug. 11-13. Don Ameche arrived in Chicago yesterday to appear before the dele- gates. Datlowe Completes Series Sam Datlowe, director, has com- pleted the second series of five war training films which the Emerson Yorke Studio is producing for the U. S. Office of Education. Datlowe left New York last night for Cin- cinnati where he will screen rushes and confer with the Ohio State Voca- tional Committee, and representa- tives of the U. S. Office of Educa- tion, Washington, D. C. er ended July 4, 1942. Estimated combined consolidated and share of undistributed earnings of $7,387,000 for the six months ended July 3, 1943, represent $1.97 per share on such common stock outstanding, which compares with $1.88 per share on the common shares then outstand- ing (after providing $378,126 for ac- crued dividends on then outstanding first preferred shares) for the six months ended July 4, 1942. The board of directors of Para- mount Pictures yesterday declared the regular quarterly dividend of 30c per share on the common stock, payable Oct. 1. 1943, to stockholders of record on September 10, 1943. Prof. Schaeffer Passes Scranton. Pa. — The funeral of Professor Emorv Schaeffer, veteran employe of the Comerford organiza- tion, and a close, personal friend of the late M. E. Comerford, founder of that chain, was held in this city. Move Started to Change O. C. to 24-Hour Town (Continued from Page 1) of the huge Douglas Aircraft Co. plants welfare division here. He has asked the city council to make some provision for legal operation of thea- ters after midnight. Pointing out the lack of recrea- tion facilities for swing shift work- ers, Schmitt stated that one theater which has been giving late shows one night each week (the Standard Midwest) attracts from 800 to 1,400 Douglas employes who get off work a.-.. 12:30 a.m. City Council members have dis- cussed the matter but have post- poned any action for two weeks pending an investigation they plan to make. In declining to act so far, council members expressed concern over whether opening of theaters, after midnight, would result in complaints, particularly in areas surrounding neighborhood theaters. Although the ordinance, to be ef- fective, would have to be general in nature applying to all theaters equally, it, was considered that few, if any, outlying theaters would find it profitable to remain open later than at p:esent because most late shift workers would not concentrate in neighborhood sections sufficiently to make late shows profitable there. East St. Louis Theater Wins Cut in Clearance (Continued from Page 1) Century-Fox has been compromised and "settled out of court." The case was to have been heard Aug. 3 before H. Chouteau Dyer, prominent local attorney. Under the agreement the clear- ance of the Majestic Theater, a Pub- lix house, first-run in East St. Louis, over the 40th Street is reduced to 48 days, which it is agreed is reason- able. The stipulation signed by M. A. Rosecan, attorney for the complain- ant, and the law firm of Boyle & Priest, counsel for the defendant company, through G. T. Priest and Robert E. Moloney, points out that the reduction of the clearance of the Majestic to 48 days is not construed as an admission that the prior clear- ance was unreasonable or unfair. The original complaint of Dr. Hobbs was directed also against Loew's, Inc., Vitagraph, Paramount and RKO-Radio but previously agree- ment on the 48-day clearance basis was reached with those defendants. No testimony was taken in the case. San Francisco Warfield Sets Rogers First-Run The Warfield in San Francisco is the latest de luxe house to join the group of first-run theaters playing a Roy Rogers production. Republic's "Silver Spurs" opens at this theater on Sept. 4, with Rogers and his horse, Trigger, making a personal appearance in conjunction with the week's engagement. See Liberalization of Decree Section X (Continued from Page 1) runs, has been somewhat of a "head- ache" since the decree went into operation and the provisions of the section are expected to be re-written. It is reported that other sections of the decree will remain pretty much the same, with small bloc selling remaining in force despi protests of exhibitors who are seek- ing to buy in larger groups. OWI Gets New Pledge Of Exhibitor Co-operation (Continued from Page 1) newed their pledge of full co-opera- tion on behalf of the 16,000 theaters for which WAC talks, and were as- sured of every consideration and aid from OWI. The meeting was de- scribed by both industry and Gov- ernment men on hand as "very satis- factory." Hoyt made it plain that he has not yet decided on a man to fill Lowell Mellett's shoes. He meets today with Francis Harmon in what is expected to be another attempt to choose such a man. On hand for the exhibitors were Si Fabian, Harry Brandt, Arthur Mayer, George Skouras, Carter Bar- ron, Charles Moskowitz, Robert Wil- by, Ed Kuykendall and Joseph Bern- hard. Prior to the meeting the delega- tion conferred briefly with George C. MacMurphey, who, when his trans- fer from OPA is approved by the Civil Service Commission, will head the amusements section of the Office of Civilian Requirements. The meet- ing with MacMurphey was similar in nature to that with Hoyt — mainly a matter of getting acquainted and trying to probe the extent of OCR authority, which is still a doubtful issue. Brandt and Fabian also visited for an hour with Oscar Doob, Loew's New York publicity chief, who is now on loan to the Treasury Department for a special job in connection with the third war loan drive next month. Mono. Sets Musical "Victory Parade" has been set as the title of a new screen musical to be filmed at Monogram as a part of the 1943-44 program. Jack Fen- ton is now at work on the develop- ment of the story. STORKS Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital was the arrival venue of an eight-pound boy, born on Tuesday to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Resnick. Daddy is an ace in- dustry script writer with the Emer- son Yorke Studio, New York. Friday, August 6, 1943 DAILY Renewal of British Shorts Pad Expected (Continued from Page 1) that the companies will continue to distribute the subjects. Companies "draw straws" for the reels as a means of designating which subjects will be handled by Wjtobich companies. Five are currently Joeing distributed by five of the maj- ors. Scouts as Vandalism Curb Urged by Ed Kuykendall (Continued from Page 1) deavor to obtain the co-operation of the Boy Scouts in a nation-wide plan to curb vandalism in theaters by juveniles and young men and women. Kuykendall is of the opinion that the presence in each theater of two or more Boy Scouts at each evening performance would effectively curb rowdyism by young folks. He feels that the fine example of the Boy Scouts would cause other boys and girls to eliminate noise and bad con- duct in the theaters. President Wehrenberg informed Kuykendall that' he has had splendid results at his Cinderella and Michi- gan theaters in South St. Louis since he employed middle aged women to act as matrons in those theaters. He has found that women have a great- er influence and better control over the young folks than have male ushers. St. Louis on the whole hasn't suf- fered from youthful vandalism in its theaters to the same extent as other cities of similar character and popu- lation. The local police have ob- tained excellent results with youthful delinquents by a system of super- vised play. In various police dis- tricts detectives and uniformed pa- trolmen devote much of their leisure time to coaching baseball and foot- ball teams of boys who have sort of "gotten off on the wrong foot." The result has been the lads have let off their surplus steam in the supervised games and their general conduct has improved. Double Duty Harrisburg — C. Floyd Hopkins, city manager for Wilmer and Vin- cent, is meeting the manpower short- age by taking on extra work. He is now managing the Rio during the vacation of Manager E. G. Wollas- ton. IN NEW POSTS TOM KETTERING, RKO exploiteer, Buffalo. E. LEVETTE, purchasing agent, Warner Thea- ters, New Haven. NORMAN GOLDBLATT, cashier, Monogram, Chi- cago. WILLIAM CLARK, manager, N-K Theater (form- erly Ritz), Muskegon, Mich. ROBERT B. MARTSCH, story department, Para- mount Famous Studios, N. Y. New Canadian Labor Call Hits Theaters This Kaleidosco-Pic Biz: • • • FILE under The Northward Course of Empire: 20th-Fox has changed the title of its pic, "Tampico," to "Galveston". ... • The heroic and much-overworked Lucy Monroe, who has sung our National Anthem literally thousands of times, can perhaps cut down a bit on per- sonal appearances now that she has made her first of a new series of Community Sings for Columbia She renders therein a number of national airs, including "Army Air Corps," "Anchors Aweigh," "Over There," and (you guessed it!), — "The Star Spangled Banner". ... • A 16-page souvenir program of the Artkino-Joseph Burstyn film, "The Rus- sian Story," has been edited and published by Noel Meadow, press repre- sentative for the local Stanley Theater Job is in two colors, and furnishes a tie-up for exhibs. who can sell the publication in their theater lobbies 'when playing the pic T T T • • • SAMMY (UA) COHEN correctly observes that the follow- ing, widely published yarn proves further the hold of movies on our soldiers: "Capt. Julius Tepper of Brooklyn is very fond of murder mysteries, but he is even more devoted to his profession as a specialist in brain surgery Recently be was attending the showing of 'Ladx of Burlesque,' starring Barbara Stanwyck, at a camp movie somewhere in New Guinea At the most interesting part he was called from the show to aid Capt. Frederick Hidde of Sheboygan, Wis., perform a delicate brain operation An Australian soldier had been sev- erely injured in the head by the accidental explosion of an airplane tire The two surgeons operated for five hours and the man was expected to live However, the Brooklyn doctor did not find out who killed the various movie characters and wrote home to his family They informed him by return mail" T ▼ T • • • MORE refreshing than the refreshments at the Waldorf-As- toria reception tendered by 20th-Fox to Ernst Lubitsch on Wednesday evening was the congenial atmosphere created by the company's Jack Goldstein His boss, Hal Home, at the time en route to Chi. for the second regional, had delegated Jack to handle this important social chore Well, Sir, Jack did something exceeedingly rare and well He turned the gathering of heterogeneous guests into a most palsy - walsy, homogeneous group, — by personally introducing everyone at the party to everyone else Before the reception was o'er, it was all one big, happy family Local Film Row and its associated fringes here- abouts are still talking of the swell time they had at Mister Lubitsch's social When Ernst gets back this way again from Hollywood, he'll have to bring with him a nice big SRO sign if he appears in an Honor Guest role, — and doubtless will so appear by popular demand T T T • •«//' Paramount needs a shooting-heaven for "Speaking of Animals," we suggest Ole Beantown as a splendid potential venue The Hub seems to be in for a perfect deluge of circuses First of all comes J. C. Harlacker's Stadium Circus to Fenway Park,— Aug. 23- 29—, with three hours of circus and Water Follies, with many big names on its roster of acts, and being staged for the benefit of the Sullivan Shrine Committee, organized to raise funds for the erection of a perma- nent memorial to the Five Sullivan Brothers Then, Sept. 25-Oct. 3. the Hamid-Morton Circus holds forth in Boston Garden, also bearing big names, and staged by the famous Bob Morton Thereafter, "Spangles," direct from Madison Sq. Garden, goes to Boston Garden Pic exhibs. ain't seen so much circus competition in decades! T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! (Continued from Page 1) fore Aug. 9 for employment else- where. Employers have been warned that continued employment of those with- in the age limits are committing an offense under National Selective Ser- vice Mobilization regulations. Others included under the latest order are writers, photographers and those engaged in occupations having to do with vending machines, furni- ture manufacturing, upholstering, organs and other musical instru- ments. Theater-going Habits Are Reported Changing (Continued from Page 1) St. Louis and other keys. New York is the goal of practically every service man who man make it for a week-end and Broadway jams up with them every Saturday and Sun- day night. Naturally a good many line up at the film houses, supple- menting the normal heavy attendance and the patronage of war workers looking for a way to relax and spend their extra money. Chicago reports a regular week- end influx estimated at 300,000 sol- diers, sailors, marines WACS, WAVES and SPARS. All want en- tertainment and the firs-run shows are the choice with most. Typical of other factory centers is the situa- tion in St. Louis where operators re- port that the population increase of some 115,000 war workers has had a decided influence in keeping the pre-war patron closer to his neigh- borhood theater, away from down- town crushes. Three Western Governors Make Aug. 17 "Army" Day Governors of three Western states Wan-en of California, Snell of Ore- gon and Langlie of Washington- have proclaimed Aug. 17 "This is the Army" day in honor of the West- ern day-and-date premiere of the Warner Bros, production on that date in about 50 Pacific Coast spots. The Irving Berlin musical will have advanced-price openings in all of these spots, with others to follow. Fourth for "Power" Walt Disney's "Victory Through Air Power" begins the fourth week of its world premiere engagement at the Globe Theater, tomorrow. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged ROBERT MOREDOCK, formerly Shea publicity staff, Buffalo, from the Army. ARTHUR BOLDT, former assistant manager, Shea's Creat Lakes, Buffalo, from the Army. 2 SECOND WEEK AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ALMOST AS BIG AS THE FIRST...WHICH WAS A WHOPPER! * * I 0? PHILADELPHIA • PROVIDEHCE SAH FRANCISCO • ROCHESTER KANSAS CITY • CLEVELAND SALT LAKE CITY- RICHMOND, VA. \M SEAnLE BRIDGEPORT MEMPHIS • WICHITA BALTIMORE • MARYLAND INDIANAPOLIS - DAYTON OMAHA • SPRINGFIELD, MASS. AKRON • WORCESTER, MASS. DULUTH • COLUMBUS READING • TRENTON HARRISBURG • OAKLAND SYRACUSE » WATERLOO ST. LOUIS • LOUISVILLE DES MOINES ti'tojH CARY GRANT RKO RADIO PICTURES LARAINEDAY CHARLES BICKFORD - GLADYS COOPER • ALAN CARNEY -HENRY STEPHENSON PRODUCED BY DAVID HEMPSTEAD • DIRECTED BY H.C; POTTER Screen Ploy by Milton Holmoi and Adncjo;5; ing fronts has had to be withheld for reason of military security." Much of this material, it is believed, will later be made available. Al- though it might not be of great value to the newsreels, it is probable that some of it, at least, will be of tre- mendous value to studios looking for war footage to use in feature pix. Available for Public Showing Almost all material shot by the newsreel pool representatives is made available for public showing, said Collins, but it is impossible to reach any estimate as to how much of the total footage released by the ser- vices has actually been shot by the reel men. Signal Corps and Navy combat camera units have been turn- ing in material which from the point of view of the newsreel have been showing tremendous improvement. Service biggies, Collins said, are "getting sold on the value of pic- tures in the war effort." Despite the improved outlook for good war pix, Collins holds that this war is essentially not photogenic. A major part of the Army action is in the air, said Collins, and bombers are generally too high to get good pix even with telephoto lenses, and strafing planes usually move too fast for good pix to be made. On the ground the best shots, aside from the Pacific theater, are usually acci- dental, with much of the ground fighting consisting of long-range artillery dueling. The "bush fighting" in the Pacific islands is probably the best hand to hand action available Pool Cameramen Assignments Thirteen representatives of the newsreel pool are out now with Army or Navy units, with two now in this country. In Africa, presumably cov- ering the Southern European fight- ing, are Jack Barnett of Movietone, W. F. Gerecke of Paramount, Irving Smith of Universal, with Ned Buddy, who represents the pool, and Neil Sullivan, ace Pathe aerial camera- man, on their way. Norman Alley, News of the Day, is assigned to the Atlantic fleet, and has shot action in the Mediterranean. Martin Barnett of Paramount and Earle Crotchett of Universal are in Australia, with Langdon Senick of Movietone and Lenroos of Pathe based at Hawaii with the Pacific fleet. Charles Perryman of News of the Day is in Alaska and Newsreelman Wong of the same reel in Chungking. David Oliver of Pathe is based in London. Senick is replacing John Bockhorst of News of the Day, who has returned to this country after a bout of malaria, and Sullivan is replacing Howard Winner of Pathe. DA N L S1717 MHZ 3 N I V CI cl cl H m p p n a 2 n W 44ST NC FILE COPY NOT REMOVE Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought ? DAILY Vv-38 84, NO. 27 NEW YORK, MONDAY. AUGUST 9, 1943 TEN CENTS UMPI POINTS IN NEW_ALLIED SALES PLAN 41% of Atlas Common Holdings in Amusements THE WEEK IN REVIEW Trust Suit Combination? I By L. H. MITCHELL ' TOM CLARK: Tom C. Clark, As- sistant Attorney General in charge )f the anti -trust division of the D of f, expressed the desire to combine ;he Department's industry anti-trust suits, including the New York con- sent decree, the Schine, Crescent and Griffith cases. * * * ORC STEPS IN: The newly-creat- sd Office of Civilian Requirements began moving on the amusement in- dustry by taking over authority on priority assistance applications for new theaters and equipment. ALLIED: Proposed "new selling" plan by Allied will be on the agenda at the board meeting in Baltimore Wednesday and Thursday. The first of its "buying clinics" will be held in New Haven in September. RKO PACTS: Board of RKO has authorized new seven-year contract to N. Peter Rathvon as president of the RKO Corporation and to Ned E. Depinet as president of RKO Radio Pictures, subject to approval by the stockholders. NEWS ITEMS: Increase of theater vandalism by juveniles in particular continues to increase, and the curfew method of attempt at suppressing it is spreading over the country. . . . Charles Francis Coe in his speech at Rochester told his hearers that U. S. pix are exploding the propa- ganda put out by the Axis partners. . . . D of J is asking indie groups to file their ideas on the consent de- cree, planning to submit them to the distributors. . . . Disposal of Army theaters and equipment, after the war, will depend on the size of our post-war Army. . . . Treasury is cold to theaters' proposal to collect coDper pennies at the country's box offices to withdraw them from cir- culation. . . . Para, second quarter earnings are estimated at $3,827,000. . . WMC is re-classifying fathers for induction into Army in October. Solidity of Industry Seen in Atlas' Report for First Six Months Both the current and future solidi- ty of the motion picture industry as a field of investment and profit is strongly reflected in the report just issued to its shareholders by Atlas Corp. covering the first six months of 1943. The report, sub- mitted by Floyd B. Odium, Atlas president, saliently disclosed that of the common stocks held by his or- ganization an astonishingly high in- crement, 41.6 per cent are in amuse- ments, predominantly in three major film companies, — RKO Corp., Para- (Continued on Page 6) Say Parents Not Pix Delinquency Cause Albany — Contradicting certain pressure groups who contend that motion pictures are a contributing cause to current juvenile delinquency, announced findings in a State-wide suivey on the juvenile delinquency problem show that a definite decline (Continued on Page 7) To Mull Print Situation at Allied Balto. Meeting Dallas — All directors of national Allied have been requested, through a general bulletin, to be ready to discuss the print situation in their respective territories. Move was launched by Col. H. A. Cole, presi- (Continued on Page 7) Push Affiliation Of NEIC and WAC The National Entertainment In- dustry Council has moved to hasten the WAC's affiliation with it so that the NEIC may derive as soon as possible the full benefit of the film industry's contribution to the organization's program for all-out mobilization of the show world in the interests of the nation's war effort. The NEIC is acting at the suggestion of its projects commit- tee. WAC affiliation with the NEIC is under consideration by a commit- tee of eight. The membership com- mittee of the NEIC recently extend- ed until Sept. 1 the deadline for the admittance of the WAC to mem- bership. Fan Magazine Sales Up With B.O. Grosses The tremendous increase in box office grosses during last year is matched, in the film business, only by the increased circulation in movie fan magazines. Whether the business spurts by both the theaters and the (Continued on Page 7) Peskay Heads New Firm; To Make Six for '43-44 Ed Peskay has formed a production syndicate which will produce six pictures for the 1943-44 season, it was reported Friday. Distribution outlet for three of the pictures has (Continued on Page 2) Seek Training Pix Distribs. Bids Out as Castle Contract Expires Place Early Hour Curfew On Elizabeth Children Elizabeth, N. J. — In a move to combat juvenile delinquency and the- ater vandalism, the City Council here has placed a curfew on children under 16. Parents or guardians will (Continued on Page 2) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Bid invitations are now going out for the distribution of nearly 200 training films released by the Office of Education. Of the 48 of these films now in circulation, 17,000 prints have already been sold, and completion of another 150 is scheduled by Nov. 1. Distribution (Continued on Page 7) Allied Board to Report on Members' Reaction; May Submit Plan to D-J A sales plan patterned on some of the better points embodied in the proposed UMPI selling formula may be submitted to the Department of Justice by national Allied, it was learned at the week-end. The UMPI (United Motion Picture Industry) plan was drawn up by representa- tives of the distributors and exhibi- tors last Summer and was later- rejected by Thurman Arnold, then assistant Attorney General. A proposal for an equitable uni- form sales plan was made to Al- lied's board of directors by Abram (Continued on Page 6) Seek Two Fugitives In Extortion Case Federal authorities on Friday started a nation-wide search to locate two fugitives wanted by the Government as witnesses in the forthcoming trial of the eight rack- eteers charged with extorting more <-han $2,500,000 from film companies. Federal Judge John C. Knox in N. (Continued on Page 7) Mellett Successor Still In Doubt; Names Hinted Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — No proposal from in- dustry sources for the man to suc- ceed Lowell Mellett as OWI film chief has yet been received by OWI, (Continued on Page 6) Expect 36 to 40 On 20th-Fox List Chicago — Between 36 and 40 pic- tures will comprise the 20th-Fox program for 1943-44 season, it was indicated here yesterday as home office execs, pushed off for the third and final regional sales conference in Los Angeles. Company's complete lineup is expected to be announced this week. Vol. 84, No. 27 Mon., Aug. 9, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. AL1COATE : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Cas-llo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (August 6) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET High 15% Low Close is" is" — Net Chg. IS l/g 60 i/g 1 20" 60'/4 255/8 8% 90 203/4 31% 12% 15% 15% + 59i/2 i59i/2 _ 19% 19% — ' 591/4 591/4 — 243/4 25 — 8 8 — 88 1/2 88 1/2 — 201/s 201/2 — 3U/4 3H/4 — 12% 12% .. Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2%%) Columbia Picts. pfd.. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. East. Kodak 1 do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Para. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs. ... 13/8 1% \3/e ..']. Sonotone Corp 3% 33/4 334 Technicolor 13% 133/8 13% — % Trans-Lux Universal Picts 16% 16% 161/4—% Uniform Blackout Laws Drafted for 16 States BOND MARKET Omaha — Commanding generals of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Ser- vice commands have agreed on uni- form basic blackout laws, Maj. Gen. Frederick Uhl, commanding general of the Seventh Service command, stated here. The agreement states that train- ing should be effected with a mini- mum of both public inconvenience and loss of productive effort. Prac- tice blackouts involving the public in the 16 states covered by these three commands are not to take place more than once a month. Peskay Heads New Firm; To Make Six for '43-44 (Continued from Page 1) been set and a deal is pending for the releasing arrangement for the other three. Announcement by the distributors, so far unidentified, is expected this week. First picture is now in preparation. Peskay has been the Eastern man- ager for Hal Roach for the last sev- eral years and in addition has repre- sented Edward Small recently. He has been identified with the industry for many years as an executive in the production, distribution and ex- hibition fields, having held top posi- tions in all three branches. RKO to Launch 50-City "Sun" Premiere in N. W. With the 79-city world premiere of "Behind the Rising Sun" in the bag, RKO Radio's attention has now been turned to the Northwest premi- ere which Robert Mochrie, general sales manager, states is scheduled to take place in fifty Pacific Coast cities tomorrow. The Northwest promotion will be on the same large scale which proved so successful in New Eng- land, according to S. Barret Mc- Coimick, director of advertising and publicity. RKO Radio exploitation chief Terry Turner, and James R. Young, author of "Behind the Rising Sun," have already left for that ter- ritory with Young scheduled to make a number of talks on the picture be- fore civic bodies, in churches, war plants, etc. Call Fathers to Armed Services at Same Time Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The War Manpower Commission announced Friday that calls upon state and local draft boards will be so adjusted that fathers will begin to be called for military service at approximately the same time in all areas. Boards or states with large pools of non-fathers might find their quo- tas raised, while the quotas for others might be lowered, in an effort to exhaust the supply of single and childless men at the same time in all areas. Once again the WMC made it plain that the October date is important only as a date for eligibility of fathers for military call. No definite date has been set for the actual be- ginning of the call. Chapman Here for Personals Marguerite Chapman, Columbia star, arrives from the Coast today. She will make personal appearances throughout the East in connection with her latest picture, "Destroyer." Shipyards and other war plants are included in her itinerary. Milton Wood Dies Cleveland — Milton J. Wood, 64, former vaudeville actor accredited with being the inventor of the wood- en shoe buck and wing type of dan- cing, died here this week at the home of his nephew, Guy Champion. FflU DAILY Monday, August 9, 194:; Place Early Hour Curfew On Elizabeth Children (Continued from PagS 1) be subject to fines ranging from $5 to $25 or a jail sentence up to 10 days for violations. Minors unac- companied by adults on the streets after 9:30 P.M. in Summer and 9 in Winter will be subject to juvenile court action. Two Warner Specials Due for September Release Warner Bros, will release two specials in September the first month of the new season, it is an- nounced by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager. "Watch on the Rhine," starring Bette Davis and Paul Lukas, goes into general release Sept. 4. "Thank Your Lucky Stars," musi- cal with all the Warner contract stars plus several outside headliners, is set for Sept. 25 release. In addi- tion to Bette Davis, Humphrey Bo- gart, Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, John Garfield, Olivia de Havilland and other Warner players, the cast includes Eddie Cantor, Dinah Shore, Edward Everett Horton and S. Z. Sakall. , 20th-Fox Execs. Off For Coast Regional Sales Meet Chicago — The following 20th-Fox execs, here for the regional meeting left Sunday for the California meet- ing: Tom J. Connors, Will Kupper, Hal Home, William E. Gehring, Andy Smith, L. J. Schlaifer, Sam Shain, William Clark, Marvin Mos- kowitz, Paul Terry, Eddy Collins, and Harvey Fay. Prexy Spyros Skouras, who re- turned to New York Friday, will go West tomorrow. Connors said 20th-Fox would in- crease its advertising budget ma- terially for the new season, in news- papers, national magazines and trade papers. Small Sets Top Budget for "Kate Fennigate" A production budget of nearly 1,- 500,000 has been set by Edward Small for his forthcoming United Artists picturization of Booth Tarkington's new novel, "Kate Fen- nigate," it was announced Friday. Film rights for the book were bought by Small for $100,000. Total produc- tion costs will set an all-time high for Small's independent picture mak- ing. Lifts Temporary Injunction On "Roger Toughy" Film Chicago — Judge William Holly lifted the temporary injunction on 20th Century-Fox's "Roger Toughy, Gangster" film at the week-end, al- lowing the company to show the film throughout the country. The court gave Touhy's attorney, Irwin Roth, five days to file an amended bill in the case. COfllinG and Gome EDMUND GOULDINC, director of "Claudia,' arrives today. FRANK SINATRA, left New York for Holly wood yesterday. E. O. WILSCHKE, of Altec, Lansing, Hollywood is in New York. F. C. DICKEY, Detroit district manager fll Altec Service, is in town for home-offjuir -con- ferences. ricT^nan WARREN CONNER, Cincinnati district-fnan ager of Altec Service, has checked in at the company's New York office. HERMAN CLUCKMAN of the WAC leaves Ne\ York for Hollywood today for an extended stay, with a stopover in St. Louis to visit his son, j who is stationed in the Air Corps there. He is expected back in town in September. AL MARCOLIES left yesterday for the Coast LEON BAMBERGER started a two-week vaca-l tion at the week-end MARGUERITE CHAPMAN will arrive in New; York today. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CONDOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BUYWAR DADAKirtllklT TIMES bonds PARAMOUNT square Lena HORNE Bill ROBINSON Cab CALLOWAY *^2llll and his band attfftf*^ SW**£ 20* CINTUKY FOX PKTURt PLUS A B t% f\ \r y 7th **• STAGE SHOW St. B'WAY & 47th St. WALTER HUSTON • ANN HARDIWS "MISSION TO MOSCOW" and "TWO SENORITAS FROM CHICAGO" JOAN DAVIS • JINX FALKENBERG P lo7w?.STRTE On Stage JOAN CRAWFORD FRED MacMURRAY "ABOVE SUSPICION" I In Person MARY BETH HUGHES HI, LO, JACK THE DAME HAPPY FELTON Keep it that way start p/anninq your 3d war loan drive HOUl starts Sept 9th sack 7»i /rmeKl ,W»Mi!^fWiiiTlTr»m»W \XI&ftr/Jk>t* >*'!'» >;,f^ttfu- This is their sfory...ond if romes from ; the Heart* V* «Kft25i\ W AK • ft Directed by vi< tt«» RALLY ROUND THE THIRD WftR LOAN SEPT. 9™-20r START YOUR CAMPAIGN NC- LIFE...MODERN SCREEN... MOVIELAND... SCREEN ROMANCES.. PHOTOPLAY MOVIE MIRROR . . tmilmmm&m 00K...MOVIE LIFE.. .MOVIES... flOVIE STAR PARADE.. .SCREEN 1UIDE...STARDOM...MOVIE SHO* MOVIE STORY...MOTION PICTURE. ..SCREENLAND. SILVER SCREEN DAILY Monday, August 9, 1943 UMPI Points May Be Used in Allied Plan (Continued from Page 1) F. Meyers, general counsel, at the board's Detroit meeting in May. It was then decided upon, that the directors should consult with their members on the advisability of reviving some of the UMPI provis- ions. The directors are expected to report on their members' reac- tions to the proposal at Baltimore on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. No recommendations for a selling plan were submitted to the D of J, but if the board's findings are favor- able, it is likely that a definite pro- posal will be laid before the depart- ment. It is possible that the plan • may be submitted to the D of J in Washington tomorrow when a special Allied committee huddles with Government officials. The UMPI plan among other things, called for sales in blocks of not more than 13 pictures, five of which would be tradeshown and the balance not tradeshown. Identifica- tion would have been based on four points; namely, (1) by the star or (2) featured players, or (3) by a brief outline of the story, or (4) if the feature is based upon, suggested by or adapted from a play or pub- lished book or story, by reference to such play or published book or story. The plan specifically prohibited the forcing of shorts with features. Other ideas discussed at the UMPI meetings may be incorporated into the new proposed sales plan. Mellett Successor Still In Doubt; Names Hinted (Continued from Page 1) James L. Allen, deputy domestic di- rector, said Friday. In the meantime, a number of names are in for frequent mention here in Washington — including Chris Dunphy, Ben Tau of Metro, Robert J. Wilby of the Wilby-Kincey Thea- ters in Georgia and Alabama and several others. Some observers here believe that Palmer Hoyt, domestic director, might delay for weeks or even months before naming as such to Mellett. Allen denied that there would be long delay, however. Fred Newmeyer Ed Schwarz Nat Pendleton Charles Farrell Dorothy Jordan Cerrit Lloyd Of Glories To Come: • • • SOON the nation's motion picture critics, — serving on newspapers, magazines, news syndicates, and even as commentators on iilms o'er radio chains and individual stations — .will cast their bal- lots in the exceedingly important poll conducted by THE FILM DAILY to determine, in the opinions of America's professional pic. appraisers, the Ten Best Directors of 1943 and those deserving Honor Roll status ...... When these experts have recorded their choices, the results will be disclosed in THE FILM DAILY's Directors Number and Production Preview, a compendium of information riches on the more vital facets of recent, present and future film-making Consequently, the Direc- tors Number and Production Preview will be of key importance to ALL segments of filmland, because product is filmland's cornerstone T ▼ ■ .':, T • • • IT is impossible to over-accent the importance of wartime production of motion pictures, so incalculably great are the influences of such upon our uniformed and civilian people, and those of our allies Nor is it possible to discuss Hollywood's output of "en- tertainment ammunition" without weighing the contributions, — yes, and the responsibilities— ,of directors whose skills and energies have gone, and are going, into the fashioning of feature screen fare For the proper parallel we have only to turn to the organized military forces conducting the present fight for freedom Under respective Higkt Commands, our own and allied arms operate The High Commands are, in a very accurate sense, in the position of the film producers And, truly too, are not McArthur, Eisenhower, Mont- gomery, Alexander, Popkoff, Sokolovsky, Chou En-lai, Pai Chung-hsi, et al, as they put into actuality the art and science of immediate war- fare, in much the same situation and station as the film director? ▼ T T • • • UPON the director, ever so much depends He can be, and so frequently is, the difference between a great picture, and just another picture He imparts to it a special character which is the reflection of his own talent and understanding of the creative The good director, armed with skill and opportunity (full many a good director's light is hidden by circumstances under the proverbial bushel), will invariably better, via interpretive flare, the best elements of a script, and carry to higher planes of interest much that would other- wise remain inconsequential in the story Just at random (we could recite literally scores of examples) let us take some recent scenes to prove the latter point In "The More the Merrier." George. Stevens built into an hilarious highlight what some less adept fellow would have passed over without more than routine treatment We refer to the advances of Joel McCrea upon Jean Arthur as the pair is seated on the apartment house steps, — Miss Arthur, in garrulous mood, un- twining from her the. persistent arms of her suitor THAT was direction And Ernst Lubitsch's sensitive and humor-laden hand- ling of the "Heaven Can Wait" prologue and epilogue sequences within Satan's splendid office, where the Prince of Darkness listens to the life story of Don Ameche and finally sends the latter "up" to ever- lasting bliss THAT was direction And the manner in which Michael Curtiz effected, in "This Is The Army," the good-natured transition from Army production numbers to one glorifying the Navy THAT was direction So was it also in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" when Sam Wood imparted in such exquisite taste the recitation by Ingrid Bergman to Gary Cooper of her tragic violation at the hands of the foe Good Producers Depend Upon Good Directors So Do Good Pictures! T ▼ T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! 41% of Alias Common Slock in Amusements (Continued from Page 1) mount Pictures, and 20th-Fox. The largest single holding of Atlas is 46 per cent of RKO Corp. common stock. In this amusement group, now the company's principal investment flC^\ holdings in RKO Corp. rose U 1,324,853 to 1,326,553 eommTn shares; in Paramount Pictures from 30,000 to 70,000 shares; and in 20th- Fox from 10,000 to 71,000 shares. The common stocks, classified by industries, are set forth as follows: Amusements, 41.6 per cent; Public Utilities, 24.1; Investment Trusts, 6.0; Retail Trade, 5.3; Food Products, 3.7; Oils, 2.8; Mining and Metals, 2.5; Banks and Finance Companies, 2.0; and Shipping, Railroads, Agri- cultural Machinery, Automobile and Auto Equipment, Miscellaneous In- dustrials, Building and Household Equipment, Tobaccos, Machiner y and Machine Tools, and Airchaft Manu- facturing, less than 2.0 per cent each, and ranging downward from Shipping, Railroads and Agricul- tural Machinery, at 1.8 per cent each, to Aircraft Manufacturing at 0.3 per cent. More than 76 per cent increase in the indicated asset value of the com- mon stock of Atlas Corp. during the year ended June 30, 1943, was shown in the semi-annual report. The in- dicated asset value of approximately $19.39 per common share at June 30, 1943, compares with $11.01 a year ago, and $12.56 per share at Dec. 31, 1942. A dividend of 25c per share has been declared on the common stock payable Sept. 10 to stockholders of record at the close of business Aug. 14, 1943. The regular quarterly dividend of 75c per share has also been declared on the preferred stock, payable Sept. 1, 1943, to stockhold- ers of record at the close of business Aug. 14, 1943. Odium said the corporation paid common dividends of $602,239 and preferred dividends of $516,372 in the first half of 1943, a total of $1,118,611. Cash on June 30 totaled $8,290,504, comparing with $5,197,- 727 on Dec. 31, 1942. U. S. Treasury Certificates amounted to $1,001,325, against $500,000. Gross income for the six months ended June 30 was $1,696,364. Net income after $477,348 expenses and $86,200 income taxes was $1,132,- 816. Net loss after deducting re- alized loss on sales of securities was $600,932. STORKS Denver — Jesse L. Lasky became a grandfather late last week when a boy was born here to Corporal and Mrs. William Lasky. Lt. Lew Mentlik, former reporter for The Exhibitor, became the father of a six-pound girl last week. Baby was born at Fort Bragg. Monday, August 9, 1943 \ice chiefs interviewed in 70 e-jDl of more than 10,000, Desmond said on the week-end, urged the edu- cating of parents to their respon- sibilities and organized supervision under civic youth councils for the "dangerous hours" during which children might lack parental guid- ance. In discussing the results of the State-wide survey, authoritative so- ciological channels expressed the con- viction that motion pictures and at- tendance thereat are deterrents to juvenile crime, and only by warped st: etch of the imagination an "en- couragement." Wholesome content 'of pictures, and their high education- al and relaxation value, keep young- sters off streets and away from juvenile "gang" activities, thus oc- cupying their time in constructive 'fashion during hours when parental 'supervision is lacking, it was said. Theaters, it is pointed out, suffer 'from a strange paradox, namely, that, as a constructive and diverting 'force, they are subject, as are schools 'and churches, to the irresponsible ac- tions of juvenile transgressors. Opinion is expressed that, were motion picture houses not operating, and thus occupying young minds, the wave of juvenile delinquency would be gr eatly in excess of what it now is. Seek Two Fugitives In Extortion Case (Continued from Page 1) Y. Federal court, signed the war- rants for the arrest of Robert Mc- Cullough and Nicholas Avolio at the request of Boris Kostelanetz, As- sistant U. S. Attorney General in charge of prosecution. McCullough, according to Kostel- anetz is a well-known Chicago gang- ster. Avolio is a former messenger for the Chicago mob. Both, Kostel- anetz said, are expected to give im- portant testimony at the trial of those indicted. The trial is scheduled to start on Sept. 7. "Mr. Lucky" Transferred To 2 Moveovers in Cleve. "Plenty of Form" Detroit — United Detroit Theaters held the annual golf tournament for all theater managers. Innovation was the presence of seven girls, now managing houses. It turned out none of them had ever played golf before. "Anyhow, they showed plenty of form," quipped Earl J. Hudson, cir- cuit president. To Mull Print Situation at Allied Balto. Meeting Fan Magazine Sales Up With B. 0. Grosses (Continued from Page 1) publishing houses are related can not be determined accurately, but some observers are of the opinion that the rise in magazine sales and the in- crease in theater grosses in most sections of the country go hand in hand. Newstand sales of the fan maga- zines have reached an all-time high and the returns of unsold copies are at their lowest point. The increase in sales started in September, 1941, according to the publishers. As an illustration of how sales have gone ut>, Fawcett's Motion Picture Maga- zine had a newstand circulation of 300,000 shortly before Pearl Harbor. Today the newstand sales on that magazine are in excess of 750,000. Whereas formerly, 85 per cent of the copies were sold, leaving a 15 per cent return, today Motion Picture Magazine's sales hit 98 per cent or only a 2 per cent return. Most publishers report the same widespread interest in Hollywood and pictures through their magazine sales. Fairlawn Plans Post-war House for Anacostia, D. C. Cleveland — RKO's "Mr. Lucky" proved its name by shattering an all- time precedent here. After a big opening week at Warners' Hippo- drome, it moved for a second week, not to one moveover house but to two of them, thereby becoming the first picture ever to run day and date at two downtown "A" houses. The two houses are the RKO Allen and War- ners' Lake. Washinaton Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Fairlawn Amuse- ment Co. here has just closed a con- tract with John and Drew Eberson, film theater architectural firm of New York City, to prepare plans and specification for post-war con- struction of a new theater in Ana- costia, D. C. House is to seat 1,000, and will represent the latest devel- opment in modern film construction, with magnesium and plastics play- ing an important role in fashion- ing of the auditorum. Action now in the matter of pro- viding the new theater is held by film circles as a forerunner of a "preparedness boom" by circuit operators in various parts of the country, aimed at aggressively pro- viding for "future" theaters in im- portant situations, as well as in smaller communities. Lloyd J. Wineland, FAC presi- dent, personally handled the pact with the Ebersons, it is reported. Moe Krane Dead Moe Krane, veteran employee of 20th Century-Fox's contract depart- ment, passed away early this week at the age of 55, after several months illness. (Continued from Page 1) dent of Texas Allied, who asserts he is concerned over the setting back of playing time of his membeis un- der present conditions. Cole said here last week that Har- old Hopper of the WPB had in- formed Allied directors at a previ- ous meeting that when raw stock was reduced, allowance was made for enough stock to take care of the Army-Navy bookings without bothering the commercial prints. However, Cole pointed out that the loan prints in most cases were not sufficient to cover bookings since 10 prints are required by the Army. The situation is reported as being further complicated by the fact that all loan prints must be returned after 30 days, whereas the Army usually sets dates two weeks after release. One exchange manager here said that prints used by the Army, although theoretically avail- able for commercial release in 30 days, require an average of 50 days. Dallas is pointed out as being the heaviest booker of Army prints be- cause there are more camps served from here than from any other ex- change city. Cole hopes to deter- mine if the situation is a national or local problem. Gov't Seeks Training Films Distributors (Continued from Page 1) has been handled by Castle Films, Chicago, whose contract runs out the end of this month. The Government is anxious to give all interested firms a chance to bid for the new contract. Selection of a single distributor or combine is looked for. Some invitations have already been mailed by the Procure- ment Division of the U. S. Treasury, but the office there does not have a complete list of firms which might care to handle this work. Interested parties are urged to get their names to the Procurement Division this week. Filmack Adds to Staff Chicago — Believing the coming season will be the biggest in the his- tory of Filmack Trailer Co., Irving Mack is augmenting his advertising staff. His newest addition is B-. W. Denison, employed as advertising manager. Denison has a wide ac- quaintance in the show world, hav- ing for many years directed the amusement department of the Her- ald and Examiner, and later, of the Chicago Daily News. «W* ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF WE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN WE MOVIES in 'SONG OF TEXAS' Somewhe Planted ccuMifiaLfyfr how, led. It/ah, JloaiA. 6tdAti Sept. 9 ^pM^l -x ' '" nflTionflLC^4m5? service PRIZE BBBY OF THE IBOUSTRY Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old F DAILY ' J=|L. 84, NO. 28 I NEW YORK, TUESDAY. AUGUST 10, 1943 TEN CENTS ALLIEDOFFERS DECREE^ CHANGES TO CLARK Sees No Need for Concern Over Electronics Altec Prexy Says Exhibs. Can Meet Shift from War To Peace-time Conditions That exhibitors have become a bit bewildered, and needlessly so, over the issued implications by some equipment manufacturers that the field of electronics may radically and suddenly affect the exhibition field with the advent of peace, is the crux of a statement issued to the- ater accounts, the trade press, and other wings of filmland by L. W. Conrow, president of Altec Service Corp. In a letter accompanying the fol- (Continued on Page 7) WMC's New Critical List Out Sunday Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Announcement of the WMC's new list of "critical oc- cupations," which will take preced- ence over the present lists of essen- tial activities and jobs, is to be made Sunday, it was learned here yesterday. Newsreels were asked " yesterday to shoot this morning {Continued on Page 6) CFI Three Months' Net Increases to $245,704 "For the three months ended June 30, 1943, Consolidated Film Indus- tries, Inc., reports a net profit of $423,628.64 before Federal tax pro- vision. Estimated Federal normal (Continued on Page 7) Dumont Launching JVeu? Tele Program Dumont's television station W2XWV will inaugurate a series of dramatic shows in an expansion of programs beginning in the Fall. Programs will supplement the regular Sunday variety shows, the latter hav- ing given the staff the necessary experience to undertake programs of a more elaborate nature. DuMont telecasts three nights a week. Mosf tlttt, Russian Major Studio, Resumes Production in Moscow; Plans Six Pictures Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Soviet embassy announced yesterday that Mosfilm, one of Russia's major studios, had returned to Moscow after two years in western Siberia. In the face of the German advance on Moscow in 1941, the studio was moved to Alma Ata, behind the Urals, where production was carried on under difficulties. About six pictures are planned for immediate production, including two musicals. Pattern of Soviet production for the present will be pictures on Russia's past and present wars. Ex-Soldiers to Aid In Vandalism Curb Newark, N. J. — Honorably dis- charged veterans of World War II, here, are responding enthusiastical- ly to an appeal directed at them, that they lend their military train- ing and leadership to a country- wide concerted drive to stamp out juvenile vandalism in theaters, stores and public buildings. The appeal was sent forth through the press and by direct mail from head- (Continued on Page 4) Ten New Pictures Start This Week at Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ten new pictures are scheduled to go into production this week. At Columbia: Six shooting. At M-G-M: Nine shooting. At Monogram: Four shooting-, including "Death Valley Rangers," western drama, co- starring Hoot Gibson and Ken Maynard. Robert Tansey producing and directing; and, the Sam Katzman-Jack Dietz production, (Continued on Page 6) Theater Attendance Up 25% — Kingsberg Minneapolis — Motion picture the- ater attendance throughout the na- tion is up 25 per cent so far this year over the corresponding period of last year, and that holds good for the Twin Cities, Malcolm Kingsberg, vice-president of RKO theaters, said here. Kingsberg was here to consult with the manager of the RKO-Or- pheum in St. Paul and also to look (Continued on Page 7) Cleve. Nabes Recruit War Workers Via Minute Men Cleveland — Initial trial of recruit- ing war workers through Minute Men speaking at theaters was so suc- cessful that the local War Manpower Commission staged a second drive. Six neighborhood theaters co-op- erated. They were the Yale, Eclaire, Superior, Regent, Avalon and Knick- erbocker. Second drive differed from (Continued on Page 7) A. C. Collections: $3,067,236 Balaban Says Industry Total was $4,122,008 Para. Launching Contest Barney Balaban, national chair- r- »n Jl " r"~~.«„;~„e. man of Red Cross Week sponsored For Proudly campaigns by the moti0n picture industry un- der the auspices of War Activi- ties Committee, last April 1 through April 7, in a final report issued yes- terday revealed that audience col- lections in the nation's theaters to- taled $3,067,236.25 and that the to- tal proceeds of the drive reached (Continued on Page 6) Neil Agnew, Paramount general sales manager yesterday announced a contest for theater managers in which $1,400 in War Bonds will be awarded for the six best selling campaigns on "So Proudly We Hail," (Continued on Page 7) Special Committee Con- fers in Wash.; Clark to Study Recommendations A special Allied committee yester- day delivered to Tom Clark, special assistant attorney general, a list of 11 recommendations for changes in the consent decree. The recom- mendations were substantially the same as those outlined by Abram F. Myers, Allied general counsel, at the Detroit meeting of the board in May and embodied such subjects as the- ater acquisitions, franchises, block- booking, blind-selling, clearance, (Continued on Page 4)e M-G-M's Next Block To Have 12 Pictures Twelve pictures will comprise M-G-M's next block, it was an- nounced yesterday by W. F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager. Originally, the block was to have included only 10 pictures but "I Dood It" and "The Man From Down Under" were added. In announcing the group, Rodgers (Continued on Page 6) Chi. Newspapers Retain Their Amusement Space Chicago — While newspapers in many cities have cut their space de- voted to motion pictures and other amusements, Chicago papers have (Continued on Page 6) Plan Three Shorts For 3rd War Loan Washington Bur.. THE FILM DAILY Washi ngt on— The Treasury's Third War Loan drive will be the subject of the first two, and pos- sibly three, of the new series of 26 250-foot newsreel clips pro- grammed last month during confer- ences between OWI Domestic Direc- tor Palmer Hoyt and studio heads. First is scheduled to go Aug. 19, the second on Sept. 2 and perhaps a third on Sept. 16. Vol. 84, No. 28 Tues., Aug. 10, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. 8AHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway. New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New Yu^k $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber _ should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman. The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casil!o de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Monday, Aug. 9) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET High Low Close Am. Seat 15% 15% 15% . Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) 14% 14 14'/2 — Columbia iPicts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 15!/4 15!/4 15% + East. Kodak 1581/2 155 155 — do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq 19'/8 195/s 19% — Loew's, Inc 59y8 59 59% + Paramount 25% 247/8 25'/8 + RKO 8 B 8 — RKO $6 pf J 88 88 88 — 20th Century-Fox .. 20i/2 19% 20% + 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31 1/8 31 31 — Warner Bros 12% 12% 12% + do pfd 89 15-32 89 15-32 89 15-32 + NEW YORK BOND MARKET Par. B'way 3s55 .78 78 78 + NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... 2% 2% 23/4 — Radio-Keith cvs 1% 13/8 1% . Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% Technicolor 131/4 13 13 . Universal Pictures . . 16 16 16 — Universal Picts. etc.. 16 16 16 Net Chg. 1% Mrs. McDonald Dies Eugene, Ore. — Mrs. Mason French McDonald, 63, a pioneer of Lane county, and widow of the late A. H. McDonald, pioneer theater man, builder of McDonald theater, died at her home following a short illness. She is survived by a son, Donald F. McDonald of Eugene. POSITIONS FILLED QUICKLY CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITIONS SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y.— Tel. MU. 2-6494 Small, Paramount Push Films on "Cagliostro" Edward Small will rush into pro- duction a film version of Alexandre Dumas' "Cagliostro" in an effort to beat a Paramount Pictures version of the same story based on a book by Johannes von Guenther, it was announced yesterday. Both Small and Paramount claim film rights to the story and both are said to be aiming for an early 1944 release. Paramount schedules Arturo De Cordova for the star role while Small plans to borrow either Orson Welles or Laird Cregar for his production. Seattle Theater Sends 2 Million Cigs Overseas Seattle — During the recent visit of George White's "Scandals" at the Music Hall Theater, collections were taken by the girls of the show to make possible the sending of cig- arettes to men in the armed forces. Frank Newman, Sr., president of Evergreen theaters, announced that from total collections of two the- aters he has handed over a check that will enable a tobacco company to send 2,000,000 cigarettes to U. S. forces stationed in Sicily. Evergreen theaters also made a substantial do- nation. Goetz to Concentrate on Escapist, Adventure Pix West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — His company, Interna- tional Pictures, will concentrate on escapist and adventure pictures, ac- cording to William Goetz. It will use Technicolor in its musicals. He has fixed no minimum or maxi- mum number of pictures. Ten prop- erties are being considered for pro- duction with the company favoring pre-sold novels and plays. "Duke" Clark Pinch-Hits for Goldstein in Cleve. Cleveland— M. R. "Duke" Clark is due to arrive here from the Coast the end of this month to assume the duties of Paramount district manager pro tem, while Harry H. Goldstein seeks to regain his health in California. Chi. Paper Publishing 11 Hollywood Articles Chicago — Lou Shaimark, Herald- American managing editor, says the paper will publish 11 Hollywood articles by Ann Marsters, its film editor, depicting Hollywood's combat record, morale factors, Bond-selling records, treating Hollywood as a public-spirited community. The first article appeared yesterday. DAILY Tuesday, August 10, 1943 "So Proudly" Bookings Set for Paramount Week Bookings of "So Proudly We Hail," designated as the release for the Silver Jubilee celebration of the annual "Paramount Week," will blanket the nation, Neil Agnew, Paramount general sales manager, announced yesterday. The 25th an- niversary of Paramount Week will be observed Sept. 5 to 11. With more than one hundred of the nation's leading theaters al- ready lined up, bookings on the pic- ture during the week are certain to reach absolute print capacity, Ag- new stated. "So Proudly We Hail" will have its world premiere at the Radio City Music Hall in New York when the run of the current picture termin- ates, probably Aug. 26. Among' the more important theaters that will show "So Proudly We Hail" during Paramount Week are: Chicago Theater, Chi- cago; Palace, Milwaukee: State, Minneapo- lis :Paramount, St. Paul; Norshor, Duluth; Newman, Kansas City; Pox, St. Louis: Des Moines and Roosevelt, Des Moines: Denham, Denver: Centre, Salt Lake City; Paramount, Los Angeles; Paramount. Hollywood; Para- mount, Omaha: Palace, Dallas; Worth, Ft. Worth; Majestic, Houston; Majestic, San Antonio; Malco, Memphis: Capitol, Little Rock; Paramount, San Francisco; Aldine, Philadelphia; Strand, Providence: Fox, At- lanta; Alabama, Birmingham; Paramount, Nashville: Imperial, Asheville; Great Lakes, Buffalo: Rex, Wheeling; Sanger, New Or- leans; Tennessee, Knoxville; Metropolitan, Boston: Capitol, Worcester; Paramount, Springfield: Paramount, New Haven; Allyn, Hartford; Paramount, Newark; Keith, Balti- more; Indiana, Indianapolis; Rialto, Louis- ville. NEIC Group to Present Its Services Tomorrow A special committee of the Na- tional Entertainment Industry Coun- cil tomorrow will call on Theodore R. Gamble of the Treasury Depart- ment to place at his disposal all the resources of the NEIC. Pledges have been prepared to be filled out by talent who will enlist in the "army of entertainment." Sherman Registers "Utah" Harry Sherman has registered the title, "Utah," as the name of a spe- cial Western extravaganza scheduled to be his first Technicolor production for United Artists. Mooney Adds 10 Houses To Co-operative Group Cleveland — Milton A. Mooney has extended his Co-operative buying and booking service within the past week to three local circuits covering ten theaters. Thev are Jack Shulman and Abe Schwartz' Lake and Park Theaters, Painesville; Lyric, Fair- port Harbor, and Lexington, Cleve- land; the Yale, Norwood, and Eclair, Cleveland, owned by S. Vermes and Sons, and the Mt. Pleasant, Milo, and Waldorf, operated by Charles Gottlob and Sam Fain. Tack Moss Joins Columbia West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Jack Moss has joined Columbia as a producer. Prior to this, Moss was business manager and associate producer for Orson Welles' Mercury Theater productions, and also played the role of the killer in "Journey Into Fear." For a number of years, he was Gary Cooper's busi- ness manager. COMinG and GOIflG EDMUND COULDINC is here from the Coast on vacation. RICHARD F. WALSH, IATSE head, returned from the Middle West yesterday. JOSEPH H. HAZEN, Warner Bros, vice-presi- dent, left last night for the Coast. JULES LAPIDUS, Eastern division sales n/TlfejL ger tor Warner Bros., returned yesterdayl^ 1 §j an up-state and New England tour. '•Br 'W PHIL REISMAN, in charge of foreign plane for Mexico Ci ARTHUR WILLI, RKO Radio, leaves the stock companies J. C. OSSERMAN, ger for RKO Radio, quarters in Chicago Home Office. RKO Radio's vice-president distribution, left Sunday by ty. Eastern talent scout for today for a swing around in the New England cities. Midwestern district mana- left Sunday for his head- after a brief visit to the Local 702, Consolidated Adjust Pay Differences Motion Picture Laboratory Tech- nicians Union, Local 702, IATSE, and the Consolidated Film Indus- tries plant at Fort Lee, N. J., have amicably adjusted their differences by agreeing on adjustments in their present contract which will bring wage benefits to certain workers at the laboratory, it was learned yes- terday. The changes in the contract, which expires on March 10, 1945, provide for bonus for afternoon and night shifts, some increases for those op- erating certain types of printing ap- paratus and a new classification for developers. Negotiations had been under way for several weeks. The changes have been unanimously ap- proved by the membership, it is un- derstood. Local 702 yesterday had won ap- proval from the War Labor Board of contracts with seven laboratories containing provisions for wage in- creases to help meet the higher cost of living. The labs involved are Paramount News, the Pathe plants in New York and in Bound Brook, N. J., Ace, Film Service, Mercury and Producers. The increases called for average 10 per cent. Approval of the contracts also gives workers at the seven labs the benefit of added compensation for night work and two weeks' vaca- tions with pay. The advantages obtained by Local 702 for its members were the result of negotiations started last March when old contracts began to expire. All contracts with the seven labora- tories expire on March 10, 1945. The WLB's action washes up all 702 negotiations with Eastern labs with the exception of a few minor ones. "Best Foot" Scores M-G-M's "Best Foot Forward," in • the sixth week of its world premiere engagement at the Astor Theater, N. Y., topped figures for the fifth stanza. The new Technicolor mus- ical today enters its seventh week at the house. / * W WOK WHAT WE DID ; at tins time on Broadway "two houses Kave cracked all-time Yecords, witk wKose attractions^ f# a*ti»etf-Y.STKAm> \>e 3cj ©ex Jack L.Wamer, Executive Producer m wu DAILY Tuesday, August 10, 1943 Allied Offers Decree Changes io Tom Clark (Continued from Page 1) circuit discrimination and cost of arbitration. Clark indicated in Washington that he would study the proposals. The committee apparently did not submit any proposal for a sales plan, pat- terned on the UMPI selling formula. Such a plan will not be presented, if at all, until the board studies the matter further at its Baltimore meet- ing tomorrow and Thursday. Meanwhile, distributor sources in New York were of the opinion that the Department of Justice might look with favor on some of the points in the UMPI sales plan, which was rejected by Thurman Arnold last year. Allied has indicated that it may revive the UMPI provision and submit them to the D of J. Seven Television Stations To Be Built on West Coast San Francisco — Seven new tele- vision stations will be built on the West Coast in the post-war period, it was stated yesterday by William M. Borland, manager of General Electric's western region electronics department, in an address at the meeting of Advertising Clubs here. The plans, Borland stated, include three transmissions for the San Francisco area and four for the Los Angeles territory. Licenses have been issued by the FCC for the Coast outlets but the war has delayed their construction. "Rising Sun" Shatters House Record in Boston Boston— RKO's "Behind the Rising Sun," which opened at the Keith Memorial Tuesday has set a new first day house record, according to the management. The picture, hav- ing, its multi-city premiere here, Was, given a campaign which includ- ed radio spots, added newspaper cov- erage and novel ballyhoo effects and business is continuing at capacity Bernard Sobel Joins Stromberg Bernard Sobel has been appointed special production assistant and press representative for Hunt Stromberg Productions in New York, Stromberg announced yesterday. Joseph R. Fleisler Norma Shearer W. Scott Andrus Walter Lang Harry Bernstein Triumph In Showmanship: • • • WITHOUT violating the war-time ban on weather informa- tion, it can be said with exactness that a tornado, of genus "promotion," will reach a climax in the Pacific Northwest today, as RKO Radio un- leashes its area premiere of "Behind the Rising Sun" in 47 theaters there In connection with this multi-faceted event, which will have its counterpart in other sectors of the U. S. soon, let's take a glance at what happened last week in New England, and upper New York State, — specifically in the Boston, New Haven, Albany, and Buffalo ex- change areas — .when RKO Radio mass-premiered "Behind the Rising Sun" in 79 first-run theaters in 79 cities, and smashed into small pieces the sensational records of "Hitler's Children" in all instances, plus all- time records of the outlets in a great many instances Exhibitors in every section of the land MUST, if they deserve the 'showman" ap- pellation, make note of what is said herewith V V V • • • SHOWMANSHIP still is the vital force in our industry RKO Radio, via the spectacular campaign conceived and gen- eraled by S. Barret McCormick, has vividly re-enunciated this prin- ciple, and has done so in deeds The company, in the New England and upper New York promotional drive (and in the Pacific Northwest and yet-to-come sectional campaigns) harnessed the four greatest stars in filmdom in order to turn public attention to "Behind the Rising Sun,"— and exhib. attention, too Those stars are (1) Exploitation (in this case of the glittering RKO Radio type); (2) Radio; (3) News- papers, and (4) Billboards The New England premiere was under the sponsorship of the Yankee Network, to which some 20 New York State stations were joined in tremendous air coverage in advance of the film's mass-bow Newspaper ads were very extensive, and billboards clarioned the film all the way from the Canadian border to Connecticut and Rhode Island's south shores, and from the eastern coastline of New England to the Great Lakes Standout in the pic's general exploitation were the radio broadcasts of James Young, plus the rousing interviews he gave to the press, his talks to workers at key war plants, addresses before civic groups and organizations, AND, —the tremendous three-hour show, "Smokes for Buddies," staged in the huge Boston Garden under the auspices of three Hearst newspapers,— the Record, American, and Advertiser Nor the big feature of the show, participated in by scores of luminaries of stage, screen, radio, and the night club realm, and witnessed by 18,000 people, some 5,000 of whom were service men and women, was the battle between the former world champ heavyweight, Jim Braddock, and Charley Strack, champ wrestler, which re-enacted the spine-chilling fight in"Behind the Rising Sun" Bout went over the air via a huge hookup, and was refereed by Jack Sharkey Present, and also addressing the crowd, were Mrs. James Cox, widow of Renter's Far East correspondent who was murdered by the Japs; Gwen Dew, newspaper woman held by the Japs in Hong Kong; and Col. Carlos Romulo, the last man off Bataan. T ▼ T • • • PROMOTIONAL Generalissimo Barret McCormick reaches a new zenith in his pix career via the campaign's engineering Plenty of credit also goes to Terry Turner and his lads, — Bob Hickey, Harry Reiners, Don Prince and Ralph Banghart — , and protracted ap- plause to RKO Radio's h.o. boys and the ad dept., — Ben Grimm, Carl Rigrod, Dave Strumpf, et al "Behind the Rising Sun" is gold of the day, — gold for every outlet playing it V V V • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! ! ! Ex-Soldiers to Aid In Vandalism Curb (Continued from Page 1) quarters of a newly created "Law and Order League," conceived two weeks ago in the wake of the suc- cess of a law and order rally hel< at the Broad Theater, here, the in a series of six to be held each Saturday through the next five weeks in five different downtown theaters. Soliciting their aid, the veterans are being asked to help enroll the greatest number of youths under 16 to attend these rallies and to help encourage them to take free mem- bership in any or all of several boys' group organizations being offered at the rallies. There is a choice be- tween the Boy Scouts, Robert Treat Cadets, Robert Treat Council, New- ark Boys' Club, Red Shield Boys' Club and the boys' department of the Newark YMCA. First of these rallies attracted 400 boys. The second, held last Sat- urday at the Rialto, brought out close to 600. The third, to be held at the Treat Theater, with the aid of the veterans is expected to bring out close to 1,000. .Sponsoring or- ganizations are Newark Post 10, American Legion, Camp 18, Sons of Union Veterans and United Coun- cils, Jr. O.U.A.M. Besides the spon- soring groups, the league has been promised the wholehearted support of the local police, theater managers and other organized groups. Fea- tures at each rally are the presen- tation of colors and the flag salute. I Name Arbitrators for 4 Buffalo Clearance Cases WEDDING BELLS London — Anna Neagle and Her- bert Wilcox were married here over the week-end. Buffalo — Arbitrators have been designated and first hearings set in four clearance cases. They are: Former Congressman J. Francis Harter, August 16; Kallet's State at Fulton vs. Schine circuit, Loew's, 20th -Fox, RKO and Vitagraph; Sehine's Strand, Capitol and Oswego, all at Oswego, named as interested parties. Louis B. Dorr, Sept. 14; Basil's Varsity, Buffalo, vs. "Big Five." Nathan Rovner, Aug. 9; Basil's Genesee, Buffalo, vs. "Big Five." William E. Barrett, Aug. 19; Bas- il's La Salle, Niagara Falls, vs. "Big Five." First hearing has been postponed to Sept. 15 before George W. Wana- maker of the clearance case of Menno H. Dykstra's Glen, Williamsville, against the "Big Five." THE NEWS! First 6 days at Keith's Memorial, Boston, indicates biggest picture week in history of house . . . All 79 New England and New York State theatres opening over past week report business super-sensa- tional to new highs ... 47 cities in Northwest from Cali- fornia to Canada ready for Box- office tidal wave as another gigantic area premiere hits climax this week! **** THEjfil ***** w DAILY Tuesday, August 10, 194 Theaters Collected $3,067,236 for R. C. (Continued from Page 1) the all-time high of $4,122,008.27. In addition to audience collections, sums contributing to the grand to- tal were $415,000 from Hollywood individual contributions; $331,910 from motion picture corporate con- tributions; $240,642 from the huge Red Cross show held at Madison Square Garden under sponsorship of the motion picture industry; and $67,220.02, an incomplete report, representing other individual gifts from industry personnel. Preparation through February and March led up to the campaign, which was conducted during the first week in April. This effort differed from all previous drives held in the mo- tion picture industry in that the money was not sent to a central fund but was paid in by the local exhibi- tors to the local Red Cross chapter in each instance, except in several metropolitan areas where the pro- ceeds were assembled and the re- distributed. Record Commitment A total of 13,136 theaters were pledged to participate in the week's drive, which was a record commit- ment. Due to the local handling of the funds collected a vast amount of time-consuming work was en- tailed on the part of the 35 terri- torial chairmen in the compilation of the final reports. The result was achieved despite the fact that hundreds of theaters which had pledged participation re- frained from audience collections at the request of local Red Cross chap- ters in areas which had already ex- ceeded their quotas in the general Red Cross Month which was con- ducted nationally during March. The motion picture industry drive came immediately as the closing feature of the general Red Cross War Fund Campaign. In connection with the report, Balaban made the following state- ment: "In announcing the final results of Red Cross Week held in April, I want to express my appreciation for the untiring efforts of theater and exchange division chairmen throughout the field in the difficult task of accumulating the informa- tion which makes this report pos- sible." Exchange Reports The total of $3,067,236.25 in audi- ence collections was made up of sums reported by the various ex- change areas, listed by exchange centers as follows: Albany, $36,735.99; Atlanta, $168,- 000; Boston, $156,901.69; Buffalo, $60,122.36; Charlotte, $93,273.01; Chicago, $189,128.79; Cincinnati, $78,753.22; Cleveland, $98,771.31; Dallas, $167,086; Denver, $37,501.38; Des Moines, $41,764.59; Detroit, $139,484.35; Indianapolis, $80,000; Kansas City, $57,390.65; Los An- Prefer Cash to Pix? Halifax, N. S. — Merchant seamen, nearly all non-English speaking, are selling tickets which have been given them for the weekly Sunday after- noon show at the Capitol. They stand outside the 1,940-seat house and hawk the ducats to passersby. The Capitol has been donated and so have the films for these shows. WMC's New Critical List Out Sunday (Continued from Page 1) footage carrying the "most impor- tant announcement from WMC since the essential lists were released." An informal press conference with high WMC officials will be held Thursday, in order to give the press plenty of time for the story. It is believed that some further announce- ment regarding the father draft will also be made. Ten New Pictures Start This Week at Studios (Continued from Page 1) "The Voodoo Man" starring Bela Lugosi. At Paramount: Seven shooting, including "Going My Way," musical starring Bing Crosby with Leo MeCarey producing and directing. At PRC: Three shooting. At KKO-Radio: Six shooting, including "Tender Comrade," starring Ginger Rogers, with Robert Ryan in the male lead, aria Katina Paxinou in an important role. David Hempstead producing and Edward Dymtryk directing; and, "The Ghost Ship," mystery drama, with Richard Dix, Edith Barrett and Russel Wade. Val Lewton producing and Mark Robson directing. Samuel Goldwyn: One shooting. At Republic: Three shooting, including "The Mystery Broadcast," with Nils Asther, Frank Albertson, Ruth Terry, Alice Field- ing, Mary Treen, Emmett Vogan, Addison Richards and Wynne Gibson. George Sher- man producing and directing. At 20th Century-Fox: Five shooting, in- cluding "Lifeboat," drama, with Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak, Canada Lee, Henry Hull, Hume Cronyn, Heather Angel, Mary Anderson and Murray Alper. Alfred Hitchcock directing for pro- ducer Kenneth Macgowan, and, "The Lodger," drama, with Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Laird Cregar, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood and Aubrey Mather. John Brahm directing for producer Robert Bassler. At United Artists: Gregor Rabinovitch shooting one; Samuel Bronson, one; arid Harry Sherman one. At Universal: Six shooting, including the Walter Wanger production, "Gung Ho," drama, with Noah Beery, Jr., David Bruce Sam Levine, J. Carrol Naish, Richard Lane Dan Duryea, Milburn Stone and Peter Coe Ray Enright directing; and, "Gunflghter," western with Tex Ritter and Fuzzy Knight. Oliver Drake producing and Elmer Cliffon directing. At Warners: Six shooting. geles, $169,499.89; Memphis, $48,- 000; Milwakee, $53,534.41; Minneap- olis, $102,888.83; New Haven, $61,- 184.17; New Orleans, $94,958.60; New York, $390,432.52; Oklahoma City, $22,897.76; Omaha, $28,317.08; Philadelphia, $180,885.01; Pittsburgh, $80,277.89; Portland, $41,233.58; St. Louis, $34,816.91; Salt Lake City, $43,309.50; San Francisco, $150,236; Seattle, $47,507.30; Washington, D. C, $112,343.46. Cal. Industry in Drive For Servicemen Housing West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A mobilized motion picture industry, comprising exhibi- tors, producers of Hollywood and dis- tributors of California, yesterday fired the opening gun in a campaign to raise at least $350,000 to help relieve the shortage of proper hous- ing facilities for servicemen on leave. Through state surveys, it has been shown that thousands of sol- diers, sailors and marines are forced to sleep on benches, in alley-ways, in parks and theaters on leave in nearly every city and town in the state. The film industry does not consider this a good example of California hospitality and has taken the lead in obtaining relief. The industry has created what will be known as the Servicemen's Over- night Housing Fund, to be organ- ized by two separate committees, one ia Northern California, the other in the Southland. The latter drive was outlined yesterday at a lun- cheon meeting at Perino's to be at- tended by 125 representatives of the film groups, the state, the Army and the Navy. The goal in the southern division will be $200,000. Northern California is to launch its campaign at a noon meeting to- morrow in San Francisco. According to Northern chairman, George Mann, they hope to raise $150,000 there. Hollywood will be represented by Laraine Day, Leo Carrillo, Preston Foster and Ruth Hussey, from the Hollywood Victory Committee. The simultaneous North and South drive will start Sept. 1 and will be in the form of collections in the- aters and whatever subscriptions companies and the public will do- nate. Second Week of "Army' Runs Close to the First Week-end business at the Holly- wood Theater, Broadway, indicates that the second week gross of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," will run close to the all-time record first week total of approximately $51,000. Playing to capacity daily, the 1,475 seat house did close to $30,000 in the first four days of the second week, compared with $31,000 the previous week-end. House will continue giving eight performances daily, with a ninth on Saturdays, till further notice. New Unit Show Deal Al Dezel has completed a deal with Herb Elisburg of the Studio Theater, Chicago, to open shortly with the unit show consisting of "Art of Love," "Bedroom Diplo- mat" and short subject entitled "Birth of Life." This program re- cently finished a three-week engage- ment at the LaSalle Theater, which is said to have broken house records at the increased admission prices of 75 cents. M-G-M's Next Block To Have 12 Pictures (Continued from Page 1) said that "offering to our custon ers 12 instead of 10 is in line wit our policy to release as many pic tures as possible at one time." H said the company was glad to bf V to accede to the wishes of exlai\^J- who have indicated their desire t buy as many as possible at one time "While 'Whistling in Brooklyn which is included in the list, is no yet finished," Rodgers said, "we hav assurances that prints will be avail able for tradeshowing by the middl of September. Therefore, earlie sales will be restricted to 11 inas much as we shall not offer for sal any pictures not tradeshown, and b: the time the bulk of our selling i: under way, 'Whistling in Brooklyn will have been completed and trade shown, affording us an opportunity to offer the majority of our custom ers a group of 12." The 10 previously announced in, elude "Above Suspicion," "Best Foo Forward," "Dr. Gillespie's Crimina Case," "Girl Grazy, "Lassie Come Home,' "Salute to the Marines,'1 "Swing Shift Maisie," "Tartu,' "Whistling in Brooklyn' and "Young Ideas." Chi. Newspapers Retain Their Amusement Space (Continued from Page 1) not curtailed their amusement pages The Chicago Daily News, in fact has increased its space by adding two pages of Hollywood featured every day except Saturday when a' spread is used in its roto section instead. The Chicago Times has added a Saturday issue, giving the theaters and amusement news seven-day cov- erage. Evening newspapers con- tinue to print the starting times of Loop theaters. Hearst's Herald American goes in for special tie- ups on film attractions. "Bella Donna" for Small West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Edward Small will produce "Bella Donna," a romantic mystery drama with an Egyptian basckground, from the story by Rob- ert Hichens, and it will star Marlene Dietrich. "Bella Donna" was first produced as a play in 1901, and as a motion picture in 1935, which was made in England. United Artists will release. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged HAROLD CREENBERGER, son of Henry Green- berger of the Community Circuit, Cleve- land, from the Army. JOSEPH FREEMAN, from the Army, to city man- ager, Warner Theaters, Johnstown, Pa. Tuesday, August 10, 1943 W DAILY leclronics Should lot Worry— Conrow (Continued from Page 1) Jer which contains the Conrow text, jijhe Altec chief asserts that "the I'rowing importance of electronics [r3 a science is receiving widespread irtjfcffi&jon, particularly as it affects I h^Jjjpst-war world," and adds, — jj.tfit motion picture industry will A eep abreast of the technological de- ,i elopments in the electronic field." .'.' He declares in the folder's text -.hat, in order to see where things •,re going, it's good sense to see Inhere things are now. "Even under ;,he handicaps of all war-time restric- tions and stringencies, when exhibi- tors are doing an inconceivably fine ijob of showmanship, — call it na- tional morale-building if you like — , ,]',nost of the exhibitors in the country ,"iave shown that they can take the ransition from peace-time to war- line in their stride. I don't think my other industry can be found pith as shining a record in this re- ject," Conrow states. r Common Sense Prevails fo "Now, if that is so," Altec's presi- dent points out, "the same funda- mental common sense in the conduct «f his business is going to go on perating when an exhibitor has to hange back from war-time to peace- ime conditions. He is not going to ie floored by the change; he is not foing to be at a loss to know what o do." Conrow says that radar, which ;ias been doing a magnificent job ivith our armed forces, isn't the in- dention of any single company, nor f^ven of a single scientist, but that ;nany of the latter have contributed jo making it what it is, as well as nany scientists, including those of Altec Lansing and Altec Service. ±i Word Criticized j; Conrow criticized the use of the \ :/ord "electronics" by certain manu- facturers as though it were some- thing belonging exclusively to them. Ie flatly states that when the war 3 over nobody is coming around the lorning after at nine o'clock and pull ny strange rabbits out of the hat. In conclusion, Conrow declared hat a good many exhibitors are >retty well convinced that Altec Ser- ice, and Altec Lansing, its subsid- ary, will be in just about as good a • osition, considering the war work :. is now doing, as anybody to bring 'xhibitors a clear and realistic pic- ure of what they will need in the '■ ost-war world. lidnight Shows Click Springfield, Mass. — The experi- lental midnight show at the Court quare theater Friday nights for rar workers has proven a big suc- 3ss, District Manager Edward Har- ison of the E. M. Loew's circuit, re- orts. He said the show was espe- ally popular with war workers on ie 3 to 11 p.m. shift and that the ouse had been packed each week, ith a heavy advance sale of tickets. Oli, So You Think You Have Your Troubles? Baltimore — On the hottest day of the year, according to official figure, Jack Carter, manager of the News- reel Theater here, had enough, in addition to the weather, to make him "hot," all in one evening. The thea- ter cashier failed to report for duty; a helper who changes the marquee stayed off; and when Carter finished pinch-hitting for both of those jobs; the chandelier in the theater's outer lobby suddenly crashed to the con- crete floor. Fortunately no one was injured. Para. Launching Contest For "Proudly" Campaigns (Continued from Page 1) which will have wide showings throughout the country during Para- mount Week, Sept. 5 to 11. The picture offers unparalleled possibilities for showmanship cam- paigns, Agnew declared, dealing as it does with the woman's side of the war. Six prizes will be awarded. First prize is a $500 War Bond. Second prize is $350 in Bonds and third is $250 in Bonds. Fourth, fifth and sixth prizes are $150, $100 and $50 in bonds, respectively. This managers' contest will be unique in that awards will be made on the basis of the gross earned on the picture, compared with the gross on comparable Paramount pictures that the house has already played. Therefore, Agnew pointed out, every manager who plays the picture has a chance to win one of the prizes. The rules are simple. Every the- ater that plays "So Proudly We Hail" not later than Oct. 30, 1943, may enter. Every theater entering the con- test must present a complete lineup of the selling campaign, including publicity, exploitation, advertising, stunts, tie-ups, direct mail, etc. These campaigns must be sent to the Paramount district office first. The Paramount district office will go over them from the showman- ship angle, and check the gross of the engagement against the pictures that will be set up as a yardstick. The three winning campaigns in a district will then be sent to the Paramount home office in New York for final judging and to pick the six national winners. The district judges will be made up of the Paramount district man- ager, a local theater operator and Paramount's field representative. The Home Office judges will com- prise executives of the Paramount distribution and theater depart- ments, and trade paper journalists. Campaigns must be submitted to the Paramount district office no later than Nov. 30, 1943. The decision of the judges will be final. Critic Perrigo Joins Warners Chicago — Lucien Perrigo, former Herald-American film editor, joins Warners publicity staff. CFI Three Months' Net Increases to $245,704 (Continued from Page 1) and surtax amounts to $177,924.03 or a net, after taxes, of $245,704.61, which compares with a net profit for 1942 of $118,866.53. Per share earnings for the second quarter of 1943 are equivalent to 50 cents on 400,000 shares of pre- ferred stock outstanding and eight cents on 524,973 shares of common stock outstanding and compares with 30 cents per share earned on the preferred in the same quarter of 1942. The foregoing earnings are subject to the renegotiation provis- ions of the National Defense Ap- propriation Act." Chicago Outing Chicago — At a meeting of the Variety Club last week plans were made for a "Day in the Country" at which all members of Chicago's amusement industry will get to- gether for a good time. The meeting was in the office of John Balaban with Johnny Jones presiding. It will be the club's first outing of the new season. There'll be a golf tourna- ment and many other forms of amusement. Time and place for the big play-day will be announced for some day in August. Theater Attendance Up 25% — Kingsberg (Continued from Page 1) over the future situation of the company in that city. Reports are that owners of the theater building in St. Paul have refused to renew the firm's present lease, which expires Dec. 31, and that RKO has taken a lease on another house for first-run showing of its product. Cleve. Nabes Recruit War Workers Via Minute Men (Continued from Page 1) the first in that speakers were wo- men taken directly from their ma- chines dressed in overalls instead of plant officials as were the first speak- ers. WMC officials signed up appli- cants in the theater lobbies, and the final count was 37 new recruits — almost all women. Miss Cynthia Ware, publicity di- rector of the local WMC office, ex- pressed satisfaction with the result of employment procurement at the- aters. She said that the 77 per- sons recruited via the theaters would probably not otherwise have re- sponded to the call for workers. V&»f— ROY ROGERS TRIGGER KING OF THE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES in 'SONG OF TEXAS' A \ REPUBLIC BOOK ED BY THE /tetode* FIRST RM . v*& Tuesday, August 10, 1943 Theaters Collected $3,067,236 for R. C. (.Continued from Page 1) the all-time high of $4,122,008.27. In addition to audience collections, sums contributing to the grand to- tal were $415,000 from Hollywood individual contributions; $331,910 from motion picture corporate con- tributions; $240,642 from the huge Red Cross show held at Madison Square Garden under sponsorship of the motion picture industry; and $67,220.02, an incomplete report, representing other individual gifts from industry personnel. Preparation through February and March led up to the campaign, which was conducted during the first week in April. This effort differed from all previous drives held in the mo- tion picture industry in that the money was not sent to a central fund but was paid in by the local exhibi- tors to the local Red Cross chapter in each instance, except in several metropolitan areas where the pro- ceeds were assembled and the re- distributed. Record Commitment A total of 13,136 theaters were pledged to participate in the week's drive, which was a record commit- ment. Due to the local handling of the funds collected a vast amount of time-consuming work was en- tailed on the part of the 35 terri- torial chairmen in the compilation of the final reports. The result was achieved despite the fact that hundreds of theaters which had pledged participation re- frained from audience collections at the request of local Red Cross chap- ters in areas which had already ex- ceeded their quotas in the general Red Cross Month which was con- ducted nationally during March. The motion picture industry drive came immediately as the closing feature of the general Red Cross War Fund Campaign. In connection with the report, Balaban made the following state- ment: "In announcing the final results of Red Cross Week held in April, I want to express my appreciation for the untiring efforts of theater and exchange division chairmen throughout the field in the difficult task of accumulating the informa- tion which makes this report pos- sible." Exchange Reports The total of $3,067,236.25 in audi- ence collections was made up of sums reported by the various ex- change areas, listed by exchange centers as follows: Albany, $36,735.99; Atlanta, $168,- 000; Boston, $156,901.69; Buffalo, $60,122.36; Charlotte, $93,273.01; Chicago, $189,128.79; Cincinnati, $78,753.22; Cleveland, $98,771.31; Dallas, $167,086; Denver, $37,501.38; Des Moines, $41,764.59; Detroit, $139,484.35; Indianapolis, $80,000; Kansas City, $57,390.65; Los An- Prefer Cash to Pix? Halifax, N. S. — Merchant seamen, nearly all non-English speaking, are selling tickets which have been given them for the weekly Sunday after- noon show at the Capitol. They stand outside the 1,940-seat house and hawk the ducats to passersby. The Capitol has been donated and so have the films for these shows. WMC's New Critical List Out Sunday (Continued from Page 1) footage carrying the "most impor- tant announcement from WMC since the essential lists were released." An informal press conference with high WMC officials will be held Thursday, in order to give the press plenty of time for the story. It is believed that some further announce- ment regarding the father draft will also be made. Ten New Pictures Start This Week at Studios (Continued from Page 1) "The Voodoo Man" starring1 Bela Lug'osi. At Paramount: Seven shooting-, including "Going My Way," musical starring Bing Crosby with Leo McCarey producing: and directing. At PRC: Three shooting. At RKO-Badio: Six shooting, including "Tender Comrade," starring Ginger Rogers, with Robert Ryan in the male lead, aria Katina Paxinou in an important role. David Hempstead producing and Edward Dymtryk directing; and, "The Ghost Ship," mystery drama, with Richard Dix, Edith Barrett and Russel Wade. Val Lewton producing and Mark Robson directing. Samuel Goldwyn: One shooting. At Republic: Three shooting, including "The Mystery Broadcast," with Nils Asther, Prank Albertson, Ruth Terry, Alice Field- ing, Mary Treen, Emmett Vogan, Addison Richards and Wynne Gibson. George Sher- man producing and directing'. At 20th Century-Fox: Five shooting, in- cluding "Lifeboat," drama, with Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak, Canada Lee, Henry Hull, Hume Cronyn, Heather Angel, Mary Anderson and Murray Alper. Alfred Hitchcock directing for pro- ducer Kenneth Macgowan, and, "The Lodger," drama, with Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Laird Cregar, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood and Aubrey Mather. John Brahm directing for producer Robert Bassler. At United Artists: Gregor Rabinovitch shooting one; Samuel Bronson, one; and Harry Sherman one. At Universal: Six shooting, including the Walter Wanger production, "Gung Ho," drama, with Noah Beery, Jr., David Bruce Sam Levine, J. Carrol Naish, Richard Lane Dan Duryea, Milburn Stone and Peter Coe Ray Enright directing; and, "Gunfighter," western with Tex Ritter and Fuzzy Knight. Oliver Drake producing and Elmer Cliffon directing. At Warners: Six shooting. geles, $169,499.89; Memphis, $48,- 000; Milwakee, $53,534.41; Minneap- olis, $102,888.83; New Haven, $61,- 184.17; New Orleans, $94,958.60; New York, $390,432.52; Oklahoma City, $22,897.76; Omaha, $28,317.08; Philadelphia, $180,885.01; Pittsburgh, $80,277.89; Portland, $41,233.58; St. Louis, $34,816.91; Salt Lake City, $43,309.50; San Francisco, $150,236; Seattle, $47,507.30; Washington, D. C, $112,343.46. Cal. Industry in Drive For Servicemen Housing West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A mobilized motion picture industry, comprising exhibi- tors, producers of Hollywood and dis- tributors of California, yesterday fired the opening gun in a campaign to raise at least $350,000 to help relieve the shortage of proper hous- ing facilities for servicemen on leave. Through state surveys, it has been shown that thousands of sol- diers, sailors and marines are forced to sleep on benches, in alley-ways, in parks and theaters on leave in nearly every city and town in the state. The film industry does not consider this a good example of California hospitality and has taken the lead in obtaining relief. The industry has created what will be known as the Servicemen's Over- night Housing Fund, to be organ- ized by two separate committees, one in Northern California, the other in the Southland. The latter drive was outlined yesterday at a lun- cheon meeting at Perino's to be at- tended by 125 representatives of the film groups, the state, the Army and the Navy. The goal in the southern division will be $200,000. Northern California is to launch its campaign at a noon meeting to- morrow in San Francisco. According to Northern chairman, George Mann, they hope to raise $150,000 there. Hollywood will be represented by Laraine Day, Leo Carrillo, Preston Foster and Ruth Hussey, from the Hollywood Victory Committee. The simultaneous North and South drive will start Sept. 1 and will be in the form of collections in the- aters and whatever subscriptions companies and the public will do- nate. Second Week of "Army' Runs Close to the First Week-end business at the Holly- wood Theater, Broadway, indicates that the second week gross of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army," will run close to the all-time record first week total of approximately $51,000. Playing to capacity daily, the 1,475 seat house did close to $30,000 in the first four days of the second week, compared with $31,000 the previous week-end. House will continue giving eight performances daily, with a ninth on Saturdays, till further notice. New Unit Show Deal Al Dezel has completed a deal with Herb Elisburg of the Studio Theater, Chicago, to open shortly with the unit show consisting of "Art of Love," "Bedroom Diplo- mat" and short subject entitled "Birth of Life." This program re- cently finished a three-week engage- ment at the LaSalle Theater, which is said to have broken house records at the increased admission prices of 75 cents. M-G-M's Next Block To Have 12 Pictures (Continued from Page 1) said that "offering to our custom- ers 12 instead of 10 is in line with our policy to release as many pic- tures as possible at one time." He said the company was glad to bf' T%e to accede to the wishes of exhilj^/.'s who have indicated their desire to buy as many as possible at one time. "While 'Whistling in Brooklyn,1 which is included in the list, is not yet finished," Rodgers said, "we have assurances that prints will be avail- able for tradeshowing by the middle of September. Therefore, earlier sales will be restricted to 11 inas- much as we shall not offer for sale any pictures not tradeshown, and by the time the bulk of our selling is under way, 'Whistling in Brooklyn' will have been completed and trade- shown, affording us an opportunity to offer the majority of our custom- ers a group of 12." The 10 previously announced in- clude "Above Suspicion," "Best Foot Forward," "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case," "Girl Grazy, "Lassie Come Home,' "Salute to the Marines," "Swing Shift Maisie," "Tartu," "Whistling in Brooklyn' and "Young Ideas." Chi. Newspapers Retain Their Amusement Space (Continued from Page 1) not curtailed their amusement pages. The Chicago Daily News, in fact, has increased its space by adding two pages of Hollywood features every day except Saturday when a spread is used in its roto section instead. The Chicago Times has added a Saturday issue, giving the theaters and amusement news seven-day cov- erage. Evening newspapers con- tinue to print the starting times of Loop theaters. Hearst's Herald American goes in for special tie- ups on film attractions. "Bella Donna" for Small West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Edward Small will produce "Bella Donna," a romantic mystery drama with an Egyptian basckground, from the story by Rob- ert Hichens, and it will star Marlene Dietrich. "Bella Donna" was first produced as a play in 1901, and as a motion picture in 1935, which was made in England. United Artists will release. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged HAROLD CREENBERCER, son of Henry Green- berger of the Community Circuit, Cleve- land, from the Army. JOSEPH FREEMAN, from the Army, to city man- ager, Warner Theaters, Johnstown, Pa. K I Tuesday, August 10, 1943 DAILY ileclronics Should lot Worry— Conrow (Continued from Page 1) ler which contains the Conrow text, he Altec chief asserts that "the growing importance of electronics ,to a science is receiving widespread i|ttiec£ion, particularly as it affects ' h ^pst-war world," and adds, — ,7'thr motion picture industry will ;, >eep abreast of the technological de- velopments in the electronic field." % He declares in the folder's text er;hat, in order to see where things 'ire going, it's good sense to see f_vhere things are now. "Even under . :he handicaps of all war-time restric- tions and stringencies, when exhibi- tors are doing an inconceivably fine Job of showmanship, — call it na- tional morale-building if you like — , fnost of the exhibitors in the country :iave shown that they can take the transition from peace-time to war- time in their stride. I don't think any other industry can be found | vith as shining a record in this re- ipect," Conrow states. Common Sense Prevails "Now, if that is so," Altec's presi- lent points out, "the same funda- nental common sense in the conduct )f his business is going to go on merating when an exhibitor has to :hange back from war-time to peace- ;ime conditions. He is not going to )e floored by the change; he is not »oing to be at a loss to know what ;o do." Conrow says that radar, which aas been doing a magnificent job with our armed forces, isn't the in- vention of any single company, nor ,:ven of a single scientist, but that many of the latter have contributed Boo making it what it is, as well as nany scientists, including those of Altec Lansing and Altec Service. Word Criticized • Conrow criticized the use of the vord "electronics" by certain manu- facturers as though it were some- i.hing belonging exclusively to them. rle flatly states that when the war s over nobody is coming around the norning after at nine o'clock and pull my strange rabbits out of the hat. In conclusion, Conrow declared hat a good many exhibitors are >retty well convinced that Altec Ser- vice, and Altec Lansing, its subsid- ary, will be in just about as good a >osition, considering the war work t is now doing, as anybody to bring exhibitors a clear and realistic pic- ure of what they will need in the >ost-war world. Midnight Shows Click Springfield, Mass. — The experi- nental midnight show at the Court Square theater Friday nights for /ar workers has proven a big suc- ess, District Manager Edward Har- ison of the E. M. Loew's circuit, re- >orts. He said the show was espe- ially popular with war workers on he 3 to 11 p.m. shift and that the ouse had been packed each week, nth a heavy advance sale of tickets. Oh, So You Think You Have Your Troubles? Baltimore — On the hottest day of the year, according to official figure, Jack Carter, manager of the News- reel Theater here, had enough, in addition to the weather, to make him "hot," all in one evening. The thea- ter cashier failed to report for duty; a helper who changes the marquee stayed off; and when Carter finished pinch-hitting for both of those jobs; the chandelier in the theater's outer lobby suddenly crashed to the con- crete floor. Fortunately no one was injured. Para. Launching Contest For "Proudly" Campaigns (.Continued from Page 1) which will have wide showings throughout the country during Para- mount Week, Sept. 5 to 11. The picture offers unparalleled possibilities for showmanship cam- paigns, Agnew declared, dealing as it does with the woman's side of the war. Six prizes will be awarded. First prize is a $500 War Bond. Second prize is $350 in Bonds and third is $250 in Bonds. Fourth, fifth and sixth prizes are $150, $100 and $50 in bonds, respectively. This managers' contest will be unique in that awards will be made on the basis of the gross earned on the picture, compared with the gross on comparable Paramount pictures that the house has already played. Therefore, Agnew pointed out, every manager who plays the picture has a chance to win one of the prizes. The rules are simple. Every the- ater that plays "So Proudly We Hail" not later than Oct. 30, 1943, may enter. Every theater entering the con- test must present a complete lineup of the selling campaign, including publicity, exploitation, advertising, stunts, tie-ups, direct mail, etc. These campaigns must be sent to the Paramount district office first. The Paramount district office will go over them from the showman- ship angle, and check the gross of the engagement against the pictures that will be set up as a yardstick. The three winning campaigns in a district will then be sent to the Paramount home office in New York for final judging and to pick the six national winners. The district judges will be made up of the Paramount district man- ager, a local theater operator and Paramount's field representative. The Home Office judges will com- prise executives of the Paramount distribution and theater depart- ments, and trade paper journalists. Campaigns must be submitted to the Paramount district office no later than Nov. 30, 1943. The decision of the judges will be final. Critic Perrigo Joins Warners Chicago — Lucien Perrigo, former Herald-American film editor, joins Warners publicity staff. CFI Three Months' Net Increases to $245,704 (Continued from Page 1) and surtax amounts to $177,924.03 or a net, after taxes, of $245,704.61, which compares with a net profit for 1942 of $118,866.53. Per share earnings for the second quarter of 1943 are equivalent to 50 cents on 400,000 shares of pre- ferred stock outstanding and eight cents on 524,973 shares of common stock outstanding and compares with 30 cents per share earned on the preferred in the same quarter of 1942. The foregoing earnings are subject to the renegotiation provis- ions of the National Defense Ap- propriation Act." Chicago Outing Chicago — At a meeting of the Variety Club last week plans were made for a "Day in the Country" at which all members of Chicago's amusement industry will get to- gether for a good time. The meeting was in the office of John Balaban with Johnny Jones presiding. It will be the club's first outing of the new season. There'll be a golf tourna- ment and many other forms of amusement. Time and place for the big play-day will be announced for some day in August. Theater Attendance Up 25% — Kingsberg (Continued from Page 1) over the future situation of the company in that city. Reports are that owners of the theater building in St. Paul have refused to renew the firm's present lease, which expires Dec. 31, and that RKO has taken a lease on another house for first-run showing of its product. Cleve. Nabes Recruit War Workers Via Minute Men (Continued from Page 1) the first in that speakers were wo- men taken directly from their ma- chines dressed in overalls instead of plant officials as were the first speak- ers. WMC officials signed up appli- cants in the theater lobbies, and the final count was 37 new recruits — almost all women. Miss Cynthia Ware, publicity di- rector of the local WMC office, ex- pressed satisfaction with the result of employment procurement at the- aters. She said that the 77 per- sons recruited via the theaters would probably not otherwise have re- sponded to the call for workers. V* V*1 **F KING OF THE COWBOYS ROY ROGERS TRIGGER SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES in "SONG OF TEXAS' REPUBLIC PICTURE^ OOKED BY *"c tmti rfMW** ms* m d (These pictures illustrate methods used— have no connection with actual enemy spy activities) V SPIES' MEETING PLACE ... To get evidence that will convict, investigators may con- ceal a Cine\Kodak in an adjacent room, make thousands of feet of movies of such "business conferences" as thatshown here. How the Cine-Kodak is sound-proofed and arranged to "see" through an inno- cent-looking wall . . . and other photo- graphic details necessary for satisfactory results . . . can't be told now. // not so Secret "Secret Agents to BSsXalalK^ special-purpose films A CASUAL LETTER loses its "inno- cence" when a Kodak film, with the aid of ultraviolet rays, discloses the real message— in invisible ink. BURNING an incriminating document no longer safeguards an enemy agent —Kodak Infrared Film makes frag- ments of charred paper readable. fTi yTUGGING" the criminal— taking 1V1 his picture "full figure, full face, and profile" — is the widest use of photography by the police. That's useful— after he's caught. But first, catch him . . . be sure he's the wanted man . . . get evi- dence no jury can question . . , these are counter-espionage activities which photography has made an exact science. A jury will believe what it sees with its own eyes. Photography makes this possible. Cameras are often on the alert near the meeting places of suspected enemy agents — even their "casual" meetings on the street. Kodak special-purpose films find unseen fingerprints on surfaces dusted with a fluorescent powder . . . unseen chemical erasures, or blood- stains on cloth, when illuminated by infrared or ultraviolet rays . . . tell- tale differences in ink, or ink strokes, on a document which has been tam- pered with . . . can even photograph a man in absolute darkness, with the aid of invisible infrared "light." * * r And photography isn't finished with the enemy agent when he's trapped. Through Kodak's Recordak System. the "records". . . photographs, finger- prints, and police history . . . of 3,000 criminals can be condensed on one small roll of 16-mm. film — for future reference . . . Eastman Kodak Com- pany, Rochester, N. Y. ' Serving human progress through Photography DAN 1JIZ i. S._ ■* 17 M HZ 1 S I CI CI Ucl d d M Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought s&sSU The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Picture* Twenty-Five Year* Old -1FDAILY' I jbL. 84. NO. 29 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY. AUGUST, 11. 1943 TEN CENTS NORTH-CENTRAL ALLIED LISTS GRIEVANCES "Decisive" Action Expected by Allied's Board Directors Huddle Today And Tomorrow on Vital Problems of the Industry Baltimore — Allied directors, on the eve of their quarterly meeting last night, indicated that a number of "decisive" measures would be acted upon during the next two days at their sessions in the Lord Baltimore Hotel. The all-important subject of the consent decree and the mapping out of a sales plan that might meet with the approval of the Department of Justice are expected to highlight the two days of huddles. The report by Jack Kirsch on the (Continued on Page 13) Changes in 20th-Fox To Be Revealed Today West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Important changes in executive posts at the company's home-office will be disclosed by Tom Connors, distribution chief, today at the opening session of the last of three 20th-Fox regional sales meetings at the Ambassador hotel here. Tomorrow's highlight will be the announcement by Connors of (Continued on Page 12) Tex. Exhib. Says Favorable Award Would be Valueless Dallas — Even should he win his arbitration case, he still would lose any value under an award, is the gist of reasons given by D. B. Lev- (Continued on Page 13) Grierson Continues on Canadian Board Montreal — John Grierson, head of the National Board, who was lent to the Wartime Information Board six months ago as general manager, will continue to head that organiza- tion "for an indefinite period." Grierson notified Premier Macken- zie King of the expiration of his term and was asked to continue in office. Theater Vandalism Makes First Appearance in Springfield; To Print Offenders9 Nantes Springfield, Mass. — The first signs of vandalism, of the type which has plagued theatermen in other cities, was noted here last week and Acting Mayor J. Albin Anderson, Jr., took prompt action to see that it did not spread into theaters and other places of business. He ordered police to exercise extra vigilance watching victory gardens, when the hoodlums started their damage, and warned the city that from these small beginnings came trouble found in other cities. He urged the names of juvenile offenders be published by the courts, an unusual step in Massachusetts where the names of children under 17 involved in any crime short of murder are guarded strictly. "Parental spankings of the old-fashioned, severe variety will be the most effective weapon to combat this," said Anderson, attributing the whole matter to a lack of parental control in the home. Vandalism Reported On Decrease in Chi. Chicago — Vandalism appears to be decreasing in theaters in this terri- tory, it was said here by a leading circuit operator following a survey of the area. Vigilance on the part of theater staffs, employment of ex- tra guards, placing of warning no- tices and the educational work on (Continued on Page 9) Steam Named Cleveland Manager for Warner Bros. Bert M. Stearn, who recently joined the "Warner Bros, sales or- ganization in New York, has been appointed Cleveland branch manager of the company, according to an announcement made yesterday by (Continued on Page 9) New Union to Define Duties of Managers That theater managers confine themselves strictly to managerial duties is being demanded of em- ployers by the Motion Picture The- ater Managers and Employes Union, Local 152, CIO, which was recently chartered to organize managers, as- sistant managers, cashiers, doormen, ushers and matrons in the New (Continued on Page 12) Ed Finney to Organize Own Producing Company West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ed Finney has re- signed as associate producer for Andrew Stone Productions and will establish a producing company of his own. School For Femme Managers Tri-Stafes Corp. to Give Six-Week Course Golden State and T & D Circuits Close for Rep. J. R. Grainger, president and gen- eral sales manager of Republic, an- nounces that during his recent visit in San Francisco, he closed a deal covering the company's entire 1943- (Continued on Page 13) De Moines — With the Army threat- ening to take fathers in October, Tri-State Theater Corp. here, which operates houses in three states, pre- pared to start a training school for women to take over managerial posts. Large advertisements were placed in Des Moines, Sioux City and Dav- (Continued on Page 9) Alleged Unfair Trade Practices and "Cures' Forwarded to D of J Minneapolis — Without criticizing or referring to the consent decree, the North-Central Allied Indepen- dent Theaters, Inc., has forwarded to the Department of Justice a list of alleged unfair trade practices and remedies for relief. The document was drawn by a committee headed by Henry J. Greene, secretary. In offering the suggested remedies, Donald Guttman, president of the ex- (Continued on Page 12) Meet on Expansion Of Incentive Films Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Army officials met yesterday to begin lining up an ex- panded program of industrial incen- tive pix. Yesterday's session was the initial meeting, with nothing definite lined up. Some definite (Continued on Page 13) Kestenbaum Named PRC's Ad and Publicity Chief Appointment of S. S. Kestenbaum to the post of director of publicity and advertising for PRC was an- (Continued on Page 12) Empire-Universal Conclave Tomorrow Toronto — The Emipre-Universal Films annual sales conference is scheduled to be held at the Royal York Hotel, here for the three days starting tomorrow with branch managers and salesmen in attendance from coast to coast. Among the executives from New York compan- ies expected to attend are William A. Scully, F. J. A. McCarthy and B. B. Kreisler of Universal and President James R. Grainger of Re- public. Separate days have been set for consideration of each com- pany's product while tlie third day will be devoted to round-table de- liberations. ^^w 13% DAILY Wednesday, August 11, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 29 Wed., Aug. 11, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, T*. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D.-F. FINANCIAL {Tuesday, Aug. 10) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net Low Close Chg. 16 16 + 14 HI/2 15 + Vl High 16 ) 15 2V4 156!/2 1 21/4 21/4 56 Vi 156i/2 -f'iii Am Sgs t Col! Piers.' vtc.'<2!/2% Columbia Picts. pfd.. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. . East. Kodak do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Para. B'way 3s55. . . . Para. Picts. deb. 4s56 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 2% 2'/8 2% + '/8 Radio-Keith cvs li/2 13/8 iy2 Sonotone Corp 3% 35/8 3%. + i/8 Technicolor 13Vi 13 1 3 V2 + % Universal Picts. vtc. 16% I614 I6V4 + 1/4 20 60 1/4 253/4 81/2 88 211/4 31% 131/4 20 20 + % 59% 60i/4 + % 25 253/4 + % 8% 8 Vi + 1/2 86% 88 203/8 21 + 1/2 311/4 313/4 + 3/4 121/4 131/4 + % BOND MARKET Hefferan Adds One Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Eoxy Theater here, owned by Walter Semeyn, has been leased for five years to Albert Hefferan who owns the Century Theater in Coopersville and who recently purchased the Bur- ton Theater, Grand Rapids. lowest noumT M.Y.C. Choi 4-O0t1-2-3-4 ttWAOt I C A. ftOrtOIOH >OOM RIM IXCHANGt OrtlWUTION SMVId MU C"*iK •SoJtH ^ 50NOJA „ ^ . „nv cobollero roars back to doctlo„, O.Henrys gay cjBoa tures! Top P swift-paced romantic cast and story values. ,_ ^- wAfono^efm^ for ** mis m mEsrmtfsy 1943.44 ■i^m ALL-TIME GREATEST LINE-UP! 1 , | 7^. filled style of ent. fabuloos of the service of Lou Walters, night dob impresar.o, his breath-taking, 9-'- ltertainment to the screen. If Sense- >.ory oMh. V- Kei|^ A,an Ba„er Itltlefttfo* Q0 Gertrude Mkho.1. H. »• Bi ire„. Ann None,. Bi" Henry S* "^i •^ . *H Mary Beth Hughes, Riotous m«*ico»w|th *£\renet Armido, Eaaie 0«JtaJ JJjStw bands-Ted Wanton ^r8.™"" Weeks'. Flo RHo and Anson " &*&&>***: i/^ i7 •.Taillv Gilbert, Frank I Laugh parade mj£ ■**„ ond Buddy Fay, B°nn,8!° Radio Rogues and two Harry Langdon, w° ££* orchestras! *^ \\ Here's the httar«o« *owd^ ^ ^ recording stud.os. romaneel tones, loud laoghs and ra £\ 7&r . ...fnraett ^ sweethearts! 11/ 1 in lwscinating Anna Sewoii * •«* thoroughbrea. novel of gallant :««lv funny comedy • S«ear.:9XL\s and romance nt the lawless north! jack London's story of the ^ Jamtned with fun, g $9**/?. W JOHNNXMACK tf BROWN £>u*: f* Raymond HATTON # H HOOT KEN GIBSON MAMRD 12 l&Kt; Wednesday, August 11, 1943 Changes in 20th-Fox To Be Revealed Today (Continued from Page 1) the entire line-up of features and shorts for the new season. Two hundred and fifty home-office, branch and studio representatives are on hand for the three-day meet- ing, which will be conducted by Con- nors, William J. Kupper, William C. Gehring and L. J. Schlaifer. Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck head the studio delegation. Attending from the branches are: Denver — Arthur Abeles. HugH Rennie, G. W. Tawson, George Dillon, C. A. Larson. Salt. Lake City — Charles Walker, C. J. Hallstrom. J. L. Tidwell, V. J. Du?an, C. A. Blasius, Robert S. Clark. Los Angeles — Clyde W. Eekhardt. Morris Sudmin. W. T. Wall, B. F. Robison, J. S. Stout, B. Foss, Paul Mover. Portland — C. F. Powers. C. L. Robinette. Charles G. Epperson, W. M. Patterson. San Francisco — G. M. Ballentine. Herman Wobber, Al Laurice, John M. Erickson, F. C. Bernard, Jack Marpole, J. W. Flanagan, Jack Burk . Seattle — A. W. Hartford. Archie B. Holt, Harvey J. Kelly. Ray A. Ackles, Jas. W. Brooks. Indianapolis — G. T. Landis, J. R. Negar. H. L. Hancock, Harry E. Richardson, Ken- neth L. Dotterer, Frank M. Page. Kansas City — W. E. Scott, G. W. Fuller, W. J. Kubitzki. J. F. Woodward, Charles Knickerbocker. H. Kinser, Robert Conn, M. A. Tanner. St. Louis — B. B. Reingold, J. A. Feld, G. H. Ware. A. Eskin, A. J. McManus, Flor- ence Patke. Des Moines — S. J. Mayer. H. Gottlieb. M. M. Feinberg, E. Jacobs, J. Davidson. Minneapolis — M. A. Levy, J. S. Cohan, William Clayson. Earl Lorentz, Louis Cohen. Harold Lundquist, Warren Branton. Edgar F. Burke. Gasper J. Chouinard, R. H. Stahl, P. Lundquist. Omaha — J. E. Scott, G. F. Halloran, H. P. Ironfield, Harry Levy, Irving Mills, Jay Haas. Kestenbaum Named PRC's Ad and Publicity Chief (Continued from Page 1) nounced yesterday by 0. Henry Briggs, president. Kestenbaum suc- ceeds Joseph O'Sullivan who recent- ly resigned. Prior to his new ap- pointment, he was in charge of PRC's exploitation department. Well known in the industry, Kes- tenbaum formerly was with Fox, Associated Exhibitors, Tiffany, Mon- ogram, Republic and Grand Na- tional. Shartin Joins UA Omaha — Bill Shartin, formerly of Warner Brothers, has taken a posi- tion with Omaha United Artist ex- change and will work out of the Omaha office. The .... FEMME TOUCH MARILYN WILSON, Columbia inspection dept., Seattle. SYBIL BENTLEY, publicity dept. secretary, Ed- ward Small Productions, Hollywood. MRS. MARIE TEARLE is the newly appointed treasurer of the Warner Bros. Stanley The- ater, Baltimore. HELEN MEYERS, assistant, Loew-Poli, New Haven. Allied Unit Wants Divorcem't Asks No Limitation on Blocks of Pictures (Continued f hibitor unit, points out that they "are by no means intended as a cure- all for all the ailments disturbing our great industry," adding that "they will, however, go a long way in smashing an undesirable monopoly and restoring normal com- petition amongst all branches of the business." Lists Three Points The committee proposes three ma- jor points "as a practical means of obtaining relief." The three points and the committee's comments on each are as follows: "First: That the distributors shall be expressly enjoined from condition- ing the sale of any feature picture upon any other product (feature or shorts). This appears to be the only effective method of protecting the public against undesirable features and short subjects. "Second: There should be no limi- tation as to the number of features that may be purchased at any one time. As a practical matter, it is necessary in the operation of any business to maintain a reasonable backlog of merchandise or product. Only under these circumstances can any business operate effectively and with stability. "Third: That the divorcement of production and distribution from ex- hibition be carried out as set forth in the prayer for relief in the initial complaint of the Government, sup- plemented by provisions preventing other monopolies being created under new names. We believe that it is necessary that the concentrated the- ater holdings of the producers, dis- tributors and affiliated exhibitors be broken up completely, with a provi- sion precluding the sale of any large number to any single person or cor- poration. This should not be con- strued as a limitation as to any per- son's or corporation's theater hold- ings, but a precaution, with teeth, to rom Page 1) avoid transferring monopolistic powers." 9 "Unfair" Practices The list of what the committee described to the Department of Jus- tice as being unfair trade practices is as follows: 1. Forced sale of — undesirable fea- tures— foreign-made product — short subjects — trailers. 2. Inflationary film rentals achieved through integrated control of pro- duction, distribution and exhibition. 3. Discriminatory contractual priv- ileges granted producer-distributor owned theaters. 4. Disclosure and exchange of — ex- hibitor's box-office receipts — and other confidential information by dis- tributors, their sales representatives, checkers, and other employes. 5. Denial to independent exhibitors of an unconditional cancellation pri- vilege. 6. Refusal to license product un- less all theaters under common own- ership or operation are included. 7. Use of contracts entirely lack- ing in mutality, containing, inequities such as: (a) arbitrary percentage terms. (b) designated playing time. (c) open brackets. (d) unfair clearance and avail- bility. (e) control of admission prices. (f) weekly payment of short sub- jects without regard to play dates. (g) distributor's right of attach- ing C.O.D. to any feature it chooses for moneys claimed due on undated releases. (h) denial of right to appeal Local Arbitrator's decision contrary to Section XXII, Paragraph 6, of the Consent Decree. 8. Inflexible sales policies admin- itered without regard to individual problems. 9. Retaliatory measures directed at exhibitors active in trade organi- zation affairs. Find Tipton's Body Cincinnati — The body of Cecil Tip- ton, associated with Abe Hyman, Huntington, W. Va., reported miss- ing by his wife, was found in the river at Ironton. Tipton was with Abe Hyman theaters for 25 years. No reason has been ascribed for his death. His wife survives him. Marshall Honored Labor Management Committee of the Metropolitan District has award- ed Honorable Mention to Ashton Marshall, who has been with the In- ternational Projector Corp. since 1929. Marshall suggested a grinder attachment device which keeps the table at uniform speed for a dressing operation. Next "Action" Ready "The War for Men's Minds" will be released nationally by United Art- ists on Aug. 13 as one of "The World in Action" series of two-reel films, produced by the National Film Board Mich. Firm Dissolves Detroit — Independent Theater Owners, Inc., formed several years ago by a group of upstate exhibi- tors to handle film transportation, has gone out of business, according to Joseph A. Smith, who was gen- eral manager. Smith is now confin- ing his activities to his own com- pany, Exhibitors Truck Service, film carrier. Roth in WAC Spot Buffalo — Max Roth, Warner Bros, branch manager, has succeeded Syd- ney Samson, elevated to general manager for Canada by 20-Fox, as WAC territorial chairman for dis- tribs. Hellinger to Produce Hollywood — Mark Hellinger has been assigned by Jack L. Warner, to produce the film version of the Broadway comedy hit, "The Dough- girls." New Union to Define Duties of Managers an 1 (Continued from Page 1) York area, plus Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester Counties. The union is acting under an edict unanimously approved tl week by its officers and steering co mittee after it had assertedly been pointed out that managers in many spots were required to handle ex- ploitation and publicity in addition to their managerial duties. Ac- cording to the union, this practice "is now definitely out" as far as its members are concerned. "The day of the theater manager being invoked as an involuntary jack-of-all-trades is past and is one of several evils our union means to stamp out pronto," D. F. Barreca, president of Local 152, said yester- day. Publicity matters should be the province of the New York Screen Publicists Guild, according to Bar- reca. He said that in the future managers belonging to Local 152 al- so will be prohibited from building frames and doing other carpenter work "to the exclusion of a union carpenter at a union wage scale." Barreca added that his union will strive "to make managerial positions in theaters synonomous with dignity and authoritativeness conducive to the classification." He said that af- ter the union had tackled what he referred to as "managerial abuses" it would take up grievances of other theater workers. Barreca said that the union's bar- gaining drive had been set back due to the drafting of working condi- tions and wage scales, which, he as- serted, will be submitted to major circuits and independent circuits alike. TO THE COLORS! ic COMMISSIONED * EMERSON DICKMAN, JR., USN, son of the 20th- Fox salesman, Buffalo, commissioned an ensign. MORTON CERBER, USA, formerly Warner Bros, home office publicity staff, commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at Fort Benning, Ca. — • — * ARMY * JAMES THOMPSON, Apollo Theater, Chicago. ALAN BAXTER, actor, Hollywood. * NAVY* HENRY PEARSON, manager, Victoria, Buffalo. NICK FOREST, manager, Belle Theater, Detroit — • — * ARMY AIR FORCE * WILLIAM HEADSTREAM, manager, Melba, Batesville, Ark. TED ARNOW, Lnew's home office publicity staff. * SEEBEES * HAL TATE, central editor, Boxoffice, Chicago. ■ HK Wednesday, August 11, 1943 .W DAILY 13 Meet on Expansion Of Incentive Films (Continued from Page 1) plans may be drawn up within an- other two weeks. Although 16 mm. prints of the Army Orientation Series X by Col. "£rank Capra are being made avail- ""iJ.e for non-profit handling by com- ercial film libraries in various cit- ies, it is not likely that they will be included as a part of this program, an Army official said last night. It is probable that the program pix for lunch-hour screening for morale pur- poses will be limited to two reels, and the Capra series runs close to an hour for each subject. What is probable is an expansion of the activities of the unit headed by Maj. Richard Maybaum, already responsible for shipping eight sub- jects of one- or two-reels each for showing to war workers. These are made up mainly of combat footage and do not contain any special pro- duction. H€LI_y>VCCD DIGEST SIGNED CASEY ROBINSON, screenplay, "The Hoodlum Saint," M-C-M. DENNIS DAY, termer, M-G-M. JACK MOSS, producer, Columbia. BARBARA BEL CEDDES, termer, Hunt Strom- berg. VALYA TERRY, termer, Republic. TWINKLE WATTS, termer, Republic. RENE CLAIR, direct, "Tomorrow Never Comes," Arnold Pressburger-UA. ASSIGNMENTS BRUCE MANNING, screenplay, "As Before, Better Than Before," Universal. RUDOLPH FLOTHOW, producer, "The Whistler," Columbia. ERIC TAYLOR, script, "The Whistler," Colum- bia. MARK RO'BSON, director, "The Ghost Ship," RKO. CLIFF REID, producer, "The Hoodlum Saint," M-G-M. GEORGE JESSEL, producer, "The Million Dol- lar Dollies," 20th-Fox. MARIAN SITZER, screenplay, "The Million Dol- lar Dollies," 20th-Fox. JOHN ALTON, cameraman, "Dr. Paul Joseph Coebbels, His Life and Loves," W. R. Frank. HAROLD ERICKSON, dialogue director, "Hit- ler's Women, Monogram. WALTER PLUNKETT, costumes, "Knickerbocker Holiday," Producers Corp. of America. MORT GREEN and KARL HAJOS, songs, "The Sultan's Daughter," Monogram. MONTE BRICE, screenplay, "Beautiful But Broke," Columbia. RAY McCAREY, director, "Dangerous Journey," RKO. BRUCE MANNINC, producer-writer, "As Before, Better than Before," Universal. EDWARD CLINE, director, "Moonlight and Cactus," Universal. PANDRO S. 'BERMAN, producer, "The Seventh Cross," M-C-M. • CASTINGS JOAN CRAWFORD, "Never Good Bye," "Night Shift," and "Miss Understood," Warners; CHARLES LAUCHTON and WALTER HUSTON, "Dragon Seed," M-G-M; PATRICIA COLLINCE, "Tender Comrade," RKO; LOU McALLISTER, "Home in Indiana," 20th-Fox; BINC CROSBY, "California," Paramount; JUNE LOCKHART, "The White Cliffs of Dover," M-G-M; WIL- LIAM BENDIX, "Lifeboat," 20th-Fox; KANE RICHMOND, "There's Something About a Sol- dier," Columbia; JOHN QUALEN and BETTY QUILLEN, "Passport to Dakar," Universal. Public Beware Springfield, III. — This warning ap- pears on the marquee of Springfield's Senate Theater this week: "A Stranger in Town" "Slightly Dangerous" Tex. Exhib. Says Favorable Award Would be Valueless (Continued from Page 1) erett, Overton Theater, Overton, Tex., in withdrawing his demand for arbitration against M-G-M, 20th- Fox, Vitagraph and RKO-Radio, filed by him on June 2 under Section 10 of the Consent Decree. A letter of withdrawal dated Aug. 6, 1943, was addressed to C. C. Wil- liams, clerk of the arbitration trib- unal. At the time of filing for this arbitration, the desire of Leverett was to gain an award to separate first-run sales in Overton from the general Jefferson Amusement Co. deal for pictures. Point in the case was that Jefferson had only one house, the 200-seat Gem, which was its second string house (the Strand having burned) and which allegedly was not suitable for first-runs. Jef- ferson intervened. In the meantime, the Strand has been rebuilt. Leverett believes that he could gain an award in the hearing, but says that even should the film com- panies accept such an award in good faith and sell on bid in Overton, he would be overbid by Jefferson and the award would have no practical value for him. His letter says: "But after obtain- ing the most favorable award pos- sible under the Decree, what real re- lief is in sight? Presumably the buying for our competitor would be divorced from the general buying for the circuit, but the circuit buy- ing of pictures involves large sums of money, and a difference of $50 in the cost of one feature in Overton — a difference great enough to make a deal for our theater impossible — could and undoubtedly would be ab- sorbed without trace in the chain operation, without the slightest pos- sibility for us to prove that such was the case." Frankel Joins CBS Script Dept. Mortimer Frankel, of the United Artists publicity department since 1937, has resigned to join the script department of Columbia Broadcast- ing System. Frankel joined the ad- vertising-publicity department of UA in November, 1936, and took over the writing and production of transcriptions the following year, also serving as press book editor-. Brylawski on Air Raid Duty Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A Julian Brylawski, Warners' real estate chief for the Washington area, has been named special district deputy air raid war- den, in charge of the amusements division. As assistants he has chose Harry Lohmeyer, Warners' local manager, and John Allen, M-G-M branch manager. 10 Day-and-Date Runs For "This is the Army" Warners has set simultaneous run showings of "This is the Army" in two or more theaters for 10 cities, all opening within the next two weeks. In Los Angeles, picture plays day-and-date at the Downtown, Hol- lywood and Wilshire Theaters while in Denver it will play at the Den- ver, Esquire and Rialto. Two - house runs as set for Mil- waukee, at the Warner and Alham- bra; Portland, Ore., at the Para- mount and Oriental; Columbus, at the Grand and Palace; Sacramento, at the Alhambra and Senator; Seat- tie, at the Orpheum and Music Hall; Long Beach, at the State and Ca- bart; San Diego, at the Fox and State; Portsmouth, O., at the Co- lumbia and Leroy. In Atlantic City, "Army" opens at the Warner this week for a two-week run, instead of the usual week; it will then move over to the Stanley for a week, fol- lowed by weeks at the Virginia and Colonial. Aaron to Coast Eddie W. Aaron, circuit sales man- ager for M-G-M, leaves Friday for the Coast to discuss deals for the company's next block with Fox West Coast. Ed Zable, head buyer for FWC, and George Hickey, Western division manager for M-G-M, will be present at the negotiations. Allied'! Directors Open Session Today (Continued from Page 1) combatting of theater vandalism in Chicago and measures to be taken by Allied units are slated to be im- portant subjects, while some sort of definite action is expected on the drafting of a price ceiling law pat- terned on the Canadian formula. It is quite likely that Allied will reiterate its stand on theater divorcement and may announce the results of a parley between a spe- cial Allied committee and Tom Clark, special assistant attorney general. The meetings will last through to- morrow afternoon. Golden State and T & D Circuits Close for Rep. (Continued from Page 1) 44 program with the Golden State and T & D Theater Circuit, cover- ing 88 theaters in Northern Cali- fornia. Assisting Grainger were Western District Sales Manager F. A. Bate- man and San Francisco Branch Man- ager Sid Weisbaum. M. A. Naify and R. A. McNeil represented the circuit. *** •W [ROY ROGERS TRIGGER | KING OF THE COWBOYS SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES in 'SONG OF TEXAS' A \ REPUBLIC PICTURE^ /fetotne* first m 14 DAILY Wednesday, August 11, 1943 :< :< R€VI€UIS Of THE IKUJ flLHIS tfr :< "The Good Fellows" with Helen Walker, Cecil Kellaway Paramount 70 Mins. FAST-MOVING COMEDY SHOULD GET BY WITH FAMILY AUDIENCES; KELLA- WAY PROVES MAIN ATTRACTION. "The Good Fellows" is a moderately suc- cessful satire on fraternal orders. It would have been much better had it not placed so great a reliance on hokum to achieve its goal. It is all played very much on the surface, with the appeal di- rected at family audiences. The film has the virtue of snap and an abundance of life and a number of resounding laughs. But what the production has above every- thing else is the services of Cecil Kella- way in the film's most substantial role. Kellaway dominates the film in a per- formance that is vastly superior to the material of which the picture is com- pounded. The smoothness and under- standing of his portrayal make one wish anew that this actor's talents were put to finer use, as they so justly deserve. Kellaway plays an impractical fellow who permits his passion for good fellowship to interfere with his livelihood as a real estate agent. His activities as a potentate of the Ancient Order of Noblest Romans keep him impoverished and result in family dis- sension. Throughout the film he's con- stantly harried because of his lack of a business head. For most of the footage he's trying to break out of his financial straight-jacket with small result. It is only through an ironic twist that he finally suc- ceeds in providing the wherewithal to meet his financial obligations. While the acting of the others is ac- ceptable, none cf it compares to Kellaway's. Tha actor gets his strongest support from Helen Walker, who plays his daughter; Mabel Paige, his mother-in-law; Kathleen Lockhart, his missus; and James Brown, his daughter's boy-friend. Jo Graham's direction extracts many laughs from the screenplay of Hugh Wed- lock, Jr., and Howard Snyder derived from a play by George S. Kaufman and Herman Mankiewicz. Walter MacEwen produced. CAST: Helen Walker, James Brown, Cecil Kellaway, Mabel Paige, Rod Cameron, Diana Hale, Kathleen Lockhart, Wade Boteler, Tom Faden, Olin Howlin, William B. Davidson, Chester Clute, Irving Bacon, Norman Ainsley, Douglas Wood, Henry Edgar Dearing, Maurice Cass, Edward Earle, Robert Winkler, Norma Varden, Ker- man Cripps, Oscar Smith. CREDITS: Producer, Walter MacEwen; Director, Jo Graham; Screenplay, Hugh Wedlock, Jr., Howard Snyder; Based on play by George S. Kaufman, Herman Man- kiewicz; Theodor Sparkuhl; Art Decorators, Hans Dreier, Haldane Douglas; Musical Score, Leo Shuken; Film Editor, Arthur Schmidt; Set Decorator, George Sawley; Sound, Robert Quick, Walter Oberst. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Serve" Withdrawn in Argentina Buenos Aires (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — "In Which We Serve" has been withdrawn from distribution until Argentine censors allow showings in its original form. Among several cuts demanded by the censors was the shot of the ma- chine gunning of British sailors by a Nazi submarine crew. Tornado" with Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly Paramount 83 Mins. FANS WHO CRY FOR ACTION WILL GET WHAT THEY WANT IN THIS ONE; PLOT AND DEVELOPMENT STRICTLY ROUTINE. This William H. Pine— William C. Thom- as production has been cleverly slanted to suit the tastes of audiences that go for action stuff without concern about quality. Plenty happens in "Tornado," all of it routine to a degree, to be sure, but all hitting its mark. It will matter little to the fans for whom the film has been devised that it telegraphs its blows and works out according to formula without one fresh deviation in plot, situation, or line. The film however, was not intended to be any more than what it is. The story is the aged one about the overly ambitious chap who gets to the top by walking over others and then finding when he has completed his climb, that it wasn't worth the effort, or price. In this instance the chap is a coal miner who is married to a singer in a honky-tonk, whose social aspirations are largely responsible for driving him upward. The film details his rise to the top and his subsequent fall in routine though exciting fashion. The end finds him facing a new future with a sweet young thing after his wife is killed with her lover. Maxwell Shane has poured no end of violence into his screenplay, which is based on a novel by John Guedel. The direction of William Berke is punchy and swift. His staging of a number of fight sequences will get quite a rise out of the fans. Chester Morris puts plenty of guts into his enactment of the ambitious miner. Nancy Kelly plays his wife nicely. Others to be noted are Bill Henry, as his brother; Gwen Kenyon, as the girl who is at his side at the finale; Nestor Paiva, as a dis- gruntled miner who gives Morris a lot of trouble; Vince Barnett, as a comic, buddy of Morris'. Some of the others are Joe Sawyer, Marie McDonald, Morgan Conway and Frank Reicher. Two songs sung by Miss Kelly help to lighten the action. CAST: Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, Bill Henry, Joe Sawyer, Gwen Kenyon, Marie McDonald, Morgan Conway, Frank Reicher, Nestor Paiva, Vince Barnett. CREDITS: Producers, William H. Pine, William C. Thomas; Director, William Berke; Screenplay, Maxwell Shane; Based on a novel by John Guedel; Cameraman, Fred Jackman, Jr.; Film Editor, William Ziegler; Art Director, F. Paul Sylos; Sound, William H. Lynch; Set Decorator, Ben Berk; Songs, Ralph Freed, Frederick Hol- lander, Frank Loesser. DIRECTION, All Right. PHOTOGRA- PHL, All Right. Para. Sets Deals Paramount has closed approxi- mately 50 per cent of its national possibilities in independent deals for its sixth and last block of pictures for 1942-43, Neil Agnew, general sales manager, announced yesterday. In the first five weeks of selling, contracts on Block Six reached the new high mark of 4,819, Agnew re- vealed. "Melody Parade" with Mary Beth Hughes, Eddie Quillan (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Monogram 73 Mins. MIXTURE OF COMEDY AND MUSIC MAKES SATISFACTORY BOOKING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES. Here is a satisfactory offering in the modest budget field. In keeping with its title, it has plenty of music, with Anson Weeks and Ted Fio Rita and their or- chestra busy, not to overlook the Loumell Morgan Trio. Handling the vocal chores are Jerry Cooper, Armida and Mary Beth Hughes. Edward Cherkose and Edward Kay con- cocted six songs and Armida one. Among the other numbers used are "Sleepy Time Down South," "What do You Know, Joe?" and "Them There Eyes." Eddie Quillan, Tim and Irene Ryan and Manton Moreland handle the comedy chores and do well with their assignments. In- cidentally Tim Ryan collaborated with Charles R. Marion on the original screen- play. Ruloff, Follette and Lunard score with their comedy dance number. Andre Chariot, Kenneth Harlan, Cyril Ring, Ruby Dandridge and Ramon Ros are among the principals. Arthur Dreifuss turned in a good job of directing, while Lindsley Parsons provided excellent production values. The chorus is eye-filling with Jack Boyle responsible for the good dance routines. Quillan is an ambitious bus boy in a near- defunct night club operated by Tim Ryan. He believes that Mary Beth Hughes, new hat-check girl at the club, is a great bet as a singer of popular songs. However, Armida is engaged for the principal spot. After many complications, Mary Beth wins her chance and of course makes good. CAST: Mary Beth Hughes, Eddie Quillan, Tim Ryan, Irene Ryan, Manton Moreland, Jerry Cooper, Armida, Andre Chariot, Ken- neth Harlan, Cyril Ring, Ramon Ros, Loumell Morgan Trio, Ruloff, Follette and Lunard, Anson Weeks and his orchestra, Ted Fio Rita and his orchestra, Ruby Dandridge. CREDITS: Producer, Lindsley Parsons; Director, Arthur Dreifuss; Authors, Tim Ryan, Charles R. Marion; Screenplay, same; Cameraman, Mack Stengler; Production Manager, William Strohback; Film Editor, Richard Currier; Dance Director, Jack Boyle; Musical Director, Edward Kay; Songs, Ed- ward Cherkose, Edward Kay, Armida. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Premiere of "Destroyer" In Providence Aug. 16 "Destroyer," Columbia's story of a Navy ship and the heroism of the men who sail it, will have its world premiere at the Strand Theater, Providence, R. I., Aug. 16. The opening day of the picture's run will be dedicated to the Navy mothers of Providence, and in the audience there will be 200 Navy mothers, each accompanied by a gob adopted for the day who will take the places of their own sons who are on duty away from home. Mar- guerite Chapman, who is co-starred in the picture which features Glenn Ford, will make personal appear- ances at the theater on opening day. 1 J "Frontier Badmen" with Diana Barrymore, Robert Paige Universal 77 Mins. BANG-UP WESTERN PACKED WITH ACTION AND EXCITEMENT; STACKS UP AS SWELL BOOKING FOR KIDS. "Frontier Badmen" is a bang-up westl with such a display of fireworks as to m than compensate for the routine quality of the story. The film never slackens its whirlwind pace for an instant in a violent course that will work the kids into a stew. It is very much of a novelty to see Diana Barrymore and Robert Paige in west- ern roles. The former plays a dealer in a gambling joint with whom Paige a cattle- man, falls in love. Although Miss Barry- more has the top billing and is ostensibly the star of the proceedings, her role is secondary to several others. She is con- siderably overshadowed by Paige, Anne Gwynne, Leo Carrillo, Andy Devine and Noah Beery, Jr. Gerald Geraghty and Morgan B. Cox have devised an exciting screenplay built around the villainy of a combine that bleeds the cattlemen. The ranchers are championed by Paige and his buddy Beery, who set out to get the lowdown on the group that is swindling the cowmen. They get into trouble right at the start and don't get out of it until the end. The head of the com- bine, Thomas Gomez, maneuvers Paige into jail and tries to have him lynched for a couple of murders he hasn't committed. Our hero is saved in the nick of time by Beery, Carrillo, Devine, Miss Gwynne and Miss Barrymore. Beery and Miss Gwynne provide a companion romance to that between Miss Barrymore and Paige. The acting suits the purposes of the film nicely. Names additional to those men- tioned include Lon Chaney, Tex Ritter, William Farnum, Arthur Loft. The direction of William McGann keeps the film in constant ferment. Ford Beebe served as associate producer. CAST: Diana Barrymore, Robert Paige, Anne Gwynne, Leo Carrillo, Andy Devine, Noah Beery, Jr., Lon Chaney, Tex Ritter, William Farnum, Thomas Gomez, Robert Homans, Tom Fadden, Arthur Loft, Frank Lackteen. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Ford Beebe; Director, William McGann; Screenplay, Gerald Geraghty, Morgan B. Cox; Camera- man, William Sickner; Art Director, John Goodman; Sound Supervisor, Bernard B. Brown; Musical Director, H. J. Salter. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Report Huge Minnesota Theater to Reopen Soon Minneapolis — Indication that the Minnesota Theater here, largest pic- ture house in the northwest and dark since last Fall, may reopen in the near future, was seen in announce- ment by Edward S. Gould, city as- sessor, that the city council would be asked this week to approve a tax reduction on the property. Because of this move, local the- ater and film men are of the opin- ion a renter for the property has been found. Owners of the land and buildings have made no announce- ment. (IN Z Z DAN 15 Hit*? M UZ I N | A I 1 ' N i I -J ^ intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought r iLE COPY QQ NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Picture! Twenty-Five Years Old ? DAILY- te 84. NO. 30 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST, 12, 1943 TEN CENTS . &LLIEDT0 WORK WITH D OF ] ONDECREE Distributors Mull Peace Status of Italian Pix Jnless Acquired Before ^earl Harbor Are Under \lien Property Custodian Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — With continuing dis- ,ussions of the possibility of peace pth Italy, several of the majors ,nd some independent distributors J.re today trying to figure the status ft Italian films which they have tad on their shelves for some time. Jnless title to these films was ac- tually sold prior to Pearl Harbor, ;hey are still under the authority if the Alien Property Custodian, and lot even the APC's office is quite (Continued on Page 3) Save One Ton in Five, Canadian Fuel Order Ottawa — Theater proprietors and owners of public and commercial buildings in Canada have been or- dered to conserve coal during the coming months under the Federal conservation policy to be enforced under a Government edict because of the fuel crisis. The new order prohibits a quan- (Continued on Page 6) Sets $250,000 Promotion Budget for "Phantom" A $250,000 promotion budget has been set by Universal for the Tech- nicolor production "Phantom of the Opera." Bulk of the expenditures will be used in newspapers, radio (Continued on Page 10) SAG's Class B to Act On Extras Autonomy West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A plan to create a separate and autonomous organiza- tion for extras will be considered by the Class B membership of Screen Actors Guild at a meeting on Sept. 19. Plan will be submitted by SAG, according to a statement from the organization's board of directors. 20th-F0X ADDS THIRD DIVISION Connors Names Kupper General Sales Manager and Schlatter Manager of New Central Division in Realignment West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Creation of a third domestic sales division to facilitate the distribution of important 20th- Fox pictures was announc- ed yesterday by Tom Con- nors, vice- president in charge of world - wide d i stribution, at the open- i n g session of a three- day regional sales meet in the Hotel Ambassador. Connors also named William J. Kup- per, his executive assistant, general WILLIAM KUPPER sales manager and put L. J. Schlai- fer, home office representative for several months, in as manager o f the new Cen- tral division. The foreign d e p artment is now oper- ating under Connors with Murray S i 1- verstone a s vice- pres- i d e n t in c h a r g e of foreign sales. Central division, taking in offices formerly in the Eastern and West- (Continued on Page 6) L. J. SCHLAIFER War Sales Send Net Of Eastman Soaring Substantial advance, as the re- sult of war sales, in the volume of Eastman Kodak Co. business and its Western Hemisphere subsidiaries is revealed in the organization's report issued yesterday and covering the six periods of 1943 as compared with the similar 1942 span. Estimated net profit of the company and sub- sidiaries in the Western Hemisphere (Continued on Page 6) Allied's Sales Plan Awaits Decree Poll Baltimore — Allied's proposal for a sales plan, patterned after the UMPI formula, will be set aside until the various units have been polled on the consent decree, Abram F. Myers, board chairman and gen- eral counsel, said yesterday. While the proposal has not been abandoned, it was the consensus of directors that it would be best to (Continued on Page 9) Rodgers Premiere Chairman Aims for 1,200 Houses in 3rd War Loan Drive People's Platform Show For DuMont Tele Station DuMont's New York television station, W2XWV, with studios at 515 Madison Ave., will inaugurate a People's Platform program early (Continued on Page 6) Post of Bond Premiere Chairman for the Third War Loan has been accepted by William F. Rodgers, it was announced yesterday by L. C. Griffith, general chairman for the campaign. Rodgers will set in mo- tion plans expected to result in pre- mieres in more than 1,200 cities. C. (Continued on Page 6) Board Meeting in Balti- more Told Exhibs. May Intervene in Proceedings By AL STEEN Associate Editor, THE FILM DAILY Baltimore — Allied units will work closely with the Depart- ment of Justice in gathering data on the workings of the consent decree, it was indicated here yes- terday during the first session of Allied's board meeting at the Lord Baltimore Hotel. The whole prob- (Continued on Page 9) Sees Big Role Abroad For Indies' Product Independent product will play a big role in European markets in the post-war world, notwithstanding the fact that major companies have an impressive backlog of important pro- ductions, it was declared yesterday by William Gell, newly-appointed European representative for PRC, (Continued on Page 10) PRC Signs William Gell To Open European Field PRC's first move to enter the European film market is the signing of William J. Gell, former managing director of Pathe Pictures, Ltd., to represent the company and super- (Continued on Page 6) B & K Playing Time Speedup Aids Nabes Chicago — B & K is using the Hard- ing and Granada Theaters for a speedup of playing time. Houses formerly played second week pre- release, following the Marbo and Uptown. Under the new plan they will not repeat films shown at those houses but will play different pic- tures thus clearing more product for the subsequent runs. With long runs now prevalent on the Loop, plan is expected to relieve a prod- uct shortage for the neighborhood houses. DAILY Thursday, August 12, 194-T Vol. 84, No. 30 Thurs. Aug. 12, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN Publisher General Manager Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1S01 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Wednesday Aug. 11) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. 16 16 16 15% 15y4 151/4 + 1/4 Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc.(2i/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd. . Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . . East. Kodak do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Par. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. deb. 4s56. NEW YORK Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs Sonotone Corp Technicolor Universal (Picts N. Y. OVER-THE Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 2V2 21/4 21/4 153/s 15% 153/8 20!/8 193,4 20 60 1/2 60 1/4 60 1/2 + % 261/a 253/4 253/4 8V2 83/8 81/2 89 89 89+1 21 Vi 21 21 31% 315/8 317/8 + l/8 133/g 131/4 133/8 + l/4 895/s 895/8 895/8 +5-32 BOND MARKET CURB MARKET 2% 2% 27/8 — l/8 1% H/2 1% 35/8 35/8 35/8 — i/8 13% 133/4 133/4 + l/4 16% 165/g 167/8 + 3/8 COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked 1st '57 80% 8234 "Heaven" Big in Roxy Opening Twentieth-Fox's "Heaven Can Wait" opened to smash business at the Roxy yesterday. By noon all seats and standing space was filled and with the line extending up 50th St., house was forced to stop selling tickets. POSITIONS FILLED QUICKLY CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y.— Tel. MU. 2-6494 COmiRG ADD G0IHG L. Warner General Sales Manager BEN KAL- MENSON left yesterday for a tour of the Southern territory, principally in connection with openings of "This is the Army." First stops will be Atlanta and Jacksonville. IRVING YERGIN, Warner field representative, also left for At- lanta. IRVING BERLIN flies to Washington today to participate in the premiere of "This is the Army" at the Earle tonight. DAVID WESHNER of Walt Disney Produc- tions, and ARNOLD STOTZ are in Messina, N. Y. SONNY GREENBERC, former Park City, Bridgeport, manager for many years, was home on Army furlough from Alabama. MAJ. HENRY DITTMAN, last man off Bataan, accompanied by MRS. DITTMAN, arrived yes- terday from Topeka, Kans., as guests of Uni- versal. JACK SHIELDS, manager of the Capitol, An- sonia, Conn, is on vacation with his son, home on a furlough from the Navy. ERNST LUBITSCH has returned from Wash- ington conferences with WAC Col. Hobby on his next 20th-Fox production, "All Out Ar- lene," TED LLOYD, in charge of the 20th-Fox radio department, has returned from Treasury con- ferences in Washington on the Third War Loan Drive. ARTHUR WILLI, RKO Eastern talent scout, yesterday left on a tour of New England Sum- mer stock companies. MARJORIE MORROW, Warner Eastern talent bureau, is in New Haven. JOE BESSER, arrives in Hollywood on Aug. 20, to go into rehearsal at Columbia for "Hey, Rookie." SUSANNA FOSTER, will visit New York be- ginning Aug. 23, following a series of p.a.'s in Minneapolis and Chicago. ANNE CANELLI, cashier of Columbia's New Haven exchange, is vacationing in Gloucester, Mass. Out-of-Court Settlement For Overtime Pay Suits Hollywood — Out-of-court settle- ment of the SAG overtime pay suits filed in behalf of extras against ma- jor producers will be made shortly. Although basic provisions have been agreed upon, full terms of the set- tlement have not been worked out because of the complexity of claims and the large number of claimants involved. Final settlement awaits examination of claims by SAG auditors. Guild's decision to aim for an out-of-court settlement sprung from the fact that trying the cases, filed in October, 1941, involved auditing the books of the producers. The court refused to order such an audit at the studios' expense and SAG auditors reported that costs would be prohibitive for the Guild. More than 1,300 claimants are involved in the suits, although it is pointed out that because certain claims are un- substantiated, many claimants will not be eligible for an allocation of the final settlement. 20th-Fox Starts "Claudia" Tradesho wings Aug. 16 Tradeshowings of 20th - Fox's "Claudia" will start on Aug. 16, when the film will be screened in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Den- ver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Bos- ton, Cincinnati, Detroit, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Seattle. The film will be shown in Albany, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New Ha- ven, St. Louis, Buffalo, Dallas, Kan- sas City, New Orleans, Charlotte, Des Moines, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Portland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Washington. On Aug. 10 the trade will see the film in Minneapolis. Massey on Inactive List Montreal — Maj. Raymond Massey, Canadian Army, has been transfer- red to the inactive reserve because of ill health. Maj. Massey is ex- pected to receive a medical discharge effective Sunday. Seltzer to Aid in Routing Star for Third War Loan West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Frank Seltzer, pub- licity director for Samuel Bronston Productions, has been borrowed by the Hollywood Victory Committee to join Edward Alperson, representa- tive of the War Activities commit- tee, to schedule the itinerary of where the stars will go when the third war loan drive to raise $15,- 000,000 gets under way in Septem- ber. Seltzer and Alperson will meet with exhibitors and Treasury offic- ials in 12 leading cities. The drive will probably open in Washington, D. C, and close in San Francisco. Seltzer left by plane for New York last night and will be gone about two weeks. "Army" Sellout in Philly; $32,000 For One Showing Philadelphia — Special $50 top pre- view showing of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" at the Mastbaum Theater next Tuesday night already is a sellout, with a gross of more than $32,500 being realized from the single showing of the Warners' pro- duction for Army Emergency Relief. Sale of standing room, now under consideration, expected to boost the total by perhaps another thousand dollars. • Famed Chinese Actor Dead Mei Lan-fang, renowned Chinese actor who appeared on American stages in 1930, died in Shanghai last Sunday, according to a Japanese broadcast intercepted by the Cen- tral News Agency of China. He was 50 years old. Amend "Touhy" Petition Chicago — Attorney Irving Roth is filing an amended petition in the ac- tion before Federal Judge William Holly by Roger Touhy to prevent showings of 20th-Fox's "Roger Tough — Gangster." Defendants have 25 days to reply. Gutenberg, Former Wis. || ITO Pres., Dies Suddenly |f Milwaukee, Wis. — Andrew C. Gi tenberg, 49, manager of the Grar theater here, died following a emergency appendectomy. He fo: merly was president of the Indu pendent Theater Owners of Wiscoii sin-Upper Michigan. Survivors are his wife, Evelyn; I daughter, June; a son, James^jsiqi three sisters. -: < i Tour Middle East Army Camps Cairo — Jack Benny, Larry Adle Anna Lee and Wini Shaw have a: rived here for a three-week tour < Middle East Army posts. Trouj; took in more than 13 United Natior outposts en route here and may g on to England after the Midd! Eastern swing. i: N NEW YORK THEATERS Ci RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CONDOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BUY WAR TIMES Bo^r PARAMOUNT squar^ S3! B'WAY & 47th St. PAT O'BRIEN « RANDOLPH SCOTT "BOMBARDIER" and "GALS INCORPORATED" LEON ERROL « HARRIET HILLIARD LoewsSTBTE 2nd WEEK On Screen JOAN CRAWFORD FRED MacMURRAY "ABOVE SUSPICION" I In Person HAPPY FELTON LUBA MALINA HI, LO, )ACK THE DAME fhursday, August 12, 1943 nil DAILY 'Ian Colorful Debut -or War Loan Drive Ballyhoo, color and spectacle will pen the Third War Loan Campaign n the New York Metropolitan area aider the auspices of the WAC, it ras revealed yesterday as plans for 1 ^ initial day's festivities, Sept. 9, ^an crystallizing in the offices of Jscar A. Doob, assistant national director of the Treasury's War Fi- nance Division. i Suggested plan for the local sector iv. opening day includes division of he so-called Metropolitan sector in- o seven groups, to include the bor- •ughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, ,Jueens, Bronx and Richmond, West- chester County and the Jersey City- Newark districts in New Jersey. With Army, Navy and Marine ]Iorps co-operation, seven motor con- voys are envisioned, each to include eeps, trucks, small tanks mounted m trucks, and other equipment. In ;ach convoy, it is planned to have it least five wounded service men. The convoys, it is proposed, will re- port at the Hotel Astor in the heart )f Times Square about 10:30 on the norning of Sept. 9. Governor Dewey, Mayor LaGuardia, and other prom'i- lent officials to greet the wounded leroes and other in charge of the convoy reception. Because of the magnitude and character of this •pageantry, it will probably be nec- essary to close-off Times Square. A band of music is to be stationed in the center of the sector, probably m a "traffic island." At 12 noon the party emerges from the Hotel Astor, while the band plays and the firing of a salute .initiates the campaign formally. The •war heroes will be introduced over 113 p.a. system, volunteer workers of -AWVS and other organizations will vend Bonds, and the various convoys -will move into their designated areas of the Greater City, making no more than eight scheduled stops. _ Among the promotional ramifica- tions of the big convoy idea are suggestions that parades meet the convoy in various Metropolitan points; the public be given the op- portunity to see battle equipment; and that WAC erect on every lamp post along Broadway a patriotic shield with appropriate copy. Hal Home Cecil B. DeMille Jane Wyatt D. H. Finke Ben Hersh Mort Spring North African and Local Notes: • • • IN Algiers, there watching from relatively alar the exciting and relentless advance of the U. S. 7th Army in Sicily, is Sergeant Dave Golding, managing editor of the weekly and daily editions of Stars and Stripes Although itching to be with his comrades as they give the well-known Ax to the Axis on the volcanic (and how!) doorstep of the Italian boot which recently lost its heel (Benito), Sergeant Dave, former FILM DAILY editorial staff member, goes philosophically on with his editorial chores for the U. S. Army Aside from being a skilled and efficient editor, the Sergeant continues to be a mighty good reporter, — as witness the punch and interest in the Algiers editions of Stars and Stripes, and the notes he pens to his former trade associates and many friends here on the celluloid home front In his most recent missive, Dave recounts the "great moment of diversion" which arrives each Saturday afternoon when he and a phalanx of our Army gents take a dip in the blue Mediterranean au naturel, — soaking up enough vitamins to keep going for the following six days of merciless application to work If y[ y[ • • • DAVE sex that, although Algiers is hot, there are some compensations, such as the markets filled with grapes, luscious plums, peaches and melons— and tomatoes as big as softballs But there isn't any air conditioning or scotch-and-soda There are, though, some old and still-growing friendships which link the present and the past Sergeant Bill (United Artists Alumnus) Levy has been transferred out of his engineer outfit to PWB where he works for the film unit under Laudy Lawrence Morris Helprin and Paul Radin work in the same building "We are on the ground floor and OW1 is on the fifth," pens Dave Of natural satisfaction to Colonel Jack Alicoate and his FILM DAILY staff here in skyscrapered New York, and to the sheet's Coast offices and myriad correspondents, is Dave's account of regularly receiving copies of FILM DAILY ,— perused avidly by the numerous cinema gents in Algiers—, and yelling for a copy of the Year Book ▼ ▼ T • • • IN the letter-to-exhibitors, recently dispatched by Dick de Rochemont, the M of T managing editor correctly observes that the curiousity on the part of the American people concerning their enemy, Japan, is tremendous Dick's assertion that his org.'s new issue, ". . . And Then Japan," will provide basis for a more profound under- standing of our Jap foe "with whom, for months and perhaps years to come, our soldiers and statesmen must deal," is likewise correct. . . • Yester mom, while awaiting WABC's regular nine o'clock broad- cast, Phil M. tuned in for an earful of Katina Paxinou, guest-starring on "Woman's Page of the Air" The celebrated Greek actress, who has rocketed to lofty heights with press and public as result Of her superb Pilar characterization in Paramount's FWTBT, demonstrated that she can be an ace air "trouper" just as well as a footlight thespian and cinema luminary She put in a grand and sincere plug for Greek War Relief P.S. — If Jimmy Walker can get all wrapped-up in such a femme fashion atmosphere as cloaks and suits, Phil M. can admit that it ain't the first time he's listened to "Woman's Page of the Air," — specifically to hear the swell scripts penned by Mary Jane KrolL . . • SMPE's Atlantic Coast Section extends from Maine to Florida, and, because of transportation difficulties, members thereof can't get the ACS meetings easily So-o-o, being of a practical and scientific, as well as economical mind, notices of meetin's, routine letters, and other material are now, as a policy, sent only to members in and about New York However, if a member insists on getting the said mail, he'll get it T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Status of Italian Pix Mulled by Dislribs. (Continued from Page 1) certain what disposition of Italian property would be permissible in the event Italy is knocked out of the war. Mere licensing by an Italian na- tional is not enough to keep the film from the jurisdiction of APC, but if there is no ownership right vested in an Italian, national distri- bution of the films is strictly to the distributor. The most important sin- gle factor in determining what to dG with these pix is the public — and how the public would react will prob- ably not be known until the issue is put up to it. Can Block New Imports The Office of Censorship has the authority to block importation of enemy films into this country — once they are here it has no say over what is done with them. OWI has no formal authority over enemy films, although it is likely that APC would act on advice of either of these agencies or the Department of Justice. The Department of Jus- tice itself has no clear-cut authority, although clandestine showing of enemy propaganda films might pro- vide the Department grounds to act. A number of Italian films in this country prior to Pearl Harbor have been shown, although APC has retired most prints to which the title was in the hands of Italian nationals. These, along' with other alien films, are filed in the Museum of Modern Art, New York, or the Library of Congress — which is now the sole repository. Use of this material has been granted in at least one case — March of Time having used some Japanese footage, at $2.50 per foot. Pending now is an application from one exhibitor who serves an Italian neighborhood for permission to show an<, Italian feature held by APC. This exhibitor has been show- ing Italian films right along — films the title of which was not held by an Italian na- tional. Whether this application will be granted is something' which has not yet been decided — certainly it will not be granted, said an APC official, if the production re- quested has any propaganda character. Application Pending Actually several Italian propaganda pix have been shown since Pearl Harbor; — at least two in the Broadway section of New York — but these presumably were pix to which title was held by an American dis- tributor. Mere licensing' by the Italian owner for American distribution would not be sufficient authority, the APC official opined. When and if Italy gets out of the war, he said, "we're not sure just what our policy would be, but my gruess is that the impor- tant thing to consider is how the public would react to these films." IN NEW POSTS EARL DOUGLAS, manager, Melba, Batesville, Ark. DICK MARSHALL, manager, Tivoli, San Fran- cisco. STANLEY KOSITSKY, booking staff, Co-Opera- tive Theaters of Ohio, Cleveland. B. A. SLAUCHTER, JR., office manager, Repub- lic, Charlotte. BOB CLARK, booker, Sterling Theaters, Seattle. LIONEL WASSON, manager, Palace, (Burlington, la. DON J. SMITH, temporary manager, Field The- aters, Storm Lake, la. ^HK $and Tops tf>e /^ ) * the Army." Seats range from $2.75 to $10, and all but a very few of the lower-priced seats were gone yesterday afternoon. Besides the brilliant assemblage of civil, military and diplomatic officials who will attend, special guests will in- clude Captain Ted Lawson, author of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and a member of the famous bombing de- tail which spent those seconds over the Nip capital with Gen. Jimmy Doolittle; Robert Prescott, a mem- ber of the famous Flying Tigers; and J. R. Mason, chief electrician's mate of the U. S. S. Hornet. The local tent of the Variety Club has purehasel $250 worth of tickets to be used by wounded servicemen now at Walter Reed Hospital here after having' seen duty overseas. Irving' Berlin will be on hand, and will probably take a bow from the stage. Berlin will meet the press this afternoon. A special stage show has been prepared by the Earle's stage director, Harry Anger, and there will be a brief but impressive color ceremony staged by members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Sergt. Glen Darwin, former metropolitan opera baritone, will sing the national an- them. Dann Joins Vanguard As V.-P. and Counsel West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Daniel T. O'Shea, president of Vanguard Films, Inc., has announced that Robert H. Dann, for the past 12 years associate coun- sel for RKO Pictures in New York, will assume the position of vice- president and general counsel of Vanguard. He will take over his duties on his arrival here Oct. 1. atPVJBUC BIG PICTURE HOLLYWOOD 'S Lhe talented new star you cheered in**Shantytown" now comes to you in her newest hit .1. A romantic, reveal- ing story of the Hollywood you never knew till now .1. the private lives of the stars . . their romances, their hopes, their yearnings . . . with a great cast and a flock of the season's top song hits! Hear Mary Sing: \ Blow, Gabriel, Slow! | I'm Always Chasing Rainbows I It Had To Be You —and more ^UttVe^L"*/ War _ Bo1"11 It's a REPUBLIC PICTURE 10 3* Thursday, August 12, 1943 DAILY Sees Big Role Abroad For Indies' Product (Continued from Page 1) at a trade press conference in the company's home offices. Gell declared that the opportuni- ties for U. S. pix in continental Eu- rope, following the advent of peace, will exceed the demand which existed prior to hostilities, and that, since PRC specializes in action pictures, which have always been popular abroad, its deserved share of the market is assured. In the United Kingdom, Gell de- clared, PRC product features are currently playing in some 30 per cent of British theaters, — and some- times more — , and that this is a satisfactory condition inasmuch as 49 per cent is considered, due to what amounts in the U. S. to clear- ance obstacles as the accepted "sat- uration point," and that the most im- pressive U. S. pictures do not ex- ceed the 40 per cent mark. Gell is of the opinion that most European countries, because of their relatively small populations, and consequently limited number of ex- hibition outlet, cannot enter into serious competition with U. ,S. films. Furthermore, the British market will demand English-language films, including those of Hollywood, and few of those of foreign origin. The British public, he pointed out, have little interest in translated dialogue, and flash-in titles, such as are nec- essary in the instances of "im- ported," non-English-language film. This circumstance will apply to Rus- sian pix, notwithstanding the po- tential strength of that nation's post-war studios. At the present time, there are some 5,000 theaters in operation in England, which is substantially the same total as existed before the war, the number of stands destroyed be- ing "negligible." Such outlets op- erate predominantly on a dual pol- icy, with admission scale $2.25 in U. S. currency, with suburban houses operating on a range of 50c to $1.00. The tax on admissions is declared to be about 27 per cent. These prices, he said, have been stable for about a year. Drawing power of pix de- termine their rentals, he added. Three companies, among the ros- ter of the U. S. film-makers, namely PRC, Monogram and Republic, are operating through representatives rather than on a branch office basis. Film production in the U. K. is set for a post-war boom, in Gell's opinion, because several important studios are at present devoted to war work, and will go back, fol- lowing advent of peace, to active fashioning of product. Not a theater has been forced to shutter, he said, because of popula- tion evacuation. Gell leaves for the Coast today, where he will spend 10 days in con- sultations with Leon Fromkess. He will then return to New York for some two or three weeks, heading thereafter for London. His sched- ule calls for his return to the Brit- ish metropolis on or about Sept. 14. REVIEWS Of nCUJ HLfllS 'Hostages' with Luise Rainer, William Bendix, Paul Lukas Paramount 88 Mins. THIS ONE HAS ENOUGH MARQUEE NAMES TO OVERCOME HANDICAP OF FAMILIARITY OF ITS MATERIAL Nazi villainy, the underground, sabotage, hostages. Again these elements have been combined for the purpose of film enter- tainment. The pattern scarcely varies. Repetition has made the story terribly familiar by now. It takes the finest effort in every department to make the theme palatable and a box office asset at this stage of the game'. "Hostages" is far from the best of the films of its type. It starts out promisingly enough but gets badly out of hand before it advances very far. It is fortunate that in spite of everything the film manages to retain a certain quality of excitement and suspense. The picture has some fine iso- lated scenes vibrant with drama which will help the production get over the hump. Also to the film's advantage are several attractive performances from a cast which contains enough marquee power to make a big difference at the box office. These include portrayals by William Bendix, Oscar Homolka, Paul Lukas and Reinhold Schunzel. These run away with the acting glory. The film does not gain as much as it should from the performances of Luise Rainer and Katina Paxinou, the Greek actress who will be remembered for her grand work in "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Miss Rainer lacks color and acts too much in one key. As for Miss Paxinou, she hasn't too much to do. Besides, her role is rather cut-and-dried. The excitement in "Hostages," which is set in Prague, starts when a German of- ficer commits suicide by drowning himself in a river in back of a cafe. Insisting it's a case of murder, the Nazi hold the guests and personnel as hostages. To do this they have to tamper with the coroner's report. Most of the plot has to do with the efforts of the underground to free one of the hostages, Bendix, its brains. Miss Rainer plays the daughter of a hostage who tries unsuccessfully to have her father freed. Lukas portrays the Nazi police chief who conspires to seize her father's wealth after his death. Arturo de Cordova appears as the underground leader who covers up his activities by working as a translator for the Nazis. Frank Tuttle has directed suspensefully under Associate Producer Sol C. Siegel. Lester Cole and Frank Butler did the screen- play from a novel by Stephan Heym. Vic- tor Milner supplied excellent photography. CAST: Luise Rainer, William Bendix, Roland Varno, Oscar Homolka, Katina Paxi- nou, Paul Lukas, Arturo de Cordova, Rein- hold Schunzel, Fred Giermann, Felix Basch, Michael Visaroff, Eric feldary, John My- long, Mikhail Rasmuny, Phillip Van Zandt, Rex Williams, Hans Conried, Louis Adlon, Richard Ryen, Kurt Neumann. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Sol C. Siegel; Director, Frank Tuttle; Screenplay, Lester Cole, Frank Butler; Based on novel by Stefan Heym; Cameraman, Victor Mil- ner; Musical. Score. Victor Young; Art Directors, Hans Dreier, Franz Bachelin; Film Editor, Archie Marshek; Special Effects, "Two Senoritas from Chicago" with Joan Davis, Jinx Falkenburg Columbia 68 Mins. COMEDY WITH MUSIC TOO FAR- FETCHED AND CORNY; ITS BEST BET IS WITH FAMILY AUDIENCES IN SMALL SPOTS. Joan Davis is the redeeming feature of this comedy. She gives the picture what en- tertainment value it possesses in a role that allows her to carry on her mad and silly antics to her heart's delight. Those who can stand Miss Davis for a protracted period of time will not feel themselves too badly cheated by "Two Senoritas from Chicago." Stanley Rubin and Maurice Tombragel have combined forces to bring forth a har- vest of corn that will give indigestion to filmgoers who don't go in for this kind of fare. As it stands, the picture is strictly for the young and others whose tastes in entertainment are plebian. for what it lacks in quality the film makes up in movement and noise. The produc- tion sputters all over the place in telling its story of a couple of gals who try to get a break in show business via a bit of chican- ery— said chicanery consisting primarily in their passing themselves off for a couple of Portuguese ladies of the theater. The two gals are played by Jinx Falken- burg and Ann Savage. Aiding them in their duplicity is Miss Davis, who acts as a sort of agent. The direction of Frank Woodruff doesn't lessen the implausibility and inanity of the yarn, although it must be said for him that he at all times keeps the going lively. The producer was Wallace MacDonald. The Misses Davis, Falkenburg and Savage are abetted in their shenanigans by Leslie Brooks, Ramsay Ames, Bob Haymes and several others. The cast, with one or two exceptions, is badly handicapped by the material. There are several musical interludes that will prove a help to the film in its life on double bills. CAST: Joan Davis, Jinx Falkenburg, Ann Savage, Leslie Brooks, Ramsay Ames, Bob Haymes, Emory Parnell, Douglas Leavitt, Muni Seroff, Max Wilentz, Stanley Brown, Frank Sully, Charles C. Wilson, Romaine Callender. CREDITS: Producer, Wallace MacDonald; Director, Frank Woodruff; Screenplay, Stan- ley Rubin, Maurice Tombragel; Cameraman, L. W. O'Connell; Art Director, Lionel Banks; Film Editor, Jerome Thorns; Musical Direc- tor, M. W. Stoloff; Set Decorator, William Kiernan; Dance Director, Nick Castle. DIRECTION, fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Fisher Escapes In Crash Ware, Mass. — Thomas J. Fisher of Springfield, driver of a truck owned bv the Film Exchange Trans- fer Co. of Boston, narrowly escaped severe injuries when the truck he was driving sped wildly down hill here, hitting one telephone pole and finally crashing into another before stopping. Gordon Jennings; Sound, W. C. Smith, Philip Wisdom; Set Decorator, Bertram Granger. DIRECTION, All Right. PHOTOGRA- PHY, fine. $250,000 Promotion Budget for 'Phantom' (Continued from Page 1) and billboards with the pattern set in campaigns for the world pre- mieres of the picture at the Palace, Cincinnati and the Orpheum, Mii*w neapolis. § In Cincinnati and Minneapolis^ advance campaign will carry more than 5,000 lines in the newspapers, terminating in a three-color ad for the opening day announcement. In addition to approximately 100 spot announcements on the radio, spread over a period of three weeks prior to the opening, Universal is also using sponsored news broadcasts three times weekly. Newspaper publicity veers away from usual production and feature material, and centers around the award of music scholarships to lead- ing conservatories, these in the i name of Susanna Foster, who came from Minneapolis. Newspapers gave | front page prominence to these awards with art and stories. It is anticipated that the cam- paign will set a new high in both cities in the amount of free news- paper lineage and art layouts used as a result of fresh angles employed. Illuminated 24-sheet boards, street car cards and intensive window tie- .up displays in leading department stores are rounding out the cam- paigns. Can. Co-op Campaigns For Roy Rogers Specials Toronto — J. R. Grainger, president of Republic Pictures, is here for the convention of Empire-Universal Films, Ltd., distributor for Republic in Canada, which opens today at the Royal York Hotel. There will be discussion of Can- adian promotion on Roy Rogers, with co-operative campaigns similar to those employed in the U. S. be- ing planned in connection with the release of his big-budget specials in key- cities throughout Canada. The first such campaign is that for "Sil- ver Spurs," which opens, day and date, Saturday at the Alhambra and St. Clair. Grainger will leave Toronto to- morrow, to return to New York. "Hopalong" Suit for Haegg The only thing Gundar Haegg ex- pressed a desire to take back from Hollywood to Sweden with him was a "Hopalong Cassidy" suit. Ac- cordingly, at 2:45 this afternoon the world's record holder of the one- and two-mile marks, will go to the UA offices for the presentation of a gift from William Boyd, star of over 50 "Hopalong Cassidy" pic- tures who overheard Haegg express a desire to own such an outfit. Nazi Prisoner Cyril Hutchinson, former 20th Cen- tury-Fox shipper in the Los An- geles exchange, previously "missing in action," is reported a prisoner in the hands of the Nazis in Germany. 4(.W BETTER THAN "HITLER'S CHILDREN" IN PORTLAND, ORE! (Same two houses; same days of week) ..That's the first flash from the Pacific Northwest Area Premiere, where 47 theatres will open earlier, close later, to handle the biggest crowds they ever dreamed of! . . And it's still hanging up records throughout New England and New York State, where it premiered in 79 theatres to the greatest bally- hoo this business ever heard of! Menu* «* ~& *»i u z -1 ,- n j. S u - >- I N Z c ^ ■win Nf riR WW IJfKfO ^ Hm to Hold ^ ,tf0rf FOB r//F Nf IT SEASON, The Summer of 1943 is Universally good for all Universale Exhibitors . . . The same goes for the Fall and the Winter. Get ready for more big ones. In Today's Issue: The Equipment Nev^ SfeSatP' (See Pages 9-12) f . 84. NO. 31 NEW YORK, FRIDAY. AUGUST 13. 1943 TEN CENTS 20TH-F0X FEATURE JINEUP CALLSJOR 39 Percentage Pix Issue Going to Attorney General Allied's Board to Supply Information to Gov't as Part of Data on Decree By AL STEEN Associate Editor, THE FILM DAILY Baltimore — Allied's board of di- rectors yesterday voted to call the attention of the U. S. Attorney Gen- eral to the apparent purpose of all distributors to break down the re- sistance of exhibitors to percentage pictures. The directors asserted that all of the distributors this year were de- manding that at least some pictures be played on percentage, whereas in the past, straight rental deals (Continued on Page 6) Flexer in Merchant Marine, Circuit Managers Trail Him to Florida Base for Conferences St. Petersburg, Fla. — This is a case where the mountain really came to Mo- hammed when the process couldn't be reversed. Because David Flexer, head of the Flexer Theaters Co., which controls a circuit in Tennessee and Mississippi, entered the merchant marine service a few weeks ago and was sent to St. Peters- burg, and thus couldn't get away to confer with managers of his theaters, they all came to St. Petersburg to see him. War Loan "Action1 Meets in 200 Cities By arrangement with Mutual Broadcasting System and the War Finance Committee, special "Ac- tion" meetings on the Third War Loan in more than 200 cities will be addressed over a closed circuit telephone hook-up by Theodore R. (Continued on Page 4) Ontario Exhibs. Protest Rural Free Film Shows West Coast Bu-cau of THE FILM 'DAILY Toronto — Exhibitor organizations are arranging a formal protest to Ottawa against the tax-free shows current in rural sections. Shows (Continued on Page 4) "Mr. Lucky" Tops B.O. July Pix in Camps RKO's "Mr. Lucky" was the best b.o. draw in War Department thea- ters during July, it was reported yes- terday by R. B. Murray, director of the Army Motion Picture Service. Other four outstanding pix from b.o. standpoint for the month, in the order named, were: "Hit the Ice," Universal; "Stormy Weather," 20th- Fox; "Hers to Hold," Universal, and "Background to Danger, Warners. O'Loghlin, 20lh-Fox Canadian Mgr., Dies Montreal — James Peter O'Loghlin, 59, for over 20 years general man- ager in Canada for 20th Century- Fox, at the Can- adian head office in Toronto, who had been on sick leave for the past month, died yes- terday morning in the western di- vision of Mon- treal General Hospital. His body is resting at the Thomas Kane Funeral Parlor and the funeral service will be held to- morrow at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral. A native of. Montreal, O'Loghlin early showed his enthusiasm for the cinema. He was one of the founders (Continued on Page 5) No III B. 0. Effect From Air Raid Drill J. P. O'LOGHLIN Theaters in the Broadway sector yesterday reported no ill effect from the surprise air-raid drill staged at the height of the evening rush hour. The half-hour drill which started at 5:15 p.m., merely had the effect of delaying those headed for the amuse- ment district. It did not keep peo- ple out of the theaters, since it came early in the evening. Lobbies were jammed with pedes- trians and fans waiting to buy tick- ets who were shooed off the streets. Company's Investment in 2 Broadway Stage Plays Exceeds Half Million Dol. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — New season program of 20th Century-Fox will embrace 39 features, 41 shorts, including 13 is- sues of the March of Time, and 104 issues of Movie- t o n e Newsreel, Tom Connors, vice-president in cha: ge of world- wide distribution, yesterday told delegates to the regional sales meeting at the Roosevelt Hotel. Connors an- nounced that at least 10 produc- tions, seven of them musicals will be made in Tech- (Continued on Page 7) TOM CONNORS First-Run Status for RKO's Broadway Palace With the opening next Thursday of "The Fallen Sparrow" the RKO Palace, Broadway, becomes a first- run single feature outlet for RKO product. Congested bookings, due to long runs, plus an increased num- ber of pictures on the 1943-44 pro- (Continued on Page 3) Exhibitors Study Usher Plan Daughters of Empire Take Over Floor in Can. UA Ups Two Salesmen To Branch Managers Promotions to branch managers of two United Artists salesmen and the transferring of three managers to (Continued on Page 5) David L. Loew Sets Up A Financing Organization Hollywood — David L. Loew is widening his film activities with the (Continued on Page 3) Diames a PCCITO Director; Meeting Called Aug. 18-19 West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — George Diames of Tucson, Ariz., has been elected as a trustee to PCCITO, filling the vac- ancy created by the resignaton of Jack Y. Berman, whose enlarged du- ties in operation of his theaters ne- (Continued on Page 4) Unusual ushering plan adopted by the Capitol Theater, Saint John, N. B., operated by the Paramount sub- sidiary, Famous Players Canadian Corp., is being studied in this coun- try for possible application in smal- ler U. S. towns where usher help is not organized and where theaters have been understaffed due to a wartime shortage of personnel. Capitol has reached back to World (Continued on Page 3) WT Goes into Popcorn Business in Big Way Denver — National Theaters is or- ganizing its own popcorn department. John E. Hendryx, western broker, has been named manager, and will head- quarter in Denver. In company with Robert Selig, northern district man- ager, Mel Glatz, purchasing agent, and Robert Garland, film buyer, he went to McCook, Neb., center of large popcorn acreage, and there met with 150 growers and contracted for their entire output. Vol. 84, No. 31 Fri., Aug. 13, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway. New York 18, N. f., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as secoml class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March .1. 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New Yu'k $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months. $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD. 28. Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253 LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman. The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12) HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214 HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck. Casll'o de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY- Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex ico. D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, Aug. 12) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2'/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. East. Kodak do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Para. B'way 3s55 . . . Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK Monogram Picts. . . . Radio-Keith cvs. . . . Sonotone Corp Technicolor Trans-Lux Universal Picts Universal Picts. vtc. . 151/g 15y8 15'/8 — 'A 403/g 40'/4 403/8 — 5/8 20 20 20 593/4 593/4 593/4 — 255/g 25 25 '/4 — 8V2 8 1/4 8 1/4 — 89 89 89 203^ 20 y2 201/2 — 317/g 313/4 317/8 .. I31/4 12% 12% — BOND MARKET CURB MARKET 1% 13/g 1% — % 33/4 33/4 33/4 + y8 133/s 13 131/4 I8I/2 18V2 i8J/2 +2y2 17 16l/2 17 + % Ace B. O. Product Gives Buffalo Biggest Week Buffalo — With five downtown first- runs, Buffalo got its fifth holdover in a week yesterday, when "Behind the Rising Sun" began its second week at the 20th Century. "Hers to Hold" at Basil's Lafayette, "Dixie" at Shea's Buffalo, and "The Con- stant Nymph" at Shea's Great Lakes already had begun second weeks and "Lady of Burlesque," at Shea's Hip- podrome, a third week. First-week grosses topped $93,000 for the five houses for the biggest week this year, about $20,000 more than the previous high. Sealed Bids for Ziegfeld Theater Due Tomorrow Sealed bids for the rental and purchase of the Ziegfeld Theater have been ordered by Supreme Court Justice Bernard Botein to be filed by noon tomorrow. Loew's lease on the house expires Aug. 31 and both the company and Billy Rose have been bidding for the property. Rose offered $425,000 for the pur- chase and Loew's topped that by $10,000 in bids presented to the justice. Rose also offered $55,000 annual rental, $5,000 more than Loew's pays at present and Loew's offered to meet that figure before Justice Botein ordered sealed bids. September Hearings for Buffalo Area Cases Buffalo — First hearings in four ar- bitration cases have been postponed from August dates to September. They are: Kallet's State, Fulton, Sept. 8; Basil's Genesee, Buffalo, Sept. 20; Basil's Apollo, Buffalo, Sept. 22, and Basil's LaSalle, Nia- gara Falls, Sept. 27. Cases of Ba- sil's Varsity, Buffalo, previously was scheduled for Sept. 14, and Menno H. Dykstra's Glen, Williamsville, for Sept. 15. Ampa to Salute Trade Men, Women in Armed Forces Ampa's advisory committee met yesterday at the call of Prexy Vin- cent Trotta to consider plans for the organization's seasonal curtain raiser at the Astor on Sept. 16. Meeting will be dubbed "Salute to the Motion Picture Men and Wo- men in the Armed Forces." Pro- gram will be completed later. Warner Montreal Office Mourns Two Employes : Montreal — Warners' district office here lost two valued staff members in charge of posters and shipping, and Jesse James Cobooker, who died yesterday. DAILY Friday, August 13, 194: lidi I Memelstein Examination Completion Is Ordered Federal Judge Simon H. Rifkin yesterday granted a motion brought by J. S. Rex Cole ordering comple- tion of the examination of Martin Memelstein and other defendants in his accounting action brought in connection with the films "Lelong" and "Kliou." No date was set for examinations. Action was filed by Cole in 1941 against DuWorld Pictures, Inc., World Pictures Corp., Lloyds Film Storage Corp., Memelstein, Irvin J. Shapiro, Arthur A. Mayers and Ar- chie Mayers. Cole, a Hollywood agent, claims that Bennett Pictures assigned him the rights and titles to the films and asks an accounting of income from distribution. Trial is scheduled for October. Empire-Universal Confab Pays Tribute to Grainger Toronto — Sales forces of six Can- adian branches gathered at the Royal York Hotel yesterday for the first session of a three-day confer- ence ot Empire Universal Films, Ltd., with Paul Nathanson, Haskell, M. Masters and A. W. Perry in charge, with James R. Grainger, president of Republic Pictures, in attendance. The day concluded with a dinner in tribute to Grainger. Today is Universal day with rep- resentatives present from Universal Pictures to discuss new product. At- tention tomorrow will be devoted to British and Russian product. Gable In Fortress Raid On German Stronghold Capt. Clark Gable, AAF, rode in the leading Flying Fortresses of the U S. Eighth Air Force group which attacked Gelsenkirchen yesterday, the Associated Press reported in a London dispatch. The AP said that the former Metro star returned to his base unhurt, although enemy anti-aircraft fire had cut fifteen holes in his ship. NOTICE OF TRADE SHOWING "Shrine of Victory" with OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE GREEK NAVY A CASANAVE-ARTLEE PRODUCTION PRODUCED AT EALING STUDIOS, LTD. RELEASED BY 20th CENTURY-FOX at the 20th Century-Fox Exchange 345 West 44tft Street New York, N. Y. MONDAY, AUG. 16th, 10:30 a.m. COMinG and GOIflO S. BARRET McCORMICK, RKO Radio directo of advertising and publicity, leaves today fo the Coast to confer with studio officials. H will be away two weeks. ROBERT M. CILLHAM, Paramount advertising and publicity director left last night for Chi cago to complete plans for the Midwest premier; of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" at the State-Lak on Sept. 2. He is scheduled to leave Chicae; next week for San Francisco. WALTER BATCHELOR has left for Hollyw>.-. to discuss the Fred Allen film with Leo Spitz and Jack Skirball. ERNESTO CAPARROS, Cuban director, is in New York on a business trip. AUDREY WESTPHAL, Buffalo dancer, is er route to Hollywood, after being signed by Pro- ducer Buddy DeSylva to a seven-year Para- mount contract. NICHOLAS NAPOLI, president of Artkino, goes to Toronto to attend sales meeting of Empire- Universal, distributor of Soviet product in Cana- da. He will arrive Saturday in time to ad- dress the morning session which will be de- voted to Russian films. ROLAND YOUNC leaves the Coast for New York this week-end to start rehearsals of the play, "Another Love Story." IRVING BERLIN following the Washington, premiere of "This is the Army" last night left for Charleston, W. Va., for the local opening tonight. FRANK N. PHELPS, Warner Theaters execu- tive in charge of labor relations, was in Phila- delphia yesterday and will be in Atlantic City today. LOUISE RANDALL PIERSON, author of "Roughly Speaking," has arrived at Warners' Coast studios to collaborate with Catherine Turney on the screenplay. WILLIAM A. SCULLY, Universal sales chief; F. J. A. McCARTHY, Canadian division manager, and BERNIE KREISLER, shorts sales head, left for Toronto last night to attend the Empire- Universal sales meetings; they return Monday. ROLAND YOUNG will leave the Coast for New York following completion of work in Paramount's "Standing Room Only" tomorrow. LEONARD DALY of United Artists is in Havana directing the exploitation campaign on "The Moon and Sixpence," which opens at the En- canto Theater there Aug. 17. MA). BEN LYON is in Baltimore. GRACIE FIELDS has arrived in London from New York. The Recognized Standard Reference Book of the Motion Picture Industry THE FILM YEAR BOOK Published by and given free with a year's subscription to THE FILM DAILY 1501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY ■ 'riday, August 13, 1943 anadian Usher Plan ludied by Exhibs. s uj. the (Continued from Page 1) ar I days to reinstate a co-opera- te ushering plan with the Daugh- : rs of the Empire. Arrangements ive been made between the house id the D of E whereby two chap- rs of the women's order will pro- 11 the ushering on the lower f the Capitol for the duration [' the war. j Money earned will be paid into a jsnd for the war activities of the jiapters with the house staff con- jnuing to handle the lobby, door id twin balcony of the 1,600-seat heater. During the earlier war, i ihering at the Capitol was by a i omen's group, organized for the jjrpose, the money being used for itriotic charities. Ushering prob- m has been acute here as it was rond impossible to retain a full • aff of experienced help in the rger-than-average house. Proponents in this country hold lat the plan would be of tremen- )us help to harrassed theater opera- irs, would swell the treasuries of cal welfare organizations, and still ould not cause labor repercussions ? few people seem to want the |sher jobs during the war. Per- j'mnel problem is expected to reach new pitch when schools open next onth and the youngsters who have jen carrying the burden all Sum- er return to their studies. Idyor Sells Ore. Theater Portland, Ore. — Leo Goodman, iayor of Waldport, has sold his leater to Henry L. Harston, taking is first venture in the theater busi- JSS. oldberg Chi. Drive Chairman Chicago — Arthur Goldberg, B & K ;torney, was named chairman le amusement division for immunity drive. of the Aug. 13 W. E. Green .harles "Buddy" Rogers Regis Toomey Sam Taylor Gene Raymond Mollie Stickles Donald Duck Alfred Hitchcock Rita Johnson Gloria Dickson Leo Brecher Mary Duncan Aug. 14 Lois Brisbane Bob Hadley Edward L. Boniva Aug. 15 Estelle Brady Signe Hasso Harry Akst TO THE COLORS! * PROMOTED * LE ROY CASTLEBAUM, USA, formerly Comerford Circuit, Scranton, Pa., to chief warrant of- ficer, stationed in Alaska. WILLIAM GRAFF, USA, formerly, assistant man- ager Manhattan Theater, Scranton, to ser- geant. * ARMY * ELSON L. ALTSCHULD (EDDIE ALLEN), Bing Crosby gag writer, Hollywood. CLAIR VON EMON, Victoria, Jersey Shore, Pa. CHARLES HARVEY, Victoria, Jersey Shore. DOUGLAS YOHE, Capitol, Bloomsburg, Pa. * NAVY * JOHN MARSHALL, Sterling, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ARTHUR KRAMER, Capitol, Bloomsburg, Pa. * ARMY AIR~FORCE * A/C RICHARD SIMON, of the cast of "Life With Father," stationed at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Ala. David L. Loew Sets Up A Financing Organization (Continued from Page 1) setting up of an organization through which . he will handle secondary financing of motion pictures He has established a special office for this enterprise. Through this set- up, it was disclosed, stars, directors and producers with proper qualifica- tions can be completely financed in their own independent film ventures, with Loew contacting primary fin- ancing and handling secondary money personally as well as assist- ing with release negotiations. Loew declared his new undertak- ing is in no way connected with Producing Artists, Inc. The financ- ing organization is entirely a sep- arate enterprise, Loew said, oper- ated personally without partnership of any kind, direct or indirect First-Run Status for RKO's Broadway Palace Theater (Continued from Page 1) gram, are given as the reasons. Following "Sparrow," house will play "The Sky's the Limit," with Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie; "Be- hind the Rising Sun; the Kay Kyser musical, "Around the World" and "The Iron Major, starring Pat O'Brien. Changes in Two Radio Trade Screenings in N. Y. Two changes in the schedule of trade screenings which RKO Radio's New York branch will hold next week, were announced yesterday by Metropolitan district manager Rob- ert Wolff. "Adventure of a Rookie" will be screened on Tuesday, at 10 a.m. at the RKO Palace; "The Fallen Spar- row" will be screened on the same day at 2:30 p.m. only, at the RKO Radio projection room at 630 Ninth Ave. Screenings of three other RKO Radio pictures will be held as orig- inally announced DAILY Our next big war job— Third War Loan September 9th-20th m DAILY Friday, August 13, 194J War Loan "Action1 Meets in 200 Cities (.Continued from Page 1) "Ted" Gamble, national director of the WFC, L. C. Griffith, general chairman for the film industry, and a high-ranking officer in one of the armed services. The "Action" conferences will be held on Aug. 25 and the time of the program, which will be heard in the 200 cities in which Mutual has out- lets, is scheduled for 4:15 to 4:25, EWT. Griffith will go to Washing- ton to face the "mike." Station studios will serve as meet- ing places and, if they are too small in some cities, it is expected that arrangements will be made locally to pipe the addresses into a theater or hall to accommodate the WAC-ites and representatives of the WFC, who will be invited to attend. These arrangements, it is antici- pated, will bring together the great- est number of WAC personnel ever to meet at one time, and is indica- tive of the entire stepped-up attitude which the industry feels will be necessary to insure the success of the campaign. It was not known yesterday at the WAC who the armed services speaker would be, but it was said that an announce- ment would be made shortly. Diames a PCCITO Director; Meeting Called Aug. 18-19 (Continued from Page 1) cessitated his resignation. Hugh Bruen, who has been a trustee of PCCITO since its inception, will re- main as a trustee serving together with Diames. PCCITO has called a meeting Aug. 18 and 19 in San Francisco. Those present will be Leroy V. Johnson, L.O. Lukan, Seattle; M. W. Matte- chock, Bob White, Portland; Rotus Harvey, Ben Levin, San Francisco; Buren and Diames, Los Angeles; Bob Poole, executive secretary; J. M. Hono, executive secretary of Wash- ington, Idaho and Alaska organiza- tion; 0. J. Miller, executive secre- tary of the Oregon Association. Agenda will include future action to be taken by PCCITO on the New York consent decree, predicated up- on its meeting with Tom C. Clark, special assistant to the U. S. At- torney General, while in Los Angeles a short time ago. Capt. Harold Slayer Slain in Jap Battle Bangor, Me. — Capt. Harold A. Slager, 29, formerly with M & P Pictures in this city, was killed in action in the South Pacific July 25, according to War Department information received by his parents. Capt. Slager was with the Maine National Guard when it was federalized. G pk^ma la i Friday Chowder: • • • IT'LL be unusual if there isn't a crowd going into or stand- ing about the hospital portals of PRC's home office this afternoon about 5 p.m Prexy O. Henry Briggs is gettin' downright used to it On Wednesday, — at the accepted hour of tea-time — , the trade scribes marched virtually en masse in the Briggs sanctorum to interview Bill Gell Yes'day, at the corresponding hour, or thereabouts, was the air raid The upper floors of the Paramount Building emptied, and execs, and workers beat a prescribed path to the 18th (safe zone) Floor, and gathered about PRC's said portals Among those present at yesterday's air raid siesta were Joseph Lamb, Robert Socas, East 52nd St. Post Warden Don Mersereau, Floor Warden H. R. Danziger, Sam Kestenbaum, Floor Warden, Pete Lewis, Chester B. Bahm of the Malverne Defense Council Medical Corps, and Floor Warden Winfield Andrus Film Attorney Louis Nizer couldn't attend the "Siren Ses- sion" yesterday, being in Washington ▼ T T • • • BEFORE local and foreign press big-shots, Arthur Kelly, UA vice-prexy, yesterday presented Gundar Haegg, famed Swedish tniler, with a complete Hopalong Cassidy outfit Only thing the athlete was put-out about was the fact that Hoppie's six-shooters were rubber One of the film-minded news representative present ob- served as Kelly and Haegg posed for photos: "Both those guys are champions of long runs!". . . • Today the one millionth patron to see "Stage Door Canteen" at the local Capitol will receive a $25 War Bond from Grad Sears, UA vice-prexy in charge of domestic sales. • Sam Goldwyn said yes'day that Elliot Nugent will return to Broad- way to star opposite Margaret Sullavan in Johnny Van Druten's play, "The Voice of the Turtle," planned for November production by Al- fred DeLiagre At present, Nugent is workin' on the Goldwyn lot as director of the Danny Kaye musical and Technicolor opus, "Up In Arms". . . • Maria M. Garrett, of WB's foreign publicity dept., is in Cuba on a vacation jaunt, and has already been feted at several receptions given in her honor, and has broadcast four programs on how the U. S. pic biz is doing everything in its power for Victory. • Watch Harry Sherman in 1943-44! He now has more stars and players under contract, and more stories in preparation, than at any time in his "epic" film career. . . • Edmund Goulding is in town from Hollywood to direct the new Frederick Lonsdale play "Another Love Story" It'll be his first fling at a B'way stage chore, but by no means a new role 'cause he stage-directed a'plenty in London. . . • Louis Rosenbaum, Muscle Shoals Theaters head, has been appointed by Alabama's Governor Sparks to serve as district chairman of the Ala. War Chest He held same position last year. . . • Walter E. Green, NTS prexy, announces the appointment of A. J. Lindsley to handle advertising and publicity for the company Br'r Lindsley, who has been associated with International Projector Corp., assumes the duties of F. L. Friedman who resigned from National on July 31. . . * Harry Murdoch, who used to be pic and drama editor of the Philadelphia Evening Ledger (now de- funct), joins the Chicago Sun in September as Motion Picture and Dramatic Editor He is currently fmblicity head for Station WCAU Harry has a lotta friends in the pic biz, and for a while was associated with Columbia, doing special publicity work. . . 9 Texas A & M alumni will sponsor a dinner in the Waldorf-Astoria next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and thereat U's Walter Wanger production, "We've Never Been Licked," will be screened ▼ T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! IN NEW POSTS ■ )'! Ji WILBERT SILVERMAN, short subject baokei Essaness Circuit, Chicago. IRVING PEARLMAN, booking manager, Slot: Circuit, Chicago. JAMES DAY, Altec service engineer in Detroit to same company in Texas. MARTIN J. OSWALD, manager, Belle, Detroit. RAY LENHART, manager, Lakewood, Detroit. HENRY J. PLUDE, manager, Fort Theate Island, III. C. H. STROM, manager, Fox-Rialto, Missoula Mont. BOB CLARK, booker, Sterling Theaters, Port land. CEORCE D. CAMERON, manager, Schine's Not walk, Norwalk, O. 01 01- 1 10! «': rai e; s WAYNE SWEENEY, manager, Omaha. Town Theater JOHN ZIMM, general manager, Vanguard Films or? Inc., Hollywood. CARROLL TROWBRIDGE, branch manager 6C1 United Artists, Salt Lake City. CARL BURTON, branch manager, United Ar tists, Charlotte. EARL COLLINS, branch manager, United Artists Los Angeles. BYRON ADAMS, branch manager, United Ar tists, Dallas. CLARENCE OLSON, branch manager, Unitec^ Artists, Denver. ALVIN BAYER, manager, Beach Theater, Jack sonville, Fla. WILLIAM P. HENNEY, manager, Florida Theatet Daytona, Beach. ARTHUR TITUS, salesman, Monogram, Boston. t! A or: v. re" ia: riii In fl OS! Ontario Exhibs. Protest Rural Free Film Shows (Continued from Page 1) are arranged by local merchants to discourage patrons from going to larger towns to see a movie while on a shopping trip. They do not pay the 20 per cent tax under a section of the law which provides exemp tion for parish and co-operative shows. Exhibs. claim the shows are op- erated to bring added profits and should be reclassified the same as regular theaters as permanent oper ators cannot reduce admission scales as do the co-op shows. Requests may be made to exchanges to stop rent- ing film to tax-free theaters within 15 miles of a standard operator. Canadian Indies Meeting Set for August 23-24-25 Toronto — National council of In dependent Exhibitors of Canada has issued a call for the 1943 convention of independent theater owners to be held August 23-24-25 at King Ed ward Hotel, Toronto, under chair- manship of A. J. Mason, Capitol Theater, Springhill, N. S., and Har- ry Romberg of Toronto as secretary It is understood that Henry Falk now supervisor for a group of inde- pendent theaters in Montreal and elected president last year, will at tend to lead discussions on condi tions affecting independents. Rom berg announced Western Canada will be represented by a delegation from Winnipeg. Friday, August 13, 1943 CH\ DAILY (Continued from Page 1) :' Regal Films, and later was coll- ected with Pathe before joining Fox ilms, later 20th Century-Fox, of hich he became general manager >r Canada. In his youth he was a oted rugby football player with /e^mount and Shamrocks but for ■j years the motion picture in- LtJBPy has claimed his whole atten- on. When he was given sick leave ;cently he retained his title as gen- ral manager although temporarily jplaced, the company hoping that is illness would not prove as serious s indicated. O'Loghlin was president of the anadian Motion Picture Distribu- r>rs Ass'n, former secretary of the anadian Picture Pioneers, and di- sctor of the Motion Picture War ervice Committee. i A widower, O'Loghlin leaves two )ns, both overseas, one in the air lorce, and four daughters. A rother, William E. O'Loghlin, is lanager of the Palace on St. Cath- rine Street, a first-run house of Jlonsiolidated Theaters. "Bill" ''Loghlin has already received a ost of messages of sympathy on le loss sustained by the death of is distinguished brother. I'Loghlin, 20th-Fox anadian Mgr., Dies HCLLYWCCD DIGEST SIGNED LEIGH JASON, directorial termer, Columbia. RICHARD FRASER, termer, Universal. JOE KUPPERMAN, of Quiz Kids, M-G-M. JACK SHILKRET, musical conductor, to score the 1943-44 shorts program, Columbia. ASSIGNMENTS EDWARD SUTHERLAND, director, "Three Cheers for the boys," Universal. WILLIAM SEITER, director, "Command formance," 20th-Fox. JCHN FARROW, director, "Curacao," mount. EUGENE SHUFTAN, production designer, Junction," PRC. LEW POLLOCK and CHARLES NEWMAN, songs, "Sweethearts of the U.S.A.," Monogram. ROBERT EDMUNDS, screenplay, "The Voodoo Man," Monogram. FRANK WISBAR, technical adviser, "Hitler's Woman," Monogram. CEORCE MOSCOV, production manager, "The Sultan's Daughter," Monogram. NEIL McCUIRE, art director, "The Sultan's Daughter," Monogram. WILLIAM SEITER, director, "Command Per- formance," 20th-Fox. Per- Para- "Jive CASTINGS RANDOLPH SCOTT, "Cung Ho," Universal; DONALD O'CONNOR, MARTHA O'DRISCOLL and FECCY RYAN, "We of the Theater," Universal; ROBERT YOUNG, CHARLES LAUCHTON and MARGARET O'BRIEN, "The Canterville Ghost," M-G-M; JACK OAKIE, "Command Performance," 20th-Fox; OTTO KRUGER, "Cover Cirl," Colum- bia; JEFF DONNELL, "There's Something About a Soldier," Columbia; CEORCE MACREADY and SI JENKS, "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Para- mount; EDITH BARRETT, BEN BARD and RUS- SELL WADE, "Ghost Ship," RKO; RUDOLPH FRIML, JR., "Up in Arms," Samuel Goldwyn; ROBERT BENCHLEY, "See Here, Private Har- grove," M-C-M; DICK POWELL and JACK OAKIE, "Tomorrow Never Comes," Arnold Press- burger-UA. FAYE EMERSON, "Destination, Tokyo," Warners; WALTER BRENNAN, "Home in In- RECIS TOOMEY, "The Life Samuel Bronston-UA; AN- "Caslight," M-C-M; CAR- "Kismet,' Comrade,' diana," 20th-Fox; of Jack London," CELA LANSBURG, MEN d'ANTONIO, HUNTER, "Tender MAMOULIAN, "Rhapsody UNA MERKEL, "Sweethearts Monogram; HAZEL SCOTT Warners; EDITH BARRET M-G-M; KIM RKO; REUBEN Blue," Warners; of the U.S.A.," Rhapsody in Blue," 'The Ghost Ship," RKO; TINA THAYER and DICKIE MOORE, "Jive Junction," PRC; EDDIE LeBARON and ORK., "Trocadero," PRC. WALTER BRENNAN, "Home in Indiana," 20th-Fox; JOHNNIE COY, "Incendiary Blonde," Paramount; RICHARD LOO, "The Story of Dr. Wassell, Paramount; TED LEWIS and his orchestra, "Three Cheers for the Boys," Uni- versal. CARMEN MIRANDA, "Laredo," 20th-Fox; JAMES CLEASON, "My Client Curley," Colum- bia; LARRY PARKS, "Hey, Rookie," Columbia; RICHARD FRASER, "When Ladies Fly," Uni- versal; JONATHAN HALE, "Ten Percent Wo- man," Columbia; JOAN THORSEN, "Tropicana," Columbia; RUSSELL HAYDEN, "Cun Fighters," Universal; LEE NUGENT, "Up in Arms," Samuel Goldwyn; DONALD CRISP, "National Velvet; GENE AUSTIN, "East of the Bowery," Mono- gram; BOB STEELE, "Trail Blazers," Monogram; CCBINA WRIGHT, SR. and FARKYAKARKUS, "Sweethearts of the U.S.A." Monogram; JOHN- NY MACK BROWN, "Raiders of the Border," Monogram; PAUL ANDOR (formerly Wolfgang Zilzer), "Dr. Paul Joseph Coebbels, His Life and Loves," W. R. Frank. UA Ups Two Salesmen To Branch Managers (Continued from Page 1) different territories was announced yesterday by Carl Leserman, gen- eral sales manager. The two salesmen who now become branch chiefs are Carroll Trowbridge, former salesman in Seattle, who has been promoted to the Salt Lake City post and Carl Burton, salesman op- erating out of the Charlotte terri- tory, now branch head there. Among the managerial shifts are the following: Earl Collins, who joined UA in 1936 and had been branch manager at Dallas, has been transferred to the Los Angeles Ex- change succeeding Cresson E. Smith, retired. Byron Adams, former Char- lotte manager, has been given the post of branch manager in Dallas. Clarence Olson, former branch man- ager in Salt Lake City, has been shifted to the same post in the Den- ver territory. All of the appoint- ments are effective immediately. "Serve" Showing in Argentine Published reports that "In Which We Serve" has been withdrawn from distribution in Argentina due to cen- sorship difficulties, were branded yes- terday as untrue by Walter Gould, UA foreign manager. NEW YORK'S ROXY THEATRE BOOKS THIS ONE ON SIGHT! This is only one of 28 Comedies each starring a Top Comedian ... to be released during 1943-44 by Columbia! A Hilarious 2 Reel Comedy Produced pnd Directed by JULES WHITE THE BEST COMEDIES OF ALL COME FROM COLUMBIA! <7*\baiiy Friday, August 13, 194: Percentage Pix Issue to Atty.-Gen. (.Continued from Page 1) could be made. The attorney general should be informed of this situation, the board said, because in making a percentage deal, the distributor forces himself into a partnership with the theater, dictating policies, dates, etc. The board pointed out that such deals extend the distributors control over an exhibitor almost as much as if he had aquired the theater. Such a system is contrary to the aims of the Government's anti-trust suit which was to destroy domina- tion of the distributors over exhibi- tion, the directors contended. This information will be furnished to the attorney general as part of the data on the New York consent decree. To Make Demands on Col. Allied will demand that Columbia deliver eight pictures on its new season program on last season's con- tracts, it was decided at the closing session of the national board meet- ing. Allied alleged that the eight pic- tures were announced on the 1942-43 schedule but were not delivered. These pictures, Allied claimed, are now being offered and the board contends that they should be ac- cepted only on last season's deals. The eight pictures are "Somewhere In Shara," "My Client Curley," "Ten Percent Woman,' "Cover Girl," "Road to Yesterday,' "Knights Without Ar- mour" and two others starring Rita Hay worth. M. A. Rosenberg, Allied president, yesterday was authorized by the board of directors to name a com- mittee to formulate a policy with respect to pictures on which high terms are demanded on the grounds that part or all of the profits will be donated to some patriotic cause. Exhibs. Want Donation Credit Purpose of the move, it was said by the board, was to find a way whereby a bad precedent on high rentals will not be set and at the same time allow the exhibitor, him- self, to make his donation directly to a cause and receive credit. The board expressed opposition to the recent practice of paying high prices for pictures and allowing the distributors to get the full credit for turning the profits or a percentage of the profits to an organization. Reaffirms Divorcement Allied's board yesterday re-af- firmed its position on favoring the- ater divorcement and endorsed the Kilgore bill. It was decided, how- ever, to leave any further action on the Kilgore measure to the Ex- ecutive Committee which will mark time until the fate of the New York consent decree is determined. Because developments on the de- cree might make the Kilgore bill unnecessary, it was decided that con- certed action in pressing for the Anderson Buys 50% of PRC Franchises Denver — John Anderson, recently partner in the Denver Telenews, has bought a half interest in the Denver and Salt Lake City PRC franchises, and with Joe Ashby, present part- ner, will operate the exchanges. Ber- nie Newman, who sold out, has been in the Navy for some time. Paramount N. Y. District Sales Conference Opens Discussions on the 1943-44 prod- uct and sales policies on features, shorts and Paramount News marked yesterday's opening day of a meet- ing of Paramount sales and booking staffs in the New York district. Milt Kussell, district manager, conducted the meeting, held in the exchange. . Today's session will be devoted to a round table discussion of individual problems and exploitation and book- ing department meeting. Henry Randel, branch manager; Myron Sattler, sales manager; Jack Per- ley, head booker, and Sid Mesibov, district advertising representative, are scheduled to address the ses- sions. Others in attendance are Edward Bell, Albert Bebhardt, Edward Ugast, Nat Beier and Max Mendel, salesman; Richard Magin, Charlotte Solomon, Irving Barron, Lillian Bergson and Kitty Flynn, bookers. Six Los Angeles Houses Get "Army" Day-and-Date West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Instead of the three houses originally scheduled, six lo- cal first-run theaters will simultane- ously present Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" starting next Wednes- day. In addition to the Hollywood, Downtown and Wiltern, Warner's Huntington Park and San Pedro Houses also will premiere the War- ners production for Army Emerg- ency Relief. Sixth house will be Fox West Coast's Academy, Pasa- dena, and there is a possibility that additional houses will join the day- and-date groups. Bill Schuyler Wounded Syracuse, N. Y. — Corp. John Wil- liam "Bill" Schuyler, son of Jack Schuyler, The Film Daily corres- pondent, was wounded in action in the Sicilian campaign, according to word received here. Sauter NIEC Co-ordinator The NEIC last night elected James Sauter as Co-ordinator of the or- ganization's activities. Anita Gran- nis was named assistant to Sauter and Mrs. Mary Lawler will be en- gaged as a paid secretary. divorcement bill would be out of line.' Col. H. A. Cole invited the board to hold its next meeting, probably in November, in Dallas. « REVIEWS » "True to Life" with Mary Martin, Franchot Tone, Dick Powell, Victor Moore Paramount 94 Mins. SURE-FIRE COMEDY PANS OUT AS SOCK ENTERTAINMENT FOR FAMILY AUDIENCES; MOORE BIG HIT. "True to Life" is wholesome family en- tertainment which invokes the spirit of fun without reserve. It should have no trouble at all providing a walloping time for patrons craving escape from the deluge of war films. The film is mad, jolly stuff that will cause the customers to laugh themselves silly. Seriousness doesn't raise it ugly head for a single instant to spoil the fun. The picture take a good-natured poke at the radio soap operas in telling the story of two high-priced ether scribblers who turn to life for their inspiration when they face the heave-ho from their sponsor because their current family program has gone blah. One of the duo saves the day by moving in with the screwy family of a hash-slinger without divulging his identity. They get plenty of material to keep the program going until the family threatens to sue. Matters are complicated when one of them falls in love with the hash- slinger and has to meet the competition of the other, a wolfish fellow. Everything works out well in a wow of a finale which will have the patrons busting their sides. Mary Martin plays the hash-slinger and Franchot Tone and Dick Powell the radio writers, the latter the one who gets the girl. While all three are good, it is Victor Moore, as Miss Martin's eccentric father, who captures most of the honors in a tre- mendously funny performance. Fine work also is turned in by Mabel Paige, Beverly Hudson, Raymond Roe, Billy Demarest, Clarence Kolb, Ernest Truex and others. The cast is good down to the minutest role. Don Hartman and Harry Tugend packed plenty of excellent material into their screenplay, which stems from a yarn by Ben and Sol Barzman and Bess Tafel. George 'Marshall's direction has given their script loads of life. Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer have contributed a trio of tunes sung nicely by Miss Martin and Powell. Paul Jones functioned well as associates producer. CAST: Mary Martin, Franchot Tone, Dick Powell, Victor Moore, Mabel Paige, Beverly Hudson, Raymond Roe, Bill Demarest, Er- nest Truex, Clarence Kolb, Harry Shannon, Charles Moore, Tim Ryan, Betty Farington, Charles Cane, J. Farrell MacDonald, Fred A. Kilsey, Grace Hayle, Stanley Andrews, Ken Carpenter, Harry Tyler, Harry Hayden, Ann Doran, Madora Keene, Shirley Mills, Billy Bletcher, Bud Jamison, Robert Winkler, Jack Gardner, Paul Newlan, Christopher King, Maxine Ardell, Yvonne De Carlo, Alice Kirby, Marcella Phillips, Jack Baxley, Don Kerr, Marjorie Deanne, Matt McHugh, Walter Soderling, Constance Purdy, Dorothy Granger, Edward S. Chandler, Frank Cole- man, Edna Bennett, Ethel Clayton, Gloria Williams. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Paul Jones; Director, George Marshall; Screen- play, Don Hartman, Harry Tugend; Based on story by Ben Barzman, Sol Barzman, Bess Tafel; Cameraman, Charles Lang, Jr.; AFLP Pledges Its Aid In Third War Loan 'SICMUND GOTTLOBER More than a score of foreign lang uage newspapers in New York Citj through Sigmund Gottlober, directc of the American Foreign Langu- age Press, yester- day pledged 100 per cent co-oper- ation to the mo- tion picture in- dustry in its par- ticipation in the forthcom ing Third War Drive, the War Activi- t i e s Committee announced. Gott- 1 o b e r delivered this pledge in the WAC offices to General Chair man L. C. Griffith, Campaign Direc tor C. D. "Brownie" Akers, and Pub licity Committee Chairman Raj Beall— officials of the Third Wai Loan. A scroll, listing Bond purchase; of more than $50,000, bought by in dividual foreign language newspa pers during a previous WAC Bone promotion, was presented by Gott- lober who declared: "Not only wil the members of the American For- eign Language Press open theii newspaper columns to messages de- signed to show the necessity foi support of the Third War Loan, bui these newspapers will themselves 'back the attack' by buying Bonds.' Griffith, in accepting the scroll asked that Gottlober thank the mem* bers of the Association for thei) past co-operation and declared thai he was "certain that their assist* ance would unquestionably increas the chances for the success on th campaign. "Army" in Two Capital Theaters Indefinitely Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAIL) Washington — Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" is set for an indefinitt extended run in two local houses, th( Earle and Ambassador, starting to day following a complete sellout sev eral days in advance for the specia premiere performance last night a' the Earle. Irving Berlin flew dowi from New York to be guest of honoi at last night's gala affair, and goe to Charleston, W. Va., for tonight' opening there. Mort Blumenstock, in charge o: Warners' advertising and publicitj in the East, also flew down for thi premiere. Musical Director, Victor Young; Songs Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer; Art Di rector, Hans Dreier, Earl Hedrick; Filn Editor, LeRoy Stone; Sound, Gene Merritt Walter Oberst; Set Decorator, Georgi Sawley. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPH! Good. i .«, Friday, August 13, 1943 DAILY 20th-Fox Lineup Calls for 39, 10 in Technicolor At Least Two, Possibly Four May be of Roadshow Calibre, Connors Reveals (Continued from Page 1) nicolor and there will be no "B" product on the list. He said that at i-rieast two or perhaps four others JJiight be of roadshow calibre. Although figures for 20th-Fox's total investment in story properties for next season were no.t avail- able it is believed to be the largest in the company's history. It is headed by "Eve of St. Mark," Max- well Anderson play, rights to which cost $300,000 and is the most the organization had ever spent for a Bioadway piece up to that time. "Something for the Boys" is under- stood to represent a cost of $305,- 000, while other very expensive properties include "One World," "Keys to the Kingdom" and "Story of Bernadette." Showing Pix in Sicily At yesterday's session, Schenck declared the company's pictures are being shown in Sicily and Algiers and aie proving great morale build- ers. He asserted that despite war- time handicaps and conditions, the quality of 20th-Fox's product will be maintained. Schenck paid a special tribute to President Skouras and Sales Manager Connors and his staff. Zanuck said the company has nev- er before been in such a strong con- dition, as to story material, pro- ducers, dii ectors and technical forces. He pointed out that although several of its stars are in the armed forces, 20th-Fox has built up a formidable list of players and its important vehicles will offset the loss of "name" players, and that the company will also develop some new stars. Zan- uck further declared the company is giving serious thought to post-war pictuies and stressed "One World" and "Wilson" as typical of the trend of coming production. Skouras stated that the company is in a stronger financial position than ever and its product is the best in its history. He said elimination of its lower bracket pictures means a consequent increase in major pic- tures and that under Schenck and Zanuck 20th-Fox will have the prod- uct to back up its sales plans. Hal Horne stressed the value of newspaper and trade paper adver- tising and said the company's ex- penditures in these media will be larger than in the past. About half of the scheduled line- up are based on established literary The ... . FEMME TOUCH REVIEWS Of SHORT SUBJECTS IOLA LEHMAN, booker-office manager, Mono- gram, Des Moines. "Common Cause" 20th-Fox 11 Mins. All Right This British war short attempts to bring home the point that, despite certain differences, the British, Chi- nese and Russians are one in a com- mon cause — the defense of the ideals which the Nazis are seeking to des- troy. The effect is achieved via a fictional yam in which fighting men of the three natir/ns exchange their views and opinions. All find they are bound together by their com- mon hatred for Fascism and what it stands for. The film is helped by several nice bits of acting. "These Are the Men" M-G-M 11 Mins. Effective Here is an unusual short that wields tremendous power. It takes a new tack in making an indictment of Hitler, Goebbels, Goering and Hess, and Nazi leaders in general. The four Nazi big shots are shown in speaking poses, with each of them making his own case against himself through the medium of an off- screen voice. Worked into the foot- age are scenes showing how the Nazi leaders are debasing and pois- oning the minds of the youth of Germany. The short packs a dra- matic wallop. No punches are pulled. properties, such as published books and plays as follows: "The Song of Bernadette," based on Franz Werfel's novel, with Jen- nifer Jones in the title role, Henry King directed and William Perlberg produced; "Claudia," from the book and play by Rose Franken, starring Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young and Ina Claire with direction by Ed- mund Goulding; "One World," based on Wendell L. Willkie's best-seller, to be produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. "Heaven Can Wait," from the play by Lazlo Bus-Fekte, an Ernst Lubitsch production in Technicolor, starring Don Ameche, Gene Tierney and Charles Coburn; "Holy Matri- mony," starring Monty Wooley and Gracie Fields, directed by John Stahl, from Arnold Bennett's novel, "Buried Alive"; "The Keys of the Kingdom," a best seller novel by A. J. Cronin which may be produced by Zanuck. "Jane Eyre," from the Charlotte Bronte classic, starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine with Robert Stevenson directing; "Guadalcanal Diary," based on the book by INS foreign correspondent, Richard Tre- gaskis, with William Bendix, and Lloyd Nolan, Lew Seiler, director, Bryan Foy, producer; "Happy Land," Saturday Evening Post serial and book by MacKinlay Kantor, with Don Ameche, Harry Carey, Ann Ruther- ford and Frances Dee, director, Irving Pichel and producer, Kenneth Macgowan. "Lifeboat," novel by John Stein- beck, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, producer, Kenneth Macgowan, with Tallulah Bankhead, Henry Hull, Canada Lee and Mary Anderson; "The Lodger," based on the book and play by Mrs. Belloc-Lowndes, pro- duced by Robert Bassler, with Merle Oberon, Laird Cregar and George "The Eve of St. Mark," from Max- well Anderson's current play, to be directed by John Stahl, produced by William Perlberg, with Charles Bick- ford and Michael O'Shea; "Home in Indiana," from George Agnew Chamberlain's Saturday Evening Post serial and book, to be filmed in Technicolor with Lon McAllister and Walter Brennan. "All Out Arlene," to be produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch from H. I. Phil- lips novel, with Anne Baxter in the title role; "Something- for the Boys." from the current Broadway hit; "By Jupiter," stage success, with music by Rodgers and Hart; "Torpedo Squadron 8," from the story in Life, in Technicolor; and "State Pair," from Phil Stong's book, a musical version with a score by Oscar Hammerstein, II and Richard Rodgers. ■ Originals in List Originals on the list, some of which may be withdrawn for books or plays, include: "Wilson," a Darryl F. Zanuck production to be directed by Henry King; "Wintertime," musical romance starring Sonja Henie, with Carole Landis, Jack Oakie, Cesar Romero, Woody Herman and band, directed by John Brahm, produced by William LeBaron; "Dan- cing Masters," starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy; "Bomber's Moon," with George Montgomery and Oliver Hard}-. "Galveston," (formerly "Tampico"), star- ring Edward G. Robinson, Victor McLaglen, Lynn Bari, directed by Lothar Mendes, pro- duced by Robert Bassler; "Buffalo Bill," a Harry Sherman Technicolor production, with Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, Linda Darnell, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, direc- ted by William Wellman; "Rickenbacker," based on the famous flyer's life; "The Sullivans," to be produced by Robert T. Kane and Sam Jaffe; Lloyd Bacon directing, with Thomas Mitchell; "Army Wife," to star Dorothy McGuire, with Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, Archie Mayo di- recting and Otto Preminger producing; "Stars and Stripes Forever," based on the life of John Philip Sousa. with many of his songs. "Command Performance" (formerly "Four Jills and a Jeep"), based on the adventures of Carole Landis, Martha Raye, Kay Francif and Mitzi Mayfair on the European and North African fighting fronts. Joe E. Brown and Cornel Wilde are east with the four girls and William Seiter will direct; "Paris After Dark," mystery with George Sanders, Brenda Marshall and Philip Dorn; "Roger Touhy, Gangster," with Preston Foster and Victor McLaglen. Seven Musicals In Color Seven musicals in Technicolor are sched- uled as follows: "Pin-Up Girl," produced by William Le- Baron, directed by Bruce Humberstone, with Betty Grable, Martha Raye, Joe E. Brown, and the Charley Spivak orchestra; "Green- wich Village," with Carmen Miranda and Jack Oakie; "Moment for Music," based on the life of Benny Goodman who will ap- pear, to be produced by William LeBaron and directed by Irving Cummings. "Where Do We Go from Here?", by Morris Ryskind and Sig Herczig, produced by Wil- liam Pearlberg, with Betty Grable. "Sweet Rosie O'Grady," with Betty Grable, Robert Young, Adolphe Menjou and Reginald Gard- ner, directed by Irving Cummings and pro- duced by William Perlberg; "The Gang's All Here," produced by William LeBaron, directed by Busby Berkeley, with Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, Edward Everett Horton, James Ellison, Sheila Ryan and Phil Baker. Other properties being considered for 1943- 44 production include "The Bowery After Dark," "Laura," "A Tree Grows in Brook- Minimum of 10 in Techni- color Set; Two to Four May be of Roadshow Class lyn," "Kiki" and "Only the Stars Are Neutral." 41 Shorts on Lineup The 41 shorts will include "Three Sisters of the Moors," story of the Bronte sisters directed by Irving Pichel, 13 March of Time issues, 20 Terrytoons. six Magic Carpets, six Ed Thorgersen sports reels, six Movie- tone Adventures and two Lehr comedies. Some of the shorts will be in Technicolor and some in Cineeolor. In addition there will be the twice-weekly issues of Movietone News produced by Edmund Reek. Commentators heard in 20th-Fox shorts will include Lowell Thomas, Ed Thorgersen, Hugh James, Lew Lehr, and Vyvyan Don- ner, fashion editor. Marine Saves Operator From Burning Hub Booth Boston — While 200 persons, most of them children, were evacuated from the Rialto theater in Glendale Square with quiet orderliness as a fire starting in the projection booth raged, the motion picture operator was rescued by a Marine Corps hero recently discharged after service in the South Pacific. Heroine of the occasion was the cashier, Mary Connelly, who pre- vented a panic after a youngster shouted "fire." The operator, Albert Schacht, fought the flames until he was dragged out of the booth by Robert Rapps who only recently returned to the employ of the theater after ser- vice with the Marines from which he received a medical discharge. Carrying fire extinguishers up to the booth, Rapp found Schacht stag- gering from the effects of the smoke and fumes, dragged him outside and then fought the flames until the ar- rival of the fire department. Dam- age to house and equipment is es- timated at better than $15,000 by Lyndon H. Forkey of Everett, man- ager. More than 18,000 feet of film was destroyed. "Shrine of Victory" Tradeshow The British-produced film, "The Shrine of Victory," which 20th Cen- tury-Fox is distributing is being tradeshown at the company's .ex- change projection room, 345 West 44th Street, at 10:30 a.m. Monday. To Televise Clark Gable Film "Wings Up," the Clark Gable pic on the Air Force, will be televised Sunday at 8:50 p.m. by station W2XWV. WEDDING BELLS Philadelphia — Thelma Rush, secre- tary of Jack Greenberg, and Lt. Ken- neth Sack will be married in La- redo, Tex., next week. 0 You can obtain maximum efficiency and economy from your Victory Carbons by observing the following simple rules. USE CARBON TRIM RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR PROJECTION EQUIPMENT. The Victory Carbon trims indicated in the above table were established by comprehensive laboratory and field tests to ascertain the best results obtainable in all types of equipment. OPERATE CARBONS AT SPECIFIED ARC CURRENT. Better projection and greater economy are obtained when recommended arc currents are maintained. The maximum allowable arc current is stamped on each Victory Carbon at the left of the trade-mark. CHECK FEED RATIO CAREFULLY. Changes of arc current alter the ratio of burning rate be- tween positive and negative carbons. On lamps equipped with adjustable feed and formerly operated above 45 amperes arc current, this ratio should be adjusted to meet the new current conditions. A bulletin describing operation of the new Victory High Intensity Carbons is available for distribution and will be sent promptly upon request. SAVE T H E COPPER Most of the copper used for plating copper coated projector carbons drops to the floor of the lamp house when the carbons are burned. Continue to save these copper drippings and turn them over to your supply dealer as designated by our government. FqpyiCTORY NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation UJ33 Carbon Sales Division, Cleveland, Ohio 6ENERAL OFFICES 30 East 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. BRANCH SAtES OFFICES NewYork, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Sk. Louis, San Francisco Building Remodeling Equipment Maintenance • * * * NEW YORK, FRIDAY. AUGUST 13, 1943 * * * * ^HEATER CARPET FAMINE IS NOW ACUTE Engineering Research Keeps Theaters Running Altec Head Reveals How New Products, Salvage, Solve Exhib. Problems L. W. CONROW Explaining how theatermen con- tinue to get new parts when there are apparently, and as a result of imposed restric- tions,-none to be had, L. W. Con- row, Altec's pres- ident, declared yesterday that the continuous pro- tection which re- search engineer- ing is affording film outlets is ac- countable for the favorable situa- tion, and that the d e v e lopment of new products has gone hand - in - with ingenious salvaging (Continued on Page 12) Grauman's Alcazar Is Purchased by FWC West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY San Francisco — B. V. Sturdivant, Northern California supervisor of FWC, announces completion of nego- tiations for the purchase of the Al- cazar Theater from Sid Grauman. Fox West Coast, Sturdivant said, will start remodeling the Alcazar at once for a tentative September open- (Cqntinued on Page 10) hand Forces Air Cooling For Our Air Forces Biloxi, Miss. — Housing units atop the three field theaters at the Air Corps Technical School located at nearby Keeseler Field, are being rushed to completion for early place- ment of air conditioning units to be installed in each, it is declared by 1st Lt. Jackson G. Parker, Theater Officer. The blowers, two to each theater, will change 60,000 feet of air per second in each playhouse, thus adding more comfort for the men, officers and instructors, plus the WACS. Equipment Field Notes CORWARD-LOOKING move by Fairlawn ' Amusement Co. of Washington, D. C, in contracting with John and Drew Eberson, film theater architects, to prepare plans and specifications for a new theater in Anacostia, D. C, to be constructed as soon as the war is over, has set off a wave of similar pacts among progressive circuits and individual exhibitors strategically eye- ing the benefits of future expansion, and affecting same at the earliest feasible time. The new Fairlawn house is a 1,000-seater, and, it is reliably reported, will contain some eye-opening architectural and decora- tive advances. A total of 64 employes of Eastman Kodak's Hawk-Bye plant have received cash awards totaling $2,750 for ideas that will aid the production and ef- ficiency of their respective departments. Out in Chi's Loop sector, the Woods, Essaness stand, has acquired improved RCA sound equipment, new carpets, and under- gone a painting and decorating job. The house operates on a 24-hour policy. Ber- nard Mallits has recently been named as- sistant manager. State Theater, Charlotte, N. C, has just reopened, following a 10-day shuttering necessitated by repair of fire damage. Manager B. S. Lewis says that an entirely new interior has been built, and complete redecorating, including carpets, has been effected. Electronic applications in industry, war, medicine and the home are illustrated and described in a new 44-page booklet now available from Westinghouse. Harold Peterson, formerly section- head in the Tool Design Dept. of Bell & Howell, where he began work tn 1935 has been promoted by the com- pany to the post of chief tool engineer. On August 7, Clarence G. Stull, West- em Electric's prexy, reached his 40th anni- versary with that organization. He joined WE as a student apprentice in its Clinton St. shop in Chicago; reached vice-prexy status in 1926; and has been prexy since 1940. Jefferson Amusement Co., Inc., Beau- mont, Tex., has contracted with Altec Service Corp. for Jefferson's 56 Texas theaters. C. J. Zern negotiated for Altec Service. A net estate of $1,057,782 was left by Miss Ada Howe Kent, it is disclosed in Surrogates Court, Rochester. She was the daughter of John H. Kent, a vice-prexy of Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co., predecessor of Eastman Kodak. Included in the gross estate were 3,340 shares of Kodak com- mon, and 507 shares of the preferred stock. Accenting the role motion pictures are playing in the drive to Victory is the new issue of DeVry Corp.'s "Movie News," lavishly illustrated and ready for distribution. Also newly off the presses of DeVry is organization's 56- page catalog of 16 mm. Educational and Recreational Films. Copies may be had gratis by addressing request to the company at 1111 Armitage Ave., Chicago, 14, III. A brand new record-making device has just been brought out by Heroservice, 45 West 45th St., New York City, 19. It is called "Spot-O-Graph" and makes pos- sible the individual timing of sound ef- fects and music with considerably more accuracy and precision than ever before, the manufacturer claims. It is designed in the form of an ordinary record, but with a cone-shaped partition down the center, on each side of which there is a minutely graded scale, so that the needle can fit exactly in the right spot. * * * Lieut. Carl Moody, of the Army Sig- nal Corps and formerly a photogra- phic tester at Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, is back at his bench there for the next two months. He will teach 15 Signal Corps men how to service and repair cameras and pho- tographic equipment. * « * Central Theater, Central City, Pa., op- erated by B. J. Redfoot, has just reopened after complete repair, renovation and en- largement. Stand was virtually destroyed by fire a few months ago. Another Six Months Will See Manufacturing Cease Except for War Purposes With manufacturers noticeably "eating into" their unreplenishable stocks of rough wool, which some four months ago totaled only some 66,000,000 pounds, or enough to last until the Spring of 1944, availability of carpet for film theaters and the industry generally is currently fac- ing "a last stand," unless, of course, WPB sees fit to allow replenishment of reserves by importing the wool from India, China, Argentina, or lesser sources, which, it is declared by authoritative channels, is most unlikely since carpet is classed as a non-essential, and not a pound of (Continued on Page 11) Bell Telephone Labs Have Hew Camera A remarkable new camera, capable of photographing even the split-sec- ond action of our armed forces, has just been formally announced by Bell Telephone Laboratories, de- veloped by them, and Western Elec- tric, which is manufacturing the device. Using 8 mm. and 16 mm. film, — sometimes at the rate of 70 miles an hour, and appropriately called the Fastax, this new camera is driven by its motors at the terrific top speed of 8,000 frames a second, an ex- (Continued on Page 10) DeVry Corp. to Host Delegates of TEDPA Chicago — Members of the The- ater Equipment Dealers Protective Association, who have been called to a conference in the local Bismark Hotel, Sept. 18-19, are also being invited by President W. C. DeVry, of the DeVry Corp., to a preview of DeVry's new warborn 35 mm. the- ater projector. DeVry will hold "open house" on Saturday, Sept. 18, at its main plant, 1111 Armitage Ave. Transportation will be provided as desired, to and from the plant. 10 EQUIPMENT NEWS DAILY Friday, August 13, 1943 A Section of THE FILM DAILY compre- hensively covering the equipment field, pub- lished every second week by Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York City. John W. Alicoate, Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, General Manager; Chester B. Bahn, Editor; George H. Morris, Equipment Editor; West Coast Bureau, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal., Ralph Wilk, Bureau Chief. Portable RCA Equip. "Vans" In Australia Camden, N. J— With the aid of portable RCA photophone equipment especially designed for this rugged job "down under," remote battle stations in Australia are enjoying sound pictures as part of the Army's entertainment-for-morale program. Staffed by tough, experienced pro- jectionists selected from the armed forces by the Army authorities, the mobile units travel thousands of miles under difficult conditions. Their performance has been hailed enthu- siastically by the troops. RCA Photo- phone of Australia, subsidiary of RCA, supplied the equipment to the Australian military forces. The "vans," as the Australians call them, were designed to operate at great distances from sources of re- placements. They were built to bring the sound and projection equipment safely through rough country, and to underwrite the slogan of the en- tertainment world: "The show must go on." Easy dismantling of the equipment and parts-within-part packing for moving purposes are features of the theaters on wheels. The unit stands of the Photophone equipment are of tubular metal and constructed so that one section fits within another to make a compact and steady package. The soundhead and projector are in one unit. The screen frame is of metal tubing and is in eight sections which fold to- gether. As all performances are out of doors, an unperforated screen is used, with the speaker erected atop. For Excellence in the Production f Motion Picture Sound Equipment IT'S A FACT! War-born DEVRY preci- sion Theatre Projectors and Sonnd Systems pre- sent developments far beyond previously ac- cepted standards. DEVRY Corporation, 1112 Armi- tage Avenue, Chicago, 111. DeVRY 4, Hollywood • CHICAGO • N< Spare Paris Reserve Prevents Shuttering St. John, N. B.— The wisdom of assembling reserve parts and equip- ment was vindicated at the local Regent, when, one night at 8 p.m., this week, the busiest hour, the sound apparatus suddenly ceased to act. During 1941 and 1942, Franklin & Herschorn, of which chain the Re- gent is a link, had been buying a supply of spare parts and equipment, and storing them up for emergencies. If there had not been a replace- ment when the sound collapsed, the theater would have had to shut down for at least two weeks, in the midst of the best business in its history. It is questionable if the needed parts could have been available in two weeks, or even a month. Whatever time it would take, the Regent would be sealed up to the public. However, with the parts at hand, the staff had the show resumed after a half hour of suspension, during which the pa- trons were given the privilege of get- ting their money back, but none ac- cepted this offer. The public address system was worked to the fullest with the catchiest of tunes, and with lights fully on. "Free Are The Feet On Freedom's March" Rochester — Eastman Kodak Co. has donated millions of feet of film for motion pictures sent to American service men throughout the world, it is revealed here. The actual con- tributions amount to 15,000,000 feet of 16 mm. positive film, together with the necessary duplicating nega- tive film and 16 mm. sound film. Bell Telephone Labs Have New Camera (Continued from Page 9) posure period of 33 millionths of a second, making it an invaluable tool for the research engineer. This speed means that the Fastax can photo- graph action far too fast for the or- dinary slow motion camera. It means that "movies" made with the Fastax and projected in slow motion can lay bare the innermost secrets of me- chanical parts moving at lightning speed — that it can even "slow down" electricity itself. Thus the Fastax has revealed to engineers frailties in communications and other equip- ment never before beheld by the human eye. usAIRco AIR CONDITIONING IS ENGINEERED To Meet the Job Requirements and Your Operating Budget THEATRE OPERATORS don't buy air conditioning » just for the privilege of hanging a sign from the HJS marquee announcing "Air Conditioning Inside". -0 Theatre Air Conditioning is bought for just one & purpose — to increase the number of buyers at the Box Office — to attract and induce people into their house as against the beach, the boat or a buggy ride. • When you buy Comfort Cooling from usAIRco you're doing business with an engineering staff that knows how to de- sign a system that fits the requirements of your house — is engineered for original low cost, and low daily operating costs. Many a time we've come out of a The- atre and asked — "What's the matter, is your cooling system broken?" — And the answer surprised us — "No, it's O. K. But it costs too much to run it for the few that are in there tonight." The man who owns a cooling system that's so costly to operate, that he can run it only occasionally would be better off without such a system. So while he may have a perfectly engineered system, he has one that costs too much to use. usAIRco engineers the type of cooling system you can afford to buy and afford to operate every day — regardless of the size of your house — or your needs for plain air. evaporated cooling, cold water or re- frigerated air conditioning. usAIRco en- gineers can fill your needs precisely. The jobs you have planned for V-day should receive the attention of usAIRco right now. Write us about your plans. UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING CORPORATION Profits in Cooling for the Exhibitor Northwestern Terminal • Minneapolis, Minn. REFRIGERATED KOOLER-AIRE This Unit combines every phase of refrigerated cooling in a Single Unit. Manufactured in vari- ous sizes, it can be used singly or in combination with other units to give you the precise capacity you need. Books describing this system are available. We'll be glad to send you a copy. Grauman's Alcazar Is Purchased by FWC (Continued from Page 9) ing. About $50,000 will be spent on new seats, carpets and other furnish- ings. The purchase price of the Alcazar was not revealed. The deal was made by Grauman and Charles Skoura/^* president of National Theaters, pats_ ent company of FWC. The Alcazar will open as a road- show house with advance showings for reserved seat patrons. Exhibitors of America have many du- ties to perform these war days. You build unity and morale through motion picture presentations— and you promote and support the various government drives that are initiated to spur war production and civilian defense. RCA Service, like exhibitors, is carry- ing on important war duties: RCA en- gineers are rendering scheduled service to projection room equipment in thou- sands of theatres to "Keep 'em Run- ning"—and other RCA Service groups are installing military equipment and instructing personnel, in this country and at the battlefronts. The RCA Service organization is to- day more than nation-wide ... it is world-wide . . . serv- ing the home front and battlefronts too! RCA SERVICE CO., INC. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA Subsidiary Camden, N. J. Friday, August 13, 1943 "85. NO. 32 33 NEW YORK, MONDAY. AUGUST, 16, 1943 TEN CENTS TRADE JLIGHTLY HTTJY "CRITICAL" LIST Expect Exhibs. to Have Greater Voice in Decree Reeling 'Round-- WASHINGTON By ANDREW H. OLDER — (.THOUGH it appeared two weeks ago ALTHOUG that th among the various producers, somewhat messed up while Harold Hopper was on the Coast for a couple of weeks, had been sifted down, actually they weren't in order until ciast week. Two of the majors were on a •limb — one for paint and one for lumber, and four or five independents legally entitled to just about nothing in the line of set con- struction materials. ... • It's 0. K. now, and the industry may soon be out from under the construction order, L-41, where it never belonged in the first place. . . . • Poor Hopper! His life has settled into a routine, it seems. Spends a few weeks here and gets everything running smoothly, then goes to the Coast. Comes back and finds that on one matter or another every- thing has become snarled up — and it's not the fault of his staff — then spends the next few weeks straightening it out. Then he leaves for the Coast again, and immediately someone in the Army or the Navy or some other part of WPB gets a bright idea or two and Harold has another job when he returns. ... e Latest addition to Hopper's staff, incidentally, is Warren Doane, who spent a good many years with Hal Roach. e e £1E0RGE LYON, OWI news chief, has his '^^ man for the newsreel job, we hear, but won't announce him until he's actually on the job. ... e Civil Service appointment hurdles to be taken, etc. ... O As for George MacMurphey, who was having those troubles, he's now "on loan" from OPA to OCR. So, finally, he really is chief of the OCR Amusements Section. ... • Rosalind Russell will do a personal appeal for the Third War Loan Drive, to be clipped to the newsreels next month. Columbia makes it. ... e With the Nazi danger apparently gone from Moscow, two of the Soviet's fa- mous triumvirate of directors — Dovzhenko ("Arsenal" and "Soil") and Pudovkin ("Mother" and "Storm Over Asia") are get- ting back into harness. Both have begun new productions for Mosfilm, which has just returned to Moscow after two years in the hinterlands. e e "THIS IS THE ARMY" really came in for ' sendoff here, with more gold braid, silver eagles and diamond brooches, etc., (Continued on Page 2) Supreme Court Ruling in Pipelines Case to Have Effect — Report Greater efforts for a "voice" in the re-shaping of the consent decree by independent exhibitors were in- dicated at the week-end in the wake of a story in The Film Daily on Thursday to the effect that elements affected by a consent decree can in- tervene. It was pointed out that the U. S. Supreme Court, more than a year ago, in an action involving pipelines, had held that elements who were not (Continued on Page 6) Allied Decree Poll Under Way This Week Questionnaires on preferred changes in the consent decree will be sent out this week by national Allied to its members, in line with the decision made at the directors' meeting in Baltimore last week. The questionnaires are being prepared by Abram P. Myers, general counsel, (Continued on Page 3) O. C. Houses Playing Up "No War" Angle in Ads Oklahoma City — "The public has had enough war films!" That is the edict of local film men who have been studying their grosses and have come to the conclusion that (Continued on Page 8) Polio Drops Biz 50% in Tex. Spots With between 500 and 700 cases of infantile paralysis reported in the Northeast part of Texas, thea- ter business in those areas is off 50 per cent, according to Col. H. A. Cole. Cases have been reported as far South as Houston. Call Regional Meets for WAC Chairmen State chairmen of the WAC in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washing- tin, have been summoned by L. C. Griffith, general chairman of the Third War Loan for the committee, to a series of three regional meetings to plan co-operation with the gov- ernment in the war bond campaign. Griffith indicated the urgency of the meetings in wires dispatched on Friday. In addition to Griffith, the three (Continued on Page 8) Promotions, Transfers in Para.'s Sales Staff Several promotions and transfers in Paramount's sales staff were an- nounced Friday by Neil Agnew, gen- eral sales manager. Four of the men are members of Paramount's 100 Per Cent Club. They are Harry Haas, advanced from Los Angeles (Continued on Page 8) No Post-War Attendance Dip? Economic Analysts See Bright Outlook Says Product Shortage Is Closing Iowa House Boone, la. — The Boone Theater, op- erated by Central States Theater Corp. since 1936, is being closed for the duration of the war. S. N. Fang- man, manager, said shortage of films was the reason for the closing. It is the second house in Boone to be (Continued on Page 6) No early post-war decline from the present high rate of motion pic- ture attendance is neither indicated nor expected, according to economic analysts who have surveyed the in- dustry outlook in recent weeks on behalf of Wall Street investment sources. ' Among data presented by the re- searchers in support of their con- clusions, compiled for private in- (Continued on Page 6) Production In Stronger Po- sition; Status of Theaters Is Somewhat Weakened Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The industry came off rather well, on the whole, on the new manpower regulations an- nounced yesterday. Production is, perhaps, in a stronger position than before, with the status of theaters slightly, but not greatly, weakened. The importance of adding women to theater staffs is again driven home. Failure to include production jobs on the new critical list does not (Continued on Page 3) Vandalism Reflected in Mayor's Report Vandalism in New York theaters is reflected in a report by Mayor LaGuardia's committee on juvenile delinquency which points out that the 4,208 new cases in the last six months represented an increase of 958 over the previous six months. Despite the increase in the last six months, the toal cases handled by the (Continued on Page 8) 20th-Fox's First Four Announced for 1943-44 Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles— The titles of 20th- Fox's initial releases of the new sell- ing season were disclosed by Tom Connors, distribution chief, as the last of a series of three company (Continued on Page 6) Ad Agency Donates "Army" Commissions Blaine — Thompson advertising agency is contributing to the Army Emergency Relief all its customary agency commissions for the place- ment of advertising on Irving Ber- lin's "This is the Army," Donation applies to magazine as well as newspaper copy placed by the agency on behalf of the War- ner Bros, non-profit production. — ■ .w DAILY Monday, August 16, 1943 ■3= THE nmrasMia Of HIM DOM Lg W|l| gpjAllTIKhm PI A ■ ■ ^^ AU. ¥IH HMI Vol. 84, No. 32 Mon. Aug., Iff, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1S01 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. - Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St, W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL {Aug. 12) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 16'/4 16 1/4! 16'/4 + Vi Col. Picts. vtc. (2Vi%) 16 151/2 151/2+ Vi Col. Picts. pfd 37% 377/s 377/s + % Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 15% 15i/4 15i/4 + Vs East. Kodak 161 160 161 +2 do pfd Gen. free. Eq 203/8 19% 203/g + % Loew's, Inc 60i/g 60y8 60|/8 + % Paramount 25'/2 25V8 25%* , RKO 83/8 8i/4 8i/4 RKO $6 pfd 89 89 89 20th Century-Fox .. 21 205/8 21 + Vz 20th Century-fox pfd. 31 1/4 31 % 31%— % Warner Bros 13% 127/8 13'/8 + % do pfd 89% 895/8 895/8 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... 2% 2% 2% + % Radio-Kerth cvs. ... 13/g 1% 1%. — % Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% Technicolor Trans-Lux Universal ficts. vtc. 17% 173/8 17% + % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. 'Bldg. 4s 1st '57 81 % 83% Cuts Film Space Chicago — Daily News cut film news and pictures to one page daily, effec- tive Friday, due to the paper short- age. SPECIAL SEND YOUR NEXT ORDER TO SAME DAY SERVICE riLMACK TRAILER CO, 1327 So Wobosh A. WILL SELL YOUR SPECIAL SHOWS! Reeling 'Round- - WASHINGTON {Continued from Page 1) than we've ever seen in a motion picture house. Frank Lafalce, on whom the job fell, merits plenty of praise for the way he handled it. . . . • Wednesday night saw a capsule rehearsal, with Paramount's pro- jection room chock full of high-ranking mili- tarymen and their ladies, plus a few civil- ians, to view "Heaven Can Wait" as guests of Harold Hopper (who seems to be getting into the column this week somehow or other). Mr. Lubitsch's latest really scored with the very discriminating group — among whom we were pleased to see Lowell Mel- lett, returned only a couple of days earlier from a well-earned vacation on the Jersey shore and at Hot Springs, Va. ... • The worst of the Washington Summer struck last week, with mercury hovering between 95 and 98 for several days, and the humid- ity as high as humidity can get without being rain. We tried to get Allen Smith to rustle us up a hypo full of freon, but no go. Roseland Theater, Omaha, Winner in Bond Contest Omaha — Winners in the theater di- vision of the July War Bond and contest here have been announced with the Roseland Theater cleaning up in both classes. An average of $19.76 per-seat in sales, gave Roseland the large blue flag awarded the winning theater. Individual winner was A. H. Cohn of the same theater, who sold $21,- 190.50 worth of Bonds and Stamps, and turned his first prize of a $50 War Bond over to the Red Cross. Other prize winners: $25 Bond, Pat Wilson, Paramount; $10 in Stamps, A. V. Madison of the Or- pheum and Ray Hasselo, Military. Among theaters the Military was second, Muse third and Orpheum fourth. Forest Park Vandals Caught Springfield, Mass. — Four 'teen age Forest Park youngsters, apprehend- ed while stuffing cigaret butts down the backs of seats in the Phillips Theater, were released in the custo- dies of their parents following a dressing down by Judge William J. Granfield. He warned them that an- other appearance in court would bring more serious consequences. Monogram Closes Circuit Deals Monogram has closed for its 1943- 44 product with RKO Theaters, na- tionally, including the entire Metro- politan string; Maine & New Hamp- shire Circuit, New England, Long Theaters, Texas; Interstate Thea- ters, New England; Yakim Circuit, New England; Snider Circuit, New England and the State Theater, Hart- ford, Conn. Murdock to Chicago Sun Philadelphia — Henry T. Murdock, formerly dramatic and motion pic- ture editor of the Philadelphia Eve- ning Ledger, has been named to the same post with the Chicago Sun. Record Hollywood and Chi. Campaigns for FWTBT Paramount's campaigns for the Hollywood and Chicago premieres of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" will be the largest in local history and will embrace every advertising and pub- icity channel, Robert M. Gillham, reported prior to his return to Chi- cago. Gillham next week will go on to San rancisco to set that city's campaign. FWTBT opens at the Carthay Cir- cle Theater, Hollywood on Monday and will be followed by day-and- date engagements at the Carthay Cir- cle and United Artists Theaters, downtown Los Angeles, the next day. Picture opens in Chicago at the State-Lake on ,Sept. 2 and the Alcazar, San Francisco opening is scheduled for about Sept. 1. On Oct. 1, film opens day-and-date in between 45 and 50 key cities where pre-release engagements are not scheduled. Rufus Blair of the studio publicity staff and W. C. Lewellen, Dallas dis- trict advertising representative, ac- companied Gillham from Los An- geles to Chicago where they re- main to handle the advance cam- paign. Geneseo, 111., House Files On Arbitrary Clearance Chicago — Marchesi Brothers have filed an arbitration case for their Geneseo Theater, Geneseo, 111., against the Great States Circuit's Peerless Theater, Kewanee, 111., claiming arbitrary clearance against 20th-Fox, Paramount, Loew's, RKO. Twentieth-Fox filed answer stating that R. J. Jeanotti, Palace Theater, Cambridge, and Phillip Billiet, Coli- seum Theater, Annawan, 111., would be affected by any change in the present clearance situation. Columbia Pays 50-Cent Dividend on Its Common Columbia Pictures Corp. announced Friday that the board of directors at its meeting held Thursday de- clared a dividend of 50 cents per share on the common stock of the company, payable Sept. 22, 1943, to stockholders of record Sept. 7, 1943. Lavar, Son of Schine's Gen'l Mgr., is Missing Sander Lavar, formerly of Schine's publicity department and son of Louis Lavar, general manager of the circuit, is reported missing after the recent bombing raid on the Rumanian oil fields. FOR SALE OR LEASE Neighborhood Movie House Located in New York City Seating 600 Reasonable price or rental HARRY G. SOMMERS 208 W. 41 St. Phone PEn. 6-8220 COMIM and GOIflG ARTHUR SACHSON, assistant general sales manager for Warner Bros., returns today from Cloversville, N. Y. ROY HAINES is due back this morning from a two-week tour of his Midwest territory. JULES LAPIDUS, returns today from a week's trip to Cincinnati, Cleveland and other *c >»ts in the Central territory. hea A. W. SCHWALBERC, supervisor of Writer exchanges, gets back this morning from a trip to Ohio. RICHARD ARLEN arrives from the Coast to- morrow on a 10-day vacation. DAVID E. ROSE, Paramount's managing direc- tor in Great 'Britain, is expected here from the Coast today. AUDREY WESTPHAL and BETTY WALKER, New York showgirls signed by Paramount, have arrived on the Coast. CRACIE FIELDS has arrived in England from the United States. JULES FIELDS, 20th-Fox exploitation represen- tative, is back in town after a week in Omaha working on arrangements for the world premiere there of "Claudia." NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stags Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CONDOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BUY WAR TIMES SwST PARAMOUNT SQS EffiffluHfiPWmwB^iJK /Ml Kg r j{j /*%■ VELOZondYOLANM Jerry COIONNA llond MASSEY /Kl ^j^otTcwroJry.TOx ncrum ROXY 3; B WAY & 47th St. PAT O'BRIEN • RANDOLPH SCOTT "BOMBARDIER" and "GALS INCORPORATED" LEON ERROL « HARRIET MILLIARD I ;«?*?. STRTE 2nd WEEK On Screen JOAN CRAWFORD FRED MacMURRAY "ABOVE SUSPICION" fc. Monday, August 16, 1943 DAILY "Critical" List Expands Non- Deferable Jobs New Regulations Intended To Encourage Transfer of Men to Essential War Work (Continued from Page 1) gi__)y weaken the standing of stu- dioWechnicians, and it does perhaps increase the chances of the studios to bring- in qualified men who are not now working in production. The expanded non-deferable list includes several jobs in theaters and dealing with picture promotion. Preparation of signs and advertising displays remains a non-deferable ac- tivity, for instance, with ticket agen- cies and advance ad and publicity men also on the list. Actual theater jobs in the non-deferable category include barkers, charmen and clean- ers, doormen, elevator operators, lav- atory attendants, errand boys, port- ers, ticket-takers, ushers and valets. Also listed are booking agents, lit- erary and actors' agents and "man- aging agents (theatrical and film)". Purposse of the Expanded List The expansion of the non-deferable list is intended to encourage the transfer of men in these jobs to es- sential work and to insure that fathers holding these jobs will be the first to be called for military ser- vice. Attempts to get definitions for such jobs as "booking agents" and "managing agents (theatrical and film)" met with no success. The lists were released but definitions, where they exist, were confidential. One responsible official hinted that the latter classification might conceiv- ably include theater managers and that the former would include ex- change and circuit bookers, but this could not be confirmed. Actually, it is a matter for local determination, -said another official. A third advised The Film Daily to "go ahead and print the story as you see it, and the possibilities, and then qualify the whole thing." Thus it may be said on the basis of several unofficial interpretations — and common sense — that theater managers and circuit and exchange bookers have not been classified as non-deferrable. Neither theaters nor exchanges in themselves have been _ so classified although night clubs and HOLLYWOOD DIGEST SIGNED BYRON BARR, termer, Paramount ASSIGNMENTS CUNTHER VON FRITSCHE, director, "The Curse of the Cat People," RKO. VINCENT SHERMAN, director, "Mr. Skeffing- ton," Warners. CASTINGS ELSA LANCHESTER, "Dangerous Journey," RKO; SIMONE SIMON, KENT SMITH and JAMES RANDOLPH, "The Curse of the Cat People," RKO; JIMMY DORSEY ORK, "Command Perform- ance U. S. A.," 20th-Fox; iBYRON BARR, "Dou- ble Indemnity," Paramount; PAUL HENREID, "Mr. Skeffington," Warners; TED HECHT, "Rookies in Burma," RKO; ARTHUR TREACHER, "We of the Theater," Universal; PECCY O'NEILL, "Song of the Open Road," Charles R. Rogers- U A. STORY PURCHASES ERIC CHARREL'S "The Trumpet Man," M-C-M. ARTHUR CAESAR'S "Atlantic City,' Republic. "Angel of the Navy," novel by JOAN ANCEL,, 20th-Fox. "Curacao," novel by STUART CLOETE, Para- mount. JOAN ANCEL's "Angel of the Navy," 20th- Fox. RICHARD DAVIS' "Laredo," 20th-Fox. Mae Clarke R. G. Katz Lucien Littlefield other amusement business were in- cluded on the list. McNutt on the Regulations The new regulations, according to WMC Director Paul V. McNutt, were issued because "the time has come when every worker must justify him- self in terms of his contribution to the war effort." Essential workers must be held in essential work, trans- fer of workers otherwise engaged must be facilitated, and the man- power resources of essential indus- tries must not be weakened by Army calls. No industry jobs are included on the new list of "critical occupations," but WMC officials emphasized re- peatedly during a press conference Thursday that issuance of this new list does not alter the status of the older list of "essential" activities and occupancy, on which production of motion picture is found. Although inclusion on the new list — made up of 149 job titles previously included on the essential list — will probably entitle individuals to greater con- sideration for deferment, hiring of men for jobs on this list is dependent upon approval by the United States Employment Service. Any one quali- fied to hold a job on this list who is engaged in non-essential work on October 1, and has not made an effort by then to get into "war useful- work," loses any claim he might have had for draft deferment. Industry circles here were not dis- pleased by the failure to include pro- duction jobs on the critical list. Re- cruitment of skilled workers not now engaged in production would probably have been more difficult had production jobs been placed on the list. Producers are affected also by the change in the regulations governing job transfers which make it easier for an individual to shift his job for higher pay. Draft Board Regulations The importance of convincing local manpower and draft officials of the value of films was pointed up by the issuance of a new regulation to draft boards, stressing the need for pro- tection of the manpower needed by essential industries. This includes not only those industries actually on the essential list, but also those which might be declared "locally needed." Although it has not been reported that any local or regional WMC office has held exhibition to be "locally needed," several offices have made it plain that they feel such is the case, so long as production is held to be essential. Here in Washington, the WMC office has been on the verge of holding both distribution and exhibi- tion to be "locally needed" activities, but has shied away finally urging that such determination should be made on a national basis. Pressure from local and regional offices on this matter could bear fruit. Allied Decree Poll Under Way This Week (Continued from Page 1) and they will ask for detailed experi- ences of exhibitors under the de- cree's operation. Data obtained by the forms will be collected and forwarded to Tom Clark, special assistant attorney gen- eral, for his examination. It is under- stood that Clark will start formal ac- tion on the decree the latter part of September. Detroit Operators Seek Raises Detroit — Wage hikes sought by Operators Local 199, IATSE will de- pend on action of the regional WLB with little opposition expected from exhibitors. Projectionists seek $6.00 more a week for men earning up to $77.50 and $5.00 for others. li ap- proved, the increases will be retro- active to March, Col. Rule Dies in Chicago Chicago — Col. Albert Rule, 56, United Artists publicity representa- tive, was found dead at the Crillon Hotel Friday. A UNIVERSAL PICTURE HI BHHH ■ £ft~ \^f"?5> STREET OF DARKNESS with SIGRID GURIE • J. EDWARD BROMBERG • J. Screenplay by FREDERICK TORBERG and ARTHUR RIPLEY • Adapted from an Original Story by ARTHUR RIPLEY • Musical Score by MICHEL MICHELET Produced by ARTHUR RIPLEY-RUDOLPH MONTER • Directed by ARTHUR RIPLEY. a ^a a A A =5IRL FROM MONTEREY starring FIFI D'ORSAY A Cyclonic Comedy of a Mexican Night Club. TALENT SCHOOL A Glamorous Comedy of Stagestruck Girls. ALASKA OUTPOST A Stark Drama of The Arctic Regions. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON AGAIN ' A Rollicking Post-War Musical. SUSPECTED PERSON A Mystery-Melo of an International Crook. wmmmmmmmmMmmmmmm BERLIN REVOLTS The Inside Story of Revolt of German Youth. WOMAN OF HORROR A New Type of Spine-Tingling Drama. THE WARNING Melodrama of a Black Market Racketeer. CRY OF YOUTH A Real Human Drama of Neglected Girls. starring FRANCIS LEDERER CARROL NAISH • ALEXANDER GRANACH The Story of a Musician Who Becomes a Ruthless "Killer" When Tortured By The Nazis. OH! SAY CAN YOU SING! A Glamorous Musical Extravaganza. FORGOTTEN CHILDREN JIM TULLY's Dramatic Story of "War Orphans." WATERFRONT Melodrama of San Francisco Honky-Tonks. MY BOY A Man-and-Boy Heart-Tugging Drama. THE EXECUTIONER A Sensational Melodramatic Thriller. the COSSACKS RIDE AGAIN Heroic Russian Women at Stalingrad. _— - ■■ END OF THE ROAD Two Spanish-American War Vets Do Their Bit. mmmmmmmm^immimmkmkwmmimmmmmi^^m JIVE JUNCTION Hepcats on Parade! Comedy With Music. THE LAST PAGE A Mystery-Melo of "The Eternal Triangle." 1 943-44 I'M FROM ARKANSAS A Hillbilly Jamboree of Music and Mirth. PROGRAM ffitffr ■».«. BUSTER CRABBE WITH AL (Fuzzy) ST. JOHN BUSTER CRABBE'S new seriet of hord-fighting, thrill -packed stories with Al (Fuzzy) St. John, £. ■ "4 the greatest Western comic. ~" ""* JIM NEWILL * TEX O'BRIEN Whirlwind action, \k \ studded with the W^-- catchy melody of 4 '(D^r^'^T-' Cowboy Songs ondj^ t V. a hill-billy band.*" -••.*%rl CrKKunr Monday, August 16, 1943 No Early Post-War Attendance Decline (Continued from Page 1) formation of big investors with stakes in the film industry, is the fact that more than 80 per cent of the employed population owns Gov- ernment Bonds which can be turned into spending money for consider- able time after the war ends. Reduction of 75 per cent in in- stallment payments due, cut from $4,000,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 since establishment of Federal Reserve controls, also is regarded as a heal- thy development as it leaves the public with fewer and smaller pay- ments to meet periodically. A new low in withdrawals of life insurance also was registered in re- cent months, while additions to in- surance holdings continue at a high rate. Meanwhile, as revealed in a re- cent OWI statement, despite added taxes and War Bond buying, the public will have more to spend this year, and less on which to spend it, than in many years past. Payroll savings are being made by close to 28,000,000 persons, with several million others buying War Bonds outright. An optimistic view also is ex- pressed with regard to the transi- tion period after the war. It is estimated that, even with a sudden increase in unemployed, by the time spending money runs out the ex- pected post-war reconstruction boom will be getting under way. Says Product Shortage Is Closing Iowa House (Continued from Page 1) closed as the Strand closed some time ago. The Boone Theater was an 800- seater. The Princess and Rialto, both Central States houses, are still operating in the town. The Recognized Standard Reference Book oi the Motion Picture Industry THE FILM YEAR BOOK Published by and given free with a year's subscription to THE FILM DAILY 1501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY Weeh*s Overture: • • • NOW going into the mails are some 25,000 post cards which Nick John Matsoukis, in behalf oi his alma mater, Skouras Theaters, is sending out to help the oncoming Third War Loan Campaign Said postals carry a picture of about the most belligerent young lad you're likely to find He's Owen Murphy, Jr., and, like a flash-in movie title, he's saying' this: "What D'ya Mean — You Ain't Gonna Buy No Bonds!" Dad of Murphy, Jr., by-the-by, composed the song, "It's Only The Beginning," and used to write Toe Cook shows Copy on back of the post card reads: "Dear Friend: You'll hand your friends a laugh if you pass along this postal card and remind them to support the 3rd War Loan Campaign, Sept. 9 to 30, 1943" T T T e • # BOB WEITMAN, Paramount Theater's managing direc- tor, has been appointed chairman of the producers committee for the 10th anniversary presentation of the Night of Stars, to be held on Tuesday evening, Nov. 16, in Madison Square Garden Co-operat- ing as co-chairmen are Louis K. Sidney and Ed Sullivan Ben Boyar is associate chairman, and heading the group of honorary chair- men are seven leaders of our pic industry: Barney Balaban, David Bernstein, Nate J. Blumberg, Jack Colin, N. Peter Rathvon, Marvin Schenck and Albert Warner T T ▼ • • • WHO dropped in on the week-end to say "howdy" but Sergeant Leo Pillot, powerhouse film-promotion gent before donning khaki Early this week he will return to his post, — the Public Re- lations Office, Army Air Base, Pueblo, Col Leo sported a hand- some pair of shoes, and inspired a general exodus of FILM DAILY staff- ites to get themselves such footwear at the New York Shoe Store, Sixth Ave. and Central Park But, — wait a minute! The shop isn't in New York, as its name and address sounds, but in Guatamala City, Guatamala! Page Mr. Ripley T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! 20th-Fox's First Four Announced for 1943-44 (Continued from Page 1) sales meetings ended at the Ambas- sador Hotel here on Friday. The pictures are: "Bomber's Moon," "Heaven Can Wait," "Holy Matri- mony" and "Claudia." Delegates to the meeting left for their posts following the close of the session. Spyros Skouras, president of the company, left for New York by plane with Sam Shain, director of trade relations. The rest of the home-office contingent, with the ex- ception of William J. Kupper, new general sales manager who is stop- ping off at Omaha for the "Claudia" premiere, is expected in New York by train early this week. The party includes Connors, Hermann G. Place, W. C. Michel, Sydney Towell, Wil- liam C. Gehring, Martin Moskowitz, Jack Sichelman, E. H. Collins, L. J. Schlaifer, Eugene McEvoy, T. Shaw, W. J. Clark, Roger Ferri, J. Bloom, George Roberts, Hal Home, Howard Brack and John Wood, Jr., Feminine Replacements Gain In Chi. Theaters Chicago — Women are beginning to replace men in Chicago area the- aters. While femme theater man- agers are few and far between, sev- eral women are doing good jobs as assistant managers and chiefs of service. Great States Circuit, down- state, has several women in minor executive spots, while in Chicago, Essaness, and Jones, Linick & Schaefer use femme assistants as do Warner Theaters in Northern In- diana. Alliance Theater Circuit and In- diana-Illinois Circuit are pleased with their women executives and more are being trained for man- agerial jobs. The ladies are also taking over good spots in the pub- licity and advertising departments of circuits and exchanges. Virginia Seguin recently was added to the 20th-Fox staff; Madeline Woods was put in charge of Essaness advertis- ing-publicity and Renee Clayton was named trade press editor for Bala- ban & Katz. Exhibs. Decree Role Widened by Decision (Continued from Page 1) parties to a suit and yet were af- fected by a resulting consent^ de- cree could intervene in the mCea"jg of changes and could, if neceV^/y, carry their cause up to the Supreme Court. This Supreme Court opinion, according to a large number of ex- hibitors who were contacted, ap- parently was overlooked by the thea- ter branch of the industry, inasmuch as theater men were of the opinion that they had little weight in pro- testing certain provisions inasmuch as they were not parties to the New York anti-trust action. Exhibitors now feel that they have a better chance of getting their pro- tests across. It was indicated at the Allied board meeting in Baltimore last week that a different attitude toward the independent exhibitor by the Department of Justice was ap- parent since the decree became ef- fective and that the D of J, through Tom Clark, special assistant attorney general, was giving greater consid- eration to the indie exhibitor's prob- lem. Spencer Tracy's Aunt Dies Buffalo — Funeral services will be held today for Sister Mary Perpetua, 88, an aunt of film star Spencer Tracy. She was parochial school | teacher in Buffalo and vicinity for 56 years. Besides the actor, she is survived by a brother and a sister. Stromberg to Film Life of Reuben Hunt Stromberg has chosen for near-future production the life story of Arnold Reuben, famed New York restaurateur and philanthropist to be made into a timely motion picture titled, "This Is Life," for.UA release. Ed Sullivan will do the screenplay. WB Raises Chicago Prices Chicago — Warner Bros, has raised its Metropolitan Theater prices from 35 to 40 cents evening shows; the Oakland Theater from 28 to 33 cents; the Frolic Theater from 30 cents to 33 cents. STORKS Denver — The baby girl born to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ostenberg III in a Wilmington, Del., hospital, is un- usual in that it had theater men as grandads on both sides. They are Buzz Briggs, manager of the State, Denver, and Wm. Ostenbergll, owner of several theaters in and around Scottsbluff, Neb., where the child's dad was manager of the Egyptian befor he entered the U. S. Ferry Command. Mrs. Briggs was with her daughter when the child was born. • ra IffiwKs UOU/ S^Ks'WUd phew*, — Monday, August 16, 1943 Call Regional Meets for WAC Chairmen {Continued from Page 1) meetings will be addressed by F. S. Harmon, executive vice-chairman of the War Activities Committee; S. H. Fabian, chairman of the theaters division, and Ray Beall, chairman of the WAC publicity committee for the motion picture industry's Third War Loan campaign. The first meeting will be held on Aug. 20 at the headquarters of Fox West Coast Theaters in Los Angeles, the second at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago on Aug. 23, and the third at the Statler Hotel in Washington on Aug. 25. Promotions, Transfers in Para/s Sales Staff (Continued from Page 1) salesman to Denver branch mana- ger; Frank Thomas, formerly Des Moines salesman, transferred to Kansas City; John Kent, formerly head booker in Seattle, promoted to salesman, and Don Hicks, pro- moted from Salt Lake City to a more important zone in the San Francisco territory. Other promotions and transfers in- clude : Max Hadfield, formerly booker in Seattle, is returning as head booker there, succeeding John Kent. John Himmelein, for the past year a salesman in Chicago, has returned to Cleveland, his Chicago zone being taken over by Sam Stoll. StolFs former zone will be handled by Earl Rockabrand. Sidney Lehman, formerly with United Artists in Buffalo and for the past three months salesman in the Buffalo Paramount exchange, has been transferred to Cleveland, taking over the zone formerly han- led by Max Stahl. Stahl resigned to return to his home town in Penn- sylvania to carry on the business of his brother, now in the Army. James A. Harris, until recently short subjects representative in the New England district, has been ap- pointed salesman at the Boston ex- change. Ted Mendenhall, short sub- jects representative in the Kansas City district, has resigned to accept a position in another field in Iowa. Tom McKean, salesman, at his own request has been transferred from Kansas City to the Oklahoma City exchanges where he formerly worked. Ward Pennington, former Seattle salesman, has been trans- ferred to Portland where he suc- ceeds Glenn Brogger, who has re- signed to enter another business. Robert Martin, student salesman of Kansas City, has taken over Frank Thomas' zone in Des Moines. Mendenhall to UA Omaha — Ted Mendenhall, former Paramount branch manager in Omaha, has returned as a salesman for United Artists. « REVIEWS "Destroyer" » with Edward G. Robinson, Glenn Ford, Marguerite Chapman Columbia 99 Mins. THRILLS AND THROBS, ROMANCE AND REALISM ARE PACKED INTO THIS FIRST-RATE BOX OFFICE FILM. "Destroyer" works up plenty of steam, hitting the target squarely. It represents an ace contribution by Columbia to the list of war-inspired films. The exhibitor who plays the picture can count on ex- tensive grosses, for this entertainment with powerful appeal. Basically, the film is the story of the struggle between the old and the new brought up to date. It is told in terms of an old-timer's fanatical love for the destroyer on which he is serving. The story is given added audience pull by the inclusion of a romance that will carry great weight with the femmes, not to mention comedy touches in the right places. , The conflict resolves itself into a feud between Edward G. Robinson and Glenn Ford. The two meet when Robinson, a former Navy man, returns to the service as chief boatswain's mate so that he can be with the destroyer which he helped to build. Robinson insists on doing things the old way. His failure to take cognizance of new developments and his severity with the men turn the crew against him and threaten to disrupt life aboard the ship. The crew changes its attitude toward him when he makes himself a hero by saving the ship from going down after an encounter with the enemy. Finally Robinson and Ford, who represents the spirit of the present- day navy, make their peace. At the close Robinson gains Ford as his son-in-law. The film contains many good performan- ces. Robinson is excellent whether he is being hard or sentimental. Ford gives a surprisingly fine account of himself. Mar- guerite Chapman shares the romantic burden acceptably. Edgar Buchanan and Leo Gor- cey are good for many laughs. Regis Toomey is first-rate as the commander of the destroyers. Others who contribute good performances are Warren Ashe and Ed Brophy. Excitement and thrills pack the screen- play of Frank Wead, Lewis Meltzer and Borden Chase, which stems from a yarn by the first-named. William A. Seiter's di- rection keeps the film moving at a siz- zling pace. Franz F. Planer's camera work is extremely effective. Louis F. Edelman produced in praiseworthy fashion. CAST: Edward G. Robinson, Glenn Ford, Marguerite Chapman, Edgar Buchanan, Leo Gorcey, Regis Toomey, Ed Brophy, Warren Ashe, Craig Woods, Curt Bois. CREDITS: Producer, Louis F. Edelman; Director, William A. Seiter; Screenplay, Frank Wead, Lewis Meltzer, Borden Chase; Based on story by Frank Wead; Cameraman, Franz F. Planer; Film Editor, Gene Havlick; Art Director, Lionel Banks; Set Decorator, Frank Tuttle; Musical Score, Anthony Col- lins; Musical Director, M. W. Stoloff; Sound, Ed Bernds. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. O. C. Houses Playing Up "No War" Angle in Ads {Continued from Page 1) now is the time for playing more and better "escape" films. Only the exceptional war film is now holding up to expected grosses here, it is said. Standard Theaters has made two experiments in "no war" bills at the Midwest Theater here and the pro- grams showed such satisfactory re- sponses from the public, in addition to word-of-mouth appreciation, that the downtown de luxe house will probably continue on such a run. Advertising of these programs has played up the "no war" angle with more emphasis than that given the films which have been "A" and bet- ter "B" pictures. Emphasis was even given to the fact that war clips in newsreels have been eliminated and more space than average was given to cartoon and short-subject offer- ings copy on which also stated were free of "mention of war." N. Y. Record for FWTBT "For Whom the Bell Tolls" starts its second month on Broadway today with a roadshow record, more peo- ple having paid more money to see the Paramount picture at the Rivoli in its first month than any other roadshow engagement in New York history, according to Robert M. Weit- Vandalism Reflected in Mayor's Report (Continued from Page 1) children's court in 1942 "presents one of the low points" on a graph covering the city's juvenile delin- quency record in 40 years. *> . Although the report do^heapt mentioned vandalism, theateiV ? en appear to agree that damage in their houses has been more noticeable in the last six months than during the previous half-year period. While in the legal sense, juvenile delinquency covers only children between seven and 15 years of age, most of the offenders were said to be 16 years or more, which coincides with the opinion of exhibitors who have been bothered with vandalism. ! i 'Best Foot' Openings Start Sept. 1 Key city openings of M-G-M's "Best Foot Forward" will start Sept. 1 in Hartford, Conn. Picture opens the next day in Akron, Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Canton, Cleveland, Dayton, Evansville, Har- risburg, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, New Haven, Norfolk, Reading, Richmond, Rochester, St. Louis, Springfield, Mass., Syracuse, Wilmington and Worcester. Norwich and Waterbury openings are set for Sept. 3. 0 0 tanae 9 A UNIVERSAL PICTURE D A N 1JIZ iS^tr M HZ i s i ci ci cm ci d w r IL.C <^/ V, w«^ Jack. L.Warner, Executive Producer $c vwUo else would have davis *lukas Watch on the Rhine th GERALDINE FITZGERALD Lucile Watson • Beuloh Bondi George Coulouris A HAL B. WALLIS PRODUCTION Directed by HERMAN SHUMLIN Screen Piay by Dashieil Hammett-From the Stage Play by Lillian Hellman Additional Scenes & Dialogue by Lillian Hellman • Music by Max Steiner ck the Attack! Back the 3rd War Loan lit September! w Tuesday, August 17, 1943 DAILY Western Gas Cut Not To Hit Pic Deliveries (Continued from Page 1) •lie transportation facilities to the full routes and schedules which pre- vailed before they were cut last Spring is looked for with release of an additional 14,000 barrels of gaso- line per day for this purpose. No extension of film delivery service in the East is looked for since it appears that present schedules are adequate. To Call Emergency Meet Of Vacuum Tube Distribs. (Continued from Page 1) days or two weeks for an emergency meeting. The tube situation is ap- parently tighter now than at any time in the past year and this meet- ing will represent an effort to in- sure the supplying of essential ser- vices. It is believed that WPB is preparing a general plan to submit for industry approval. Actually, tube production is at a peak, but the demands of the Army and Navy are so high that there are relatively few units left for civilian use. This has been the case for a year and theaters and radio trans- mitters and receivers have been kept supplied through the efforts of WPB. Currently, however, the situation looks even more serious than before, but WPB sources remain hopeful that they will be able to take care of Civilian needs. Luporini Named 20th-Fox Italian Representative (Continued from Page 1) drops out of the war and its market reopens. Luporini is now in this country. Show "Licked" at Texans Dinner Representatives of both New York daily and trade press will attend the dinner and preview of Walter Wang- er's "We've Never Been Licked," to- night at the Waldorf-Astoria. The dinner is being tendered by the New York alumni of Texas A & M, the school to which this newest Uni- versal release was dedicated. John Hay Whitney Maureen O'Hara Miliza Korjus Mary Price Winnie Lightner Charles Judels 'John McCormick W. S. McDonald • • • MAN BITES DOG item Ernest Rogers and Paul Jones, motion picture editors of the, Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, respectively, tossed a luncheon to the press agents of the Southern area The "reverse plate" feed was given by the two scribes for what they termed "recognition of honest dealing on the part of the space grab- bers" . .(Diogenes, are you blushing?) Among the gate crashers at the affairs which was held at the Atlanta Variety Club were Eddie Bonns, Universal; Jimmie Gillespie, Columbia; Jim Furman, Paramount; Gardner Wilson, RKO; Tommy Baldridge, Spence Pierce and Leonard Allen, 20th-Fox; Emery Austin, M-G-M, and Herb Pickman, Warner Bros. • With the induction of Bill Andrew, office manager of RKO's branch in Charlotte, that exchange has contributed nine out of 28 men to the armed forces, including two salesmen, two bookers, , one head shipper, three assistant shippers and one office manager T T T • • • CHATTER: The only ex-preacher who is now a film salesman is claimed by Warners' branch in Kansas City He's Roy Young. . . . 0 Another distinction, that of having the youngest branch manager, also is claimed by Warners' Memphis office where Ed Williamson, recently appointed, is still quite a distance under the 30 mark. ... • And the same office has a salesman, Fred Carter, who is just 25. . . . • Louis Rosenberg, formerly advertising manager of the Saks-Fifth Avenue, has joined the motion picture department of the American Foreign Language Press headed by Sigmund Gottlober. • D. John Phillips, before his Army induction in charge of shorts ad- vertising-publicity for Paramount, is now in the 4th AFRD Squadron at Hammer Field, Fresno, Calif. That's a long ways from Times Square, so you might drop "Dud" a line, if you're among the many who know him V V V • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Columbia Negotiating For Talisman Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM (DAILY Hollywood — A deal whereby Co- lumbia will acquire the Talisman Stu- dios for $140,000 is expected to be consummated within a few days. This would give Columbia badly needed stage space. At present Talisman is being used primarily by PRC Productions. Bowron Lauds Films' Soldiers' Housing Drive West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Pledging his support to ndustry's $350,000 servicemen's housing fund drive, Mayor Fletcher Bowron pointed out the need for additional facilities for caring for visiting uniformed men and praised the industry for launching such a campaign. 111. Operators to Meet Chicago— Annual state meeting of the Illinois operators unions will be held:in Springfield the week of Sept. 20 during the State Federation of Labor convention. Film Extortion Trial Going Over to October (Continued from Page 1) extorting more than $1,000,000 from film companies is scheduled to be adjourned from Sept. 7 to Oct. 4, or possibly later, it was learned in New York Federal Court yesterday. The trial has been put back be- cause two important witnesses, Rob- ert McCullough and Nicholas Avo- lio, alleged Chicago hoodlums, are still listed as fugitives by the Fed- eral authorities and no Federal judge is available for such a trial until Oct. 4, it was learned. Yesterday Judge John C. Knox postponed the trial of Isadore Zevin, former bookkeeper for George E. Browne, ex-president of the IATSE, until Sept. 13. Zevin is accused of having committee perjury while be- ing questioned by the Federal grand jury concerning the whereabouts of the special slush fund of $1,500,000 assertedly collected from members of the alliance. Zevin, Browne and Williamv*Bioff are"' expected to be Government witnesses at the trial. IN NEW POSTS HAROLD LYON, manager, Englert, Iowa City, la. H. P. BREWER, manager, Garden, Des Moines. J. E. BEITZEL, assistant manager, Strand,' Des Moines. MELVYN BICLEY, manager, Arbor Theater, Nebraska City, Neb. WAYNE SWEENEY, manager, Town Thef v Omaha. £n ED HAMRICK, manager, Music Hall, Seattle."r LOREN KINNEY, manager, Music Box, Seattle. LOU MATEZLAAR, booker, Hamrick-Evergreen Theaters, Portland. LEO BERKOWITZ, assistant manager, Broadway Theater, Portland. WILLIAM HOYT, engineer, Paramount Theater, New Haven. DR. A. H. ROSENTHAL, director of research and development, Scophony Corp. of America. TED MENDENHALL, United Artists salesman, Omaha. CARL REIS, United Artists salesman, Omaha. FRANK THOMAS, Paramount salesman, Kansas City. LINN MARTIN, Moines. HARRY FENSTER, head, 20th-Fox contract de- partment. JOSEPH M. HOUSTON, Warner checking super- visor, Cleveland and Detroit. ALBERT A. CORRELL, field supervisor, Warners, Los Angeles and San Francisco. salesman, Paramount, Des Delay in Transferring Crescent Suit Records? (Continued from Page 1) cree in the suit, it now appears doub ful that transfer will be compleh by that date. Judge Davies, now holding a court session in Nashville, has given no intimation of whether he would act on pending motions by the defen- dant to amend his findings of fact and to modify the divestiture provis- ion of his proposed decree or allow the whole thing to be considered by the Supreme Court. Since the de- fendant's recently filed motion for dismissal of the Government's ap- peal motion was based on the fact that these motions are pending, such a basis would be nullified by the District Court's action on all mo- tions and petitions. However, there is reason to believe that defendant counsel would prefer to have Judge Davies act at once on motions and petitions. It is doubted locally that, in any case, the Supreme Court will act on the Crescent matter in time for its decision to be available for the use! of D of J attorneys in further action on the consent decree, set for Nov. 20. First JVB Canadian Man Killed in Action Toronto — The first death among former Warner employes, now in the Canadian armed forces, is that of Lance-Corporal Aaron Sabblut, who was reported, as of Aug. 8th, "killed in action in the Sicilian cam- paign." Sabblut, employed for several years in the Winnipeg branch as revisor and shipper, left to join the Cana- dian Army on May 30, 1942. i 00PW» ^vm. I PHANTOM r°HFe OPERA 1 \\\\n\\ ■^Txmmnr^^ wn«»»v^. nri « PHANTOM T% OPERA THESE PREMIERES ON AUGUST 19th HERALDED BY BIGGEST CAMPAIGN EVER SEEN IN THESE TWO CITIES! .,.•.-.•.-.-.-.-.■.-.•. o < 2 ?M DAILY Tuesday, August 17, 1943 Status of Bookers Still Undetermined (Continued from Page 1) their dependency status. Theater managers are not included on the non-deferable list. The list includes the classification "booking agents," for which no inter- pretation was obtainable over the week-end. The WMC information chief, however, finally defined a book- ing agent as "a booker — makes en- gagements for theatrical companies, performers and other show persons, or for the exhibiting of motion pic- tures." He admitted, however, that final determination is a matter for local draft boards, and that distribution and showing of motion pictures was not held to be non-essential. It is possible that the use of the word "agents," with its connotation of making one's living from commis- sions, may provide the necessary "out" for bookers. "Perhaps," said the WMC chief, "they should be con- sidered as clerks." 9th Chi. Week for Hope Pic Chicago — RKO Grand Theater is holding Bob Hope's "They Got Me Covered" for ninth Loop week break- ing the house record. TO THE COLORS! * PROMOTED * CAPT. WILLIAM HELPERIN, USMC, to major. HARRY SCHIFFERIN, USA, former Warner sales- man, to sergeant. * ARMY * H. MERRICK LYON, manager, Palace, South Nor- walk, Conn. S. McSWAIN, manager, Arbor Theater, Nebraska City, Neb. DAN REDDEN, manager, Paramount Theater, Seattle. CHILTON ROBINETTE, 20th-Fox salesman, Port- land. J. B. TOMLINSON, Universal salesman, Char- lotte. * NAVY* ROBERT KAPLAN, Howard Theater, Chicago. * WAVES * ELLEN CASTLEMAN, assistant cashier, Colum- bia, Seattle. Audience Previews for Universale "Fired Wife' Universale "Fired Wife," initial 1943-44 release is being audience previewed in all exchange centers. First reports from Atlanta, Omaha and Albany, indicate an exceptional- ly fine reaction, the home office said yesterday. Picture will be pre- viewed tonight at the Criterion here and at the Riverside, Milwaukee. Fram Killed on Coast As Army Plane Crashes Chicago — Martin Fram, former 1^^ chief of staff at Warner's Ava- Pg^lon, is reported killed in a Cali- l^'fornia Army plane crash. He held the Purple Heart award for service on the African front. A UNIVERSAL PICTURE Visions Intemat'l Institute Of Visual Education West Coast Bureau of THE FILM \DAILY Hollywood — Establishment of an international institute of visual edu- cation for the dissemination of the arts, culture and sciences of friendly nations of the world through motion pictures, is envisaged by Col. Val- dimir S. Hurban, Czechoslovakian ambassador to the United States, who with a distinguished group of Czechoslovaks was entertained at the Walt Disney studio. Disney's guests saw a program of educational pictures being produced for the Office of Co-ordinator of In- ter-American Affairs and for the Army and Navy, and also viewed a showing of Major Alexander P. de Serversky's "Victory Through Air Power." "This program you have inaugur- ated is indicative of what can be done to bring enlightenment to all peoples," declared Colonel Hurban. Form Junior Safety Club To Curb Juve Delinquency Nashville, Tenn. — Sporadic out- bursts of minor vandalism and ju- venile disturbances involving the- aters continue in the state with ef- forts everywhere being made to curb juvenile delinquency. Kingsport has organized a "Junior Safety Club" for boys 10 to 17 years of age, with Charles L. Lineback, city director of public safety, in charge, and pro- posing a program of sports and re- ceptions that may take trouble-mak- ing boys off the streets. Longer Runs in Sydney Cut Feature Releases Sydney — Features released in Syd- ney in 1942-43 totaled 343, 17 less than 1941-42 and 101 less than in 1940-41. Drop in releases is due to the longer runs generally enjoyed by pictures in this show window city of Australia. British Empire Films, Monogram and Republic top the list with 55 films off the shelf. Other companies releases include: Universal, 53; M-G-M, 44; RKO, 31; Columbia, 51; Paramount, 41; 20th- Fox, 28; United Artists, 20; GBD, 10 and Warner Bros., 9. Durkee Sells to Carpenter Portland, Ore. — H. A. Carpenter has purchased the Springfield The- ater from H. C. Durkee. Exhibs. in Three Major Decree Kicks (Continued from Page 1) ceived at the field offices, and he ad- mits to being somewhat baffled. J "Many exhibitors obviouslypn want the consent decree scrap- r ped," said Clark. "Most of them don't mention divorcement, either. You try to figure it out. Looks to me like they'd like to go back to the good old days, with everybody for himself." That Clark, however, would sanc- tion dropping of the suit and the decrees is, to say the least extremely improbable. The anti-trust chief is convinced from the letters he is receiving from individuals and the numerous com- munications from exhibitor associa- tions throughout the country that present distribution practices prob- ably could stand some changes. Discussions with distributors and producers will probably gei under way late this month or early in Sep- tember, with a trip to the Coast to talk with production heads definite- ly planned by Clark. He will have with him a full docket and evaluation of exhibitor complaints and sugges- tions to review with production and distributon leaders, he will hear their suggestions, their complaints, their justifications both for current practices and for continued theater operation. General feeling here is that Clark will find the majors extremely co- operative. Anxious to avoid a stiff court battle and resultant publicity, they see behind Clark also the threat of the Kilgore Bill — a rewrite of the old Neely divorcement bill— which is now before the Senate Ju- diciary Committee. Clark insists that he is not employing this bill as a club, but both he and the ma- jors are aware of its existence. Another factor is the possible ef- fect of organized exhibitor pressure on congressmen, particularly at this time. Thus Clark appears to be in the saddle, and probably able to accom- plish a very complete renovation of the decree. Anxious to avoid a congressional vote or a court battle, there is a feeling in some quarters here that the majors may find them- selves yielding to the point that in- dependent exhibitors will be better off than they would be simply from successful prosecution of the anti- trust suit. Japs Said Holding Donald of Eastman Rochester— Charles Donald, for- merly, manager of Kodak Ltd. in Singapore, believed to have lost his life when his ship was sunk near Singapore more than a year ago, is reported to be alive, a prisoner in a Japanese camp. Tuesday, August 17, 1943 CHVeyunr WB Screen Testing To Resume in East {Continued from Page 1) liminary screen testing here on Sept. 8, it was learned yesterday. ,In establishing the new talent ^reau here early in the year, a 'Cfaicy was adopted whereby no new players would be sent to the Coast unless they could be put to work in pictures immediately or at least within a few months. This has been found much more satisfactory than the practice of signing talent re- gardless of prospects for putting it to work. Thus the seven new leading men are already at work at Burbank They include: Warner Anderson and Tom Tully, both recruited from radio; Robert Shayne, William Prince, John Dall and Z a c h a r y Scott, from Broadway legitimate shows, and Bob Hutton, whose only experience was in summer stock. Prince played the lead in "Eve of St. Mark," Dally, who replaced him in that show, was signed by War- ners shortly thereafter. An eighth newcomer, Bob Alda, was selected by Jesse L. Lasky for the George Gershwin role in "Rhapsody in Blue." Of the likely feminine candidates, Marie Lund, stage actress, goes to the Coast this week. Another, Angela Green, from the musical "Early to Bed" and voted the pret- tiest showgirl in New York, leaves for the studio within the next 10 days. Warners also have established a coaching school in the East to develop newcomers. Promising young players for whom the studio has no immediate film roles, but who possess talents that are expected to be needed in the near future, and given pre- liminary coaching in poise, camera presence and other studio requirements before they are sent to Burbank. Jurow's assistant in talent-hunting is Mar- jorie Morrow, former talent expert for CBS and for many years a leading casting director in the radio field. William F. Miller Dead Miami, Fla. — William F. Miller, 78, associated with Miami's first motion picture operation, died at his home. He will be interred beside I his wife, who died in 1926 and, ac- cording to her wish, was encased in a block of solid cement, 8 by 12 feet. 5 Miller will be buried in an ordinary " casket, within the shadow of the big concrete block. STORKS A son was born to Sam Shain, head of Trade Relations Dept. of 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, Sunday morning at the Le Roy Sani- tarium, Manhattan. Mrs. Shain and the new arrival are doing well. Chicago — A daughter has been born to M. Mandy, manager of B & K Howard Theater. Newcomer has been named Judith Mary. Chicago— Mrs. Betty Coston Ling, daughter of James Coston, Warner zone manager, is the mother of a boy, born to her in Los Angeles. « REVIEWS » "The Phantom of the Opera" with Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, Claude Rains Universal 92 Mins. REMAKE OF HAIR-RAISER IS ACES IN EVERY DEPARTMENT; HAS THE MAK- INGS OF STRONG BOX OFFICE CON- TENDER. Universale remake of "The Phantom of the Opera" exerts the same potent box office lure as did the first film version of the Gaston Leroux hair-raiser in 1925. Dressed in superb Technicolor, the produc- tion is a mine of entertainment which should gain an enthusiastic response from audiences everywhere to the enrichment of the show- man. The studio will be more than well repaid for calling upon the phantom of the Paris Opera for an encore. By toning down the gruesome details and playing up what light moments the subject affords Universal has widened the film's appeal to women and those who are not out-and-out shocker fans. The studio also has been wise in building up the musical aspects of the story and cutting down the phantom role. The box office potentialties of the film have been ad- ditionally enhanced by refraining from mak- ing the phantom, as played by Claude Rains, the hideous and repellent creature that Lon Chaney made him in the original version of the story. Rains does excellently as the opera vio- linist who is secretly in love with a member of the same company (Susanna Foster) and who, after his features are marred by acid, launches a wave of terror in his ef- forts to help the girl's career. His end comes when the cavern beneath the opera house to which he takes the young singer by force collapses. Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster play the lovers who never seem to be able to get together, thanks no little to the competi- tion offered by Edgar Barrier a police of- ficer. They take care of the film's singing burden perfectly. Other players of merit include Jane Far- rar, Frank Puglia, Steven Geray, Fritz Feld, J. Edward Bromberg, Fritz Leiber. George Waggner has done a fine job as producer, as have Eric Taylor and Samuel Hoffenstein as the screen playwrights. The direction of Arthur Lubin is aces. The camera work of Hal Mohr and Duke Green rates raves. Much of the credit for the handsome interiors goes to Art Director, John Goodman. Edward Ward's musical di- rection deserves a bow. CAST: Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, Claude Rains, Edgar Barrier, Jane Farrar, Barbara Everest, Steven Geray, Frank Puglia, Leo Carrillo, Hans Herbert, Fritz Feld, J. Edward Bromberg, Hume Cronyn, Gladys Blake, Elvira Curci, Rosina Galli, Fritz Le:ber. CREDITS: Producer, George Waggner; Director, Arthur Lubin; Screenplay, Eric Taylor, Samuel Hoffenstein; Adaptation, John Jacoby; Based on story by Gaston Leroux; Musical Director, Edward Ward; Cameraman, Hal Mohr; Technicolor Cam- eraman, Duke Green; Art Director, John Goodman. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Train Camera Loaders as Assistant Cameramen West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — RKO Radio is recruit- ing camera loaders to be trained as assistant cameramen by the studio and the International Photographers, Local 659 in an effort to break the shortage of cameramen and assis- tants. William Eglinton, studio's camera department head, estimates that almost 50 per cent of studio cameramen and assistants have been inducted into the armed forces. Hoyts Deadlock Brings New Warner Australian Outlets Sydney — Warners pictures, blocked out of Sydney because of a dead- lock with Hoyts Theaters, Ltd., are again being shown here under a deal closed with the new operators of the Tatler Theater, just off the theater loop. Operators have renovated to wartime restricted expenditure lim- its and have signed up for some of thii Warner's backlog of up to 60 un- released films. Company has made arrangements for first-run outlets in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne but has not found a Brisbane house. Mandel Committee to Meet Public Relations Committee of the WAC, headed by Harry Mandel, will meet tomorrow to discuss publicity, advertising and promotion for the Third War Loan drive. GWTW Total Gross Now is $31,000,000 {Continued from Page 1) London, GWTW is in its fourth year of continuous exhibition. According to M-G-M statistics, the first roadshow engagement played to 25,362,700 persons. The second release, starting Jan. 19, 1940, played to 24,065,279 patrons and the third release, Feb. 1, 1942, was seen by 10,500,000 persons. M-G-M plans to withdraw the film the last of August and keep it off the market for another year. Film Classics European Distribution Via Wilson {Continued from Page 1) with Film Classics' lineup of 70 re- issues of past successes. It is ex- pected that Sweden and Spain will be among the first countries, outside of England, to get the product. Deals are now pending for the distribution of Film Classics releases in Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Co- lombia, according to George Hirli- man, president. Hirliman said it was the intent of the company to set up a national organization with well known dis- tribution men at the helm of each exchange. An 'What is known in the trade as a 'natural' 5" — says Howard Barnes, N. Y. herald -Tribune Open Letter 20th Century Fox ha a picture which ring, a bell!" — says Bosh Crowther, N. Y. Times % If* HHMBHO FOR MY KINGDOM FOR A COOK" IS IN COLUMBIA HIT COMEDY TRADITION Laugh Show Stars Charles 'Dingle' Coburn; To Be Released On August 31 The announcement by Columbia that on Aug. 31 it will release "My King- dom For A Cook", a picture it believes will rank high up among Columbia's greatest comedies, brings to mind this studio's remarkable record as a pro- ducer of works in a light vein. There are studios distinguished for their treatment of headline dramas, others renowned for their musicals, still others for their screen romances. While Columbia has produced suc- cessful attractions in all these fields, it is more often referred to as "the studio of great comedies" than in any other way. And there is good reason for this appella- tion. The industry well remembers the story of "It Happened One Night". How it boosted to great new heights the fortunes of Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. How it started the romantic comedy cycle. And no one in the industry can fail to re- call the remarkable success achieved by "The Awful Truth'',*which set in full swing the "wacky" comedy cycle. It is interesting that within this comedy field, Columbia has been able to produce out- standing pictures as different from each other as "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" and "My Sister Eileen"; "You Can't Take It With You" and "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town"; "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" and "The More The Merrier". Which brings us to "My Kingdom For A Cook". This one stars Charles Coburn, who has every right, on the basis of his achievement in "The More The Merrier", to call himself Charles "Dingle" Coburn. Everyone who has seen "Merrier" knows what a whale of an acting job Coburn turned in as "Dingle", the elderly Cupid, Columbia officials point out! The studio at once elevated him to star- dom, and "My Kingdom For A Cook" is his first starring vehicle. In "Kingdom", Coburn has an even bigger chance to strut his inimitable stuff, it is said. He is cast as Rudyard Morley, world- famous British author, who decides to go to America to do his bit to further international amity and United Nations unity. But bit or no bit, the biggest thing in Mor- ley's life is his stomach. Even his lovely daughter Pam (Marguerite Chapman), runs it a bad second in his thoughts. His adventures in a small American town, where he makes his presence thoroughly felt, and ends up by stealing his hostess' cook, even though Pam has fallen for his hostess' son (Bill Carter), make for some of the most farcical farce in years, Columbians say. Richard Wallace directed "Kingdom". Pro- ducer is P. J. Wolf son. The screen play is by Harold Goldman & Andrew Solt; Joseph Hoffman & Jack Henley. (Advertisement) FILE COPY DO NOT H&MQV& Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAILY |RftL. 84. NO. 34 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1943 TEN CENTS DECREEJUESTIONNAIRE GOING T0J2XHIBS. All In Film Business To Buy Extra War Bonds Schaefer Heads Rangers To Handle Trade Sales; Company Heads to Meet Sale of at least one extra War Bond to every one of the estimated 200,000 employes of the U. S. film industry "will be the trade's way of firing the opening gun in the Third War ***; dfij& Loan cam- paign it was anno unced today by L. C. Griffith, general chairman of the campaign for the WAC. Bond sales within the in- dustry dur- ing the cam- paign period, Sept. 9-Oct. 2, will be reported sep- (Contimted on Page 6) Warners Switch Co. Holdings to Common Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Acquisition of 11,- 600 shares of Warners $5 par com- mon and dropping of 60,856 shares of $3.85 cumulative preferred by the three Warner brothers during June was revealed by the SEC today. Al- bert and Jack Warner bought 5,000 and 6,600 shares of the common re- (Continued on Page 6) L. C. GRIFFITH N. Y. CENSORS REJECT ONLY TWO Nine-Month Report Discloses 348 Eliminations Made in 41 Films on Statutory Grounds Albany — Report of the Motion Picture Divison of the State Educa- tion Department, covering only nine months due to the change in the State's fiscal year, reveals that 1,152 motion pictures, including 429 fea- tures, were reviewed and of these only two were rejected in the per- iod from July 1, 1942 to March 31, 1943. Eliminations were made in 41 films on statutory grounds. Receipts for the Division, accord- ing to its director, Dr. Irwin Es- mond, totaled $226,995.50; expenses were $51,582.46 leaving net revenue to the State of $175,413.04. The average income and net revenue to {Continued on Page 8) Rush Pix to Troops Mopping Up in Sicily Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — American pix reach- ed our Sicilian campaigners over the week-end, according to a cable re- ceived by the Army's Special Ser- vice Division. There was no word as to just what films got in, but showings got under way at once for {Continued on Page 6) 20th-Fox Resumes Co-op with NBC West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Following a confer- ence with Sidney Strotz, vice- president of the Western division of NBC, 20th Century-Fox studios has resumed radio co-operation with NBC networks. It was stated how- ever, that co-operation will be with- held from the Blue Network until retractions have been made for al- leged libelous broadcasts about one of its stars. Chase Bank Sells All GPEC Holdings Chase National Bank has disposed of its entire block of 63,300 shares of capital stock, no par value in General Precision Equipment Corp., according to SEC report for June, released for publication today. During the same month, Chase {Continued on Page 8) WB Home Office Execs. Off to Montreal Meet Ben Kalmenson, Warners' general sales manager who returned this morning from a trip to Atlanta, Jack- sonville, New Orleans and Memphis, will head the home office sales de- partment delegation leaving tonight {Continued on Page 2) Discuss Distribution Of Newsreel Bulletins PCC to Present Replies On Effects in Operation Of Theaters to Clark Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — H. M. Richey, assis- tant to M-G-M Sales Chief Willam F. Rodgers, met here yesterday with local newsreel managers to discuss with them the WAC plan for distri- bution of the 26 250-feet newsreel {Continued on Page 8) $1,000,000 Gross For 'Army' Warners Claims 'Take' Is Record For A Week Spread of Polio Termed Worst Since That in '40 Chicago — Infantile paralysis has reached "almost epidemic propor- tions" in parts of the country and this may be the worst year since 1940 for the disease, the Journal of the American Medical Association states. Journal pointed out that Califor- (Contmued on Page 8) Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" will gross over $1,000,000 in its first 107 openings up to Friday of this week, Warners reported yes- terday and will set at least two film grossing records. Company notes that except for the Broadway run, which began three weeks ago, the $1,000,000 gross will have been achieved within a single week, believed to be the highest take for a motion picture (Continued on Page 3) By RALPH WILK West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — PCCITO an- nounced that in accordance with its meeting with Tom C. Clark, Assistant U. S. Attorney General, it is sending to all independent ex- hibitors from Alaska to the Mexican border, a questionnaire created for the purpose of furnishing exhibi- tor complaints on the New York con- sent decree, which expires Nov. 20, 1943. Clark requested every exhibitor {Continued on Page 3) Goldberg Trust Suit Now Anuses Majors Omaha — The eight major distrib- utors have been added to the list of defendants in the $850,000 anti- trust action filed here last Febru- ary by R. D. Goldberg Theaters, Inc., operators of the Town and a number of other theaters in Omaha. In the original action, only Tri- States Theater Corp. and several of {Continued on Page 8) Coe Tentatively Set for Buffalo, Toronto Talks Tentative dates have been set for the next addresses by Charles Fran- cis Coe, vice-president and general counsel of the MPPDA on industry {Continued on Page 6) Theater Ads Survive Milwaukee Space Cut Milwaukee — As a result of the tight news print situation, the Journal is reducing its Saturday issue to eight pages, to be dubbed the Vic- tory edition. While all display ad copy is being dropped and the clas- sified departments is being restricted to 17 columns, a limited amount of theater and church advertising will be carried. Bfe Wednesday, August 18, 1943 Vol. 84, No. 34 Wed., Aug. 18, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU Ceneral Manager CHESTER B. BAHN : : : : : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1S01 Broadway, New York 18, N. ?., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. WB Home Office Execs. Off to Montreal Meet Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Tuesday August 17) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2l/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2% 23^ 23,4 Con. Fm Ind. pfd East. Kodak 161 161 161 + l/2 do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq 203/8 20'A 20y4 Loew's, Inc 60 60 60 + i/8 Paramount 26V4 26 26 RKO 83/8 83/8 83^ RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox. ... 21 3/8 21 21 1/4 + i/4 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31 '/4 31 31 1/4+ l/8 Warner Bros 13'/8 13 13'/8 -f- '/8 do pfd 895/8 895/8 895/8 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. ... 3 3 3 + Vs Radio-Keith cvs 1% 1% ]3/s — i/8 Sonotone Corp 35/8 3% 3% — i/8 Technicolor 13'/2 13'/8 13% Trans-Lux 2% 2% 2% Universal Pictures Universal Picts. vtc. . . 18 18 18 — V* N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER STOCK MARKET Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 803/8 82% (Continued from Page 1) for Montreal, where he will conduct the company's two-day Canadian sales meeting in the Mount Royal Hotel starting tomorrow. Mort Blumenstock, in charge of advertising and publicity in the East, also is expected to fly to Mon- treal tonight or tomorrow. Arthur Sachson assistant general sales manager; Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager, and A. W. Schwalberg, supervisor of ex- changes, are the other home office executives attending the sessions. Canadian delegation, headed by Wolfe Cohen, district sales manager, will include the following branch managers: Samuel Pearlman, Cal- gary; I. Coval, Montreal; L. Mc- Kenzie, St. John; Joseph Plottel, Toronto; Earl H. Dalgleish, Vancou- ver, and Greydon A. Matthews. All salesmen, and Glen Ireton, field rep., also will attend. Syracuse Theater Riot Brings Fines for 12 Syracuse N. Y. — Fines of $5 each and suspended sentences of 30 days were levied in Police Court against 12 West End youths for their parts in a riot at Loew's State. Average age of the boys was 17 and a num- ber under 16 were turned over to Children's Court. Trouble started when one boy was caught slipping in a side door of the theater and arrested. Later in the day, his companions ganged up and attacked a part-time usher on his way home and then decided to raid the theater proper where they beat up a student assistant manager and two other ushers. More than a score were arrested on the complaint of Ruth Bolton, Syracuse's first femme assistant manager, who signed information for the warrants. Manager Vaughn O'Neill was away on vacation. 20th-Fox Loans Ted Lloyd To Treasury for Bond Drive Ted Lloyd, in charge of the 20th- Fox radio department, has been loaned to the Treasury Department to represent it in Hollywood during the Third War Loan Drive. He will report in Hollywood on Aug. 21. Lloyd will act as liaison officer be- tween the Treasury and the WAC. His work in Hollywood will be under the joint direction of Vincent F. Callahan, director of advertising, press and radio for the War Finance Division of the Treasury Depart- ment and Carlton Duff us, associate field director in charge of motion pic- tures and special activities for the department. Connors Heads Returning 20th-Fox Executives Hazel Bruce New Frisco Critic San Francisco — Hazel Bruce has succeeded Dwight Whitney as film and drama critic of the Chronicle. Whitney resigned to go with Time Magazine in Hollywood. Miss Bruce will be assisted by Marie Jepson. FOR SALE OR LEASE Neighborhood Movie House Located in New York City Seating 600 Reasonable price or rental HARRY G. SOMMERS 208 W. 41 St. Phone PEn. 6-8220 Johnny Jones Acquires Film Classics for Chi. Led by Tom Connors, distribution chief, the 20th-Fox home-office con- tingent returned to New York today from Los Angeles, where the last of three company regional meetings was held. In the party with Connors were W. C. Gehring, L. J. Schlaifer, A. W. Smith, Jr., Hal Home, W. J. Clark, Martin Moskowitz, J. Sichelman, E. H. Collins, Roger Ferri, George Rob- erts, Paul Terry and Harvey Day. W. J. Kupper, general sales man- ager, is returning to the Coast for exchange conferences there follow- ing his visit to Omaha for the "Claudia" premiere tomorrow. Name Loew, Paramount In Tennessee Complaint Johnny Jones, of the Jones, Linick & Schaefer circuit of Chicago, has acquired the Film Classics program for the Chicago territory and is entering into an extensive distribu- tion arrangement with Film Clas- sics whereby he will open exchanges in Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and St. Louis. The new exchanges will distribute Film Classics product exclusively, according to George Hirliman, pres- ident. The lineup includes 24 20th Century-Fox Gaumont British re- issues and seven David O. Selznick- John Hay Whitney productions. Jones, in addition to his theater and exchange activities, is chief barker of the Chicago Variety Club. Frances Fink Joins PRC Frances Fink, former newspaper woman and magazine writer has joined PRC as assistant to Sam Kestenbaum, director of advertising and publicity. Naming Loew's and Paramount as defendants, the Palace Theater, Gallatin, Tenn. has filed a demand for arbitration in the Atlanta trib- unal. Complainant charges that for 18 years the Palace was a satisfac- tory customer of the two companies, but that with the 1942-43 schedule they sold their product away from the complainant, allowing it only seven pictures from each company. The Palace seeks more product and a designated run under Sections VI and X of the consent decree. "Three's A Family" Pix Rights Go to Sol Lesser Sol Lesser has bought the screen rights to "Three's a Family," cur- rent stage attraction, at a reported price of $50,000. COMinG and GOMG u to COL. JOHN HAY WHITNEY has arrived in the United States from England. RUD LOHRENZ, UA district manager, is due here today from Chicago for home office con- L ferences. COL. H. A. COLE returns to Dallas today. "SCOOP" CONLON, personal representative**^ jv- Mark Sandrich, is in town. DAVE ROSE leaves for England late this week ' IRVINC SHIFFRON returned yesterday from; the Coast. RUTH SIMON, newly appointed secretary to hj Kirk Burbank of Hal Home's department at 20th " Fox, has returned from a vacation at Lake Placid , REX WILLIAMS, manager of the Loew's St fcf Louis theater, is in New York for home office i- confabs. JOSEPH H. COHN, film advertising director of>., Weiss and Celler, is on vacation at Lake Cham- l plain. IRVIN SHAPIRO, Ceneral manager of Film Classics, Inc., has left town on a national tour of the company's exchanges. MOE SILVER, Warners' Pittsburgh zone mana- :- ger, and HARRY FINESTEIN, buyer-booker therj dii for the circuit, are in New York. I. J. HOFFMAN, Warners' New Haven zone : manager, is due at the home office tomorrow. ft; LIEUT. FRANK LIEBERMAN, formerly of k Warners' field staff, is in New York on leave - from Camp Crowder, Mo. SAM VORZIMER, in charge of merchandising • tieups for Paramount pictures at the studio, j has arrived in New York on a combination va- cation and business trip. FRED JOYCE, UA publicity director in Chi- cago, is en route to the Coast for two weeks II of studio conferences. STEVE BROIDY, ED MOREY and HARRY THOMAS are in Washington, for a brief visit with Monogram manager Harry J. Brown. Product Shortage Hits Chicago Loop Oriental Chicago — Shortage of suitable product has forced the 4,000-seat Oriental Indie Loop theater to play Universal's "Mr. Big," after its original Loop run at the RKO Palace theater. The Recognized Standard Reference Book oi the Motion Picture Industry THE FILM YEAR BOOK Published by and given free with a year's subscription to THE FILM DAILY 1501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY 1 1 ; Vednesday, August 18, 1943 m DAILY )ecree Questionnaire ioing to All Exhibs. ■ (Continued from Page 1) o present in detail, factual evi- lence wherein the decree affects he operation of his theater. These ipestions will be answered by ex- ■Vjitors in time to be presented to Tmi at his conference with PCC ■epresentatives here early in Sep- ;ember. PCC is confident its questionnaires, jecause it treats with "sins of amission, as well as commission," af the decree, represents the most definite and concerted action taken by any exhibitor organization in the United States in its endeavor to correct the inadequacy of the decree. Under unfair trade practices (not treated as the consent decree), ex- hibitors are asked to state in what manner, if any, they have been af- fected by the "move-over" practice, distributors' arbitrary designation of play dates, excessive gross per- centage terms, clearance problems, distributors hoarding or delaying re- leases on completed pictures, es- tablishment of additional "first-runs" by affiliated circuits, practice of dis- t:ibutors licensing their features to affiliated circuits on a basis where- by they can double-bill two "A's" on one program, while independents are required to play them on an ar- bitrary percentage or high flat rental basis, which prevents them from us- ing them as duals. The exhibitors are also asked "in event distributors have unduly in- creased your rental within the past three years, to explain the_ basis upon which they sought to justify the increase and your reasons, if any, why these increases were not justified" and "in what manner, if any, have distributors sought to compel you to license any type of picture by intimations that your I American loyalty or patriotism would be questioned or publicized in event of your failure to do so." Mrs. Klinger Retiring Helen Jaffee Klinger, of the 20th Century-Fox Story Department is leaving the company this week to await a blessed event. Incidentally, Mrs. Klinger is no relation to her boss Henry Klinger, associate story editor of the company. McGrew F. Willis Vernon Cray Rurh Goldberg Robert Weitman Sid Weiss Stanley Braun The Personal Angle • • • THEY SAY THAT once you're in this business, it's tough to get out of it and you don't have to take our word for it Just read this excerpt from a letter written by Paul Radin, formerly with the Buchanan agency and various film companies, and now with the OWI in North Africa: "A woman's work is never done — and neither is an advertising man's I quit the business I travelled 4,000 miles through death-infested seas across burning deserts fought my way through bedbugs, mosquitoes and tons of corned beef hash— all for what? To help defeat Hitler? To make the world safe for democracy? No! After I get here I find myself work- ing for Laudy Lawrence in the Rim Section And the very first job Morris Helprin (also well known to the trade) and I had to do was to put on the North African premiere of 'In Which We Serve' The picture is playing to absolute capacity" Paul went on to say that movie business there is terrific and that "Wake Island" is a top priority picture and is being shoved into theaters as fast as they are re-opened. T ▼ T • • • ACCORDING TO BILL DOWNS, who holds down the Moscow spot on the popular short wave news program "The World Today," heard over CBS daily except Sunday, American films are the closest link that the American people have with the people of Russia Downs recently cabled that one of the best known women in Moscow today is a Lady Gamelton Downs inquired around and discovered that Lady Gamelton is really Lady Hamilton, the subject of the movie of the same name which had pust opened there and had taken the town by storm In fact, Lady Gamelton is the talk of the town Downs further reported that "100 Men and a Girl" has been playing in the Moscow suburban houses for the last two years and "The Three Musketeers" has been playing in the same Moscow theaters for more than six months T T T • • • CHATTER: If you want to know more about that fel- low Buddy De Sylva, you'll find a very enlightening article in the Aug. 13 issue of Collier's. ... • A swell job has been done in "face-lifting" M-G-M's publicity department on the third floor of the Loew building You'd never recognize the old homestead. ... • John Chapman officially replaces Burns Mantle as dramatic critic for the New York Daily News and Louis Sobel succeeds the late John Anderson as critic for the Journal-American. ...» Paramount got an effective spread of photos in the Aug. 13 issue of The Service Woman on "So Proudly We Hail". ...» Helen Colton, former Hollywood corres- pondent for the Newark Sunday Call, is doing a series of special articles for that sheet on former Jersey-ites who are now "names" in show busi- ness. ... • Tom Kennedy, an independent talent agent for the last 16 years, has joined F & M Stageshows, Inc., to handle bookings of Fanchon & Marco acts • B. P. Schulberg is reported teaming up with Marion Gering in the production of "Marianne," a stage musical which goes into rehearsal early in November T T T • • • MORE CHATTER Backers of the revival of "A Connecticut Yankee," in addition to Warner Bros., are Mrs. Adele R. Levy, Mrs. Marshall Field, Mrs. Richard Rodgers, Howard S. Cullman and Al Greenstone. ... • It was a swell party last night We mean that dinner sponsored by the New York alumni of Texas A & M College, the locale of Walter W anger's Universal picture "We've Never Been Licked" Dinner and screening were at the Waldorf Y Y Y • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! IN NEW POSTS HAROLD ROSENBAUM, PRC salesman, Phila- delphia. WILLIAM CIMBEL, PRC booker, Philadelphia. DON REED, booker, Paramount, Memphis. LILLARD M'GEE, dramatic editor, Commercial Appeal, Memphis. WILLIAM HILL, manager, three Field interests houses, Storm Lake, la. BOB JOHNS, bcoker, M-C-M, St. Louis. CHARLES COTTLE, manager, State Lake, Chi- cago. CHARLES NESBITT, manager, Roosevelt, Chi- cago. R. SCHMIDT, manager, Cine, Chicago. CEORCE ROSENTHAL, manager, Luna, Chicago. C. R. GREER, manager, Apollo, Chicago. JAMES ROSE, manager, Gateway, Chicago. SEYMOUR ODEMS, assistant manager, Howard, Chicago. TED RECLIN, manager, North Shore, Chicago. "Army" Will Gross $1,000,000 This Week {Continued from Page 1) in one week. Also said to be a record is the $500,000 two-day gross ' being realized from the 68 premieres last night and tonight. Following figures were cited: re- ceipts from 10 special advance price premieres held to date, including New York, $75,000; regular N. Y. run (three weeks), $150,000; nine out-of-town runs to date, $140,000; last night's special premieres in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco (each grossing approxi- mately $35,000), $105,000; pre- mieres in 94 other cities (24 last night, 41 tonight; 12, Thursday; 17, Friday) with practically every per- formance reported a sellout, $564,- 000; total, $1,034,000. 4 More Cities Playing "Army" Day-and-Date Four more cities, making a total of 15 to date, are playing "This is the Army" simultaneously in two or more houses. Additions include Charleston, W. Va., Bridgeport, Richmond and Astoria, Ore. Other situations showing the Warner Bros, soldied muscal on a day-and-date schedule include Los Angeles (six houses), Denver (three houses), and two houses each in Portsmouth, O., Milwaukee Portland, Ore., Columbus, Sacramento, Seattle, Long Beach and Ssn Diego. Bomber Crash Kills Eastman Kodak's Erb Rochester — Second Lieut. John W. Erb. formerly of Eastman Kodak, was killed with nine iBps other Army airmen when KSj their four-engined bomber crashed near Bowen Field, Boise, Ida., Monday. ran M rt"?**. 0' ***! ":"• fv# 98>*«S >N^ -fO> ~fk, loujok* sfanb ~tfu ivumoC -Hie \ ma m i^m^l w^udjb, '£tm^ur .-,,..,.,: *• ~ "^P^**^ „ Of ^ Y°«S Onei°B v "•— ' ,,etloses ana lauTey ^elng ¥re utica. »e -e wanageT of hfttoRTapfc of & t»t *e i8 ' i6 an actual P^tog ^ a t*et tw ^ove i6 hle theatre to see preroiexe oi ^^ Signed Sworn to before this J^dav it*** ^^ HI v> § « .■ . v.r»cted bY **—*■"—' Scree„Ploy^f RtOtWCK CWkfcUiT Wednesday, August 18, 1943 All in Film Biz To Buy Extra Bonds (Continued from Page 1) arately, not only in terms of dollar value, but also the number of Bonds sold, it was disclosed. This phase of the national cam- paign, which has as its goal the sale of $15,000,000,000 of War Bonds to 50,000,000 people or more in the income brackets under $5,000, is re- garded as so important that George J. Schaefer, WAC chairman, is act- ing as head of the "Rangers," a field organization which will handle Bond sales to everyone from ushers to producers and stars. Leading in- dustry personalities in New York, Hollywood and key cities will serve as '"Rangers," paralleling the "Commandos" of last September's War Bond Drive. The New York Executive Group for the Third War Loan drive in- cludes Barney Balaban, O. Henry Briggs, Steve Broidy Jules Brulatour, Jack Conn, Stanton Griffis, Will H. Hays, Hermann G. Place, Edward C. Raftery, N. Peter Rathvon, Her- man Robbins, Nicholas M. Schenck, Spyros Skouras, Herbert Yates and Adolph Zukor. Joseph H. Hazen is local chairman and Henry Ginsberg has been asked to act as chairman of the Hollywood division. Company Prexies to Meet Company presidents have been in- vited to attend a luncheon meeting at Toots Shor's on Friday. Expan- sion of the Executive Group is plan- ned, in view of the fact that the 15 billion national goal requires the industry to raise its own quota sights. New York sales managers will follow through to see that personnel in each exchange is successfully so- licited. Exhibitor reps, will serve as "Field Rangers" in all exchange areas. In setting up their organi- zations, they will include the newly appointed state theater Third War Loan chairmen as members of the "Ranger" staff. Schaefer pointed out that news- papers, radio, retailers, outdoor ad- vertising men and film biz are work- ing together in this campaign under the leadership of the Treasury's War Finance Committee. Each of the di- STORKS Mrs. Sidney G. Alexander, wife of the Columbia executive, gave birth to a 7 pound, 15 ounce girl Sunday, at the Jewish Hospital, Brooklyn. The baby, named Wendy Joy is the second daughter for the Alexanders. Philadelphia — Jack Flynn, War- ners' district manager, is a proud poppa — it's a gal. Murray L. Ashmann, division, man- ager for Interboro Long Island Cir- cuit, is the father of a daughter born yesterday to Mrs. Ashmann at Kew Gardens Hospital. WB Memphis Theater Ends Midnight Shows Memphis — Warners' theater has discontinued midnight shows, ac- cording to Mrs. Mary Hale manager. Attendance at midnight was said to not justify the damage which oc- curs at that time. House has just been redecorated and reseated. Other Loop theaters have as yet made no decision on discontinuance of mid- night shows. Rush Pix lo Troops Mopping Up in Sicily (Continued from Page 1) the Seventh Army and Air Forces groups in Sicily. British troops are believed to have added to the audi- ences. It is doubtful that any Hollywood product has yet reached Sicily for showing to the natives, although OWI holds pix to be an important factor in winning their good will. Transportation difficulties are ex- tremely great, with the military hard put to get enough war material to the island for their absolute needs. OWI is not yet operating in Sic- ily, but it is believed that features dubbed in Italian will be brought in when the agency is called to Sicily — probably quite soon now. visions is working for 100 per cent Bond sales to its personnel, so it is up to the industry in all its branches to equal the record of its teammates, he said. In order to do that, each exhibitor will be responsible for his own personnel. War Center Under Canvas Plays Role in Bond Drive The large tent back of the Roxy Theater will serve as an important show business factor in publicizing the Third War Loan drive. Major L. E. Thompson of RKO is serving ad chairman of the "War Center on Victory Square," the name given to the tent and its area, and is working with a large committee of specialists in the field. Shows will be held twice daily after the campaign starts and there will be a pre-campaign build- up starting with a grand opening on Aug. 25. The shows, at which top talent will perform, will be held, probably, from 12:30 to 2 and from 5 to 7 daily, with acts going on all the time and War Bonds and Stamps as admission price. What is said to be the largest photographic mural display from every branch of the armed forces will be used to illuminate the en- trance to the tent which seats ap- proximately 2,000 persons. This will be augmented by decorations drap- ing every store front and building on 50th St., between 6th and 7th Ave- nues. « REVIEWS* "Thank Your Lucky Stars" with all-star cast Warners 127 Mins. PRODIGAL DISPLAY OF STAR TALENT WILL WIN WEIGHTY GROSSES FOR THIS MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA. Here's a big-time tune show geared for bulging grosses. With such a prodigal display of star talent, it matters little that the material is on the whole commonplace and that the pattern is overly familiar. Audiences will be too busy with the movement of stars and highly-regarded featured players on and off the screen to worry about the faults. They'll come to see the stars and they won't be disappointed. Warners has scraped the bar- rel to please them. The Warner stars let down their hair in this sprawling musical extravaganza to the delight of the fans. It is a distinct surprise to find many of the company's big names trying their hand at entertain- ment chores with which they have never been associated by the public. For the first time audiences will hear such stars as Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, John Garfield and Ida Lupino raise their voices in song. The only professional song-bird is Dinah Shore. Most of the film's stars are in for very brief stints in the revue-like second half of the produc- tion. Eddie Cantor, Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan and Edward Everett Horton are the prin- cipal players in the running story. Cantor draws a barrage of laughs in a dual role in which he appears as himself and as a Holly- wool tourist guide. The guide has to pose as the real Cantor so that his pal (Morgan), a struggling singer, can appear in a charity show. How the real Cantor, who is in charge of the show, is gotten out of the way is extremely funny. Cantor will bowl the customers over with his work. The other players in the story sequences are equally as competent. The direction of David Butler is a bit slow in tempo until Cantor enters the pro- ceedings. Mark Hellinger has supplied good production values. The Norman Pana- ma-Melvin frank-James V. Kern screenplay, based on a story by Everett Freeman and Arthur Schwartz, is serviceable. The pho- tography of Arthur Edeson is a substantial contribution. Schwartz and Frank Loesser have composed an endless number of songs for the film. "Thank Your Lucky Stars" would have been still better entertainment had its footage been reduced. CAST. Eddie Cantor, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, John Garfield, Joan Leslie, Ida Lupino, Dennis Morgan, Ann Sheridan, Dinah Shore, Alexis Smith, Jack Carson, Alan Hale, George Tobias, Edward Everett Horton, S. Z. Sakall, Hattie McDaniel, Ruth Donnelly, Don Wil- son, Willie Best, Henry Armetta, Joyce Reynolds, Spike Jones and His City Slickers. CREDITS: Producer, Mark Hellinger; Di- rector, David Butler; Screenplay, Norman Panama, Melvin Frank, James V. Kern; Based on story by Everett Freeman, Arthur Schwartz; Cameraman, Arthur Edeson; Dance Director, Leroy Prinz; Film Editor, Irene Morra; Art Directors, Anton Grot, Leo E. Kuter; Sound, Francis J. Scheid, Warners Switch Co. Holdings to Common (Continued from Page 1) spectively, now holding 214,550 and 193,200 shares, with Harry Warner holding 144,060. None of the brothers now holds any of the preferred, according/-,,, the report, with Albert having T J posed of 22,280, Harry 19,395 and Jack 15,181 and Trusts A & B in which all three were indirect owners of preferred, having sold out their 3,500 and 500 shares respectively. The SEC also reported the drop- ping of another 23,300 shares of dollar par common in RKO by Rockefeller Center. RC held 366,- 700 shares at the end of the month, however. Corrections on the May reports for 20th-Fox revealed the sale of 40,000 shares of common no par value by William Goetz, who re- tained 4,588 shares, and disposal of 21,100 shares by Mrs. Goetz, who retained 1192. Goetz and his wife also dropped 13,500 and 6,500 shares of the preferred in May, retaining 323 and 410 respectively. A correction to the May report showed also the purchase of five shares of Loew's common by How- ard Dietz, who now holds 15 shares.; Loew's, during June, picked up 15 shares $25 par common in Loew's Boston Theaters, holding 119,706. Sale of 3,200 shares of dollar par* common in Monogram by Samuel Broidy, during May and June, was; revealed. Broidy retains 4,400 shares. \ Another 2500 shares of the same ; stock was dropped by W. Ray John-; ston, who retains 16,571. Purchase of 140 shares of com- mon (no par value) and nine shares of $2.75 cumulative preferred in Columbia Pictures by Charles Schwartz, New York, was also re- vealed. These are all of those stocks Schwartz holds. Coe Tentatively Set for Buffalo, Toronto Talks (Continued from Page 1) affairs. One may be held in Buf- falo on Sept. 28 and the other in Toronto on Sept. 29. Eastman's Switzer Missing Rochester — Tech. Sgt. Earl I. Switzer, formerly of Eastman Kodak Co., is reported missing in action over Germany. He was radio opera- tor on a Flying Fortress and has been missing since an operational sweep July 26. Todd Signs Joan Blondell Michael Todd has signed Joan Blondell for his forthcoming play, "The Naked Genius," to open at the Plymouth Sept. 30. Charles David Forrest; Set Decorator, Walter F. Tilford; Special Effects, H. F. Koene- kamp; Songs, Arthur Schwartz, Frank Loesser; Musical Director, Leo F. Forb- stein. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY Good. i &™Mi ..•BUT,HE/frj4'%^ DO BIG THINCj 4/ ^K% IT'S THE mtSt°^S^ MUSICAL CO^;- *«A^ MARY LEE m> DAILY Wednesday, August 18, 1943 ! Goldberg Trust Suit Now Anuses Majors (Continued from Page 1) its executives were named as de- fendants. The suit now charges that the downtown theaters and the distributing companies have formed a combination and conspiracy to monopolize all the motion picture theater business in Omaha. Com- plaint asks that the defendants be ousted from doing further buiness in Nebraska and charges that through a combination the Town, also a downtown house, has been kept from getting first-run product. It further alleges that the other the- ater companies have been able to dictate what pictures the Town may show and when it may show them. The list of defendants has been expanded to include the following: Tri-States Theater Corp., operators of the Orpheum, Omaha and Para- mount Theaters; A. H. Blank and G. R. Branton, Tri-States ex- ecutives; Joe Kinsky, district man- ager; William Miskell, manager of the Orpheum; Ted Emerson, man- ager of the Paramount; Omaha Sin- ger Corp., which operates the Bran- deis; Loew's, Paramount, RKO Ra- dio, Vitagraph, 20th Century- Fox, Universal, Columbia and United Artists. ©WI Cites Training Value of Pix But Says "Movie Habit" Must First be Eradicated Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The extremely great value of motion pictures as training aids in the building of our Army and Navy is pointed out in a study of military training methods released by OWI. It was pointed out, however, that fre- quently soldiers must get over "the movie habit" before training films have their maximum effect. Said the OWI: "In a majority of men, the movie habit must be overcome before training films can be effective as they should be. Men are used to going to films to be entertained, not to study. They are used to turning off their minds at will, as they turn off their radios. Not until they overcome this habit do they get the most of their visual training aids." Spread of Polio Termed Worst Since That in '40 (Continued from Page 1) nia, Texas, Oklahoma and Connecti- cut seem to be the most seriously affected states with most other parts ox the country reporting no more cases of polio than are usually prev- alent at this time of the year. Topeka, Kan. — Kansas Board of Health reports 196 cases of infan- tile paralysis so far this year against a total of 109 in 1942 and the state is faced with its worst outbreak in history. Board noted that 89 new cases and 12 deaths were reported last week. Discuss Distribution Of Newsreel Bulletins (Continued from Page 1) bulletins scheduled for the next year by OWI's Palmer Hoyt and "WAC of- ficials in Hollywood last month. The first subject will be on the Treas- ury war loan drive. Originally scheduled for tomorrow, it appears now that it will be released next week Thursday. Two meetings were held yesterday to discuss distribution of the bulle- tins, and a short meeting is sched- uled for this morning. Mrs. Tom Beatty Stricken Chicago — Mrs. Katherine Beatty, wife of Manager Thomas E. Beatty of Englewood and Linden Theaters, is dead from heart attack. New York Censors Reject Only 2 Pix (Continued from Page 1) the State for the period were lowei than for the previous year. Of the 348 eliminations in films which were licensed, 229 were for indecency, one was for inhuman^ ■ one was for tending to incited • crime, 102 were for immorality 01 tending to corrupt morals and 15 were on the grounds that they were sacrilegious. Nine dramas were affected, two comedies, three scenic pictures, 26 novelty and musical pictures and one miscellaneous picture. Number of scenes eliminated was 255, while the subtitles or dialogue eliminated totaled 93. Number of reels examined in the period totaled 4,453. The 429 clas- sified as feature pictures were five reels or more in length and the rest were shorts. 8 IK Chase National Bank Sees All GPEC Holdings (Continued from Page 1) National's holdng of $1.50 cumula- tive preferred in 20th-Fox was re- duced by a single share, to 665,715 the SEC disclosed. FROM COAST TO COAST «US e.ml.ta»«.» * m-ktag *»*.«<»» » *** MPW YORK— 10 weeks at the Little Carnegie, N. Y. NEW YOlfiv iv vu ^^ ^ my 23> m3) "This is the best business I have ever seen in this house. (From a Ross Federal Service .report or .the Current Showing at the Clay Theatre) SAN FRANCISCO— FOR KEY BOOKINGS. PALLAS FILMS, INC. Daniel Frankel, Vice-Pres. 1501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY Tel. BRyant 9-1565 T^ jcr 1 1 3 N DAN i. S"»717 hi U Z Y CI cl cl VN v. fo r K Mi. NO. 35 7M NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1943 TEN CENTS $3,843^249 NET FORJOTH CENTURY-FOX Only 27 of 179 Current N. Y. Films in War Class Editorial Star Ratings . . . and biz outlook = By CHESTER B. BAHN = THE star rating system of the New York Daily News, whose merits periodically lave been heatedly debated both in show md film biz, is making a 50 per cent exit rom the Patterson tab.'s amusement pages. John Chapman, who has succeeded to the critical mantle of the Burns of the same lame, formally announced yesterday that 'we are going to try to get along without my star ratings for the stage," but in the text breath — or paragraph, if you prefer, idded, "The Misses Cameron, Hale and Masters assure me that they will keep right >n bestowing stars on the movies, however." With the News amusement house di- vided, as 'twere, Br'r Chapman is at pains o explain that "going to a movie and going 0 a show are two different enterprises," he former being pretty much a "spur-of- he-moment affair" and hence "the stars ire a quick guide for a quick choice of )ictures." If you're interested in John's iremise — and thesis — you might read it in ML Without desiring to revive an old con- roversy — and at this stage of the argu- nent, surely there's little new left to be ;aid — your columnar commentator would ike to toss off the remark that he has yet o meet up with a fan who treasures a ioard of reviews (stage or screen) bearing tars or similar rating symbol as a guide to uture theater attendance. It's been well said that there's nothing io "dead" as yesterday's newspaper . . . and lobody knows that better than a gent who ised to write dramatic and cinema critiques. And, further, where a star rating system s applied evenly, without regard to the type if picture — as the critic is in honor bound o do — you have some more-than-occasional musing, yet irrating evaluations and com- >arisons. At any rate, a reviewer who can write imple English and that clearly, would eem to require no symbols to get his estimate across to his reader following, iymbols at best are a reviewer's crutch — •recisely that and nothing more. Ask the tapers across the country which have dis- :arded 'em. I F you've been uneasy o' late about the ' shape of things to come in the post-war vorld — and many in film bir have been {Continued on Page 2) Except for First-Runs, All Are On Double Bills In Greater N. Y. Houses Out of 179 features playing 115 Greater New York theaters, both Broadway first- runs and neighborhood houses, in the week ending today, only 27, or about 15 per cent, are war films, a Film Daily check- up shows. In addition to these 27, there are about half a dozen military musicals End comedies, including Irving Ber- lin's "This is the Army," "Stage Door Canteen," "The Fleet's In," "True to the Army" and a few (Continued on Page 4) Feminine Bookers Gain in Washington Washington Buieau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — With six women taking over bookers' jobs during the past year, Washington exchanges now number 12 femmes as full or assistant bookers, with 20 men still on the job. Bookers' jobs are ex- pected to go to several more wo- men within the next few months. Among the majors, Twentieth-Fox (Continued on Page 4) Heat, Drought and Polio Cutting Okla. Grosses Oklahoma City — Unprecedented beat, a looming drought and the infantile paralysis threat are having their effect on Oklahoma box-of- fices. Locally, the ban by Standard (Continued on Page 4) Polio Shutters Five Bremerton Theaters Bremerton, Wash. — All local pic theaters were closed yesterday in an effort to prevent the spread of infantile paralysis. City has five houses operated by B. F. Shearer and Evergreen State Amusements, a National Theaters unit. County authorities may take similar action to prevent an epidemic. Appeal Board Cuts Auburn Clearances Arbitration appeal board again has ruled that consecutive exhibi- tions (i»o'veovers) under the same management may usually be consid- ered as one continuous first-run for the purpose of establishing the clear- ances of the first-run theaters over the subsequent-run theaters. Opinion was handed down in modi- fying an award in the case filed by Reuben C. Canter, operating the (Continued on Page 5) Pittsfield, Mass., House Asks Clearance Relief The 10th demand for arbitration in the Boston tribunal this year has been filed by the Carlton Amusement Enterprises, Inc., operating the Cameo Theater, Pittsfield Mass., against the five consenting compa- nies. Complainant's theater plays third- (Continued on Page 8) Show Biz Backs War Center Resources Without Limit for Bond Campaign 26 Weeks' Profit Advances $1,652,355 Despite Jump Of $3,370,000 in Taxes Hal Wallis to Produce New Irving Berlin Film West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Hal B. Wallis, War- ners producer, leaves here next week foi New York to confer with Irving Berlin on a new musical, tentatively titled "Liberty Hall," which Wallis (Continued on Page 8) The tented War Center on Victory Square at the rear of the Roxy the- atei% which represents a "Govern- ment venture in show business," will draw upon the entertainment world's resources without limit to publicize the Third War Loan campaign which opens nationally on Sept. 9, it was promised by Maj. Leslie E. Thomp- (Continued oh Page 8) Despite an income tax burden of $4,620,000, an increase of $3,370,000 over last year, 20th-Fox was able to boost its net profit for the 26 weeks ended June 26, by $1,652,355 to a total of $3,843,249, it was re- vealed yesterday in the company's financial report for the first half of 1943. In the same period of 1942 the company realized a net profit of $2,190,894 after providing for Fed- eral income taxes of $1,250,000. Earnings for the first half of this year are equivalent to $1.81 per share on 1,742,000 shares of com- (Continued on Page 8) Find Exhibs. Extend Their Buying Range The heavy increase in the number of accounts reported this season by distributors is interpreted in trade circles here as evidence that the na- tion's exhibitors are solving their product problem by buying pictures from a larger number of sources than has been their practice in the past. The second-runs are seen answer- (Continued on Page 5) Harry Bugie Named Cincy Branch Manager for PRC Appointment of Harry Bugie as branch manager of PRC's Cincinnati exchange was announced yesterday by Arthur Greenblatt, vice-president and general sales manager. Bugie, formerly with Warner Bros., M-G-M and Republic, succeeds Nat Kaplan, (Continued on Page 5) 3,232,205 Saw V. S. Pix in Africa in June Gift programs of American movies on 16 mm. film, donated by the in- dustry for free showing to our men in uniform played to 3,232,205 in North Africa during June, according to a report released by Francis S. Harmon, WAC vice-chairman. -ffl DAILY 1 Thursday, August 19, 19'| Vol. 84, No. 35 Thurs., Aug. 19, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. AL1COATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Publisher General Manager Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1S01 Broadway, New York 18, N. f ., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New Yurl< $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months. $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253 LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS- P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Scbuck, Cas-llo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL \{Wednesday, August 18): High Am. Seat 16y2 Col. Picts. vtc. (2y2%) 153/4 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 15% E^st. Kodak 162 1 do pfd 1771/2 1 Gen Prec. Eq 20'A Loew's, Inc 60% Paramount 26% RKO 8y2 RKO $6 pfd 90 20th Century-Fox .. 21% 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31 V2 Warner Bros 13 'A do pfd 89% NEW YORK CURB Monogram Picts. ... 3 Radio-Keith cvs 1 Vi Technicolor 1 3 Vi Trans-Lux 2% Universal Picts. vtc. 17% N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57. Net Low Close Chg. I6I/2 I6I/2 153/4 153/4 — 1/4 15% 15% + Vs 62 162 + 1 77 1771/2 193/4 2oy4 601/4 601/4 + 14 26% 263/4 + 3/4 ^% 83/3 90 90 + % 21% 213/s + % 313/8 3IV2 + 1/4 13% 13% 895/8 89% MARKET 3 3 13/8 13/8 13% 13% — % 2% 2% 173/4 173/4 — % STOCK MARKET Bid Asked 803/8 82% Rogers Handling "Plenty" The British documentary picture "World of Plenty" has been set for limited distribution in the U. S. through Budd Rogers. The picture, which runs 45 minutes, will be shown first in Tenenews theaters and will open in Buffalo on Sept. 3. Special arrangements are also under way to show it in New York and other large cities. comma add GOinc RUD LOHRENZ, UA district manager, is here from Chicago. EDWARD ALPERSON, RKO Theaters executive, and BARRY BUCHANAN of the Treasury Dept., left for the Coast yesterday on Third War Loan activity. 1TO of Ohio President MARTIN SMITH is in town. EDWARD C. RAFTERY, president of United Artists, left for the Coast yesterday. JACK LEWIS, of the RKO publicity staff, will vacation at Block Island, R. I., starting Monday. FRANCIS S. HARMON, WAC executive vice- chairman; L. C. GRIFFITH, general chairman of the industry's Third War Loan drive; SI FABIAN, WAC theaters chairman, and RAY BEALL, publicity head of the drive, left for Hollywood yesterday to work on Coast plans for the campaign. GORDON S. WHITE, Southern representative of the Public Relations Committee, has returned from Dallas. BILLY GILBERT arrived from the Coast yes- terday. HAL WALLIS, Warners producer, is due in New York late next week from the Coast. IRVING YERGrN, Warner Bros, field rep. re- turned to New York yesterday from the South on special assignment by Mort Blumenstock for "This is the Army" openings. SUMER W. SINCER and JOHN CUNNINGHAM of Buchanan & Co., Inc. are leaving for the Coast tomorrow for a series of conferences with some of Buchanan & Company's motion picture clients. COL. FRANK CAPRA and CAPT. ANTHONY VEILLER are in London on U. S. Army film business. Star Ratings . . . and biz outlook (Continued from Page 1) cogitating on the business prospects in the years immediately following the cessation of hostilities, you'll be interested in what Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., of General Motors had to say the other day. Take it from Sloan, there will be a five- year industrial boom after the war, with a few months' "pause for adjustment" as a boom preliminary. As for wartime controls, Sloan believes they will be essential for six or 12 months after fighting halts while industry recon- verts to a normal basis. Goldberg's Anti-Trust Suit Is New Action Anti-trust suit filed by R. D. Gold- berg Theaters, Inc., of Omaha, nam- ing the eight major companies as defendants, is a new action and not the same as the one filed in Febru- ary when only Tri- States Theater Corp. was named as the defendant. It was indicated in The Film Daily yesterday that the suit filed on Aug. 14 merely added the major companies to the defendant list. Home office legal departments yes- terday received copies of the new action. The suit charges that the down- town theaters in Omaha and the dis- tributing companies have formed a combination to monopolize the mo- tion picture theater business in Omaha. It seeks to prevent the de- fendants from doing further busi- ness in Nebraska. Blake to Scout Talent for Columbia in East Carter Blake, newly named Colum- bia Eastern talent scout, leaves for the Coast Friday, with stopoffs planned in Philadelphia, Chicago and Frisco where he will eye the theaters and night clubs. Blake, former head of the MCA's Eastern film department, will be gone about a month. Warners Purchasing "Young Charm" Rights Screen rights of "Those Endear- ing Young Charms," by Edward Chodorov, are reported being pur- chased by Warners. The Max Gor- don play had a 60-day Broadway run this Summer. Sol Lesser has acquired film rights to "Three's a Family," for $50,000, it was confirmed yesterday by Paul Streger, representing the authors, Phoebe and Henry Ephron. Com- edy is current at the Longacre and the picture version will be released in September, 1944. "Duffy's Tavern" to be First of "Duffy" Series Following the dissolution of the Leo Spitz-Jack Skirball combination which was to have made "Duffy's Tavern," screen rights to the well known radio program have been ob- tained by Paramount which is re- ported to have out-bid six other companies for the property. Paramount's deal provides that the company shall make "Duffy's Tavern" and carries option rights for four more Duffy features during the next five years. Ed Gardner, the "Archie" of the air show, will appear in the production along with other members of the radio cast. Frank, Exhib.-Producer, Acquires 17th Theater West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — W. R. Frank who will produce "Dr. Paul Joseph Gobbles, His Life and Loves," has acquired the Roxy Theater, Owatonna, Minn., from Sidney Kinyin. House is the 17th in his Minnesota circuit. ACE MANPOWER for ANY JOB AVAILABLE NOW— CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y. Tel. MU. 2-6494 William Barker is Named Mono. Manager in Omah«:i Des Moines — Leo Blank, Mon year ago, he was replaced by an other man, who was called within s few months. Mrs. Sadie Boles i now a full booker, with only on man in the booth. Four men form the bookers' stai at M-G-M, with one woman as asj sistant. Mrs. Catherine Murphy be] came a full booker last year whej one of the men was drafted, but re! verted to her post as assistant book er when this man was sent back t civilian life after a short time i the Army. RKO has an all-male staff c three. Eight men do the bookinj for Columbia and Universal, when firgers are crossed while Margare Stant h?s come in to help UA bookei Elmer McKinley, after the loss o: two men to the Army within i very short time. Gertrude Epsteii is now assistant booker at PRC where David Rosenthal handled th< booking himself until recently. Women have been booking for Re public and Monogram for severa years now — Mrs. Sara Monfried wit! the former exchange since it cami here, and Gladys Murray following two female predecessors into thi Monogram booth last January. Local managers expect now to fil most of their vacancies from th< female ranks, although several d them say they find great difficult) in finding women capable for filling booking jobs who will stay witl them long enough for the necessarj training. The Government is at extremely powerful hiring compet^ tcr here. WEDDING BELLS West Coast Bureau of THE FILM y the Fascists while fighting on the loyal- st side. The audience is led to believe that i far more vital secret than a war-scarred ijanner is at the bottom of the black vil- rainy in the film. A further disappointment to the audience /vill be the nature of the romance between jarfield and Maureen O'Hara, who aids the Nazi ring seeking the banner because ihe can't help herself. Sympathy is created |For her. yet at end she's in the hand of the FBI. Garfield hasn't been so good in a picture in a long time. Miss O'Hara handles her role well. Walter Slezak is properly sin- ister as the head of the spy ring. Others important to the development of the story are Patricia Morison, Martha O'Driscoll, Bruce Edwards, John Banner, John Miljan ad Hugh Beaumont. i Robert Fellows produced the film from a screenplay by Warren Duff derived from the Dorothy B. Hughes novel. Richard Wallace has directed at much too deliberate a pace. Praise must be accorded the camera work of Nicholas Musuraca. CAST: John Garfield, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak, Patricia Morison, Martha O'Driscoll, Bruce Edwards, John Banner, John Miljan, Hugh Beaumont, Sam Gold- berg. CREDITS: Producer, Robert Fellows; .Director, Richard Wallace; Screenplay, Warren Duff; Based on novel by Dorothy B. Hughes; Cameraman, Nicholas Musuraca; Special Effects, Vernon L. Walker; Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinikoff ; Art Directors, Albert D'Agos- tino, Mark-Lee Kirk; Set Decorators, Dar- rell Silvera, Harley Miller; Sound, Bailey Fesler; Film Editor, Robert Wise. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Basil Out of Hospital Buffalo — Nicholas J. Basil, presi- dent of the Basil circuit has been ^released from a local hospital after a siege of summer grippe. Advance Children's Prices Chicago — Stratford, Capitol and Avalon Theaters of the Warner cir- cuit, have advanced children prices from 17 cents to 20 cents. "Black Sea Fighters" Artkino 60 Mins. LATEST SOVIET DOCUMENTARY IS POWERFUL FILM RECORD OF BATTLE OF SEVASTOPOL. Again the Russians demonstrate their mastery of the documentary film form in "Black Sea Fighters" described as the first official film of the Soviet Black Sea fleet in action. They have made an exciting record of the defense of Sevastopol — a defense in which the Soviet gave evidence for the first time of the might of its sea power, which up to then had received scant notice. The heroism which made possible the saving of the city from the Germans is conveyed graphically in power- packed scenes which spare no realistic de- tail. American audiences will be greatly im- pressed by the spirit of the Russians in carrying on their war against the Nazis — a spirit that refuses to be broken how- ever hard the going or however great the sacrifices. In the film the Soviet navy is shown using every means at its command to keep Sevastopol from falling into German hands. It asks no quarter and gives none. This makes for innumerable scenes of horror and brutality — scenes that stick in your mind in their vividness. The very subject of this film tends to limit its box office possibilities. Certain- ly the picture cannot hope for more than fair returns in this country despite all its fine points and the superb example of human courage that it offers. The con- stant violent action surely will limit femme patronage to the very minimum. The picture has the benefit of a com- mentary written by Clifford Odets and spoken by Fredric March. The association of these two names with the production may help at the box office. Central Newsreel Studios of Moscow produced the picture, which was shot by two groups of cameramen, one working with the fleet, the other stationed in Sevastopol. Trade Has Recommended No Successor to Mellett {Continued from Page 1) names were mentioned to him as possibilities for the job, but Allen made it plain that no decision is even close, implying that Palmer Hoyt, domestic chief, is awaiting a recommendation from the industry. None of the names thus far men- tioned is receiving any serious con- sideration at this time, Allen in- timated. Although there may be some slight dipping into the $5,000,000 conting- ency fund of the overseas branch for Robert Riskin's motion picture bureau, an OWI budget officer said yesterday it is not likely that the office will greatly exceed the sum allotted it by Congress — less than $900,000. There is no plan at pres- ent for additional allotment. * SHORTS * "Women of Britain" M-G-M 11 Mins. Good Americans who want concrete evi- dence of what the British women are doing for the war effort will get it in this British government war film. Britain's weaker sex shows it is haidly that in as fine a tribute to the women of the tight little isle as one could hope for. British womanhood is caught in action in an amazing list of activities — many of which one would never associate with women. The picture clearly proves that England's women are not shirking their duties in wartime. Americans will find great inspira- tion in this reel. "Hollywood in Uniform" (Screen Snapshots) Columbia 10 Mins. Good As its title indicates, the short deals with the Hollywood stars who have gone into service. The subject is one that is certain to raise the public esteem of Hollywood's acting colony. It presents such an array of names that it is definitely marked for lively attention on the part of the paying customers. Among those seen in uniform are James Stewart, Gene Autry, Tim Holt, Clark Gable, Gene Raymond, Ronald Reagan, Alan Ladd, John Carroll, George Mont- gomery, Desi Arnaz, Van Heflin, John Payne, John Howard, Eddie Albert, Wayne Morris, "Buddy" Rogers, Rudy Vallee, Glenn Ford and Tyrone Power. "The Last Hazard" RKO 20 Mins. Absorbing Mark this down as an excellent war short. Made for the British govern- ment by the RAF Film Unit, the two-reeler is a clear and simple recital of the work of the balloon ships which protect the channels to British ports. The hazards that attend the job are brought out ef- fectively. The film is a deserved tribute to the men of Britain upon whose vigilance and courage de- pends the safety of the nation's vital cargoes. A lot of thrilling stuff has been incorporated into the footage, in which there is not a single professional actor. "These Are the Men" "Community Sing" (No. 1— Series 8) Columbia 13 Mins. Good The latest of the series strikes a strong patriotic note. Most of the tunes featured have a rousing lilt to them. The numbers heard in- clude "If He Can Fight Like He Can Love," " 'Til We Meet Again," "Move It Over," "For Me and My Girl," "On a Wing and a Prayer." There is plenty of singable stuff in this one. "Kill Or Be Killed" UA 17 Mins. Suspenseful Suspense beyond the ordinary is contained in this British Ministry of Information short. The film tells the taut story of a British and a German sniper stalking each other. The British soldier kills the German and uses the body as a decoy to trap a Nazi searching party. The two protagonists speak their private thoughts as they go about the busi- ness of killing or being killed. The film is a gripping subject. Here's a miniature dramatic gem deservedly worth booking. "The Oil Filter Goes to War" U. S. Army-Emerson Yorke Studio 28 mins. Top-Flight Short Wherever our motorized military equipment rolls — whether on foreign soil or in our homeland — its blood- stream is lubrication, and that blood- stream must be kept healthy (clean). To impart instructively the operation of the oil filter, and its care, Pur-Ola- tor Products, Inc., of Newark, N. J., sponsored the fashioning of "The Oil Filter Goes to War". Pic im- partially utilizes the filters of all leading manufacturers. The training version is distributed by the Army and the commevcial ver- sion by the producer. This well- made and extremely enlightening short was directed by Sam A. Dat- lowe; photographed by Max Lasky and Irving Browning, narrated by Alois Havrilla; scripted by Paul L. Francois; with Albert Paganelli sup- plying the animation, and Arthur G. Pogmore serving as technical con- sultant. Capt. James H. Smith was production liaison. Scenes were filmed by Yorke Studio crews at Aberdeen Proving Grounds; Camp Holabird, Md.; and other restricted locations, utilizing Army personnel exclusively. "Dizzy Newsreel" Columbia 7>/2 Mins. Passable This cartoon is a burlesque on some of the favorite subjects of the newsreels. All the characters a~e animals. The short moves snap- pily and has quite a few laughs. Dave Fleischer produced the item, which has snatches of humor that will appeal to grown-ups. From Laffmovie to Victoria The theater at Broadway and 46th St. now known as the Laffmovie will reopen on Sept. 4 as the Victoria. The house will be operated by Mau- rice Maurer, operator of the Stan- ley Theater. The opening attrac- tion will be "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad," which Paramount is releasing by special arrangement with Artkino. En- gagement of the film will be fol- lowed by the first-run presentation of other Soviet product. _ — a ;M DAILY Friday, August 20, 1943 Second Star Caravan To Boost Bond Sales {Continued from Page 1) the whole idea of voluntary support of the war is a typically American effort, the campaign should make good use of "the most glamourous salesmen in America" — the famous stars of Hollywood. Current tour, opening with an ap- pearance in Washington the night of Sept. 8, one dav prior to the War Loan Campaign's opening, was ar- ranged at the request of the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Dept. by the Hollywood Victory Committee of the WAC. Many of the stars who made last year's tour will be in the new Caval- cade. Among those expected are Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Greer Garson, Hedy Lamarr, Joan Cr?w- ford, Cary Grant, Kay Kyser and his band, Dick Powell, Lucille Ball, Fred Astaire, Edward Arnold, Red Skel- ton, Dorothy Lamour, Walter Pid- geon and others. First Bond rally will be in Phila- delphia the next day and the 14 other cities on the itinerary, which was mapped out by the War Finance Committee are: Boston, Sept. 10; New York, 11; Pittsburgh, 12; De- troit, 13; Cleveland, 14; Cincin- nati, 15; Chicago, 16; Minneapolis, 17; St. Louis, 18; New Orleans, 19; Dallas, 20; San Francisco, 23, wind- ing: up in Los Angeles for a giant Bond rally on the 24th. L. C. Griffith, general chairman of the industry's Third War Loan cam- paign, and Kenneth Thomson, chair- man of the Hollywood Victory Com- mittee, have assured Secretary Mor- genthau that the Cavakfde of Stars will include the outstanding celebri- ties "even if it is necessary to close down a studio or two." To release the s+ars for service in the Third War Loan producers and stars have offered full co-operation. War Finance Committee in each city visited by the Cavalcade are ar- ranp-ing; for parades and giant mass meetings at which the stars will put on shows, admission to which will be Bond purchase only. FWTBT to Have War Bond Premiere in Washington With seats scaled from $10,000 to $25 in War Bonds, a War Bond pre- miere will launch the advanced-price, extended engagement of Paramount's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" at Loew's P^ace. Washington, on Sept. 15, Neil Agnew, Paramount general Freeport, Pa. Exhib. His Own Projectionist Freeport, Pa. — After losing five projectionists to Uncle Sam during the past two years, J. B. Wiseman, owner of the Ritz, in order to keep his theater operating, has been com- pelled to be his own projectionist. TO TUE COLORS! * COMMISSIONED * LIGUT. LEONARD SPINRAD, Signal Corps., formerly with Warners' home office publi- city department. HAL ABRAMSON, USA, formerly assistant con- troller, Essaness Circuit, Chicago, com- missioned a lieutenant. * ARMY * RAY SCHREIBER, paymaster, 20th-Fox home office. JAMES CULLIGAN, assistant manager, Shea's Hippodrome, Buffalo, at Fort Mc- Clellan, Ala. FRANK CUSS, assistant manager, American, Pittston. H. MERRICK LYNN, manager, Warner Palace, South Norwalk, Conn. ROBERT BRIGGS, manager, State, Mendota, III. WILLIAM COLE, manager, Crown, Chicago. TED GRANT, manager, Lake, Chicago. PAUL DUNLAP, Essaness manager, Chicago. RALPH SMITH, Essaness supervisor, Chicago. STANLEY KRUEGER, Essaness supervisor, Chi- cago. RAY THOMPSON, Gateway, Chicago. * navy"* JAMES POWERS, staff photographer, Paramount home office. * ARMY AIR~FORCE * ROBERT GREY, dramatic editor of the Commer- cial Appeal, Memphis, with the Fourth Fer- rying Croup. Warns Against Use Of Freon Substitutes {Continued from Page 1) pointed out, could not but have a seriously adverse effect on theater attendance as a result of the wide- spread newspaper publicity engend- ered. Memphis Theater Blast Under City Investigation Memphis — Fire Department offi- cials yesterday were investigating reports that John Eaton, owner of Peabody Theater, in which an explo- sion Tuesday night cost the life of Elroy R. Curry, maintenance man, used methyl chloride in the air con- ditioning system designed for freon against the advice of engineers. All patrons escaped uninjured. "Cousin" Gets Big Grosses "What's Buzzin' Cousin?" is play- ing to extended grosses throughout the country, Columbia reports. In 18 theaters, grosses have exceeded those of "Reveille With Beverly" by better than 11 per cent, and in some situations by more than 35 per cent. Rule Rites in Bellevue Bellevue. O. — Interment rites were held here for Al Rule, UA publicity rep. who died suddenly in Chicago. Only Schoolboys as Masculine Ushers (Continued from Page 1) ferral card from USES to take an ushering job and they have to prove they are students before they get a card. All others are urged to enter war industry, USES stressing the higher pay and patriotic angle. Many local ushering staffs include both boys and girls and some have only girls. Film houses are having trouble getting the lassies, too, with war plants, the local bus company and farmers clamoring for them. St. Johns Branch Wins Warners' Canadian Drive {Continued from Page 1) L. McKenzie's branch, amounts to $1,000 in Victory Bonds. Vancouver, with Earl H. Dalg- leish as branch manager, took sec- ond place, $600 in Victqry Bonds, and Montreal under I. Coval came in third with a Victory Bond prize of $400. Session was addressed by Ben Krlmenson, general sales manager, and Wolfe Cohen, Canadian district sales manager. sales manager, announced yesterday. The premiere is planned as one of the major capital events for the Third War Loan drive, and the Treasury's War Bond staff is co-operating. Paramount reps, will meet with Carter Barron, Loew's circuit di- vision manager, in Washington next Tuesday to discuss the premiere plans. Attending the meeting will be Earle W. Sweigert, Paramount district manager; Alec Moss, ex- ploitation manager; William Brook- er, district advertising representa- tive; W. C. Lewellen of the field ex- ploitation staff and C. N. Odell of the home office publicity staff. Exhibitor Spadework Starts For Third War Loan Campaign With Third War Loan opening day about three weeks awsy, elaborate plans for the successful direction of the campaign have already been re- ported by many exhibs. throughout the country. Exhibitors have already been asked to contact friends, business as- sociates, unions, fraternal groups, factories, etc., and urge them to buy an extra $100 Bond over and above regular payroll deductions. These sales should be made before Sept. 9, so that at least a small por- tion of the $15,000,000,000 quota can hi clinched before the all-out ex- hibitor efforts begin. Brecher New York Chairman For Third War Loan Drive Appointment of Leo Brecher as Bond chairman of the Third War Loan drive for the New York ex- change area was announced yes- terday. The FEMME TOUCH B GRACE RICCITELLI,, assistant booker, 20th- Fox, New Haven. GERTRUDE ANDERSON, bookers secretary, Uni versal, Seattle. DEE CRISP, assistant cashier, Columbia, Seattle ,|fj] SHIRLEY CROWLEY, manager, Royal la. PEGGY FREDERICI, assistant manager, Norwalk Theater, Norwalk, Conn. TRUDY LIEBERMAN, student assistant manager, Loew's Rochester. Rochester, N. Y. MRS. JOSEPH BYRNES, M-C-M staff, Washing ton. MRS. BERN ICE CATELY, M-G-M staff, Wash- ington. JEANNE LIZAK, accounting secretary, Para- mount, Buffalo. JOAN ZIMMERMAN, switchboard operator Paramount, Buffalo. ANGELICA DAURIELO, booking department, 20th-Fox, Buffalo. KAY KARRICAN, office manager, Berger Amuse- IT] merit Co., Minneapolis. EDITH KRONICK, booking department, Berger1 \ Amusement Co., Minneapolis. MRS. MARGARETHA HUDCELL, manager, Rocket, Rock Island, III. ESTELLE CALEGMAN, assistant manager, Palace, Meriden, Conn. ANGELA FORMICO, assistant manager, Strand, Waterbury, Conn. IDA FRANCES MEINZER, manager Santa Fe, Denver. MARY PIELE, manager Jewel, Denver. la, ieatt'e J If .-II. ^ I I Coast Studios Start 5/ Making 55 Pix Shooting {Continued from Page 1) and Willard Parker. Irving Cum- mings directing for producer P. J. Wolf son; "My Client Curly," fantasy, starring Cary Grant, with Janet Blair and James Gleason. Al Hall di- recting; and, "The Return of the Vampire," thriller with Lew Landers directing for producer Sam White. At M-G-M Nine shooting:. At Monogram: Three shooting'. At Paramount: Seven shooting, including "Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout," to be made in co-operation with the Boy Scouts of America, with Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith, John Litel and Olive Blakeney heading the cast. Hugh Bennett directing, Walter MacEwen producing and Michel Kraike as associate. At PRC: One shooting. At KKO- Radio: Seven shooting, including "Rookies in Burma," comedy, with Wally Brown and Allan Carney. Leslie Goodwins directing for producer Bert Gilroy. Samuel Goldwyn: Shooting one. At Republic: Two shooting. At 20th Century-Fox: Five shooting. At United Artists: Two shooting, "The Girl from Leningrad" being produced by Gregor Rabinovitch; and, "Jack London" being produced by Samuel Bronston. At Universal: Five shooting. At Warners: Six Shooting. Saxophonists Double From Plants to Pit Buffalo — Loss of a saxophone play- er has necessitated a kind of "vic- tory shift" arrangement in the or- chestra pit of Dewey Michaels' Palace. "I've got two men who work dif- ferent shifts in war plants to alter- nate in the pit," Michaels explained. It's a modern version of doubling in brass. JAN _L S^tf MHZ 3 N I V CI cl cl rN nsra FILE ourt go NOT REMOVE Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Yean Old FDAILY' ~Jl. 84, NO? 37 NEW YORK, MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1943 TEN CENTS Drive Chairman Says Thousands of Theaters Will Give War Bond Mats. WMC WON'T DEFMJP-DEFERRABLE JOBS 1200 Houses to Stage War Loan Drive Premieres Vest Coast Bureau, of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — More than 1,200 thea- ;ers throughout the nation will stage war premiere shows as "kick-offs" for the Third War Loan drive next nonth, it was disclosed by L. C. Griffith, chairman of the drive for the picture industry. In addition, thousands of theaters are expected to hold special War Bond and Stamp matinees sometime during the cam- paign, he said at a luncheon attended by representatives of all branches of the industry. Bob O'Donnell, national chief barker of variety clubs of Dallas an- (Continued on Page 8) July Admission Tax Intake Up $4,500,000 Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— Falling only slightly under the record collections of last December, amusement tax collec- tions for the month of July, on June business, totaled $15,750,518.85, the Bureau of Internal Revenue revealed this week-end. This figure was more than $4,500,000 better than the previous month, when collections (Continued on Page 2) Memphis Theater Blast Brings Strict Check-up Memphis, Tenn. — Fatal blast at the Peabody theater when methyl chloride, leaking from the cooling system, ignited, will bring a general (Continued on Page 8) Hollywood Fine Arts Plant Bought by PRC 0. Henry Briggs, PRC president, announced Friday the purchase by PRC from Weco Corp., subsidiary of Western Electric, of its entire mortgage interest in the Fine Arts Studio property in Hollywood. The deal was an "all cash" transaction, Briggs said. TALLY-HO! WE'RE OFF TO THE MOVIES! Horse-Drawn Station Wagon Takes 25 N. J. Fans to Theater Three Times a Week Livingston, N. J. — Although the pleasure ban proved a hardship on countless theatergoers the past Summer months, movie fans from this South Jersey town, solved their problem by driving, 25 to a group, several country miles to their near- est movie house, the Colony Theater, in — of all things — a stage coach. Actually, the coach is a horse- drawn converted station wagon, which has been leaving the owner's home, three nights each week on schedule, with a standing invitation from the owner, C. A. Townley, to all his township neighbors. "We are way out of the way of any bus transportation," the owner reports. "How to get to a movie at least once each week was a prob- lem. So I converted the station wagon and hitched up the two horses I purchased early last Spring for Victory gardening and, well, we haven't been missing any movies ever since." $500,000 Ad Budget For "The North Star' An appropriation of $500,000 for a national advertising campaign on his forthcoming picture "The North Star" has been made by Samuel Goldwyn, it was announced Friday by RKO, the distributors. Planned to be used over a period of several months in advance of the (Continued on Page 8) Seek Film Raw Stock Coating from British Sales Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Lincoln V. Bur- roughs, assistant to WPB Motion Picture Chief Harold Hopper, will go (Continued on Page 4) Dallas Exchanges To Get More Prints Print shortage due to Army camp bookings is not a national situation but is confined principally to the Dallas territory, according to Col. H. A. Cole, president of Texas Al- lied, who made a nation-wide survey. Col. Cole, who returned to Dallas (Continued on Page 8) Meyer Stern's Omaha Branch Bought by PRC O. Henry Briggs, president of PRC, Friday announced the purchase of the Omaha exchange owned by Meyer Stern. PRC will operate the exchange. Bernard Mariner, named by Ar- (Continued on Page 4) Best AEF Morale Builders Pix Second Only to Mail, Maj. Hubbell States PCC Reaffirms Stand on Abolishing Consent Decree San Francisco— PCCITO at its two-day session here Wednesday- Thursday adopted a resolution re- affirming its stand on the abolish- ment of the consent decree, urging the Government to prosecute the (Continued on Page 4) Except for mail from home, there is no greater morale-builder for the U. S. fighting forces than motion pictures, Major John Hubbell of the U. S. Army Overseas Motion Pic- ture Service said Friday at a press conference. Major Hubbell, who has seen the effect of motion pictures in the field, said that many of the im- promptu theaters were set up only (Continued on Page 8) Effect of Extension of List Will Vary in Different Areas and Local Boards Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— Effect of last week's WMC announcement — including the extension of the non-deferrable list and the new "critical list" — will probably vary in different areas and perhaps even among different local boards. To prevent slight job al- terations as a means of evasion of the effect of the non-deferrable list and the writing of deferment re- quests for men on the border line of the critical list,5 WMC will not send (Continued on Page 4) Industry "Rangers" Meet on Loan Drive Third War Loan drive is envis- ioned in official circles as a means of destroying the complacency en- gendered by recent Allied successes on the battle fronts, W. Randolph Burgess, New York State War (Continued on Page 8) Royal Tops NBC Com'tee For Study of Television A committee to make technological studies and surveys of television problems has been appointed by (Continued on Page 4) NEIC Talent Pool to Aid War Loan Drive A talent pool committee will be formed by the National Entertain- ment Industry Council today to pro- vide immediate co-operation with the Treasury in the Third War Loan drive. The NEIC will co-operate in every way possible with the War Finance Committee for New York State. The NEIC announces the resig- nation of Anita Grannis as assistant to James Sauter, co-ordinator of the activities of the NEIC. She will continue as a member of the co- ordinating and projects committees of the NEIC. Monday, August 23, 1943 DAILY Vol. 84, No. 37 Mon., Aug. 23, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. f., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New YuH $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; ,3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9 7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmilay, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle. Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Cas:l!o de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (August 20) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. <2'/2%> Columbia Picts. pfd . Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . . East. Kodak 1 do pfd 1 Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox. . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK High Low Close 1514 151/4 15V4- 27/8 '2% 'i% - Net Chg. 61 77i/2 20 59% 26i/2 8% 901/2 22% 313/4 13% 89% 160 160 1771/2 177% 19% 59% 255/8 8 1/4 90 21% 3H/4 123/4 89% 19% 591/2 253/4 8 1/4 90 22 311/4 12% 895/8 BOND MARKET Par 'B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs Sonotone Corp Technicolor 13 13 13 Trans-Lux 2% 27/8 2% Universal Pictures Universal Picts. vtc. . . 17% 17% 17% Jimmy Powers Feted Paramount home office fellow em- ployes feted Jimmy Powers, staff photog., Friday, prior to his depar- ture for Navy service Saturday. YOU HAVE NO WORRIES If Your SPECIAL TRAILERS ARE MADE BY FllMACKTro,7erCo Your Firjr Order Will Prove If 1327 So. WoboihAve. Chicago- H The Broadway Parade E Picture and Distributor Theater Best Foot Forward (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — 9th week Astor Mr. Lucky (RKO Radio Pictures)— 5th week Music Hall Victory Through Air Power (United Artists-Disney) — 5th week Clobe This is the Army (Warner Bros. Pictures) — 4th week Hollywood Heaven Can Wait (Twentieth Century-Fox) — 3rd week Roxy The Constant Nymph (Warner Bros. Pictures) — 4th week Strand Let's Face It (Paramount Pictures)— 3rd week Paramount Frontier Badmen (Universal Pictures) — 2nd week Rialto DuBarry Was a Lady (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) Capitol We've Never Been Licked (Universal Pictures — Walter Wanger) Criterion The Fallen Sparrow (RKO Radio Pictures) Palace ♦ TWO-A-DAY RUN ♦ For Whom the Bell Tolls (Paramount Pictures) — 7th week Rivoli ♦ FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURES ♦ Black Sea Fighters (Artkino Pictures)— 4th week Stanley Marimba (Crovas-Mohme) Belmont Shrine of Victory (20th Century-Fox) (English titles) World ♦ FUTURE OPENINGS ♦ So Proudly We Hail (Paramount Pictures) (c) Music Hall Salute to the Marines (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) — Aug. 27 Globe Watch on the Rhine (Warner Bros. Pictures) — Aug. 27 Strand Holy Matrimony (Twentieth Century-Fox) Roxy leannie ( British Film) (c) Little Carnegie The Great Mr. Handel (Midfilm, Inc.)— Sept. 6 55th St. Playhouse Hitler's Madmen (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) (c) Rialto True to Life (Paramount Pictures) — Sept. 15 Paramount Destroyer (Columbia Pictures) (c) Criterion Johnny Come Lately (United Artists-James Cagney) (c) Capitol The Sky is the Limit (RKO adio Pictures) — Sept. 2 Palace Seeds of Freedom (Artkino Pictures) — Aug. 24 Stanley Alexandra (CLASA Studios) (c) Belmont Black Market Rustlers (Monogram Pictures) — Opens tomorrow (a) New York Girls in Chains (Producers Releasing Corp.) — Opens tomorrow (c) New York (a) Dual bill, (b) Subsequent run. (c) Follows current bill. Honor Frick and Tulipan On Departure for Service Lou Frick and Ira Tulipan, mem- bers of the 20th-Fox press book de- partment, under Hal Home, were tendered a farewell luncheon by their associates Friday at the Lob- ster, prior to their leaving for the Army and Navy respectively next week. Christy Wilbert, editor of the press book department, emceed. At- tending were Charles Schlaifer, Syd Blumenstock, Jac Thall, Jonas Ro- senfield, Jr., Ben Worthheim, Dick Dube, Harry Hockfeld, Dave Bader, Manny Isip, Leo Israel, Ted Jaediker, Max Stein, Jules Fields, Sol Schnaer, Simon Wolf, Bernie Bozzone, Sam Resnick, Jerry Novat, Molly Grill, Dave Sternfeld and Joe Shea of Cagney Prods. "Phantom" Scores Big At First Two Openings Universal's "Phantom of the Opera" in a night premiere Thursday at the Palace Theater in Cincinnati grossed 40 per cent more from six o'clock until closing than any other Universal picture for an entire day, the company announced Friday. Universal expects "Phantom" to be its biggest grosser in company his- tory. In Minneapolis, where the other world premiere was held, the Or- pheum Theater was sold out two days ahead of the opening. News- papers in both cities went overboard on space devoted to the picture. July Admission Tax Collections Up $4,500,000 (Continued from Page 1) amounted to only $11,109,476.77, and more than $1,000,000 better than the May high of $14,625,615, which was tops for the year. July collections last year totaled $12,484,881. About 90 per cent of the total is estimated to stem from motion pic- ture admissions. Collections from the third New York (Broadway) area rose nearly half a million dollars from the prev- ious month, totalling $2,403,247.94 as against $1,967,604 in June and only $1,678,230 in July, 1942. The- ater admissions accounted for $2,- 223,605.14 of the Broadway total, a sharp rise from the previous month's $1,787,404 and $1,563,287 in July 1942. The total collection for last De- cember was $15,922,909, which In- ternal Revenue sources opined was the highest in history. It was point- ed out that the high July collections might have been swelled by inclu- sion of some collections which had been held over or unclassified in previous months, since it was be- lieved that collectors made a special effort to clean up their accounts last month, the beginning of a new fiscal year. WANTED — Theater Supply House doing Goverment work, STORE SALESMAN and COUNTERMAN Salary plus Commission Address Box 167 THE FILM DAILY KOI Broadway N. Y. C. Warner Delegation Returns from Canada Ben Kalmenson, general sales man ager for Warners, accompanied by Arthur Sachson, assistant general sales manager, and Norman H. Mo ray, short subject sales manager, returned to New York over the week- end from Montreal, where Kalmen son presided over the compa, Canadian sales meeting. NEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 Radio City Music Hall 5SS Another l^BBJ—TT^AE Scoop WARC V« r~...rv-ro» CtWff°\ BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CONDOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BUY WAR DADAUAIIKIT TIMES bonds PARAMOUNT square SEH33 B WAY & 47th St. EXCLUSIVE 1st RUN THEATRE JOHN MAUREEN GARFIELD O'HARA THE FALLEN SPARROW" W loTw.STHTE ON SCREEN BINC CROSBY DOTTY LAMOUR "DIXIE" IN COLOR IN PERSON HARRY LANGDON EDITH FELLOWS ADDED ATTRACTION ARTHUR TRACY s n On opening night, from 6 P. M. to closing, Phantom of the Opera did 40% more business than any Universal picture ever did on any opening day from 10 A. M. to closing! Watch for the news from Minneapolis /mHOR' where the opening day record was broken! UNIVERSAL PICTURE* "BACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR IOAN." v% Monday, August 23, 1943 DAILY WMC Won't Define Non-Deferrable Jobs (Continued from Page 1) definitions of the jobs on these lists to the local boards. The effect of this omission -will be to place upon the local boards the weight of decision even more defin- itely than before. Until now they have had explanatory material from National Selective Service head- quarters regarding the essential jobs. Hereafter they will have only bare lists. In some cases this might work to the advantage of the indus- try — bookers, for instance; they might not be held non-deferrable be- cause the list specifies "booking agents," or theater managers be- cause the list specifies "managing agents." Bookers were originally intended for inclusion, managers were not. Tough boards might hold both jobs non-deferrable. When a board does not take an individual, there is nothing' Selective Service can do, un- less the individual appeals for induction. If however, a board orders a man into uni- form contrary to national policy, he has the rig-lit to appeal and his induction may be stayed. National Selective Service, how- ever, does not interfere in appeal cases turned down without dissent by state appeal boards. If all members of a state appeal board should uphold a local board's order of induction for a theater manager, for instance, that would be the end of the story even though inclusion of managers on the non-deferrable list was not included. The same would apply in the case of bookers, if, as is now possible, national headquarters should decide they should not be held non- deferrable. Another effect of the fuzziness of these lists may be to make it more difficult for studios to hire some important technical help. It affects several studio jobs that are actually included on the critical list, al- though this was not realized at first. The job titles on the list are to include all holders of such jobs in essential industries and thus at least half a dozen studio workers must be included as "critical." Critical workers, although entitled to the utmost in consideration for deferment, are also forbidden to accept jobs from other studios without USES approval. Installation and maintenance electricians, machinists, patternmakers (metal and wood), accountants and engineers are all included on the critical list. In addition, most directors would probably fall under the "foremen" classification, since they are in essential work, have had two years or more of training and are competent to hold down jobs which are under their supervision. Sabu at Fort Meade, Md. Fort George Meade, Md. — Sabu, Universal player, has been assigned to the theatrical group of a special service company stationed here for basic training. Gareth Hughes Max Fleischer Hail, the Gay's All Here • • • OUR DAILY GAG: (This is getting monotonous, isn't it?) We just heard about an exhibitor up in Massachusetts who was dis- missed from a charge of violating a blue law because he was color blind And then there was the salesman who sold an exhib. a picture on the argument that it was so great that it would carry the audience away After playing it, the exhib. wired: "It sure did and they haven't been back since" Oh well, the regular Phil M. will be back from vacation today. ... • Those recorded interviews of soldiers who had just seen "Stage Door Canteen" at a North African base should make Sol Lesser's ears ring with pride The press boys heard it Friday at a conference in the' Federal Bldg. and the com- ments were more than glowing Major Hubbell who met with the press gave an interesting sidelight to the manner in which our soldiers regard the movies Despite the fact that the boys come out of fox holes and the jungles to see the pictures, they will often shave, dress up and shine their shoes before going to the "theater" ▼ ▼ T • • * DON'T be surprised if Paramount comes through with a Bob Hope short covering Bob's present trip overseas to entertain the men and women of the AEF It's being talked Inci- dentally, how Bob is wowing 'em at the bases and camps! ... • Time Magazine is making a survey of the non-theatrical field, with a view to determining the post-war potentialities Majors are being quizzed as to their own plans. ... # Paramount will launch that new Little Lulu series of shorts, based on the Satevepost cartoons, in October No new series in years has stirred as much interest It could be a gold mine. ... 0 Newsreel theater biz in some spots is reported off One guess is that there's not enough en- tertainment footage on the screens Another is that the war footage made available isn't the right sort Which points up again the claim that the service brass hats are holding out on the newsreels T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Royal Tops NBC Com'tee For Study of Television (Continued from Page 1) National Broadcasting Co., Niles Trammell, president announced last night. Trammell is of the opinion that television needs only the re- lease of vital materials and the ser- vices of electronic engineers, now devoting their time to war needs, to serve the nation with a new and significant service of sound and sight. _ Committee comprises John Eoyal, vice-president in charge of inter- national, shortwave and television as chairman; William S. Hedges, vice- president in charge of stations; 0. B. Hansen, vice-president and chief engineer and C. L. Menser, vice-pres- ident and manager of the program department. John T. Williams, as- sistant to Noran Kersta, now in the Marine Corps, was named secretary. The NBC committee will co-ordi- nate its activities with the RCA laboratories, Princeton, N. J., and the RCA manufacturing division. PCC Reaffirms Stand on Abolishing Consent Decree (Continued from Page 1) New York consent decree; endorsing "divorcement" in such a manner as to circumvent other exhibition mono- polies being created; continuing ac- tivities against commercialized pre- views; protesting monopolistic and discriminatory practices adopted by distributors in this regard. The trus- tees unanimously approved the re- ports. Hugh Bruen and Rotus Harvey recently met with Tom C. Clark, as- sistant to the attorney general, on the consent decree as well as attend- ing the Allied States board meeting in Baltimore. Those attending the trustees' meeting were L. 0. Lukan and Le- roy V. Johnson, Seattle; Bob White and 0. J. Miller, Portland; M. W. Mattecheck of McMinville, Ore.; Rotus Harvey and Ben Levin, San Francisco; George Diamos, Tuscon, Ariz.; Hugh W. Bruen and R. H. Poole, Los Angeles. COMinO and GOIflG CERALDINE FITZGERALD, Warners star, was called back to the Coast over the week-end to start work in a new film assignment. ED HINCHY, head of the Warners playdate department, returns today from a New England vacation. J. LAWRENCE SCHANBERCER, managed Keith's Theater, Baltimore, is vacationing two weeks in Atlantic City. WILLIAM K. SAXTON, city manager for Loew Theaters in Baltimore, and his young son, BILLY, JR., are visiting with the former's par- ents in Long Island. JORCE DELANO FREDERICK, Chilean film producer and theater operator, is in town as a State Dept. guest. He returns to Hollywood in two weeks, en route back to Chile. RUSSELL TRADO, secretary to Rutgers Neilson, is vacationing in Orchard Grove, N. J. TED LLOYD, of the 20th -Fox home office publicity department, left for Hollywood over the week-end to serve as Treasury Dept.-WAC liaison for the Third War Loan drive. SCOOP CONLON, personal representative, in New York. MARTIN PRINTZ, co-owner of the Alhambi Cleveland, O., is back from a month's vac tion in California. HARRY C. ARTHUR, JR., vice-president a general manager of Fanchon & Marco, has ar- rived here. He won't return to St. Louis until the middle of next month. JACK GOLDSTEIN, 20th-Fox Eastern publi- city manager left Friday for Hollywood to dis- cuss publicity of 1943-44 productions with studio executives. LOTHER WOLF, film editor of March of Time, is back in New York from Canada, where he spent four weeks camping and fishing. MRS. JUANA DE LOWE, one of the largest theater owners in Panama, is at the Lincoln. Seek Film Raw Stock Coating from British Sales (Continued from Page 1) to England next month to try to schedule raw stock coating labora- tories there for increased produc- tion. The trip does not signify a great strain on American coating facilities, but rather the need to shorten supply lines. The domestic raw stock situation continues to be satisfactory. At present we ship Britain all its film base, and the coating is done there on a large enough scale to care for British civilian and military i needs. Manpower shortages and ; damage to some of the laboratories has impaired the production schedule in England, however. Burroughs will study the prob- lem to see if it is not possible to step up production to a point where British labs can supply some of our military needs. This would simplify the shipping problems from this country, since the raw stock needs of our armed forces in the European and African theaters could be met in part from London rather than from here. Meyer Stern's Omaha Branch Bought by PRC (Continued from Page 1) thur Greneblatt, PRC vice-president in charge of sales, as Omaha branch manager, takes over his duties im- mediately. ;> A* we f*fv wc werf 0iS6H 1«*4lr ABO*'* FUmSSr , RAV'"6 A. plcTURE f« YSAKS/ AUDIENCE PREVIEWS BACK UP THESE FUNNY MEN 100%! Be sure to attend the previews in your exchange city. ..and hear for yourself the gales of howls at the funniest com- > edy of the year! DIANA BARRYMOR WALTER CATLETT- ERNEST TRUE" RICHARD LAh Screen Play, Michael Fessier and Ernest Pagcj!1?1 Directed by CHARLES LAMONT 'BACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR LOAN. WALTER ABEL .AN DINEHART • GEORGE DOLENZ :X INGRAM iginal Story by Hagor Wilde Produced by ALEX GOTTLIEB TW Monday, August 23, 194 DAILY Theaters to Stage War Loan Drive Premieres (Continued from Page 1) nounced that on Sept. 8 a state-wide blackout will be staged from 10 to 10:30 p.m., with natives urged to listen to a radio talk by Governor Stevenson on behalf of the drive. Charles P. Skouras. president of National Theatres, said he would recommend to his organization's directors that National Thea- tres buy $5,000,000 worth of Bonds. In a stirring' talk, Francis S. Harmon, co- ordinator of the War Activities Committee, stressed the need for unity in the industry's campaign and urged that the 200,000 men and women employed throughout the film industry be sold an extra Bond during Sep- tember. He said 4,200 theaters are ac- credited issuing ag'ents for Bonds and that more exhibitors should seek to be made agents. Ray Beall, WAC war loan drive publicity director, announced that National Screen will furnish two trailers, one star- ring Rosalind Russell and the other Alan Ladd, gratis, and gave other details of how exhibitors can put over successful campaigns for the sale of Bonds. Si Fabian, theater representative for the War Activities Committee, said theaters will not "spearhead" the new campaign, but will work in conjunction with newspapers, radio and retailers under the leadership of the War Finance Committees in every state and city. R. H. Mountain, chairman of War Finance Committee for Southern California, said, "For this area the goal is $422,000,000." Harmon announced that on Wednesday, 4:15-4:25 p.m. EWT, "a motion picture con- vention of the air" would be broadcast from Washington over Mutual, by closed cir- cuit to 207 stations and urged exhibitors to go to their local Mutual outlets and listen to talks by Griffith, Ted Gamble, as- sistant to Henry Morgenthau, andMorgenthau. Robert H. Poole, executive secretary of PCCCITO, was among the speakers, and Arch Bowles of Fox West Coast presided, out- of-town exhibitors present included: Robert Garland. Denver; Al Finke. Bob White. Port- land: Frank Newman, Seattle; Sam Gillette, Salt Lake City: John Rograr, Park City, Utah; George Dimas, Tucson; Harry Nace, Louis Long, Phoenix; Ray Olmstead, Preseott, Ariz.; George Tucker, Albuqerque; D. J. McNierney, L. Arkus, San Francisco. Memphis Theater Blast Brings Strict Check-up (Continued from Page 1) inspection of all air cooling systems in local establishments. City commissioner Robert Fred- ericks told The Film Daily: "We are obtaining a list from air-condi- tioning distributors of the various establishments in Memphis using air cooling systems and we will have a licensed engineer inspect the vari- ous units to see that they are com- plying with City Code which pro- hibits change of refrigerants with- out authority." Meanwhile, theater managers re- ported that the blast had brought no drop in attendance at city houses. IA Unionizing Canadian NFB 16 mm. Projectionists Toronto — The IATSE is taking steps to unionize Canadian National Film Board projectionists operating 16 mm. machines in rural, trade union and other circuits. Confer- ences are being held between Wil- liam P. Covert, IATSE organizer, and Harry Keough of the board. IN NEW INDUSTRY POSTS ALLYN BUTTERF1ELD, chief, Feature Film Sec- tion, War Dept., Hollywood. ROBERT HASKINS, city salesman, Monogram, Detroit. R. A. ELMQUIST, assistant manager, Uptown, Chicago. LUCIEN PERRIGO, exchange publicity dept., Warners, Chicago. RENEE CLAYTON, central editor, Boxoffice, Chicago. RALPH BANCART, RKO exchange publicity staff, Chicago. WILLIAM iB. LEVY, managing director, Walt Disney, Ltd., London. WILLIAM MISKELL, Nebraska-Western Iowa district manager, Tri-States Theaters Corp., Omaha. IOSEPH KINSKEY, owner-operator, Aero Theater, Santa Monica, Calif. TED EMERSON, manager, Orpheum, Omaha. DON SHANE, manager, Paramount, Omaha. M. M. BLATTNER, booker, Co-operative Thea- ters of Ohio, Cleveland. JOHN HIMMELEIN, assistant to District Mana- ger M. R. "Duke" Clark, Paramount, Cleve- land. SIDNEY LEHMAN, Paramount sales force, Cleve- land. Industry "Rangers" Meet on Loan Drive (Continued from Page 1) Finance Committee chairman, told enlistees in the industry's "Rang- ers" Friday, at a luncheon meeting, at Toots Shor's. He said that the drive is designed to unite all Amer- icans in a Bond-buying splurge. Company prexies, sales managers and other enlistees in the "Rang- ers" met to outline plans designed to sell Bonds during the Third War Loan to every industryite. George J. Schaefer, chairman, pre- siding, predicted that the "Rang- ers," replacing the "Commandos" of last September, would this year out- do the latter's efforts, which resulted in sales of almost $50,000,000. Schaefer introduced Burgess, Jos- eph Hazen, chairman of the "Rang- ers" New York executive committee, and Leo Brecher, War Bond chair- man for the Metropolitan area, who spoke. Prefacing' his remarks with the state- ment: "We need no pep talks, we know why we're here" Schaefer explained that in addition to those present the "Rangers" committee included a chairman in each of the exchange areas, who would go into every theater and each individual industry- connected organization to sell Bonds. "We rely on the industry," Burgess stated on being introduced by Schaefer, "to do a large chunk of selling, but that is not the only advantage to be gained from industry participation. The showmanship ability of the industry will undoubtedly be reflected in general sales, excluding those within the industry itself and the sales made to movie- goers. Stars touring the country, with re- sultant publicity, and all the other typically 'movie' activities, should aid the general campaign." Hazen expressed pleasure at the turnout, declaring that it augured well for the suc- cess of the "Rangers" objectives. Brecher then discussed the appearance in Madison Square Garden of the train load of Holly- wood luminaries, and announced that plans to ballyhoo and exploit the show were even now in work. He said that an announce- ment of the seating scale would be forth- coming shortly. Those attending, in addition to those named, were: Adolph Zukor, Nicholas M. Schenek, Leonard Goldenson, Malcolm Kings- bury, Robert Mochrie, Ned E. Depinet, Al Schwajberg-, Joseph Vogel, William F. Rodg- ers, Abe Lastfogel, Dan Michalove, Tom Con- nors, Don Mersereau, Jack Conn, Colvin Brown, Maj. Leslie E. Thompson, A. P. Waxman, David Lipton, Maurice Livingston, Barney Balaban, Walton C. Anient, Spyrbs Skouras, Sam Rinzler, Maxwell Gillis, C. B. "Brownie" Akers, Arthur Mayer, Walter Vincent. John O'Connor and Ed Sehretber. Dallas Exchanges To Get More Prints (Continued from Page 1) last week after conferring with home office executives, said that the companies had agreed to furnish more commercial prints to the Dallas exchanges so that theaters of the territory will not have to set back their bookings, as has been the practice. Because of the large number of Army posts in Texas, regular the- ater prints were being sent to the Army camps and, as a rule, were not returned to the exchanges for at least 35 days. Under the new setup, a larger number of prints will be made available from the Army pcol, thus easing the commercial print situation and, at the same time, the commercial print allot- ment will be increased. Col. Cole said that while other exchange centers were affected by the Army's print requirements, the situation in Dallas was the worst, according to his checkup. Goldwyn Sets $500,000 "North Star" Ad Budget (Continued from Page 1) world premiere of the "The North Star," the campaign, designed to blanket the entire country, will em- brace newspaper, radio, billboard and other media. Said to be one of the most inclusive ever created for the pre-selling of a picture, the campaign was presented and ap- proved last week following confer- ences among Goldwyn, William He- bert, his advertising and publicity chief; S. Barret McCormick, RKO's director of advertising and publicity, and William A. Schneider, vice-pres- ident of Donahue & Coe, the agency which has handled the Goldwyn ac- count for several years. Para. Hosts Trade Press At Shorts Screening Trade press editors and reporters were the guests of Paramount Fri- day at a luncheon at the Astor Ho- tel. Event preceded a screening of the company's first group of 1943-44 short subjects. Oscar Morgan, short subjects sales manager, was the host. Pix, Next to Mail, Best for AEF Morale : (Continued from Page 1) 18 miles behind the front in man spots and that every show drew c: pacity audiences. It was pointed out that a r survey of the overseas theater dicated that in July the Army on 30,983 entertainment motion pici ture shows which played to an at! tendance of 13,550,000. The pic- tures, principally on 16 mm, were contributed by the American motion picture industry and many of them, such as "Stage Door Canteen," were shown to the AEF before being seen over here. The troops overseas, it was pointed out by Major Hubbell, like all pic- tures except war and propaganda themes, the one exception being "Air Force." They want, first and fore- most, he said, entertainment; the more girls the better. Major Hub- bell said the soldiers liked music and comedy. "Stage Door Canteen'* led all pictures in popularity during the last 30 days among the fighting forces. "Air Force" took second place, while "The Road to Morocco"' and "Casablanca" ran neck-and-neck tor third and fourth positions. "Yan- kee Doodle Dandy," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "The Major and the Mi- nor" and "The Amazing Mrs. Halli- day" followed in that order. Major Hubbell said that the shows were put on under the most varied climatic conditions, ranging from the frigid temperatures of the north to the torrid climates of the Persian Gulf. The men sat on logs, gasoline drums, sand dunes or whatever could be obtained. In one overseas theater of war, pictures were shown on the side of a volcano. In another spot, troops wear their head nets to the shows as a protection against mos- quitoes, sand flies and other insects. Major Hubbell said that a system of 17 exchange centers throughout the world had been set up to handle the distribution of the pictures which are sent to isolated places by plane, boat or jeep. It was pointed out further that motion pictures have reflected in the various medical officers' reports as to the improved health conditions of the men who remain in camp to see pictures. Feldman Co-chairman of War Loan Talent Body West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Charles K. Feldman, of the Hollywood Victory Committee, has accepted the post of Co-chairman of the Talent Committee and Co- manager of the as yet-unnamed cav- alcade of stars which will tour the country staging Bonds-for-seats shows in some 13 key cities. Feldman, with Kenneth Thomson, is devoting all his time to lining up talent for the show, which is to be one of the most important facets of the Third War Loan, according to to the War Finance Committee. 3 N I DA N X S *7*7 m a z V Cl cl cl V\ Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old ^1>L. 84, NO. 38 NEW YORK. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1943 TEN CENTS i STUDYING POST-WARJ»OPULATIONJ!HIFTS Dedicate War Center on Victory Square Sept. 3 Reeling 'Round -- WASHINGTON — By ANDREW H. OLDER — WASHINGTON XA/ITHIN another week or so there should ™* be issuing from OCR a full and de- tailed statement of the agency's functions and authority in regard to the industry. A draft of the statement indicates there won't be anything startling in it for you. Pretty much as this bureau outlined in sever- al stories last month In the mean- time, the search is getting under way for a good operating theater man to work with OCR. Allen G. Smith, who now handles equipment and service for theaters with WPB's Service Equipment Division, would be ideal for the job, but he's busy enough where he is. Representatives of the WAC Theaters Division, meeting with OCR's George MacMurphey earlier this month, as- sured him they'd see to it that he got the sort of man he wants. They may be called on to produce soon. • • TOM CLARK says he can't understand ' why stories about his including the "Little Three" in the New York equity action should suddenly appear. He has nothing in mind at this time. ... • We were told last week that what brought on the requirement that individual licenses be issued for every film export shipment was discovery that several packages of cut film went out with small unexposed pieces, perhaps a square inch or less in size. These tiny pieces were later developed in neutral countries and presumably shipped on to the enemy. ... • The first of the film bulle- tins to be clipped on the newsreels is scheduled to go this week. It'll be on the Third War Loan Drive, which gets under way next month. • • WITH a detailed announcement of titles and sets of reels expected within another few days, plans for the expansion of the Army's industrial incentive film pro- gram are about set. , Release of details is awaiting approval of Maj. Gen. Alexander Surles, public relations chief The program will involve a stepping up of the activity of the unit headed by Maj. Richard Maybaum, which is working now in the Signal Corps Photographic Center, Astoria, L. I., on one- and two-reel subjects for showing to industrial workers. Footage rejected by the newsreels will (Continued on Page 2) Treasury and City Offi- cials Will Participate in Gigantic Rally and Parade Government's War Center On Vic- tory Square, — tented focal point of local Third War Loan Campaign ac- tivities, and located at the rear of the Roxy Theater — , will have its formal dedication at 8 o'clock on the night of Friday, Sept. 3, it was dis- closed yesterday by Pat Powers, di- rector of special events for the Third War Loan. Plans call for participation of Treasury and city officials, including Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, plus men and women (Continued on Page 12) Canadian Board Cuts "Bell Tolls" Terms Toronto — War-time prices and Trade Board announced yesterday that permission had been refused to Paramount to play "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in Canada at advanced prices and at 70 per cent rental as stipulated in contracts. Board rul- ing calls for maximum terms of 50- 50 as in the case of special pictures approved in that booking classifica- (Continued on Page 12) MPPDA Board Will Hold Quarterly Meet Sept. 8 Quarterly meeting of the MPPDA board of directors has been set for Sept. 8. Agenda has not been pre- pared. 10 P.M. Juve Curfew Proposed in Newark Newark, N. J. — Police Commis- sioner John B. Keenan of this city, who a week ago saw no need for "curfews for children," has changed his mind and will introduce a cur- few ordinance at the City Commis- sion meeting tomorrow. Ordinance will bar all unescorted children under 16, from the state's largest city streets, after 10 p.m. In nearby Elizabeth, where a 9:30 p.m. curfew is in effect, vandalism has disappeared overnight, it is said. K-A-O's Profit Jumps $436,034 In 26 Weeks A net profit increase of $456,034 was reported yesterday by Keith- Albee-Orpheum Corp. and its sub- sidiaries for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 1943, over the correspond- ing period ended July 4, 1942. Net profit after all charges for the last 26 weeks was $963,605 as compared with $507,571 for the 1942 period. The provision for Federal income (Continued on Page 3) Lake States, Far West, Cen- tral Atlantic and Southern N. E. Offer Problems By ANDREW H. OLDER Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Effect of post-war demobilization is engaging the at- tention of industry heads currently, with war time population shifts, in- dustry emphases, and the poten- tial absorption of war production labor by peace industries in the same areas, being studied in the light of their potential effect upon box-office grosses. The war has seen a revifalization of the old "Go West, Young Man," philosophy — the Pacific Coast states (Continued on Page 9) Missouri Congressman To Seek Industry Probe St. Louis — Rep. Walter C. Ploeser, Rep., Mo., anti-New Dealer, prior to his departure for Washington yes- terday announced he plans to intro- (Continued on Page 3) Blue Laws Out FSA Hopes War Knell Warners' Grosses Moving Ahead Steadily in Canada Theater grosses on Warner prod- uct in Canada have been rising stead- ily, indicating that the company's policy of individual treatment in the merchandising of pictures is proving as successful in the Domin- (Continued on Page 9) To Stay? May Be Permanent Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Although they have been accomplished only "for the du- ration," the lifting of Sunday Blue Laws in scores of communities for the benefit of war workers and ser- vicemen will be a permanent thing, officials of the Federal Security Agency's office of Community War Services hope. This office is charged (Continued on Page 6) New Theater Permits Up to McMurphey Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — George W. MacMur- phey, chief of the Office of Civilian Requirements, amusement section, will begin to pass on applications for new theater buildings, equipment, re- placement of burned out equipment, (Continued on Page 3) Sub Four Disney Shorts For Second Feature Pix Replacement of the second fea- ture with four Walt Disney Techni- color shorts has been so satisfac- tory at the Poli Theater, Bridgeport, Conn., that the Loew circuit is adopt- (Continued on Page 9) Polio Outbreak Cuts New Haven Business New Haven, Conn.— Polio out- break here has seriously affected film attendance, with nabes report- ing week-end drops up to 40 per cent. Downtown houses also are suf- fering. Army and Navy officers have made theaters out-of-bounds for the sev- eral thousand service men now sta- tioned at Yale for training. t Vol. 84, No . 38 Tues. Aug. 24 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New Yurk $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber _ should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (.Monday, August 23) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net Chg. _' ' i/. 151/2 15V2 59 1591/2 771/2 1771/2 191/4 193/8 57 58 24l/2 241/2 High Low Close Am. Seat Col. Picts.vtc. (2i/2%) 15 143/4 15 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 155/s East. Kodak 159'/2 1 do pfd 1771/2 1 Gen. Prec. Eq 19y2 Loew's, Inc 58i/2 Paramount 24% RKO 8 RKO $6 pfd 871/2 20th Century-Fox ... 21 !/2 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31 Warner Bros 1 2 V2 do pfd NEW YORK BOND Par B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts. . . . 2% 2l/2 21/2 — l/2 Radio-Keith cvs 13/8 13/8 l3/8 Sonotone Corp Technicolor 12% 12'/4 12l/4 — % Trans-Lux 27/8 2?/8 2% — i/g Universal Pictures 73/4 87 21 7% 87 21 30% 30% 12% I21/4 1/4 1% % % 21/4 1/2 "i/4 MARKET Universal Picts. vtc. . 17 16% 163/4 Art, Springfield, Mass., Passes to Warner Circuit Springfield, Mass. — The Art the- ater here has been acquired by Warners. MUVHT UIVICI ttotAot • c a mojkhon too** ■ROADWHl M.T.C Oku 4-0011. s- 1-4 mx pchanw wjimviioN hivki Reeling 'Bound' - WASHINGTON a$ DAILY Tuesday, August 24, 1943 (Continued from Page 1) be used extensively, it is believed. The reels will, for instance, receive 3,500 feet of combat footage, of which they are able to use 300 feet. Wherever possible the combat footage used for these industrial films will be from the unused 3,200 feet. Actual production will take place usually only on lead-in and finale sequences. ... All these subjects will be in 16 mm., and it is not planned that they exceed two reels in length. Olivia De Havilland Asks Relief from WB Contract West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Through her attorney, Martin Gang, Olivia de Havilland has filed suit in Superior Court, ask- ing declaratory relief from her seven-year agreement with Warner Bros., which was signed May 5, 1936. Gang contends that options after a seven-year period are illegal without a new contract and that ex- tensions of time for any reason are invalid. Usually in cases of suspension, players being loaned to other studios or being ill, the long-term contracts have been extended beyond the orig- inal dates of agreement. It is un- derstood Warners will contend that most of the extensions on the star's contract were made at her own re- quest because of illness and other personal reasons. Increasing Popularity For 16 mm. Programs West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Increasing popularity of 16 mm. programs sponsored by the Office of the Co-ordinator of In- ter-American Affairs, both in the United States and in Latin-American countries, is revealed in recent re- ports which show a total attendance in all the Americas of 15,618,733 at 64,689 showings. These figures cover a period brought up to end of July, 1943 and show a total attendance in the United States of 7,697,788 at 47,807 showings, while other Amer- ican republics played to 7,920,995 at 16,882 showings. Canada to Call Labor Classes Up to Age 40 Ottawa, Ont. — Call-up classes for compulsory labor draft from non- essential industries has been ex- tended from 30 to 40 years and in- clude both married and single males, it was announced officially by Labor Minister Humphrey Mitchell. Prev- ious draft calls affected married em- ployes 18 to 25, as well as single men to 30 years of age. Latest order is seen as serious for theater and film organizations. 20 -Fox Signs Louis de Rochemont West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Louis de Rochemont, of "March of Time," has been en- gaged by 20th Century-Fox studios. Cut Red Tape in Wage Raises in Small Theaters Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Much of the red tape involved in raising wages for theaters and other units with less than 30 employes is eliminated by a special exemption announced this morning by the War Labor Board. The formula for firms employing 30 or fewer permits merit increases without approval of WLB provided the total to any individual does not exceed 10 cents per straight time hour during any year starting with last July 1 and provided the total amount involved in these increases hi any one year does not exceed an average of five cents per straight time hour for all employes in the establishment whose wages or sal- aries are under WLB authority. These increases are not to exceed the highest rate paid by the em- ployer for similar jobs between last June and July 1942 nor may they be used to justify price increases or the raising of other wages within the establishment to correct inequi- ties. UA Dines Circuit Reps. Before Cagney Pic Preview A group of metropolitan circuit operators and trade paper represen- tatives were hosted by United Artists last night at a dinner at Toots Shor's. The party of more than 60 persons adjourned later to the Loew's Zieg- ftld Theater for a special preview of the James Cagney film, "Johnny Come Lately," the initial production of William Cagney Productions. TJA home office representatives present included Edward C. Rafters', Grad Sears. Arthur Kelly. Carl Leserman. Edward Schnitzel-. Harry Gold. Sam Lefkowitz. Harry Buckley, Walter Gould. Paul Lazarus, Sr.. Manny Sih-erstone. Phil Dow, Jack Ellis, Jack Wreg-e, Charles Steele, Steve McGrath, Harry Muller, Paul Lazarus, Jr., Robin Harris, Arthur Jeffrey, Arnold Stoltz and Herb Berg-. James Mulvey. William Heine- man and Joseph Shea represented Cagrney. 14 Seattle Area Houses Closed by Polio's Sweep Seattle — Fourteen theaters in the Seattle territory were closed last week due to the infantile paralysis epidemic. Closings followed several fatalities and the prospects for early re-openings are said to be dark. "Lassie Come Home" Set For Music Hall Showing Metro's "Lassie Come Home" has been set into the Music Hall to fol- low Para.'s "So Proudly We Hail," Gus Eyssell managing director, said yesterday. Marty SchifJ Leaves Warners Martin Schiff, of Warners foreign department for the past several years, and prior to that a traveling arditor for Universal, has resigned to join Grayson Shops, Inc., of Cali- fornia, a chain store organization. He took up his new duties yesterday and will be located in New York. COMIflG and GOIM TOM CONNORS, vice-president ;n charge of world - wide distribution of 20th - Fox films, left yesterday for sales conferences in New Haven and Toronto. W. C. CEHRINC. Western sales manager, is accompanying Connors to Canada.. BOB SAVIN I, president of Astor Pictures, leaves Los Angeles tomorrow, stopping in San Atlanta to visit his exchanges. He retur^y 1 Francisco, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans ^ Atlanta to visit hi: New York Sept. 4 LOUIS B. MAYER and WALT DISNEY leave the Coast today for Mexico City to be decorated bv the Mexican president for promoting harmony between this country and Mexico. ABE GOODMAN, production manager of 20th- Fox, is back at his desk at the 20th-Fox Home Office after two weeks vacation spent in the Adirondacks with MRS. GOODMAN and family. LOUIS SHANFIELD, art director of 20th-Fox. has gone on a vacation to Creen Mountain. JACK BLOOM, assistant to L. ). Schlaifer, 20th-Fox Central sales manager, and EDDIE COLLINS, assistant to W. C. Cehring, Western sales manager, have left New York for New Haven and Canada for sales conferences. ERIC BLORE is expected in town this week. BILLY THOMAS of Pine-Thomas, Paramount producers, left the Coast yesterday for Wil- mington, Del. and Washington, to screen "Sol- diers of the Soil." WALTER ABEL, who plays the chaplain in "So Proudly We Hail," will arrive in New York Sunday, from Hollywood to attend the premiere of the picture set at Radio City Music Hall. ED SMALL is here from the Coast and plans to return late this week. HENRI ELMAN, PRC franchise holder in Chicago, is in town for product huddles with home office officials. ROY HAINES, Western and Southern di- vision sales manager for Warners, left last night for a Midwest tour. His first stop will be Chicago, followed by Minneapolis. TED TOD, Warners Midwest field rep., is in Detroit for the week working on local "This is the Army" campaign. ROBERT H. DANN, assistant secretary of RKO, will leave for Hollywood about Sept. 10 to assume his new post as vice-president and general counsel of Vanguard Productions. LEON J. BAMBERGER, RKO Radio sales pro- motion manager, has returned to his desk after a two weeks' vacation. LEN DALY of UA's foreign publicity depart- ment, returns to New York today by plane, following a three-months' trip to Mexico and Cuba. MIMI CHANDLER has returned to Hollywood from a visit to her home at Versailles, Ky. DORIS ARDEN, Chicago Times film critic, is vacationing. NICK CAVALIERE, New Haven cameraman, is back from another government photo mission, this time in southern waters. E. STUTZ, manager of the Circle Theater, Cleveland, is in New York. He plans to reopen the Penn Square, Cleveland foreign language theater, in September. S. J. GREGORY, Alliance circuit prexy, is in California on a months trip. MARCIA WINN, Chicago Tribune film writer, is in New York City. ALLAN JONES and IRENE HERVEY head East from Hollywood next month to appear at the Capitol the week of Sept. 16. LOUISE ALBRITTON and ROBERT PAIGE start a series of p.a.'s in the New York area Sept. 11. LOU LEWELLEN, Paramount publicist, has re- turned from Chicago. ACE MANPOWER for ANY JOB AVAILABLE NOW— CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y. Tel. MU. 2-6494 i yD Tuesday, August 24, 1943 DAILY K-A-O's Profit Jumps $436,034 In 26 Weeks (Continued from Page 1) taxes, $672,251, was based on a 42 per cent rate for 1943 applied on a consolidated tax return basis as compared with a 45 per cent rate for 1942 on an individual tax return D'J!i. \ wnen the tax provision was si^l/t $474,860. Profit before provision for depre- ciation and income taxes was $1,- 953,629, compared with $1,300,100 in the 1942 period. Missouri Congressman To Seek Industry Probe (Continued from Page 1) duce a resolution when the House of Eepresentatives reconvenes call- ing for a sweeping investigation of the motion picture industry to de- termine whether it has been sub- jected to any pressure to produce propaganda pictures beneficial to the New Deal and furthering the drive for a fourth term. Ploeser stated that the motion picture industry is "as important in influencing public opinion as the newspapers or radio." He added that the current Congressional in- vestigation of the Federal Commu- nications Commission clearly indi- cates that certain Governmental of- cers are exceeding their powers in radio censorship. His probe of the motion picture industry would de- termine whether any producing com- pany has violated the Corrupt Prac- tices Act by making direct or in- direct contributions to a political candidacy and whether pressure to force such violation exists, Con- gressman Ploeser said. Osserman Anniversary To be Marked by Drive Chicago — The silver anniversary of Jack Osserman, RKO district manager, will be celebrated by the sales staff of four exchanges under his management. Chicago exchanges, with Sam Gorelic in charge; St. Louis, with Ray Nolan, manager; Kansas City, with James Lewis, and Milwaukee exchange, with Art. Schmidt on deck, will stage a sales drive with the slogan, "25 dates for 25 years." Campaign opens Sept. 17 and runs to Oct. 14. Mary Howard Dorothy Comingore H. J. Yates Victor Halperin "Father" and Chatter: • • • NOT only our industry's professional orbs, but those o£ mil- lions of entertainment-seekers, are now and climactically riveted upon "Life With Father," — for this very week may well see the deal for film rights consummated While all the big producing interests have put in bids either recently or fairly so, the field appears to have narrowed down to Warners. Pickford, Goldwyn, and Vanguard (David O. Selznick's org.) One of the best barometers of purchaser interest in "Father" is the plethora of invitations to luncheon which Mister Serlin is re- ceiving (obviously extended so's particular bidders or their accredited representatives will be sure the others ain't stealing a march) If Mary Pickford gets the coveted prize, William Powell may get the role of "Father" And don't be too sure that Miss Pickford won't play the Dorothy Stickney part As matters stack up now, the top bid is $500,000, plus 75 per cent of the net profit, plus, of course, the Serlin "Ten Commandments," which name Mister Goldwyn is said to have tagged upon the conditions of production demanded by Oscar "Life With Father," in celluloid form, will undoubtedly be one of the great grossing pix of all time If the Serlin conditions aren't met, and it's no dice on a deal, you can bet your bottom dollar that Oscar will make it himself, and release via a major of his choice ..••.. ▼ V V • • • CHATTER: Don't be surprised if Dick Arlen, now in New York, appears in British pix With a shortage of leading men on the other side, British studios are angling for his services, 0 "Roughly Speaking" and "God Is My Co-Pilot/' WB properties on the new season schedule, moved a little higher on the best-seller lists the past week. . , . • William K. Jenkins, head of the Lucas & Jenkins Theaters in Georgia and Paramount associate, has been 'lected to directorate of the First National Bank of Atlanta. ... • Leonard Schlesinger, formerly of Warner Theaters exec, staff in New York and now a Chief Petty Officer, has been assigned to duty with the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Building, Washington, D. C, following completion of basic training at Camp Perry. ... a James A. Stan- garone, formerly of Life mag, this week joins the March of Time as assistant to Phil A. Williams, M of T advertising director Br'r Stangarone was previously connected with the Perm Mutual Insurance Co. and with Barron Collier in a sales capacity. ... • Columbia would like to tie Pvt. Edward Kramer to a post-war deal {he's in The Army Play By Play). ... • Broadway may see a play this Fall spon- sored by Sam Bischoff . .... .It's "Mother's Day," which gets a tryout in Frisco next month. ... • William Goetz and Leo Spitz are no longer interested in acquiring a 50 per cent interest in "One Touch Of Venus," Broadway-bound musical. ... • Pincus W. Tell has resumed as movie editor and critic of the Home News, Bronx daily. • Broadway may not guffaw at Olsen and Johnson again until they've toured the provinces and made a second pic for Universal. ... • Or- son Welles will finish that South American pic for RKO,— that's the latest word via Coast "grapevine." ... • Speaking of type casting, the U. S. Army assigned Sergeant Irving Berlin Cahn to handle radio exploitation for the two-theater premiere of Irving Berlin's "This Is The Army" in Denver Pic makes its gala bow out there tonight in the Denver and Esquire La Dottie Lamour, now visiting her hubby at Lowry Field near Denver, has been phoning the city's big- wigs and selling 'em tickets for the two-ply bow She's piled up over 5 G-s already V V V • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! New Theater Permits Up to McMurphey (Continued from Page 1) and similar applications today. Un- til now, these have been handled solely by Allen G. Smith of the WPB Service Equipment Division, but hereafter they will be under the wing of the OCR Amusement Sec- tion. Final authority over them re- mains with Smith, however, since they will go from OCR to Smith. Until now there has been only one authority over these applications, whereas most comparable matters have been handled through offices of first and second reference by WPB. The OCR office now becomes office of first reference, with Smith act- ing as second reference. He will receive recommendations from OCR. How far he will be bound by these recommendations is something nei- ther Smith nor MacMurphey knows at this time, although it appears that Smith will retain the major part of his authority, while being re- lieved of a good deal of the work. MacMurphey said yesterday that he is still looking for a man to take over this work — preferably an in- dustry man, but until he finds such a person he will handle it himself. Soviet Envoy Will Host Preview of "Stalingrad" Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Andrei A. Gromyko, new Soviet Ambassador, and Mme. Gromyko will be hosts to the Wash- ington diplomatic corps and top ranking newspaper correspondents, columnists and radio commentators at a special preview of Para.'s "The City That Stopped Hitler— Heroic Stalingrad" in the Interior Depart- ment auditorium in Washington Thursday. NTS Counsel's Wife Dead Havana (By Air Mail) — P. Cama- cho, wife of Victor Echevarria, coun- sel of the National Theatre Supply Co., is dead here. IN NEW POSTS YARROW MILLER, office manager, Warners exchange, Pittsburgh. JOSEFH N. HOUSTON, Warner field supervisor, New Haven. DONALD ROGERS, manager, Imperial, Cleveland, O. ALBERT POULTON, salesman, Monogram, New Haven. ROBERT STREET, manager, State, Charlotte, N. C. BERNAL LEWIS, manager, Dilworth, Charlotte, N. C. OSCAR W. MONTGOMERY, manager, Broadway, Charlotte, N. C. ELI DREYLINCER, city manager, North Carolina Theaters, Inc., Lexington, N. C. DEAN GROSS, manager, Paramount, Seattle. ARTHUR SMITH, shipper, RKO, Seattle. BOB HARLOWE, film editor, Chicago Shopping News. HARRY E. SCHILLER, manager, Grand, Crand Island, Neb. ft Brick the Attack! Back the 3rd tf'ar Loan in Seftemkrr.' f $&*WnA WARWEK b tf* TftW \3^S From the Play that Won the Critics' Award for Year's Best' Mi?- ted W * tt^- fc tlSER MM m m DAIIY Tuesday, August 24, 1943 Newark Nabe Houses Enforce Own Curfew Newark, N. J. — Acting on instruc- tions from circuit and indie theater owners, neighborhood managers, their assistants and cashiers, were lined up together today in a deter- mined, concerted drive to keep un- escorted children under 16, out of their houses at night. In the downtown nabes and throughout the suburban areas, man- agers or their assistants stood on guard beside the cashier at the box- office, determined that they will not be "caught napping" under the language of some antequated city ordinance or state statute, such as is being applied against the respec- tive managers, cashiers and ticket takers at the Claridge and Wellmont theaters in Montclair, on complaint of the police, for having admitted six boys under age without adult escort. The law under which all will face charges, is said to have gone by the boards unnoticed for years. It applies as a misdemeanor if children under 14 are admitted, punishable by a fine. "But we are taking no chances on somebody else coming up with some long-since antequated ordinance or law, to be used against us," one manager pointed out. "If they're too young at 14, they are not much older at 16. Moreover, if this is part of a police drive to break up vandalism, I'm all for it and the quicker we put these kids in their places at night — in their homes — the better for all concerned." Nor will it do children under age any good to get by the ticket taker on the arm of a borrowed "big brother" or "aunt" from the box- office line-up, such as has been the practice at some of the larger down- town houses where unaccompanied children have been refused admit- tance for some time. As of today, in line with other organized groups to bring an end to juvenile delinquency, the police of the city will pick up every boy oi' girl, single or in groups, unless they are with adults, after 11 o'clock and all will be broght to police headquarters for questioning. Where the parents seem to be at fault, these parents will be summoned and reprimanded and advised that re- peated offenses might bring more drastic punishment. Forgotten Jersey Statute Basis for Managers' Arrest Montclair, N. J. — Two motion pic- ture theater managers here, their respective cashiers and ticket takers, faced charges here today, under a long-forgotten state statute which forbids the admittance to theaters, of children under 14, unless accom- panied by adults. They are Al Barber, manager at the Claridge, his cashier, Bernice Dintefass and his ticket taker, Ray Tiefau; named at the Wellmont theater are Fred Steinback, assistant manager, Glo- reviews of new fums "The Seventh Victim" with Tom Conway RKO 71 Mins. POORLY DEVELOPED STORY HANDI- CAPS THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH MELO- DRAMA FANS WONT MIND TOO MUCH. Although this melodrama leaves much to be desired, it should manage to get by with the type of audience for which it has been designed. Chiefly in the film's favor is its mood, which creates a feeling of doom. In this the photography of Nicholas Masura- ca plays an important role. The story has been told with a fair amount of suspense and one or two exciting mo- ments. Its chief fault is that it lacks clarity. The plot has been developed in a confusing manner. The end in particu- lar will leave audiences in a bit of a quandary. The plot has to do with the attempt to locate a missing woman (Jean Brooks) who is hiding from a cult that worships evil. The devil worshippers are after her because she has violated their code. The audience may wonder why she's so eager to escape the clutches of the villains when the gal is always talking about loving death. The girl is saved from the cult only to betake herself to a noose for the purpose of sui- cide. The picture serves to introduce a new- comer named Kim Hunter. RKO should have picked a better coming-out party for the young lady, who shows real capability in spite of the ordinary role assigned her. The girl appears as Miss Brooks' sister. Tom Conway has the top role as a psy- chiatrist who helps Miss Brooks. He plays his usual suave self. Erford Gage, en- acting a poet who assists in the search for Miss Brooks, gives one of the best per- formances in the picture. Among the other players are Isabel Jewell, Evelyn Brent, Ben Bard and Hugh Beaumont. Mark Robson directed with a deliberate- ness that fits in with the film's mood. Charles O'Neal and DeWitt Bodeen col- laborated on the screenplay, which was produced by Val Lewton. CAST: Tom Conway, Kim Hunter, Jean Brooks, Hugh Beaumont, Erford Gage, Isabel Jewell, Chef Milani, Marguerita Sylva, Ewelyn Brent, Mary Newton, Wally Brown, Ben Bard, Feodor Chaliapin. CREDITS: Producer, Val Lewton; Direc- tor, Mark Robson; Screenplay, Charles O'Neal, DeWitt Bodeen; Cameraman, Nicholas Musuraca! Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinkoff ; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller; Set Decorators, Darrell Silvera, Harley Miller; Sound, John C. Grubb; Film Editor, John Lockert. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY Good. ria Cocossa, cashier and ticket taker Bernie Steeple. Complaints are being- made by the police as a result of a special check made a few days ago, when, it is alleged, three boys under 14 were admitted at the Claridge and as many more at the Wellmont. The police claim they have the ticket stubs of the boys and a statement from each. The law under which the charges will be made, has been a state statute for years but never observed. It is a misdemeanor and carries a $100 fine for each conviction. The police, it is said, were spurred to action by the daily increasing complaints of juvenile delinquency, in a drive to keep children off the streets at night. "Holy Matrimony" with Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields 20th-Fox 87 Mins. SUPERB COMEDY IS HEADED FOR HEAVY TAKES; WOOLLEY, FIELDS, MAKE A SUPERLATIVE TEAM. Chalk up another triumph for 20th-Fox and Nunnally Johnson. In "Holy Matri- mony" he has consummated a wedding of the cinematic arts that will bring happiness galore to exhibitor and patron alike. The fiim which is pure escapism, should prove one of 20th-Fox's biggest grossers of the year. With superb cleverness and exemplary skill Johnson has concocted a solid piece of entertainment from the Arnold Bennett novel, "Buried Alive," which was made into a film once before — by Paramount in 1933 under the title "His Double Life." Audiences will revel in the delicious fun purveyed by this comedy, which at times can be as gentle as it is hilarious. The intelligent will get as much diversion out of "Holy Matrimony" as the dyed-in-the-wool fans. Johnson has assembled a hand-picked cast. In the leading role Monty Woolley again delivers a sock comedy performance. As a famous British painter who tries to escape the inconveniences that go with fame he is a mixture of brusqueness and sentiment. In some respects he is more satisfying than in his earlier film roles. The story of "Holy Matrimony" is ironic, provocative and out of the ordinary. Woolley returns to his native England to be knighted after secluding himself in the South Seas for a quarter of a century. When his valet (Eric Blore) dies, Woolley's name is entered in the death certificate by mistake. Blore is buried in Westminister Abbey. The painter, eager for peace and quiet, makes no attempt to correct the error. Assuming Blore's identity, he finds what he's after in marriage to Gracie Fields, a widow. Com- plications arise when Blore's wife turns up. There follows a court session in which Woolley has a tough time convincing the world that he isn't Blore. It takes the presence of two moles on his anatomy to win his case. Of course, the discovery that the chap resting in the Abbey is just a valet creates a sensation. Miss Fields does excellently with her part. She has every right to share the top acting honors with Woolley. Laird Cregar is outstanding in the supporting cast, which includes such other fine performers as Una O'Connor, Alan Mowbray, Melville Cooper, Blore, Franklin Pangborn and George Zucco. John Stahl has provided high-cailbre di- rection. Johnson has given the film a production that is every bit as fine as his screenplay. Lucien Ballard's camera work is tops. CAST: Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields, Laird Cregar, Una O'Connor, Alan Mowbray, Mel- ville Cooper, Franklin Pangborn, Ethel Griffies, Eric Blore, George Zucco, Fritz Feld, William Austin, Montagu Love, Richard Fraser, Edwin Maxwell, Leyland Hodgson, Whitner Bissell, Geoffrey Steele, Lumsden Hare, Thomas Louden, Ian Wolfe, Milton Parsons, Alec Craig. CREDITS: Producer, Nunnally Johnson; Director, John Stahl; Screenplay, Nunnally Johnson; Based on novel "Buried Alive" by Arnold Bennett; Cameraman, Lucien Ballard; Art Directors, James Basevi, Russell Spencer; Hope Blue Laws Are Out Beyond Duration (Continued from Page 1) with providing the utmost in recrea- tional facilities for war-swollen com- munities and has succeeded, among other things, in obtaining temporary shelving of local ordinances prohibit- ing Sunday operation of there's and, in some towns, screenings \_ Jer midnight. In most cases, the town fathers have written off the blue laws only for the duration, but OCWS officials are confident that the cases where these are clamped down again will be exceptions. "That's our philos- ophy," said one official yesterday. "Once they're down, they'll stay down, but as a war agency we can't push that." ' The agency has been greatly impressed by the co-operation voluntarily offered by ex- hibitors all over the country to try to aid the recreation program. In many towns where Sunday operation is prohibited and the ban has not yet been lifted, exhibitors- have offered their theaters for community sings and other entertainment of a like na- ture. Frequently these theaters afforded the only premises suitable for such mass recrea- tion. In other cases, exhibitors have provided films for showing in public parks, TMCA's, etc., making rental arrangements usually with the "Y" or the community recreation committee. OCWS has been working strictly through these local communities which have been keeping constant pressure on their municipal authorities for relaxation of the Blue Laws. Sunday closings are still prevalent in large areas of the South and the Corn Belt, but it is felt that considerable progress has been made. The agency stepped in during" a re- cent case in Farmville, Va., where an ex- hibitor had been fined for screening on Sun- day and the conviction was set aside by the Virginia Court of Appeals. In his decision, the Virginia jurist declared that "due to the complexities of the present civilization and the strain under which we now live and work, relaxation and recreation are just as much necessities as food and drink. We must now recognize as necessities things which were once held to be luxuries. Miskell Replaces Kinskey As Tri-States District Head Omaha — Joseph Kinskey has re- signed as Nebraska and Western Iowa district manager of Tri-States Theaters Corp. and has been suc- ceeded by William Miskell, G. Bran- ton, general manager, announced Fri- day at a meeting of managers. Mis- kell is the oldest Tri-States manager in Omaha in point of service; al- though only 39, he has had 26 years of show business experience. Kinskey, chief barker for the Oma- ha Variety Club, is moving to Santa Monica, Calif, to own and operate the Aero Theater. Ted Emerson, present Paramount manager, will take over Miskell's job as manager of the Orpheum and Don Shane, now managing the Capitol, Daven- port, la., will take over the Para- mount. Emmet Lockard remains as manager of the Omaha. Set Decorator, Thomas Little; Film Editor, James B. Clark; Sound, E. Clayton Ward, Roger Heman; Special Effects, Fred Sersen; Musical Score, Cyril J. Mockridge; Musical Director, Emil Newman. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. WCHIN& wee two a vennett CENTURY-FOX THIRD WAR LOAN SEPT. 9th to 20th. GET READY! PRINTED IN U.S.A. Tuesday, August 24, 1943 WVwiy Studying Post-War Population Shifts (Continued from Page 1) having gained about six per cent in total civilian population, despite the loss of hundreds of thousands of residents to the armed forces. With tb" exception of the Southeastern ir-" )s, which registered a one per ctrm, gain, the Far West was the only region to gain. Must Reabsorb 15,000,000 On the other hand, disproportion- ately large blocs of the population of several individual states are en- gaged in war work, with more than 45 per cent of the total population of Washington, Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut and Rhode Island either in war work or in uniform. In a score of other states the proportion is nearly as large. Nationally, it has been estimated, nearly 15,000,- 000 war workers and servicemen will have to be reabsorbed in the peace- time economy. There has been considerable alarm about the future economy of these states, but what has frequently been forgotten is that many of them con- tain in their war plants productive facilities which may, with relative ease, be converted to peacetime needs. Employment prospects in Connecticut, for instance, are large- ly dependent upon the post-war de- velopment of aircraft, resumption of typewriter production, automotive production, etc. I If these industries swing into pro- duction for civilian needs without too great a loss of time, it is pointed out here, there is no reason for widespread and long-standing unem- ployment. Although brief layoffs are almost inevitable, demoralization need not follow. As for the box- office — it can do very nicely during layoff periods when workers have some assurance that they are not permanently unemployed. Most workers will be far from penniless at the war's end. Varies From State to State According to a recent study of the problem by the U. S. Depart- ment of Labor's Post-War Planning Unit, "the severity of the situation will vary from state to state, de- pending largely upon the amount of such excess labor in relation to the normal capacity of the industries within the state to provide work." This "excess," according to the de- partment's figures, ranged from 19 to 60 per cent of normal pre-war em- ployment. Similar figures on the STORKS Toronto — Birth of a son to Lt. J. J. Fitzgibbons of the U. S. Army and Mrs. Fitzgibbons was reported from Honolulu where Lt. Fitzgibbons has been stationed for more than a year. Father is the son of the presi- dent of Famous Players Canadian Corp., and is the latter's first grand- child. HCLLyWCCD DIGEST SIGNED ARTHUR CUTTMAN, musical director, "Dr. Paul Joseph Coebbels, His Life and Loves," W. R. Frank. MARILYN CREEN, casting assistant, Vanguard. MAURICE DE PACKH, composer, Pal Puppe- roon Studios. RANDOLPH SCOTT, three years, 20th-Fox. HENRY O'NEIL, termer, M-C-M. CUY LOMBARDO ORK, termer, M-C-M. ASSIGNMENTS LEO SOLOMON and ALAN WOOD, screenplay, "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," Monogram. FRANK H. YOUNG, screenplay, "Million Dollar Kid," Monogram. LOUISE ALBRITTON and ROBERT PAIGE, co- star, "Her Primitive Man," Universal. CASTINGS RISE STEVENS, "The Count of Luxembourg," Paramount; RANDOLPH SCOTT, "Torpedo Squadron 8," 20th-Fox; CEORGE MURPHY, JUNE HAVOC and CONSTANCE MOORE, "Show Business," RKO; ION CHANEY, ACQUANETA and JOHN CARRADINE, "The Mummy's Ghost," Universal; BELA LUCOSI, MILES MANDER and MATT WILLS, "The Return of the Vampire," Columbia; WILLIAM EYTHE, "The Eve of St. Mark," 20th-Fox; WILLIAM CARGAN, "The Canterville Ghost," M-C-M; ENA HORNE, "Two Sisters and a Sailor," M-C-M; TIM and IRENE RYAN, EDWARD NORRIS, FORTUNIO BONANO- VA, JACK LaRUE, "The Sultan's Daughter," Monogram. RANDOLPH SCOTT, "Torpedo Squadron 8," 20th-Fox; EDDIE BRACKEN, "True to the Navy," Paramount; LENA HORNE and DONALD MEEK, "Two Sisters and a Sailor," METRO; VICTOR BORCE, "Higher and Higher," RKO; PERRY COMO, "Blue Skies," 20th-Fox; ALINE MACMAHON, TONI FAVOR and JOANN DOLAN, "Eve of St. Mark," 20th-Fox; BARRY FITZ- GERALD, "The Incendiary Blonde," Paramount; CANADA LEE, "New Ceorgia," Metro; FRIEDA INESCORT. "Return of the Vampire," Columbia; RECINALD OWEN, "The Canterville Ghost," Metro; CHARLES BUTTERWORTH, "The Sultan's Daughter," Monogram; JUDITH GIBSON and JOEL FRIEND, "Sweethearts of the U. S. A,," Monogram; JONATHAN HALE, "Ten Percent Woman," Columbia; IDA LUPINO, "The House of Chedwick," 20th-Fox; ROLAND VARNO, "The Return of the Vampire," Columbia; ROB- ERT HAYMES, "The Rookie," Columbia; LEO CARRILLO, "Moonlight and Cactus," Universal; JUNE MILLARD, "When Ladies Fly," Universal; DOUGLAS WOOD, ROBERT LOWELL, MARY CURRIE, "Ten Percent Woman," Columbia; CORDON OLIVER, "Dangerous. Journey," RKO; JEAN BROOKS, "The Falcon and the Coeds," RKO. Warners' Grosses Moving Ahead Steadily in Canada (Continued from Page 1) ion as in the United States, accord- ing to a report made yesterday by Ben Kalmenson, general sales man- ager, upon his return to his desk from Montreal, where he conducted the WB two-day Canadian sales meeting. Kalmenson said that, in emulation of the practice being followed here, the actual number of pictures to be released in Canada during the 1943- 1944 season will depend upon the needs of the market there. Substitution of women for men in the company's branches in Canada tc fill posts vacated by men who have gone into the service is being resorted to on a larger scale than in this country, asserted Kalmen- son, who added that extra effort is making it possible for the ex- changes to maintain their efficiency. Returning with Kalmenson were Arthur Sachson, assistant general sales manager, and Norman H. Mo- ray, short subjects sales manager. amount of pre-war production elimi- nated for the duration are not avail- able. In general, the problem appears to be of greatest magnitude in the Lake States, the Far West, the Cen- tral Atlantic states and Southern New England. Although any defi- nite prediction regarding these states is not warranted at this time, there is a strong feeling here that the disruption to civilian economy can be kept at a minimum by effec- tive intelligent planning. There is a strong possibility that exhibitors in rural areas may feel the effect of post-war demobilization more than urban exhibitors, for a sharp drop in farm income is not unlikely. When it comes it is liable to last far longer than the lay-off periods many workers will expein- ence. Sub Four Disney Shorts For Second Feature Pix (Continued from Page 1) ing the policy in a large number of other theaters. Loew's tested the idea in Bridgeport, labeling the shorts unit the "Walt Disney Laff Revue." Other circuits also have taken up the plan. Patrons' comment cards at the Poli indicated an overwhelming ma- jority in favor of the short sub- jects, only 48 persons favoring a second feature out of several thou- sand replies, according to the Bridge- port Post which reported the results. Harry Michalson, RKO short sub- jects sales manager, said that since the Bridgeport test, the following Loew theaters have repeated it: Poli, Hartford; Palace, Meriden; Po- li, New Haven; Poli, Waterbury; Po- li, Worcester; Valentine Toledo; Loew's, Indianapolis; Loew's, Louis- ville; Midland, Kansas City;, State, Providence; Palace, Springfield, and Broadway, Norwich. Among the other circuits which have tested the revue idea is Feiber & Shea with the Colonial, Akron, and the State, Manchester, N. Y. SMPE's Convention Committees Named Gene Pearce, Pioneer Southern Exhib., Dead Pontiac, Mich. — J. Eugene Pearce, 65, pioneer Southern exhibitor, died at Pontiac General Hospital, after a brief illness. He was a partner in Josiah Pearce & Sons, founder with his father in 1903, and was said to have brought the first mo- tion pictures into several Southern states. In 1918 on the death of his father, he took over the circuit of 17 theaters in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, selling out some five years later. Rites for Roloff's Mother Chicago — Funeral services were held yesterday for Mrs. Millie Ro- loff, mother of Clair Roloff, DeVry Co. ad manager. Committees to handle the 54th semi-annual technical conference of the Society of Motion Picture Engi- neers are announced by W. C. Kunz- mann, convention vice-president. Papers on a variety of topics will be presented at 10 general sessions during the five-day conference, Sept. 18-22. Committees include: Papers: C. R. Daily, chairman; C. R. Keith, vice-chairman East Coast: F. W. Bowditeh, G. A. Chambers, F. L. Eich, R. E. Farnham, J. L. Forrest, J. Frank, Jr., J. G. Frayne, P. A. McGuire, E. W. Kel- logg-, G. E. Matthews. H. W. Moyse. W. H. Offenhauser, V. C. Shauer, S. P. Solow, W. V. Wolfe. Reception and Local Arrangements: Emery Huse, chairman; H. J. Chanon, J. G. Frayne. A. M. Gundelflnger, C. W. Handley. E. H. Hansen, J. K. Hillard, E. M. Honan, M. S. Leshing, W. C. Miller, R. H. McCullough. P. Mole, F. K. Morgan. H. W. Moyse, W. A. Mueller. G. F. Rackett, H. W. Remershied, L. L. Ryder, C. G. Sawyer, S. P. Solow, J. R. Wilkinson, W. V. Wolfe. Registration and Information: W. C. Kunzmann, chairman: C. W. Handley, E. Huse, R. G. Linderman, H. Smith, Jr. Publicity: Julius Haber, chairman; J. W. "Boyle, C. R. Daily, G. Gibson. G. R. Girux. C. R. Keith, E. C. Richardson. Luncheon and Dinner-Dance: Loren L. Ryder, chairman: A. M. Gundelflnger. H. T. Kalmus, E. M. Honan, E. Huse, P. Mole, H. W. Moyse, W. A. Mueller, H. W. Remer- shied, R. R. Scoville, S. P. Solow, J. R. Wilkinson, W. V. Wolfe. Hotel and Transportation: A. M. Gundel- flnger, chairman; A. C. Blaney, L. W. Chase, H. J. Chanon. L. E. Clarke. A. F. Edouart, H. Goldfarb. G. T. Lorance. W. C. Marcus, O. F. Neu, G. E. Sawyer, N. L. Simons, W. L. Thayer. Projection — 35-mm. Programs: R. H. Mc- Cullough, chairman; L. R. Abbott, B. Free- ricks, W. E. Gebhardt, Jr., W. W. Lindsay, Jr., C. R. Russell, C. R. Sawyer, W. V. Wolfe, officers and members of IATSE lo- cals 150 and 165: 16-mm. Programs, H. W. Remershied, chairman: A. H. Bolt, C. Dun- ning, A. M. Gundelflnger, J. Runk. Ladies Reception: Mrs. C. W. Handley, hostess. WEDDING BELLS Cleveland — Cupid released two darts in the local Vitagraph ex- change, scoring two hits. Florence Gordon, secretary to district man- ager Charles Rich, has announced her engagement to Lt. Philip Astor, a member of the Quartermaster Corps stationed in Alaska. And Alexandra Lifshutz of the secretar- ial force declares her intention to marry Corp. Joseph Berger of Camp Crowder, Mo. Boston — Loretta Duffy of the RKO exchange was married Sun- day to Emanuel Hunt. Chicago — Ensign John Robertson, formerly with Zenith Corp. was mar- ried to Majorie Davidson of River Forest. He recently returned from active duty in the South Pacific area. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Lt. Rudy Vallee, USCG, and Bettejane Greer, model, are engaged to be married. there's a TRUNK-FULL of M &/* • WATCH FOR MORE P*/ZF PACKAGE! ey <» /Mi oora»>s Musical... ^Sfc '«*/» *a *o. */< Cf <£• ^i ITS A SHOWMAN'S NATURAL! "There's a new team of comics in the world of show busi- ness to be reckoned with from this point on, folks, and it's an idea grounded in precedent to give them plenty of running room in billing and on screen. They're Frank Fay and Billy Gilbert, and they're not like Abbott and Costello, but they stack up in this first of their pictures much as Bud and Lou stacked up in their first, therefore it's a good bet they'll be going on and up in the scale of popularity when the public gets a look at them." . . . MOTION PICTURE DAILY FROM THE /Iff W VHtMQfl^! 12 3* I DAILY Tuesday, August 24, 1943 j Will Dedicate War Center on Sept. 3 (Continued from Page 1) of all armed services of the nation. Powers declared that a rally, fol- lowed by a parade from Times Square to the new War Center On Victory Square, is being contem- plated, and, following dedication of the surrounding exhibits, in which captured enemy war materiel will play an important part along with our own and allied fighting equip- ment, ceremonies will be held in the great tent, in the presence of some 2,000 prominent personages compris- ing the invitation audience. In the wake of the ceremonies, the first big talent show will be offered, staged by the United Theatrical War Activities body. On Sept. 9, opening day of the Third War Loan Campaign, other ceremonies will probably be held, Powers said, but the talent shows and other programmed events will be given each day from Sept. 3 un- til Oct. 1 or 2 whichever date will mark the campaign's conclusion. Cost of construction required to put the War Center in full operat- ing order is estimated at approxi- mately $50,000 by Major Leslie E. Thompson, chairman of the Victory Square Committee functioning with the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Department. The Victory Square Committee is in the process of formation and will include many of the leading figures in the enter- tainment world. Major Thompson said that the photo murals which occupy spaces above the war Center's buildings on the 50th St. side are the largest ever made, and added that the Cen- ter will operate the greater portion of every day from its dedication to campaign's finale. He expects that the alterations now under way will be completed today, and the devel- opment ready for meetings of or- ganizational and indoctrinating char- acter which will be held at the big tent from tomorrow until Sept. 3, and attended by groups within the Commerce and Industry Division of the Third War Loan. The auditorium will seat 2,176, in- cluding central floor space, Thomp- son revealed, and that the Center, including exhibit space, aggregates 54,000 sq. ft. Box-offices are to be on the 50th St. side, and admission will be, for all programed events, via purchase of Stamps or Bonds, Exit. Billy the Kid West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — PRC has decided to drop the title, "Billy the Kid," describing its Western series star- ring Buster Crabbe, and instead will label the group as the "Buster Crabbe Series." Move eliminates any suggestion of gangsterism or out- lawism. 17 New Features Starting 63 Pictures Before Cameras on West Coast By RALPH WILK West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Production pace ma- terially quickens this week under the impetus of 17 new starters, and the fresh burst of activity sends the total before cameras to 63, the larg- est number in some time. The check-up: At Columbia: Eight shooting, in- cluding "None Shall Escape," drama, with Andre De Toth directing and Burt Kelly producing; and, "Hey Rookie," Army musical, starring Ann Miller, with Hal Maclntyre and his orchestra, and the Johnson Brothers. Irving Briskin producing and Charles Barton directing. At M-G-M: Twelve shooting-, including "Gaslight," drama, co-starring Ingrid Berg- man and Charles Boyer, with Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty, Angela Lansbury, Bar- bara Everest, Edmond Brien, Emile Ra- meaux, Harry Allen, John Abbott and Alec Craig. George Cukor directing for pro- ducer Arthur Hornblow, Jr.; "The Canter- ville Ghost," film version of the Oscar Wilde story, with Charles Laughton. Margaret O'Brien, Robert Young, Regs Ragland, Regin- ald Owen and Peter Lawford. Norman Me- Leod directing for producer, Arthur Freed; and, "Mr. Co-Ed" starring Red Skelton. with Esther Williams, Harry James and his orchestra, Xavier Cugat and his orchestra and Carlos Ramirez. Jack Cummings pro- ducing and George Sidney directing. At Monogram: Five shooting, including "The Sultan's Daughter," Ann Corio star- ring vehicle, with Tim & Irene, Edward Norris, Fortunio Bonanova and Jack LaRue, directed by Arthur Dreifuss for Krasne- Burkett Productions; "Sweethearts of the U.S.A." with Lester Cutler producing and Lew Collins directing, with Una Merkel and Donald Novis in the leading roles, supported by Lillian Cornell, Joel Friend, Parkyakarkus, Ralph Sanford, Cobina Wright, Sr., Judith Gibson, Joe Devlin and Vince Barnett; and, "Mr. Muggs Steps Out," an East Side Kids picture, with Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Joan Marsh, directed by William Beau- dine for producers Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz. At Paramount: Eight shooting, including "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," Cornelia Otis Skinner-Emily Kimbrough comedy, with Diana Lynn, Gail Russell, Bill Ed- wards, Charles Ruggles, Dorothy Gish, Beulah Bondi, Helen Freeman and Alma Kruger. Lewis Allen directing for producer Sheridan Gibney. At RKO-Radio: Six shooting, including "The Falcon and the Co-Ed," mystery drama featuring Tom Conway, with Jean Brooks. Cliff Clark, Ed Gargan, Isabel Jewell, Ed Clark, Rita Corday, Amelita Ward, Barbara Brown, Patti Brill, Carole McCollum and the Alveres Sisters. William Clemens direct- ing for producer Maurice Geraghty. Sam Goldwyn: Shooting one. At Republic: Three shooting, including "Hands Across the Border," Roy Rogers special musical, with Ruth Terry, Duncan Renaldo, Mary Treen, Joseph Crehan, LaRoy Mason, Roy Barcroft, Sons of the Pioneers, Onslow Stevens. Joe Cane directing for pro- ducer Harry Grey; and "The Fighting Sea- bees," starring John Wayne, with. George Reeves. Albert J. Cohen producing. At 20th Century-Fox: Five shooting. At United Artists: Samuel Bronson shoot- ing one. At Universal: Eight shooting, including "Passport to Dakar," drama, with Richard Whorf, Peter Van Eyk, Allyn Joslyn, John Qualen and Eddie Quillan. Julien Duvivier producing and directing; "We of the The- ater," Donald O'Connor-Martha Driscoll- Peggy Ryan starring vehicle, with Charles Lamont directing for associate producers Hugh Wedlock, Jr. and Howard Snyder; "Moonlight and Cactus," musical, starring the Andrews Sisters, with Tom Seidel, Elyse Knox, Leo Carrillo, Frank Lackteen, Shemp Howard, Tom Kennedy, Murray Alper and Mitch Ayres' band. Edward F. Cline di- recting with Frank Gross as Associate pro- ducer; "The Mummy's Ghost," horror pic- ture, with Lon Chaney, John Carradine and Acquanetta. Reginald LeBorg directing for associate producer Ben Pivar; and, "When Ladies Fly," based on a story of the WAFS, Walter Wanger production, starring Loretta Young, with Geraldine Fitzgerald, Evelyn Ankers, Lois Collier, June Vincent, Diana Barrymore, Anne Gwynne, Vivian Austin, Janet Shaw, Richard Fraser, Marie Harmon, Dorothy Moore and Owen Crawford. John Rawlins directing. Warners: Five shooting. depending upon the nature of the individual event. Although no official announcement has been made officailly, it is re- ported that Archbishop Francis J. Spellman will formally open the Third War Loan Campaign here. The War Center will, it is under- stood, be under the guardianship of the Military Police, comprising as it will so many exhibits of allied and enemy arms. 125 Theater Execs, at Chi. War Loan Drive Luncheon Chicago — One hundred and twenty- five theater executives attended the Third War Bond drive luncheon meet- ing at the Blackstone Hotel yesterday. Jack Kirsch presided. Jules Rubens, state chairman, was unable to be present owing to illness. Si Fabian of the New York headquarters urged everyone help the drive. L. C. Grif- fith of Oklahoma City, Ray Beal of the interstate Circuit made stirring pleas for theater co-operation to meet their quotas. Francis S. Harmon, co-orclinator of the drive, told them more theater sales outlets were needed to sell Bonds. He said the drive would unify the industry and solidify the theater front. Jay N. Whipple, Illinois vice-chairman for the Treasury commiteee, made a stirring talk. Captain Jack Barnett of Fox Movie- tone, veteran staff Sergeant Clifford Wehrle, lG-year-old veteran of the African campaign, Canton Operators' Union Prexy, Long 111, Dead Canton, O.— Oliver M. Stubley, 67, veteran motion picture operator, president of Local 671, died at bis home here after a lingering ill- ness. He was an operator at the Dixie, first movie theater here and for the past 20 years had been an operator at the Strand, which post he held at the time of his death. His widow and a daughter survive. also spoke. Representing various state groups at the meeting were Arthur Lehmann of Mississippi, Morris Barr of Louisiana, John Friedl of Minnesota, Elmer Rhoden of Kansas City, Don Rossiter of Indiana, Ralph Branton of Iowa, B. J. McKenna of Okla- homa, Harold Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, David Arthur of St. Louis, A. J. Jameyson of Kansas, Will Hollander of Illinois. Meetings of various district groups will get under way at once. Cleveland Distributors Meet on War Loan Drive Cleveland — Film industry got in- to the War Bond drive stride yes- terday when a meeting of distribu- tors was held in the 20th Century- Fox screen room. I. J. Schmertz, 20th-Fox branch manager, WAC co- chairman with W. N. Skirball, pre- sided in the absence of Skirball. Canadian Board Cuts "Bell Tolls" Terms (Continued from Page 1) tion by Administrator of Theaters and Films. Plan was to roadshow "Bell Tolls" in the Royal Alexandra Theater here at $1.50 top, but the Board sryd that the basic top price of thalty - ater is 75 cents and rental coula De no higher than 50 per cent. In other Canadian theaters regu- lar prices are pegged for the dura- tion and the Board stated no excep- tion could be made for any picture. Pegging of percentage pictures at no higher than 50-50 was done for the protection of exhibitors, it was stated, and variation from that rule will not be allowed. Third War Loan Trailer Stars Corp. Alan Ladd By special permission of the U. S. Army, Corp. Alan Ladd, Air Corps, will star in a trailer titled "Letter From A Friend," which is expected to run in thousands of film theaters during the Third War Loan. The War Activities Committee, which made this announcement yes- terday asked particularly that ex- hibitors note that the Ladd trailer is the only one that is free to pledge- signing theatermen from their local National Screen Service exchanges. The Third War Loan press book an- nounced that there were two free trailers from National Screen Ser- vice, "Letter From A Friend" and an as yet unnamed film featuring Rosalind Russell. Circumstances made a change in handling necessary and now the Russell film, produced by Columbia, will be attached to all newsreels by the five newsreel com- panies. "Letter From A Friend" was pro- duced by the First Motion Picture Unit of the U. S. Army Air Corps, of which Alan Ladd is a part. It was directed by Captain Sherry Shourds and photographed by Cap- tain Ted McCord, former Warner Bros, director and cameraman, re- spectively. It was "shot" out in Walla Walla, Washington, at the Air Base, with the men all giving up a "leave-day" to get the film ready in time for the campaign. A New Vogue? Since Paramount's Y. Frank Freeman arrived from the Coast with a print of "Bell" he seems to have set a new vogue. Edward C. Raftery, United Artists president, delayed his trip East long enough to bring back with him a print of "Johnny Come Lately," new James Cagney starrer produced by Wil- liam Cagney. Raftery arrived at Grand Central over the week-end print in hand for last night's special screening at Loew's Ziegfeld. Oie Prize Baby Salutes Leo the Lion for a Great Discovery ! 'BACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! 3RD WAR LOAN/" FROM MOTION PICTURE DAILY JUNE 28, 1943 NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE CORPORATION THE GREATEST MYSTERY IN ALL HISTORY! with LUDWIG DONATH • GALE SONDERGAARD GEORGE DOLENZ • FRITZ KORTNER LUDWIG STOSSEL • WILLIAM TRENK Screen Play by Fritz Kortner Original Story by Fritz Kortner and Joe May , Directed by James Hogan Associate Producer, Ben Pivar Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought file copy The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -IF DAILY- J,. 84. NO. 39 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1943 TEN CENTS WARNERS' 9-MONTH ^PROFIT AT $5^714,392 See $86,000,000 'Gate' for Garden's Bond Show H'wood Cavalcade Here Sept. 11; 10,000 Seats for Buyers of $100 War Bonds A War Bond sale of $86,000,000 is seen for the appearance of the Hollywood Cavalcade at Madison Square Garden on the night of Sept. 11, it was indicated yesterday by W. Randolph Burgess, chairman of the War Finance Committee for New York State. Admission will be through the purchase of war Bonds only. There are 18,500 seats available for the event, and, although their sale will (Continued on Page 9) Execs. Meet in D. C. On War Loan Drive Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — E astern industry leaders gather this morning at Wash- ington's new Hotel Statler to go over full details of the part the in- dustry will play in the Third War Loan drive next month. Participa- tion of Hollywood stars in the cam- (Continued on Page 9) Oil-Burning Theaters in 17 States Benefit by OPA Rule Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Theaters in 17 states benefit from the further relaxation of the rules regarding conversion of oil burners to coal announced yes- (Continued on Page 9) Argentina to Drop Raw Stoch Control? Buenos Aires (By Air mail — Passed by Censor) — The Argentine govern- ment is relinquishing the control and distribution of raw film imports, ac- cording to reliable sources. The job of supplying raw film to those producers considered both commer- cially and ideologically acceptable will be left to the importers. The shortage of raw stock may force the Lumiton Co., one of Ar- gentina's leading producers, to shut down. Detroit Industry Will Dedicate Honor Roll of Motion Picture Men in Service on Sept. 2 Detroit — All Detroit exchanges, theater supply companies, and allied trades, will unite on Sept. 2 for the dedication of an Honor Roll of film men in service, the first to be erected in this city. Dedication will enlist representatives of major faiths, including a Protestant minister, a Jewish rabbi, and a Catholic priest. Arrangements are being made by Charles Garner, branch manager for Artkino Pictures with Anne V. O'Donnell of PRC as treasurer. Approximately 80 names will be listed in a permanent Honor Roll to be placed in the lobby of the Film Exchange Building. Cuban Exhibs. Fight Live Talent Decree Havana (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — War has been declared in Cuba between theater owners and artists and musicians. The cause of the hostilities is the refusal of theaters to abide by a decree requir- ing all managers of film houses in towns of more than 20,000 popula- tion to put on a program of live entertainment featuring Cuban tal- ent at least twice a month or suffer (.Continued on Page 8) Want Protection Against Power Line Failures Murfreesboro, Tenn. — Movie the- aters and other electric power users here, in Lebanon, and in other towns in Middle Tennessee are demanding of Tennessee Valley Authority that (Continued on Page 4) Gulf Storm Repairs To Require Months Dallas — Repairs to theaters in the Gulf storm area will require about three months' time, with the recon- struction work complicated by the fact that many types of crafts will be required, according to Jake Elder, Interstate's construction and main- tenance superintendent, just re- turned from a survey of the hurri- cane-swept territory. Elder expressed the opinion that (Continued on Page 8) Agnew Ups Wirthwein To Manager in Milwaukee Promotion of Harold Wirthwein, Paramount's sales manager in Chi- cago, to the post of manager of the Milwaukee branch was announced yesterday by Neil Agnew, general (Continued on Page 8) Gas Cut Hits Film Salesmen OWI Pix Distribution Seen Hurt by Order Foundation Physicians Fight Polio in Chicago Chicago — Physicians from the In- fantile Paralysis Foundation, arrived here yesterday to help fight the spread of poliomyelitis. Cases in Chicago and Cook County now total 269, with 21 deaths reported. St. Louis, Mo.— The "Share-the- Gas" order of the OPA cutting the Middle West and Southwest quota will hurt OWI's motion picture dis- tribution plans in this section, ac- cording to reports here. Salesmen for the various motion picture exchanges in St. Louis have been getting enough gasoline to travel 750 miles per week and by careful conservation of their mile- (Continued on Page 8) Is a Jump of $342,517 Over Previous Year; Fed. Income Tax $11,600,000 In the nine months ended May 29, 1943, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., and subsidiary companies made a net operating profit of $5,714,392, a $342,517 increase over the similar period of last year, in the face of a boost in Federal income taxes of $7,500,000. The net gain was after all charges, including amortization and depreciation and provision for Federal income and excess profits taxes. The net operating profit last year (Continued on Page 4) Canadian Indies Will Ask Trade Reforms Toronto — Annual convention of the National Council of Independent Exhibitors of Canada yesterday in- dicated that the organization would go to the highest authorities in (Continued on Page 12) Alberti Named to Direct 20th-Fox Radio Advertising Hal Home, 20th-Fox ad-publicity chief, has appointed Jules Alberti national director of radio advertis- (Continued mi Page 4) Loew's Pichs Femme Pilot for Cleveland Cleveland — Mrs. Gertrude L. Tracy, former relief manager of Loew's Poli, New Haven, Conn., has been appointed managing di- rector of Loew's Ohio which is un- dergoing complete rehabilitation in anticipation of opening in September with a straight pix policy. Mrs. Tracy, a native of Scarsdale, N. Y., is the first woman to become manager of a local downtown house. Loew's Ohio, which has been closed for more than five years, is adjacent to Loew's State, a 3,300-seat de luxe "A" house. ! m DAILY Wednesday, August 25, 194! Vol. 84, No. 39 Wed., Aug. 25, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor PuMished daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1S01 Broadway, New York 18, N. V., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau. Secretary^Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y-, under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Tuesday, August 24) Wilmington Dailies Will 'Ration' Advertising Space Wilmington, Del. — As a result of newsprint cuts, the News and Jour- nal here will inaugurate "rationing" of ad space on Sept. 1, with the result that local theaters will be re- quired to reduce their advertising by at least 15 per cent. The "rationing," however, is not expected to affect the national ad- vertising situation although it is thought that copy from Philadelphia amusement places, which frequently runs in the Wilmington newspapers, will be tabooed, for the time being anyway. The News and Journal have not, Ha yet, made formal announcement of their plans but are expected to release the general "rationing" reg- ulations within a few days to take effect the first of the month. Eaton Freed on Bail to Await Grand Jury Action Memphis, Tenn. — John W. Eaton, owner and manager of the Peabody, suburban house scene of a fatal ex- plosion attributed to a substitute refrigerant which leaked from an air cooling plant, was freed under $50,000 bond yesterday following his arrest on a second degree mur- der charge. Case now goes to the Grand Jury. Theater's maintenance man was fatally burned in the blast. NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net Low Close Chg. 16'/4 I6I/4 High I6I/4 Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd.. 37% Con. Fm. Ind 2l/2 Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . 16 East. Kodak 159 1 do pfd. . Gen. Prec. Eq 19% Loew's, Inc 58 Paramount 25 RKO 8 RKO $6 pfd 87 20th Century-Fox . 215/8 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31 Warner Bros 12% do pfd NEW YORK Par. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 .... NEW YORK CURB Monogram Picts 25/a Radio-Keith cvs 1% Sonotone Corp Technicolor 121/i Trans-Lux 2% Universal Picts. vtc... 16l/2 371/4 371/4 — % 21/2 21/2 — l/8 15% 15% + % 587/8 158% — % 19% 19% 575/8 573/4 — 1/4 24% 25 + 1/2 7% 8 + % 86V2 87 2H/2 2H/2 + 1/2 30% 30% + y4 12% 121/4 BOND MARKET MARKET 2% 2% + l/8 1% 1% Charles Peskay, Father Of Ed, Dies in Calif. Says "Moscow" Impressed The Russian Masses West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — "Mission to Moscow" made a deep impression on the Rus- sian masses as a good-will gesture from the United States, according to Mikhail Kalatazov, representative of the Russian film industry in the Western Hemisphere. He said the Russians also acclaimed "The Three Musketeers," because the Russians now wish the same ideals of com- radeship as do Americans. Kalatazov, who is here to study American movie technique, is particularly interested in American musical pictures, which he said excelled the Russian. He declared Russians like stories of mood and the soul, and "there, perhaps, we are your equal." He is also greatly interested in the handling: of American history in films and in military training- films made by the United States and Britain, stating such pictures are in constant use at Soviet military schools. Kalatazov has directed several Russian features, including "Wings of Victory," which deals with life of Valera Chkalov, Russian hero flyer, who flew over the North pole, only to die later while testing a new airplane. Richard de Rochemont Slated for MOT Top Spot Richard de Rochemont, managing editor of the March of Time, is ex- pected to succeed Louis de Roche- mont as producer when his brother leaves the outfit to assume the du- ties of a producer of feature films for 20th-Fox. The March of Time founder is scheduled to report at the 20th-Fox studios on the Coast on Sept. 15. ■ Par; %■ Charles Peskay, father of Ed Pes- kay, industry executive, died on the Coast Saturday and burial will take place in Chicago. Ed Peskay arrived in Hollywood on Saturday in con- nection with several business enter- prises and his father died that morn- ing. 12% 121/2 23/4 23/4 — I/4 16 1/4 16i/4 — 1/2 Jones' Distribution Plan Chicago — Johnny Jones, leaving for business conferences in New York, reported that he will distribute the Film Classics program through Henri Elman's Capitol Exchange. Chi. Operators Lose Raise Chicago— The War Labor Board has denied the operators' union wage increase given them by the Chicago Theater several months ago. Fred May Stricken Carrollton, Ky. — Fred May, oper- ator of The Royal, died following a cerebral hemorrhage. B. I. Army Field Theater Added to Wometco String Miami, Fla.— Base Theater No 1 Oaks Field, Nassau, B. I. is the latest addition to the growing list of theaters owned or operated by Wometco Theaters, Inc. Shain Named an Aide to Spyros Skouras and Kent Sam Shain has been appointed an assistant to Prexy Spyros Skouras of 20th-Fox and to Larry Kent, Skouras' executive assistant, and as such will function under Kent, it was learned yesterday. Additional duties will not affect his post as director of trade relations for Hal Home, ad-publicity chief. SPG Groups Hear Merrill Lewis Merrill, head of the United Office and Professional Workers of America, discussed the problem of negotiations at a meeting of the representative council and the nego- tiating committee of the Screen Pub- licists Guild of New York a UOPWA affiliate, at the offices of the SPG last night. GPEC Declares Dividend Directors of General Precision Equipment Corp. yesterday declared a cash dividend of 25 cents per share on the capital stock, payable Sept. 15 to stockholders of record Sept. 3. The same amount was paid on June 15. Teresa Wright Cast in 'Endearing Young Charms' West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Samuel Goldwyn has acquired the screen rights to the Broadway stage play, "Those En- dearing Young Charms," and will co-star Teresa Wright and Dana An- drews in the film version. "Bid for Happiness," in which Goldwyn was to have starred Miss Wright, will be made later. A. H. BLANK, president of Tri-States Thea ter Corp., and Central States Theater Corp, Paramount Theater associate; C. RALPH BRAW TON, general manager of Tri-States, and JO DEITCH, film buyer and booker, are visiti in New York from Des Moines. MARK SANDR1CH, producer-director of Para mount's "So Proudly We Hail," will leave lywood today for New York to atten premiere at Radio City Music Hall. H be accompanied by MRS. SANDRICH. WES HUSS JR., prexy of Associated Theater Cincinnati, is in Quebec. SUSANNA FOSTER arrives in New York toda from Minneapolis. Miss Foster is accompaniei by BETTY MITCHELL of Universal Studio publi city department. L. W. CONROW, president of Altec Service is back from a trip through the Middle West. EDDIE DOWDEN, New York City public re lations chairman of the WAC, is back fron Washington, where he conferred with Te» Gamble, national director of the Treasury's Wa Finance Division, and Oscar A. Doob, assistan director, on plans for the New York openin of the September Bond drive. STANTON CRIFFIS has returned from thi Coast. 0. HENRY BRIGCS, PRC prexy, goes to the Coast at the end of the month. CEORCE ETTINCER has returned to his Colum bia stint from a vacation. ARTHUR DE BRA is back at his MPPDA desk following a vacation at Pawling. HENRI ELMAN is in town from Chicago JACK BARNETT, Fox Movietone News camera- man who was recently awarded the Order of the Purple Heart, is in New York for a va- cation, after 22 months abroad, most of il in the Mediterranean combat area. MORRIE ROIZMAN, March of Time film editor, has returnd from a vacation on the Coast. EVA COOPERSTACK, Universal booker, is vacationing at Grossingers'. AL O'KEEFE, Universal's Western division manager, is touring the company's Western branches. MIKE POLLER, assistant to Robert Mochrie, left this week for a brief vacation Jersey Unit Backs Allied Resolution on Columbia Reception for Tom C. Clark Chicago— Tom C. Clark, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the anti-trust division was given a re- ception by 75 industry and other representatives at the Palmer House yesterday. National Allied 's resolution con- demning Columbia's shifting of eight pictures sold on the 1942-43 program over to the 1943-44 lineup has been approved unanimously by New Jer- sey Allied. Allied's board of directors at its recent meeting in Baltimore insisted that the eight pictures involved should be offered to exhibitors on the same terms as were asked on Is st year's contracts. Sixth for "Mr. Lucky" "Mr. Lucky" is being held for a sixth stanza at the Music Hall, start- ing tomorrow. > pp ;,V^ II ST** lS 00»HS ^Sfcn..^Q W 0MER e.ct,U1 BUT 22^ • * ' iSSU** »** 1-i»«»ls;.!fS \ 'BACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR LOAN. V*\lUILY Wednesday, August 25, 194; Warner Bros. 9-Mo. Profit $5,714,392 (Continued from Page 1) was $5,371,875, with the taxes amounting to $4,100,000, as against a tax burden this year of $11,600,- 000, a record for the company. Provision of $4,500,000 was made in the nine-month period for net losses on fixed assets sold subsequent to May 29, 1943. No provision for contingencies was required with re- spect to foreign assets during the nine months ended May 29, 1943, whereas the corresponding period last year a provision of $1,225,000 was made. The gross income for the nine months hit the highest level in the company's history, amounting to $97,518,625 after the elimination of inter - company transactions. This figure compares with $87,790,224 for the preceding nine-month period. Cash in the United States on May 29, 1943, stood at $9,767,991, as against $12,325,615 at Feb. 27. Net earnings on preferred stock were equivalent to $57.49 per share on 99,397 shares outstanding at May 29, 1943, after deducting shares held in the company's treasury. Divi- dends'in arrears on preferred as at June 1, 1943, amounted to $33.6875 per share. In terms of common stock, earnings were equivalent to $1.46 per share on 3,701,090 shares outstanding (after deducting shares held in treasury) at May 29, 1943, after allowance for current dividend requirements on preferred stock. Alberti Named to Direct 20th-Fox Radio Advertising (Continued from Page 1) ing in line with the company's pol- icy of making greater use of radio as a medium of exploitation. Al- berti recently joined the company as assistant to President Spyros P. Skouras. Alberti formerly was with the Treasury Department in Washing- ton handling talent for Bond rallies. He also was a producer and director for the NBC Blue Network. Encore for "Mrs. Miniver" New Haven — The Bijou, first-run, will bring back "Mrs. Miniver" on "demand return engagement" Sep- tember 3. Ruby Keeler John R. Bray Victor Heerman John Zanft The Roaring >43->44: • • • A GLANCE at M-G-M's first group lor the new season dis- closes that Bill Rodgers and his lads had a word lor it when they were planning the initial selling set-up, — as they undoubtedly have for the rest of the productions in various stages of filming ...... That word is "balance" The dozen which'll be available next month include three musicals. "Best Foot Forward," "Girl Crazy," "I Dood It"; as many comedies, "Whistling in Brooklyn," "Swing Shift Maisie," "Young Ideas"; the service drama, "Salute to the Marines"; a trio with wartime backgrounds, "Above Suspicion," "The Adventures of Tartu," "The Man Down Under"; another in the popular series of mellers, "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case," and the Eric Knight yarn of a dog and a boy, "Lassie Come Home" T T T • • • AMONG 17 completed but not yet set, or still before the cameras at Culver City, that same balance can be observed Five are musicals: "Right About Face," "Thousands Cheer," "Broadway Rhythm," "Meet the People" and "Mr. Co-ed" Comedies are four in number: "The Heavenly Body," "Little Miss Magic," "Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble," and the topical "Rationing" Five dealing with the present global struggle are, "Cry Havoc," "The Cross of Lorraine," "So7ig of Russia," "The White Cliffs of Dover," and "See Here, Private Hargrove" Three dramas, all of which assume top places on the new season's roster, are "Madame Curie," "A Guy Named Joe," and "America" Soon to start are "Kismet," "Meet Me in St, Louis," "Dragon Seed" and Canterville Gliost" Again, comedy, music a>id drama are well interspersed T ▼ T • • • The world, it appears, is M-G-M's oyster in '43-'44, as wit- ness the diversity of locales presented by the line-up A better understanding of our Allies, and a more accurate picture of our enemies is behind the planning Use of Technicolor has hit a new high at Culver City, with the list including "Best Foot Forward," "Lassie Come Home," "Thousands Cheer," "America," "Broadway- Rhythm," "Dragon Seed," "Kismet," "Mr. Co-ed" and "Meet Me in St. Louis," — all pro- duced au naturel T T ▼ • • • DEALING with our Soviet comrades-in-arms (and in peace) is "Song of Russia" "White Cliffs of Dover" covers both global conflicts and the growth of Anglo-American amity "Dragon Seed," soon to start, is a drama of war-lorn China "America" depicts the industrial rise of our own laud, and "The Man From Down Under" is the story of modern-day Australia "The Cross of Lorraine" slioius the suffering endured in a German prison camp by a group of patriotic French soldiers "Above Suspicion" tells of pre-war Germany New Guniea and tlie South Pacific are the backgrounds of "A Guy Named Joe" "Malta" will dramatize the most bombed place on earth "Cry Havoc" recounts the role of civilian nurse aides in the heroic defense of Bataan "Salute to the Marines" has a Philippine locale, and "Mr. Co-ed" will use Mexico City as a background for part of the story T T T • • • SMART Lion is Leo! You'll notice that one of the main (or should we say "mane") ideas back of his '43-'44 line-up, aside from balance, is exploitability Yes, and timeliness Consequently, the Friendly Company is bound to have a lot closer friendships 'mong its customers than ever before ▼ T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! TO THE COLORS! * DECORATED * LT. MICHAEL S. MANNINC, AAF, formerly < Eastman Kodak, Rochester, with Air Med, in Southwest Pacific theater of war. * COMMISSIONED * FLICHT OFFICER WILLIAM McMAHON,_ Patrol Force, Coastal Air Patrol FILM DAILY staff correspondent, City. w * PROMOTED * CAPT. JACKSON HURFORD, SR., former managi of the Fox Theater, Detroit, to major. * ARMY * Ch EARL McROBERTS, Film Truck Service^ cago. ARTHUR BOYLE, Film Truck Service, Chicago. ELMO BEATTY, Film Row Deliveries, Chicago. SAMUEL MAZZUCA, operator's union, Chicag JAMES McCANN, M-C-M booker, Chicago. DAN REDDEN, manager, Paramount, Seattle. IRVING FISCHER, shipper, RKO. Seattle. * NAVY * WILLIAM HENRY BENNETT, of the Film Build ing staff, Detroit. • * TO OFFICERS SCHOOL * NICHOLAS HARLOW CRUSIUS, USAAF, forme screen and stage player, at Miami Beacr Fla. i NATHANIEL TANCHUK, USAAF, former pro ducer-writer, Hollywood, at Miami BeacK Fla. BOB TOMLINSON, son of Tommy Tomlinsor Republic exchange, Seattle. * NAVAL AVIATION * JAMES H. BLOOM, assistant, Paramount, Spring field, Mass. * WAC* MARY SITTON, Paramount film inspector, Chi cago. Want Protection Against Power Line Failures (Continued from Page 1) additional power feeder lines be af forded these sections following tw( complete power failures on succes sive Saturday nights when all the aters are filled to capacity. Patronage of soldiers now 01 maneuvers in this section of Ten nessee is involved in the demand b; the theater owners. TVA is able t< generate sufficient power, but singli feeder lines are always subject t< failure. WEDDING BELLS Cleveland — Engagement is an nouneed of Norman Levin to Doro thy Goodfreund of this city. Levii was local United Artists city sales man prior to being drafted into th< Army, from which he recently ob tained an honorable discharge. A' present, he is in war work. Chicago — Darlene Larson of thi M-G-M exchange and Ensign Edwarc Jacklin, USN, were married re| cently. Loretta Duffy of the RKO horn office, and Emanuel Hunt will b married next Sunday. I :< ik REVKIUS OF TH€ IKUJ FILfllS .V .V "Hoosier Holiday" with Dale Evans, George Byron Republic 72 Mins. MUSICAL IS CROWDED WITH RADIO PERSONALITIES; PIC SHOULD DO N1CE- is musical should prove a big lure for radio fanatics. Most of the entertain- ment is in the hands of performers of the air lanes. Those who are not all-out radio bugs may not find too much to get enthusiastic about in "Hoosier Holiday." Their interest is likely to be further re- duced by the fact that the diversion dished out by the radio performers is strictly hay- seed. The film's best chances are in the smaller situations. The film doesn't suffer from a dearth of radio talent. Woven into the action are the Hoosier Hot Shots, the Music Maids, George D. Hay ("The Solemn Old Judge"), Isabel Randolph (the "Mrs. Uppington" of the Fibber McGee and Molly airer), George "Shug" Fisher and Lillian Randolph ("Bir- die"!, the colored cook of the Great Gilder- r sleeve program. The majority of this talent is made up of warblers and instrumentalists. The story has George Byron and the four members of the Hoosier Hot Shots aggre- gation as brothers on a Midwestern farm who are bent on joining the air force. The head of the draft board (Thurston Hall) in- sists they are more valuable on the farm and refuses to grant them a release. Aware that Hall has no personal liking for them because their mother jilted him to be married to their father, the boys start romancing his five daughters, hoping that to get rid of them he will permit them to join up. The scheme, however, boomer- angs, and the lads find thmselves affianced to the girls at the end. Of course, by then the boys have fallen in love with his daughters. Byron and Dale Evans are the chief ro- mantic pairing. Both do nicely. Emma Dunn and Hall are excellent as Byron's ma and Miss j;' Evans' father, respectively. Frank McDonald's direction is peppy. Armand Schaefer served as associate producer. Dorrell and ! Stuart McGowan did the screenplay from an idea by Edward James. CAST: Dale Evans, George Byron, Emma i Dunn, Thurston Hall, Nicodemus, Ferris Taylor, Georgia Davis, Hoosier Hot Shots, 1 Music Maids, George D. Hay, Isabel Ran- dolph, George "Shug" Fisher, Lillian Ran- ; dolph, "Sleepy" Williams and His Three Shades of Rhythm. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Armand Schaefer; Director, Frank McDonald; Screen- play, Dorrell and Stuart McGowan; Based on idea by Edward James; Cameraman, Reg- gie Lanning; Musical Director, Morton Scott; Songs, Johnny Marvin, Charles Hen- j derson; Film Editor, Ralph Dixon; Sound, Dick Tyler; Art Director, Russell Kimball; Set Decorator, Charles Thompson; Dance Director, Josephine Earle. DIRECTION, All Right. PHOTOGRA- PHY, Good. "Hitler" to Saul Solomon Saul Solomon of Exclusive Pic- tures has concluded a deal with Ben Judell, for the New York distribution rights to "Hitler, Dead or Alive," which premiered at the Globe The- ater recently. Solomon is also dis- tributing "Under Secret Orders" fea- turing Erich Von Stroheim. "Revenge of the Zombies" with John Carradine Monogram 61 Mins. HORROR FILM IS AN EXERCISE IN EX- AGGERATION THAT WILL MEET WITH FAIR APPROVAL IN SMALL SPOTS. All reason takes a holiday in the case of "Revenge of the Zombies," which tells a fantastic yarn about a mad medico who devotes himself to the creation of a zombie with superhuman qualities. The tale is brought up to date by making the medical meddler a German who intends to take his master zombie back to the old country with him and use it as a pattern for an army of automatons that will spell victory for Nazi arms. A sort of secret weapon, you know. The film works hard to produce goose pimples. It should be able to get some favorable results with those who are suckers for anything that smacks of horror. The picture is the sort of entertainment that will gain a certain measure .of approval in the small spots. The film doesn't per- mit of intelligent analysis. To give it its due, it makes no pretense at being other than what it is. The doctor, who goes so far as to turn his own wife into a zombie, gets into difficulty with the authorities over his de- lightful pastime. A hectic and exciting time is had by all before justice is meted out. The doc meets an ironic end when a bunch of zombies created by him turns upon him. No villain was more deserving of such a horible exit. John Carradine plays the doctor who tinkers with human lives. He is the vil- lain right down to his heels. His wife is enacted by Veda Ann Borg. Manton More- land adds immeasurably to the palatability of the film with his comedy. Robert Lowery, Gale Storm, Mauritz Hugo, Barry Macollum and Bob Steele are others im- portant to the plot. Lindsley Parsons produced. Steve Seke- ly's direction makes for a moderate amount of suspense. Edmund Kelso and Van Nor- cross did the screenplay. CAST: John Carradine, Robert Lowery, Gale Storm, Veda Ann Borg, Mantan More- land, Mauritz Hugo, Barry Macollum, Bob Steele, James Baskett, Mme. Sul-Te-Wan, Sybil Lewis, Robert Cherry. CREDITS: Producer, Lindsley Parsons; Director, Steve Sekely; Screenplay, Edmund Kelso, Van Norcross; Cameraman, Mack Stengler; Art Director, David Milton; Sound, Glen Glenn; Film Editor, Richard Currier. DIRECTION, So-So. PHOTOGRAPHY, All Right. "The Hairy Ape" Scenario Analyzed by Exhibitors West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — - During the recent visit here of Bob O'Donnell, Si Fa- bian and L. C. and R. E. Griffith for the Third War Loan drive, Jules Levey, who will produce "The Hairy Ape" for United Artists release, had the visiting exhibitors analyze the scenario by Howard Estabrook and give suggestions for box office angles and casting. They were also asked for ideas for the sales campaign. "The Renegade" with Buster Crabbe, Al St. John PRC 58 Mins. WESTERN HAS PLENTY OF NOISE AND VIOLENCE; ST. JOHN COMEDY BIG HELP. Here is another exciting chapter in the saga of Billy the Kid that will entertain the kids immensely. Again Billy kicks up a lot of fuss in the cause of justice. Buster Crabbe plays him with the vigor characteris- tic of him in the role. A dishonest mayor is the fly in the oint- ment in this case. He stops at nothing to drive the ranchers off the land. What prompts his villainy is the discovery there is oil on the land. His attempt to break the bank which has been advancing money to the settlers so that they can keep going is foiled by the smart work of Crabbe and Al St. John. The action calls for some hot tussles between Crabbe and the mayor (Ray Bennett) and his cohorts. One of the best features of the film is the comedy of St. John. The picture is doubly entertaining when the comic is around. He and Crabbe again make an ex- cellent team. The main feminine role is essayed by Lois Ranson. Karl Hackett fills the role of the bank head well. Bennett makes an effective chief villain. The picture, which was produced by Sig- mund Neufeld, has been directed in slam- bang fashion by Sam Newfield. The screen- play was concocted by Joe O'Donnell from a tale by George Milton. CAST: Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Lois Ranson, Karl Hackett, Ray Bennett, Frank Hagney, Jack Rockwell, Tom London, George Chesebro. CREDITS: Producer, Sigmund Neufield; Director, Sam Newfield; Screenplay, Joe O'Donnell; Based on story by George Milton; Cameraman, Robert Cline; Sound, Hans Weeren; Musical Supervisor, David Chud- now; Film Editor, Holbrook N. Todd. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Police Watch Balconies In Drive on Vandalism Knoxville, Tenn. — At management request, balconies and "dark spots" in several local theaters are being patrolled by city police in an effort to prevent vandalism and disturb- ances. The City Council of Murfees- boro has passed a curfew ordinance on two readings and it is expected to become a law this week. Youths under 17 years face a 10 p.m. curfew unless accompanied by one of their parents. The council would issue special permits to minors whose em- ployment would require them to be out late at night. Two Col. Pix to Bow Here Columbia's "Destroyer" opens at the Criterion next Wednesday while Col.'s "First Comes Courage," comes to Loew's State next Thursday. Legit. Flops in Newark Newark, N. J. — Stage show policy flopping, the Adams is back to pix, vaude and "name" bands. Latter policy resumed yesterday. "The Shrine of Victory" 20th-Fox-Casanave-Artlee 46 Mins. STORY OF GREECE'S RESISTANCE AGAINST THE NAZI TERROR MAKES A DOCUMENTARY WORTH SEEING. "The Shrine of Victory" is a glowing tribute to Greek courage and the vivid record of one of the darkest chapters in Nazi villainy. The film tells effectively and interestingly the story of Greek re- sistance to Nazi force. The production which should help considerably the Greek cause in America, will benefit much from the fact that many Americans will want to know what manner of people are these who gave so valiant an account of them- selves before falling under the superior weight of the Axis war machine. The picture is a mixture of travelogue, newsreel and staged scenes. Although the editing leaves something to be desired, the footage serves its purpose well. The travelogue portion comes at the start of the picture. This stresses the peacefulness that characterized Greek existence before the war. The contrast offered by the scenes of conflict and German ruthlessness is painful indeed. The re-enacted sequences relate the story of a Greek vineyard worker who escapes to England to join the crew of a naval vessel being built there for the Greek navy. This character sums up what is being done by the Greeks to restore their freedom. Playing the part is Vras- sidas Capernaros, a petty officer in the Greek navy. The film was made at the Ealing Studios in England with the collaboration of the Greek Government and the co-operation of the Greek arm of the British Mediter- ranean fleet. Alberto Cavalcanti is listed as producer of the film, which was directed by Charles Hasse from a story by M. Danischewsky. The commentary is by Frank Owen and Angus MacPhail. The supervising editor was Sidney Cole. This record of Greece's struggle to preserve its civilization and culture makes us proud to call that country friend. Bill Flemion's Three Sons Now in Services Detroit — Near-record for a single Film Row family has been set by William Flemion, PRC manager, whose three sons, all formerly asso- ciated with him in the film business, are now in the services. William Flemion, Jr., is chief petty officer, second class, with the Navy Sea- bees, Camp Perry, Va.; Richard Flemion is a sergeant in the Ord- nance Division, Fort Ord, Ga.; Charles Flemion is a naval aviation cadet, assigned to Western Michigan College, Kalamazoo. Grand Island Adopts Curfew Grand Island, Neb. — City council here has passed a curfew ordinance which requires children under 17 to be off the city's streets by 10:30 p.m. unless they are with a parent, guardian or other adult having legal custody of the child. The ordinance holds parents responsible in case of violation. CLAUDIA with Dorothy McGuire • Robert Young -Ina Claire • Reginald Gardiner Olga Baclanova • Directed by Edmund Goulding • Produced by William Perlberg William Goetz in Charge of Production . Adapted for the Screen by Morrie Ryskind • From the Play by Rose Franken as Produced for the Stage by John Golden E£ At a He said you'd triple your New York success— and at the World Premiere in Omaha — without caravans, stars and stuff — you did it! Jack Rachman, drama editor of Omaha's World-Herald had this to say: "20th Century-Fox is rolling along with another big one! CLAUDIA definitely heading for top billing in line-up of outstanding hits! Effect on entire audience terrific1/' And look at this wire that just came in: LAUGH A'"D „_ uMjUlG EX^t „t« W"-* ,W|0H1 OBI"0"' 520* CENTURY-FOX BACK THE ATTACK/ BUY WAR BONDS I THIRD WAR LOAN! Wednesday, August 25, 1943 L DAILY Gulf Storm Repairs To Require Months {Continued from Page 1) reconstruction payrolls in the towns of the storm area largely can recoup at the box-offices the losses sustained by theaters. The Interstate exec, said that ex- tensive construction will be required generally through the territory by all branches of business, complicat- ing the crafts manpower situation. Extensive reconditioning and re- pairs to restore pre-storm facilities will also be necessary, Elder added. Agnew Ups Werthwein To Manager in Milwaukee (Continued from Page 1) sales manager. Wirthwein, who takes over his new duties on Sept. 1, replaces Farnk Clai'k who has resigned. Starting at the Milwaukee ex- change in 1928 as a shipping clerk, Wirthwein was transferred to the sales department a year later and became ad sales manager late in 1929. After becoming a salesman in Chicago in 1933, he was named sales manager of the Chicago branch in July, 1942. Quebec Parley Notables See "This Is the Army" Quebec — Warners' "This Is the Army" had its first showing in Can- ada when it was put on by the U. S. Army at the Capitol Theater here Monday night for members of the British-American war conference, who were invited to the screening by the Canadian Co-ordination Com- mittee. The theater was made avail- able by J. J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players Canadian. Among those in attendance were Lord Louis Mountbatten; Admiral Ernest J. King, head of the U. S. fleet; Vice- Admiral Percy W. Nelles, chief of staff of the Royal Canadian Navy; Air Marshal L. S. Breadner, chief of staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force; Air Marshal Sir Charles Portal, chief of staff of the RAF. Cuban Critic Stricken Havana (By Air Mail) — Mario Lezcano Abella, critic of the Ad- vance died of a heart attack here. His son, Edgardo Lezcano Abella, succeeded. STORKS Miami, Fla. — Mark Chartrand, manager of the Miami Theater, is the father of a baby boy, Mark Ray III. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood- — Richard Carlson, M- G-M contract player, is the father of a second son, Christopher Hugh. Gas Cut Hits Film Salesmen OWI Pix Distribution Seen Hurt by Order (Continued from Page 1) age and using trains and motor buses where possible to supplement their autos they have been able to make their territory on a fairly satisfac- tory basis, although they formerly traveled 1,500 miles or more per month. Under the new gas order, these salesmen are being slashed to 480 miles per month, if they are able to ayerage 15 miles per gallon of gaso- line. In the first eight months of this year more than 50 per cent of the salesman's time on the road has been devoted to OWI films, and this sec- tion has been one of the nation's leaders in the use of Government films. But that promises now to be a thing of the past. In a territory that is 350 miles long and some 350 miles wide it is apparent how hard the OPA has hit the industry here. One trip to Jefferson City would take a two week's supply of gasoline. Salesmen who with the fullest use of their autos have been able to make from 15 to 21 towns per week under the new regulations will be lucky to make four or five. Many of the towns in Eastern Missouri, Southern Illinois, Northwestern Arkansas and Northwestern Kentucky have but one train a day. So if a salesman uses the rail lines, he is stranded there for from 24 to 48 hours and fre- quently salesman will be unable to get on trains at many spots in their territory. The best trains between Chicago and St. Louis make no stops between Springfield, St. Louis and those coming from the East miss most of the towns in Southern Illinois. All of which sums up to the elimination of hundreds of theaters from regular service from film salesmen, it is claimed here. Film "Ukraine in Flames" Far Behind the Nazi Lines Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Shooting on the new Russian picture "The Ukraine in Flames" is proceeding now far be- hind the Nazi lines according to the Soviet Embassy. The picture con- cerns the struggle of the Ukrainian people against their German con- querors, underground and guerrilla warfare and Soviet cameramen have drifted far behind the German lines to shoot their film apparently living among guerrilla bands. There was no information available as to how much footage has been received from these crews. Footage has already been received, however, from most of the 17 cam- eramen who crossed the enemy lines to shoot for the documentary on guer- rilla warfare entitled "The People's Avengers," and on several occasions behind the lines footage has been shown in Soviet newsreels it was reported here. Grovas, Mexican Studio, To Make Eight for 1944 Mexico City (By Air Mail)— Gro- vas Productions plans to make eight pictures for the 1944 program, first of which goes into production this week. Two new stages are being added to the studio. First three pictures on the sched- ule are "Una Carta de Amor" ("A Love Letter), "La Mujer Sin Alma" ("The Woman Without a Soul"), and "Nana." Pal Working Two Shifts West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — A rush of work has caused George Pal to put his Pup- petoon Studio on two eight-hour shifts, with the studio now open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. First "Film Bulletin" Plugs Third War Loan "One Day Sooner," the first of the briefer "Film Bulletins" to be produced under the new WAC war information film program, has been completed by Columbia and stars Rosalind Russell. Three-minute briefie will serve as an advance for the industry's participation in the Third War Loan. Pie will travel to approximately 10,000 theaters in newsreel cans, at- tached to the five regular newsreels. Additional circulation through the customary WAC distribution chan- nels will bring the Bond-selling mes- sage to audiences in a combined to- tal of more than 15,000 theaters. This unique method of distribu- tion means that the film will reach its maximum audience in perhaps half the 16 weeks necessary for the usual WAC release, and is expected to_ do much to aid exhibitors with this campaign. Blumenstock Sends 3 On Field Assignments Three members of Mort Blumen- stock's publicity department at Warners left yesterday for the South and Southwest to work on special premieres of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army." Will Yolen went to Dallas, Irving Yergin to New Or- leans and Abe Kronenberg en- trained for Atlanta, Jacksonville and Miami. "Corregidor" Over Butterfield Detroit — William Flemion, PRC manager, reports booking of "Cor- regidor" to play the entire Butter- field Circuit, largest in Michigan. PRC has also booked "Gangs, Inc." for 14 Detroit theaters day and date, and reports a flood of calls for playdates that is taxing the available supply of prints. Cuban Exhibs. Fight \ Live Talent Decree '' (Continued from Page 1) a fine. The decree was signed by President Batista. In taking a stand against the de- cree the National Union of Exj^\< tors accuses the Government of ^P-' ing to ruin the theater business. The exhibitors maintain that it would be impossible at present scales to show a profit with live entertainment added to their programs. They as- sert a 20 to 25 per cent boost in ad- mission prices would be necessary. Conversely, they feel that the pub lie would be averse to paying higher admissions. It is also pointed out that many theaters have no facilities for put- ting on stage shows. Such theaters, it is asserted, would have to shut down if the decree were enforced. The artists, who are in a bad way because of the lack of a national film industry and because the radio stations go in for amateur hours, recordings and foreign talent, have started picketing the Havana houses. In their campaign against the ex- hibitors they also are using street demonstrations, pamphlets and other means of gaining the public sym- pathy. The exhibitors are counter- ing with a campaign using radio, press and newsreels. The National Union of Exhibitors has suggested that the Government solve the problem of unemployment among artists and musicians by building a national theater or sev- eral municipal ones, directed and ad- ministered by the Government. I. H. Cooper Foundation Leases Lincoln's Stuart Lincoln, Neb. — A lease giving the J. H. Cooper Foundation use of the Stuart theater, and Lincoln Theater Corp. offices until 1961, has been filed in the office of the register of deeds. The lease reveals that the lessee is to pay $20,800 a year rental. That is to be the maximum unless 15 per cent of the theater's gross income is greater than $400 a week. To Reopen Danbury Capitol Danbury, Conn. — The Warner, Capitol, closed for the Summer,, re- opens Sept. 5, with policy of four changes a week, 1-2-2-2. The house has been closed for the Sum- mer. Manager has not yet been an- nounced. BACK IN CIVVIES Honorably Discharged MORRIE SEGAL, from the Army, to United Artists sales staff, Seattle. U. E. CRICK, from the Army, to M-G-M ex- change, Memphis. CLENCENA MAY, from the WAAC, to Ev saness Circuit, Chicago. Wednesday, August 25, 1943 3fe See An $86,000,000 Cavalcade "Gate" (Continued from Page 1) represent $86,000,000 in Third War Loan extra Bonds, Madison Square Garden has been scaled to give the '■erage man a chance to see the — o dozen outstanding film stars, 'nurgess said. Since the Third War Loan is ex- pected to bring about the purchase of an extra $100 War Bond by every . person in the country, the largest block, 10,000 seats, has been allo- cated to this price. There are 1,800 seats to be given away for the pur- chase of $25 Bonds; 2,000 seats to go to $50 Bond purchasers and 2,000 tickets for buyers of $500 bonds. -Among the stars who will appear are Edward Arnold, Fred Astaire, I Lucille Ball, Jimmy Cagney, Greer Garson, Cary Grant, Judy Garland, Kay Kyser and his band, Hedy La- i marr, Dorothy Lamour, Myrna Loy, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Mickey Kooney, Red Skelton and others. Leo Brecher is chairman of the industry's committee sponsoring the affair. Conn. Theaters Organize For War Bond Loan Drive New Haven — Following a second organization meeting at the Hotel Taft, for the Third War Loan cam- paign at which I. J. Hoffman, War- ner zone head, and Harry F. Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager pre- sided, eight county chairmen, and 17 key men throughout the state, have been appointed to carry on the theater work before and during the campaign. County chairmen include Harry F. Shaw, Loew-Poli, New Haven; Matt Saunders, Poli, Bridgeport: J. J. Scanlon, Warner, Torring- ton; Fred Greenway, Palace, Hartford; Er- nest Dorau, Middlesex, Middletown: Joseph Miklos, Palace, Norwich; R. B. Hamilton, Gem, Willimantic. Assisting' are Alexander Hamilton, Empress, South Norwalk; Samuel Weiss, Stamford, Stamford; Rohert E. Rus- sell, John Hesse and Jim Darby, of the Loew-Poli, Roger Sherman, and Paramount, New Haven; D. Rich, Cameo, Bristol: J. Borenstein, Embassy, New Britain: J. San- son, State, Manchester; Henry Needles, Strand, Hartford; Morris Harris, State, Hartford: T. Grace, Garde, New London; J. Murphy. Capitol. New London; J. Boyle, Broadway, Norwich; J. W. Smith, State. Waterbury; Edward Fitzpatrick, Poli, Waterbury: H. J. Harvey, Palace, Danbury: Joseph Samartano, Palace, Meriden: Leo Ricci, Capitol, Meriden. IN NEW POSTS HAROLD WIRTHWEIN, manager, Paramount Milwaukee exchange. ALBERT MONTEFALCO, manager, Roxy, New Britain, Conn. E. A. COEN, salesman, Metro, St. Louis. WILLIAM "Bud" WEIGEL, salesman, Metro, Cincinnati. JAMES A. STANCARONE, ad-publicity assistant, March of Time. BILL CLARK, former PRC salesman, to mana- ger, Richard Theater, Flint, Mich. VINCENT MURPHY, Paramount salesman, Los Angeles. E. E. BAUERMAN, Paramount booking manager, Los Angeles. HOLLYWOOD DIGEST Execs. Meet in D. C. On War Loan Drive ASSIGNMENTS TERESA WRIGHT, DANA ANDREWS, "Those Endearing Young Charms," Sam Goldwyn. CASTINGS DONALD O'CONNOR, ANN BLYTHE, "The Third Clory," Universal; JOSEPH VITALI, "Dan- gerous Journey," RKO; HENRY MORGAN, ROBERT BAILEY, "The Eve of St. Mark," 20th-Fox; LON CHANEY, JOHN CARRADINE, ACQUANETTA, "The Mummy's Ghost," Uni- versal; RICHARD FRASER, SAMUEL S. HINDS, "When Ladies Fly," Universal-Wanger. loa'ned JUDITH GIBSON and JOEL FRIEND, dance team, by Paramount to Monogram. IDA LUPINO by Warners to 20th-Fox. ■ STORY PURCHASES JACK McGOWAN's "Oh, You Kid," M-G-M. TITLE SWITCHES "The Case of the Dangerous Blondes," formerly "Restless Lady," Columbia. "The Chance of a Lifetime," formerly "The Gamble of Boston Blackie," Columbia. "Mr. Muggs Steps Out," formerly "The Honor System," Monogram. "Gangway for Tomorrow," formerly "An Ameri- can Story," RKO. NEW TERMERS JOHN FARROW, director, Paramount. SCHEDULED "The Purple Heart," producer, DARRYL F. ZANUCK; story, JERRY CADY; technical advisor, OTTO TOLISCHUS, 20rh-Fox. "The Devil's Apprentice," producer, JACK SCHWARZ; story LARRY WILLIAMS; screenplay, MARTIN MOONEY, PRC. "True to the Navy," musical, by KARL TUN- BERG and DARRELL WARE, Paramount. "Claudia," sequel, 20th-Fox. Oil-Burning Theaters in 17 j Clark to Confer With States Benefit by OPA Rule ! Film Execs, on Monday (.Continued from Page 1) terday by OPA, extending the area in which users of under 10,000 gal- lons of oil annually need not con- vert. Last May the removal of con- vertibility tests for theaters and other commercial buildings in the New England states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri was announced, with no conversion required in the Pa- cific Northwest, Florida or the East- ern part of Georgia regardless of how much oil is used. The objective is. according to OPA of- ficials, "to save the greatest amount of fuel oil with the use of the smallest quantity of iron, steel and other critical materials necessary for conversion. The small con- versions which are eliminated by this action use a disproportionate amount of scarce materials, require the least plentiful types and sizes of coal and place the great- est strain upon the already burdened retail coal delivery facilities.'' Users of over 10.000 gallons will still be questioned re- garding; convertibility. Thus, theaters which used 10,000 gallons of oil or less during the 1942-43 season need not convert to coal if they live in the 11 states named above or New York, Penn- sylvania. New Jersey. Delaware. Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa. Minnesota and the Dis- trict of Columbia. Local 152 Drafts Scales New wage scales have been drawn up by the recently organized Motion Picture Theater Managers and Em- ployes Union, Local 152, CIO, for submission this week to Loew's, RKO, Skouras, Brandt and other circuits, according to D. F. Bar- reca, president of the union. The union is asking $100 for managers, $50 for assistants, $30 for doormen and cashiers, $20 for ushers. These scales are based on a 40-hour week. Metro's Four on Broadway M-G-M will have four first-run features on Broadway this week-end. "Hitler's Madman" will have its New York premiere Friday at the Rialto, while "Salute to the Marines" bows in at the Globe the following day. "Best Foot Forward," now in its ninth week, continues at the Astor, while "Du Barry Was A Lady" holds for a second stanza at the Capitol. Chicago — Assistant Attorney Gen- eral Tom C. Clark will address U. S. district attorneys this afternoon at the Chicago war-time regional con- ference, bringing them the latest re- ports on the consent decree and war- time frauds. He leaves tomorrow morning for Fargo, N. D., to address a meeting to be held there returning to Washington for conferences Mon- day with film producers which he said, will be an important meeting. Attorney General Biddle addresses wartime conference lawyers asso- ciation at the Drake Hotel at the banquet tonight. Take 16 mm. Pix to Remote Areas of Venezuela West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — According to word re- ceived by the Motion Picture Society for the Americas, American and British business firms in Venezuela are helping to bring up-to-date films to remote communities in that coun- try, many of which had never seen a movie before. The firms, scattered through the rich, oil-bearing areas of coastal and eastern Venezuela have been co- operating with local representatives of Inter - American Affairs to bring 16 mm. shorts, newsreels and features to their employes and other inhabitants of the area. Reopen Milwaukee Theaters Milwaukee, Wis. — Fox has re- opened the Lincoln, and the Mirth. Former was remodelled, and equip- ped with new seats, projection equipment, and screen. Two Move in Minneapolis Milwaukee, Wins. — Film Arts Corp., commercial trailer company, and Astor Pictures, are now located in new offices at 725 W. Wells St. Polio Restricts Juve Attendance Chicago — First local theater to restrict juvenile attendance as a re- sult of the polio outbreak is the Berwyn, West Side suburban. (Continued from Page 1) paign will be one of the main points of today's discussion, with programs to be worked out for the appear- ance of the Hollywood caravan in numerous cities. The meeting will see also an exchange of promotion ideas from various regions in the East. At 4:15 industry leaders will be aired in a closed circuit broadcast by the Mutual Broadcasting System, expected to reach about 5,000 exhi- bitors throughout the country, who will be guests of the local MBS sta- tions. Speakers will include L. C. Griffith, general chairman of the industry committee for the drive, Ted Gamble, Oregon exhibitor new serving as special assistant to Treasury Secretary Henry Morgen- thau, Si Fabian, WAC theaters chair- man, C. B. Akers, industry campaign director and Francis S. Harmon, WAC co-ordinator. Regional WAC leaders will meet in the morning, with a luncheon to follow at which Treasury officials will be guests. All exhibitors from the local area are in- vited to attend the afternoon session. Invited to Attend Invited to be present will be motion picture operators from the District of Columbia. Virginia and Maryland in addition to such nationally known industry representatives as Joseph E. Bernhard, WB vice-president: William F. Rodgers, and H. M. Riehey. M-G-M: Charles Moskowitz. Lowe's. Inc.: Leonard Goldenson. Paramount Theaters: I. J. Hoff- man, zone manager Warner Bros.. New England; W. K. Jenkins, Lucas & Jenkins Theaters, Georgia; R. J. O'Donnell. Inter- state Circuit, Dallas; M. A. Lightman, MPTOA vice-president; Harry Browning, pub- licity director M & P Theaters. Boston: Myer Schine, Schine Circuit: H. F. Kincey, Wilby-Kincey Theaters. North Carolina: M. A. Silver, Warner Bros., zone manager, Pittsburgh; Frank A. Hornig, Maryland: J. C. Shanklin. West Virginia Managers Association: Pete Wood, Secretary, Ohio ITOA: D. B. Jacocks. zone manager WB Theaters. New Jersey; R. H. Kennedy. Bir- mingham: M. S. McCord, Little Rock: Harry Shaw New Haven; Lewis S. Black, Wilming- ton: J. L. Cartwright, Tampa: A. Higgin- bothan. New Orleans: Connie Russell. Bangor, Maine; Sam Varbalow, Camden: Nick Basil, Buffalo: L. R. Golding. Albany: I. Libson. Cincinnati: A. Frudenfeld. Cin- cinnati: William Skirball. Cleveland: Warren Irwin. Columbia, S. C; Robert E. Bryant. Rockhill; Hermit Stengel. Nashville: W. F. Crockett, Virginia Beach. "Rhine" Dubbed in German "Watch on the Rhine" is under- stood to be the first American film to be dubbed in German for showing in Germany after the Nazis' capitu- lation to the United Nations. The ... . FEMME TOUCH MISS N. C. SCHAEFFER, manager, La Plazi Theater, St. Petersburg, Ha. MRS. CLETA BOWMAN, assistant, Crand, Grand Island, Neb. MRS. GERTRUDE L. TRACEY, manager, Loew's Ohio, Cleveland. BETTY APPLEBY, office staff, National Scraen, Seattle. CARLOTTA PORTER, booker, Paramount, Char- lotte, N. C. Exhibitors can count on exten- sive grosses .Thrills, throbs, roman packed into first rate film. Ace con- tribution to war- inspired fi FILM DAIL Standout. Top revenue. Grip- I BOX OFFICE with GLENN FORD MARGUERITE CHAPMAN EDGAR BUCHANAN Screen Play by Frank Wead, Lewis Meltzer and Borden Chase . Produced by LOUIS F. EDELMAN • Directed by WILLIAM A. SEITER • A COLUMBIA PICTURE Should hit pox Office bull's-eye. One of best lilms about U. S. Nov to plow across screen." HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "Packed with situations audiences will enjoy. Fast moving melodrama as all the angles." THE EXHIBITOR "Exciting, timely enter- ainment. Appeal to en and women. DAILY VARIETY Rousing, full-bodied story of ship. Makes home with plenty to spare. H MP DAILY "Fine example of what swell entertainment can be put into picture with war theme." SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW "Excellent. 'Destroyer' rings true as the steel of her keel." M P HERALD BACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR LOAM! ■MM m r 13 NC 12 2 i)W 4-4- S T N Y C Canadian Indies Will Ask Trade Reforms (Continued from Page 1) seeking reforms in the trade situa- tion, brought about by conditions created by Government regulations. It was reported that the members proposed to present recommenda- tions on Government control of the film industry, manpower problems, restrictions on theater construction, priorities on theater equipment and supplies and classification of films in contracts for the new season. The recommendations will be made to Chairman Donald Gordon of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, Labor Minister Humphrey Mitchell, who holds the direction of national Selective Service regula- tions, and others. Convention is being held at the King Edward Hotel, with President Ben Freeman of the Ontario Inde- pendent Exhibitors Association act- ing as chairman at a luncheon yes- terday when special guests included Mayor Fred J. Conboy, Controller Fred Hamilton, J. J. Fitzgibbons, R. G. McMullen and others. Stricter Moral Standards For Mex. Pix Censorship Mexico City (By Air Mail) — Amer- ican films destined for exhibition South of the border will be sub- jected to stiffer censorship require- ments than formerly, it is disclosed by the Mexican Department of State. Expressing its dissatisfac- tion with the working of the code covering both native and foreign productions, the censor's office at- tached to the department has de- clared its intention of exerting a stricter supervision over the morals of Mexican moviegoers. In announcing the projected tight- ening of standards, a Government spokesman said: "One of the principal functions of the State is to watch over public education and see that the moral laws governing society are not dis- turbed by propaganda inciting vio- lation of the law, treason, hatred, crime, prostitution, vice, and bad habits that defeat the goal of mak- ing the younger generation strong, sound of body and of mind, capable of serving the country and itself." Under the present set-up local pro- ducers submit scripts for review be- fore production and the finished films afterwards. However, the pol- icy of granting a limited approval to some productions has recently drawn forth considerable criticism. Particularly outside the capital, it is pointed out, it has proven difficult to prevent children and minors from attending performances licensed ex- clusively for grown-ups'. Elinor Fishman Feted New Haven — Elinor Fishman, re- signing 20th-Fox booker, was given a farewell buffet supper and gift by the staff. WAR SERVICE . . . on the Film Front Omaha — World premiere of "Claudia" has netted $1,700 for The Omaha World- Herald's "Smokes for Service Men's" fund, Ted Emerson, manager of the Paramount where the event was held, has announced. The amount turned over to the fund will go to purchase 750,000 cigarets for Ameri- cans overseas. ... — V ... — Mystic, Conn. — John P. Findlay, operator of the Strand, is head of civilian defense in Stonington. . . . _ V . . . — New York City exhibitors who since Feb. 8, have been participating in a cam- paign to enlist blood donors for the Red Cross have sent over 26,772 registrants to that organization's blood banks to date. . . . _ V. . . — Pawtucket, R. I. — Martin R. Toohey, manager of Leroy Theater, is general chair- man of a current civic campaign to raise $7,- 000 for Servicemen's Lounge in downtown Pawtucket. Opened several months ago, lounge already has played host to 1,100 men in uniform. ... — V ... — Theaters throughout the nation will aid a recruitment drive for the Army Nurse Corps and its sister organization the Navy Nurse Corps concurrently with the exhi- bition of Paramount's "So Proudly We Hail," which will be launched during the 25th Anniversary Paramount Week, Sept. 5-11. Providence Playhouse Legit. Season Drama Off Providence — Playhouse Theater went dark Saturday night at termi- nation of its previously announced 10-week season of drama. Stage shows did not come up to previous season's in box-office take, blame resting in extended heat wave dur- ing season and, most of all, to OPA's ban on use of automobiles. This was markedly evident in out- of-town orders for tickets, many regulars of other seasons not being on the books this year. Film stars proved best money-getters during season, with Constance Bennett top- ping list, Glenda Farrell in closing week also rating well up in the cash books. Fish Reports to Warners West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Michael J. Fish, for 10 years chief of the Chicago Times photographic staff, has taken up his duties as assistant in charge of photography under Alex Evelove at Warners studio. Fish joined War- ners several weeks ago and has been making a tour of the country before checking in at Burbank. Down to Four-Day Operation Washington Depot, Conn. — For the time in nine years, Joseph first Reed has cut the Bryan Memorial program from full time to four-a- week. Wednesday, August 25, 1943 Mystery Marvel Of The War, In Paramount's THE CITY THAT STOPPED HITLER Heroic Stalingrad V Our next big war job— Third War Loan September 9th-20th In Today's Issues The Equipment News Section (See Pages 7 and 8) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Picture* Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAILY Q: 84, NO. 40 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1943 TEN CENTS THEATERS NOT ESSENTIAL, HOLDS McNUTT Griffith Of fers 9-Point Plan for War Bond Sales Exhib. Leaders Hear Pep Talk on Bond Drive Over 209-Station MBS Hookup Exhibitors who want to do some- thing for the Third War Loan were given nine suggestions by L. C. J Griffith, national chairman of the Imotion picture industry's participa- tion in the campaign, on a 209-sta- Ition closed circuit broadcast yester- Iday through the courtesy of the | Mutual Broadcasting System. Speaking from Washington to ex- hibitors gathered in the studios of the Mutual network in 209 cities, Griffith said that if a theater man (Continued on Page 3) Every House Can Have iWar Bond Premiere Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — "Every theater in America can have a War Bond pre- miere if it wants," William F. Rodg- ers, M-G-M sales chief, told the WAC Bond meeting here yesterday. "All distributors have agreed to fur- nish pix for War Bond premieres two weeks in advance of scheduled (Continued on Page 6) SPG Acts to Expedite Collective Bargaining Development of a program to ex- pedite completion of the collective bargaining between it and nine film companies was announced yesterday b>' the Screen Publicists Guild of New York, UOPWA. The program (Continued on Page 6) Fine Montreal Exhib. For Over-Charging Montreal — Joseph Cardinal, opera- tor of the Starland Cinema, pleaded guilty before Judge Fred T. En- right yesterday to selling admissions to his theater at a price higher than charged during the basic period, contrary to Wartime Prices and Trade Board regulations. He was fined $200 and costs. Canadian Indies OUay Reform Resolutions Toronto — Resolutions pertaining to Federal control of the industry and other conditions affecting un- affiliated theater owners were ap- proved yesterday at the closing ses- sion of the annual convention of the National Council of Independent Exhibitors of Canada. It was reported that the motions will be presented in the form of briefs to the Gov- ernment without delay as they deal with product and rental terms for the new season. Sessions were closed and it was announced that other developments would be made public later. Says Pix Did Greatest Single Job in War Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The greatest single job ever done by any industry _ in this war was done by the motion picture industry during the first War Loan drive last September when from 250 to 300 million dol- (Continued on Page 6) Clark to Discuss Consent Decree With Pix Reps. Mon. Chicago — Tom C. Clark, assistant to the Attorney General in charge of the anti-trust division, said he would meet Monday in Washington (Continued on Page 6) War Manpower Chief Lauds Industry, But Tells WAC Meeting in Washington Essential Rating Impossible; Will Confer with Committee on Draft Clarification By ANDREW H. OLDER Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — "The answer, in two letters, is 'no'," Paul V. McNutt, WMC chief replied yesterday when asked whether theatres could be held essential. McNutt appeared before the morning session of the WAC meet- ing at the Hotel Statler to answer questions from exhibitors regarding the manpower outlook. Although his remarks were de- clared off the record at the meeting, McNutt later told The Film Daily to feel free to use whatever part might be valuable information to (Continued on Page 6) Vandalism Increases In Boston Theaters Boston — Vandalism in the local theaters is again on the increase and the managers are admitting that drastic measures must be taken in some instances. Teen-agers are no, great problem, according to most of the managers, for they find younger patrons can be handled with a bit of warning, and sometimes a fatherly word of advice. "Parents are to be blamed more than the teen-agers," said the mana- ger of one of the largest de luxers, (Continued on Page 2) Biz Off as Harvesting Starts; Fall Looks Good A temporary slump in theater at- tendance in sections where harvest- ing is under way is noted by box- office receipts. Slump is particularly noticeable this year in the vicinity of Sioux Falls, S. D., where the populace is going all-out to bring (Continued on Page 3) Theaters Over Equip. 'Hump* Essential Supply Will be Available— Nelson Extend Transfer Period For Crescent Records Nashville, Tenn. — Federal Judge Elmer D. Davies yesterday extended to Oct. 25 the time for transfer of records in the Crescent anti-trust ac- tion to the U. S. Supreme Court for an appeal hearing on the issue of theater acquisitions. Extension means that Judge Dav- (Continued on Page 3) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— Theaters are "over the hump" on their equipment prob- lems, the WAC theaters group meet- ing here at the Hotel Statler yester- day was told by WPB Director Don- ald M. Nelson. "You've had plenty of problems," Nelson said. "Man- power and supplies, I suppose, have been most important. I can't help you on manpower, but I can tell you (Continued on Page 6) Warners Inventory At All-Time High Continued increase in production costs, with top-bracket pictures now involving an average investment of around $1,500,000, is reflected in the latest Warners financial state- ment issued yesterday. Analysis of the latest consolidated balance sheet shows the highest in- (Continued on Page 3) MPPDA to Honor British Minister of Information Brendan Bracken, British Minister of Information, will be the guest of the MPPDA at a luncheon today at the Waldorf-Astoria. Bracken will come here from Quebec where he has been one of the key figures in (Continued on Page 2) Radio News Summary at Rochester Palace Rochester — A one-minute summary of the news, by direct wire from WHEC, is now being featured three times daily at the RKO Palace here. The news summary follows the newsreel and is given over the pub- lic address system by news commen- tators from WHEC. It is popular with audiences. mm Thursday, August 26, 1943 DAILY Vol. 84, No. 40 Thurs., Aug. 26, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE : DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN Publisher Ceneral Manager Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. tf., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New Yurk $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL i(Wednesday, August 2'5): NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) Columbia Picts. pfd. 37 37 37 — y4 Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd East. Kodak 158 158 158 — % do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq 20l/2 195/s 20 -f 5/8 Loew's, Inc 58i/2 57% 58i/2 + % Paramount 255/s 25 25% + % RKO 8% 8 8 RKO $6 pfd 88 88 88 +1 20th Century-Fox . . . 21 % 21 1/2 21 % 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31l/4 31 3iy4 + % Warner Bros 12% 123/8 12'/2 + l/4 do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Par B'way 3s55 Warner Bros. dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs 1 '/2 13/8 l3/8 Sonotone Corp Technicolor 12% 125/8 12% + % Trans-Lux 23,4 23^ 23,4 — i/4 "Sammy" to Run on Boards A dramatization of "What Makes Sammy Run" is listed for production in January by the recently organized legit, producing towsome of B. P. Schulberg and Marion Gering. The author of the novel of Hollywood life is Schulberg's son, Bud Schul- berg. Hal Korda will function as executive assistant to Schulberg. ACE MANPOWER for ANY JOB AVAILABLE NOW— CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Aoeney) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y. Tel. MU. 2-6494 cominG rrd come u J. D. KENDIS, president of Continental Pic- tures, Hollywood is at the Edison. DAVID ROSE has returned to London via Clipper. JOSEPH MOSKOWITZ has arrived from the Coast. CEORCE J. SCHAEFER is in Hollywood. FRANK N. PHELiPS, Warner Theaters' ex- ecutive in charge of labor relations, left last night for Washington, where he will remain the rest of the week. BEN KALMENSON, general sales manager for Warners, leaves today for a cross-country tour on "This is the Army" deals, with Chicago as his first stop. FRED MEYERS, Universal division manager, was in Albany with Jere Spandau to make calls on Fabian and Warner circuits. EDWARD X. CALLAHAN, 20th Century-Fox district manager, returned to Boston after spending two days in Albany. LOU COLDINC, Fabian district manager, Al- bany and WAC chairman there, is in Washington with SI FABIAN. ROBERT E. RUSSELL, on a three months' leave of absence from the Loew-Poli manager- ship, is New Haven, is stopping at Friend's Lake, New York. ARTHUR GOODMAN, film editor of the Rochester Times-Union, is on vacation. MICHAEL J. MUNCOVAN, head of the Stage Hands Union in Rochester, and a vice-president of the N. Y. State Federation of Labor, is in Buffalo for sessions of the Federation's an- nual convention. RAYMOND SCHOSBERG, in charge of candy sales for Paramount, is in Rochester, on business. ED HOWARD, manager of the RKO Temple, Rochester, and MRS. HOWARD, are visiting in New York this week. JOHN POLLOCK, general manager for John Golden, the Broadway producer is back from the Coast. JULES FIELDS of the 20th Century-Fox ex- ploitation department is back from Atlantic City, where he handled the Eastern premiere of "Claudia" at the Apollo Theater there. JONAS ROSENFIELD, JR., of the 20th Century- Fox publicity department leaves this week for a vacation trip to Maine. CHARLES KRAMPF of the 20th Century- Fox advertising department is back from two weeks in the Catskills. JULES ALBERTI, director of radio advertising of 20th Century-Fox, is in New Haven. DAVID HERSH, president of the Ideal Factor- ing Corp., leaves for the Coast today to nego- tiate financing for several productions. Ambassador Sponsors Screening of "Stalingrad" When invitations went out to dip- lomatic representatives to attend a Washington screening of Para- mount's "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad," the host was named as Andrei A. Gromyko, then Russian charge d'affaires. Since then Gromyko has been named am- bassador and he thus becomes the first ambassador to sponsor a screen- ing. As a result, nobody who was invited can afford to be absent and an overflow is expected tonight when the screening is held in the Interior Bldg. Meanwhile, WPB officials will at- tend a special screening of the pic- ture in Washington tomorrow night so that they may see how U. S. war materials sent to Russia per- formed in combat. Para. Eastman Ad Reps. Plan "Bell" Premieres U. S. Court's Jurisdiction In Skouras Motion Upheld Federal Judge John C. Knox yes- terday rejected the contention of the Skouras Theaters Corp. that the Fed- eral Court lacked jurisdiction in re- spect of a motion by Robert Aron- stein, attorney for a creditor in the Fox Theater Corp. receivership, to set aside the sale of the Academy of Music by the Fox receiver to the Skouras circuit. 20th-Fox Grooming 5 Femmes West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — In line with its policy of developing its own stars and fea- tured players 20th-Fox will intro- duce five new feminine personalities in its new-season product. They are Mary Anderson, Jeanne Crain, June Haver, Gale Robbins and Trudy Mar- shall. Paramount's Eastern district ad- vertising representatives will meet here tomorrow to discuss plans for the handling of the "For Whom the Bell Tolls" premiere in important key cities. Approximately 50 open- ings will be held on or about Oct. 1. Alec Moss, exploitation manager, will preside at the meeting to be held at the home office. Attending will be William Brooker, Philadel- phia; J. M. Joice, Cleveland; C. C. Perry, Cincinnati; Arnold Van Leer, Boston; Ed J. Wall, Albany; James C. Furman, Atlanta, and Sid Mesi- bov, New York. W. C. Lewellen, of the Dallas district, will tell of his experiences in exploiting the picture in Los Angeles, Chicago and Wash- ington. Blackouts for St. Louis Sit. Louis, Mo. — St. Louis and vicinty is to have three practice blackouts during the remainder of this year. The new audible air raid alarm system will be used. ATTENTION FILM BUYERS Just arrived in New York from Holly- wood, California with the following re-issue exploitation pictures for great- er New York and other territories: "Secrets of a Model" with Cheryl Walker "Crusade Against Rackets" "Parole From the Big House" and others See J. D. Kendis Continental Pictures, Inc. Room 1045, Edison Hotel, N. Y. C. Vandalism Increases In Boston Theaters (Continued from Page 1) "for as a rule when they find that we have cautioned their offspring, they are vehement in their denuncia- tion of us and of our having th temerity to warn their children. MPPDA to Honor British Minister of Information (Continued from Page 1) the conferences between President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. The luncheon, tendered as a ges- ture of good will to a distinguished visitor, will be attended by com- pany presidents and the heads of the foreign departments. 1VEW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CONDOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BUY WAR TIMES Boi^r PARAMOUNT S^A£ B'WAY & 47th St. EXCLUSIVE 1st RUN THEATRE JOHN MAUREEN GARFIELD O'HARA "THE FALLEN SPARROW" P oTws STATE ON SCREEN "STAGE DOOR CANTEEN" 48 STARS 6 BANDS Thursday, August 26, 1943 w DAILY Griffith Tells of Nine Ways fo Help Drive {Continued from Page 1) asked what he could do to help, the following would be recommended: (1). Buy an extra Bond for himself and every member of his family; (2). see that each ^•-employe bought an extra bond; ^]3). sign a pledge of co-opera- tion; (4). send the pledge to National Screen Service for use in a trailer; (5). become an is- suing agent; (6). get a display kit from the National Screen decorating the lobby during the drive; (7). urge Bond sales in the theater'Js newspaper ads; (8). keep the Bond booths open at all times, and (9). arrange for Bond premieres. Francis S. Harmon, WAC ex- ecutive vice-chairman, opened and closed the 15-minute program and introduced the other speaker, Ted Gamble, Oregon exhibitor now serv- ing as special assistant to Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau. Gam- ble told his listeners that the "zero hour" was approaching for the great- est merchandising drive in history and promised that the theaters would give the drive all the necessary color and ballyhoo. Hollywood Chairmen for Third War Loan Drive West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Among chairmen named for the Third War Loan Drive by Henry Ginsberg, head of the motion picture War Finance Com- mittee, are Tom Baily, Albert G. Ruben, associate chairmen allied in- dustries; Sol Lesser with I. E. Chad- wick and Trem Carr of independent studios; John McCormick, agents and freelance publicists; U. H. Ro- senberg, special committee to sell Government securities to corpora- tions; Frank Carruthers, Basic agreement unions; Carl Cooper, IATSE unions; Herbert Sorrell, Con- ference of Studio Unions; David Butler, Screen Directors Guild; Ralph Byrd, Screen Actors Guild; Jane Murfin, Screen Writers Guild. Paul J. Sharpegger Dead Portland, Ore. — Paul J. Sharpeg- ger, 62, motion picture operator at the Mayfair died at his home. Jerry Drew Alice White Richard Wallace ALONG THE PktfWI.Dt About The Trtule: • • • WELL, 'twas all confirmed yes'day Dick de Roche- merit takes full charge of M & T movie division's operations for Time, Inc., succeeding Br'r Louis who has resigned to become a feature pro- ducer for 20th-Fox For the past several months, Dick has been executively pinch-hitting for Louis while the latter was on sick leave from the org In that span, Br'r Dick did exceedingly well in the relief role, hatching such potent issues as "Inside Fascist Spain," "Show Business at War," "Invasion," "Jack & Heintz," "And Then Japan" The brother act will continue to be close knit, 'cause M & T is distri- buted by 20th-Fox, Louis' current (and former) alma mater The forces of Spyros Skouras can count it a pronounced victory to have Louis on the feature-production end He has demonstrated a rare flare for such work, and the wonder is that he hasn't been lifted for such a post long before this While M & T will miss Louis from the desk on Lexington Ave., — make no mistake about it, Br'r Dick is a mighty nifty fit in the managing editor chair T T T • • • O'ER in the lair of Leo the Lion, they're whistling two tunes of mellow vintage And with good reason M-G-M has purchased both "In the Good Old Summer Time" and "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" from Edward B. Marks Music Corp. for a higher price than was ever received by the latter for mel- low melodies of yore Both properties will go into production soon in Culver City Out of the Marks copyright cata- logue have wafted some slick celluloid attractions, 'mong them "My Gal Sal," "Song of the Islands," "To the Shores of Tripoli," "El Rancho Grande," "Cowboy Serenade," "A Gay Ranchero," et al T T ▼ • • • JOTTINGS JENEEALLY: As tribute to Mexico and Central America on their Independence Day anniversary, the Good Neighbors Center of New York, 310 Riverside Drive, will hold a rally and fiesta on Tuesday evening, Sept. L4, on the stage of Skouras' Beacon Theater, B'way at 74th St., at 8 p.m Program will include top- notch entertainment by screen, stage, radio and opera luminaries, and messages by Mexican, Central and North American dignitaries Tickets (while they last) can be had gratis by writing to the Good Neigh- bors Center. ... • Herman Barnett succeeds Harold Seerot as art director at RKO Theaters h.o. on Sept. 7. . . . • New Haven clarions that George Worcester, 20th -Fox's newest and best janitor is 90 years old, and passes on to us the latter's assertion that, many years ago, he sold Louis B. Mayer that big-wig's first theater in Boston! ... • John Galvin, manager of Wilkes-Barre's Orpheum, recently turned literary by serving as a guest colyumist in the Times Leader-Evening News there for Miss Kay Dangeriield, author of "Vignettes of the Valley" which appears daily in that newspaper Dipping the pen into satirical ink, John captioned his colyum, "Mr. Theater Manager Goes to Work." ... • Jimmy Cagney is in town to put in his eagerly-awaited appearance at the $800,000,000 Journal-American Bond Baseball Game and show at the Polo Grounds tonight The Academy Award Win- ner heads a contingent of screen, stage and radio stars, which includes Irving Berlin, Ethel Merman and Milton Berle Leo Durocher would do well to be on hand for certain John Hancocks to Dodger pacts (Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Hans Wagner, George Sisler, Tris Speaker and Eddie Collins, all to appear on the "dream team of the century"). • Frank Rosenberg, manager of Columbia's exploitation dept., is in Camp Campbell, Ky., arranging for the big showing there of "Sahara" on Sept. 2 V V V • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Warners Inventory At Ail-Time High (Continued from Page 1) ventory in the history of the com- pany, the current figure of $29,929,- 174 comparing with $21,021,183 a year ago and $16,781,829 two years ago. The sharp rise is accounted for by the substantial number of unre- leased productions on hand plus the higher cost of the type picture on which Warners is now concentrating. Company had about a dozen of these features on hand, including some costing over $2,000,000, plus several other pictures completed last year but still awaiting release, on the date of the last financial state- ment. Another new high shown in the latest consolidated report is in to- tal assets, which now stand at $182,- 607,003, an industry record, and an increase of over $12,000,000 in the past two years. Extend Transfer Period For Crescent Records (.Continued from Page 1) ies, if he elects to so do, will have 60 additional days in which to act on motions filed by defense counsel seeking to amend the court's find- ings of fact and to alter the decree before it becomes final. The defense has a motion on file to dismiss the Government's motion to appeal on the grounds that the case, at this stage, is not "appeal- able" due to motions and petitions by the defense which have not been acted upon. Petitions have also been filed by shareholders of three of the corporations affiliated with Crescent seeking to annul provisions of the proposed decree requiring Crescent officials to divest themselves of all interest in them. Biz Off as Harvesting Starts; Fall Looks Good (Continued from Page 1) in the crops and are passing up the- aters for the time being. Smaller town theaters in several agricultural sections report a decline in receipts since harvesting started, but all ex- hibitors in those territories are pre- dicting excellent Fall theater busi- ness. Son of Arthur Horn Dies in Jap Battle Albany — Lt. Charles Horn, son of Arthur Horn. Metro salesman, was killed in action in the Pacific, ac- cording to word received here BE^ this week from the War De- \~i; partment by his parents. At- tached to the Medical Corps, Lieut. Horn was a doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, before his enlistment. OJ*-ttu "Such box-office lines, and so nice to hold over!" 'Du Barry Was A Lady" starring Red Skekon, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly with Virginia O'Brien, "Rags" Ragland, Zero Mostel • Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra • Photographed in Technicolor • Screen Play by Irving Brecher • Adaptation by Nancy Hamilton • Additional Dialogue by Wilkie Mahoney • Based on the Play Produced by B. G. DeSylva and Written by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva with Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter • Directed by Roy Del Ruth • Produced by Arthur Freed • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Ready! Set! 3rd War Loan — Sept. 9th! \ 'yj •• W*\ DAILY Thursday, August 26, 194 s Every House (an Have War Bond Premiere {Continued from Page 1) release dates." These will be rent- free and for one performance only. Only 700 Bond premieres were held last year during the first Bond drive, Rodgers explained, and there was jealousy among exhibitors. For next month's drive it was at first estimated that there would be 1,200 Bond premieres, but he expects that figure to be knocked into a cocked- hat, said Rodgers. He has been ad- vised he said, that there will be 175 such premieres in the Dallas area alone. Exhibitors were urged by WAC Co-or- dinator Francis S. Harmon to exploit all the showmanship facilities offered by their home towns. It will not be possible for the in- dustry, to send Hollywood stars or nationally known war heroes to every town or city, he said, but exhibitors can do a terrific pro- motion job by emphasizing- the contributions of local men in the armed forces. Harmon spoke also of the value of the drive as a force to unite the industry. Aside from the money raised, he said, the Septem- ber drive last year did more to unite the industry than any other single thing. Next month's drive would be desirable even if no money were to be raised. He pointed out the value of selling- War Bonds as a means of continued theater patronage after the war with the public using the money saved in Bonds to keep the box office busy. No Essentiality For Theaters McNutt to Meet Trade Com. on Draft Clarity {Continued from Page 1) Says Theaters Over Equipment "Hump' {Continued from Page 1) the worst is over in the supply situa- tion." Although he did not predict a plenitude of theater supplies, he assured the group that essential the- ater supply will be made available. Nelson declared the industry has done "a grand job — you've helped us tremendously. You've proved to us that the motion picture is a very effective advertising medium and al- though you're a bunch of live wires when you get your teeth in some- thing." He referred specifically to the industry-wide salvage campaign. (Nelson urged that collection of cop- per scrap not be discontinued al- though "we have temporarily out- run our smelting capacity." He asked that the drive be continued but that the steam be relaxed a little tem- porarily). The War Production Chief asks the aid of the industry in combatting what he de- scribed as a "psychological slump" of the American people. "The question today is not one of winning the war," he said, "but rather one of shortening the war. Our opponent is groggy, but we're still a long, long way from Berlin." The industry can aid in keeping the public at fighting pitch, he said. Nelson pledged his aid to Palmer Hoyt, OWI domestic director, who had declared earlier yesterday that he will continue his efforts to promote better war pictures from the armed services. Hoyt thanked the in- dustry for taking over the OWI shorts program and assured exhibitors the shorts and film bulletin planned will be newsy and interesting and made it plain that OWI needs all the aid it can get from the industry. the industry. In a brief exclusive interview after the meeting, he am- plified some of his earlier state- ments. The tall, white-haired Indianan spoke straight-from-the-shoulder to the exhibitor group. Although he had highest praise for the work of the industry, he insisted that WMC's primary jobs are to supply men for the armed forces and for production of war material. Everything else must be subordinate to those needs, he said. "I recognize full well what problems confront you," declared McNutt. "I see it day after day and hour after hour. We will do the best we can for you, but in order. First must come the armed forces, Second the industrial forces furnishing ma- terial for the war. You're what's left." Industry members complained bit- terly about the lack of clarity in the draft setup, with one trade leader telling McNutt that he doesn't be- lieve "that you or your associates can know what we do in the war effort unless we can lay it before you." This brought an invitation from the manpower chief to appear before him and "say whatever you please and stay as long as you please. You'll get every consideration." To Name Joint Committee It was later decided that a joint exhibitor-distributor committee will be named to confer with WMC of- ficials. McNutt had highest praise for the work the industry has been doing. "I know what kind of a job you're doing," he said. "I go to your theaters, I like your pictures — you're doing a grand job. We're all making sacrifices — you're making them, I'm making them." McNutt later told THE FILM DAILY that he believes motion pictures to be one of the most important morale boosters in American life today. The request regarding the essentiality rat- ing followed several minutes of complaint regarding the fuzziness of draft rulings. Ex- hibitors and distributors had complained about the uncertainty regarding the status of bookers and others. This theme was taken up again later, and will be perhaps the main thing on the agenda when the group meets with the WMC officials. One prominent New York exhibitor told McNutt that "as far as we are concerned, the war must come first. All we want is as- surance that we will not be discriminaed against." He was assured by McNutt that WAC has every right to go to state and regional Selective, Service directors on indivi- dual cases. McNutt told the group that theaters will be given "every consideration on the top side, in order to see that you get your pic- tures." He implied that not all of Washing- ton has been enthusiastic about the draft preference given studio technicians. Later he told THE FILM DAILY that he had had to fight for that, but felt it to be of suffi- cient importance. After McNutt left, the meeting approved unanimously a decision reached last May by the executive committee of the WAC theaters division not to press for an es- sential rating for theater employes. Chair- man Si Fabian declared that what is really- needed is a determination that theater em- ployes should continue to receive considera- tion for dependency — in effect that they not be held non-deferrable. This was taken to refer to keymen only. This was seconded by WB Vice-President Joseph Bernhard who declared that the primary aim was to prevent men from being drafted for other work. There is no point in trying to win deferment), for theater em- ployes from military service, he said. Problem is to Hold Gain At this point Harry Brandt of New York declared that this industry now faces the problem of holding on to what it has. "The producers have won a victory," he said, re- ferring to the production jobs on the es- sential list. These jobs are today in great danger, however, he continued, declaring that the essential list is being whittled down and that, expansion of it is almost impossible for any but a direct war job. The motion picture industry, he said, is as well off as any industry today turning out the materials for our fighting men. Another exhibitor seconded Brandt's posi- tion that the important thing today is to get a clarificaion of the many manpower directives as they refer to theaters. During the past week, he said, numerous theater managers have been ordered by local draft boards to get into essential work or answer a call to the armed services. This, he said, points up the need for definitions of the job titles on the non-deferrable list. Preparing Interpretations Claude Collins, WAC representative in Washington, explained that interpretations are now being prepared in Washington as revealed Monday by THE FILM DAILY, but it is unlikely that these will ever be sent to local draft boards. Direct interpretations from WMC or Selective Ser- vice are very unlikely, he said, although when the National Selective Service head- quarters has interpretations, it is likely that they will aid in individual appeals. The classification "managing agents" was not intended to include theater managers, said Collins, and Washington is still undecided about film bookers. The latter were in- tended for inclusion when the list was re- leased he said, but that was because the compilers of the list understood bookers to be people who went into the field to book pictures. He said it was suggested to him that the best safeguard might be to re- classify bookers as clerks. Closing the manpower session, Fabian urged WAC officials to try to "make good contact with your State Selective Service director." Most state and regional offi- cials have more authority with local boards than Washington, said Fabian. Says Pix Did Greatest Single Job in War ! Continental's "Teen Age" To Play Interstate Spots "Teen Age," independently pro- duced on the Coast by Continental Pictures, will have its world pre- miere at the Palace, Houston, on Sept. 2 and has been set to play the entire Interstate circuit, it was said here yesterday by J. D. Kendis, Continental's prexy. Pic deals with the juvenile delinquency problem. Kendis, here to talk distribution deals, is at the Edison. Bus Service Restoration Order, Boon in Rochester {Continued from Page 1) lars was raised in theaters, T. P.1 Gamble, special assistant to Treas ury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr., told the WAC group meeting here yesterday. i The industry faces next montj^hi ^ greatest challenge it has everf d the Oregon exhibitor said, au^inj that he is certain it will do a greate job than last year and will derivij even more benefit than last yea: from that job. He declared that the aters will comprise about 15 per cen cf the issuing agencies for Wa; Bonds, and thus will bear tremendou: responsibility for the actual Bone sales. (This figure refers only t< the "issuing agencies" — a circuit o: 10 theaters in a town, all sellin< Bonds but through a circuit office would count as only one issuin agency). Ray Beall. publicity director for the In terstate Circuit. Dallas, now heading th industry for the War Loan drive, promisei the utmost help for exhibitors from his of fice. He urged universal use of the specia Alan Ladd trailer, and mentioned also th Rosalind Russell bulletin and several other that will be attached to the newsreels. Beall revealed that the Treasury will make available a 15-minute transcription as par of its Treasury star-parade series, this lattf to comprise a salute to the industry, witl talent from the Hollywood Bond Cavalcad participating. This will be available for loca broadcasts. In addition to the Cavalcade, the wa heroes' aid armadas, several groups of out standing fighting men each accompanied bj a leading female star, will appear in perhap 75 cities. Itinerary will be later. Rochester — Downtown houses are expected to fare well from the new- est bus order, for restoration of normal pre-June 1 bus service here is expected this week. It comes in the wake of an ODT order revoking the 20 per cent mile- age reduction order, issued May 22. The order means putting back about 50 routes, or trips, most of which go near downtown theaters. announce V. - Clark to Discuss Consent Decree With Pix Reps. Mon {Continued from Page 1) with representatives from M-G-Mj I Paramount, RKO, Warner Bros. ancj| 20th Century-Fox to discuss the con- sent decree and trade matters. Hej j. met with several Chicago theater, J owners during the day and said the Department of Justice was receiv- ing an average 50 letters daily con- taining complaints covering the con- sent decree, divorcement, block-buy- ing and clearance. After his talk at the U. S. at- torneys' meeting yesterday, he left for Fargo, N. D., for another meet- ing, returning then to Washington. SPG Acts to Expedite Collective Bargaining {Continued from Page 1) was evolved at an emergency meet- ing of the SPG's negotiations com- mittee and representative council called for the purpose of re-exam- ining the status of the four-month- old negotiations with the employers on the re-opening of the wage clause in the contracts between the union and the companies. Peter K. Hawley, labor represen- tative on the regional board of the WLB, has been assigned by the UOPWA, of which he is a national representative, to assist the SPG in concluding the negotiations. Building Remodeling Equipment Maintenance FDAILY k * * * NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST, 26, 1943 * * * • NEW EQUIPMENT ADVANCES LOOM IN TRADE Intra -Industry Meeting Is Suggested by DeVry Juch a Conference Would Clarify Equip. Problem 7or Mfrs. and Theaters Chicago — That the equipment rade and the industry generally hould hold a conclave in the im- nediate future and discuss post- war conditions which are bound to >e poised, particularly in light of he fact that currently there is more heater equipment being manufac- tured and sold to the armed forces han film houses can reasonably ab- orbed, is held advisable by W. C. )eVry, president of the DeVry Corp. Such a conference, he feels, could stablish constructive policies along nth a program through which the arious manufacturers of equipment ^ould know where they were going n a clear and organized fashion, nd theaters would not be encumb- (Continued on Page 8) 1: J lew England Theater xpanding Capacity v. Springfield, Mass. — Stage of the ocal Loew's Poli Theater will be emoved shortly to make room for he addition of 250 seats, it is re- pealed by officials of the circuit. The tage has been used only occasionally uring recent years, although in the eyday of the legitimate theater and uring the vaudeville era the stage ad been regularly trod by some of le biggest names in the theater. The additional seats will mean (Continued on Page 8) Many an End Served By Liftiny This Ban! Rochester — A sigh of relief went up from Bausch & Lomb the other day, along with every American mother, when WPB took steps to relieve the diaper shortage. Rea- son for the plant's elation is that it uses a type of lint-free cloth, com- monly used in diapers, for wiping and polishing lenses. Material is a combination of cotton and rayon, with the warp of one and the woof of another. Equipment Field Notes The Scenic Theater, Lake Wales, Fla., closed for some time, is now ready for operation, but will not open, it is under- stood, until attendance at the State, op- erated by the same interests, is too great to be conveniently accommodated. National Theatre Supply Co. has in- stalled new Walker sound screens in the Rivoli, Indianapolis, and the Mars, in Lafayette, Ind. McKinley Theater, closed two months age when Harry Reinhart did not renew his lease on the house, is being recon- ditioned by the owner, Clarence D. Smith, in anticipation of its reopening next month. Name of the operator is not being divulged at this time. Carl Henriksen has been named chief production methods engineer by Bell & Howell. Hailed as Rochester's "Ambassador of Good-Will," Carl S. Hallauer, vice-prexy of Bausch & Lomb, has received the Roch- ester Business Institute's first honorary dec- oration. The Walnut Theater, operated in Lawrenceburg, Ind., by J. B. Weddle, has installed new sper mechanisms, pedestals and magazines, and in Wina- mac, Ind., Verne Garrell has purchased new Alexander Smith Crestwood car- pet for his Isis Theater. Violet Theater, Milwaukee, is now man- aged by Albert Schoenleber who is direct- ing current remodeling to the house. Leon Drezdon has taken over the Park and Midget Theaters, Milwaukee, and has effected remodelling to both. The Park also has new seats. Dunlap, la., has a new theater, the Royal, which will be operated by Carl Worl. Equipment was furnished by Quality The- ater Supply Co. For suggesting a new way of adding dye to batches of emulsion at Eastman Kodak's plant in Rochester, Herman Paeth, an employee, has been awarded $500. It was his 10th accepted sug- gestion in a span of 15 years. The Ritz Theater, Starke, Fla., is being remodeled and will be equipped with new upholstered seats. Mrs. Tom Grady is the owner. Will Dute, Ohio-Pennsylvania sales representative for DeVry Corp., has been recalled to Chicago headquarters to aid in getting out huge shipments of equipment and material destined for the armed forces. It was inevitable that Bell & Howell would register its newly coined word, Opti- onics. It is now registered as a trade- mark. At the company's plant in Chicago, the big service flag now has 412 stars on it. During the past few weeks, 25 such stars were added. Dr. A. H. Rosenthal, internationally- known physicist and electronic en- gineer, has been appointed director of research and development of Scophony Corp. of America under a three year's contract, it is announced by company's president, Arthur Levey. The Red Springs, (N. C), Theater which was completely destroyed by fire early this Summer has been rebuilt and re-opened. Bcyd B. Horton, owner, also operates a number of other theaters including the Rialto in Grier, S. C, and the State in Concord, N. C. Facing motion picture equipment will be nothing new to Stella Pecelj of Bell & Howell's purchasing depart- ment when she decides to accept the invitation of M-G-M to come to the Culver City lot for a screen test. Leo the Lion saw her photograph on the cover of the B & H mag, Finder, — and Metro thinks it is just that in "discover- ing" the photogenic young lady. The Strand, Dayton, O., operated by Daco Theaters, Inc., headed by Ike Libson, is to be wrecked. The house is old and has been operated as a motion picture theater for many years. High Frequency Control, A Wire Sound Recorder, And Camera Dolly Emerge From three major equipment de- velopment and manufacturing fronts, —New York, Chicago, and Los An- geles— , came rumblings this week of new advances which are held cer- tain to have respective effects upon the mechanical side of the industry with the advent of peace. In New York, William C. White, head of the electronics laboratories of General Electric, revealed that vast and far-reaching adaptations of electronics as the result of the suc- cessful control of high frequencies in the billions of cycles would, when it comes, be so "startling and revo- lutionary as to open great new fields (Continued on Page 8) Latest Ore. Stand Has Official Debut Portland, Ore. — A brand new Ore- gon city, — and with it a brand new and ultra-modern motion picture theater — , has sprung up at Van- port, Ore. Both the new community and the film house have been of- ficially "opened" by Harry D. Free- man, executive director of the Port- land Housing Authority, and C. M. Gartrell, chairman of the board of Commissioners, who formally ac- cepted the new city of 40,000 from Frank M. Crutsinger, regional di- rector of the Federal Public Housing Authority. The new Vanport Theater, which (Continued on Page 8) Reconstruction Job On Our Home Front New Haven — Natale DiFrancesco, owner and operator of the Fair- mont, has repaired 431 of the 492 seats marred by vandals, has painted the lobby, installed new carpets and wall drapes, as well as having a new sidewalk put down. The damage done to the theater seats was so extensive that it represented close to 90 per cent of those installed! 8 • EQUIPMENT NEWS DAILY Thursday, August 26, 1943J A Section of THE FILM DAILY compre- hensively covering the equipment field, pub- lished every second week by Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York City. John W. Alicoate, Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, General Manager; Chester B. Bahn, Editor; George H. Morris, Equipment Editor; West Coast Bureau, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal., Ralph Wilk, Bureau Chief. New England Theater Expanding Capacity (Continued from Page 7) that two extra exits will have to be added in order to conform with build- ing regulations in this city, which are strictly enforced, particularly since the Cocoanut Grove disaster in Boston. The house has been play- ing to capacity business for some time, and the extra seating capacity, plus its present 2,500 chairs, will mean considerable additional box- office revenue. Kraska Made Manager of Strand by Loew Interests Boston — Leonard Kraska, former assistant manager of the Fine Arts here, has been named manager of the Strand Theater on Huntington Ave. in Boston's Back Bay. The Strand was only recently acquired by the E. M. Loew interests and is being thoroughly renovated and im- proved. The upper floors of the building, which has been purchased by E. M. Loew, are occupied by the Boston Lodge of Elks. File Under Enemy "Operations" Rochester — Grapevine reports reaching: here reveal that the three five-million-dollar dental clinics, es- tablished by the late George East- man in Rome, Brussels and Paris as demonstration centers to care for the teeth of indigent children, are today rendering service to the armed forces of our nation's enemies. It is said that the clinics are perform- ing surgical work on the heads and jaws of injured soldiers, including skin-grafting. WE CAN SUPPLY all standard 35mm preci- sion projector replacement parts. We sell only through Dealers, but if your dealer is unable to supply your requirements, write us di- rectly and we will give you the name of the dealer able to serve you. FREE: — Our latest com- plete Parts Catalogue is now available. Ask for it and give us the Dealer's name serving your Com- munity. WENZEL PROJECTOR COMPANY 2509 South State St. Chicago, III. Infra-Industry Meet Advocated by DeVry (Continued from Page 7) ered by conditions which, if not chaotic, would be confusing^ and not in the best interests of either man- ufacturer or consumer. DeVry sees in the forthcoming con- ference of the Theater Equipment Dealers Protective Association, set for this city's Hotel Bismarck on Sept. 18-19, an unusually good op- portunity for the suggested post- war discussions, and expresses con- fidence that much good will come from the sessions, particularly if there is a large and representative attendance, which fact is now in- dicated. On Sept. 18, the delegates to the conference will visit the DeVry plant and preview the company's new war- born 35 mm. theater projector. It is also learned here that the com- pany, in order to give impetus to the post-war marketing and use of 8 mm. cameras and projectors, is offering $1,500 in War Bonds to home movie fans who submit most acceptable design ideas and mechan- ical improvements for such cameras and projectors. RCAF Honors Pearce For Camera Development Montreal — Wing Cmdr. Harold Pearce, director of photography at Royal Canadian Air Force head- quarters, has been awarded a fel- lowship in the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain for his part in the invention of the new "Oph- thalmic" camera developed by the RCAF. Under development for the past 18 months, the camera has been use- ful in diagnosing vitamin deficien- cies among members of air crew, particularly those whose eyes suf- fered acutely on long submarine- hunting patrol over sun-swept At- lantic reaches or on reconnaissance flights over dazzling arctic snows. New Liberty Theater Is To Make Bow In Florida Trenton, Fla. — A new theater to be known as The Liberty is to be opened as soon as alterations to the Economy Building can be complet- ed. Projectors will be the regular 35 mm. Features will be offered three nights weekly. New Electrical Company Enters Theatrical Field Chicago — Glasser Brothers and L. Roth have organized the Roth Elec- trical Co., 3315 Fullerton Ave., to manufacture electrical equipment for the theater trade. Eastmanites March On! Rochester — Employes of East- man Kodak serving in the armed forces now number 8,010, it has been revealed here. The Certain Way Is To Do It Yourself Clarinda, la. — It's tough to get labor these days, and it's tough to get materials. But the outlook didn't bother Assistant Manager Walter Keener of the Clarinda Theater. He finally got the requisite material for the extensive job of decoration which was planned. He couldn't get the labor on time. So he did all the work himself. Latest Ore. Stand Has Official Debut (Continued from Page 7) made its bow after numerous delays occasioned by inability to get the requisite equipment promptly, is a 750-seat house, boasting the latest Motiograph sound equipment. It is under the management of Willard E. Gamble, brother of Theodore Gam- ble of the U. S. Treasury Depart- ment, and special assistant to Sec- retary of the Treasury Henry Mor- genthau, Jr. Policy calls for change of program three times each week, and releases will be preferred suburban, at popu- lar prices, it is announced. Pirtle Acquires Site For Post-War Theater McLeansboro, 111.— S. E. Pirtle of Jerseyville who already has the Capitol and McLean Theaters here, has purchased two lots on the west side of the public square and is said to plan the erection of a new house after the close of the war. One of his present houses is closed. Superior Will Rebuild Verdun Palace, Montreal Montreal — The Verdun Palace, a Superior Theaters house in the West End suburb, will be rebuilt at an approximate cost of $50,000. This is the first theater construction or repair contract awarded in Quebec Province this year. House burned down a year ago. For Excellence in the Production of Motion Picture Sound Equipment IT'S A FACT! War-born DEVRY preci- sion Theatre Projectors and Sound Systems pre- sent developments far beyond previously ac- cepted standards. DEVRY Corporation, 1112 Armi- tage Avenue, Chicago, 111. DeVRY^ Hollywood • CHICAGO • New York Equip. Developments Spring Up In Trade (Continued from Page 7) to the science of electricity," a that the telephone, radio, frequen modulation, television and rad together with devices employed b. industry generally, the field of mo- tion pictures included, would ^p.^f the beneficient impact once \~ i,] neers have found the full use -"of these controlled high frequencies, New musical instruments, he as- serted, will issue after the war's end. In Chicago, the Armour Research Foundation of the Illinois Institute of Technology disclosed that it had developed a new wire sound recorded that is now being tested in Europe under actual battle conditions. The new equipment makes spot record- ings simple and sure. General Elec- tric is preparing to manufacture the instrument after its military use ha? ended with the war. From Los Angeles, via Burbank, word came of a new pint-size camera dolly designed and built under th direction of Delmer Daves and Ber Glennon for use without track. It is declared to be so small and maneu- vnrable that it can negotiate intri- cate narrow passageways of a sub- marine with full war load. The de- vice will, it is declared, enable di- rectors and cameramen to make scenes of full effectiveness, notwith- standing space limitations on sound stages and location. Bettering Ohio Drive-In Rocky River, O. — Paugh & Brown, Inc., are making changes at the Drive-In Theater in Rocky River, re- locating the screen and amphitheater to face in opposite direction to the present setting. WHITEWAY ELECTRIC SIGN 0 MAINTENANCE CO. Thomas F. Flannery, President 315-17 W. Walton St. Chicago, III. Delaware 9111 SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write for samples, prices or other information. Delivery free Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL TICKET /•§£) COMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE. \f§/ NEWARK, N. J. Sales Of/ices in Principal Centers 3 A N LS HIVtr M l> Z 1 J LS I Z L S I C 1 r I l 1 i I l I C I rN Intimate In Character International in Scope Independent in Thought j DO NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -^PDAILY- )L. 84, NO. 41 NEW YORK. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27. 1943 TEN CENTS The year's most compell- ing and dynamic story concerning the motion picture industry appears in The Film Daily today. ■■■■i ____ The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old : DAILY mo« inspiring, it is overwhelming, ull 34 pages of The Film Daily reflection of the fiery co-opera- ssire of every spoke in the great •do itself in the greatest of cur- home front — the selling, both the country's Third War Loan. Brc Foi sta: Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought Ft* D Loan "Dra all ccmi boml Mou by B shell will loade Japs. the plefe erson glove radio, It is big, it is striking, it is this story to be found in the J today, for it is the patriotic tive spirit and the fighting d< motion picture wheel to oul rent national causes on the to the public and to itself of ■.CJ.U.U.,, Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old | It is big, it is striking, it is inspiring, it is overwhelming, this story to be found in the iull 34 pages of The Film Daily today, for it is the patriotic reflection of the fiery co-opera- tive spirit and the fighting disire of every spoke in the great motion picture wheel to ou^-do itself in the greatest of cur- rent national causes on the home front — the selling, both to the public and to itself of the country's Third War Loan. DAILY Friday, August 27, 1943 1 It is the biggest story of 1943 because it directly concerns every exhibitor, every executive, every director, artist and Holly- wood personality— in fact, man and every woman in the American Tg i;T?m*-r**\W* ft •*— field of motion pictures. Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1? DAILY L. 84, NO. 41 NEW YORK. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1943 TEN CENTS BLITZ OPENS THIRD LOANDRIVE British Information Head Praises Pix War Role Bracken Expresses Hope For 'Deeper Mutual Under- standing by Our Peoples' Calling attention to the "invalu- able" role of the motion picture as a disseminator of wartime informa- tion and its vital function as a chan- nel for the interchange of ideas be- tween America and Great Britain, Brendan Bracken, British Minister of Information, yesterday told in- dustry leaders that Bntish fighting (Continued on Page 24) Editorial JJ Back The Attack!" it's the industry's and YOUR job By CHESTER B. BAHN Nine Stars, Kyser's Band Head Cavalcade The Hollywood Bond Cavalvade, which will visit 15 cities in the in- terest of the Third War Loan, will include nine screen personalities and Kay Kyser and his orchestra, it was (Continued on Page 2) Night of Stars Nov. 16 To Have Victory Theme Victory will be the keynote of the forthcoming Night of Stars, which, Chairman Nathan Straus announces, will be held on the night of Nov. 16 in Madison Square Garden, the (Continued on Page 24) From: Old Colorado To: Japan's Mikado Denver — A complete Third War Loan campaign, highlighted by a "Drop a Bomb on Tokyo" idea, is all set by showmen here. Each community in the State will get a bombshell from the local Rocky Mountain Arsenal to be autographed by Bond purchasers. As soon as the shell is covered with autographs, it will be returned to the arsenal to be loaded, and subsequently dropped on Japs. Organization right down to the last exhibitor has been com- pleted by State Chairman Rick Rick- etson, who is also working hand-in- glove with service commands, press, radio, retailers, civic groups, et al. BACK the Attack!" The Treasury's challenging and fighting slogan for the Third War Loan starting Sept. 9 is right down the American film industry's own private alley. In the trade's own highly expressive vernacular, it is a "natural" — a super-colossal "natural," at that. "Back the Attack!"— why, bless you, that is what the American motion picture has been doing for many a year, and the industry's long and dis- tinguished record of public service, in peace no less than in war, is predicated upon the principle embodied in the three-word slogan. o !N peace, the industry, through the medium of the free screen, has backed the attack upon the dual blights of dull care and ignorance. In so doing, it has given to unnumbered millions at home and in far-distant lands glorious entertainment, a full measure of inspiration and a truly liberal visual education which makes today's average moviegoer better schooled than was many a savant of yesterday. In war, the industry has written, is writing and will continue to write an equally brilliant record. It not only has responded eagerly and pa- triotically en masse to every governmental request to "back the attack," but in notable instances, to its credit, the request actually has been anticipated. What all this has meant to the successful prosecution of global war and the speeding of ultimate victory may not now be evaluated. With other chapters presently "restricted," the full chronicling must wait until gangsterism has been eliminated from the community of nations. o MEANWHILE, once again, there is a job to be done for Uncle Sam by the 200,000 men and women whose livelihood is identified with production, distribution and exhibition. As Si Fabian has said, the call to duty from Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., is "an honor, a challenge, and a great respon- sibility." An honor, because in the drive to sell $15,000,000,000 War Bonds to 50,000,000 people or more in the income brackets under $5,000 the industry is allied with the press, with radio, with the outdoor advertising men and the nation's retailers, surely excellent company. A challenge, because the success of the industry's own drive role neces- sarily will call into play all its "know-how" of showmanship. A great responsibility, because the campaign must enlist the personal endeavor of all associated with motion pictures. Yes, it's the industry's job. But it's also YOUR job. So both BUY and SELL War Bonds. "Back the Attack!" and roll up the greatest mass sale in history. Industry Harnessing Vivid Showmanship To Reach Treasury Goal Coincident with the return to New York yesterday of L. C. Griffith, Third War Loan gen- eral chairman, following regional conferences in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, it was announced that a showmanship blitz, including a Bond blackout in Texas, a 24-hour rally on Boston Common, and the convergence of seven military con- voys on New York's Times Square, will inaugurate the motion picture industry's participation in the Third (Continued on Page 28) War (enter Opening Set for Next Friday War Center on Victory Square, new New York headquarters of the entertainment and promotional end of the Third War Loan campaign, will have its formal opening one week from today, with a program to be announced later. Maj. Leslie E. Thompson, chsir- man of the Victory Square Commit- (Continued on Page 2) Louis Lober Appointed OWI Aide to Bob Riskin Louis Lober, former M-G-M man- ager in the Middle East, has been appointed executive assistant to Robert Riskin, chief of the Motion Picture Bureau of the OWI. Lober (Continued on Page 3) 1,000 More Theaters as Treasury Agents With motion picture theaters now accounting for 10 per cent of the Treasury Department's War Bond issuing agents, the WAC is out to add another thousand pix houses to the list within a month, it is dis- closed by Francis S. Harmon, WAC executive vice-chairman. BACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAR BOHDS * THIRD WAR LOABi * BACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAR BOKBS Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newip aper Oi Motion Pictures Twe nty-Five Years Old -IF DAILY -I L. 84, NO. 41 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1943 TEN CENTS BLITZ THIRD LOAN DRIVE British Information Head Praises Pix War Role Bracken Expresses Hope For 'Deeper Mutual Under- standing by Our Peoples' Calling attention to the "invalu- able" role of the motion picture as a disseminator of wartime informa- tion and its vital function as a chan- nel for the interchange of ideas be- tween America and Great Britain, Brendan Bracken, British Minister of Information, yesterday told in- dustry leaders that British fighting (Continued on Page 24) Nine Stars, Kyser's Band Head Cavalcade The Hollywood Bond Cavalvade, which will visit 15 cities in the in- terest of the Third War Loan, will include nine screen personalities and Kay Kyser and his orchestra, it was (Continued on Page 2) Night of Stars Nov. 16 To Have Victory Theme Victory will be the keynote of the forthcoming Night of Stars, which, Chairman Nathan Straus announces, will be held on the night of Nov. 16 in Madison Square Garden, the (Continued on Page 24) From: Old Colorado To: Japan's Mikado Denver — A complete Third War Loan campaign, highlighted by a "Drop a Bomb on Tokyo" idea, is all set by showmen here. Each community in the State will get a bombshell from the local Rocky Mountain Arsenal to be autographed by Bond purchasers. As soon as the shell is covered with autographs, it will be returned to the arsenal to be loaded, and subsequently dropped on Japs. Organization right down to the last exhibitor has been com- pleted by State Chairman Rick Rick- etson, who is also working hand-in- glove with service commands, press, radio, retailers, civic groups, et al. Editorial "Back The Attack!" . . . it's the industry's and YOUR job - By CHESTER B. BAHN Industry Harnessing Vivid Showmanship To Reach Treasury Goal Coincident with the return to New York yesterday of L. C. Griffith, Third War Loan gen- eral chairman, following regional conferences in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, it was announced that a showmanship blitz, including a Bond blackout in Texas, a 24-hour rally on Boston Common, and the convergence of seven military con- voys on New York's Times Square, will inaugurate the motion picture industry's participation in the Third (Continued on Page 28) BACK the Attack!" The Treasury's challenging and fighting slogan for the Third War Loan starting Sept. 9 is right down the American film industry's own private alley. In the trade's own highly expressive vernacular, it is a "natural" — a super-colossal "natural," at that. "Back the Attack!"— why, bless you, that is what the American motion picture has been doing for many a year, and the industry's long and dis- tinguished record of public service, in peace no less than in war, is predicated upon the principle embodied in the three-word slogan. o IN peace, the industry, through the medium of the free screen, has U/a» (GOtOf 006111110 I backed the attack upon the dual blights of dull care and ignorance. "*" VVIIIVI vpviiiiiy In so doing, it has given to unnumbered millions at home and in far-distant f | 1 Mttvl FhH#)V lands glorious entertainment, a full measure of inspiration and a truly jCI lUl HCAI luClj liberal visual education which makes today's average moviegoer better schooled than was many a savant of yesterday. In war, the industry has written, is writing and will continue to write an equally brilliant record. It not only has responded eagerly and pa- triotically en masse to every governmental request to "back the attack," but in notable instances, to its credit, the request actually has been anticipated. What all this has meant to the successful prosecution of global war and the speeding of ultimate victory may not now be evaluated. With other chapters presently "restricted," the full chronicling must wait until gangsterism has been eliminated from the community of nations. o MEANWHILE, once again, there is a job to be done for Uncle Sam by the 200,000 men and women whose livelihood is identified with production, distribution and exhibition. As Si Fabian has said, the call to duty from Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., is "an honor, a challenge, and a great respon- sibility." An honor, because in the drive to sell $15,000,000,000 War Bonds to 50,000,000 people or more in the income brackets under $5,000 the industry is allied with the press, with radio, with the outdoor advertising men and the nation's retailers, surely excellent company. A challenge, because the success of the industry's own drive role neces- sarily will call into play all its "know-how" of showmanship. A great responsibility, because the campaign must enlist the personal endeavor of all associated with motion pictures. Yes, it's the industry's job. But it's also YOUR job. So both BUY and SELL War Bonds. "Back the Attack!" and roll up the greatest mass sale in history. War Center on Victory Square, new New York headquarters of the entertainment and promotional end of the Third War Loan campaign, will have its formal opening one week from today, with a program to be announced later. Maj. Leslie E. Thompson, chair- man of the Victory Square Commit- (Contiiiued on Page 2) Louis Lober Appointed OWI Aide to Bob Riskin Louis Lober, former M-G-M man- ager in the Middle East, has been appointed executive assistant to Robert Riskin, chief of the Motion Picture Bureau of the OWL Lober (Continued on Page 3) 1,000 More Theaters as Treasury Agents With motion picture theaters now accounting for 10 per cent of the Treasury Department's War Bond issuing agents, the WAC is out to add another thousand pix houses to the list within a month, it is dis- closed by Francis S. Harmon, WAC executive vice-chairman. BACK THE ATTACK- ■BUY WAR BOMBS * THIRD WAR LOAI% * BACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAR BOMBS Vol. 84, No. 41 Fri., Aug. 27, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : Ceneral Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N {., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New YurK $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone URyant 9-7117, 9 7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD. 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St.-N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casil!o de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, August 26) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET High Low Close Am. Seat Coi. Picts.vtc. (2V2%) 16'/4 16l/4 16 Columbia Picts. pfd. 37 Vb 37'/8 37.■/■:■■/ ■:. ^ ssl I WAR .nils' fill'' ji|:| |:i;i hi « H :• ;>■ iom stmts StPT.f M mm 16 TOE' DAILY Friday, August 27, 1945 Pix Contributions to War Program Manifold "Valuable Patriotic Service" Hailed by Secretary of Navy Frank Knox (Continued from Page 11) turned over their respective stages to the CDVO shortly before the meat and butter rationing systems went into effect, so that housewives could learn how to run their homes most efficiently in wartime. Lecturers, thoroughly conversant with the topics expounded, addressed groups of women in more than 70 theaters. Shortly after this, another group of New York theaters set up cooking stoves on their stages, and the CDVO experts instructed the housewives how to get the most out of their points and money. In mid-April, the U. S. Navy was included in the gift of 16 mm. cur- rent films for free showing to its personnel both afloat and ashore. Sec- retary of the Navy Frank Knox de- clared: "I will be grateful if you will convey this expression of apprecia- tion to the motion picture industry for the valued patriotic service thus rendered to American bluejackets throughout the world." Praise from General Surles WAC distributed, and eager and patriotic exhibitors showed, the War Department's hour-long film, "Pre- lude To War," first in an Army series of orientation films. A factual com- pilation of newsreels, confiscated Axis film, and assembled under the expert supervision of Major Frank Capra, it traces the events leading to America's involvement in World War II, and is still being shown in thea- ters in all sections of the United States. Major General A. D. Surles, director, Bureau of Public Relations, U. S. Army, said: "Everywhere soldiers and statesmen have agreed that it should be made available to the public. Your industry is now un- dertaking that responsibility. We believe that the pattern of Nazi and Japanese plans for world conquest should be understood, and that events leading up to Pearl Harbor should be exposed as cunning steps toward the subjugation of the United States and all the other nations of the free world. We are proud of the partner- ship by which 'Prelude to War,' con- ceived as a portion of an Army orientation course, is offered to the public through exhibition on your screens. Everyone seeing it will un- derstand clearly why there can be no compromise with any Axis gov- ernment and why this nation's armies must fight until the Axis is brought to 'unconditional surrender'." "Send Your Name to War" For several weeks beginning May 27, exhibitors, in co-operation with the Treasury Department and North American Aviation Co., put on a Bond campaign around the slogan, "Buy a Bond To Buy a Bomber and Send Your Name To War." Method of operation was that a Bond buyer in a theater could sign a scroll. Latter was then sent to North Amer- L. C. GRIFFITH: "M am a Cash Register jj pt By L. C. GRIFFITH General Chairman, THIRD WAR LOAN DECENTLY Theodore R. Gamble, National ■ * War Finance Director, stated that the nation's motion picture theaters are "cash- registers" in this war. I felt honored. I am a "cash-reg- ister." Mr. Gamble also stated that the thea- ters, representing more than 10 per cent of all issuing agents for Govern- ment securities, were "indispensable." I am, in an humble way, proud. It is good, when my country is at war and I cannot be in the front line, to feel I am doing a job here on the home front that is "indispensable." And I can see where other exhibitors — every one of the 16,000-odd patriotic show- men who have rallied to the WAC banner — must feel pretty good about it, too. For almost two years, even before America was involved in this war against Fascism, the average theater man, in addition to running his theater in the face of war shortages, has done a real, grief-for-the-Axis job. DUT there has been no job that has been " as big as the Third War Loan. In the industry, words like mammoth, terrific, L. C. CRIFFITH colossal and stupendous are flung around recklessly. They have come to mean just "pretty good." Well, just analyze the goal of the Third War Loan: Fifteen Billion Dollars. Not mil- lion—BILLION! That, friends, is a lot of of money. That's why the "terrifies" and the "colossals" aren't being used in the Third War Loan. The Third War Loan is too big to be merely "stupendous." Of course, the exhibitors, the touring Hollywood stars, the thousands of people within the industry who will place business second beginning Sept. 9, are not expected to sell the entire $15,000,000,000 worth of bonds. But — and I sincerely believe this is not impossible — it would be a magnificent thing if an extra bond could be sold for every seat in every theater in the land. That would be "backing the attack" — with a vengeance \A/E have great, strong allies in the Third ' ''•War Loan. The newspapers, the retail merchants, the outdoor advertising compa- nies and radio. Their jobs are the same as ours if this campaign is to be the success it should be if we are to be solidly behind our boys. Yes, the job can be expressed in two sentences — Buy an extra bond yourself. Sell an extra bond to everyone you can. If that is done, we may find that fifteen billion dollars is, after all, only terrific. ican, who photographed it and placed it in the cabin of a B-25 Mitchell bomber. There is no tally on the total amount of Bonds sold in this campaign, but the records show that approximately 4,500 theaters par- ticipated, and that the results, con- sequently, were very substantial. One of the standout contributions of the present year by filmland to national welfare was its magnificent support, via collections, in behalf of the Infantile Paralysis fund. More than $2,500,000 was collected, pre- dominantly by the theaters, as the result of the energies and humani- tarianism of circuits and individual exhibitors throughout the country. Among the extremely useful serv- ices extended by the motion picture industry to the war effort has been and is the work of the trade press. The daily, weekly, and bi-monthly publications, together with special issues and yearly compendia, have been the channels through which journalistic liaison has been main- tained between the trade and the war's general prosecution. Through the printed word, highly effective and efficient relationships have been maintained between all branches of the business, and, in turn, between the trade, the Government, plus the national as well as international scene as far as motion picture com- merce is concerned. Invaluable back- ing has been given to all war ac- tivities, and production, distribution and exhibition, along with kindred arms of the trade, have depended largely upon the motion picture press for information as well as inspira- tion. Trade Press Is "All-Out" From the Trade Press Publishers Committee, and through that body the staffs of their publications, the War Activities Committee has re- ceived solid backing of every plan and measure designed to insure and hasten Victory. Periodic meetings are held by the TPPC and WAC to keep filmland apprised of all neces- sary announcements and the devel- opment and course of campaigns un- dertaken jointly by the Government and the film entertainment field. Also in collaboration with the Of- fice of War Information, the WAC each month meets with a represenl tive of that organization and the . tors of the various movie ma^„ zines, to outline war information stories, picture layouts and articles for these publications. For instance, stories are put in work that will ex- plain the necessity for women to take the essential, unglamorous, non- uniformed jobs vacated by men who have gone into the service. Others stress, for example, the importance of stay-at-home vacations, working on farms during vacations, etc. Since millions among the public read and heed the so-called fan magazines, these publications are a powerful in- strumentality whereby movie patrons can be influenced for the good of the war effort. Motion picture theaters in all sec- tions of the nation are one of the chief avenues through which Ameri- cans are contributing blood to the Red Cross. With Red Cross nurses stationed in theater lobbies, tens of thousands of donors have registered and given blood in the past few months. The presence of such nurses in lobbies was initiated in New York City, and the campaign worked so well that the Red Cross decided to expand the campaign and put it on a national basis. Steps were taken for blood bank stations to be established in all the 31 key cities. Jap Sub Tour Utilized Since showmanship is the very cornerstone of motion picture exhi- bition, the relatively recent tour of the two-man Japanese submarine, which was washed ashore at one of the islands near Pearl Harbor after the cowardly attack upon Pearl Har- bor, came under exhibitor auspices in many cities where it was shown. In- dividuals were allowed to view the interior of the midget sub by pur- chasing a Bond. There is no accurate dollars-and-cents record of results available, but that the undersea craft's exhibition at the hands of theatermen sold vast quantities of Bonds is readily gauged by what happened in Texas. There, as result of stops in 67 cities, sales totaled $14,750,214.45. In New York City, a seven-day itinerary brought sales of more than $1,000,000. High on the roster of exhibitor as- sistance to the war effort has been the display in theater lobbies of an average of three OWI posters each month. These posters stress various war themes such as the command to Buy Bonds; caution against careless talk that might in any way assist the enemy; the need for food conserva- tion, etc. An indication of the importance of the theaters' role in helping the war (Continued on Page 18) BACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAR BONDS * THIRD WAR LOAN * BACK THE ATTACK—BUY WAR BONDS J \jjatcklbe ATTACK/ 'Vv this lifiOo etli'b'ttors! This advertisement prepa and space paid fo X WARNER BROS 18 DAILY Friday, August 27, 1943 Industry Ready for Service When War Came First Steps Taken Towards This End Before the Fall of France in 1940 {Continued from Page 16) can be gained by a study of an Office of Defense Transportation ruling. Film carriers in the strictly rationed areas have been given an "A" prior- ity gasoline rating because they haul to theaters the war films, recruiting films, and reels which are used for scrap matinee programs, Bond pre- mieres, and other shows which valu- ably aid in the current conflict's prosecution. During July, last, film houses co- operated with the Treasury Depart- ment in a campaign to sell an extra dolar's worth of War Stamps to every American, — the goal total of $130,000,000 being earmarked to build the aircraft carrier "Shangri- La." To aid this campaign, WAC's Newsreel Division filmed a series of clips, using such stars as Hedy La- marr, Maria Montez, Lynn Bari and Susan Hayward, selling Stamps to Captain Ted Lawson, one of General Doolittle's crew on the memorable raid upon Tokyo. Certainly one of the most impor- tant events since the beginning of 1943 was the industry's extension of the 16 mm. gift programs of current films. The original gift was 4,500 prints. This was raised subsequently to more than 10,000 programs aver- aging 100 minutes. Among the films which have been seen abroad, in many instances even before exhibi- tion in the United States, are "The Human Comedy," "Stage Door Can- teen," "Lady of Burlesque," "Some- thing to Shout About," "The Young- est Profession," "Flight for Free- dom," "Action in the North At- lantic," and numerous others. Troops Overseas See Movies The Army has released some at- tendance figures, as follows: In April, the audience in Noith Africa which viewed these films totaled 1,250,000. In Hawaii, during Febru- ary, there were 3,803 exhibitions, at- tended by 950,000 servicemen. Major John W. Hubbell, of the War Department's Services of Sup- ply, recently expressed appreciation for the industry's aid in securing more than 500 second-hand 16 mm. sound projectors, some of which have been reconditioned for use abroad, and all of which probably, by now, have been shipped overseas. The theaters have been and will continue to be a stady means of com- municating war informational mes- sages to the moviegoing public. This is done with brief films which are shown in an average of 13,000 thea- ters. In the past, some of these films were made by various Government agencies and given to exhibitors, while others, produced by the motion picture industry, were rented to ex- hibitors with all revenue above ac- tual cost going to charity. Commenc- ing with the current month of Au- gust, in the interests of uniformity, MOVIES ARE AMERICA'S WEAPONS No Blitz Required to Mobilize Industry's Resources on the Side of Freedom, Says Si Fabian By S. H. FABIAN Chairman. WAC Theaters Division v\c HEN the history of this war comes be written, one of the brightest pages will be the contributions and achieve- ments of the Amer- ican motion picture industry. No blitz was required to mobilize its re- sources on the side of freedom in the present world crisis. Its official co-op- eration with the Government began on June 5, 1940. But unofficially it began long be- fore. You will re- member Wendell Willkie discovered on his global tour that there exists in the world today a "gigantic reservoir of good will" toward the American people. "Our motion pictures have played an important role in building up this reservoir of friendliness," he said. "They are shown all over the world. People of every country can see with their own eyes what we look like, can hear our voices." The continuing importance of motion pic- Sl FABIAN tures as weapons in the arsenal of democracy is attested by the fact that more than 40 Hollywood pictures with special Italian titles were sent by the Office of War Information to Sicily for shipment into Italy after its release from the Axis yoke. These pic- tures, selected by the OWI Overseas Film Bureau, stress entertainment. And the service of entertainment is one of the greatest contributions the motion picture industry has made — and continues to make week in and out — in the cause of democracy. K IOW Secretary of the Treasury Morgen- ' ^ thau has asked the War Activities Com- mittee to take part in the Third War Loan Drive, which opens on Sept. 9, and we are proud to comply. Showmen accept it as a tribute to the effective work they did in the drive last year. Newspapers, radio, retailers, advertising men and theaters are working together. It is a community affair, and again the theaters take their accus- tomed places as community centers. A train caravan of Hollywood stars is sched- uled for a coast to coast tour to promote Bend sales. In addition it is planned that several score cities will be visited by other Hollywood personalities traveling with war heroes in bombers. The Treasury goal is $15,000,000,000 in Bond sales to 50,000,000 individual buyers. That's why theaters are important. They reach millions of potential members of the Bond buyers' brigade every week. the WAC began a new program of films, all of which are supplied to exhibitors gratis. These films are scheduled for re- lease on a one-each-week basis, and thus far the new program is set for 27 weeks, begun Aug. 1. The motion picture industry is giving 14 of these shorts, 677 prints of each, for the new program. There are seven shorts, prepared by the Motion Pic- ture Bureau of OWI, prior to its liquidation. Others include four films made by the Office of the Co-ordina- tor of Inter-American Affairs, one from the Red Cross and one from the National War Fund. Every Trade Firm Enrolled So intensive and varied were film- land's efforts in behalf of the war's winning during 1943 that it is patent- ly impossible to more than briefly touch upon some of the highlights. Some idea of the magnitude of the over-all energies put into the sole objective of Victory will be appre- ciated by citing that the work of every component business firm throughout the huge structure of filmland, and the work of every de- partment and individual therein, has been directed toward the complete and prompt defeat of the Axis nations. By no means does the Treasury De- partment's voluntary and eager en- listment of the motion picture indus- try to play a "Commando" role in the Third War Loan Campaign re- volve about the invaluable perform- ance and precedent-for-aid set dur- ing 1943. Indeed, filmland, even be- fore Pearl Harbor, established a powerful and efficient set-up which assured the Government and the na- tion of thorough co-operation in the event of hostilities. First steps were taken toward this end even before the fall of France in the Spring of 1940. At that time, when Axis might, which had been accumulating for almost two decades and dovetail- ing into a well-defined plan for world domination, tragically outweighed any force which could be immediate- ly summoned by the democracies, a group of exhibitors, summoned by R. B. Wilby of Atlanta and E. V. Richards, Jr., of New Orleans, ex- amined the processes whereby thor- ough assistance could be accorded by the motion picture industry to the cause of National Defense. During this same period, the iA Sidney R. Kent convened a meet^J in New York City's Union League Club, with military authorities as the chief speakers, and industry leaders in attendance. Out of the Union League Club session and the im- petus given to aims and purposes by the Wilby-Richards confab with fel- low exhibitors evolved a committee with George J. Schaefer as its chair- man. Thus was born the nucleus of what is now the industry's War Ac- tivities Committee. On Oct. 14, 1940, Francis S. Harmon began his duties as co-ordinator, and the then exist- ing Motion Picture Committee Co- operating for National Defense was greatly expanded to make it more representative of all branches of filmland. Five separate divisions were organized: (1) Hollywood Division, Y. Frank Freeman, chairman; (2) Theaters Division, Joseph Bernhard and E. V. Richards, Jr., co-chairmen; (3) Distributors' Division, W. A. Scully, chairman; (4) Newsreel Divi- sion, E. B. Hatrick, chairman, (suc- ceeded by Walton Anient); and (5) Trade Press Division, Martin Quig- ley, chairman. The WAC Quickly Emerges Came the "Day That Will Live in Infamy!" Within a fortnight, filmland's co-op- e: ative organization became stream- lined into the War Activities Com- mittee, Motion Picture Industry. It had and has two cornerstones, — to assist with all possible vigor the United States and its allied nations in the successful prosecution of the war, and the winning of the peace. Seven divisions of WAC entered upon their individual and collective duties with determination and un- flagging "will to win." These divi- sions comprised (1) Theaters Divi- sion, S. H. Fabian, chairman; (2) Newsreels Division, Walton C. Ament and Michael D. Clofine, chairmen; (3) Hollywood Division, Mary Mc- Call, chairman; (4) Trade Press Di- vision, Martin Quigley, chairman; (5) Distributors Division, W. F. Rodgers, chairman; (6) Foreign Managers Division, Philip Reisman, chairman; and (7) Press Relations Division, Oscar A. Doob, chairman. Soon, two other divisions were add- ed,— the Drives Division, headed by Adolph Zukor, and the Publicity and Advertising Division, with Monroe Greenthal as chairman, who, upon joining WPB, was succeeded by Hal Home. BACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAB BONDS * THIRD WAB LOAN * BACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAB BONDS 4. Run Na- \ M M W 5. Order Na- 1 B Am y a ranking officer in each branch 'rom which they are chosen. The •ally will duplicate a national piesi- lential election convention, divided fnto the county's 35 districts. Each listrict will operate under its own ;tandard and have its own leaders. Charles A. Otis, vice-chairman of the Cuyahoga County War Finance Com- nittee, will preside over the whole Hffair. This pre-drive lally will be free ];o the public. No Bonds are re- quired for admission. And no bor.ds vill be sold during the rally which, n reality is planned as a "pepper- lpper" meeting for the 25,000 volun- ;eer bondsellers whose job will be to nake a house to house and an office ;o office canvass of the county. Mas- ;er of ceremony at the rally will be 2. M. "Pinky" Hunter, well known ■adio program manager, and head of ;he Cleveland Stage Door Canteen. Caravan to Appear Sept. 14 j The Hollywood Caravan stars are | (t>et for an appearance at the Public Auditorium on the evening of Sept. 14, admission to be by Bond or re- ceipt for the purchase of a Bond luring the drive. The stars will also ippear personally at war plants SK0URAS IN ALL-OUT CAMPAIGN Unusual "Baby Party" Features Circuit's Campaign to Spur Third War Loan Bond Sales Motion Picture Day as Buffalo Feature Buffalo — Show folk of Buffalo and its territory are preparing to "Back the Attack with the greatest in- dustry campaign yet staged — and there have been many great ones — to help this area raise the largest amount ever asked of it in a War Loan drive. Plans for industry participation have been outlined in their broader phases, but complete details have not been worked out. A further meeting of all theater managers will be held in the Variety Club early next week. Motion Picture Day, a drive feature, will be ob- served on or about Sept. 16. By AL STEEN Associate Editor, THE FILM DAILY Having proved its value to the war program in the past, the War Effort Department of Skouras The- aters Corp. is giving both barrels to the Third War Loan drive. Highlighting the department's job for September will be the Owen Murphy, Jr., War Bond campaign. Owen Murphy, Jr., a seven-month old boy, has been photographed in a striking ' I-mean-business" pose of a tough, determined and ferocious- looking kid. The photo is captioned 'What d'ya mean vou ain't gonr.a buy no Bonds!" More than 50,000 glossy prints have been sent out by che War Effort Department and have been distributed thioughout the Metropolitan area. In addition, 100 40 x 60 blowups and 5,000 11 x 14 photographs have been released in key spots. Everybody who receives the Baby Murphy photo can't help but smile and be reminded gently that he must buy War Bonds. "Baby Party" Unique Sunt The photographs are being accom- panied by a letter supposedly written by the baby along with an applica- tion blank. On Sept. 2, the Skouras theaters will hold a "baby party" at the Hotel Astor. Baby Murphy has "invited" the press to the affair where the only food will be milk, pabulum and other items that make up an infant's diet. Conover models will do the serving. No goal has been set for the Baby Murphy phase of the campaign, the only aim is to sell as many Bonds as possible. The department will promote a rally in Journal Square, Jersey City, on Sept. 21. A replica of one of the planes that bombed Tokyo will be assembled on the scene. Bond pur- chases will buy the various parts which will be put together as each Bond is sold. Another rally will be held at Crotona Park by the Skouras theaters in conjunction with Crotona Citizens Committee and the Bronx War Finance Committee, while still another rally will be conducted in Queens. In fact, it is the aim of the War Effort Department to promote some function every day during the campaign. Members of the staff of the War Effort Department have been loaned out to various groups whenever re- quested. During the September cam- paign, members will be working as volunteers with the Treasury De- partment, War Finance Committee and other groups active in the sale of War Bonds. The War Effort Department is unique in its conception and in the execution of its purpose. Created by George P. Skouras, the depart- ment co-ordinates, directs and pro- motes war effort activities of groups in communities which have sought and needed aid and assistance. Many other circuits throughout the coun- try have patterned their war activi- ties after the Skouras formula. Issuing Agents The Skouras circuit became the first theater company to be named an official issuing agent of the U. S. Treasury in the sale of War Bonds and Stamps. This took place months before the Treasury Department des- ignated principal theaters of the country as issuing agents on a "con- signment" basis. Innumerable war Bond i allies have been staged for more than a year and a half through- out the Skouras circuit. Theaters were turned over to the community and to the Treasury officials to stage rallies where millions of dollars worth of Bonds were sold. Skouras' War Effort Department is ably guided by Nick Matsuokas and Harry Fuchs who devote their entire time to its operation. showing the greatest Bond sale dur- ing the drive. A civic luncheon is planned to be held at the Carter Hotel during the first week of the drive. It will be under the sponsorship of the Cleve- land Chamber of Commerce, Cleve- land Advertising Club, Rotary, Ki- wanis and Lion Clubs. Master of ceremony will be Kay Kyser, who will appear with his band. Tickets for this luncheon will be on sale, but because of limited space, the paying guests will be confined to an invita- tional list. Big event of the luncheon at which the Caravan stars will be present, will be an auction of souvenirs taken in combat authenticated with letters from the men who seized them. Among the articles to be auctioned are Jap flags, Jap swords, rice bowls, all taken from the South Pacific area, as well as weapons taken from the fields of combat in Africa, Sicily and the Aleutians. Scale Show at $40,000,000 The Hollywood Caravan show at the Public Auditorium is scaled at $40,000,000. Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, is chairman of the caravan committee. Charles Raymond, Loew theater division manager, is chair- man of the theater division for the drive. George W. Erdmann, secre- tary of the Independent Theater Owners of Ohio, represents the inde- j pendent exhibitors on the theater committee while William N. Skirball and I. J. Schmertz, 20th Century-Fox branch manager, are active as co- chairmen of the WAC in this area. 40 K. (. Picture Men Pledge Half Million Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City exchange area organization of the WAC is re-a: ranging its two- year set-up to conform to the state chairman plan devised for the con- duct of the Third War Loan and is already geared to ' back the attack" in Kansas and the Western half of Missouri with everything they've got. At an organization meeting held this week at the Hotel Muehlebach, presided oved by E. C. Rhoden, presi- dent of Fox Midwest Theaters, area chairman, preview of industry Bond sales possibilities was taken and from 40 men present pledges for September purchases totalled $500,- 000. This preliminary survey of the industry alone gives some idea of the possibility of success in the campaign in this territory when the motion picture organization joins with the newspapers, the radio and the retailers in putting the Third War Loan campaign before the gen- eral public. Present at the Kansas City organi- zation meeting were representatives of the Fox Midwest ci: cuit, Com- monwealth circuit, Griffith circuit and Durwood-Dubinsky theaters; the president and other officials of the Missouri-Kansas Theater Owners As- sociation and Kansas City Indepen- dent Theater Owners; all exchange managers and a number of others. Circuit heads will follow right down the line on the internal solicitation and the same urgent plea to buy that extra bond or bonds during September will be made to all in- dependent theater owners and em- ployes. The publicity plan for motion pic- ture theater participation in the cam- paign was outlined and William Truog, distributor char man set up his organization and plans for the booking and dating of War Bond premieres throughout the ter: itory. St. Louis Plans Huge Bond Bally Sept. 9 St. Louis— Highlights of the St. Louis industry's participation in the Third War Loan have been mapped out here by exhibitors and ex- change men. The program includes, in part, a War Bond premiere Sept. 8 at the Ambassador Theater, a huge rally the next day at Sports- man's Park, an all-day program for members of the Hollywood Caval- cade on Sept. 18 and special events in every Missouri town. Harry C. Arthur is chairman of the activi- ties here. MACK THE ATTACK— BUY WAB BONDS * THIBD WAB LOAN * BACK THE ATTACK—BUY WAB BONDS B mmi - - ■ - 28 ■m"Mm Friday, August 27, 194l DAILY Inspiring Events To Launch Sept. Bond Drive Boston Sets Huge Rally; "Home Front Invasion" Scheduled for New York (Continued from Page 1) War Loan Campaign, and will sup- plement the broadcast of Hollywood stars from the White House on Sept. 8. Griffith was accompanied on his cross-country trip by Francis S. Har- mon, WAC executive vice-chairman; Si Fabian, chairman of the WAC theaters division, and Ray Beall, drive publicity chief. The tour, which culminated in a nation-wide address over a Mutual closed circuit hook-up from Washing- ton to WAC and War Finance Com- mittee workers in 200 cities on Wed- nesday evoked a flood of wired assur- ances from the regional chairmen that they are bending every effort to make this the most memorable drive of the war, and many tangible evidences of the steps being taken accompanied the expressions of as- surance. Star Tour Plans Finalized While in Los Angeles, the WAC executives conferred with Kenneth Thomson and Chailes K. Feldman of the Hollywood Victory Commit- tee, which is collaborating with WAC in the campaign. Arrangements have been finalized for the Hollywood Star tour which will visit 15 cities on a Coast-to-Coast swing in wake of the White House broadcast. Edward L. Alperson is tour chairman, and Frank Seltzer is now visiting the 15 cities to make advance arrangements with Bond rally committees. Several score of cities additionally will be visited by war heroes via bombers, with Hollywood personali- ties serving as masters of ceremonies. Roster of stars making the "Bond- storming" trips will be released shortly by the Hollywood Victory Committee. Kay Kyser's band, it is indicated, will accompany the tour. Reports reaching Griffith and Wil- liam F. Rodgers, — who is serving as Bond premiere chairmen — , discloses that some 1,200 cities are planning such premieres. The "Ranger" field organization, headed by WAC Chair- man George J. Schaefer, will begin backing the attack by selling at Kelley's Four Sons lit Armed Services Avoca, Pa. — Joseph Kelley, veter- an employe of the Palace, now has four sons serving in the armed forces. Ensign Thomas Kelley is somewhere in the Southwest Pacafic; Sgt. Paul Kelley has been stationed in Africa for several months; Pvt. William Kelley is at Camp Polk, La.; and Frank Kelley, 18, has just been ac- cepted by the Navy. WAR SERVICE . . • on the Film Front Chicago— More than $8,500,000 in War Bonds and approximately $1,000,000 in War Stamps have been sold by the Balaban & Katz and the Great States circuits to date. More than $500,000 in bonds, has been purchased by the employes of theh two cir- cuits. . . ._ V . . .— Rochester — Although date for the open- ing of "This Is The Army" here has not been definitely set, Jay Golden of the RKO Palace has announced that top admis- sion for the first night will be $15. That's the highest ever reported here. Proceeds will go to the Army Emergency Relief, and $10,000 is expected to be realized. Portland, Ore. — The George A. White Service Center snack bar, installed at Parker's Broadway Theater, where "Stage Door Canteen," is current, has already served more than 15,000 in the armed forces. . . . _ V . . . — Des Moines, la. — Local film theaters put en one of the most successful drives in the recent Shangri-La Bond selling cam- paign, with more than $1,250,000 bonds and stamps sold against the quota of only $170,000. The Des Moines drive was engineered by G. Ralph Branton, general manager for Tri-States Theater Corp. least one extra Bond to every film industry employe. Liaison between WAC and the War Finance Com- mittee is being maintained by Oscar A. Doob, on leave from his post as W A C ' s public relations division piogram, General Donovan of the Eighth Service Command will dis- cuss the Bond campaign and its im- portance to the nation. Dramatic presentation, with cast headed by Taylor, Douglas, Holt, chairman and now acting as WFC's j Holden and Bartholomew, will climax assistant national director. Theo- dore R. Gamble, WFC national di- recto: , is himself an Oregon film ex- hibitor. Stars In Texas Broadcast Individual campaigns are current- ly receiving finishing touches at the hands of state, area and local com- mittees, prominently that being planned in Texas, which calls for a broadcast by Lt. (j.g.) Robert Tay- lor, Capt. Melvyn Douglas, Cadet Freddie Bartlolomew, Maj. Jack Holt and Lt. William Holden, during a state-wide Bond blackout on Sept. 8, the night prior to the drive's op- ening. All five actors are stationed in the area. First reports that such a blackout was contemplated reached New York from Karl Hoblitzelle who said that James O. Cheiry, Dallas chairman, conceived the idea and arranged de- j eight big Bond Stands in prominent the program. Thousands of air raid wardens all over the state will carry Bond drive messages into homes, and, when the lights come on again, the Texas committee confidently ex- pects to vend a record number of Bonds. Among the many other sub- sequent events in the state cam- paign are a prizefight refereed by Jack Dempsey, paratrooper jumps, and the Hollywood Cavalcade Bond rally in Dallas, Sept. 20. Army Co-operates in Boston To publicity Committee Chairman Ray Beall came word yesterday from Harry Browning, public relations di- rector of the Boston area that co- operation between the industry and all other organizations and g: oups is at a maximum high. As evidence, he pointed to the Board of Trade's enthusiastic co-operation in building tails with Robert E. Smith, regional director of the OCD. Latter body, it is said, was in complete agree- ment with the plan and ordered a full 30-minute blackout over the en- tire state from 10 to 10:30 p.m. on the eve of the drive. Duiing it, every radio station in Texas will tie-in to a central broadcast from Dallas. At the microphones, Gov. Coke Stev- enson will explain blackout's purpose, locations throughout the city. Thea- termen will supply talent and special attractions for these booths. The Army's First Corps Area Command, Browning states, has proclaimed "no ceilings" on the supply of men, peeps, jeeps and bands. Equipment and personnel, plus the entire Army public relations staff is at the drive's service for the whole month. Boston's campaign begins with a and officially proclaim remainder of I 24-hour rally on Boston Common the month for Bond sales and pur- Bond Stand with the Army, radio and chase. He will further remind the press co-operating with filmland, people that other communities tieing in with the White House throughout the world are blacked-out bioadcast on the night of Sept. 8. because they fear enemy bombers, A Million Dollar Luncheon is planned but that the Texas blackout is sim- ply to impress upon Texans the great for Sept. 10, the day the Hollywood Star Tour reaches the city. Meal privilege they have m buying War will cost each guest the purchase of a Bonds, i $1,000 Bond. In the evening, stars Following the Governor on the ' will parade to Boston Garden, do- Texas to Stage Blackout On Eve of the Campaign To Kindle Public Fervor SQjW pUu nated for the occasion, where soj 20,000 will pay an $18.75 Bond chase to see the show. Several pie licity projects are planned, one foil each Boston newspaper and radic station. One newspaper will feature a competition, open to all housewives for "Bond Queen of Boston" cham- pionship. "Home Front Invasion" In N. Y. New York City will open the Third| War Loan via a Home Front In- vasion by seven military convoys of! jeeps, tanks and trucks converging! on institutional Times Sq. at 10 a.m.! on Sept. 9 from seven directions. Plans are under leadership of Eddie Dowden, New York City public re- lations chairman, in collaboration with the New York metropolitan ex- change committee under chairman- ship of Harry Mandel. Each convoy will include at least five wounded war heroes convales- cing in the New Yoik area. Greeting them will Be Governor Dewey, Mayor LaGuardia and other officials at a Hotel Astor reception. A military band will furnish the music, and, at noon, the heroes will emerge from the hotel and mount a Times Sq. platform. A salute, fired by a mili- tary detachment, will then open the Third War Loan Campaign officially. The heroes will be introduced to the crowds over a public address sys- tem. AWVS and other organiza-i tions' workers will then sell Bonds from tents on the scene. Subse- quently the motorcycle-escorted con-l voys will visit the five boroughs,! Westchester County and northern! New Jersey, with receptions planned in each so that the war heroes can be acclaimed and the public can buy Bonds. Theater Plans Contest For War Bond Booth Rochester — One of the highlights of the War Bond drive here next month will be a War Bond Booth con- test mapped by the RKO Palace. The most unusual Bond booth de- sign submitted will be used by the theater during the month, and the originator will receive a $50 War Bond, according to Manager Jay Golden. The ... . FEMME TOUCH MRS. FRANK NOWAK, owner-manager, Lincoln, Buffalo. BACK THE ATTACK — BUY WAB BONDS * THIRD WAB LOAN * BACK THE ATTACK BUY WAB BONDS 'The Motion Picture Bond Booths... Cash Registers of the War" THEODORE GAMBLE National Director, War Finance Committee This space contributed by Columbia Pictures Corp. M I3 I3 IUJ IJ 2 £3 W 44 S ■>f NYC I F L THIRD LOAN starts SEPTEMBER 9th * * * * * Help Shorten the War BUY MORE BONDS * * * * * J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc. EASTMAN MOTION PICTURE FILMS Fort Lee Chicago Hollywood Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought I" The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAIIY 84, NO. 42 NEW YORK. MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1943 TEN CENTS ALLIEDJANVASSES JHCREE EXPERIENCES Clark, Wright Meet With Distribs. This Week THE WEEK IN REVIEW Bond Drive SALESMANSHIP: The film in- dustry centered its attention during the week on preparations for the part it will play the Third War Loan drive to sell $15,000,000,000 in War Bonds and Stamps. L. C. Griffith, national chairman, announced that the industry would open its blitz on Wednesday, Sept. 8, the day before Bond selling is to start, and would harness all its colorful salesman- ship to swell filmdom's total sales far beyond its record in any previous Bond campaign. He offered the trade a nine-point plan through which this end can be achieved. . . . The War Center in New York's "Victory Square' will be opened on Friday, Sept. 3. . . . More than 1,200 theaters plan to hold War Bond Premieres admission to which will be by the purchase of a War Bond. ... It is hoped that at least 1,000 more thea- ters will become issuing agents for Bonds. ... An $86,000,000 "gate" in the sale of War Bonds is expected from the great show at Madison Square Garden. ... A Hollywood Bond Cavalcade with nine famous film stars and Kay Kyser's band will tour the country. * * * FINANCIALS Warner Bros, re- ported a nine-month profit of $5,- 714,392. Its inventory reached an all-time high of $29,929,174, with total consolidated assets of $182,- 607,003. . . . K-A-0 reported a 26- week net of $963,605, a jump of $436,034 over the same period n 1942. . . . July report on admission tax collections for June was $15,- 750,518, a jump of $4,500,000 over May, * * * NEWS NUGGETS: Paul V. Mc- Nutt, War Manpower Commission chief, announced that theaters were not essential to the war effort, at the same time lauding the industry's part in the war effort. . . . Donald M. Nelson WPB chief, told the in- dustry that it. was. over the "hump" insofar as theater equipment is con- cerned. Decree Huddles May Start Wednesday; See Clark as Well Armed Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Distributor heads will meet with Assistant Attorney General Tom Clark and Robert L. Wright, motion picture specialist for the anti-trust division of the De- partment of Justice, some time this week, Wright said Friday. He did not know that any day had definite- ly been set, but believed the confer- ence would take place Wednesday. The meeting will be the first Clark has had with distributor heads in (Continued on Page 3) White House Star Bond Broadcast Wed. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — - A number of top Hollywood stars — including Bing Crosby, Burns and Allen, Edgar Bei*- gen, Dinah Shore and others — will participate in a giant four-network full-hour broadcast the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 8, to launch the Treasury's giant Third War Loan (Continued on Page 6) Toronto Exhibs. Up in Arms Over Hike in Posting Fee Toronto — The announcement of Toronto poster firms that the bill- board posting charge had been in- creased 20 per cent on Friday aroused local theaters to a fighting pitch. The poster people advised the exhibitors (Continued on Page 3) Manpower Shortage on Coast Worries Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — The capital at the week-end was watching with con- cern reports on the West Coast manpower shortage in war produc- tion plants. Industry leaders were especially apprehensive because of the warning issued by WMC direc- tor Paul V. McNutt, who told the WAC group meeting that it might be necessary to transfer workers from the industry to war plants on the Coast. The strain on Pacific Coast man- power facilities indicates that studios will find it nearly impossible to gain approval from the U. S. Em- ployment Service for the hiring of engineers, electricians, pattern- makers and others included on the new "critical list." Appeal Board Hands Down Two Decisions Arbitration appeal board on Fri- day handed down two decisions, modifying one award and remand- ing the other to an arbitrator. The Ellicott Theater, Ellicott (Continued on Page 3) Additional Equipment Manufacture Next Year? Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Justification of re- quests from the WPB Service Equip- ment Division for materials for the- (Continued on Page 2) More Financing For Indies Ideal Factoring Corp. Expands Operations WPB Okays $1,000,000 Agfa Ansco Expansion Binghamton — Construction of a $1,000,000 addition to Agfa Ansco's film manufacturing plant here to house a film-coating alley and aux- iliary equipment has been okayed (Continued on Page 2) Following an extensive survey of the financial needs of independent producers who release through ma- jor companies, the Ideal Factoring Corp. is expanding its operations so as to make funds available for es- tablished producers. More than $5,- 000,000 is now available for "second- ary financing," it was stated Friday (Continued on Page 7) Three-Part Questionnaire Seeks Suggested Remedies For So-called Trade Evils Seeking information as to how the New York consent decree has af- fected independent exhibitors and asking for suggestions that might remedy so-called trade "evils," Al- lied over the week-end dispatched questionnaires to its members and others. Full text appears on page 6 The queries are similar to those sent out previously by the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theater Owners, except that the Al- lied inquiries, in some instances, ask for more detailed information. In a letter attached to the ques- (Continued on Page 6) See Permanency for Palace First-Runs The Broadway Palace's debut as a permanent first-run house got off to a start that apparently surprised both the exhibition and distribution branches of the RKO family. Bow- ing in with "The Fallen Sparrow" as the first offering on the new pol- (Continued on Page 6) Scully Names Supervisors In "U" Sales Districts W. A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager of Universal, announced Friday that certain changes have been effected in the (Continued on Page 3) Daily Exhib. Reports on Bond Sales Ashed National pattern of reporting War Bond sales during the Third War Loan campaign was announced over the week-end by L. C. Griffith, gen- eral chairman. Reports are to be filed daily by exhibs. in each state to the state chairman who will re- port weekly — on Sept. 16, 23 and 30 to the WAC headquarters here, permitting a national tally at the close of each of the campaign's three weeks. 3fe Monday, August 30, 194.: Vol. 84, No. 42 Mon., Aug. 30, 1943 10 Cents Additional Equipment Manufacture Next Year? JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSBREAU General Manager : : : : Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. (., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New Yorl $10.00 one year: 6 months, $5.00; 3 months. $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadwaj New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117. 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253 LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PAR1S- P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12) HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY- Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (August 27) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. pfd. Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2%) Columbia iPicts. pfd. . Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. East. Kodak.. Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century- Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd 89 13-1 NEW YORK Par. B'way 3s55 NEW YORK Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs Sonotone Corp Technicolor 15% 153/4 15% Vi 21/2 2l/2 21/2 15% 151/2 151/2 Vi 581/4 573/4 58% — % 25% 25'/4 25% 8 77/8 7% 88 88 88 21% 21% 21% - % 303/4 301/2 30% 121/2 121/4 121/4 — % 6 8934 89 13-16 +3-16 BOND MARKET 78 78 78 CURB MARKET 21/2 21/2 2% - % 1% 13/8 13/8 — % 31/2 3% 31/2 . 12% 121/2 121/2 — % Huddle In Dallas Today On 400 "Army" Openings Dallas — With a minimum of 400 special advance-price premieres of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" in prospect for this territory, War- ner Bros, and Interstate Circuit rep- resentatives will meet here today with U. S. Army officers from the Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico areas to outline the working operation of the gala open- ings. Warner group will include Doak Roberts, branch manager; Will Yo- len of Mort Blumenstock's home of- fice staff and Frank Bruner, south- western field rep. Frank Starz will represent Interstate. (Continued from Page 1) ater equipment has become a far simpler job in the last few months, Allen G. Smith, head of the divisions amusement section, said Friday. Referring to the assurance given last week's WAC meeting by WPB Chief Donald M. Nelson that "the worst is over" as regards theater equipment, Smith said WPB now ap- pears to be convinced of the legiti- macy of requests for iron, steel, copper, aluminum and other mate- rials for the manufacture of theater supplies and repair parts. Nelson had assured the exhibitors that their essential needs will be met. This statement should be taken literally, according to Smith. No more equipment than has been avail- able in the past is now authorized, although it is not unlikely that man- ufacture of some additional projec- tors, sound systems, lamps and recti- fiers will be permitted next year. Production of 100 new projectors, lamps and rectifiers and 50 sound systems during the fourth quarter of this year was authorized earlier this Summer. Smith warned that available equip- ment will be used only to replace burned out or obsolete equipment, with nothing to be used for "new expansion." Chicago Operators Union Asks Rehearing by WLB Chicago — Projectionists' Local 110, IATSE, has petitioned the Chicago Regional War Labor Board to re- consider the latter's refusal to ap- prove a proposal of local theater owners raising the wages of their operators five per cent for a period of one year, with the increases being retroactive to Sept. 1, 1942, and an extra three per cent the following year. Pete Shayne, president; Clarence ■Talas, secretary-treasurer; John Smith, business agent, and Harry Ragen, the last-named's assistant ap- peared personally before the board with a request for a rehearing. Condon Leaving 20th-Fox To Head Own Publicity Co. Richard Condon has resigned as director of national promotion for ?0th-Fox. He will enter the pub- licity field on his own as the Rich- ard Condon Organization. Before he assumed his present du- ties with 20th-Fox Condon was in charge of publicity for the company in New York. In accepting his resignation, which becomes effective on Sept. 15, Hal Home, director of advertising and Publicity for 20thFox, said on Fri- day that he faced the loss of Con- don's services "with deep regret." Max Youngstein, who had been executive assistant to Home until recently, will be associated with Condon in the venture. WPB Okays $1,000,000 Agfa Ansco Expansion (Continued from Page 1) by the WPB, it was disclosed at the week-end by H. G. Harrison Echols, general manager. The coating alley will result in increasing production of finished film by more than 25 per cent, Echols said. Constructions is scheduled to start within a week and plans are to have the new plant in production late next Spring, according to Echols. Agfa Ansco is a division of the General Aniline & Film Corp. New N-S-B Post for Meyer, Former IPC Sales Manager A. E. Meyer, long sales manager of the International Projector Corp., has been named manager of the projection equipment division of the recently organized National- Simplex- Bludworth, Inc. He is scheduled to leave shortly on a trip to the Coast, stopping at key centers to meet ex- hibitors and National branch man- agers. Meyer also will see leading pro- jectionists and attend meetings of IATSE locals to discuss subjects which will lead to improved main- tenance and secure better projection under existing conditions. First 130 "Army" Dates Hold Over 100 Per Cent Every one of the first 130 open- ings of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" has been held over for a second week of additional time, War- ners announced Friday. At the Ambassador, St. Louis, the Warner Bros, production will be one of the first, if not the first, to play a third consecutive week. Other three-week runs to date include Memphis, Des Moines, Kansas City, Albany, Cincinnati, Dayton, Phila- delphia and Washington. Most of the 75 engagements now in their second week also will go into a third. "Up in Mabel's Room" On Stage Before Pic Edward Small will precede his film version of "Up In Mabel's Room" with a stage production, the pro- ducer, now in the East, said Friday. Small said he planned to use most of the stage cast in the pic, with two scieen "names" in the leads. "Destroyer" Scores Big With five pre-release engagements concluding their first week runs, Co- lumbia's "Destroyer" has broken house records established by all other Columbia pictures in these spots and is being held over in four of the five situations, the home of- fices reported Friday. These five pre-release showings are in Provi- dence, Seattle, Portland, Me., Water- bury, Conn., and Detroit. L. A. Theater Files Action Against 20 Cent.-Fox H in'1 ' West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DA1L Hollywood — Colorado Corporatio operating the Bard-Adams Theate Los Angeles, has filed an action i Federal Court, charging 20th Cei tury-Fox with violation of the Cla; ton and Sherman anti-trust laws ar asking 20th-Fox to rent films to tl: plaintiff on a basis comparable" Fox West Coast Theaters in* zone adjoining the Bard. Twentien Fox is cited as defendant in the actio as owner of National Theaters Corj which owns FWC. Suit contends FWC Theaters competition with the Bard are a lowed to play pictures from one ' two weeks ahead of the Bard ar alleges 20th-Fox has discriminate in prices between the Bard and tl FWC Theaters. \EW YORK THEATERS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKEFELLER CENTER CARY GRANT "MR. LUCKY" With LARAINE DAY AN RKO RADIO PICTURE Gala Stage Revue Symphony Orchestra First Mezzanine Seats Reserved. Circle 6-4600 BOB HOPE BETTY HUTTON In "Let's Face It" In Person BENNY GOODMAN And Band CON DOS BROS. JACK MARSHALL BUY WAR DADAMnilKIT TIMES bonds PARAMOUNT square m TECHNICOLOR! i cEwrusr-fOx picr/m VELOZ and YOLANDA Jerry COLONNA Mono MASSEY R0XY3 IMVlonday, August 30, 1943 .3* DAILY iuddles on Decree itart This Week (Continued from Page 1) iiome weeks, and the first since he >cgan his all-out campaign to get ■xhibitor ideas on the consent de- cree. It is expected that he will find i' '_tributors anxious to co-operate ' ~3i him in drafting changes in the rfi£ree. Although it has been re- ported that distributors will seek to lave the decree changed and then extended for five years, this sugges- ;ion has not been advanced in Wash- ngton. Wright said he would not ie i je surprised to see something of the afjort asked, but has no knowledge at|i;hat that will be the case. Clark was due this week-end from Chicago, where he talked with sev- sral independent exhibitors. Im- pression here is that he will be pre- pared to "throw the book" at the distributor group if he gets the im- pression that they are reluctant to agree to a drastic revision of the i decree. Although he has not yet made up his mind whether revision, -Lor a pressing of the divorcement case is the answer, Clark will be armed 'with a rather complete docket of ex- hibitor complaints against the de- cree. Scully Names Supervisors In "U" Sales Districts {Continued from Page 1) +sales districts to allow closer con- centration and supervision in the field. Samuel Applegate joins Universal i.and will have headquarters in Phila- delphia. Applegate will supervise Jsales in the Philadelphia and Wash- ington offices. ii Dave Miller will cover the Cleve- ..land and Pittsburgh offices with headquarters in Cleveland. ■j- Barney Rose has been transferred from his headquarters in Philadel- phia to Boston and will cover the Albany, Boston, Buffalo and New ^ Haven offices. Astra Line-up for Al Dezel Chicago — Al Dezel, independent distributor, closed a deal with Oliver " Unger for Middle Western distribu- tion of Astra films and with J. D. Kendis of Continental Pictures to | handle "Teen Age" in the central j states. Joan Blondell Happy Birthday! • • • IT WAS JUST 22 years ago last night that Loew's Stale Theater on Broadway opened its doors to the public and Al Rosen, its present manager, will be host tonight when the house has a 22nd anniversary party There are a lot o£ film folk who were on hand on the opening night and to refresh their memory we quote one paragraph lrom the story of the opening night which appeared in THE FILM DAILY issue of Aug. 30. 1922: "It was a proud night for Marcus Loew and when he finally reached the stage of the magnificent playhouse, hand in hand with Fannie Brice. he rather briefly and halting- ly expressed just what the unusual reception meant to him Flanked by Raymond Hitchcock, Flo Ziegfeld, Miss Brice and the en- tire Follies chorus, Mr. Loew delved into things that 'money can't buy,' and placed in that category the friendship of his friends and their good will toward him." ▼.▼''▼ e • • HEAR AND THEIR Universal is hosting at a cock- tail party this afternoon at "21" for Susanna Foster, star of "Phantom of the Opera." ... • New member of Mort Blumenstock's publicity department at Warner Bros, is Russell H. Stewart, formerly motion picture critic of the Washington News. ... • Advertising copy of the DeVry Corp. for the 1943-44 season will promote some of the better pictures in each ad In September, DeVry will focus attention on 20//; Century-Fox's "Song of Bernadette" Test ads in July and August won so many favorable comments that the program will be continued. ... • Sol Lesser's contract with Cheryl Walker and Marjorie Riordan, who had romantic parts in "Stage Door Canteen," has been purchased by Warner Bros, but the gals will be available to Lesser for one picture a year. ... • G. H. Coats, manager of the Wilby-Kincey Tiger Theater in Auburn, Ala., has been elected president of the Rotary Club there T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Arbitration Appeal Board Hands Down 2 Decisions (Continued from Page 1) City, Md., has claimed that the 14- day clearance granted by RKO in favor of the Alpha Theater was un- reasonable and asked that it be eliminated or reduced to one day. The arbitrator cut the clearance to seven days, but the complainant ap- pealed. Appeal board found that some competition existed and modified the award, fixing seven days as the clearance to the Alpha, provided that in the event that the Alpha shall commence to play a picture more than 14 days after it has become available to it, then the clearance of the Alpha over the Ellicott shall be reduced by one day for each day of delay, except that in no event shall such clearance be reduced to less than one day. Appeal board remanded to the ar- bitrator, or another arbitrator, the complaint filed by the Peacock The- ater, New Orleans, against Para- mount, Warner Bros., RKO and Freeman, RKO Executive, Leaves to loin the Navy Norman Freeman, assistant to RKO President N. Peter Rathvon, left the company last Friday to enter the United States Navy. He will report to the Navy induction office tomorrow for assignment. Assistant to Rathvon since Jan- uary, 1943, Freeman joined RKO on Jan. 1, 1942. In March, 1942, he was made assistant secretary and assis- tant treasurer of RKO Radio Pic- tures, Inc. 20th Century-Fox. Because of tech- nicalities in the decree and the fact that a zoning schedule, submitted by the complainant, apparently had not been seen by the defendants, the ap- peal board sent the case back for further hearing on its merits. The Peacock had charged that RKO, prior to 1935, had released product to the house 60 days after first-run, but that subsequently the Peacock was forced to play 60 days after the Rivoli which followed first-run by 6C days. COmiflG aid G0IIIG ROY HAINES, Warners' Southern and Western division sales manager, gets back the first of this week from a Midwest tour. CARL LESERMAN, UA general sales manager, left over the week-end for a visit to the com- pany's Coast Studios. EDDIE SILVERMAN of the Essaness circuit has returned to Chicago from his Summer home at Eagle River, Wis. ). D. SCHMELZER, controller for the Jones, Linick & Schaefer circuit of Chicago, is on vacation in Wisconsin. STEVE BROIDY, Monogram vice-president and general sales manager, returned to Hollywood on Saturday after several weeks visiting Eastern exchange centers. CAPT. WILLIAM FIELDS of the Canadian Army, former public relations man for the Play- wrights Co., leaves for Ottawa today after sev- eral days in town following the completion of an infantry-training course at Quebec. CAPT. ROMNEY BRENT is in town on a mis- sion for the Canadian government. WILLIAM HARRIS, JR., is back from the Coast. JANE DARWELL leaves Hollywood for the East this week. VIRGINIA O'BRIEN, M-C-M comedienne, ar- rives from the Coast on Sept. 10. RUBE JACKTER, Columbia Assistant Ceneral Sales Manager, leaves today for Jacksonville, Fla,, on a business trip which will take ap- proximately a week. JOSEPH FELDMAN, assistant zone manager for Warner Theaters in the Pittsburgh territory, returned to that city over the week-end from Washington and New York. JAMES R. NAIRN, director of advertising and publicity for Famous Players Canadian, has returned to Toronto after a New York visit. HARRY M. KALMINE, assistant general mana- ger of Warner Theaters, returns today from a Wisconsin trip. LOU DAVIDOFF and JOHN TURNER, heads of the Warner Circuit film buying department in the Philadelphia zone, returned to that- city over the week-end after a week's stay in New York working on product deals. ' GIL GOLDEN and JOHN HARKINS of Warners' advertising and publicity department return today from vacation. WILLIAM CACNEY pulls into town from the Coast today. Toronto Exhibs. Up in Arms Over Hike in Posting Fee (Continued from Page 1) that the boost would take effect Sept. 1. The theater men let it be known that they intended to make an issue of the matter with Government of- ficials, basing their case on the con- tention that costs affecting theater operations should be stabilized. They hold that the increase is out of place in view of the fact that the board of trade has pegged admission prices for the duration. The exhibitors feel that an unfair advantage is be- ing taken of them. STORKS A baby boy weighing seven pounds, nine ounces was born Friday to Mr. and Mrs. John Wrege. Father is manager of United Artist's playdate department. and the GARFIELD 0HAR4 are no exception WALTER SLEZAK • PATRICIA MORISON • MARTHA O'DRISCOLL P/ioJuceJ iy robert fellows • $)i/ieckd 'iy richard Wallace Screen Play by Warren Duff \'«%a$ fte He* XotV 0** »rVot ***** the t*o. I ttetn to oi *** ^ taVn«v"" ^..v.Goe on "\cti®n' jWSpenSe, «*—* . Jobn Gai .we***6*'" C ttest role he ever bad" field in *e «a«e^o.w^s _ Kate Cameron, N. • .vocative ***-*l'ZZZ.~* of recent mo ntVia. ^ .0„e of tbe uneo^on and provo- __^y Oo^, mes i„ f> e is fast the entertainment hectic. There are thrills, chases . . . 1 ^ Pac __ ^ ^^ N y Daiiy Mirror "Creates and holds engrossing mood of suspense and excitement. — Alton Cook, N. Y. World-Telegram "Trim and close-hauled melodrama." —John T. McManus, P.M. 'This unusual picture deserves your attention." - Archer Winsten, N. Y. Post The Trade Press "Melodra m* with sufficient suspense to carry throu Profitable biz." "T°Pnotch nieJJer l}1™y ^ their Ukii' ;, " Sh°W that «** stand ^Vonet/^8^0^^"-^ mg. "Tau( and te„s "Outside e • • • ""mark* with exj'Joitatio,, -^Exh/b/for " ' CUS,°mers wiU ^d genera] «*— *l satl,facfion_ >9 ""*./?,., r"» . . m ~"" Mp- Daily *» a„ ;C *«* o«ce ranrf^Pe,,e,. —reuse . *•>• Herou 'a^e "«ea Sl|re." e*se. JACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR LOAN! 0^V , eyiew d^a f or w Monday, August 30, 1943 DjUU Allied Canvasses Decree Experiences {Continued from Page 1) tionnaire, Abram F. Myers, general counsel, points out that "as a re- sult of an interview by representa- tives of Allied with Tom Clark, As- sistant Attorney General, it has been arranged so that the indepen- dent exhibitors can get their views before the Department of Justice and have them considered." Myers as- serts that this is an important de- velopment and in contrast to the methods used three years ago "when the views of the independent ex- hibitors were not solicited and a decree was foisted upon them which was contrary to their interests." Three courses of action are open to the Department of Justice, Myers explains, naming them as follows: (1) To continue the consent decree in its present form, either indefi- nitely or for a period of years; (2) negotiate a new consent decree and enter it for a trial period, and (3) terminate the consent decree in its entirety and prosecute the pending suit against the Big Eight. Myers assures the exhibitors that Clark has assured exhibitor leaders that the information supplied will be kept in strict confidence. See Permanency for Palace Theaters First-Runs {Continued from Page 1) icy, the house grossed a reported ?31,000 the first week and held the picture over for a second stanza. Formerly, $15,000 was considered an excellent week's gross. While previous attempts in re- cent years to make the Palace a first-run house have failed, indica- tions are that the present policy is here to stay. Formerly, RKO didn't have enough first-run product to keep up the policy, but with a string of reported hits on the way, every- thing points to a successful venture. Now that RKO has a permanent first-run show window on Broad- way, other houses on the circuit will not be held back on product. Execs, believe that "The Fallen Sparrow" could remain four weeks, but it must be yanked at the end of the second due to subsequent-run bookings. Top RKO pictures will play the house. Next attraction is the Fred Astaire musical, "The Sky's the Limit," which will be followed by "Behind the Ris- ing Sun." It is too early to determine what effect the new first-run house on Broadway will have on other the- aters in the sector. Acquires Moville Theater Moville, la. — Thomas Sandberg, former operator of the Laurel, Neb., theater, has taken over the theater here from Banker Charles Logan. TEXT OF ALLIED'S QUESTIONNAIRE I. QUESTIONS RELATING TO EXPERI- ENCES UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE 1. FORCING FEATURES. Has any dis- tributor attempted, directly or indirectly, to force you to license any feature picture or group of feature pictures as a condition ol licensing- the feature or group of features that you wished to license? If so, give name of distributor, titles of pictures, ap- proximate dates of each occurrence and any other details you may wish to add. 2. FORCING SHORTS. Has any distribu- tor attempted, directly or indirectly, to force you to license short subjects, newsreels, trailers or serials as a condition of licensing its feature pictures? If so, give full de- tails as called for in Question No .1. 3. EFFECT OF FIVE PICTURE PLAN ON RUN. State in detail whether the five picture selling plan has had the effect, di- rectly or indirectly, to endanger your estab- lished run; that is, have distributors used the five picture plan to sell away, or threaten to sell away, to a competing- theater on the same or later run in order to force you to pay higher film rentals th; i you are ac- customed to pay? Give deta. .. 4. HOW DO YOU PREFER TO LICENSE FEATURE PICTURES? Please check one of the following-, or else write in your individual views : (a) The five picture plan, with trade- showings, as provided in the Consent Decree. (b) The selling of trade- shown pictures in such groups as the distributor and exhibitor may agree upon, with provision that the exhibitor may not be required to license pictures he does not want in order to get the pictures he does want* (c) The selling of trade- shown or adequately identified pic- tures in groups containing approxi- mately one-fourth of the annual out- put, with a 20 per cent cancellation (d) The selling of a full season's output, adequately identified, with a 20 per cent cancellation. (e) Other method desired. 5. BLIND PRICING. Do you think (a) there should be a provision requiring either that prices and allocations be written into the contract or (b) that allocations be made upon notice of availability, or when the picture is booked, whichever is earlier? State preference and reasons. 6. SOME RUN OF PICTURES. Has any distributor refused directly, or indirectly, or for inadequate reasons, to license you pic- tures on "some run"? Give details, espe- cially if terms demanded were calculated to deny you the run, that is, were in excess of those demanded in comparable situations. 7. CANCELLATION ON MORAL, RELIG- IOUS OR RACIAL GROUNDS. Have you had occasion to request that any picture be cancelled for any of these reasons? Give details, including attitude of the distributor. 8. CLEARANCE. Has any distributor dis- criminated against you in the matter of clearance? If so, give details, including names of distributors and theaters involved, and whether theater favored is an affiliated the- ater—that is, a theater in which a producer has a financial interest. Also state whether higher film rentals, or admissions, have been demanded in order for you to retain your clearance status. 9. WITHHOLDING PRINTS. Has any distributor arbitrarily withheld prints or shown preference to your competitor in making prints available? If so, give full details, stating whether or not your competi- tor is an affiliated theater. 10. REFUSAL TO LICENSE PICTURES ON REQUESTED RUN. Has any distributor refused to license pictures to you on the run requested by you? If so, state why you think you are entitled to play on the run requested, give name of the dist .tor and of the theater and date oi r»' , and the reasons assigned or tactics < yed by the distributor in denying your : st. 11. THEATER EXPANSION. (a) Has any distributor acquired or built a theater in competition with you since November 20, 1940? If so, has it endangered your run, interfered with you in licensing pictures, in- creased clearance against you, or adversely affected you in any way? Give details. (b) Has the Consent Decree permitted fur- ther expansion of the affiliated circuits in your territory — whether directly competitive or not? If so, give specific instances, loca- tions, names of theaters, etc. 12. COMPULSORY BLOCK-BOOKING. Has the. Consent Decree method of selling trade- shown pictures in small groups eliminated the evils of compulsory block-booking? An- swer fully, being careful to state whether under the decree you have had to license feature pictures you did not want in order to license the ones that you did want. H. ARBITRATION PROVISIONS 13. ARBITRATION. (a) If you have brought an arbitration proceeding under the decree, state in detail whether you obtained beneficial or satisfactory results, giving dates and nature of the award. (b) If you have cause for complaint and have not brought a proceeding, explain in detail why you have not. 14. APPEAL BOARD. Check one of the following suggestions in reference to the Arbitration Appeal Board. (a) The Board should be abolished and the awards of the local arbitrators made final. (b) The Board should be replaced by local appeal boards composed of qualified arbitrators chosen from the panels, (c) The Ap- peal Board should be retained but there should be a change in personnel so that all will not reside in New York. III. UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES 15. HIGH FILM RENTALS. Has the five picture plan had the effect unduly to increase your film rentals? If so, explain why you think the selling method was re- sponsible, and state whether distributors have increased demands for percentage play- ing. 16. PREFERRED PLAYING TIME. Have the distributors increased their demands for preferred playing time? If so, has this ad- versely affected your business; explain how. Also state whether this practice forces you to show unsuitable pictures on the days designated by the distributor, either from the standpoint of the public (i.e. unsuitable pictures on Sunday), or of box-office receipts. 17. HOARDING PICTURES. Has the policy of some distrihutors of withholding completed pictures from release created a picture shortage in your territory? If so, give details and explain adverse effect, if any, on your theater. 18. ADDITIONAL FIRST-RUNS — MOVE- OVERS. Have the affiliated circuits created additional first-runs, or increased move-overs (i.e. extended first-runs in a different the- ater) ? If so, has this added to the picture shortage? Give details. 19. SELLING OUT TO THE CHAIN. If during the last three years you have sold a theater to an affiliated circuit, or have entered into an operating arrangement with such a circuit, please give the name of the theater and of the circuit and outline your reasons for making the deal. 20. DOUBLE-FEATURING "A" PIC- TURES. If you are confronted with a situa- tion whereby pictures are licensed to af- filiated theaters on a basis which enables them to play two "A" pictures on a single bill, and you are prevented from so doing because of the high percentages or flat rentals demanded for "A" pictures, give de- tails including names of circuit theaters, examples of such double-billing of "A" pictures and state effect of the practice on your business. 21. WAR PICTURES. To what extent, if at all, have distributors sought, directly or indirectly, to force you to license any type of picture by intimations that your Amer- ican loyalty or patriotism would be ques- tioned, or your attitude made public, in the event you refused to do so? Give titles of pictures, names of distributors, and state whether pictures were distributed commer- cially, i.e., whether you were expected to pay film rental. 22. OTHER PRACTICES. Please write on a separate sheet and attach any additional trade practices which you think should be remedied by the decree, stating which dis- tributors enforce them and how they affect your business. White House Star Bond Broadcast Wed. (Continued from Page 1) Drive. Lineup of stars was being completed this week-end, with an effort being made to enlist those whose names are drawing cards or the air as well as in theaters. The program will include a Whiir House broadcast featuring the Pi^ ident and Secretary Morgenthau, an, it is possible that members of the Hollywod Bond Cavalcade will alsc be aired from the White House Hollywood Stellar Caravan Will Head East on Sept. 4 West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Rehearsals for the Hollywood Bond Cavalcade started over the week-end. Because the show must be completely cast and routined in little more than a week, additional rehearsals have been scheduled up to the departure of the special train on Sept. 4. Pol ishing will be done en route to Washington, scene of the first per- formance. Alfred Newman, musical director of last year's Victory Caravan, has again been enlisted to assist with special arrangements for the fea tured stars. The Cavalcade will in- clude Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Kathryn Grayson, James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, Judy Garland Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell and Kay Kyser and his orchestra. Co managers of the tour are Charles K. Feldman and Ken Thomson. $100,000-a-Minute Bond Star Broadcasts in Pitts. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Motion picture ex hibitors of Pittsburgh look for the sale of many extra War Bonds dur- ing the Third War Loan campaign as the result of a deal worked out through the local WAC comittee with the broadcasters of that city. Pittsburgh stations will sell per- formances by members of the Holly- wood Bond Cavalcade in return for the purchase of War Bonds. As soon as the broadcasters know the full make-up of the Cavalcade and the date of its appearance in Pittsburgh, they will offer the pub lie broadcast performances by indi vidual stars at the rate of $100,000 a minute. The plan is for all five stations to present these perform ances jointly with the stars per- forming in response to audience re- quests. Even a 10-minute show featuring the visiting stars will mean $1, 000,000 extra in Bonds. It is hoped that longer period will be subscribed for before the stars reach Pittsburgh Rename Studio for PRC West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Name of Fine Arts Studio will be changed to PRC Stu- dio when PRC Pictures, Inc., moves into the Santa Monica Boulevard plant late next month. No change in personnel at the studio is contem plated, Fromkess states. Ei Monday, August 30, 1943 1MB DAILY {Continued from Page 1) by Martin Hersh, counsel and secre- tary of the New York corporation. For the last five years, Ideal has been active in the financing of 16 mm. organizations and independent producers of moderately budgeted pictures. The company is now pre- pared to supply the secondary money for high-budgeted productions. The recent survey, Hersh said, revealed that the biggest problem facing the independent producer was the acquisition of the "in-between" money. An established producer with a good record and an assured releas- c< R E V I E UJ S » M<>re Financing 'Johnny~Co^e~ Lately" ^ I"* PrOllUCerS with James Cagney, Grace George JA-Cagney 97 Mins. CAGNEY OUTFIT BOWS IN WITH /ASTLY ENTERTAINING FILM WITH 1TRONG BOX OFFICE POTENTIALITIES. i_Jn "Johnny Come Lately" William Cag- W-3 Productions fully justifies its existence. J/s a good beginning for the newcomer to he ranks of independent producers. The jublic will supply plenty of dollar-and- :ents evidence to sustain this opinion. The Cagney outfit's initial production s an extremely entertaining and signally satisfactory treatment of the Louis Brom- field story, "McLeod's Folly." Into it have i gone varied ingredients that have been & '-skillfully blended into an entity that wields 'popular appeal. Comedy, drama, melodrama I and romance have their moments in the story. The result is a picture that has ^'something to offer everyone. The film • has only one outstanding fault: it is slow 'fin getting under way. The film is given distinction by the pres- ence in the cast of Grace George, that grand old lady of the stage. It was quite an achievement for the Cagney outfit to induce Miss George to try her hand at film acting. The actress makes an auspicious screen debut, bringing kindness, simplicity, ^understanding and poise to the role of a 'widow trying to keep alive the newspaper inherited from her husband. The woman is at the mercy of Ed McNamara, a crook who has the town in his grasp. Miss George's attempts at reform get nowhere until James Cagney, a tramp newspaper man, comes on the scene. Cagney joins forces with Miss George in bucking Mc- Namara, ultimately putting him and his stooges to rout. Their goal is not achieved without much violence. At the end, his work done, Cagney moves on. Cagney gives an excellent performance. He is forceful and convincing as Miss George's Galahad. He and Miss George II have been surrounded by a fine group of players. Standing out among them are Marjorie Main as the town's bistro queen who helps put McNamara out of business; Marjorie Lord, as Miss George's niece who is in love with Bill Henry, the villain's son; Hattie McDaniel, as Miss George's maid, and George Cleveland, as a tippling newspaper man. William Cagney acquitted himself well as producer. William K. Howard's direction is commendable. John Van Druten did a f'ne job on the screenplay. The settings are faithful to the period of the action— 1906. CAST: James Cagney, Grace George, Marjorie Main, Marjorie Lord, Hattie Mc- Daniel, Ed McNamara, Bill Henry, Robert Barrat, George Cleveland, Margaret Hamil- ton, Norman Willis, Lucien Littlefield, Edwin Stanley, Irving Bacon, Tom Dugan, Charles Irwin, John Sheehan, Clarence Muse, John Miller, Arthur Hunnicutt, Victor Kilian, Wee Willie Davis. CREDITS: Producer, William Cagney; Director, William K. Howard; Screenplay, John Van Druten; Based on story "McLeod's Folly" by Louis Bromfield; Cameraman, Theodor Sparkuhl; Musical Director, Le'gh Harline; Art Director, Jack Okey; Film Editor, George Arthur; Set Decorator, Julia Heron; Sound, Benjamin Winkler. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Short Short Story Chicago — Today's short short story, as found on the Bugg Theater's mar- quee: "Dead Men Walk" with "Lady Bodyguard" ing outlet has little trouble in get- ting anywhere from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of the money required to make a picture from a bank, but it's the secondary financing that has been the problem, Hersh said. David Hersh, president of Ideal Factoring Corp., left last week for Hollywood to close several financing deals. Several other deals have been closed in recent months. Rep. Adds $1,000,000 To 'Oklahoma' Budget The $250,000 appropriated for ra- dio, newspaper and billboard adver- tising in 40 key cities has been in- creased by Republic by $100,000 for similar campaigns in subordinate key cities on "In Old Oklahoma," it was disclosed on Friday by Prexy James R. Grainger who has com- pleted lining up pre-release presen- tations of the film. The opening campaigns in the 40 keys will be conducted by Charles Reed Jones, director of advertising, and Steve Edwards, director of pub- licity for the company. SING, AMERICA SING! Wl ith LUCY MONROE A COMMUNITY SING featuring "THE STAR SPA 'SLED BANNER" • "OVER THERE" "ANCHORS AWL JH" • "ARMY AIR CORPS" SERIES 8 NO. 2 -A COLUMBIA RELEASE READY fOR BOOKING starting SEPT. 24th A CASUAL LETTER loses Us "inno- cence" when a Kodak film, with the aid of ultraviolet rays, discloses the real message— in invisible ink. SPIES' MEETING PLACE ...To get evidence that will convict, investigators may con- ceal a Cine\Kodak in an adjacent room, make thousands of feet of movies of such "business conferences" as thatshown here. How the Cine-Kodak is sound-proofed and arranged to "see" through an inno- cent-looking wall . . . and other photo- graphic details necessary for satisfactory results . . . can't be told now. // not so Secret Secret Abents to l£s)(5Mk9§ special-purpose films I BURNING an incriminating document no longer safeguards an enemy agent —Kodak Infrared Film makes frag- ments of charred paper readable. rli TUGGING" the criminal— taking IV A his picture "full figure, full face, and profile" — is the widest use of photography by the police. That's useful — after he's caught. But first, catch him . . . be sure he's the wanted man . . . get evi- dence no jury can question . . . these are counter-espionage activities which photography has made an exact science. A jury will believe what it sees with its own eyes. Photography makes this possible. Cameras are often on the alert near the meeting places of suspected enemy agents — even their "casual" meetings on the street. Kodak special-purpose films find unseen fingerprints on surfaces dusted with a fluorescent powder . . . unseen chemical erasures, or blood- stains on cloth, when illuminated by infrared or ultraviolet rays . . . tell- tale differences in ink, or ink strokes, on a document which has been tam- pered with . . . can even photograph a man in absolute darkness, with the aid of invisible infrared "light." * t t And photography isn't finished with the enemy agent when he's trapped. Through Kodak's Recordak System. the "records". . . photographs, finger- prints, and police history . . . of 3,000 criminals can be condensed on one small roll of 16-mm. film— for future reference . . . Eastman Kodak Com- pany, Rochester, N. Y. Serving human progress through Photography DM I DA N 1 S irir MHZ V CI ct cl W '-* L. 84, NO. 43 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1943 TEN CENTS TRUSTCASES REMAINUNDER CLARK'S WING U. S. Pix to Follow Flag as Axis Nations Fall Distribs. Subtitling Films in All Tongues As Preparedness Move American films, appropriately sub- titled in the language prevailing in the country, will follow the flag re- gardless of the locale of the next Eu- ropean theater of war opened by the United Nations, it was learned yesterday. Representing a "preparedness" move mapped jointly by the Ameri- can distributors and Robert Riskin, chief of the Overseas Motion Picture (Continued on Page 7) Eastern Gas Ban End Tomorrow ashington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Lifting of the East ]oast pleasure-driving ban is ex- pected this week, according to un- official reports from OPA. A ten- tative order is believed to have been sent OPA field offices providing for lifting of the ban tomorrow as per the hint given by OPA officials three weeks ago that lifting by Sept. 1 was likely. Although gasoline withdrawals {Continued on Page 7) jrmit Yale Service Men Again Attend Movies s New Haven — Ban on film attend- ance by service men stationed at Yale University for training was lifted on Saturday, and biz at local houses accordingly benefited over the week-end. heaters here had been placed out (Continued on Page 6) vveee H. J. Griffith;, Kansas City Circuit Head, Reported Slated for OCR Amusement Spot Designation of H. J. Griffith, president of the Kansas City circuit bearing his name, as the operating theater man in the OCR Amusement Section under George MacMurphey, was reported as impending last night. Griffith, it is understood, will arrive in Washington today from the West for a conference, and it is expected that announcement of his appointment will follow. Stars' Loan Disc To 850 Stations A special Treasury Star Parade radio transcription featuring stars representing most of the major film studios is being sent out this week to more than 850 radio stations throughout the country. The record- ing, made for the War Finance Di- vision of the Treasury Dept., is an industry salute to the Third War Loan Drive. The program features Ginny Simms, Dick Powell, Thomas Mit- chell, Grace McDonald, Brian (Continued on Page 6) Quebec Exhibs. Protest End of Pool Deliveries Quebec — Exhibitors in this area have entered a formal protest against the discontinuance of inter-exchange shipments of film. The practice of loading films together from various exchanges for delivery in the same area has been a money-saver for ex- hibitors who now must pay express (Continued on Page 3) MPTOA Relief After Other Efforts Fail MPTOA's committee on product, prices and policies should be called upon for assistance only after an ex- hibitor has failed to obtain relief through his local exchange manager and the home office, Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, announced in a special communication yesterday. Kuykendall pointed out that most of the general sales managers have indicated accord with the plan by let- ter and public statements, although, he added, "there may be a few sales managers and exchange managers who have confused the issue by say- (Continued on Page 7) Terms, Long Runs Start Re-issue Boom in Cleve. Cleveland — Re-issues are in grow- ing demand in the Cleveland terri- tory by subsequent-run theater own- ers. The turn to the re-issues, ex- hibs. claim, has been due to two pri- mary causes which have increased (Continued on Page 3) Projectionist Named Manager in Canada Montreal — Managerial "squeeze" evidently is getting more serious than the shortage of projectionists. Adrien Gauthier is leaving the booth at the Villery to take the man- agerial helm of the Empress, in Notre Dame de Grace suburb. Ask End Of Section XVII Elimination Favored in Distribs.' Proposals Atty. Gen. Transferring Him to Criminal Div.. Asks Him to Handle Film Actions Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Shifting of Tom C. Clark, Assistant Attorney General, to the criminal division will not in- terfere with his handling of the in- dustry anti-trust cases. Wendell Rerge, who has been head of the criminal division and now takes over as anti-trust chief, is not ex- pected to take any action in the in- dustry eases although he is some- what familiar with them and Clark (Continued on Page 7) Argentine Shipping Order to Speed Pix Buenos Aires (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor)— Argentine film circles are jubilant over the decision of the Government to restore New York City as a port of call for ships (Continued on Page 6) 20th-Fox Negative Cost Average to Rise 55% West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The negative costs of 20th-Fox feature releases for_ 1943- 44 will average more than 55 per cent above those for the 1942-43 sea- son, it has been learned here. Jacob Schreiber Heads New Detroit Theater Co. Detroit— Anticipated return of Ja- cob Schreiber to theater operation with disclosure of his heading of the new Kiska Operating Co. has aroused (Continued on Page 6) A willingness on the part of the five consenting companies to have Section XVII of the New York con- sent decree eliminated is indicated in a tentative draft of proposed de- cree changes prepared by the compa- nies' counsel, it was learned yester- day. Section XVII permits a distributor (Continued on Page 3) Damage to Prints Gains in Australia Sydney (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — Concerned over the fact that "film damage is definitely on the increase," the Film Renters Ass'n here has made an urgent appeal to exhibitors to give greater attention to the care of prints to meet the critical situation arising from the shortage of raw stock. The increased damage to film is attributed to in- experienced help and to the failure of exhibitors to renew worn projec- tor parts and to adjust other parts which have gotten out of alignment. w Tuesday, August 31, 1943* Ti DAILY Vol. 84, No. 43 Tues., Aug. 31, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE : : : : Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU : Ceneral Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. AHcoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117. 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 520 Third St. N.W., Phone District 1253. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter. 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU — Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL {Monday, Aug. 30) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. 16i/8 16'/s 161/s — i/8 ) 15% 153/4 15% Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2i/2% Columbia Picts. pfd. . Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. . . . East. Kodak do pfd Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc Paramount RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Warner Bros do pfd 21/2 21/2. 2i/2 .... 157 " 156" 156" —2 20i/8 20 201/s + 1/4 581/z 583/8 58i/2 + 1/2 25% 251/2 255/s 8 77/8 7T/8 — i/g 871/2 87i/2 871/2 — 1/2 213/4 215/8 213/4 4. 1/ 303/4 301/2 305/s + l/8 121/2 121/4 121/2 + 1/4 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Par. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 .... NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs \y2 i% ' \y2 \\\\\ Sonotone Corp Technicolor 131/4 12?4 13% +"% Trans-Lux Universal Picts. vtc '" S. HACKER b CO. 'Certified Public Accountants) Tax Consultants SPECIALIZING IN THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 132 West 43rd St., N. Y. C. 18, N. Y CHickering 4-1812 Paulum Cocktails Will Toast Third War Loan A "baby cocktail party" at which milk, paulum, animal crackers and strained vegetable food will be the refreshments is to be held tomorrow afternoon when Owen Murphy, Jr., will be the guest of honor. Young Murphy is the seven-month old baby whose stern face has been widely distributed via post cards captioned "What d'ya mean — you ain't gonna buy no Bonds!" Party will be held in the interests of the Third War Loan and will be attended by Treasury officials, mem- bers of the War Activities Commit- tee, screen and radio stars. Scene will be the College Room of the Hotel Astor. Owen Murphy, Jr., will be presented by William White, gen- eral manager of Skouras Theaters Coip., under whose auspices the party is being given. Selznick Would Vacate Service in Chaplin Suit Vanguard Films, Inc., and David O. Selznick Productions, Inc., — co- defendants in the million-dollar ac- tion brought against them in New York Supreme Court by Charles Chaplin, acting both in his own be- half and that of all United Artists stockholders affected — , yesterday, through counsel, White & Case, moved to vacate service on the ground that they do not operate in New York State, but in California where they are incorporated. Defendants generally in the action are seeking a 20-day extension. Schwartz & Frohlich, plaintiff's counsel, will, it is anticipated, op- pose. Court is expected to hear ar- guments on Sept. 10. "Thousands Cheer" Opens Astor Engagement Sept. 14 Metro has set "Thousands Cheer" to follow "Best Foot For- ward" at the Astor on Broadway. Latter pic bows out after 11 weeks on Sept. 12 and "Cheer" will have its premiere on the 14th. Fuller Gets Warner Product Adelaide (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — Fuller Theaters has ex- tended its film expansion plans by closing a deal for first-run Warner Bros, product for exhibition in the Majestic Theater here. Involved are "Casablanca," "King's Row," "The Male Animal, "Juke Girl," "In This Our Life," "Larceny, Inc.," "Air Force," "Edge of Darkness," "Back- ground to Danger," "Mission to Mos- cow." Phil Ryan Heads Terneen West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Phil L. Ryan was elected president of Terneen Pro- ductions, Inc., with Pat O'Brien as vice-president. Howard B. Henshey is treasurer and Judge Lester Roth, secretary. Pat O'Brien will star in Terneen's first "Pile Buck," for Co- lumbia release. "Mating Call" by Hecht As Skirball's Allen Pic West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Jack Skirball has re- aligned his production schedule. Fred Allen will be starred in a comedy by Ben Hecht called "Mat- ing Call" instead of in the Sally Benson script based on the Michael Innes novel, "Appleby on Ararat." Production ife set to roll on Oct. 10. The Benson script is the second to be dropped by Skirball, the other be- ing "Duffy's Tavern." Skirball also has set a deal with Billy Rose to do a Technicolor mus- ical labelled "Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe," in which will be fea- tured numbers from the Rose night- club revues. It is understood that Rose will share in the film's profits. Skirball also plans a film version of Franz Werfel's "Loves and Hates of Zorah Pasha." Warners Sell Real Estate Bought for Theater Sites Many real estate holdings acquired by the company from 1920 to 1930 for theater sites were sold by War- ner Bros, in the current fiscal year for a total consideration of $4,500,000 less than what was paid for them, it is learned. The fact that the land was not being used and that theater building is re- stricted for the duration impelled the company to divest itself of the property. The company was able to make up most of the loss in saving in taxes. The loss was taken out of income account for the nine months ended May 29, 1943. The net loss to the company was actually only about $900,000, since some 80 per cent of the $4,500,000 would have wound up as excess profits taxes if it were not deducted from income. Levin Nock Davis Named Virginia Censorship Chief Richmond, Va. — Attorney General A. P. Staples has appointed Levine Nock Davis as director of the divis- ion of motion picture censorship, succeeding the late E. S. McCaughin, of Roanoke. Davis is a former mem- ber of the House of Delegates and at present assistant director and coun- sel for the securities division of the State Corporation Commission. Albert Here for Short Arnold Albert, Warners short sub- jects producer, arrived in New York from the West Coast yesterday to direct a two-reel Technicolor film en- titled "Devil Boats." The picture, which is a story of our PT boats, will be directed at the U. S. naval base in Melville, R. I., and at a PT hull manufacturing plant in Bayonne, N. J. 20th-Fox Drive Honors Skouras The 20th-Fox sales drive this year has been tagged the Spyros P. Skou- ras Testimonial Drive and will run until Aug. 19, 1944. COfJlinG and 001 DG WENDELL 1. WILLKIE has returned to New York from Rushville, Ind. BEN KALMENSON, Warners' general sale: manager, arrives at the company's Burbank studios today following a cross-country tour in conjunction with bookings on "This is the Army." HERBERT CROOKER of M-C-M's home o fice puiblicty department arrives in Chjjfl^ today on a business trpi. LT. RICHARD MILLER, former UA Cle/e land salesman, now with the tank division at Fort Knox, Ky., is home on a leave. JACK COHEN, NSS district manager, was a guest of Cleveland branch manager Nat Baracti. WARREN SLEE, M-G-M publicist in Chicago, has returned from a Wisconsin vacation. MIKE SIMONS, editor of the M-C-M Dis- tributor, is a Chicago visitor. PATRICIA COLLINGE has arrived on the Coast from New York. NORMAN ELSON, general manager of Trans- Lux goes to Philadelphia and Washington today. HENRY BRASH, New York rep. for Arnold Pressburger, UA producer is here from Holly- wood. HOWARD LEVINSON back from Washington. DAVE PALFREYMAN returned yesterday from a Maine vacation. LILLIAN MILLER, Claude Lee's secretary at Paramount returned from a vacation yesterday. ERIC BLORE has arrived in New York from Hollywood. CHARLES DACCETT, William Cagney Prod, ad- publicity director, is here from the Coast, hav- ing accompanied WILLIAM CAGNEY. BEATRICE ROSS has returned from a vaca- tion to her desk at Republic. BARRET McCORMICK, RKO Radio's adver- tising-publicity head, returned to his home of- fice desk yesterday from the Coast. BERNARD B. KREISLER, Universale short sub- jects and newsreel chief, is spending a vaca- tion in East Hampton, L. I., accompanied by his wife. He is scheduled to return to New York Sept. 11. II V "Stage Door Canteen' Ends Record Chi. Run With the completion of the seventh and final week at the State-Lake The- ater, Chicago, United Artists "Stage Door Canteen" will have broken all records both in gross receipts and to- tal film rental for any first-run pic- ture since "Gone With the Wind," Rud Lohrenz, UA Chicago division manager, reported. Gross receipts for the entire seven weeks, ending tomorrow, ac- cording to Lohrenz, will top the $200,000 mark. "The Fledgling" to Metro "The Fledgling," an unproduced play by Jacques Deval, has been ac- quired by M-G-M for a consideration said to be $25,000. The script deals with the romance of an American flier in North Africa. ACE MANPOWER for ANY JOB AVAILABLE NOW— CALL FRANK McGRANN POSITION SECURING BUREAU, INC. (Agency) 331 MADISON AVE., N. Y. Tel. MU. 2-6494 Tuesday, August 31, 1943 Oistribs. Favor End 31 Decree's Sec. 17 (Continued from Page 1) defendant to be dismissed from an irbitration complaint if its own the- aters are involved in the case. In- asmuch as their theaters are affected ./>v an award, the distributors are fc^ to be agreeable to be allowed ' Remain as defendants in a com- plaint. A motion to be dismissed from a complaint if a defendant's theaters are involved always has oeen granted by the arbitrator. i The draft also suggests expansion Df the arbitration provisions to in- clude more issues of complaint and also an expansion of the provisions involving clearance, some run and designated run, it was reported. The draft is expected to be re- vised further before being submitted to the Department of Justice. Terms, Long Runs Start Re-issue Boom in Cleve. (Continued from Page 1) the necessity for taking past suc- cesses off the shelves. One reason, theater men say, is the high terms being asked for new pictures and the other is that the good pictures are milked dry with ex- tended runs so that there's no possi- bility for good grosses when the at- tractions hit the neighborhoods. Para. Offers Package Chicago — Paramount's exchange here is doing a heavy business with - V5 N Z **i«i Ik*** •**** wd** IVfc #ve **£>* l^&P* *fte sN GLENN MARGUERITE EDGAR FORD CHAPMAN • BUCHANAN Screen Play by Frank Wead, lewis Meltzer and Borden Chase • Directed by WILLIAM A. SEITER Produced by LOUIS F. EDELMAN • A COLUMBIA PICTURE 5 FILE COPY OO NOT REMOVE Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAILY n L. 84, NO. 44 NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 1. 1943 TEN CENTS WMC SAID SHDTINCJTUDIO TECHNICIANS Aussie Raw Stock Situation Worrying Distribs. Reeling 'Round -- WASHINGTON j£= By ANDREW H. OLDER = WASHINGTON THE knots that have been tied between ' our industry and the producers and exhibitors of South and Central America will hold long after this war is over, most observers here believe. Hollywood has been one of the most important factors in our good neighbor policy, and whether or pot Congress steps in and kills CIAA when the present conflict is over (and that's no certainty) it's a pretty safe bet that there will be some sort of pix agency here to work among our Government, Hol- lywood and the South American industry For the first time the Yankees are beginning to win the respect and trust, rather than the fear, of large portions of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking peoples of the Western Hemisphere. Commercial aid offered by this country has been ex- tremely important in winning the good will of businessmen below the border, poli- tical utterances have won us the friend- ship of the progressive literate people, but the most effective agency of friendship and understanding for the masses below the Rio Grande has been the work dene by the patriotic and far-seeing members of our own industry who have, for over two years been giving their best to insure the success of the CIAA program down there. IT's not simply that they've gone out of " their way to put special sequences in com- mercial pix or that they've adopted a much more adult attitude toward South America than once prevailed upon our screens. More important are the special pix made for South American distribution, both theatrical and non-theatrical, the aid they've given Spanish - language production — especially Mexican — at considerable cost of time, money and manpower, the warm recep- tion they've given South American pix figures traveling up here All these are premiums to insure good-will toward America and, properly enough, toward Hol- lywood, which may rightfully anticipate the position its art entitles it to in the South American post-war picture business. Not only is our industry proving that it can make the pictures they want down there, but also that it is anxious to see them de- velop their own industry and work out {Continued on Page 2) 75% Quota for This Year Has Dwindled to Trickle, Making Position Acute By ALLAN WHITE FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Sydney (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — The MPDA here is seeking complete clarification in respect to the raw stock situation, so that a permanent satisfactory basis may be determined. Distributors some- time ago were advised of a 45 per cent cut on base year (1938-39) usage. Previous importation of the industry life stream was then ap- proximately 1,000,000 feet a week. This was reduced by 25 per cent (Continued on Page 6) Cuban Theater Biz Picking Up-White Although deprived of the stimulus provided by war industries, the the- ater business in Cuba is picking up surprisingly, it was reported yester- day by Herbert White, 20th-Fox's Cuban sales manager, who is here for home-office conferences. "I think next year will be a very good one in Cuba as far as film busi- ( Com tinned on Page 11) Fatal Memphis Explosion Brings Murder Indictment Memphis — The Shelby County Grand Jury yesterday returned a second degree murder indictment against John W. Eaton, owner and (Continued on Page 11) LOU METZGER ON WAC STAFF Coast Theater Operator Takes Up Duties Here Oct. 1 Lou B. Metzger, operating the- aters in several California cities and former executive of Universal, Co- lumbia and British International, joins the WAC staff on a permanent basis Oct. 1, Francis S. Harmon, executive vice-president, announced yesterday. Metzger, who is delaying assump- tion of his new WAC spot here until the completion of the Third War Loan campaign, joins Arthur Mayer, treasure:; Si Fabian, Theaters Di- vision chairman, and Herman Gluck- man, assistant to the distributor chaiiman, as a voluntary worker. Harmon, in making public Metz- (Continued on Page 6) SOPEG Survey Aims At Up-grading Jobs The Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, UOPWA, yesterday announced it. had launched a survey of existing jobs and salaries of white-collar workers at the home offices and exchanges of the local film industry with the issuance of job- evaluation questionnaires to all of- fice employes at Loew's, Inc., Colum- bia Pictures Corp., 20th Century- (Continued on Page 6) Few Closings Due To Polio Public Health Service Believes Peak Reached Suit Against Universal Dismissed in Wilmington Wilmington, Del. — Vice-Chancellor George B. Pearson has dismissed a bill of complaint against Universal Corp. and Universal Pictures Co., Inc., for failure of the complainants, Dorette A. Wise and Bailey, Dwyer (Continued on Page 3) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Danger of wide- spread closings due to the polio epi- demic were discounted here yester- day by officials of the U. S. Public Health Service. While it is true that nearly twice as many cases have been reported thus far this year as in equal periods for the last five years, PHS officials do not expect to see (Continued on Page 3) Washington Hears Techni- cal Workers Being Trans- ferred to Airplane Plants Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— West Coast WMC is repoited ready to start shifting mo- vie studio technicians to airplane plants. Washington offices of WMC disclaim all knowledge of what is going on outside the capital city, but in other agencies which follow man- power programs the report is re- peated with minor variations as to details. It is well known that the aircraft (Continued on Page 3) New Plan Augments Navy's Film Service As the result of a plan worked out by the WAC Distribution Division and the Bureau of Naval Personnel of the U. S. Navy, newest pictures will be made available to Naval Shore Activities in the continental U. S. For several months the Bureau of Naval Personnel has been working with William F. Rodgers, chairman of the Distributors Committee, on details of the plan which have now (Continued on Page 6) Gas Ban End to Benefit Small-Town, Nabe Houses Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Small-town and sub- urban motion picture theaters once more should draw reasonably large audiences following the removal of (Continued on Page 3) Griffith Pre-Trial Conference Sept. 13 A pre - trial conference in the United States vs. Griffith anti-trust case has been called for Sept. 13 in Oklahoma City by Federal Judge Voight. Conference was called for the purpose of defining issues and to agree on certain fapts so that the trial can be speeded up when it gets under way. m DAILY I Wednesday, September, 1, 194: 5 Vol 84, No. 44 Wed., Sept. 1, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Publisher General Manager Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, ^-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 841 Longfellow St., N.W., Phone Taylor 0882. CONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle. Le Film, 29 Rue Mar- soulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU— Eileen O'Brien BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Tuesday, Aug. 31) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Clcse Chg. Am. Seat 16y4 16y4 16y4 + Vs Col. Picts. vtc. <2!/2%> Columbia Picts. pfd. 38 38 38 + % Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. 16 15% 16 + '/2 East. Kodak 157'/2 157'/2 1 57 1/2 + ll/2 do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq 20l/4 20% 20%+ % Loew's, Inc 59 58y8 59 + l/2 Paramount 25% 25% 25% + % RKO 8% 7% 8% + 3/g RKO $6 pfd 89 87% 89 + 1 % 20th Century-Fox . . 22% 21% 22% + % 20th Century-Fox pfd. 30% 30% 30% + % Warner Bros 13 125/8 13 + % do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs 1% 1% 1% Sonotone Corp 3% 3% 3% +i-16 Technicolor 13% 13 13% Trans-Lux Universal Picts. vtc. . 17% 17% 17% N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 7934 82% Niven in "The Way Ahead" London (By Air Mail)— British Army pic in which Maj. David Niven will star will be titled 'The Way Ahead." It's to be a saga of British infantry. 1600 R'WAY, N.Y. C. - CIRCLE 6-0081-2-3-4 * C A PROHCTIOtt ROOM— flLM STOIACE IUM (XCMAMCt DltTllttfTIOM UtVKI Reeling 'Round' - WASHINGTON (Continued from Page 1) their own means of cinematic expression. • e IT is too early to predict with certainty ' just what will happen to the CIAA when the guns are put up. Thus far. Nelson Rockefeller — because his agency has been doing an outstanding job and because of his own personality — has been able to steer an even ccurse Perhaps Con- gress will decide the agency should con- tinue— if not it is likely that the work will be carried on under private auspices. As for the pix end, we know that more than one major producer has already started to plan to offer his support for the con- tinuation of the work done, should Federal funds be withdrawn. Berny Byrens Sues Zukor, Claims Service Agreement A suit for $68,930 for services rendered was filed against Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of Paramount Pictures, by Berny By- rens yesterday in New York Federal Court. The plaintiff alleges that under an agreement made with Zu- kor to study and survey the prob- lems concerning the latter's financial status he was to receive 10 per cent of all monies saved. Byrens claims that after working on the assign- ment between May, 1938, and Janu- ary, 1939, he effected a saving for Zukor of $699,307. He charges all he received for his work was $1,000, the remainder being still unpaid. Redeem General Aniline 51/2% Debentures Nov. 1 General Aniline & Film Corp., for- merly American I. G. Chemical Corp., is notifying holders of American I. G. Chemical Corp. guaranteed 5 Ms per cent convertible debentures due May 1, 1949, that it intends to re- deem on Nov. 1, at their principal amount $1,750,000 of these deben- tures, selected by lot by the trustee. Payment of the drawn debentures will be made upon surrender at the head office of the trustee, The Na- tional City Bank of New York. To Redeem WB Preferred Stock at $89.65 Today All Warner Bros. Pictures pre- ferred stock outstanding, totalling 99,397 shares, will be redeemed to- day at $89.65 par. The shares are being retired with the proceeds of $23,000,000 in new financing obtained recently by the company. IATSE Executive Board To Meet in Montreal The general executive board of the IATSE will convene at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Canada, the week of Sept. 13. NLRB Nixes F-51 Move For New 20th-Fox Vote The National Labor Relations Board has turned down the petition of Local F-51, which covers all white- collar exchange workers in the New York exchanges affiliated with the IATSE, to set aside the certification of the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, UOPWA, as bargaining agent for the office help at the 20th-Fox exchange here and to call a new election. The petition was filed through the IATSE on Aug. 16. The election which the petition sought to set aside was held on Feb. 5. The SOPEG carried the election by 17 votes to the IA's 10. Plaintiff's Findings Due In Momand Suit Saturday Plaintiffs in the Momand anti- trust case have been instructed by Federal Judge Broaddus to file all proposed findings of facts, conclu- sions of law and briefs by Saturday. Defendants were given until Sept. 19 to reply. Originally, all parties in the action were requested to file their findings by Sept. 4, but the order later was modified to apply only to the plain- tiffs, with the defendants given 15 days to give their answers. Hodge, Taylor-Shantz Head, Dies in Rochester Rochester — Shurly Christy Hodge, president and treasurer of the Tay- lor-Shantz Co., Inc., makers of metal stamping and safety guards, died here. Hodge represented the firm for 16 years in New York, his prin- cipal contacts being members of the motion picture industry. "A Lady Takes a Chance" Opens at Para. Sept. 15 RKO's "A Lady Takes a Chance" will open at the Broadway Para- mount on Sept. 15. One of the few outside pictures to play the Para- mount, "A Lady Takes a Chance" was selected by Bob Weitman, man- aging director, to initiate the new season. Wilmington Adopts Curfew Wilmington, Del. — Curfew ordi- nance designed to bar children un- der 16 from the streets after 10 p.m. has become effective here. I COMIflG and GOIIti WILL HAYS, MPFDA prexy, is in New York. N. PETER RATHVON, RKO prexy, has returne from Hollywood. J. CHEEVER COWDIN, Universal board chair man, is expected today from the Coast. HERBERT WHITE, 20th-Fcx Cuban sales ec, is at the home office. JOSEPH H. COHN, vice-president and filrri vertising director of the Weiss and Celler ageift .'; is back at his desk from a Lake Champlain va * cation. LEW COOPER leaves for Hollywood on Frida to complete casting for a new Broadway shov in which he is interested. I! KATINA PAXINOU, for San Francisco. * left Hollywood yesterda V Fox-Hole Premiere Set For U's "Hers to Hold" Universal's Deanna Durbin pic ture "Hers to Hold" will have it: Latin-American premiere in the fo>, holes of Panama on Sept. 5. Due tc Army censorship, the exact locale cannot be revealed, but it will be held in an improvised theater in ar Army outpost and indications are that it will be one of the most novei and gala affairs in the history oi Panama. President Ricardo Adolfc de la Guardia of Panama will be th guest of honor at the premiere which Jj is being sponsored by the "Jungle ^ Mudders" of Major General Ralph Meyer's Coast Artillery. Many other dignitaries also will be present. .' : Nebraska Some Run Case Dropped by Complainants in h Demand for arbitration filed last February by Frank Gartner and Howard Harvey, operating the Rial to Theater, Beatrice, Neb., has been withdrawn. Complainants hadfca charged that Paramount, RKO, 20th1 j» Century-Fox and. Loew's had refused ' to license product to the Rialto on any run. ■;. SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write tor samples, prices or other information. Delivery tree Maine to Virginia. INTERNATIONAL T I C K E T/tfSA COMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE» \&/ NEWARK, N. J, Soles Offices m Principal Centers nu Wednesday, September, 1, 1943 'WSs « ee No Widespread losings Due to Polio ■! (Continued from Page 1) ;hool openings delayed, theaters ™|iiuttered or any other form of com- mnity activity banned because of le crippling disease. Total of 747 cases of poliomyelitis fere reported last week, spread ^ugh Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, | yk York, Connecticut, Utah and .',' Washington. Had this number of ases been concentrated in one reg- j >n, theater closings would be a good det, but the wide geographical dis- tribution of the cases is apparently »Miough to render such drastic meas- ) res unnecessary. So far this year, 3,312 cases of olio have been reported, as against | nly 1,322 for the same period last I ear and a five-year median of 1,681 jor the period from Jan. 1 through . | ae third week of August. Distribu- tion has been quite even throughout . f score of states, however, and re- ports from the field do not appear to ;; ortend the coming of any severe \ pidemic in any one locality. The polio peak has been reached, is believed, with the new cases eported expected to begin dropping, ff rapidly. There is a danger that he reopening of schools might mean slight rise in cases, but no sharp + ise is looked for. Officials of the ublic Health Service are anxious li hat speculation about the curtail- ment of ordinary community func- tions because of the disease not be pread, because they are confident hat no such measures will be nee- I ^ssary. ?»uit Against Universal Msmissed in Wilmington (Continued from Page t) z Co., to file a cost bond of $250. Complainants had sought to pre- sent the merger of Universal Corp. i^.nd the picture company. The mer- ger eventually was consummated. Jy failing to file a bond, the case >as removed legally from the record. Chicago NEIC Organized Chicago — A National Entertain- nent Industry Council has been or- ganized here at a meeting at the Sherman Hotel to co-operate in the imusement industry's war drives. Edwin S. Clifford Richard Arlen Betty Blythe Miriam Seegar Renee Haal Rex Beach Maj. William S. Altman Along With The Bills: • • • ON THE sunny side of "double features" is news that the lournal-American is to have two drama critics aboard its amusement pages, — Messrs. Bob Garland and George Jean Nathan Latter will contribute weekly (Stet!. cries Phil M„ 'cause Br'r Nathan never contri- buted weakly to any publication), initially next Tuesday and on Mon- days thereafter. ... • Lionel Stander, member of the enlisted re- serve of the Army Air Forces, has been ordered to active duty and re- ports to Mitchel Field on Friday. ... • Jerry Wald and his ork have been booked for a September personal appearance on local Roxy's stage. ... • Things We Like: Jack RKO Level's sports-flavored colyum "By-Line Brilant," which deals with Arthur of the winged words and the air's winged creatures. . . . • Mary Ransome, vice-president of University Pictures and now a member of the WACS has com- pleted her basic training at Fort Devens, Mass., and is now stationed at Daytona Beach, Fla. ... • William Home, tenor of the stage version of "This Is The Army"; Lola Hayes, Negro concert singer; The Skylarks, vocal swing quartette; and a name band from one o' the big nite spots will headline tonight's entertainment at the Silver Screen Canteen (located in the Fraternal Clubhouse, 1 10 W. 48th St.) The Canteen, for the lads in the armed forces and the merchant marine, is sponsored by SOPEG, Local 109, — comprising the swains and maids in pic companies' home offices. ... • William K. Saxton, city mana- ger for Loew's Theaters in Baltimore, is chairman of a committee ar- ranging for Governor Herbert R. O'Conor of Maryland to be inducted into the Baltimore Tent, Variety Club, as an honorary member on Sept. IS, — the occasion to be known as Governor's Night It'll be celebrated with a buffet supper, dancing and entertainment Com- mittee working with Bill Saxton includes Barry Goldman, Morris Oletsky, Bill Abrams, Jerome Grant, A. Shugars, C. B. Wolfe and Abram Marcus. • • • THERE'LL be a hot time down at ole Camp Campbell, Ky., tomorrow nite, Suh! The 4th Armored Corps, composed of a number of divisions, is set to celebrate the second anniversary of its founding Said celebration's highlight will be the first showing anywhere of Columbia's "Sahara," starring Humphrey Bogart It's an appropriate attraction for the armored boys, what with Mister Bogart cast as a tank crew Sergeant and the screenplay bristling with North African campaign action There's only one incongruity associated with this showing, as far as Phil M. is concerned It's that the Kentucky Colonels, who have always held that the only drink worth searching for is the Mint Julep, will probably never condone Bogart and his pals hunting vainly and frantically for water Well, y'can't please ev'rahodah, Suh!, — as Jesse Zunser, that Chattanooga man, would say V T V • • • REPUBLIC'S foreign distribution chief, Morris Goodman, was reported to have been "frozen" in Florida yes'day, — the climate not- withstanding Returning from his Latin-American trip, he landed in Miami only to find his reservations for transportation commandeered So-o-o, philosophical and always glad to co-operate with his Uncle Sam, Mister Goodman will probably arrive on our local Film Row hearth by tomorrow afternoon, — and then again, not until Friday. C'est La Guerre ▼ V T • • « A FENCE PEARL HARBOR! DATE BOOK Sept. 8: MPPDA board quarterly meeting. Sept. 9: ITOA installation luncheon, Hotel Astor. Sept. 9: Third Victory Loan drive opens. Sept. 13: NEIC service flag dedication. Sept. 13: IATSE general executive board meeting, Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal. Sept. 16: Ampa's first Fall meeting, Hotel Astor. Sept. 17-19: Theater Equipment Dealers Pro- tective Association meeting, Bismarck Hotel, Chicago. Oct. 4-6— War conference of the Allied Theaters of Michigan, Detroit. Oct. 18-22 SMPE technical conference, Holly- wood-Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. Nov. 16: Night of Stars, Madison Square Car- den. Coast WMC Shifting Studio Technicians? (Continued from Page 1) program is far behind schedule for 1943 and that a rise of about 30 per cent is contemplated in 1944 sched- ules. Chief ceiling on production is lack of manpower, particularly work- ers with skill. WMC has been asked again and again to come to the rescue so that channeling of movie staffs is considered probable. Gas Ban End to Benefit Small-Town, Nabe Houses «r <4 * » m (Continued from Page 1) the pleasure driving ban in the East last night. There is no increase in the amount of gas given to motorists, but they need no longer fear Fed- eral prosecution if they go to the movies. The removal of restrictions re- stores the "honor system", which Price Administrator Prentiss Brown inaugurated when he first succeeded Leon Henderson. Motorists are ex- pected to avoid pleasure driving but are not subject to penalties. OPA officials were frank in saying that the change, in effect, lets the bars down, and that movies should be a major beneficiary. Those who go to the movies are, of course, limited by their A and B card restrictions. Japs Will Liberate Three Eastman Men Rochester — Three former mem- bers of Eastman Kodak's Shanghai branch will return from a Japanese internment camp to the United States in the second exchange of nationals between the two coun- tries, it was learned yesterday. Linden L. Farnsworth, Morley Clayton Reid and Eric D. Sitzenstat- ter are scheduled to come home, it was said. Vol. 84, No. 44 Wed., Sept. 1, 1943 lOCents JOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN Publisher General Manager Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, ^-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif.— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 841 Longfellow St., N.W., Phone Taylor 0882. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Mar- soulan (12). HAVANA— Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU— Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco- Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Tuesday, Aug. 31) 38 38 + 7s NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Clcse Chg. Am. Seat 16y4 16y4 16>/4 + i/3 Col. Picts. vtc. (2'/2%) .. Columbia Picts. pfd.. 38 Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd. 16 15% 16 + '/2 East. Kodak 1 57 1/2 157i/2 157'/2 + 1 1/2 do pfd Gen. Prec. Eq 20y4 20 V4 20 '/4 + % Loew's, Inc 59 585/8 59 + i/2 Paramount 25% 25% 25% -f- % RKO 8'/4 77/8 8% + 3/g RKO $6 pfd 89 87i/2 89 + 1 Vi 20th Century-Fox . . 22% 21% 223/8 + S/8 20th Century-Fox pfd. 30% 30y2 30% + % Warner Bros 13 12% 13 + i/2 do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Para. B'way 3s55 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Radio-Keith cvs 1 1/2 1% IV2 Sonotone Corp 3>/2 3% 3% +1-16 Technicolor 13l/4 13 13% Trans-Lux ,.. Universal Picts. vtc. . 17% 17% 17'/4 N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 79% 82% Niven in "The Way Ahead" London (By Air Mail)— British Army pic in which Maj. David Niven will star will be titled 'The Way Ahead." It's to be a saga of British infantry. Dimnrn [film storage corpII 11 w 11 11 b il 1600 B'WAY, N,Y, C, - CIRCLE 6-0081-2-3-4 Reeling 'Round- - WASHINGTON (.Continued from Page 1) their own means of cinematic expression. • • . IT is too early to predict with certainty ■ just what will happen to the CIAA when the guns are put up. Thus far. Nelson Rockefeller — because his agency has been doing an outstanding job and because of his own personality — has been able to steer an even c;urse Perhaps Con- gress will decide the agency should con- tinue— if not it is likely that the work will be carried on under private auspices. As for the pix end, we know that more than one major producer has already started to plan to offer his support for the con- tinuation of the work dons, should Federal funds be withdrawn. Berny Byrens Sues Zukor, Claims Service Agreement A suit for $68,930 for services rendered was filed against Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of Paramount Pictures, by Berny By- rens yesterday in New York Federal Court. The plaintiff alleges that under an agreement made with Zu- kor to study and survey the prob- lems concerning the latter's financial status he was to receive 10 per cent of all monies saved. Byrens claims that after working on the assign- ment between May, 1938, and Janu- ary, 1939, he effected a saving for Zukor of $699,307. He charges all he received for his work was $1,000 the remainder being still unpaid. Redeem General Aniline SV2% Debentures Nov. 1 General Aniline & Film Corp., for- merly American I. G. Chemical Corp., is notifying holders of American I. G. Chemical Corp. guaranteed 5% per cent convertible debentures due May 1, 1949, that it intends to re- deem on Nov. 1, at their principal amount $1,750,000 of these deben- tures, selected by lot by the trustee. Payment of the drawn debentures will be made upon surrender at the head office of the trustee, The Na- tional City Bank of New York. To Redeem WB Preferred Stock at $89.65 Today All Warner Bros. Pictures pre- ferred stock outstanding, totalling 99,397 shares, will be redeemed to- day at $89.65 par. The shares are being retired with the proceeds of $23,000,000 in new financing obtained recently by the company. IATSE Executive Board To Meet in Montreal DAILY We Wednesday, September, 1, 1943 5 The general executive board of the IATSE will convene at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Canada, the week of Sept. 13. NLRB Nixes F-51 Move For New 20th-Fox Vote The National Labor Relations Board has turned down the petition of Local F-51, which covers all white- collar exchange workers in the New York exchanges affiliated with the IATSE, to set aside the certification of the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, UOPWA, as bargaining agent for the office help at the 20th-Fox exchange here and to call a new election. The petition was filed through the IATSE on Aug. 16. The election which the petition sought to set aside was held on Feb. 5. The SOPEG carried the election by 17 votes to the IA's 10. Plaintiff's Findings Due In Momand Suit Saturday Plaintiffs in the Momand anti- trust case have been instructed by Federal Judge Broaddus to file all proposed findings of facts, conclu- sions of law and briefs by Saturday. Defendants were given until Sept. 19 to reply. Originally, all parties in the action were requested to file their findings by Sept. 4, but the order later was modified to apply only to the plain- tiffs, with the defendants given 15 days to give their answers. Hodge, Taylor-Shantz Head, Dies in Rochester Rochester — Shurly Christy Hodge, president and treasurer of the Tay- lor-Shantz Co., Inc., makers of metal stamping and safety guards, died here. Hodge represented the firm for 16 years in New York, his prin- cipal contacts being members of the motion picture industry. "A Lady Takes a Chance" Opens at Para. Sept. 15 RKO's "A Lady Takes a Chance" will open at the Broadway Para- mount on Sept. 15. One of the few outside pictures to play the Para- mount, "A Lady Takes a Chance" was selected by Bob Weitman, man- aging director, to initiate the new season. Wilmington Adopts Curfew- Wilmington, Del. — Curfew ordi- nance designed to bar children un- der 16 from the streets after 10 p.m. has become effective here. C0MIIIG and GOIflG I WILL HAYS, MPFDA prexy, is in New York. , N. PETER RATHVON, RKO prexy, has returned ■ from Hollywood. J. CHEEVER COWDIN, Universal board chair- man, is expected today from the Coast. HERBERT WHITE, 20rh-Fox Cuban sales ex- | ec, is at the home office. JOSEPH H. COHN, vice-president and filit#* vertising director of the Weiss and Celler agl&f, is back at his desk from a Lake Champlain va cation. LEW COOPER leaves for Hollywood on Friday to complete casting for a new Broadway show in which he is interested. KATINA PAXINOU, left Hollywood yesterday for San Francisco. Fox-Hole Premiere Set For U's "Hers to Hold' Universal's Deanna Durbin pic- ture "Hers to Hold" will have its Latin-American premiere in the fox holes of Panama on Sept. 5. Due to Army censorship, the exact locale cannot be revealed, but it will be held in an improvised theater in an Army outpost and indications are that it will be one of the most novel and gala affairs in the history of Panama. President Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia of Panama will be the guest of honor at the premiere which is being sponsored by the "Jungle Mudders" of Major General Ralph Meyer's Coast Artillery. Many other dignitaries also will be present. Nebraska Some Run Case Dropped by Complainants Demand for arbitration filed last February by Frank Gartner and Howard Harvey, operating the Rial- to Theater, Beatrice, Neb., has been withdrawn. Complainants had charged that Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox and. Loew's had refused to license product to the Rialto on any run. SEEKING A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUR THEATRE TICKETS? INTERNATIONAL OFFERS: Dependable service . . . Low cost . . . 45 year's experience serving theatres, stadiums, amusement parks, etc. We can supply your needs. Roll, machine folded, reserve seats, etc. Write (or samples, prices or other information. Delivery free Maine to Virginia, INTERNATIONAL T I C K E Tf^COMPANY 52 GRAFTON AVE* \£g/ NEWARK, N. J. Sales Offices m Principal Centers Wednesday, September, 1, 1943 tee No Widespread [losings Due to Polio {Continued from Page 1) chool openings delayed, theaters huttered or any other form of com- aunity activity banned because of he crippling disease. Total of 747 cases of poliomyelitis ere reported last week, spread Jugh Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, % York, Connecticut, Utah and ,| Washington. Had this number of :ases been concentrated in one reg- , on, theater closings would be a good i» >et, but the wide geographical dis- xibution of the cases is apparently mough to render such drastic meas- lres unnecessary. So far this year, 3,312 cases of jolio have been reported, as against mly 1,322 for the same period last /ear and a five-year median of 1,681 :'or the period from Jan. 1 through ;he third week of August. Distribu- tion has been quite even throughout i score of states, however, and re- 9orts from the field do not appear to {portend the coming of any severe jpidemic in any one locality. The polio peak has been reached, it is believed, with the new cases .reported expected to begin dropping .off rapidly. There is a danger that 'the reopening of schools might mean a slight rise in cases, but no sharp rise is looked for. Officials of the Public Health Service are anxious ■that speculation about the curtail- ment of ordinary community func- tions because of the disease not be spread, because they are confident that no such measures will be nec- essary. Suit Against Universal Dismissed in Wilmington (Continued from Page i) & Co., to file a cost bond of $250. Complainants had sought to pre- vent the merger of Universal Corp. and the picture company. The mer- ger eventually was consummated. By failing to file a bond, the case was removed legally from the record. Chicago NEIC Organized Chicago — A National Entertain- ment Industry Council has been or- ganized here at a meeting at the Sherman Hotel to co-operate in the amusement industry's war drives. Edwin S. Clifford Richard Arlen Betty Blythe Miriam Seegar Renee Haal Rex Beach Ma], William S. Altman Along With The Bills: • • • ON THE sunny side of "double features" is news that the Journal-American is to have two drama critics aboard its amusement pages. — Messrs. Bob Garland and George Jean Nathan Latter will contribute weekly (Stet!. cries Phil M.. 'cause Br'r Nathan never contri- buted weakly to any publication), initially next Tuesday and on Mon- days thereafter. ...» Lionel Stander. member of the enlisted re- serve of the Army Air Forces, has been ordered to active duty and re- ports to Mitchel Field on Friday. ... • Jerry Wald and his ork have been booked for a September personal appearance on local Roxy's stage. ... • Things We Like: Jack RKO Level's sports-flavored colyum "By-Line Brilant." which deals with Arthur of the winged words and the air's winged creatures. ... • Mary Ransome, vice-president of University Pictures and now a member of the WACS has com- pleted her basic training at Fort Devens, Mass.. and is now stationed at Daytona Beach, Fla. ...» William Home, tenor of the stage version of "This Is The Army"; Lola Hayes, Negro concert singer: The Skylarks, vocal swing quartette; and a name band from one o' the big nite spots will headline tonight's entertainment at the Silver Screen Canteen (located in the Fraternal Clubhouse, 110 W. 48th St.) The Canteen, for the lads in the armed forces and the merchant marine, is sponsored by SOPEG. Local 109,— comprising the swains and maids in pic companies' home offices. ... • William K. Saxton, city mana- ger for Loew's Theaters in Baltimore, is chairman of a committee ar- ranging for Governor Herbert R. O'Conor of Maryland to be inducted into the Baltimore Tent, Variety Club, as an honorary member on Sept. 15, — the occasion to be known as Governor's Night It'll be celebrated with a buffet supper, dancing and entertainment Com- mittee working with Bill Saxton includes Barry Goldman, Morris Oletsky, Bill Abrams, Jerome Grant, A. Shugars, C. B. Wolfe and Abram Marcus. T T T • # • THERE'LL be a hot time down at ole Camp Campbell, Ky., tomorrow nite, Suh! The ith Armored Corps, composed of a number of divisions, is set to celebrate the second anniversary of its founding Said celebration's highlight will be the first showing anywhere of Columbia's "Sahara," starring Humphrey Bogart It's an appropriate attraction for the armored boys, what with Mister Bogart cast as a tank crew Sergeant and the screenplay bristling with North African campaign action There's only one incongruity associated with this showing, as far as Phil M. is concerned It's that the Kentucky Colonels, who have always held that the only drink worth searching for is the Mint Julep, will probably never condone Bogart and his pals hunting vainly and frantically for water Well, y'can't please ev'rahodah, Suh!, — as Jesse Zunser, that Chattanooga man, would say T T T • • • REPUBLIC'S foreign distribution chief. Morris Goodman, was reported to have been "frozen" in Florida yes'day— the climate not- withstanding Returning from his Latin-American trip, he landed in Miami only to find his reservations for transportation commandeered So-o-o, philosophical and always glad to co-operate with his Uncle Sam, Mister Goodman will probably arrive on our local Film Row heaTth by tomorrow afternoon,— and then again, not until Friday C'est La Guerre T T T • • • A VENCE PEARL HARBOR! €< <4 * » * DATE BOOK Sept. 8: MPPDA board quarterly meeting. Sept. 9: ITOA installation luncheon, Hotel As tor. Sept. 9: Third Victory Loan drive opens. Sept. 13: NEIC service flag dedication. Sept. 13: IATSE general executive board meeting. Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal. Sept. 16: Ampa's first Fall meeting, Hotel Astor. Sept. 17-19: Theater Equipment Dealers Pro- tective Association meeting, Bismarck Hotel, Chicago. Oct. 4-6 — War conference of the Allied Theaters of Michigan, Detroit. Oct. 18-22 SMPE technical conference, Holly- wood-Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. Nov. 16: Night of Stars, Madison Square Car- den. Coast WMC Shifting Studio Technicians! (Continued from Page 1) program is far behind schedule for 1943 and that a rise of about 30 per cent is contemplated in 1944 sched- ules. Chief ceiling on production is lack of manpower, particularly work- ers with skill. WMC has been asked again and again to come to the rescue so that channeling of movie staffs is considered probable. Gas Ban End to Benefit Small-Town, Nabe Houses (Continued from Page 1) the pleasure driving ban in the East last night. There is no increase in the amount of gas given to motorists, but they need no longer fear Fed- eral prosecution if they go to the movies. The removal of restrictions re- stores the "honor system", which Price Administrator Prentiss Brown inaugurated when he first succeeded Leon Henderson. Motorists are ex- pected to avoid pleasure driving but are not subject to penalties. OPA officials were frank in saying that the change, in effect, lets the bars down, and that movies should be a major beneficiary. Those who go to the movies are, of course, limited by their A and B card restrictions. Japs Will Liberate Three Eastman Men Rochester — Three former mem- bers of Eastman Kodak's Shanghai branch will return from a Japanese internment camp to the United States in the second exchange of nationals between the two coun- tries, it was learned yesterday. Linden L. Farnsworth, Morley Clayton Reid and Eric D. Sitzenstat- ter are scheduled to come home, it was said. ■M If And what o reception from the pubUe at * • «, in Jersey City I The most thatsneakprev.ewmJersey | wonder^ comment cards % ■">. ^o' fit W "CAN'T I**5** SUPERB COMEDYi HEADED FOR HEAVY TAKES! WOOLIEY "ELDS, SUPERLATIVE JEAM!ONEOF20th's B'GGEST GROSSERS OF THE YEAR}" » ♦» MONTY MOUi /* BACK THE AnACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR LOAN! nutm w.% LAIRD CREGAR « Una O'Connor Ethel Griff ies • Eric Blore • George and Written for the Screen by Nunj T lowbray • Melville Cooper • Franklin Pangborn rritz Feld • Directed by John Stahl • Produced hnson • From the Novel by Arnold Bennett CENTURY-FOX C/™CUUIY Wednesday, September, 1, 194:;! Name Lou Metzger To Staff of WAC {Continued from Page 1) ger's affiliation, said that "his pres- ence full time at WAC New York headquarters is needed and appre- ciated." Metzger's theater interests are in San Diego, Pasadena and Lanesa. He has been identified with film biz his entire life except for military service in World War I. N. Y. and N. J. Exhibs. Meet, Map Plans on Bond Drive Exhibitors in New York and New Jersey met yesterday in two separ- ate meetings to outline plans for theater participation in the Third War Loan. The New Jersey group met in Proctor's Theater in Newark, with Harry Lowenstein, WAC chairman for that area, presiding. Lowen- stein introduced L. C. Griffith, gen- eral chairman, S. H. Fabian and Francis S. Harmon, who addressed the assemblage. With N. Y. state Bond chairman Leo Brecher wielding the gavel, the- atermen in the met. area gathered in the Paramount board room, and dis- cussed methods of boosting sales in the proportion necessary to meet the requirements of the campaign. Carole Landis Trailer For Third War Loan Use WAC is rushing to completion an additional Third War Loan trailer starring Carole Landis. Produced at Fox Movietone Studios here, trailer is titled, "Tomorrow's Headline," and will be free from all NSS exchanges to exhibs. signing the Loan pledge. Theaters will get it about Sept. 20. So. Calif. Theaters Agents For War Loan Bond Sales West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Holly wood —Virtually every film theater in Southern California will be an aggressive War Bond sales agency during the Third War Loan drive, according to Dave Bershon, chairman of theater war savings staff for the Treasury Department He has completed committee set- ups for every area and has a closely unified organization in action. Open Air Theater for Dyer Dyer, Ind.— Thomas J. Seymour will open an open air theater here. The ... . FEMME TOUCH JUANITA BANE, booker Republic exchange, Memphis, Tertn. MRS. MAkTHA SUMMERS, contract dept., War- ner's exchange, Memphis, Tenn. ELROSE BYRNE, Checker, Warner's exchange Memphis, Tenn. LILLIAN BURT, telephone desk, Warner's ex- change, Memphis, Tenn. JOYCE LUTY, ticket taker, Wake, Raleigh, N. C. IN NEW INDUSTRY POSTS DON ATKINSON, National Theatre, Supply De- troit. JOSEPH CARSON, United Artists shipper, De- troit. CLAY JESSUP, head booker, RKO, Charlotte, N. C. JULES WILLIAMSON, office manager, RKO, Charlotte, N. C. R. D. CRAVER, manager, Lincoln, Florence, S. C. SAM NOEL, head shipper, Republic, Charlotte, N. C. VINCENT FLYNN, salesman, Metro, Cleveland. HOWARD LANDCRAF, manager, State Theater, Chicago. JACK BAKER, manager, Lincoln Theater, Chi- cago. FRED CHANDLER manager, Liberty Theater, Vandalia, III. JOHN C. MOUSER, general superintendent Bell & Howell Co., Rockwell plant. L. C. WILCOX, superintendent Bell & Howell Larchmont Ave. factory, Chicago. CEORCE BRESSLER assistant, B. K. Chicago Theater, Chicago, E. L. HORVATH, assistant, Northtown Thea- ter, Chicago. ADRIEN CAUTHIER, manager, Empress, Notre Dame de Grace, Que. BOB SNOOK, manager Liberty Theater, Chi- cago, to Missouri Pacific 'Railroad. CEORCE PITZLEY, manager, Roosevelt Thea- ter, Detroit. AMBROSE ). FITZGERALD, supervisor of check- ers, M-G-M, Detroit. LESTER B. COTTSCHALL, Jr., salesman, PRC, Dallas. CHARLES SHULMAN, executive assistant, Licht- man, circuit, Washington. CLEN BOTTORFF, assistant manager, Capitol, Grand Island, Neb. MARVIN GODWIN, office manager Columbia, ex- change, Memphis, Tenn. WELLINGTON JACKSON, and JAMES POLK, stu- dent bookers, Columbia, Memphis, Tenn. CLIFF WILSON, postal clerk, Columbia, Mem- phis, Tenn. New Plan Augments Navy's Film Service {Continued from Page 1) been approved. The detailed plan has been sent to the Naval Com- mandants of the Naval Shore Ac- tivities in the 11 naval districts, as well as to the Chiefs of Naval Tech- nical, Operational, Air Primary and Intermediate Training and to Marine and Coast Guard Commandants. Called the Optional Naval Dis- trict Motion Picture Plan, it will make available to all Naval shore activities within the continental U. S. the newest motion pictures gen- erally within 30 days of availability in the territory in which the activity is located and will augment the Naval Motion Picture Service in use for many years for ships on the high seas. Final approval of the arrangement was arrived at at a conference held last week in Washington with Rodg- ers and H. M. Richey. The plan will become effective Sept. 15 and detailed explanation of the plan has been sent to all branch managers of all distributors and to the Naval District Com- mandants. "Oklahoma Kid" Re-issue Scoring in Early Dates Warners' re-issue of "The Okla- home Kid" is piling up way-above- average grosses in its first show- ings, the home office said yesterday. At the Ritz Theater, Albany, the feature grossed double normal busi- ness; at the Mary Anderson, Louis- ville, the take was within $75 of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," the record for the house; at the New Bedford, New Bedford, Mass., and the Lincoln, Troy, the re-release took in 90 per cent above normal. The feature goes into general re- lease the week of Sept. 18, with over 200 dates expected ot break at that time. Situation Worries Aussie Raw Slock (Continued from Page 1) with the U. S. production ease. Aus- tralia's 75 per cent quota for this year has dwindled to a trickle and the position is now very acute. The Government Department of Import and Procurement has pooled all available stock and decreed a maximum eight prints per feature until the matter is in hand. Fight- ing Services, D.O.I. Documentaries and other regular users are also sharing the pool. Commonwealth re- quirements for War Loans, Home Security, Army Training and In- structional subjects, and similar war and propaganda subjects must grow, and this aspect is perturbing film companies since government require- ments have immediate priority. Most major distribs. have a back- log of films, with adequate prints of each feature already duped and on the shelves. As a consequence it might be some months before these restrictions catch up with them to be a very real problem. Universal, and British Empire Films (Monogram and Republic) with consistent outlet through Great- er Union Theaters' city theater chain are probably the only two compa- nies to immediately feel the pinch. Situation however, will not be com- fortable until the importation of raw stock becomes a little healthier, and the D.I.P. can be impressed into some activity in determining how present, and incoming raw stock can, and is to be used. Spitz-Goetz Silent on Seeking Korda's UA Share West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Representatives of In- ternational Pictures, controlled by Leo Spitz and William Goetz, and of Sir Alexander Korda refused to comment on a published report that International plans to purchase Kor- da's interest in United Artists. S0PEG Survey Aims At Up-grading Jobs (Continued from Page 1) Fox, RKO-Radio Pictures and at the Columbia, 20th-Fox, Loew's and United Artists New York exchanges, Accompanying the questionnaire ia a classification brochure. Questionnaire's purpose is to tablish the basis for a system of and salary classifications for the white collarites in the industry here in an attempt by the union to up- grade existing jobs and salaries "through equal pay for equal work within and between the companies and through merit, promotional and length-of-service increases." The questionnaire will make it possible for the union's classifications com- mittee to obtain information neces- sary for proper job evaluation by giving every worker an opportunity to describe his job in detail. In a letter accompanying; the questionnaire and the brochure the SOPEG states: "The questionnaire and the resulting; classifications system will assure fruitful salary negotia tions with your company and will be ofi inestimable value in seeking; War Labor Board approval of such salary increases." The one-year wage provisions in SOPEG' two-year contracts with Loew's, 20th-Fox, RKO-Radio, Columbia and Columbia ex change expired on July 28. Negotiations for new wage increases covering approxi- mately 1,500 employes in these offices be gan between the union and the companies' representatives on Aug. 12 in the office of Maj. Leslie E. Thompson, executive vice president of RKO. SOPEG's negotiating- committee, headed by President Sidney Young and organizers Ellen Davidson and Charlotte Peterson, claimed that the need for substantial wage increases was demon strated by the prevailing high manpower turnover resulting from low fixed income: and widespread salary inequalities. The union pointed out that an industry-wide sta bilization of wages, through classifications would be in the best interests of the com- panies, the employes and the war effort Increases based on classifications are spe- cifically stipulated in the contract affecting 400 office workers which the union signed with Paramount Pictures on May 10 SOPEG also has let it be known that it will request classifications for the 200 white collarites at the National Screen Service home office and exchange when negotiation* for new wage increases begin today, the date of expiration of the wage clauses in the contract signed by NSS and the Union on Sept. 1, 1942. Films of End of Sicilian Campaign Out Tomorrow Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Films showing the windup of the Sicilian campaign will be released tomorrow. Pictures were taken both by Army and by war photographers. The public will see the attacks on Messina and Troina. WEDDING BELLS Rochester — Ann Michaels, former student assistant at Loew's Roches- ter, will be married Sept. 4 to Staff Sergt. Paul H. Preo, AAF, of Waco, Tex. REPRINTED FROM FILM DAILY, AUG. 25, 1943 RATHER THAN BLOW OUR OWN HORN- The Roaring 943-944: • • • A GLANCE at M-G-M's first group tor the new season dis- closes that Bill Rodgen and his lads had a word ior it when they were planning the initial selling set-up — as they undoubtedly have ior the rest of the productions in various stages of filming That word is "balance" The dozen which'll be available next month include three musicals. "Best Foot Forward," "Girl Crazy," "I Dood It"; as many comedies. "Whistling in Brooklyn," "Swing Shift Maisie," "Young Ideas"; the service drama, "Salute to the Marines"; a trio with wartime backgrounds, "Above Suspicion." "The Adventures of Tartu." "The Man Down Under"; another in the popular series of metiers. "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case," and the Eric Knight yarn of a dog and a boy, "Lassie Come Home" • • • AMONG 17 completed but not yet set, or still before the cameras at Culver City, that same balance can be observed Five are musicals: "Right About Face," "Thousands Cheer," "Broadway Rhythm" "Meet the People" and "Mr. Co-ed" Comedies are four in number: "The Heavenly Body," "Little Miss Magic," "Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble," and the topical "Rationing" Five dealing with the present global struggle are, "Cry Havoc," "The Cross of Lorraine," "Song of Russia," "The White Cliffs of Dover," and "See Here, Private Hargrove" Three dramas, all of which assume top places on the new season's roster, are "Madame Curie," "A Guy Named Joe," and "America" Soon. to start are "Kismet," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Dragon Seed" and Canterville Ghost" Again, comedy, music and drama are well interspersed Y ▼ ▼ • • • The world, it appears, is M-G-M's oyster in '43-'44. as wit- ness the diversity of locales presented by the line-up A better understanding of our Allies, and a more accurate picture of our enemies is behind the planning Use of Technicolor has hit a new high at Culver City, with the list including "Best Foot Forward," "Lassie Come Home." "Thousands Cheer/' "America." "Broadway Rhythm," "Dragon Seed." "Kismet" "Mr. Co-ed" and "Meet Me in St. Louis," — all pro- duced au natural ▼ ▼ ▼ • # # DEALING with our Soviet comrades-in-arms (and in peace) is "Song of Russia" "White Cliffs of Dover" covers both global conflicts and the growth of Anglo-American amity "Dragon Seed," soon to start, is a drama of war-torn China "America" depicts the industrial rise of our own land, and "The Man From Down Under" is the story of modern-day Australia "The Cross of Lorraine" shows the suffering endured in a German prison camp by a group of patriotic French soldiers. .... ."Above Suspicion" tells of pre-war Germany New Guniea and the South Pacific are the backgrounds of "A Guy Named Joe" "Malta" will dramatize the most bombed place on earth "Cry Havoc" recounts the role of civilian nurse aides in the heroic defense of Bataan "Salute to the Marines" has a Philippine locale, and "Mr. Co-ed" will use Mexico City as a- background for part of the story ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • SMART Lion is Leo! You'll notice that one of the main (or should we say "mane") ideas back of his '43-'44 line-up, aside from balance, is exploitability Yes, and timeliness Consequently. the Friendly Company is bound to have a lot closer friendships 'mong its customers than ever before 3d WAR LOAN! OUR BIGGEST JOB! BACK THE ATTACK! THE liREfflSfffilinra FOR FIRST RUNS -CIRCU THt LUCKY StVtNSELZMCK-COOPt* fit In amy film MMPMrs business The §5gl?5S STUDDEDN PROGRAM of / 24 # I v. • MADELEINE CARROLL !w ,**««*iS ?•* PROVEN HITS «**a&$L&$ Td^&pZr*4*? &m ROBERT YOUNG wsa »* SPECIA •«*e **« *M£ *&%% i*»£v***i ?«>* /* 5Mo2L*»g ^W1?****** &«& IV *-'*«©>'°oe c*«#i.i«»« ****'« t**^<£***** c* °'4*t, *Ai TE* STftJ'Hiu °*o »UST *n/L By O/v •««& U MERLE fflOBERON *oi4 **y HERBERT MARSHALL you *HeiM '**: Wi **** O/irf il\G **l6 4xi, Ma <*0* Gf •'fSS/f **$& ^ *** -> £** A»N. 4*Hs ■/■' BORIS KARLOFF **f +*?.y***~?gg «*& tOJVf *S& **c fc» A booking-wire-phonT NNA^ LEE R K 0 BUILDING 1270 SIXTH AVE. NEW YORK 20, N. Y. CO J urn bus 5-6607 RICHARD ARLEN VAILABLE FOR FOREIGN BOOKING 10 DAILY Wednesday, September, 1, 194:1 ^ ;< :< Reviews of the new turns •& "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad" Artkino-Paramount 58 Mins. SOVIET WAR DOCUMENTARY RATES SECOND TO NONE; SUPERB FILM REC- ORD OF STALINGRAD STRUGGLE. "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad" is absolute tops in its line. This, the film record of the crucial strug- gle for the Soviet stronghold on the Volga, takes second place to no documentary that has come out of this war. Certainly no picture has been able to convey so force- fully and so vividly the destructiveness of war. It is a terrifying demonstration of modern warfare that spares no realistic detail. Hence exhibitors must look to the men for their patronage wherever this film is played. The footage is made of sterner stuff than the average woman can bear. The film, an unparalleled tribute to the fighting heart of Soviet Russia, covers every phase of the five-month battle for Stalin- grad. Some idea of the material that has gone into the picture may be had from the fact that eight cameramen and five soldiers detailed to work with camera crews were killed in shooting the footage. There are shots in the picture such as have never been seen before. They contribute in mak- ing the film a taut and gripping offering that shoves you to the edge of your seat and keeps you there. The final assault that sealed the fate of the German army of Field Marshal Gen. Friedrich von Paulus is the high point of the film. This sequence is given added weight by the fact that it shows in action for the first time a devastating Soviet rocket gun, which the Red army has af- fectionately nicknamed "Katusha." An- other high point of the film is scenes of the actual capture of von Paulus with a large group of his generals. The picture, compiled by the Central Newsreel Studios in the USSR, has been superbly edited by Leonid Varlamov for Artkino Pictures. Included in the footage is material from Nazi newsreels captured by the Russians. The picture has been supplied with excellent background music taken from the famous Seventh Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich. Accompanying the action is a first-rate commentary written by John Wexley and spoken by Brian Donlevy. The film is marked by a smoothness never noted before in a Soviet documen- tary. Some of the credit for this goes to Richard Blumenthal, Paramount producer who was in charge of the assembling of the production. Polio Cases in Chicago At a New High of 471 Chicago — A new polio high was reached here yesterday with 471 cases reported in Chicago and Cook County, with deaths reaching 46. Among the fatalities was Jacqueline Frances Eckhart, the five-year-old daughter of the chief booker at the 20th Century-Fox exchange here. "The Unknown Guest" with Victor Jory and Pamela Blake Monogram 65 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) ACE SUSPENSE MELODRAMA CLEV- ERLY ADAPTED TO REQUIREMENTS OF CAMERA WILL HAVE 'EM ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS. This rates with the best suspense movies this town has turned out. It's a film that will have even your most stolid customer sitting on the edge of his seat and biting his nails. The King Brothers, producers, must be commended for giving the movie lots of production. The actors, Victor Jory and Pamela Blake and their supporting cast must be commended for turning in grand per- formances, and megger Kurt Neumann should get some kind of an award for doing an outstanding job. Neumann has also brought a new star forth, for Miss Blake's performance is of such calibre that she will undoubtedly become one of our most sought after young leading women. The story is cleverly adapted to the re- quirements of the camera. A young man, Victor Jory, runs away from a saloon in Chicago after seeming to be involved in a killing. He goes West to the hunting lodge of an aunt and uncle, a pair of stingy misers who begrudge him a bite of food on his first night there. The next morning we find him in possession of the place and the relatives gone. Pamela Blake continues to work for him, and gradually falls in iove with him, despite the fact that she is con- vinced that he has murdered his aunt and uncle. The suspense built up as the girl seems to catch him in all sorts of wrong deeds, and the townspeople and the sheriff begin to suspect him of murder, is terrific. Then comes the denouement which is a shock — and a happy ending. It's not so much the tale, but the way it's told that makes this show. It's a goodie from the King Brothers and Mono- gram. CAST: Victor Jory, Pamela Blake, Harry Hayden, Emory Parnell, Nora Cecil, Lee "Lasses" White, Paul Fix, Ray Walker, Ed- win Mills, Veda Ann Borg. CREDITS: Producer, Maurice King; As- sociate Producer, Franklin King; Director, Kurt Neumann; Author, Maurice Franklin; Screenplay, Philip Yordan; Cameraman, Jackson Rose; Editor, Martin G. Cohen; Art Directors, Neil McGuire and Dave Milton; Production Manager, George Moskov; Sound, Glen Glenn; Music by Dimitri Tiom- kin; Musical supervision, David Chudnow DIRECTION, Brilliant. PHOTOGRA- PRY, Excellent. 950 Calif. Theaters Co-op. On "Bed for Buddy" Drive West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Holly wood— Nine hundred and fifty California theaters have pledged their support to the Sept. 1 "Bed for a Buddy" campaign, it was an- nounced by Charles P. Skouras, chairman of the Servicemen's Over- night Housing Fund. While the goal for Southern California has been set at $200,000, with a $150,000 total sought in the North, drive * SHORTS * "Mardi Gras" (Musical Parade) Paramount 20 mins. Swell Entertainment Paramount has struck a high note with this miniature musical, which has so much to offer that it will take the play away from many a feature. The short, tops in every department, is a big leaguer that will create plenty of talk wherever it is shown. Dressed in superb Technicolor, the film has production values worthy of a feature. It has, furthermore, a charming and human little story about two nobodies who get a chance to play at being somebodies during the mad whirl of the New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities, finding love in the process. Cast as the romantic pair are Betty Rhodes and Johnnie Johnston, both of whom are good. They sing two engaging numbers, "All the Way" and "At the Mardi Gras." Among the other performers is Bert Roach. Walter MacEwen produced this bit of make-believe lavishly. George Barnes did a swell camera job. 10 Mins. "Popular Science (J2-6) Paramount First-Rate Here is a first-class booking. The interest in this short centers pri- marily in an Illinois crime detection laboratory that travels on wheels. There is a realistic demonstration of how the lab. operates. A Bev- erly Hills (Calif, school gymnasium that can be converted into a swim- ming pool will open the audience's eyes. Other sequence have to do with the making of Rio de Janeiro's intricate mosaic sidewalks and the building of landing barges and tor- pedo boats in a New Orleans plant. "Any Chickens Today?" Universal 9 Mins. Good Plenty of interest attaches to this short. All the three subjects which make up the reel have to do with fowl. The opening clip introduces the audience to a rooster that relishes beer. The second item concerns a "hen hotel" in Miami. A modern hatchery where 16,000,000 chicks see the light annually winds up the footage. "Sing, Helen, Sing" Paramount n Mins Fair Helen O'Connell does her stuff to the satisfaction of her admirers in this musical short. Those who don't go in for her type of crooning won't A be unduly impressed. The gal give out with three tunes — "Murder, H Says," "He Didn't Ask Me" and " Have Faith." The film has bee produced in a manner that will ar peal especially to service men. 20th-Fox "Super Mouse Rides Again" <" (Terrytoon) ( 7 irA* Fair Again Supermouse comes to |h rescue of a colony of mice being b< devilled by cats. The mice live i mortal terror until our rodent hei projects himself upon the scene ar routs the villains. The kids will fir the cartoon entertaining, althoug it is no better than fair. The sho: is in Technicolor. "Who's Next?" Universal 9 Min Swell This short about barbering shou work the customers into a lathe It's a nifty number that is bol entertaining and instructive. Tr short is a thumb-nail review of tl barber's trade. Immensely inte e sting is a display of barberir paraphernalia collected by De Zer ler of Rockefeller Center, Ne York. Set this one down as an sorbing booking. "Coast of Strategy" (Magic Carpet of Movietone) 20th-Fox 9 min First-Rate Lowell Thomas comes through wi another excellent subject. CeyL claims his attention this time. Seen of life on that strategic island ha been well selected. The short a tempts to show what there is abo Ceylon that causes the Japs to tu covetous eyes to it. The Technicol treatment brings out all the warm of the lush vegetation of that tropic island. : I "Yukon Outpost" Universal 9 M Okay Here is the story of Alaska terms of present-day developmen The footage makes clear the i portance of Alaska in our bat against the Axis. It reviews intt estingly the resources available us in our northern outpost. T film has been nicely photographs Because of the new interest whi the war has created in Alaska tl short should make a good booking "Dog Sense" (Sports Review) 20th-Fox 9 miH Good This short on what makes a triever deserves a. high rating. He a hunting dog is taught to do his is shown in this short in an extren ly interesting manner. A large ; ray of dogs was used in making subject, which has excellent came work. The short is a natural dog lovers. 15 sdnesday, September, 1, 1943 m DAILY 11 |ban Theater Biz eking Up-White (Continued from Page 1) | is concerned," said White, who 3 holds the title of president of c Films de Cuba. Vhite asserted that, while the re- l^v imposed war emergency tax 1— jckets is holding the first-run I pes in Havana to about the same el a^s those in the past, the "takes" the ^ubsequents are up consider- '"•According to White, theaters in ba have not been noticeably af- ted by the war, chiefly because jjfli rationing there has not been so 'tstic as that in the States. He •d that the industry had been '•etty fortunate" in Cuba because nsportation facilities for film )duct, while not what they could were much better than those dlable to the South American rket. fVar films are not going over well Cuba, said White, explaining that o|o! patrons there prefer speectacles [Jbve anything else. White reported that the improve- ment in product turned out by stu- oiis in Mexico and Argentina had re- sred interest in his territory in >>lns made in those countries. HCLLyWCCD DIGEST ASSIGNMENTS GEORGE MARSHALL, director, "Incendiary Blonde." CASTINGS RICHARD HALE, RICHARD CRANE, TREVOR BARDETTE, "After the Night," Columbia; GORDON OLIVER, "Since You Went Away," Selznick; PHILLIP TERRY, 'When Ladies Fly," Wanger; BILLY BENEDICT, WARREN ASHE, "Cover Girl," Columbia; WILLIAM EYTHE, "The Eve of St. Mark," 20fh-Fox; WARD BOND, "Home in Indiana,' 20th-Fox; SHELLEY WINTER, "Ten Percent Woman," Columbia. MARSHA HUNT, "Lebensraum," Columbia. SCHEDULED "The Merry Monohans," by MICHAEL FESSIER and ERNEST iPAGANO, for Donald O'Con- nor; Universal. 'Son of Flicka," sequel to "My Friend Flicka," for RODDY McDOWALL, 20th-Fox. 'Belle of the Bowery," Technicolor or musical, | Harry Sherman. I "Andrew Stone's Sensations of 1944," all-star musical revue, Andrew Stone Prod. LOANED JOAN FONTAINE, by Selznick to Metro for "Forever.' TITLE SWITCHES "Cowboy Canteen," formerly "Barnyard Can- teen,' Columbia. "No Bars — No Music," formerly "Music Without Bars," PRC. "International Zone," formerly "The Fanatic of Fez,' RKO. NEW TERMERS BETTY HUTTON, Paramount. RAY MILLAND, Paramount. DOUGLAS DUM'BRILLE, Harry Sherman. ETHEL SMITH, Metro. RICK VALLIN, Monogram. CERRE YOUNG, PRC. POSTPONED "Army Wife." 20th-Fcx. lief of Chaplains Speaks t Metro Plaque Ceremony fomaha— Col. Charles 0. Purdy, ief of chaplains for the Seventh rvice command, was the principal 'saker at a ceremony at the M-G-M 'inch office here, honoring its 12 "rmer employes now in the armed "vices. ['Mothers and wives of the service l%n also attended, receiving bou- [cets from Office Manager Hazel 'lderson. Branch Manager John *!mptgen unveiled a plaque with s names of the 12 on it and re- rwed their records in the service. •Mowing the ceremony, all attended "private screening of "Lassie Come )me." Service men honored: Lt. Walter J. Guy, flrht command, Lancaster, Cat.; Lt. William • Ruthhart, Aberdeen, Md.; Lt. J. L. Mar- 3, Camp Fannin, Tex.; Sgt. Milton Mala- ock, Columbia, S. C. air base; Sgt. Norman ;ve. Camp McCabe, Miss.; Seaman 'Howard irk, Memphis, Tenn.; Leo Ickman, Fort onard Wood, Mo.: Jac Crawford, provost irshal's department; H. A. Chase, L. T. nung\ C. E. Chace and Joseph Slatterv. Fatal Memphis Explosion Brings Murder Indictment (Continued from Page 1) operator of the suburban Peabody Theater, following its investigation into the explosion and fire on Aug. 17 which fatally injured Elroy R. Curry, Peabody's maintenance man. Eaton was ai rested on the same charge on Aug. 23 and released on heavy bail pending action of the grand jurors. Explosion, it is claimed, resulted from the use of a substitute for freon in the theater's cooling plant. Change was made, it is claimed, de- spite a warning that it was hazar- dous. First "Hi Diddle Diddle" Biz Tops Normal 10-36% sopen Indianapolis Fox Indianapolis — The Fox, closed for e Summer, will reopen Sept. 3. "Mr. Luchy" Stays 7th at Music Hall Radio City Music Hall is holding RKO's "Mr. Lucky" for a seventh week, starting tomorrow. Only two other pix have stayed longer, "Ran- dom Harvest" going 11 and "Mrs. Miniver," 10. Juvenile Panhandlers N. J. Delinquency Problem Montclair, N. J. — Panhandling for pennies to attend movies by children between the ages of eight and 14, is seen by the police and theater man- agers of this city, as another juve- nile delinquency problem which must be "nipped in the bud" before it gets out of hand. Theater operators, promising their wholehearted co-operation, have in- structed their managers, assistants and other personnel to keep a watch- ful eye for and under no circum- stances to admit children under 14 unless they are accompanied by elders. In this regard, however, the- ater men point out, the public can help solve the problem first, by re- fusing to be panhandled and second, by refusing to play "Brother Bill" or 'Aunt Sue" for the kids to gain them admission. No less serious throughout Essex County, theater managers in down- town Newark, have joined in the drive to break up the juvenile racket. "Army's" Chi. Debut Sept. 23 Chicago — Local debut of Warners' "This is the Army" has been set for B & K's Chicago Theater on Sept. 23. An elaborate promotional cam- paign is being prepared. "Hi Diddle Diddle," UA's initial Andrew Stone release, is running from 10 to 36 per cent ahead of nor- mal business in its first group of key city engagements, reports to the UA home office revealed. Following its world premiere up- state in Utica, "Hi Diddle Diddle" completed its first week in the fol- lowing keys by topping normal re- ceipts in each engagement: At- lanta, Dayton, Akron, Richmond, Syracuse, Toledo. In its first four days in Provi- dence, Canton, Indianapolis, Louis- ville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Wilmington, Baltimore and Norfolk "Hi Diddle Diddle" scored from 10 to 36 per cent above normal re- ceipts. Nab Gang Which Looted 11 Nabes in Columbus Columbus, O. — The arrest of a gang of juvenile hoodlums has cleared up a gang of "theater thieves" which broke into 11 Colum- bus neighborhood theaters and also burglarized some 24 other business places in Columbus and Franklin County during the last six weeks. Set Five More Premieres On "For Whom Bell Tolls" Five additional advanced price ex- tended engagements of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" were announced yes- terday by Charles Reagan, Para- mount's assistant general sales man- ager. Deals have been set for Keith's, Baltimore, Sept. 29 or Oct. 6; Circle Theater, Indianapolis, Oct. 1; Rialto, Louisville, Oct. 7 or 14; the Capitol, Cincinnati, Oct. 7 or 14, and the Co- lonial, Dayton, Oct. 14. The Northern California premiere will be held at the Alcazar, San Francisco, today. TO THE COLORS! * ARMY * CARL THOMAS, Capitol, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. LEONARD SHEA, salesman, Republic, Memphis, Tenn. * NAVY * CARL FISHMAN, publicist, Metro home office. ROBERT BEAUBIEN, formerly B & K Northtown Theater, Chicago, to yeoman school, New- port, R. I. Hollywood Digest NORMAN FREEMAN, assistant to the president, RKO. LOU ABRAMSON, secretary to Jack Kirsch, Il- linois Allied prexy. CEORCE SCHROEDER, Penn, Wilkes-Barre. JOHN CONNORS, Penn, Wilkes-Barre. * WAVES * MARGUERITE SHANNON, Eastman Kodak. Rochester, N. Y. * SEEBEES * O. C. MINOR, manager, State, Bradenton, Fla. * MARINES AUXILIARY * JULIA HITTNER, 20th-Fox exchange, Omaha, Neb. Appeals Court to Hear Youngstown Lease Suit Youngstown, O. — Visiting Court of Appeals will hear the case involving lease rights to the Palace Theater, Youngstown, as soon after Sept. 15 as possible, after sustaining a mo- tion filed by the New York Life In- surance Co. for an early hearing. Suit was brought by the Dallmer Co. to determine whether it or the Public Square Theater Co. should have the rights to operate the theater after Aug. 1, 1943. Dallmer obtained a lease from the Palace Realty Co., owner of the building, while the New York Life, as mortgagee-in-possession, had made arrangements to renew the lease with Public Square Theater Co. Judge Erskine Maiden, Jr., decided in lower court that the Dallmer Co. was entitled to the lease. Appeals bond was set at $50,000. Chaplin to Show Cause New York Supreme Court Justice Sidney Bernstein yesterday signed an order directing Charles Chaplin to show cause on Sept. 10 why an order vacating service of process as to David O. Selznick Productions, Inc., and Vanguard Films, Inc., should not be dismissed. This was the latest development in the million-dollar suit brought against Selznick and Vanguard by Chaplin. Driving Ban Lifted, Drive-in to Re-open Rochester — Twelve hours after the lifting of the pleasure driving ban had been reported here, Gradon Hodges had an advertisement in the local papers announcing the re- opening of the drive-in for tomor- row night. Drive-in has been closed since the ban went into effect, but Hodges has kept it in readiness for immediate re-opening. 10 DAILY Wednesday, September, 1, 194 * * R6VICUJS OF THE Mill FILfllS 3r & "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad" Artkino-Paramount 58 Mins. SOVIET WAR DOCUMENTARY RATES SECOND TO NONE; SUPERB FILM REC- ORD OF STALINGRAD STRUGGLE. "The City That Stopped Hitler — Heroic Stalingrad" is absolute tops in its line. This, the film record of the crucial strug- gle for the Soviet stronghold on the Volga, takes second place to no documentary that has come out of this war. Certainly no picture has been able to convey so force- fully and so vividly the destructiveness of war. It is a terrifying demonstration of modern warfare that spares no realistic detail. Hence exhibitors must look to the men for their patronage wherever this film is played. The footage is made of sterner stuff than the average woman can bear. The film, an unparalleled tribute to the fighting heart of Soviet Russia, covers every phase of the five-month battle for Stalin- grad. Some idea of the material that has gone into the picture may be had from the fact that eight cameramen and five soldiers detailed to work with camera crews were killed in shooting the footage. There are shots in the picture such as have never been seen before. They contribute in mak- ing the film a taut and gripping offering that shoves you to the edge of your seat and keeps you there. The final assault that sealed the fate of the German army of Field Marshal Gen. Friedrich von Paulus is the high point of the film. This sequence is given added weight by the fact that it shows in action for the first time a devastating Soviet rocket gun, which the Red army has af- fectionately nicknamed "Katusha." An- other high point of the film is scenes of the actual capture of von Paulus with a large group of his generals. The picture, compiled by the Central Newsreel Studios in the USSR, has been superbly edited by Leonid Varlamov for Artkino Pictures. Included in the footage is material from Nazi newsreels captured by the Russians. The picture has been supplied with excellent background music taken from the famous Seventh Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich. Accompanying the action is a first-rate commentary written by John Wexley and spoken by Brian Donlevy. The film is marked by a smoothness never noted before in a Soviet documen- tary. Some of the credit for this goes to Richard Blumenthal, Paramount producer who was in charge of the assembling of the production. Polio Cases in Chicago At a New High of 471 Chicago — A new polio high was reached here yesterday with 471 cases reported in Chicago and Cook County, with deaths reaching 46. Among the fatalities was Jacqueline Frances Eckhart, the five-year-old daughter of the chief booker at the 20th Century-Fox exchange here. "The Unknown Guest" with Victor Jory and Pamela Blake Monogram 65 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) ACE SUSPENSE MELODRAMA CLEV- ERLY ADAPTED TO REQUIREMENTS OF CAMERA WILL HAVE 'EM ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS. This rates with the best suspense movies this town has turned out. It's a film that will have even your most stolid customer sitting on the edge of his seat and biting his nails. The King Brothers, producers, must be commended for giving the movie lots of production. The actors, Victor Jory and Pamela Blake and their supporting cast must be commended for turning in grand per- formances, and megger Kurt Neumann should get some kind of an award for doing an outstanding job. Neumann has also brought a new star forth, for Miss Blake's performance is of such calibre that she will undoubtedly become one of our most sought after young leading women. The story is cleverly adapted to the re- quirements of the camera. A young man, Victor Jory, runs away from a saloon in Chicago after seeming to be involved in a killing. He goes West to the hunting lodge of an aunt and uncle, a pair of stingy misers who begrudge him a bite of food on his first night there. The next morning we find him in possession of the place and the relatives gone. Pamela Blake continues to work for him, and gradually falls in love with him, despite the fact that she is con- vinced that he has murdered his aunt and uncle. The suspense built up as the girl seems to catch him in all sorts of wrong deeds, and the townspeople and the sheriff begin to suspect him of murder, is terrific. Then comes the denouement which is a shock — and a happy ending. It's not so much the tale, but the way it's told that makes this show. It's a goodie from the King Brothers and Mono- gram. CAST: Victor Jory, Pamela Blake, Harry Hayden, Emory Parnell, Nora Cecil, Lee "Lasses" White, Paul Fix, Ray Walker, Ed- win Mills, Veda Ann Borg. CREDITS: Producer, Maurice King; As- sociate Producer, Franklin King; Director, Kurt Neumann; Author, Maurice Franklin; Screenplay, Philip Yordan; Cameraman, Jackson Rose; Editor, Martin G. Cohen; Art Directors, Neil McGuire and Dave Milton; Production Manager, George Moskov; Sound, Glen Glenn; Music by Dimitri Tiom- kin; Musical supervision, David Chudnow. DIRECTION, Brilliant. PHOTOGRA- PRY, Excellent. 950 Calif. Theaters Co-op. On "Bed for Buddy" Drive IV est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Nine hundred and fifty California theaters have pledged their support to the Sept. 1 "Bed for a Buddy" campaign, it was an- nounced by Charles P. Skouras, chairman of the Servicemen's Over- night Housing Fund. While the goal for Southern California has been set at $200,000, with a $150,000 total sought in the North, drive * SHORTS * "Mardi Gras" (Musical Parade) Paramount 20 mins. Swell Entertainment Paramount has struck a high note with this miniature musical, which has so much to offer that it will take the play away from many a feature. The short, tops in every department, is a big leaguer that will create plenty of talk wherever it is shown. Dressed in superb Technicolor, the film has production values worthy of a feature. It has, furthermore, a charming and human little story about two nobodies who get a chance to play at being somebodies during the mad whirl of the New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities, finding love in the process. Cast as the romantic pair are Betty Rhodes and Johnnie Johnston, both of whom are good. They sing two engaging numbers, "All the Way" and "At the Mardi Gras." Among the other performers is Bert Roach. Walter MacEwen produced this bit of make-believe lavishly. George Barnes did a swell camera job. "Popular Science (J2-6) Paramount 10 Mins. First-Rate Here is a first-class booking. The interest in this short centers pri- marily in an Illinois crime detection laboratory that travels on wheels. There is a realistic demonstration of how the lab. operates. A Bev- erly Hills (Calif, school gymnasium that can be converted into a swim- ming pool will open the audience's eyes. Other sequence have to do with the making of Rio de Janeiro's intricate mosaic sidewalks and the building of landing barges and tor- pedo boats in a New Orleans plant. "Any Chickens Today?" Universal 9 Mins. Good Plenty of interest attaches to this short. All the three subjects which make up the reel have to do with fowl. The opening clip introduces the audience to a rooster that relishes beer. The second item concerns a "hen hotel" in Miami. A modern hatchery where 16,000,000 chicks see the light annually winds up the footage. "Sing, Helen, Sing" Paramount 11 Mins. Fair Helen O'Connell does her stuff to the satisfaction of her admirers in this musical short. Those who don't go in for her type of crooning won't be unduly impressed. The gal give out with three tunes — "Murder, H Says," "He Didn't Ask Me" and " Have Faith." The film has bee produced in a manner that will ap peal especially to service men. ; ""1 7 m" "Super Mouse Rides Again" (Terrytoon) 20th-Fox Fair Again Supermouse comes to th rescue of a colony of mice being be devilled by cats. The mice live i: mortal terror until our rodent her projects himself upon the scene an routs the villains. The kids will fin the cartoon entertaining, althoug it is no better than fair. The shor is in Technicolor. "Who's Next?" Universal 9 Min? Swell This short about barbering shoul work the customers into a lathei It's a nifty number that is bot entertaining and instructive. Th short is a thumb-nail review of th barber's trade. Immensely inter esting is a display of barberin paraphernalia collected by De Zero ler of Rockefeller Center, Ne\ York. Set this one down as an ab sorbing booking. "Coast of Strategy" (Magic Carpet of Movietone) 20th-Fox 9 mins First-Rate Lowell Thomas comes through wit another excellent subject. Ceylo; claims his attention this time. Scene of life on that strategic island hav been well selected. The short at tempts to show what there is abou Ceylon that causes the Japs to tun covetous eyes to it. The Technicolo treatment brings out all the warmt of the lush vegetation of that tropica island. c "Yukon Outpost" Universal 9 Mini Okay Here is the story of Alaska i terms of present-day developments The footage makes clear the im portance of Alaska in our battl against the Axis. It reviews inter estingly the resources available t us in our northern outpost. Th fiim has been nicely photographer Because of the new interest whicl the war has created in Alaska thi| short should make a good booking "Dog Sense" (Sports Review) 20th-Fox 9 mins Good This short on what makes a re triever deserves a high rating. Ho'v a hunting dog is taught to do his jo is shown in this short in an extreme ly interesting manner. A large ar ray of dogs was used in making th subject, which has excellent earner work. The short is a natural fo dog lovers. 'ednesday, September, 1, 1943 1HE< * DAILY 11 mban Theater Bii icking Up-While (Continued from Page 1) iiss is concerned," said White, who ,so holds the title of president of >x Films de Cuba. White asserted that, while the re- rey imposed war emergency tax —rkets is holding the first-run pes in Havana to about the same vel a" those in the past, the "takes" the .ubsequents are up consider- ;»ly. According to White, theaters in aba have not been noticeably af- cted by the war, chiefly because 'is rationing there has not been so !,astic as that in the States. He »dd that the industry had been )retty fortunate" in Cuba because ansportation facilities for film 'oduct, while not what they could ;, were much better than those mailable to the South American arket. War films are not going over well Cuba, said White, explaining that le patrons there prefer speectacles )ove anything else. White reported that the improve- ent in product turned out by stu- os in Mexico and Argentina had re- ved interest in his territory in ms made in those countries. HOLLYWOOD CIC EST GEORGE Blonde ASSIGNMENTS MARSHALL, director, "Incendiary CASTINGS RICHARD HALE, RICHARD CRANE, TREVOR BARDETTE, "After the Night," Columbia; CORDON OLIVER, "Since You Went Away," Selznick; PHILLIP TERRY, 'When Ladies Fly," Wanger; BILLY BENEDICT, WARREN ASHE, "Cover Girl," Columbia; WILLIAM EYTHE, "The Eve of St. Mark," 20th-Fox; WARD BOND, "Home in Indiana,' 20th-fox; SHELLEY WINTER, "Ten Percent Woman," Columbia. MARSHA HUNT, "Lebensraum," Columbia. SCHEDULED 'The Merry Monohans," by MICHAEL FESSIER and ERNEST iPAGANO, for Donald O'Con- nor; Universal. 'Son of Flicka," sequel to "My Friend Flicka," for RODDY McDOWALL, 20th-Fox. 'Belle of the Bowery," Technicolor or musical, Harry Sherman. "Andrew Stone's Sensations of 1944," all-star musical revue, Andrew Stone Prod. LOA*NED JOAN FONTAINE, by Selznick to Metro for "Forever.' TITLE SWITCHES "Cowboy Canteen," formerly "Barnyard Can- teen,' Columbia. "No Bars — No Music," formerly "Music Without Bars," PRC. "International Zone," formerly "The Fanatic of Fez,' RKO. NEW TERMERS BETTY HUTTON, Paramount. RAY MILLAND, Paramount. DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE, Harry Sherman. ETHEL SMITH, Metro. RICK VALLIN, Monogram. CERRE YOUNG, PRC. TO THE COLORS! POSTPONED 'Army Wife." 20th-Fcx. hief of Chaplains Speaks t Metro Plaque Ceremony Omaha — Col. Charles 0. Purdy, ief of chaplains for the Seventh srvice command, was the principal eaker at a ceremony at the M-G-M anch office here, honoring its 12 rmer employes now in the armed rvices. Mothers and wives of the service sn also attended, receiving bou- iets from Office Manager Hazel iderson. Branch Manager John miptgen unveiled a plaque with e names of the 12 on it and re- jwed their records in the service. Mowing the ceremony, all attended private screening of "Lassie Come )me." Service men honored: Lt. Walter J. Guy, ,'ht command, Lancaster, Cal.: Lt. William Ruthhart, Aberdeen, Md.; Lt. J. L. Mar- i. Camp Fannin, Tex.; Sg-t. Milton Mala- >ck, Columbia, S. C. air base; Sg-t. Norman ve. Camp McCabe, Miss.; Seaman 'Howard irk, Memphis, Tenn.; Leo Iekman, Fort mard Wood, Mo.; Jac Crawford, provost rshal's department: H. A. Chase. L. T. nung-. C. E. Chace and Joseph Slattery. Fatal Memphis Explosion Brings Murder Indictment (Continued from Page 1) operator of the suburban Peabody Theater, following its investigation into the explosion and fire on Aug. 17 which fatally injured Elroy R. Curry, Peabody's maintenance man. Eaton was ai rested on the same charge on Aug. 23 and released on heavy bail pending action of the grand jurors. Explosion, it is claimed, resulted from the use of a substitute for freon in the theater's cooling plant. Change was made, it is claimed, de- spite a warning that it was hazar- dous. (open Indianapolis Fox Indianapolis — The Fox, closed for i Summer, will reopen Sept. 3. "Mr. Lucky" Stays 7th at Music Hall Radio City Music Hall is holding RKO's "Mr. Lucky" for a seventh week, starting tomorrow. Only two other pix have stayed longer, "Ran- dom Harvest" going 11 and "Mrs. Miniver," 10. Juvenile Panhandlers N. J. Delinquency Problem Montclair, N. J. — Panhandling for pennies to attend movies by children between the ages of eight and 14, is seen by the police and theater man- agers of this city, as another juve- nile delinquency problem which must be "nipped in the bud" before it gets out of hand. Theater operators, promising their wholehearted co-operation, have in- structed their managers, assistants and other personnel to keep a watch- ful eye for and under no circum- stances to admit children under 14 unless they are accompanied by elders. In this regard, however, the- ater men point out, the public can help solve the problem first, by re- fusing to be panhandled and second, by refusing to play "Brother Bill" or 'Aunt Sue" for the kids to gain them admission. No less serious throughout Essex County, theater managers in down- town Newark, have joined in the drive to break up the juvenile racket. First "Hi Diddle Diddle" Biz Tops Normal 10-36% "Hi Diddle Diddle," UA's initial Andrew Stone release, is running from 10 to 36 per cent ahead of nor- mal business in its first group of key city engagements, reports to the UA home office revealed. Following its world premiere up- state in Utica, "Hi Diddle Diddle" completed its first week in the fol- lowing keys by topping normal re- ceipts in each engagement: At- lanta, Dayton, Akron, Richmond, Syracuse, Toledo. In its first four days in Provi- dence, Canton, Indianapolis, Louis- ville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Wilmington, Baltimore and Norfolk 'Hi Diddle Diddle" scored from 10 to 36 per cent above normal re- ceipts. Nab Gang Which Looted 11 Nabes in Columbus Columbus, O. — The arrest of a gang of juvenile hoodlums has cleared up a gang of "theater thieves" which broke into 11 Colum- bus neighborhood theaters and also burglarized some 24 other business places in Columbus and Franklin County during the last six weeks. Set Five More Premieres On "For Whom Bell Tolls" "Army's" Chi. Debut Sept. 23 Chicago — Local debut of Warners' "This is the Army" has been set for B & K's Chicago Theater on Sept. 23. An elaborate promotional cam- paign is being prepared. Five additional advanced price ex- tended engagements of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" were announced yes- terday by Charles Reagan, Para- mount's assistant general sales man- ager. Deals have been set for Keith's, Baltimore, Sept. 29 or Oct. 6; Circle Theater, Indianapolis, Oct. 1; Rialto, Louisville, Oct. 7 or 14; the Capitol, Cincinnati, Oct. 7 or 14, and the Co- lonial, Dayton, Oct. 14. The Northern California premiere will be held at the Alcazar, San Francisco, today. * ARMY * CARL THOMAS, Capitol, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. LEONARD SHEA, salesman, Republic, Memphis, Tenn. * NAVY* CARL FISHMAN, publicist, Metro home office. ROBERT BEAUBIEN, formerly B & K Northtown Theater, Chicago, to yeoman school, New- port, R. I. Hollywood Digest NORMAN FREEMAN, assistant to the president, RKO. LOU ABRAMSON, secretary to Jack Kirsch, li- linois Allied prexy. GEORGE SCHROEDER, Penn, Wilkes-Barre. JOHN CONNORS, Penn, Wilkes-Barre. * WAVES * MARCUERITE SHANNON, Eastman Kodak. Rochester, N. Y. * SEEBEES * O. C. MINOR, manager. State, Bradenton, Fla. * MARINES AUXILIARY * JULIA HITTNER, 20th-Fox exchange, Omaha, Neb. Appeals Court to Hear Youngstown Lease Suit Youngstown, O. — Visiting Court of Appeals will hear the case involving lease rights to the Palace Theater, Youngstown, as soon after Sept. 15 as possible, after sustaining a mo- tion filed by the New York Life In- surance Co. for an early hearing. Suit was brought by the Dallmer Co. to determine whether it or the Public Square Theater Co. should have the rights to operate the theater after Aug. 1, 1943. Dallmer obtained a lease from the Palace Realty Co., owner of the building, while the New York Life, as mortgagee-in-possession, had made arrangements to renew the lease with Public Square Theater Co. Judge Erskine Maiden, Jr., decided in lower court that the Dallmer Co. was entitled to the lease. Appeals bond was set at $50,000. Chaplin to Show Cause New York Supreme Court Justice Sidney Bernstein yesterday signed an order directing Charles Chaplin to show cause on Sept. 10 why an order vacating service of process as to David O. Selznick Productions, Inc., and Vanguard Films, Inc., should not be dismissed. This was the latest development in the million-dollar suit brought against Selznick and Vanguard by Chaplin. Driving Ban Lifted, Drive-in to Re-open Rochester — Twelve hours after the lifting of the pleasure driving ban had been reported here, Gradon Hodges had an advertisement in the local papers announcing the re- opening of the drive-in for tomor- row night. Drive-in has been closed since the ban went into effect, but Hodges has kept it in readiness for immediate re-opening. M P P |3 A INC ^^ t ij W """"" _»« 1235 \ — - | W%0^- .WU^ "BACK THE ATTACK! BUY WAR BONDS! THIRD WAR LOAN.' Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought FV-t COPY The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -1FDAILY JOL. 84, NO. 46 NEW YORK. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1943 TEN CENTS FDR 0NFHM STARSMtf AR BOND AIR SHOW Pictures in Spanish Edging U.S. Aside in Cuba Mexican Product Getting Playing Time in Havana Runs as Popularity Gains By MARY LOUISE BLANCO FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Havana (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — iSpanish language films, especially those from Mexico, are making increasing popularity gains in Cuba, and are now getting play- ing time in Havana runs to the ex- clusion of U. S. made pictures. Out-of-city houses have always played Mexican films as their pat- rons are unfamiliar with U. S. cus- (Continued on Page 6) P. R. Exhibs. lo Press Percentage Rale Cut San Juan, P. R. (By Air Mail- Passed by Censor) — A reduction of 40 per cent in percentage rates for film rentals on first-run product will be sought by Puerto Rican exhibi- tors, it is believed in well-informed quarters here. The exhibitors will make no move to place their de- mands for a percentage cut before {Continued on Page 6) Foreign Groups Attend Pix Houses Twice Weekly Film fans included among the readers of foreign language news- papers published in 32 languages across the U. S. attend theaters twice a week, in groups averaging three {Continued on Page 7) Ail Sept. Sales to Third War Loan Total All War Bond sales for the month of September will be credited to the Third War Loan, the WAC was advised yesterday by the Treasury's WFC. This means that even though the industry is preparing to go on Sept. 9, the official starting date, all sales from Sept. 1 on will be allocated to the $15,000,000,000 sought in the Third War Loan. ^ 10,000 Exhibitor Pledges to Participate In Third War Loan Campaign Already Filed Record participation on the part of the nation's exhibs. in the Third War Loan campaign which gets under way next week was indicated yesterday when the WAC headquarters here reported more than 10,000 pledges from indie and circuit operators already signed and filed. However, with some 16,000-odd houses pledged to permanent WAC pro- jects, it was pointed out that many more participants would be needed in order to support the gargantuan effort necessary to put the industry's portion of the $15,000,000,000 campaign over the top. "Give Our Boys The Edge— Sign The Third War Loan Pledge!" British Gov't Sees Pix as Trade Lure London (By Air Mail) — Borrow- ing a leaf from the book of U. S. film biz, which, through the medium of Hollywood product has blazed trade trails for American commerce in distant climes, the British Gov- ernment is preparing in the post- war period to pay special attention to film exports from the "trade- fcllows-the-film" angle. Addressing the British Film Pro- (Continued on Page 7) Schroon Lake Exhib. Files 3,000-Word D of I Squawk Schroon Lake, N. Y. — Charles Rossi, owner and manager of the Paramount Theater here, has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, via a 3,000-word telegram, charging RKO with unfair practices. Rossi claims that RKO furnishes (Continued on Page 6) Commercial Handling For Army Pictures! Washington Bureau of THE FIMM \DAILY Washington — Film men making war pictures for the United States Army are hopeful that they will be able to make suitable arrangements for the commercial distribution of Army films. To date, there have been frequent expressions of discon- tent that the British have been more successful in distributing their films through the commercial companies (Continued on Page 3) J. J. Theaters Withdraws Bronx Clearance Case J. J. Theaters, Inc., which had filed a clearance complaint charging unfair clearance granted to Loew's Victory Theater in the Bronx over the Casino Theater, has withdrawn the case without prejudice. RKO, (Continued on Page 7) War Plants Draining Ushers WMC Controlled Referral Hiring Plan, Factor Gracie Fields' Song May Ban "Canteen" in England While United Artists home office had not been informed officially, cabled reports to American newspa- pers said yesterday that "Stage Door Canteen" might be banned in (Continued on Page 3) Buffalo — Theaters in war produc- tion centers throughout the nation are threatened with loss of virtually their last source of male ushers, if Buffalo's experience is general — and an announcement here indicated it will be. Contributing to the situation are the controlled referral hiring plan and a plan of using high school (Continued on Page 2) Will Speak for 10 Minutes On Hour-Long Broadcast to Open 3rd Loan Campaign Washington Bureau of THE' FJMM 'DAILY Washington — Filfhf industry- history will be Written ;> next Wednesday night "when' Btf'esi- d e n t Roosevelt will join with his Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgen- thau, Jr., and a group of Holly- wood stars to officially launch the Third War Loan drive via a four-network broadcast ex- pected to attract a 70 million- audience. Morgenthau will introduce FDR, but it is not (Continued on Page 7) THE PRESIDENT Reisman Says Mexico Theater Biz Rising While theater business in Mexico City has not increased to the extent it has in the United States, grosses arc up over last year and RKO (Continued on Page 6) Examine H. M. Warner in Hillside Suit Wednesday Examination of Harry M. War- ner, president of Warner Bros. Pic- tures, Inc., will take place Wednes- (Continued on Page 7) Champ. Bond Sellers Slated for Medals New Haven, Conn. — Merit- awards in the form of medals will be given to the champion Third War Loan War Bond salesman in each theater or organization in Connecticut, it is announced by Harry F. Shaw, co- chairman of the WAC state execu- tive committee. Seventeen state theaters already are set for War Bond premieres. mm w Friday, September 3, 1943 DAILY Vol. 84, No. 46 Fri., Sept. 3, 1943 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Publisher General Manager Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, 28, Calif- Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. WASHINGTON— Andrew H. Older, 841 Longfellow St., N.W., Phone Taylor 0882. LONDON — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, Le Film, 29 Rue Mar- soulan (12). HAVANA — Mary Louise Blanco, Virtudes 214. HONOLULU— Eileen O'Brien. BUENOS AIRES— Dr. Walter P. Schuck, Casillo de Correo 1929. MEXICO CITY— Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Apartado 8817, Mex- ico, D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, Sept. 2) NEW YORK STOCK High Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. (2'/2%) 16 Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind 2V4 Con. Fm. Ind. pfd East. Kodak do pfd 173 Cen. Prec. Eq Loew's, Inc 59 Paramount 26% RKO 8i/4 RKO $6 pfd 88i/2 20th Century-Fox . . . 22% 20th Century-Fox pfd. 31 Warner Bros 13% do pfd MARKET Net Low Close Chg. 16 16 + % '2% "vk ••••• 73 173 — % War Plants Seen Draining Ushers (Continued from Page 1) boys over 16 on "Victory shifts" in war plants. Mrs. Anna M. Rosenberg of New York, regional director of the War Manpower Commission, said the con- trolled referral plan for hiring male workers, first put into effect in Buf- falo, will be extended to every crit- ical labor market area in the nation. Operation of the plan in the Buf- falo-Niagara area already had made it impossible to obtain male ushers, except from the ranks of boys going to school who could handle theater jobs in after-school hours. Employ- ment of any male help has required a referral slip from the U. , S. Em- ployment Service. Referrals to the- ater jobs generally have been re- fused, except when a boy could prove he was going to school. But Bell Aircraft Corp., one of the area's largest war producers with plants at both Niagara Falls and Buffalo, now has launched a program to hire high school boys at standard pay rates three days_ a week on an eight-hour shift begin- ning in early evening, provided they can maintain their scholastic stand- ing. Other war plants are expected to follow Bell's example. Public and parochial school authorities of Buf- falo, Niagara Palls, Kenmore, Tona- wanda and North Tonawanda have endorsed the plan. Under the referral plan, the USES gives war plants priority over film houses in hiring. Since war plants offer the boys both glamour jobs and higher pay than theaters, there is practically no chance to get more male ushers. 583/4 59 + % 25% 257/8 — % 8'/R 8i/8 — % 88'/? 88i/2 _ V? 221/, 221/2 + V* 30% 303/4 _ % 131/s 13% — Vs NEW YORK BOND MARKET Par. B'way 3s55 77% 77% 77%— % Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts 2% 2% 2% + % Radio-Keith cvs 1 Vi l3/8 1 1/2 Sonotone Corp 3l/2 3l/2 3l/2 Technicolor 14 13% 14 + 1/2 Trans-Lux Universal Pitcs. vtc. 17% 17% 17% + % N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 79l/2 82 Lt. Arthur Bryant Missing Lowell, Mass. — Reported missing on a bombing mission over Germany is Lit. Arthur R. Bryant, formerly head usher at the M & P Merrimack Square Theater here. We are in the market for Used opera chairs in any quantity. We also can use any quantity of standards only. What have you? CHICAGO USED CHAIR MART 844 South Wabash Ave. Chicago, III. JVo Paper Monday There will be no issue of THE FILM DAILY on Monday, Sept. 6, Labor Day. leane Cohen Appointed Sol Lesser Story Editor PRC Planning Extensive Campaigns on Specials West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — PRC is planning its biggest publicity, promotion and ad- vertising campaign to be focused on the 10 specials planned for the cur- rent season. President O. Henry Briggs and Leon Fromkess, produc- tion chief, are conferring here on the campaign which will cover four in the Producers' Specials group and six in the Victory Specials lineup. It is planned to send exploitation men into the field wherever prac- tical to work with exhibitors on the campaigns. For the first time, PRC is plan- ning to give its two western series national campaigns. William Rippard Dead Farmville, Va. — William H. Rip- pard, 61, former manager of the Eaco and Lee Theaters, died here after an illness of seven months. Rippard was a film salesman in Washington, Pittsburgh and Phila- delphia before coming here in 1930 to manage the Eaco. Surviving are a wife, son and daughter. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Appointment of Jeane Cohen as story editor for his Prin- cipal Artists Productions was an- nounced yesterday by Sol Lesser, United Artists producer. Miss Cohen started her editorial career with David Belasco. She than worked for Paramount and Co- lumbia. She also was associated with Chester Erskine and Edward Black in a Broadway production en- terprise and was at one time busi- ness manager for Paul Whiteman. Recently Miss Cohen was connected with the Irving Salkow Agency. Ampa's Salute Meeting Put Over to Oct 14 Ampa's meeting designed as a Salute to Industry Men and Women in the Armed Forces will be staged on Oct. 14 rather than Sept. 16 to avoid any conflict of interest with the Third War Loan campaign, the directors decided yesterday at a Hotel Edison meeting. The board was advised of prog- ress in relief plans and informed that through the courtesy of Hal Home of 20th-Fox, Ampa members would receive a monthly information bulletin edited by Max Stein and Dave Bader in co-op. with Bill Orn- slein, Ampa publicity rep. Allyn Butterfield to Head Coast Bureau of War Dept. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Allyn Butterfield, former Pathe News head, will be in charge of the Hollywood office to be established by the War Depart- ment to expedite approval of and co-operate on scripts necessitating use of Army terminology, scenes and uniforms. Butterfield will act as representa- tive of the motion picture bureau of public relations of the War De- partment. Whether he will serve as a civilian or an officer has as yet not been disclosed. Lubitsch in Hospital With a Heart Attack West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ernst Lubitsch suf- fered a heart attack and is a pa- tient at the Cedars of Lebanon Hos- pital. He was declared out of dan- ger, but must remain in the hospital for about two weeks for a general physical checkup. Dodd Named BFPA Secretary London (By Air Mail) — H. G. Dodd is the new secretary of the British Film Producers Association. COMIflG and GOiflC TOM CONNORS, vice-president in charge of world-wide distribution of 20th-Fox, and WIL- LIAM C. GEHRINC, Western Sales Manager, have returned to the home office, following a week spent in Toronto, conferring with Sydney Samson. PHIL REISMAN, RKO Radio vice-presideni in charge of foreign distribution, returned We/ nesday following a three-week plane trip { Mexico City. HERBERT CROOKER of M-C-M's home office publicity department returned to New York yesterday after a business trip of several days to Chicago. AL. O. BONDY, film distributor for General Electric, returned to New York yesterday from a swing through New England. MICHAEL TODD has gone to the Coast. He'll be back Tuesday. JOAN DOLAN has left for the Coast to act in the film version of "The Eve of St. Mark," repeating the role she had in the stage produc- tion. VERA ZORINA leaves for Hollywood on Sun- day to appear in a film for Universal. ARTHUR KOBER is headed here from the Coast. "Bell Tolls" Opening in Chicago Breaks Records Chicago — "For Whom the Bell Tolls" had its Chicago opening yes- terday at the State Lake Theater with box-office receipts breaking the house record and doubling the busi- ness of any Paramount picture ever played in the theater, it was re- ported. For the first time in the his- tory of the State Lake crowds be- gan assembling in line at 6:30 o'clock in the morning and so many persons were waiting when the doors opened at 8 o'clock that the house was filled within a few minutes. A line a block long stood waiting to get to the box-office throughout the day. Kalmenson Suggests "A" Theaters Reserve Seats West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — That reserved seats in "A" theaters, slightly higher priced, would be taken advantage of by thousands of patrons to whom time is a grave consideration is the belief of Ben Kalmenson, Warner Bros.' sales chief, who contacted numerous exhibitors in a 75,000-mile tour of the country in the past six months Possible alternate suggestions are earlier openings and later closings, and better timing on spotting of features. Kalmenson left for New York yesterday. Mountain on Odeon Board London (By Air Mail) — Lt. Col. Brian E. S. Mountain has been named a director of Odeon Theaters. Ltd., succeeding the late S. A. Ben nett. = Available at Modest Salary^r^ Both artist and visualizer . . . can produce arresting layouts . . . capable at lettering and finished art . . . wide experience motion picture advertising ... a self- starter, equipped to handle responsibility . . . seeks position with possibilities . . . will go anywhere . . . BOX 168, Film Daily. Friday, September 3, 1943 Commercial Handling For Army Pictures! (Continued from Page 1) than has the United .States Army. The differences between British and American military film produc- e's are, of course, those of friendly /valry such as always exist among The various services. Americans .praise the British pictures and the \ British, in turn, praise those of the United States. However, the Amer- j icans expressed awed indignation i that their opposite numbers in the British Army have been more suc- cessful than themselves in releasing films. It is pointed out that the British Army film, "Desert Victory," was distributed commercially by 20th Century-Fox. Other British films were given similar commercial re- . lease. American Army films, on the other hand, according to one high-placed officer, have been dis- tributed "only after we slugged our way through." The commercial companies have I objected that American films have not been of the right length. It is 'true that several were of four reels, \ which, Army men concede, is in- convenient for distributors. Length f of Army films in process or to be pioduced in the future will be de- termined with greater thought^ to commercial distribution, it is said. {Continued from Page 1) England unless certain cuts were made. Chief objection was said to have been Gracie Fields' singing of the Lord's Prayer which was described by Lord Tyrrell, chief film censor, as being irreverent. Rename Trenton, Fla., House Trenton, Fla. — The name of Liber- ty Theater has been changed to the 1 Capitol. Gracie Fields' Song May Ban "Canteen" in England Sept. 3 Mary Doran Maj. William A. Halpern Sept. 4 Pete Smith Sept. 5 Jack Beutel Doris Kenyon Jerry Safron Cleve Adams Sam Sax Sept. 6 Donald Keith Otto Kruger Dorothy Gulliver Rowland V. Lee Hail. Columbia. T T T —And Lucy Monroe!: If VUIIUMWHI, • • • COLUMBIA unleashed in its home ofiice projection room yesterday- in the presence of Ye Trade Scribes, what is easily one of the top shorts of 1943. — its Community Sing (No. 3-Series 8) featuring Lucy Monroe Therein, accompanied by Leonard Joy and the Victor Re- cording Orchestra, the Star Spangled Banner Girl sings our National Anthem, climaxing her renditions of "The Army Air Corps Song," "Anchors Aweigh," and George M. Cohan's immortal "Over There" It is as stirring a reel as exhibitors can put hands upon, and there will be few who won't when this Community Sing's fame reaches its age of release, which is slated to commence Sept. 24 T T T • • • MISS MONROE, the trade scriveners learned at a luncheon tendered to them at Toots Shor's immediately following the special screening, and whereat^ the famous songbird was present in person, that she has not seen her Community Sing reel as yet The reason ap- parently lies in a sincere timidity ,— because this is the first time she has ever appeared in a film. Her absence from the cinema up to this point is astonishing on several counts First of all, it is a mite incomprehensible that any artiste, in this day and age,— particularly when you consder that at least 10,000,000 have heard her sing in various auditoriums, et al, and that just about the whole nation has heard her on the air on many a great occasion—, could have thus far escaped the eagle eyes, not to mention the ears, of Hollywood talent scouts Secondly, it is almost beyond belief that the said talent sleuths (unless their eyes are those of the owl instead of the eagle) could fail to note the appeal of La Monroe in the matters of histrionic savoir faire, per- sonality, and glamour,— even if she couldn't warble a note Third- ly, her exploitability is very great, and so is her following Maybe Hollywood has been too busy with the war Certainly Miss Monroe has From the time of the American Legion's local convention here in 1937 to date, she has sung "The Star Spangled Banner" some 2,025 times,— and some 5,000 additional times in rehearsals Almost in- variably she has rendered the first and fourth verses of the Anthem — the latter being (as it is F.D.R.'s) her favorite one ▼ T T • • • HER first fling in pictures, — the new Columbia Community Sing — , was the result of the Army Motion Picture Service requesting that the reel be made All the profit therefrom goes to Army Emerg- ency Relief Just 10 days before its release. Miss Monroe is slated to sing, — at dawn on Sept. 14, which is being decreed by State Govern- ors as "Star Spangled Banner Day" — , the Anthem at historic Fort Mc- Henry It was on the dawn of that day in 1814 that Francis Scott Key saw "that our flag was still there" Blanketing the nation, radio stations will carry her broadcast on that morn It will be an in- spiring event, and one which will kindle great fervor for the Third War Loan Campaign, then rounding out its first week under the spearheading aegis of filmland Miss Monroe will rise (and very early) to the occasion She always does At the mammoth "I Am An Amer- ican Day" festivities on Central Park Mall a bit back, she sang to an estimted 750,000 in-the-flesh listeners Perhaps her smallest audience (literally and figuratively) was when she sang for 12 children at Sky Top Lodge in the Poconos Because she specializes in our Anthem's rendition, her versatile vocal repetoire is generally lost sight of, — much as her talents are by Hollywood ▼ T ▼ • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! TO THE COLORS! * COMMISSIONED * DR. MILTON NUSSBAUM, co-owner, Cameo, lieutenant, Army. * ARMY * HARRY COLDSTEIN, assistant to Lou Brandt. STANLEY SLEVEN, assistant, Earle, Philadel- phia. ROBERT GROSSMAN, manager, Avon, Providence, R. I. * NAVY* ROBERT KNIGHT, manager, Star, Westbrook, Me. • * AVIATION CADET * WILLIAM JENNINGS, son of Jack Jennings, Republic salesman, Boston. Providence Playhouse Back to Films Sept. 15 Providence — Playhouse here will go into film lists again Sept. 15 when Associated Theaters reopens it with a policy of week-run show- ings of double-feature films that have established themselves as moneygetters in by-gone seasons. George Cronin, manager of Empire for same circuit, who will also han- dle management at Playhouse, says admission scale will be set at 50- cent top evenings, Wednesdays as opening day for new shows. "Fleet's In" and "Penny Serenade" will be initial bill. CIO Denies Move to Organize Chi. Managers Reports from Chicago that the CIO was attempting to organize theater managers there yesterday found no confirmation at the New York head- quarters of the United Office and Professional Workers of America. A spokesman for the UOPWA, CIO affiliate, said that no group had been chartered by it to organize that city's theater managers. "Watch on the Rhine" Hangs Up Strand Mark A new house record for the New York Strand was claimed by War- ners last night for "Watch on the Rhine," credited with a take of ap- proximately $61,500 for the first week. Pic is playing with Abe Ly- man's ork. Previous best Strand biz was credited to "In This Our Life," also a Bette Davis pic, which in turn had displaced another Davis vehicle, "The Old Maid." Boston Projectionist Killed on Maneuvers Boston — Max Bornstein, former projectionist at the Apollo, Nan- rasket, and before that at the lag- Rialto, Scollay Square, was ESS accidentally killed while on «"""*• maneuvers with the AEF in England, according to word received here. BOB The SKV S iteUMH Scnqs ,WySh-.n,n9Hour » lot In Common Witt." )„e for Wy Boby' tlC i third-run audiences like Mexica: songs and that Mexican films hav progressed a great deal lately. In addition there is a scarcity o suitable U. S. films and the two year controversy between the Amer ican distributors and the Smith ani Valcarce circuits on selling term got a good many Cubans in tb habit of seeing the Mexican product Also, Mexican and Argentine film are sold for less than U. S. product Situation is pointed up by a dea closed by Ernesto P. Smith, witJ Tropical Films for 10 Mexican film; and some Republic product to bi played at his Encanto and Faust< Theaters. Smith heretofore has no played independent or Mexican pic f tures at his first-run houses. Growing strength of the Mexicat releases is indicated by the an nouncement that the Vicente Blanc< Co., which as always distributee Argentine films, is going to handh Mexican product. Ignacio Blanco Cuban manager, is in Mexico mak ing releasing deals with several pro ducers. SHORTS REVIEWS "Mormon Trails" (Magic Carpet of Movietone) 20th -Fox 9 mins Swell Eye-filling Technicolor makes this a superb thumbnail travelogue. The camera captures the magnificence oi the Utah country in an impressive fashion. After a few quick glimpses of Salt Lake City the camera focus ses its attention on the wonders oi nature in which Utah abounds. There are breath-taking scenes shot in Zior National Park and Bryce Canyon The subject was made to order foi \ the color cameras. "Jasper Goes Fishing" (Madcap Models) Paramount 8'/2 mins Excellent George Pal has worked his magic again. For his latest creation hd has reunited Jasper, the Scarecrow and the latter's blackbird with hilar- ious results. Jasper undergoes some hair-raising experiences with a school of irate fish when he plays hookey from Sunday school to go fishing with the Scarecrow and the blackbird. A world of imagination has gone into the short, which is in superb Technicolor. he I m (] Ki ■1 att Gi h St. rith it tii ^ ,1! riday, September 3, 1943 <7fe Roosevelt to Join Stars in Bond Drive Air Show 'resident to Participate a Hour-Long Radio Show ■aunching Third War Loan !:; k : :'I i (Continued from Page 1) nown from what point the Presi- xt will speak. His address, how- /, in which he is expected to call fr a rededication of America to the alinited Nations' war aims and for xjf! laximum sacrifice to hasten an arly decisive victory, will climax fee hour air show. Program's first 5 minutes will originate in Holly- i >'Ood, starting at 9 p.m. EWS. It is expected that several hundred xhibitors across the country will alt their shows to pipe in the un- a! 'recedented program. | Morgenthau devoted his entire ress conference yesterday to dis- cission of the broadcast, emphasiz- I'fhg the role of film biz. From Hollywood, the program ponsored by the Treasury's War 'inance Committee, the Hollywood rictory Committee, and the WAC all present Bing Crosby, Gary Coo- er, Burns and Allen, Dinah Shore, Idgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, "lumphrey Bogart, Robert Young, )on Ameche, Jimmy Durante, iharles Boyer, George Murphy, onald Colman and Akim Tamiroff. [ay Kyser's band will supply the rmsical setting. To Present Dramatic Sketches The stars will present a series of n iramatic sketches, using as the heme the slogan, "Back the Attack." 'hese will recount highlights of the /_ar, from the first numbing shock f Pearl Harbor through the slow bift from peace to war, from strug- ling defense to powerful offense, nth a gayer note provided by the attle songs of the services. Government officials here estimate jglpat approximately 17,500,000 of the ountry's 28,838,000 radio families ■ith a possible listening audiences f more than 70,000,000 persons will e tuned in. Virtually all of the 567 \itlets of the four major networks " s well as most of the 324 indepen- ent stations will carry the show. From Hollywood the program will witch to Washington where James agney, as SAG president, will place fie Hollywood Bond Cavalcade of bars and the trade's full resources t the disposal of Morgenthau. Af- H€LLyW€CD DIGEST SIGNED MARLENE DIETRICH, by Metro for a second pic. CASTINGS DON AMECHE, "Greenwich Village," 20th- Fox; FORTUNIO 'BONANOVA, "Coing My Way," Paramount; JANE FRAZEE, "Cowboy Canteen," Columbia; MARION WOOLEY, "Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels," W. R. Frank; NINA FOCH, ROLAND VARNO, FRIEDA INESCOURT, SHIRLEY COL- LIER, GILBERT EMERY, DONALD DEVAR, OT- TOLA NESMITH, "The Retunr of the Vampire," Columbia; DONALD DICKSON "Up in Arms," Sam Goldwyn; ALINE MacMAHON, "Dragon Seed," Metro. NEW TERMERS ALINE MacMAHON, Metro, STORY PURCHASES "Hot Time in the Old Town," by Jack Mc- Cowan, by Metro for RED SKELTON. ASSIGNMENTS ARTHUR FREED, producer, "Hot Time in the Old Town," Metro. LOANED MARSHA HUNT by Metro to Columbia for "The Day Will Come." SUSAN HAYWARD by Paramount to Republic for "The Fighting Seebees." LENORE AUBERT by Sam Goldwyn to RKO for "The Dangerous Journey." Examine H. M. Warner in Hillside Suit Wednesday Raleigh Ambassador Introduces Newscast Raleigh, N. C. — Three-minute spot news broadcasts originating from Sta- tion WPTF now are featured at the 7 and 9 o'clock shows at the Am- bassador, first theater in Eastern North Carolina to give this service. The broadcasts are rather impres- sive— a huge artist-made mike slow- ly drops from the scenery level onto the darkened stage, and a spotlight plays upon it, illuminating the metal- lic letters "WPTF." (Continued from Page 1) daj; in connection with the Sherman anti-trust action instituted in New York Federal Court by the Hillside Amusement Co. against 14 film com- panies and the MPPDA. The com- plaint alleges that the defendants conspired to commit unlawful acts for their own benefit. The defendant companies include Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th-Pox, National Theaters Corp., Columbia Pictures, United Artists, Universal Pictures Co., Universal Film Ex- change, Inc., Big "U" Film Ex- change, Inc., Universal Corp., Vita- graph, Inc., Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp., Paramount Pic- tures, Loew's, Inc., RKO Radio Pic- tures, Inc. The suit seeks treble damages. No trial date has been set. The exami- nation of Warner will take place at the law offices of Hays, Podell and Schulman. Philly MPA to Resume Philadelphia — MP Associates re- sumes sessions here on Sept. 11 with a meeting in the Paramount pro- jection room. Foreign Groups Attend Pix Houses Twice Weekly ter a brief acknowledgment, the Secretary will introduct the Presi- dent, who is expected to speak for 10 minutes. Stars With the President With the President and the Secre- tary will be members of the "Caval- cade," including Greer Garson, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Olivia de Havilland, Kathryn Gray- son, Harpo Marx, Dick Powell, Betty Hutton and Mickey Rooney, in ad- dition to Cagney. From Washington the film group will proceed with their War Bond shows and demonstrations to Phila- delphia, 9: Boston, 10; New York City. 11; Pittsburgh, 12; Cleveland, IS; Detroit, 14; Cincinnati, 15; Chi- cago, 16; Minneapolis, 17; St. Louis, 18; New Orleans, 20; Dallas, 21; San Antonio, 22; San Francisco, 26; and Los Angeles, 27. (Continued from Page 1) persons, while a majority attend a first-run house once a week, accord- ing to a poll just completed by the N. Y. Foreign Language Film Crit- ics Circle and the American Foreign Language Press. Survey was conducted through the medium of a film questionnaire printed by the foreign language pa- pers for a week. Other results: Approximately 70 per cent stated they followed the reviews as a guide to picture selection. Newsreels and documentaries met with favor. "Air Force," "Casablanca," "Ox- Bow Incident," "Commandos Strike at Dawn" and "Random Harvest" were preferred pix for the first half of the year. Gary Cooper was named favorite male star, followed by Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Ray Milland, Henry Fonda. Ingrid Bergman was voted favor- ite actress, followed by Greer Gar- son, Joan Leslie, Ida Lupino, Kath- arine Hepburn. J. J. Theaters Withdraws Bronx Clearance Case (Continued from Page 1) 2Gth Century-Fox and Warner Bros, were the named defendants. St. Louis Apollo Appeals From Clearance Award Apollo Theater, St. Louis, has appealed from an award that re- duced the 14-day clearance held by the Pageant to seven days. Com- plete elimination of clearance will be sought. The five consenting com- panies were defendants. Joe Diamond Dead Rochester — Joe Diamond, who once traveled throughout the nation as a member of the original six Dixie minstrels and who appeared on the Keith Vaudeville Circuit, died here yesterday. British Gov't Sees Pix as Trade Lure (Continued from Page 1) ducers Association at a recent meet- ing, H.T.N. Gaitskell of the Board of Trade took cognizance of the "feeling in many quarters that de- velopment of exports generally will be assisted by the success of Brit- ish films." It was disclosed that the Board of Trade already had addressed let- ters to a large number of trade associations in different countries, inviting views of the best means of getting back to normalcy once hos- tilities cease. Gaitskell told the British produc- ers that it was advisable to con- sider the question of post-war film exports immediately. Officially, the Board of Trade has asked the British producers to con- sider these aspects of post-war pro- duction: (1) The main obstacles which, im- mediately after an armistice, are likely to impede the restoration of full pre-war activity in the feature fiim studios, and the question how these obstacles may best be over- come. (2) The probable condition of studio equipment at the end of the war (e.g., sound, lighting, photogra- phic, processing, structural, etc.). (3) The possible development in the post-war era of a demand for new types of films or new produc- tion techniques. (4) The possibility of a substan- tial increase in the export of Brit- ish films to overseas territories, how this can best be achieved, and what changes, if any, it calls for in exist- ing marketing arrangements. Listed among the main obstacles under the first point were the possi- bilities of obtaining an adequate sup- ply of skilled technicians and crafts- men. Views are invited on the spe- cial classes of key and pivotal work- ers now in the Forces and on na- tional service which should be given priority of release. The Association is also asked to estimate the number of workers (ex- cluding artists) which might be re- quired (1) six months, or (2) 12 months after the end of the war. based upon (a) present studio ca- pacity, and (b) if presently-requisi- tioned studios could be released. 'Twasn't Hay Fever — Two Boxes of Pepper Columbus, O. — Sneezing in the Alhambra Theater was unusually heavy, even for the hay fever season — so the show closed for the night. Investigation found two boxes of pepper in the ventilating fans. THE EEE&g&$* JL Of Glories To Come: • • • SOON the nation's motion picture critics, — serving on newspapers, magazines, news syndicates, and even as commentators on films o'er radio chains and individual stations, — will cast their bal- lots in the exceedingly important poll conducted by THE FILM DAILY to determine, in the opinions of America's professional pic appraisers, the Ten Best Directors of 1943 and those deserving Honor Roll status When these experts have recorded their choices, the results will be disclosed in THE FILM DAILY'S Directors Number and Production Preview, a compendium of information riches on the more vital facets of recent, present and future film-making Consequently, the Direc- "~ tors Number and Production Preview will be of key importance to ALL segments of filmland, because product is filmland's cornerstone o W T ▼ T •