Scanned from the collections of The Library of Congress AUDIO-VISUAL CONSERVATION at Tin- LIBRARY of CONGRESS Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation www.loc.gov/avconservation Motion Picture and Television Reading Room www.loc.gov/rr/mopic Recorded Sound Reference Center www.loc.gov/rr/record First In (Radio ANi Accural* and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY OL. 57. NO. 1 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 2. 1945 TKN CENTS No Immediate Shift in Raw Stock Quotas Will Continue Final ' 1 Total Temporarily Washington, Jan. 1. — Industry ! consumers of raw stock have been authorized by the War Production Board to use motion picture film at the same rate as during the fourth quarter of 1944, until such time as the determination of specific quotas for the first quarter of 1945 shows wheth- er any changes will be required in al- locations. Unable to set the allocations before the beginning of the quarter, Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the WPB Pho- tographic Section, sent letters of au- thorization to the individual com- panies Friday, permitting them to use up to 50 per cent of the amount al- located to them for the fourth 1944 quarter, during the first half of the {Continued on page 6) N. Y. Houses Sell $41,284,464 Bonds Film houses in the New York area sold $41,284,464 in "E" bonds for the Sixth War Loan from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, it was reported at the week- end. This total exceeds by $9,468,- 837 sales in the same* area in the Fifth War Loan. Malcolm Kings- berg, industry area chairman, expect? the last and final week to swell the amount considerably. Total sales by boroughs and coun- ties through Dec. 24 follow : Brook- lyn, $15,396,257; Manhattan, $9,462,- {Continued on page 3) WB Completes Bonus Payments to 2,500 Warners on Friday completed dis- tribution of bonuses, in accordance with usual company practice to about 2,500 employes in theatres, branches and the home office. Details of amounts distributed and basis of the payments were, however, unavailable for publication. Bonus plan for the theatre department was instituted in t 935. Final checks went out to the branches last Thursday and Friday ; benefits to theatres and the home of- fice were distributed previously. RKO has applied for Treasury ap- proval of its bonus plan for theatre managers and assistants in the field. N.Y. First-Runs Set New Marks for Seven Day Holiday Period Seven-day holiday business from Christmas Day to New Year's Eve reached record proportions at most of New York's first-run theatres despite adverse weather conditions which in- cluded snow, rain and below freezing temperatures. In many instances the- atres exceeded their receipts for a similar seven-day period in 1943, thereby establishing new all-time rec- ords. The Radio City Music Hall estab- lished a new all-time high of almost $141,000 with "National Velvet" and a holiday stage show, opening its doors at 7 :45 a.m. and giving five shows daily. This surpasses a $132,- 000 figure set with "Madame Curie" during the same seven-dav period in 1943 and the $131,500 figure reached (Continued on page 6) Enroll 5,000,000 Seats for 'Dimes' More than 5,000 theatres have pledged support to the March of Dimes drive, it was disclosed at the weekend by national chairman Nicho- las M. Schenck, and nearly 5,000,000 seats have been enrolled to date. The reported figures represent a substan- tial increase over last year when that number of pledges were not received until some time after Jan. 1. Delaware is the first state to report 100 per cent participation with , 22,632 seats pledged to audience collections, (.Continued on page 3) 44 Legislat Meet in New Forty-four s t a t tures will meet against only nine in will meet in January Florida will meet in May only states which are scheduled to have legislativ sessions are Louisiana, Missis- sippi, Virginia and Kentucky. All meetings are scheduled ones, with no special sessions set as yet. Possible new taxa- tion on film admissions may be -ittempted in some of the met tings. Post-war relief, help to veterans, old age pen- sions and matters relative, may result in increased taxes. FCC Radio Report Set for Jan. 15 Golden Sees psy Postwar for Films Washington, Jan. 1. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission will issue its proposed report on new allo- cations of the higher radio frequencies about Jan. 15 and will allow thirty days for the filing of briefs and argu- ments before finally adopting it, ac- cording to a weekend announcement. At a later date, it was said, a second report will be issued, covering the frequencies between 10,000 and 25,000 kilocycles. The reports will embody the con- clusions reached by the Commission on the basis of the lengthy hearings held last Fall in response to a re- quest from the State Department for a survey and recommendations on fre- quency allocations among the various services. Chicago Loop Releases Speeded Up 25 Per Cent Chicago, Jan. 1. — Release schedules of major company product have been improved by some 25 per cent in the Loop in the past three months, a check up reveals. The condition has been brought about by the cooperation of distributors and theatre operators who have consented not to hold over prod- uct unless turnaway business actually warrants such a practice, and by LTnited Artists' action in releasing through independent first run houses when its major account, Balaban and Katz, cannot furnish playing time. By agreement, B&K gives up UA pic- tures to the independent Oriental and others, when the circuit's own houses face crowded schedules. Under this arrangement, the Oriental has cleared "Song of the Open Road." "Three's A Familv" and "Dark Waters." The RKO Palace played "Abroad With Two Yanks." B&K played "Since You Went Away" and will release "Guest in the House" at the Roosevelt the middle of January. The two major films of Paramount's second block are now in the Loop, while three of RKO's first block of five films have already completed their first runs. Warner's "Hollywood Can- teen" moved into the Roosevelt Satur- day. Metro's specials are getting early showings at the United Artists, with "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" current, followed by "Meet Me in St. Louis." "Can't Help Singing" opened on time at the RKO Palace. Commerce Dep't. Official Predicts Huge Expansion Washington, Jan. 1. — Curtail- ment of war production and conse- quent unemployment after the end of the war in Europe will have lit- tle or no ef- fect on the mo- tion picture in- dustry, it was predicted to- day by Nathan D . Golden, chief of the motion picture unit of the De- p a r t m e nt of Commerce. Although many industries foresee a slump, possibly short in duration, as war production closes down and peace-time operations (Continued on page 6) Nathan D. Golden O'Brien Quits SEC; Will Aid Balaban Washington, Jan. 1. — Robert H. O'Brien, whose resignation as a mem- ber of the Securities and Exchange Commission was accepted by Pres- ident Roosevelt Friday, will become special assistant to Barney Balaban, Paramount president. The President paid tribute to O'Brien's work on the Commission, which he declared was an "outstand- ing example of public service" in ac- (Continued on page 3) Navy Chief Praises Industry Service Hollywood, Jan. 1. — Secretary of the Navy Forrestal expressed thanks to the industry at the weekend for its service to the Navy during 1944. In a communication to Y. Frank Freeman, president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, For- restal said : "I should like to express through you to the studio heads and producers the Navy's appreciation of the four-star performance turned in by the industry during 1944. The Navy is not only thankful for the co- operation it received but also grate- (Continued on page 6) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 2, 1945 Speaking Extras Claimed by SPU Hollywood, Jan. 1. — The battle be- tween the Screen Players Union and the Screen Actors Guild for jurisdic- tion over extra players who speak lines, sing or perform stunts was in- tensified when the SPU membership, in special meeting late last week, made an official claim to control, citing the National Labor Relations Board as its authority. The action followed the receipt of a telegram, from Y. Frank Freeman, on behalf of nine studios, declaring : "Faced with the dilemma of a conflict of jurisdiction between your organization and SAG, we have no choice but to continue to observe and perform our contract with SAG in relation to acting work." / SPU elected Harry Mayo presi- dent, Glenn Stephens vice-president, Lee Powell, secretary, Don Wayson assistant secretary and Mike Jeffers treasurer. Agnew Sees 'Since' Grosses Near Wind's' David O. Selznick's "Since You Went Away," released by United Artists, now looms as the greatest box office grosser since "Gone With the Wind," Neil F. Agnew, vice- president of Vanguard Films, said at the weekend. "Based solely on the 1,405 engage- ments which the picture has played to date, which represent less than 10 per cent of its potential playing time in this country, box office receipts point to a new high for the year now ended," Agnew said. 20th-Fox Tax Group Fete Miss Kingston Peggy Kingston, who resigned re- cently as secretary to Hal Home, 20th Century-Fox director of adver- tising, publicity and exploitation, was given a farewell luncheon at the Hotel Wellington on Friday by her asso- ciates in the department. Those who attended were Kay O'Brien, who re- places Miss Kingston ; Peggy Young, Irene Perlmutter, Sylvia Galitz, Paula Levin, Ruth Simon, Jeanette Sawyer, Helen Kramer, Ruth Galanter, Tarsi Tsimas and Kay Schancer. New Goldwyn Offices Samuel Goldwyn New York offices have been concentrated in the RKO Building. Goldwyn releases through RKO Radio. Headed by James Mul- vey, vice president, and William Heineman, sales manager, the Gold- wyn business offices had previously been located in the Godfrey Building, the editorial department was on the east side, and the publicity and adver- tising department was in the RKO Building. Disney Names Levy Charles Levy, former manager of the RKO advertising and publicity department's special feature service, has been appointed publicity director in New York for Walt Disney Pro- ductions, effective today. He succeeds Toni Spitzer, who resigned recently. Personal Mention H HARRY COHN, Columbia presi- dent, arrived in New York yes- terday from the Coast. • C. P. Nedley, M-G-M branch manager, was in Salt Lake City for a short time before Christmas, re- turning to his home in Omaha for the holidays. He will return to Salt Lake City as branch manager, Jan. 11. • Jerry Mason, executive editor of This Week magazine, unable to get hotel accommodations in Hollywood on his current visit there, has taken up residence on the Columbia studio lot. • Lou Irwin, Hollywood agent, is in New York on a combination business and holiday trip. • Arthur W. Kelly of Eagle-Lion Films has arrived in Hollywood from New York. • Betty Asher of the M-G-M studio publicity department is in New York. • Milt Silver is in Beth Israel Hos- pital here for a physical checkup. MAX MILDER, Warner manag- ing director in England, is in New York for home office confer- ences. He will return to London in late January. • Lt. George F. Putnam, forrner NBC newscaster and 20th Century- Fox Movietone News commentator, now liaison officer to the Armed Forces Radio Service, has been ordered to the Pacific from Wash- ington to make a survey of the radio needs of Marine Corps units. • Cpl. Herman M. Addison, former manager of Schine's Paramount, Glens Falls, N. Y., attached to head- quarters of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade in France, is the recipient of the Croix de Guerre. • Robert Hawkinson, assistant for- eign manager for RKO, will leave sometime next month for Latin- America. » • Ralph H. Clark, Warner Cana- dian manager, has returned to Toron- to from New York. Cummings to Open Auditors Meet Today Alan F. Cummings, in charge of M-G-M exchange operations, will open the annual meeting of field audi- tors of the company at the Hotel As- tor today with a brief welcoming ad- dress. The session will continue through the week with at least 25 executives and their assistants from the home office in attendance at vari- ous times. Century Makes Five Personnel Changes _ Five changes in Century Circuit personnel have been announced by Joseph R. Springer, general theatre manager. Saul Renick, a recent dis- chargee from the Armed Forces, has been named assistant manager of the Avalon ; Phil Seed has been trans- ferred from the Avalon to the Nostrand as assistant manager ; Irwin Auerbach, appointed assistant man- ager of the Elm. Auerbach was form- e r 1 y assistant manager at the Nostrand. Milton Freund, former as- sistant manager at -the Elm, has been transferred to the Lincoln in the same capacity, and Walter Robertson, form- erly of the Linden, has been sent to the Floral as assistant manager. WB Appoints Kiely Manager at Toronto Toronto, Jan. 1. — Grattan Kiely has been promoted from the sales staff to branch manager at the Warner of- fice here, succeeding I. 'Babe' Coval, who will be assigned to a Latin- American post under Wolfe Cohen. Para. Prepays Million Paramount Pictures prepaid on Fri- day the $1,000,000 of its funded debt which matures July 1, 1945. This is a portion of the $6,000,000 borrowed in July, 1944, when the company took into its consolidated statement the Paramount Building in Times Square, and paid off an outstanding mortgage on the property of an approximately similar amount. 400 'Tokyo' Bookings M-G-M has 400 bookings on "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" for one week stands throughout the country, it was reported on Friday. To Choose New WAC Distribution Head A new distributor chairman of the War Activities Committee is expected to be designated when the distributor division holds its first meeting of the new year here tomorrow. Although the group met at the weekend with George J. Schaefer, WAC chairman, on several other matters, it is under- stood that the selection of the new chairman to succeed Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio president, was not among the matters ^discussed. New chairmen for the foreign man- ager division and the advertising and publicity division also are yet to be selected. Ohio Storms Delay Film Deliveries Cincinnati, Jan. 1. — Severe storms in this area resulted in considerable delay in the delivery of film at the holiday weekend. Though trucks continued to operate, highway condi- tions slowed up the arrival of films, necessitating in several instances emergency substitutions in programs. 6 to Jaeger's Staff Six additional supervisors have been named to the staff of Arthur Jaeger, in charge of Ross Federal field supervisors, to operate from vari- ous Ross branches. Jaeger, former U. S. marshal, and Joseph Quinn, former FBI investigator, are in charge of the augmented field force. Larry Kent to England Larry Kent, 20th-Fox representa- tive on the Gaumont-British circuit board of directors, is en route to Eng- land to take up his new duties. Prior to his appointment, Kent was executive assistant to Spyros Skouras, 20th Cen- tury-Fox president. NEW YORK THEATRES 'ELABORATE AND LIVELY." — World-Telegram VERA HRUBA RALSTON featuring Eugene Palette Vera Vague Robert Livingston Stephanie Bachelor RAY NOBLE HARRY OWENS and his Orchestra and his Royal Hawaiians and ROY ROGERS (as Guest Star) REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. A Republic Picture RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50TH STREET & 6TH AVENUE M-G-M's "NATIONAL VELVET" MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP - ELIZABETH TAYLOR JACKIE JENKINS ■ REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN Greer GARSON Walter PIDGEON in M-G-M's 'MRS PARKINGTON' IN PERSON WINGY MAN0NE and ORCH Extra! Radio's Henry AUWn Dickie JONES BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS In Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE W "Here Come the Waves PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous" An RKO Picture 1^— — IIIIWI 'I Hill 20TH CENTURY- FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronin's THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" RIVOLI B'way & 49th St. Continuous Performances MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday ?? - days by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; T. J. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1944 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies. 10c. Tuesday, January 2, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Film Stock Trading Light in November Philadelphia, Jan. 1. — A series of sales in which Albert Warner dis- posed of 6,500 shares of Warner Bros, common, leaving him with 220,950 shares, represented the major opera- tion in film stocks by company of- ficers and directors in November, it \ was reported over the weekend by the J Securities and Exchange Commis- sion. The only other November transac- J'' tions shown in the Commission's monthly summary were in Monogram common, where Samuel Broidy bought 1,499 and sold 500 shares, increasing his holdings to 7,799 shares; Arthur G. Bromberg bought 900 shares through Monogram Southern Ex- change, increasing its holdings to 21,539 shares; William B. Hurlbut bought 200 shares through Monogram Pictures of Michigan, to give it 1,600 shares; Herman Rifkin bought 1,867 Snares through Monogram Pictures, Inc., giving it 19,492 shares; Norton V. Ritchey bought 100 shares for a total of 4,667 shares, and Charles W. Trampe bought 400 shares through Monogram Midwest Film Company, which holds 2,700 shares. Columbia Report A delayed report on Columbia showed that in September Jack Cohn exercised his rights to exchange 2,000 common warrants held through the Robert Cohn trust for an equal num- ber of shares of common stock. In the same month, Abraham Schneider disposed of 25 shares of common stock by gift, leaving him with 1,682 shares. Reports of the holdings of persons becoming officers or directors showed that Samuel Schneider held no War- ner Bros, stocks when he became an officer of the company on Nov. 28. O'Brien Quits SEC; Will Aid Balaban {Continued from page 1) cepting the resignation with "great re- gret." O'Brien stated that he was resigning for personal reasons. O'Brien joined the commission in September, 1943, as attorney in the registration division, later becoming assistant director of the division. Sub- sequently he became assistant general counsel, associate director and direc- tor of the public utilities division and in February, 1942, was appointed a commissioner by President Roosevelt. Balaban stated on Friday that O'Brien, starting in his new post to- day, will act as liaison between Para- mount officers and the company presi- dent, particularly between the Para- mount secretary and general counsel, Austin Keough and the vice-president and studio head, Y. Frank Freeman, on the one hand, and Balaban on the other. O'Brien also will represent Paramount at organizational meet- ings such as MPPDA board meet- ings, and other industry and special meetings and conferences involving Paramount. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay— Excellent Opportunity CINEFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 $26,000 Raised for Catholic Charities The 1944 Catholic Charities Campaign of Greater New York raised almost $26,000 for the Archdiocese within the industry, or about 15 per cent more than in 1943, ac- cording to John J. O'Connor, Universal vice-president, who was chairman of the indus- try's participation in the drive. The industry was among the top three industries in New York in the drive, which closed Saturday. N. Y. Houses Sell $41,284,464 Bonds (Continued from page 1) 962; Bronx, $6,420,150; Queens, $5,- 635,393; Nassau, $1,124,785; West- chester, $1,119,849; Suffolk, $993,- 175 ; Sullivan, Ulster, Rockland, Dutchess and Lower Orange com- bined, $671,443, and Richmond, $460,- 450. Loew's Bond Sales Exceeded B. O. 'Take' Loew's Theatres throughout the country have sold in excess of $18,- 000,000 of "E" bonds during the Sixth Drive, a sum which exceeded receipts at the box office of the theatres dur- ing the period of the drive, it was re- vealed by the company at the week- end. Actual counted receipts up to and including Dec. 25 show $16,142,- 795 in "E" bonds sold, with an addi- tional $2,000,000 taken in up to Dec. 27. The final total will see Loew's over $4,000,000 ahead of its Fifth Bond drive sales total. So far, the Pitkin, Brooklyn, tops all theatres in the cir- cuit with over $1,000,000 sold. The figures are for 141 theatres, of which 70 are in the Metropolitan area. Theatre Authority Collected $525,577 The Theatre Authority in which the Screen Actors Guild, Motion Pic- ture Relief Fund, the I.T.O.A. of N. Y. and individuals from the in- dustry are participants, to control the appearances of personalities in bene- fit performances, collected $525,577 in a 10-year period, Alan Corelli, execu- tive secretary of the Theatre Author- ity disclosed in a report on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the organization at the weekend. Of this amount, the report dis- closed, $329,902 has been allocated to various charity groups and $24,409 is held in trust on the West Coast for indigent actors. Where a: benefit charges admission and members of any of the participating actor groups perform, 15 per cent of the ticket sales to that particular function are paid to the Theatre Authority for reallocation of its component parts for the relief of indigent actors. WB to Show 'Burma' Warners will hold national trade- showings of "Objective Burma" on Monday, Jan. 22. The film is tenta- tively scheduled for release about the middle of February. Enroll 5,000,000 Seats for 'Dimes' (Continued from page 1) according to a wire from chairman Joseph DeFiore of Wilmington. Last year Delaware turned in $17,360 for 22,027 seats, or $76.06 per seat. Printing of 13,000 trailers, starring Greer Garson, will begin this week at laboratories on both the East and West Coasts, and National Screen Service branch managers at 31 key spots are cooperating with state chairmen. W. Pa. 'Dimes' Group Names Maloney, Others Pittsburgh, Jan. 1. — John Ma- loney, Loew's district manager here, was unanimously elected local distri- bution chairman for the 1945 March of Dimes drive in Western Pennsyl- vania at a committee meeting held recently in the office of M. A. Silver, Western Pennsylvania state chairman. Morris Finkel, president of the in- dependent exhibitors, was named as- sistant chairman to work with Sil- ver, and Harry Greenman, manager of Loew's Penn Theatre, was appoint- ed head of a committee to cover key downtown theatres. Illinois Allied Will Aid 'Dimes' Drive Chicago, Jan. 1. — Allied of Illi- nois' 150 member theatres are pledged to support the forthcoming March of Dimes Drive, it was announced by president Jack Kirsch, who is also Il- linois co-chairman of the drive. Kirsch is also enlisting the aid of non-mem- ber exhibitors, circuits and indepen- dents to make collections during the drive. Meyer Hollywood Chairman Hollywood, Jan. 1. — The Perma- nent Charities Committee has ap- pointed Fred S. Meyer chairman of the Hollywood industry infantile par- alysis campaign. He set a record in collections as chairman last year. Invite Ideas for Red Cross Drive Publicity committee of the 1945 in- dustry Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15 to 21, is asking showmen to submit ideas and stunts to be includ- ed in the 16-page press book now in preparation. Suggestions should be mailed not later than Monday, Jan. 8, to S. Bar- ret McCormick and Harry Mandel, national publicity directors, at the RKO home office. U. S. Trailer Appeals For Maritime Men The War Shipping Administration released last week through Fox Movietone, M-G-M, Universal and Pathe newsreels, a United States Maritime Service recruiting trailer which will be exhibited nationally for two weeks. The sequence, designed to help relieve a current maritime manpower emergency, urges all men between 17 and 50 to join up for service aboard the ships that deliver war goods. Personal pleas also are being made from theatre stages. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 1 ANN HARDING has been signed for a featured role in "Those Endearing Young Charms," which Bert Granet will produce for RKO . . . Jane Frazee will have the femi- nine lead in Columbia's "Ten Cents a Dance" . . . Republic has signed Victor McLaglen to a term deal whereby he will make a number of pictures for that studio next year . . . The first Monogram film to star Acquanetta will be "Jungle Queen," based on an original by William Lively. Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz will produce. • Seymour Nebensal states that he intends proceeding ivith a remake of "Mayerling," for which he says he holds sole remake rights. Nebensal adds that mider his arrangement with Mary Pickford, he will be the sole producer . . . Martin Garralaga has been cast for an important comedy role in "Masquerade in Mexico," Paramoun fs romantic drama starring Dorothy Lamowr and Arturo de Cor- dova. • Robert Buckner will visit New York shortly after Jan. 1 to confer with Herman Shumlin, who will di- rect "Confidential Agent" for War- ners . . . Steve Sekely, who will pro- duce and direct "The Healer" for Republic, has left for Mexico City to film background exteriors. ... Jo Carol Dennison has had her option lifted by 20th Century-Fox. • Carl Esmond has been assigned a top role in M-G-M's current produc- tion, "Her Highness and the Bell- boy," which stars Hedy Lamarr and Robert Walker . . . Joyce Reynolds, who played the title role in "Janie," has had her Warner contract re- newed . . . Alan Jones will star in Universale comedy "Have a Heart." Wheeler Seeks Video Licensing Control Washington, Jan. 1. — Senator Burton K. Wheeler, chairman of the Interstate Commerce Committee, will oppose the issuance of television licen- ses on a first come, first served basis, he revealed in a statement here at the weekend. Pointing out that this practice, followed in the early days of standard broadcasting, would result in a concentration of licenses in metropol- itan centers to the disadvantage of outlying regions, the Senator said : "It seems to me that we should be studying right now the issuance of television wave lengths on a geograph- ical basis for allocations." Sponsor of a broad radio regula- tory bill which never came to a vote in the last session of Congress, Sen- ator Wheeler said any new legisla- tion should be based on the principle that radio was a public service sup- ported by advertising and not pri- marily an advertising medium. He expressed the belief that the Federal Communications Commission already had the right to pass on the re-sale of licenses and added that broadcasting should be forced to grant equal time for discussing both sides of any con- troversial questions. /i/m/n? r#£ c/ipr/iGs... CHICAGO . . . BUFFALO ... LOS ANGELES CINCINNATI. ..SAN FRANCISCO... DAYTON KANSAS CITY... SALT LAKE CITY ATLANTA . . . NEW ORLEANS . . . OMAHA TAMPA . . . READING . . . HARRISBURG CHARLESTON.. .ROCHESTER.. .SYRACUSE SIOUX CITY . ^ 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 2, 1945 Nathan Golden Sees Rosy Postwar Era for Films No Immediate Raw Stock Quota Shift N.Y. First-Runs Set New Marks for Seven Day Holiday Period (.Continued from page 1) with "Top Hat" during a week which included Labor Day in 1935. The reg- ular second week's gross ending last Wednesday night reached $130,000. The Roxy with "Winged Victory" and a stage show was close behind the Music Hall on the seven-day period with $138,000 but below the $140,300 for the same period in 1943 registered with "The Gang's All Here." The Paramount which brought in "Here Come the Waves" and a stage show featuring Woody Herman and his band last Wednesday crashed through to an outstanding $120,000 for a seven-day period, including two days of the preceding show, with a near record $125,000 expected for the first full weak of "Here Come the Waves" ending tonight. 'Singing' Sets Record A new all-time high of $51,000 was recorded on the first week of "Can't Help Singing" at the Criterion where the week officially started on Christ- mas Day and ended New Year's Eve. The Capitol scored a heavy $87,000 with "Music for Millions" and a stage show featuring Tommy Dorsey and band during the seven-day period. The Strand recorded $75,000 for "Hollywood Canteen" and its Lionel Hampton and band stage presentation. "The Keys of the Kingdom" opened big at the Rivoli last Friday and al- most $35,000 was recorded before the house opened its doors yesterday. "The Sign of the Cross" drew a ter- rific $29,000 for the Victoria on the seven days ; the Astor hit a grand $41,000 with "Meet Me in St. Louis"; and the Globe scored a heavy .$32,000 with "Tomorrow the World." Simi- lar increases were recorded all the way down the line to give Broadway generally one of its biggest seven-day periods of business in history. Sunset Prod. Formed To Make 16mm. Films Hollywood, Jan. 1. — Russell Wade, RKO Radio contract player, has formed Sunset Productions, Inc., to produce a series of 16 mm. five- reel - ers similar to Wade's "Sundown Rid- ers," color Western, which has played church and school circuits. The new company plans to extend its activities after the war. Navy Chief Praises Industry Service (Continued from page 1) ful for the entertainment, both in personal appearances and in pictures for overseas use, by the people of the motion picture world." Promising to transmit the message, Freeman replied : "We realize we do little in comparison with what the men on the fighting fronts do for us. We are at your service at any time we can be of help." Filmack Gives Bonuses Chicago, Jan. 1. — Irving Mack, head of Filmack Trailer Co., present- ed each of his employes with a bonus check at the company's Christmas party held at Filmack headquarters* here. (Continued from page 1) get under way, Golden said, in evalu- ating the situation, the film industry appears destined to go into an era of expansion to catch up with the devel- opment which normally would have occurred during the past three years. As many as 1,000 theatres of 800 to 1,000 seats, costing between $75,000,- 000 and $100,000,000, may be built when materials now critical become freely available, he said, and the pro- grammed expansion of Hollywood studio facilities will involve another $20,000,000 to $30,000,000. _ Golden foresaw the possible exten- sive use of prefabricated theatres, plans for which now are complete in all details, and, with the relaxation of gasoline rationing, an increase in the drive-in type of theatre, estimat- ing the projects of this type, many of which now are closed, will increase from 100 to 300 within a short time after the war. Expressing the belief that exhibi- tors will not be adversely affected by 'Victory' Sets Pace At San Francisco San Francisco, Jan. 1— Christmas week at the box office here was fairly brisk with houses reporting good showings over the holiday. "Winged Victory" picked up a smart $32,000. Estimated receipts for the week ended Dec. 27-29: "Three Is a Family" (UA) ■'Reckless Age" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,800. (Average: $15,- 00O). ' Dark Waters" (UA) "My Gal Loves Music" (Univ.) UNITED ARTISTS — (1,200) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $11,100. (Average: $14,500). "My Pal, Wolf" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE — (2,850) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $29,000. (Average: $27,000). "Lights of Santa Fe" (Rep.) WARFIELD — (2,680) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $24,500. (Average: $25,000). "Till We Meet Again" (Para.) •'Hail the Conquering Hero" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,748) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $20,000). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) "Adventures of Kitty O'Day" (Mono.) FOX— (5,000) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $32,000. (Average: $28,000). "Lost in a Harem" (M-G-M) "The Man in Half Moon Street" (Para.) STATE— (2,308) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Moveover from Fox. Gross: $15,500. (Av- trage: $13,000). "The Doughgirls" (WB) "National Bam Dance" (Para.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,500. (Aver- age: $12,000). Karol to New CBS Post John J. Karol, CBS assistant sales manager for the past year and market research counsel since 1939, has been named network sales manager effec- tive today, William C. Gittinger, CBS vice-president in charge of sales, announced at the weekend. Levey Signs Scott Hollywood, Jan. 1. — Jules Levey has signed Randolph Scott for his film "Homesteaders," in color, the first of two films he will produce in 1945 for United Artists release. unfavorable postwar industrial and employment conditions, Golden sug- gested that attendance might well in- crease with more leisure time avail- able to many people who, during full- speed war-production days, could not find the time to attend the theatre. "Then, too," he said, "the singular quality of the films produced during the past few years will also help to maintain the currently high level of movie attendance of 100,000,000 ad- missions weekly. Finally, past experi- ence indicates that the movies are one of the last things people give up. Moreover, the accumulated savings now in the hands of the public will act as an assurance of continued at- tendance at the movie theatres." While he freely forecast continued prospertiy for the motion picture in- dustry in 1945, there was one field in- to which Golden refused to venture. To what extent television will become available to a waiting audience this year, he said, is anyone's guess. 'Kismet; 'Shadows' Share Indpls. Lead Indianapolis, Jan. 1. — "Kismet" and "Shadows In the Night" at Loew's were tops in box office receipts here last week with $15,000 expected. Most other houses show an upward trend in attendance. Estimated receipts for the week ended Dec. 26-30: "Tall in the Saddle" (RKO) "Atlantic City" (Rep.) CIRCLE— (2,800) (32c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $11,800). "And Now Tomoiw" (Para.) INDIANA— (1,200) (32c-55c) 7 days/ Gross: $12,500. (Average: $11,600). 'Sing, Neighbor, Sing" (Rep.) KEITH'S— (1,500) (60c) 4 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000). 'Kismet" (M-G-M) "Shadows in the Night" (Col.) LOEW'S— (2,800) (35c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $11,500). "My Buddy" (Rep.) "Sign of the Cross" (Para.) LYRIC— (2,000) (32c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $4,900). China Favorable for Postwar U. S. Films Washington, Jan. 1. — American films which have long been popular in Chinese coastal cities, are expected to find a profitable market in that country after war, as many new re- gions have been introduced to films as the result of the war shift in popu- lation to Free China. Additionally, new and profitable markets are fore- shadowed in Manchuria, Formosa and Korea, according to a report in the Foreign Commerce Weekly, published by the Bureau of Foreign and Domes- tic Commerce. Isolation of China's free areas, as well as deterioration and loss of equipment, has reduced the local in- dustry to two small Government-con- trolled studios of limited output. Pro- jection equipment is much in need of repair, the report says. Reports from occupied areas indi- cate that film production under Jap- anese supervision in Shanghai has decreased to about four pictures a month. Theatres in Shanghai and other coastal cities continue to oper- ate, however, with poor facilities. (Continued from page 1) new period. It was made clear, how- ever, that these instructions are mere- ly tentative, designed to prevent any interference with operations, and that the authorizations may be cancelled within the next few days if the final allocation schedules for the quarter show that any cut from present levels is necessary. If any further curtailment in the use of raw stock is ordered, its im- pact will fall squarely upon the fea- tures and shorts and no cut is con- templated in allocations for newsreels, it was learned. The question of news- reels was exhaustively discussed dur- ing the various meetings between Bur- rows and the representatives of the military and other film-using Gov- ernment agencies, and it is under- stood it was agreed that the news pic- tures are so valuable to the Govern- ment in disseminating information re- garding the war effort, that they should be protected against further restriction in length. Newsreel Raw Stock Will Not Be Cut Washington, Jan. 1. — Army, Navy, OWI and other Government of- ficials are agreed that raw stock dif- ficulties should not be permitted to af- fect newsreels, and it is not likely that shortages of film will result in re- ducing newsreel length below its pres- ent 750 feet, Claude R. Collins, Wash- ington representative of the WAC newsreel division, said on Friday. In a year-end statement, Collins pointed out that, "Never before have so many events occurred within one 12-month period, and never before in newsreel history have so many out- standing pictures of history in the making beeen reflected on film." A possible serious raw stock shortage is the only threat to the presentation of these pictures to the public, he said, but the situation may be relieved when film manufacturing plants in Europe come into operation. MGM Exploiteers to Be Here January 8 J. E. Watson of Cincinnati, Charles C. Deardourff, Cleveland, and Nor- man Linz, Indianapolis, will be the first three M-G-M exploiteers to ar- rive for a week's home office visit, under the recently announced plan of Howard Dietz, vice-president and di- rector of advertising, publicity and exploitation, and William R. Fergu- son, director of exploitation, of call- ing the field men in for home office conferences in groups. The three men will arrive Jan. 8 and will be followed by the other field exploiteers at a rate of three at a time. Claude Frederick Dies Greenfield, Mass., Jan. 1.— Claude E. Frederick, manager of the Garden Theatre here for over 10 years, died of a heart attack in his office Dec. 28. Born in St. John, N. B., he began his career as a vaudeville performer, was former manager of the Olympic in New Haven, and also had man- aged the Capitol in Pittsfield. He is survived by a widow and two children. Please mister Jo your best! TO EXHIBITORS OF AMERICA: Again we are asked by the President of the United States to perform a needed, public service. Every motion picture theatre in America is asked to enlist in the 1945 March of Dimes (January 25-31). You did a magnificent job last year. You poured into the National Foundation For Infantile Paralysis and its local chapters over $4,667,000! Some 9,000,000 seats participated — and averaged 54c per seat! - The President, the nation and your committee are grateful for the splendid results. You put your hearts into the drive; the results proved that. And the moviegoing public responded generously — and respected and honored you for your part in the crusade to save American children. In 1944 savage epidemics swept many states. Great sums of money — thanks to you— were ready to be rushed to the assistance of stricken areas. Now we must replenish those polio war-chests. In the 1945 March of Dimes we'd like to have 17,000 theatres with 11,000,000 seats— and a $5,000,000 goal would not be impossible. If you haven't already done so, please rush in your pledge. Just sign your name and * theatre address to this coupon and mail it in. GREER GARSON APPEAL TRAILER • TWO STYLES ONE-SHEETS • CAMPAIGN BOOK GRATIS • WHEN YOU SEND YOUR PLEDGE TO SUITE 188, HOTEL ASTOR, N. Y, C. NAME. THEATRE ADDRESS. BEAUTIFUL PICTURE ! OU HAVE A DATE WITH A The Screen's First Great I Dramatic Musical! COLUMBIA PICTURES presents JANE! BLAIR ■ LEE BOWMAN MARC PLATT • LESLIE BROOKS Screen Play by Lesser Samuels and Abem Finkel • Songs by Jule Styne MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Picture Industry VOL. 57. NO. 2 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1945 TEN CENTS ) 20,000,000-FL Raw Stock Cut This Quarter Industry's WPB Quota Around 300 Million Feet Washington, Jan. 2. — The mo- tion picture industry will have ap- proximately 20,000,000 feet less raw stock for use this quarter than it had in the last three months of 1944, it was indicated here tonight by tentative figures reached by Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the War Pro- duction Board photographic division, in conferences with representatives of the Federal raw stock claimant agen- cies. It now appears probable, Burrows disclosed today, that the industry will receive slight- ly more than 300,000,000 linear feet for the quarter. Whether the cut is to be applied equally among the companies or grad- ed on their ability to bear a reduction will be worked out with the industry (.Continued on page 3) British Raw Stock Crisis London, Jan. 2. — The carbon and raw stock situations are causing the British government extreme concern. The carbon shortage, now serious, promises to become critical in March, when stocks will probably be ex- hausted. The Treasury is being urged to sus- pend temporarily the present prohibi- tive import duty of approximately 100 (.Continued on page 3) Republic Sale Meets Start Here Jan. 8 Republic will hold the first of its Winter sales meetings at the New York Athletic Club, Jan. 8-10. Other meetings will be at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, Jan. 11-13; and at the studio in Hollywood, Jan. 22-24. J. R. Grainger, president, will arrive here by plane from California today for the meetings. Herbert J. Yates, chairman of the board, will attend the New York and Chicago meetings, and return to the Coast on Jan. IS. Division managers will attend the Chicago session. Film Stocks Increase to $919,214,486 Motion picture shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange rose $127,521,739 in market value during 1944 to their highest levels in years as a result of a general advance in the market and favor- able conditions affecting individual film issues. Total market valuation of the 15 film issues currently listed on the exchange stood at $919,- 214,486 at the end of 1944, com- pared with $791,692,747 at 1943's close. The advance in the general stock list, which saw the value of all stocks listed on the exchange enhanced by (Continued on page 12) Justice Dept. Checks Production Process Hollywood, Jan. 2. — The West Coast branch of the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice is now in the fourth month of a check-up of operational processes of the pro- duction branch, Motion Picture Daily learned today. Quietly, and insisting its objective is solely to acquire basic information, Department of Justice agents are in- quiring into processes and procedure (Continued on page 3) $10,000 for Calling Checker Peeping Tom A jury in Coeur D'Alene, Ida., has awarded Ralph V. Brow- der, Ross Federal checker, $10,000 in a suit Browder brought against Fulton Cook and his wife, owners of the Bungalo Theatre, St. Maries, Ida., for calling the checker a 'stool pigeon, a peeping Tom and Jekyll and Hyde,' the company said here yesterday. Browder has been a regular Ross checker for many years and is also, local postmaster. Browder originally sued for $25,000. A. J. Law Dies of Heart Attack Here Albert J. Law, executive secretary and general counsel of the Southern California Theatre Owners Associa- tion, was stricken by a heart attack on Monday in New York and died yesterday in St. Luke's Hospital here. Law had been in New York since last Thursday conferring with home office distribution executives on a plan for conciliating trade practice com- plaints prior to their submission to arbitration. He had planned to remain in New York throughout this week in order to complete his conferences on the conciliation plan with all sales executives, from whom he hoped to obtain approval for making the plan effective nationally, as well as in the Southern California area. Law conferred with Department of (Continued on page 11) Hollywood Faces Postwar Market Challenge: Rose Late Shows Draw Heavily in Chi. Chicago, Jan. 2. — Balaban and Katz has inaugurated daily midnight shows in the United Artists, following ex- perimentations at the Apollo where the last feature now starts at one a. m. Essaness' Woods, next door, has been operating to six a. m. for months, with business consis- tently good. The trend to late shows has mushroomed due to shifts in local defense plants. Hollywood, Jan. 2. — Hollywood will fac£ a strong challenge in the post-war world market, greater than anyone here or in "any other world film capital" has imagined, David E. Rose, Paramount managing director for Great Britain, said on his arrival here today. Hollywood can do this successfully, he said, if production puts its house in order, settling present problems now, so film making for vastly ex- panded world audiences can be started immediately after the war. Citing a 63 per cent increase in the number of theatre goers in Great Britain since 1939, Rose said millions of men and women in Allied war services have become film minded, and (Continued on page 11) Rules Canada Courts Cannot Control Films U. S. Significance Seen In High Court Ruling Toronto, Jan. 2. — In a decision viewed here in high exhibition quarters as having significance for the American as well as the Cana- dian film industry, the Court of Kings Bench at Montreal has upheld United Amusement Corp. in a judgment against Kent Theatres, Ltd., decreeing that legal courts had no jurisdiction over the rental or exhibition of motion pictures which, under the Federal War Measures Act are controlled by the administrator of services of the Federal Wartime Prices and Trade Practices Board. In this decision the highest court in (Continued on page 11) $200,000 'U' Radio Budget Universal has budgeted $200,000 to promote its top films by radio duriing 1945, Maurice A. Bergman, Eastern advertising-publicity head told Motion Picture Daily yesterday. The com- pany spent $120,000 for film promo- tions in radio in 1944 and $60,000 in 1943. Motion Picture Daily reported last Thursday the growing preference (Continued on page 3) Healy Named Aide To Austin Keough William Healy has been named ad- ministrative assistant to Austin C. Keough, Paramount vice-president and general counsel, it was learned here yesterday. Healy, who is an at- torney, will assist Keough on com- pany administration matters. Healy, a graduate of Fordham Uni- (Continued on page 3) Reviewed Today Reviews of "Under Western Skies," "The Missing Juror" and "Saddle Leather Law" appear on page 6; "Sheriff of Las Vegas," page 11. 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 3, 1945 Personal Mention J ROBERT RUBIN, Loew's vice- • president and general counsel, will leave for Phoenix, Arizona, today for a vacation. • Eleanor Mulchrone Pirschel, secretary to W. Ray Johnston, Monogram president, will return to the company's coast studio today after a six-months' absence during which time she became the mother of a baby girl. • Sgt. Nat Gartsman, with Mort Blumenstock's staff at Warners be- fore entering the armed forces, ✓ is in New York on furlough after 28 months of service which took him around the world. • Al Hemsing, acting head of the non-theatrical operation of the Office of War Information overseas motion picture bureau, was married last week to Esther Davidson. • Lynn Farnol left New York yes- terday for Hollywood to take over the post of West Coast advertising and publicity director for Sam Gold wyn Productions. e Helen O'Dea, secretary to Harry Buckley, United Artists executive, will be married this morning at St Elizabeth's Church to Thomas Mul- len of the U. S. Navy. • ' Harry N. Blair, PRC's Eastern advertising and publicity director, is visiting Philadelphia and Wilmington on business. • Sgt. Gene Arneel, formerly of the Motion Picture Daily editorial staff here, and who was wounded in Italv. is in New York on furlough. • Sidney S. Kulick, Eastern district sales manager for PRC, will leave today on a three-weeks' trip to Buf falo, Scranton, Philadelphia and Pitts burgh. • Jack Kirby, Paramount district manager in Atlanta, has returned to his desk from a two-months' rest at Miami Beach. • H. M. Bessey, vice president of Altec Service Corp., has returned to New York from Boston and Phila delphia. • Stanley Hand, Altec representa tive, has returned to New York from the Philadelphia district. • Al Kolitz, RKO branch manager in Cleveland, and his family spent the New Year holiday in Cincinnati. • Norman Elson, vice president of Trans-Lux Theatres Corp., left last night for Washington. • Leo J. McCarthy, PRC's general sales manager, will be in Cleveland the remainder of this week. • Steve Trilling, assistant to Jack L. Warner, will leave for the Coast today. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN 20th-Fox to Launch Mexican Production Hollywood, Jan. 2 DICTURES have been made, *■ titled and then re-titled be- fore, and that's a process hardly new. For some reason not read- ily traceable to its lair, a partic- ular interest appears to have been kindled over a title incident in which RKO is the principal. The attraction, once known as "Farewell, My Lovely" and re- viewed and initially advertised under that monicker, has been changed to "Murder, My Sweet" with seeming abruptness. The facts are the switch was not abrupt, nor was it as sudden as appears. The history behind the move is another reflection of the reliance which the producer places on Audience Research, Inc., offishoot of the American Institute of Public Opinion, George Gallup, who discussed some of the how come and when of public balloting before a Con- gressional committee in Wash- ington last week, is daddy of both. ■ The purpose behind Audience Research is to make the rock- strewn road of the producer an easier path to box-office glory by canvassing public tastes and trends before and during pro- duction. This objective is served by six successive steps, all of them sufficient to make them scientifically accurate, according to Gallup. In shades of degrees, his contentions and his findings evidently are shared by pro- ducers aside from RKO which originally held an exclusive con- tract with AR in this industry. Those others include Columbia, David O. Selznick and Walt Disney all of whom have em- ployed the service on occasion. The story of "Farewell, My Lovely" chiefly pivots around Step No. 5, known in Gallup's shop as the Want-To-See Test. It's supposed to be crucial be- cause it asks those canvassed if they are anxious enough to see a particular film to pay for the privilege. There are graphs and charts of different hills and valleys, all probably bedecked prettily in compelling colors, and designed to prove where a producer may expect to get off. There also is the very stout claim by AR that it can estimate domestic grosses and that it has never missed the bus by more than $100,000 on any attraction passing through its test tubes. Anyhow, "Farewell, My Love- ly" had a 62 on Want-To- See which is regarded by Gallup fol- lowers as not at all bad. It was determined, subsequently, to make a final and more exhaus.- tive sweep to learn if more peo- ple would admit they wanted to see. Sandwiched in at some point was a suspicion, and may- be a bit of uncertainty, that Dick Powell in a film yclept "Fare- well, My Lovely" sounded like a musical, which it is not. As "Murder, My Sweet," AR de- clares it ran head-on into a 75 on Want-To- See, which is ex- cellent. The title, therefore, was changed after a huddle made up of N. Peter Rathvon, Ned E. De- pinet and Charles W. Koerner. ■ Principally what got RKO, however, was one of those Gal- lup gross estimates. His analysis carried to the company his con- clusion 'the domestic take would clamber upward by an additional $300,000 under the alternative selection. Main titles on prints were corrected, 24-sheets and so on down the line were done over again and trade papers recorded the switch in the release charts. Cost to RKO for the change- over— estimated $5,000. Against a potential, or hypothetical, and additional $295,000, the decision simply impressed as clearly one to make. ■ ■ Perry Lieber tells this one on himself, and without the slightest hesitation : He's been battling an annoy- ing cold and a chronic sinus con- dition. During a treatment for Condition No. 2 hospital attend- ants noted No. 1. "Nothing to be concerned with. Besides, a cold usually at- tacks the softest part of the body." Lieber's is in his head. ■ ■ A charming and amusing tale is told about one of Cecil B. De Mille's grandchildren. It appears the child was some- what negligent about her pray- ers one bedtime. A reminder was in order, De Mille provid- ing. During the reciting, and with- out warning, the youngster popped with : "This is Cecil B. De Mille, speaking from Hollywood." ■ ■ Those hardy knights of the auto who negotiated the ten miles from Hollywood to Ingle- wood — and Hollvwood Park — Twentieth Century-Fox will launch production of Spanish language films in Mexico, with "Canta Clara" as the first, to start in the spring. Esther Fernandez and Tito Guizar will prob- ably be the leads. Although no studio space has been leased yet, Azteca in Mexico City is the most likely plant for 20th's pro- duction there. Joseph M. Schenck, ex- ecutive production head, has long evinced interest in making pictures in that country. Second contemplated is understood to be "Seventh Heaven." The product will be distributed wherever Spanish films arje market- able. /. F. Wrege Named linger 's Assistant J. F. Wrege, formerly playdate manager for United Artists, has be- come assistant to J. J. Unger, West- ern division sales manager, replacing Emanuel Silverstone, who has joined the foreign department in an execu- tive capacity, it was learned here yes- terday. John Hughes, Wrege's as- sistant, has succeeded him as playdate manager. Wrege has been associated with United Artists for 18 years, serving successively in the accounting and sales department before becoming playdate manager. He was also form- erly associated with the old Univer- sal Theatres at one time. Monogram Files with SEC on Stock Issue Monogram Pictures Corp. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an amendment to its reg- istration statement listing 17 under- writers of the proposed issue of 100,000 shares of five-and-one-half per cent cumulative convertible preferred stock. The stock will be offered at $10 a share plus accrued dividends and would be convertible into two-and-a- quarter shares of common. It carries a retirement fund of 20 per cent net earnings after preferred dividend re- quirements. Krellherg to Finance Broadway Plays Sherman S. Krellberg, president of Principal Film Exchange and John Wildberg, theatrical producer, have incorporated Theatre Securities Syn- dicate for $250,000, for the financing and underwriting of plays. Krellberg and Wildberg are also principal own- ers of the Belasco Theatre and are in- terested in several Broadway plays. were ready to brave the perils of the road 27 miles in another direction to Arcadia — and Santa Anita — confident they'd make it. Now, of course, race tracks are growing weeds again and many of Hollywood's well knowns are growing beards. Beards in which to hide their sorrow. 9T 9^ PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20. N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley. President; Colvin Brown. Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishini Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Wednesday, January 3, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 20,000, OOO-Ft. Raw Stock Cut This Quarter Seen New Plan to Curb Ticket Scalping A new plan whereby New York's theatres, the public and the city would cooperate in an effort to prevent ticket brokers from charging more than a 75-cent service charge allowed by law on each admission sold was announced here yesterday by Mayor LaGuardia in rescinding the ban on the sale of theatre tickets to hit shows through brokers, invoked last week by License Commissioner Paul Moss. The lifting of the ban followed a City Hall conference between the Mayor, Commissioner Moss and the board of governors of the League of New York Theatres which, with in- dependent producers, had threatened a legal battle against the Moss decree. Under the new plan, complaints by the public will be investigated and punitive action will be taken against the broker involved both by the Com- missioner and the theatre. Theatre Parties Hit By New U. S. Ruling Charity organizations, in many in- stances, will henceforth have to regis- ter with the Treasury Department as ticket brokers ; will have to pay the usual 20 per cent admission tax on ad- vanced price tickets, and will have to sell tickets to all comers at box-office prices even when the performance is a benefit at higher prices, according to a new Treasury Department ruling based on existing Internal Revenue regulations, governing theatrical bene- fits for charity. Scully , Seidelman, Bergman Going West William A. Scully, Universal vice- president and general sales manager ; Joseph H. Seidelman, vice-president and - foreign distribution head, and Maurice A. Bergman, Eastern adver- tising-publicity manager, will leave New York for California Jan. 12 for conferences with studio heads. A. J. O'Keefe, Western division sales manager, will accompany the trio and will also confer with sales personnel in his territory. Hodge New Assistant Director for BMOl Thomas Hodge has been appointed assistant director of the film division of the British Information Services, it was announced here yesterday by Thomas Baird, director of the divis- ion, before leaving for the Coast. Hodge was in Chicago for two years as film officer of the British In- formation Services, and prior to that was in England for the Ministry of Education in charge of mobile film units. Healy Named Aide To Austin Keough {Continued from page 1) versity and Law School, was recently discharged from the Army. Before his induction he served on the New York State Defense Commission in Albany, under both Governors Herbert H. Lehman and Thomas E. Dewey. At one time he was associated with the promotion department of Packard Mo- tor Car Co. {Continued from page 1) advisory committee when it meets with Burrows here on Thursday. It has been suggested that if each company is cut between six and seven per cent, some of the smaller organi: zations might find themselves in seri- ous difficulties, whereas it may be possible for some of the larger com- panies to take a somewhat larger cut without undue impairment of print service, thus easing the impact of the curtailment on the small outfits. The cut now anticipated, falling within the "five to 10 per cent" pre- dicted by Motion Picture Daily on Dec. 27, will be somewhat less than was forecast yesterday by the WPB in a review of the situation in which it disclosed that because of increased military demands, total requirements for 16-mm, aero and X-ray film this year are substantially in excess of present productive capacity. The WPB review said that con- sumption of 35-mm film for entertain- ment purposes will have to be cut by 10 per cent from the 1944 level to meet the increased demand for other types, while civilian consumption of X-ray film will be cut to 75 per cent of last year. The civilian consump- $200,000 'U' Radio Budget {Continued from page 1) of motion picture advertising man- agers for local radio campaigns of spot announcements to promote new films rather than company network programs. Bergman emphasized, however, that no curtailments are planned in news- paper advertising during 1945 unless they are dictated by the publishers because of the shortage of newsprint. 'U' intends to experiment in certain types of stunt advertising in radio during 1945, he indicated. "No commitments are being made in advance as to the method of spend- ing money in radio in 1945," Berg- man said. The $200,000 _ will be used for top pictures and 'idea pictures' which are susceptible to radio adver- tising. "We do not consider spot announce- ments as the overall method of radio advertising and they will only be used on special occasions," he declared. J. Walter Thompson is handling Uni- versale survey of the field of radio advertising. "Universal still considers radio as a secondary medium of advertising and has increased its appropriation only because there will be a marked de- crease in newspaper space ; the com- pany will still spend three times its radio budget for newspaper advertis- ing," Bergman concluded. Martin Smith's Wife Dies Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 2. — Ethel Smith, wife of Martin G. Smith, co- owner of Smith and Reidler Theatres, Toledo, and president of the Indepen- dent Theatre Owners of Ohio, died here today. The funeral will be held Thursday from Bennett Mortuary in Toledo. tion of 16-mm film already has been cut to a minimum, now running at 1,000,000 linear feet a quarter, against 65,000,000 feet_ before the war. WPB explained that every square foot of X-ray film produced above the present level will necessitate cutting the production of 35-mm raw stock by 2.5 square feet or of cut-sheet film by 1.5 square feet. For military purposes alone, 170,- 000,000 linear feet of 35-mm and 142,- 000,000 feet of 16-mm motion picture film and 24,000,000 square feet of aero film will be required. The Army and Navy requirements for 16-mm film are 8,500,000 feet in excess of the industry's present capacity, it was said. Connors and Sears to Washington on Stock Tom Connors, vice-president in change of distribution for 20th Cen- tury-Fox, and Grad Sears, vice-pres- ident in charge of sales for United Artists, are among distributor execu- tives who will travel to Washington today to meet with Lincoln Burrows on raw stock allocations for the first quarter of 1945 at a conference to be held tomorrow. Rodgers to Speak at Auditors' Meeting M-G-M opened its annual meeting of field auditors and "Commando Girls" at the Astor Hotel, here, yes- terday with suggestions being made to the home office staffs on streamlining operations in exchanges. The meetings, which will continue all week, are being conducted by Charles K. Stern, assistant treasurer, and Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange operations. Today's speak- ers will include William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales man- ager ; William G. Brenner, in charge of exchange maintenance ; Max Wolff, purchasing head ; Harold J. Cleary, who will talk on the com- pany's retirement plan ; Pincus Sober, whose topic will be salary and em- ployment laws; William Gleicher of the sales department, and S. S. Braumberg of the legal department. EOT to Call Meeting On Monopoly Report London, Jan. 2. — The Board of Trade has not yet received observa- tions on its monopoly report from various trade organizations, but these are expected in the near future. Fol- lowing their receipt, Hugh Dalton, BOT president, will probably call a roundtable conference prior to a de- bate on the subject in the House of Commons. The report, suggesting broad in- dustry legislation and the establish- ment of a government tribunal for control of the industry, has been gen- erally approved by the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, but disap- proved by the Kinematograph Renters Society. Albert Heinman Dies Valparaiso, Ind., Jan. 2. — Albert F. Heinman, 83, pioneer theatre own- er, has died here. He operated the- atres in Indiana from 1880 to 1920. Justice Dept. Checks Production Process {Continued from page 1 ) of studios, laboratories and other or- ganizations. "Our inquiries are not to be inter- preted as constituting an investiga- tion in any sense, but merely as gath- ering of information as to how the production branch operates," Freder- ick Rarig, chief of the West Coast branch, told Motion Picture Daily. The local branch of the Department undertook a check-up on instruction from Assistant Attorney-General Wendell Berge, following his visit here last September, when he told the press, "We intend to strike at illegal monopoly practices of the industry wherever we find them in production, distribution or exhibition." Asked by Motion Picture Daily whether specific practices in produc- tion were meant, Berge said none were, adding "production" had been included in his statement merely to indicate the whole industry was em- braced in his statement. British Raw Stock Crisis {Continued from page 1) per cent on these materials, following the precedent established in 1940, when importers voluntarily adjusted their prices to those prevailing in the home market. Also, manufacturers may be urged to restrict the number of prints per film. Paris plants are understood to be unable to assist Britain in view of American Army de- mands, but it is hoped that the Ant- werp plant, which worked for the Nazis throughout the period of Ger- man occupation and is still in good shape, may supply most British Army requirements. It is likely that the whole raw stock situation will be reviewed with au- thorities in Washington, and Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the U. S. War Production Board's photographic sec- tion, is understood to be satisfied that the British industry has taken all pos- sible steps to prevent a crisis. Means of remedying the labor shortage in the raw stock field are being consid- ered by the Ministry of Labor. Government Demands As in America, the shortage here has been caused largely by govern- mental service demands, it is claimed. The Board of Trade has been com- pelled to freeze film exports tempo- rarily, but is determined to adjust the matter by instituting a strict census of service requirements and insisting upon the elimination of waste. It is hoped that the distributors' present film allotments will not have to be reduced for the new ration year, which starts Feb. 15. Depinet Drive Opens Boston, Jan. 2. — Governor-elect Maurice J. Tobin of Massachusetts, and John Shepard, 3rd, chairman of the board and general manager of the Yankee Network, took part in the festivities of the opening of the "Ned Depinet Sales Drive" here today. RKO officials were also in attendance. : are vj ve«7 TaKe >(0 That-s Mister frehibitor on his way fo his FORTUNE. TEULER Join March of Dimes, January 25 to 31 6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 3, 1945 Reviews Under Western Skies (Universal) ANOTHER minor musical with an outdoor setting has been turned out by ■ Universal in "Under Western Skies" and the result is a pleasant, if unpretentious, film. Everett Carter and Milton Rosen have supplied Martha O'Driscoll some fetching melodies which she handles with finesse. Stanley Roberts' and Clyde Bruckman's screenplay, derived from Roberts' original, travels a well-defined path, with the usual stagecoach holdup, gunplay and slugging fest featured prominently. The story concerns efforts of Leon Errol's variety show to perform in a Western cow town, but the show is broken up when Leo Carrillo's band makes an entrance. Irving Bacon, a sheriff with a fabled name as a marks- man, permits the gang to get away when his failing sight hinders his shooting. Intramural warfare breaks out among the gang, and Carrillo puts down the revolt with neatness and despatch, but not before he has killed his henchmen with the aid of Noah Beery, Jr., the town school teacher, who has been aroused to a fighting pitch by the abduction of Miss O'Driscoll by the ban- dits. Film closes on a romantic note with the marriage of Beery and Miss O'Driscoll. Others in the cast are Ian Keith, Jennifer Holt, Edna Mae Wonacott, Earle Hodgins, Dorothy Granger, Jack Rice and Shaw and Lee, who do a comedy routine. Jean Yarbrough directed, while Warren Wilson produced. Running time, 57 minutes. "G."* Release date, Jan. 19. Charles Ryweck ft The Missing Juror ( Columbia) • Hollywood, Jan. 2 A WELL-CONSTRUCTED screenplay and some able acting combine to make this Wallace MacDonald production superior to the usual .low- budget mystery yarn. Oscar Boetticher's direction gets every ounce of suspense out of the proceedings. The cast, headed by Jim Bannon, Janis Carter, and George Macready, is commendably convincing, with Joseph Crehan a standout in a minor role. Charles O'Neal wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Leon Abrams and Richard Hill Wilkinson. It is an absorbing story of ahomicidal maniac who sets out to kill 12 people : members of a jury which, years before, convicted an innocent man. An inquiring young reporter is the first to see the connection between the series of apparently unrelated deaths, and it is he who sets in motion and brings to a successful conclusion the investigation which results in the murderer's apprehension. L. W. O'Connell's photography adds much to the story's suspense, but the musical score, which calls for ominous orchestral passages during a scene in a Turkish bath, is intrusive rather than effective. Running time, 66 minutes "G"* Thalia Bell "Saddle Leather Law" (Columbia) Hollywood, Jan. 2 CHARLES STARRETT is a handy fellow with his fists, and his boxing ability is taxed to the utmost in this Jack Fier production. For neither Starrett nor his sidekick, Dub Taylor, are able to avoid the traps set for them by the villains. The pair walk into one pitfall right after another, and only fistic dexterity and a complete disregard for the Marquess of Queens- berry rules keeps them alive until the end of the picture. Nothing new has been added to Elizabeth Beecher's screenplay. It is the one about the villains trying to obtain the land, only this time the plot is further confused by the fact that the villain is a girl, the land she covets is legally her own, and why she murders her uncle is not explained. Pos- sibly just because she is a nasty character and ably portrayed as such by Vi Athens. Jimmy Wakely and his Saddle Pals help smooth out the rough spots with some pleasant musical numbers. Benjamin Kline directed. Running time, 55 minutes. "G"* Release date, Dec. 21. T. B. Hollywood Production in 9-Month Low, 34 Filming Hollywood, Jan. 2. — The holiday lull in production activity brought the shooting index to 34 pictures, lowest number in work since last March, when the index touched 30. Only four new features were started, while 15 were finished. The produc- tion scene follows: Columbia Finished: "The Power of the Whistler," "Escape in the Fog," "Rockin' in the Rockies." Shooting : "The Fighting Guards- man," "A Thousand and One Nights." M-G-M Finished: "Twice Blessed," "With- out Love," "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes." Shooting : "Her Highness and the Bellboy," "The Hidden Eye," "Week- end at the Waldorf," "Hold High the Torch." Paramount Started : "Too Good to Be True," with Betty Hutton and Sonny Tufts; "Masquerade in Mexico," with Doro- thy Lamour, Arturo De Cordoba, Pat- ric Knowles. Shooting: "Good Intentions," "The Virginian," "The Lost Weekend," "The Lov.e Letters," "The Affairs of Susan," "Duffy's Tavern." RKO Radio Finished: "Isle of the Dead." Shooting : "Johnny Angel," "Follow Your Heart," "The Spanish Main," "Invisible Army," "Along Came Jones" (International). Republic Finished: "Corpus Christi Bandit," "Gangs of the Waterfront," "Tell It to a Star," "Utah," "Tugboat Annie's Son" (James S. Burkett). Started : "Road to Alcatraz," with Robert Lowery, June Storey, Charles Gordon, Clarence Kolb, Iris Adrian, Grant Withers ; "Return at Dawn." 20th Century-Fox Shooting : "Colonel Effingham's Raid," "A Bell for Adano," "Captain Eddie." United Artists Shooting : "A Walk in the Sun" (Bronston) ; "Blood on the Sun" (Cagney) ; "Story of G.I. Joe" (Cowan) ; "Guest Wife" (Skirball- Manning). Universal Finished : "Easy to Look At," "Blonde Ransom." Shooting : "A Night in Paradise," "That's the Spirit." Warners Finished: "San Antonio." Shooting : "Mildred Pierce," "This Love of Ours," "Hotel Berlin," "The Big Sleep." Mrs. Loveland Manager Bridgetox, N. J., Jan. 2. — Mrs. E. C. Loveland has been named dis- trict manager of Atlantic Theatres circuit in this area, succeeding Dan Neagley, resigned. The circuit, headed Ir- Ben Amsterdam of Philadelphia, will rebuild the Burlington Fox Thea- tre, which was recently destroyed by fire, as soon as priorities are available. *"G" denotes general classification. Plan Latin Union Merger Mexico City, Jan. 2. — Amalgama- tion of all Latin American film work- ers into one organization is being engineered at the Latin American Labor Convention in Colombia by Salvador Carrillo of the Mexican delegation. CBS to Honor Berle Columbia Broadcasting System will hold a press reception for Milton Berle in the Barberry Room here tomor- row. Berle's program, "Let Yourself Go," will make its debut on CBS today. Considine in Boston Boston, Jan. 2. — Robert Considine, co-author of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," has been here several days in conjunction with the opening of the film. Parties at the Hotel Statler and elsewhere have been given in his honor, with Bert McKenzie handling the M-G-M publicity. New Georgia Theatre Columbus, Ga., Jan. 2. — William K. Jenkins, president of Georgia The- atres, has announced the building of a new theatre here to be started shortly at a cost of $150,000. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 2 PAUL ANDOR will have a featured role in "Hotel Berlin," now shoot- ing at Warners. . . . 20th Century-Fox has lifted James Dunn's option and as- signed him a top role in "Caribbean Mystery." • ■ . Film rights to "Four Men of God" have been acquired by Warners. It's the true story of four heroic chaplains who gave up their life-belts and perished in the torpedo- ing of the transport Dorchester. • Wallace Fox has been signed to di- rect the next two East Side Kids pic- tures for Monogram. . . . Fred deCor- dova has' been made a full-fledged di- rector at Warners, and assigned to do "The Time Between.". . . "What Price Innocence?"' has been assigned by Columbia to Ted Richmond to pro- duce. . . Marjorie Main will have a featured role in M-G-M's "The Har- vey Girls." • Republic has signed James Lydon to a term contract and assigned him a leading role in "The Amazing Mr. M," on which Joseph Kane will be as- sociate producer-director. Previously announced for roles in the production were Joseph Schildkraut, Eugene Pal- lette, Ona Munson and Ann Gillis. . . . Byron Poind'exter has had his Para- mount contract renewed. To Resume Talks in SOPEG Pact Dispute Meetings between the Screen Of- fice and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, CIO, and Loew's, 20th Century-Fox, RKO, Paramount and Columbia are expected to be resumed here this week before Commissioner James W. Fitzpatrick of the U. S. Conciliation Service after more than two weeks delay due to Fitzpatrick's illness. SOPEG's contract and job classification and wage scale dispute with the companies affects almost 2,- 000 "white collar" workers in the home offices of the five companies. SOPEG has set a new deadline of midnight, Friday, for the return by mail of ballots by its 3,000 members on an amalgamation with United Of- fice and Professional Workers of America, Local 1, CIO. Slowness of mails during the holiday season caused a shift in the original deadline of Dec. 31. Certify SPU Extras' Bargaining Agent Hollywood, Jan. 2. — The National Labor Relations Board today certified the Screen Players Union as the bar- gaining agent for extra players, con- firming the results of the Dec. 17 elec- f tion in which the extras chose SPU in preference to the Screen Actors Guild, which had represented them for the past seven years. SPU met to- night to plan the next step toward opening negotiations with the employ- ing producers for a contract. U. S. Sues Schulherg Los Angeles, Jan. 2. — The U. S. Attornev has . filed suit here against producer B. P. Schulberg for $101,809 unpaid income tax and interest for 1934-35. IMS 91 odious ALBERT DEKKER 0 • OUVE BLAKENEY • MARGARET TOE Produced by ROBERT FELLOWS Directed by JACQUES TOURNEUR Screen Play by Warren Duff NATIONALLY ADVERTISED in magazines totaling 16,345,192 CIRCULATION including full pages in CIRCULATION LIFE 4,040,300 WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION . . 3,586,231 LIBERTY 1,262,296 ENTIRE FAN LIST .... .7,456,365 Wednesday, January 3, 1945 Motion Picture Daily See New Radio Bills In 79th Congress Washington, Jan. 2. — Many months of investigation of the Federal Com- munications Commission by the House Interstate Commerce Committee, dur- ing the past year may develop a basis for new radio-broadcasting legislation in the 79th Congress, which opens today, according to informed opinion here. The legislation is ex- pected to be patterned along the lines . of the bills on which the committee 1 based its inquiry, but with modifica- tions shown by the survey to be de- sirable. The coming Congress is also ex- pected to have more time and inclina- tion to consider industrial legislation than did its predecessor, particularly after the defeat of Germany, when ef- forts will be centered on as rapid a return as possible to more normal ways of business than have been fol- lowed during the past three years. In the 78th Congress, many of the old standby bills, dealing with copy- right, the proposed Division of Fine Arts, block booking and divorcement of film exhibition from production and distribution, were filed as usual, prob- ably to keep the record straight for their introduction in every Congress. A resume of 78th Congress legisla- tion affecting the film industry and a forecast of how the industry may be affected by the 79th Congress appeared Dec. 26 in Motion Picture Daily Review End $250,000 Suit Against Selznick A $250,000 suit against David O. Selznick, Ernest Scanlon, Raymond A. Klun and Daniel T. O'Shea in New York Federal Court by Astra Pictures Inc., was settled out of court yesterday. Action had sought damages over the alleged rights of the plaintiff to three of Selznick's pictures. Films involved were "Prisoner of Zenda," "Garden of Allah" and "Ad- ventures of Tom Sawyer." Clearance Complaint Filed in Chicago Kedzie Amusement Co., operating the Kedzie Annex Theatre, Chicago, has filed a clearance complaint in the Chicago tribunal against the five con- senting companies, the American Ar- bitration Association reports here. Complainant charged that clearance granted to the Senate Theatre, also Chicago, is arbitrary, excessive and unreasonable. Academy to Present Awards March 15 Hollywood, Jan. 2. — The board of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has set March 15 for its 17th annual awards ceremony. Because of wartime con- tingencies, the traditional banquet will again be replaced by an informal gathering at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, with some of the seats available to the public. EK's Tarnow Dies Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 2. — Laur- ence M. Tarnow, 47, assistant at East- man Kodak Co.'s Hawk-Eye Works, died here recently of carbon monoxide gas which overcame him as he was filling his auto radiator with anti- freeze. 'Sheriff of Las Vegas" (Republic) Hollyzvuod, Jan. 2 THE latest adventure of Red Ryder maintains the standards set by its predecessors. 'Wild Bill' Elliott and Alice Fleming are seen again in their familiar roles of Red and the Duchess, and Bobby Blake contributes his own particular brand of humor as Little Beaver. The screenplay, by Norman S. Hall, revolves around a quarrel between a high-spirited young man and his father, during the course of which the father threatens to change his will and cut the lad off without a cent. When the father is later found dead, the son is charged with the murder. It's Elliott who solves the crime, uncovering at the same time a ring of unsavory characters. Lesley Selander's direction is smooth as silk, and members of the cast par- ticularly worthy of mention include Peggy Stewart, Jay Kirby, John Hamilton and William Haade. Stephen Auer was associate producer. Running time, 66 minutes. "G"*. Release date, Dec. 31. T. B. *"G" denotes general classification. A. J. Law Dies of Heart Attack Here (Continued from page 1) Justice officials on the conciliation plan in Washington two weeks ago and while no formal expression for or against the plan was made by the De- partment, is was reported subsequently that the proposal had been received with interest. Law had gone to Wash- ington from the Coast to attend the meeting of industry chairmen of the March of Dimes drive with President Roosevelt at the White House on Dec. 19. Law, a native of Logan, Utah, was 40 years old. He was accompanied on the Eastern business trip by his wife, the former Marion Templeton of Los Angeles, whom he married last July 14. In addition to his wife Law is survived by his mother, Sara James Law of Los Angeles ; a sister, Eliza- beth James Law of Washington, D. C, and a brother, Melvin J., now in the armed service. Los Angeles Funeral The body was shipped to Los An- geles last night for funeral services to be set there later. In announcing the formation of the SCTOA last July, Law described it as an organization of both independent and circuit operators designed "to deal with problems common to all ex- hibitors and to provide a medium through which the views of all, large and small, can be properly expressed." His first contact with the industry was in 1927 when, as Special Assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, he began preparation of an anti-trust case against distributors. He went to Holly- wood as a member of the Attorney General's staff in 1937 and later re- signed to enter the private practice of law in Los Angeles. Subsequently, he handled a number of actions brought by West Coast independents against Fox West Coast Theatres and several other companies. G. F. Nash, 80, Dies George Frederick Nash, 80, veteran of the Broadway stage who also ap- peared in several films, including "Sixteen Fathoms Deep," "The Great Gatsby" and "A Man Must Live," died Saturday at- the Brunswick Home in Amityville, L. I. Nash was one of the oldest members of the Lambs Club. Surviving is his son, Capt. George F. Nash, Jr., with the AAF in France. Rules Canada Courts Can't Control Films (.Continued from page 1) the Province of Quebec maintained the position of United Amusement Corp. after long litigation involving the right of United's Snowden Thea- tre to have priority on certain Warner features over the Kent Theatre, which is a unit of the Garson and Lane circuit, reportedly recently acquired by Odeon Theatres of Canada. Hearing in November The question was raised by United Amusement in a hearing last Novem- ber on its appeal from a judgment of a lower court and the new decision establishes a principle which is impor- tant with respect to jurisdiction on all film contracts in Canada during the wartime life of the Federal order- in-council giving effect to Government administration of the motion picture business. An injunction secured by Kent Theatres to restrain United and Warner Bros, from exercising a re- lease priority at the Snowden Theatre was also thrown out by the high court. Further legal action is believed un- likely because of the precedent set by the Quebec court in this latest deci- sion and in addition the film contract involved is understood to have ex- pired in the interim. Famous Players has a large finan- cial interest in United Amusement which is a group of 30 theatres oper- ated as an affiliate of the main cir- cuit. Legion Classifies Five New Pictures The Legion of Decency has classi- fied the following new films: A-l, "Saddle Leather Law" and "Sing Me a Song of Texas," Columbia ; A-2, "Can't Help Singing," Universal, "Dangerous Passage," Paramount, and "The Great Bonanza," Republic. Peters Shot Accidentally Hollywood, Jan. 2. — Susan Peters, M-G-M player, was accidentally shot yesterday after duck hunting near San Diego, when the party, which included Miss Peters' husband, Rich- ard Quine, former actor now in the Coast Guard, was putting its guns away at the Cuna Mesa Gun Club. The studio reports that the bullet passed through the actress's abdomen, lodging in her spine. B'nai B'rith Sets Cinema Auxiliary Women in the film and allied in- dustries in New York, as well as the wives and other female members of the families of present Cinema Lodge members, may now participate in B'nai B'rith activities, through a new ly-formed Cinema Auxiliary. Recently-elected officers of the aux- iliary who will be installed at a meet- ing at the Hotel Piccadilly on Mon- day evening, Jan. 22, are : President, Mrs. Anna G. Blackman, wife of Max B. Blackman of Warner Bros. ; vice- president, Mrs. Bessie Lefkowitz, wife of Sam Lefkowitz of United Artists ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Ethel R. Greenfield, wife of Irving Green- field of Loew's ; treasurer, Mrs. Mar- ian Israel. Mrs. Dorothy Block, field secretary of B'nai B'rith's Womens' Grand Lodge, is spearheading the membership drive. Hempstead of RKO To Take Long Rest Hollywood, Jan. 2. — David Hemp- stead, RKO producer, has received a requested release from his contract, due to illness necessitating a long rest. He is now in St. John's Hos- pital and has not announced any post- convalescence plans. Hempstead first joined RKO as producer of "Joan of Paris" in 1941. Hollywood to Face Postwar Challenge (Continued from page 1) people in occupied countries, long starved for entertainment, are asking for pictures. Few countries will be without their own national picture industry after war, Rose said, naming England, France, Russia, Mexico and Latin America as factors to compete with. He asserted that as long as Holly- wood continues make intelligent en- tertainment, American products will continue to dominate the world mar- ket. Tub Thumpers' First Initiation Jan. 16 Boston, Jan. 2. — The newly or- ganized Tub Thumpers of America, with Harry Browning of M. and P. Theatres as chief tub thumper, will hold its first initiation at a 'charter closing' dinner at the Parker House nere Jan. 16. Bill Cunningham, col- umnist, will be the principal speaker. Browning has offered the services of members to the forthcoming March of Dimes drive. The organization here has been ad- vised by Murphy McHenry of RKO Radio on the Coast and by L. L. Septembre, Columbia mid-Eastern ex- ploitation representative, that units may be formed in Hollywood and Washington, respectively. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CINEFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 12 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 3, 1945 Motion Picture Stock & Bond Prices in 1944 High and Low in Stock and Bond Trading for Five Years New York Stock Exchange -1944- Stock and Dividend Sales Columbia Pictures (/A) 104,000 Columbia Pictures pfd. (2J4) 12,300 Consolidated Film 238,900 Consolidated Film pfd. (IB) 284,400 Eastman Kodak (5) 57,500 Eastman Kodak pfd. (6) 1,710 Gen. Precision (1) 323,600 Loew's, Inc. (2C) 193,100 Paramount (2) '.. 888,600 Radio-Keith-Orpheum 1,008,600 Radio-Keith-Orpheum pfd. (6) 94,135 20th Century-Fox (2C) 764,800 20th Century-Fox pfd. (I1/) 271,400 20th Century-Fox pr. pfd. (454) 12.900 Warner Brothers 1,040,300 A — So far this year; B — accumulated; C— also extras. High 23 30/ ' 178 195 2334 81J4 30 lew 10734 285/6 3VA 106/ 15 Low 39/ 234 165/s 157 175 1M 58 2334 7% 85}4 21/ 2854 100 11'/ Close 2054 48 5i4 29/ 178 185 23'/ 79% 2954 954 91i/ 106 13'/ Net Change + 4 + 75/6 + 23/8 +12% +17 + 4 + 3/ +21/8 + 5lA + H — 854 + 7- + 6/2 + 6 + 154 1943 High Low 1954 41 3Vs 1954 170 184 24i/ 6454 30 10/ 101'/ 2434 34/2 101 1534 9 30/ 54 75/8 146/ 173 135/ 4254 15/ 3'/ 54J4 12% 25 99 73/ 1942 High Low 1154 35 ?4 9 151/ 180 14?4 463/ 17/ 3V* 5454 16 754 2654 1954 not listed 854 4/ 554 24 3/ 7 108 170 103/ 37 113/ 2 345/ 1941 High Low m 28/ 154 11 145/ 182/, 1654 393/ 16/ 33/ 55/. 95/ 24 454 21/ 54 7 120/ 160 95/ 28 10 2 38/ 5 1654 23/ 1940 High Low 854 26 3/ . 5/ 117 155 7M 20/ 454 254 not listed 13/ 5 2554 14 454 2 10/ 1663/ 180 1354 3754 107/ New York Curb Exchange -1944 Stock and Dividend Sales Monogram Pictures 274,900 Radio-Keith-Orpheum opt. war 622,100 Sentry Safety Control 52,400 Technicolor (54 A) 311,600 Trans- Lux (.10A) 148,300 Universal Pictures (2A) 105,350 A — So far this year. High 4/ m 154 26 14 Net 1941 1942 1941 1940 Low Close Change . High Low High Low . High Low High Low m 3?4 unch. 4 7/ 154 . 54 VA 54 1 54 1 154 - J4 254, & not listed 34 H + 54 rt 3/16 -h 54 / 54 1/ 3/16 1254 23/ +11 15/ 65/ 87/ 67/ 11 654 163/ 854 3 4 - 54 43/ 15/ 154 54 1 3/ 15/ 54 18/ 21 + 354 1954 16 44 25 30/ 145/ 1554 4 Comparison of Valuation of Stock Issues 1943-1944 Stock Shares Outstanding 368,268 Close 1943, 1654 Valuation $6,168,489 Close 1944 2054 Valuation $7,641,561 , Net + 4 Change N + $1,473,072 75,000 4054 m 3,028,125 48 3,600,000 + 754 + 571,875 524,973 1,509,297 554 2,756,007 + 254 + 1,246,710 Consolidated Film pfd. .... 400,000 17/ 6,900,000 29/ 11,800,000 +1254 + 4,900,000 2,476,013 161 398,638,093 178 440,730,314 +17 + 42,092,221 61,657 181 11,159,917 185 11,406,545 + 4 + 246,628 586,087 1954 11,575,218 23/ 13,626,522 + 354 + 2,051,304 1,665,713 5854 97,860,638 79J4 133,048,825 +21/ + 35.188,187 2,465,927 2354 58,565,766 29/ 72,128.364 + 5/ + 13,562,598 Radio-Keith-Orpheum Radio-Keith-Orpheum, 2,753,053 8?4 24,433,345 9/ 25,465,740 + 54 + 1,032,395 pfd 128,170 100 12,817,000 9154 11,727,555 - 854 1,089,445 1,741,995 2154 37,670,641 285-6 3554 49,861,606 + 7 + 12,193,965 20th Century-Fox, pfd. 917,420 287/ 26.490,502 32,453,732 + 654 + 5.963.230 20th Cent. -Fox pr. pfd 500,000 100 50,000,000 106 53,000,000 + 6 + 3,000,000 3.701,090 12/s 44,875,716 1354 49,964,715 + 154 + 5,088,999 $791,692,747 $919,214,486 $127,521,739 Film Stocks Jump To $919,214,486 ( Contin tied from page 1 ) almost $11,000,000,000 was the result mainly of a change of opinion re- garding the probable length of the war. Traders, viewing the reconversion period from war to peace as one fore- shadowing at least temporary finan- cial instability, have been selling stocks as a precautionary measure whenever there have been any indi- cations that the end of the war may be in sight. But the late 1944 German offensive, an increased demand for war mate- rials and warnings by military and Government officials that there had been unjustified optimism about ap- proaching peace brought a rising trend at the yearend as result of good de- mand for stocks. A major factor in the rise among motion picture issues was the con- tinued rise in national income which, in 1944, rose to another new high at an estimated $158,000,000,000. Fa- vorable earnings trends and improve- ment in financial structures aided such stocks as Paramount and Loew's. Loew's rose 21^ points during the year, from a close of 583/; at the end of 1943 to 79%, for a gain in market valuation of $35,188,187 to a total of $133,048,825 at the end of 1944. Para- mount rose $13,562,598 in market value from $58,565,766 at the end of 1943 to $72,128,364 at 1944's close. Other major gainers were Eastman Kodak, up 17; 20th Century-Fox, up 7 ; Columbia Pictures, up 4 and the preferred, up 7V%, and Consoli- dated Film preferred, up 1254. A five-year comparison of film stock tradings appears above. Films Receipts Are Over $1,135,000,000 Washington, Jan. 2. — Tax figures compiled by the Treasury Department showed that 2,742 film companies out of 4,219 filing Federal returns for 1942, had total receipts of $1,135,028,- 000, and a net of $172,337,000 on which they paid an income tax of $40,719,000. Another 1,308 corpora- tions had no net income, but had re- ceipts of $82,654,000 after some de- ductions; 169 companies were not ac- tive during the year. 'Velvet' Is Setting $141,000 Record Piling up a gross of $110,301 in five days, starting last Thursday and ending Monday night, Radio City Music Hall is headed for $141,000 for the third week of "National Velvet," for a new house record, according to G. S. Eyssell, managing director. Previous record was $131,007 for a single week, established by "Top Hat" in 1935. All box office records in the history of the Music Hall were broken over the New Year's holiday weekend in recording $110,301, it was said, with indications being that the new mark of near $141,000 would be reached by tonight. MGM Lakehurst Tour M-G-M, in conjunction with the Navy, will take the trade press to Lakehurst Naval Station, at Lake- hurst, N. J'., next Monday afternoon, for a tour of the installation, to be followed by a reception for both Navy men and the press, then dinner and a screening- of the company's "This Alan's Navy." $100,000 Record For 'Waves' Here Paramount's "Here Come the Waves" set a new all-time high of $100,000 at the New York Paramount Theatre for a Christmas-New Year's holiday attraction and becomes the fifth picture in the 18-year history of the theatre to top $100,000 in the first week of an engagement, R. M. Weitman, managing director, an- nounced here yesterday. Paramount's previous films in the $100,000 or over class were "China," "Star Spangled Rhythm," "Lady in the Dark" and "Going My Way." "Here Come the Waves" in its open- ing week topped the initial week of "Going My Way" by several thousand dollars, it was said. UA to Show 'Emmanuel' United Artists will be host to the trade press at breakfast at its home office this morning preceding the showing of "Mr. Emmanuel," first of the J. Arthur Rank films to be re- leased here by the company. The film will have its premiere at the Gotham Theatre here Saturday. First in [Radio jNi Accural 1 and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY OL. 57. NO. 3 NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1945 TEN CENTS Sears Succeeds Depinet at War Activities Schnitier Will Assist In Distributors' Unit Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president and general manager of United Artists, yesterday was unanimously elected chairman of the distributors division of the W ar Activities Committee, at a special meet- ing of the dis- tributors divi- sion, held here. He s u c c e eds Ned Depinet, RKO, who re- tired as chair- man. Sears, with the ,aid of the committee, im- mediately selected ten dis- GradweU L. Sears ^ chairmen and a staff of 32 exchange area chair- men. Then in a message to all dis- (Continucd on page 12) France Endorses Rank 'Association' London, Jan. 3. — E-. T. Carr, repre- sentative of J. Arthur Rank, has re- turned here for consultations with Rank and with British and French government officials regarding plans for the distribution and exhibition of British films in France, which he 'hammered out' in Paris during the past month. Carr will return to France within a few days for final ratification of an agreement which is said to have the 'blessing' of the French government. Again emphasizing that Rank seeks (.Continued on page 11) Riskin Back from European Survey Robert Riskin, chief of the Office of War Information overseas 'motion picture bureau, has returned to the U. S. after a two-month trip to France, England, and the liberated areas of Belgium and Holland. During his trip, Riskin surveyed various OWI production problems in England and investigated the proposal for a joint OWI-British Ministry of (Continued on page 7) No Challenge Seen To IATSE in New 'White Collar' Union The newly-chartered AFL Office Workers International Union which will hold its first convention at the Gibson Hotel in Cincinnati starting Monday is not expected to challenge the jurisdiction of the IATSE over 3,000 film exchange office workers or the International Brotherhood of Decorators and Paperhangers' juris- diction over some 3,500 studio "white collar" workers who are members of Screen Office Employes Guild, Local 1391, it was learned yesterday. Richard F. Walsh, IATSE presi- dent, and representatives of the Paint- ers, Decorators and Paperhangers are understood to have settled the ques- tion of jurisdiction over these indus- try office workers at the recent AFL executive board meeting in New Or- leans, at which William Green, AFL president, who will open the meeting " (Continued on page 11) Rodgers Says Merit Will Win Promotion "If the people in our organization are deserving of recognition they will get a more responsible post as soon as they prove capable of handling the job," William F. Rodgers, M-G-M vice-president and general sales man- ager told a meeting of field auditors and field 'Commando Girls' yesterday at the Hotel Astor. Rodgers stated (Continued on page 11) U.S. to Extend Appeal Board An order extending the terms of the three judges of the consent de- cree's arbitration appeal board for an- other year is expected to be submitted to Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard here before the end of the month by the Department of Justice. Judge Goddard renewed terms of the judges for one year, from Jan. 31, 1944, to Jan. 31, 1945, last Feb. 1. Prior to the last extension of the terms, terms of the board members were for three years. George W. Al- ger, Albert W. Putnam and Robert McC. Marsh are the present judges. Marsh succeeded the late Van Vech- ten Veeder and his interim appoint- ment was extended by Judge God- dard in Nov., 1943, to Jan. 31, 1944, (Continued on page 13) Worst Blizzard in Theatres' History Cincinnati, Jan. 3. — This state is recovering today from the worst bliz- zard in more than -50 years, and the film business in all situations has been affected. Hardest hit area is Northern Ohio, where snow drifts in several sections reached a depth of 10 feet. Typical of conditions reported in many Midwestern and Eastern key cities, theatre attendance here has been demoralized, with film deliveries made impossible in some territories, causing a number of houses to close and others (Continued on page 7) Relief from Small Town Edict on Projectionists Coast Expects Fewer Films FromWPBCut Also Fears Trimming of Stock for Production Curtailment of production looms if, as expected, the War Production Board cuts the industry's raw stock allocation five or 10 per cent, au- thoritative sources told Motion Picture Daily. Studio executives who hold this viewpoint point out that many films now in backlog are awaiting raw stock with which to prepare release prints. That the industry will have ap- proximately 20,000,000 feet less raw (Continued on page 12) Balahan, Others Ask For Charity Group Recommendations of Barney Bala- ban, Harry Brandt, Martin Smith, William Crockett, Charles Moskowitz and Karl Hoblitzelle for a plan of or- ganization and operation whereby the Motion Picture Charities Fund may be expanded on a nationwide basis, have been forwarded by Hoblitzelle, chairman of the Fund, from Dallas, (Continued on page 7) First War-Surplus Film Equipment Washington, Jan. 3. — For the first time since it began to dispose of surplus govern- ment war stocks, the Recon- struction Finance Corp. re- vealed here today that it has received a small quantity of photographic goods and pro- cessed motion pictures. It has received projection apparatus, enlargers and accessories, located in Boston, and de- veloping, printing and dark- room apparatus and acces- sories, located at Chicago and Minneapolis. Albany, Jan. 2. — Three "varia- tions" have been granted by the State Labor Department's Board of Stand- ards and Appeals from a regulation of the State Police that projectionists in rural communities must be at least 21 years old. The State Police adopted the rule last summer as a safety measure, after a bad fire in a small-town thea- tre. On investigation, the constabu- lary found that two boys, said to be under 16, were operating the booth. War-time conditions and manpower shortages have caused numerous owners of theatres in small situations to hire boys and girls for projection and other duties. This condition is reported to exist even in some small cities. The situation in the rural sections — (Continued on page 13) Phil L. Ryan Forms New Production Unit Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Phil L. Ryan has established new offices here to produce independently and to repre- sent free lance stars, writers and di- rectors as financial and distribution counsel. Ryan, who now plans to produce three films annually, in recent years was president of Phil L. Ryan Pro- ductions, producing comedies for Par- amount release, and has held the post of production manager for Selznick International. In 1944 he was named president of Terneen Productions. In This Issue Review of "Mr. Emmanuel" appears on page 7; "This Man's Navy," page 13. Photos of winners in Motion Picture Daily's radio poll appear on 10. The booking chart appears on page 15. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 4, 1945 41 at Testimonial For Silverstone United Artists home office execu- tives, producers and their representa- tives were hosts last night to Emanuel Silverstone at a dinner at Toots Shor's, here. Silverstone has relin- quished his post as assistant to West- ern Division Manager J. J. linger to become special representative of the UA's Foreign Department and will shortly leave for overseas. Among those attending were: Ed- ward C. Raftery, Gradwell L. Sears, Carl Leserman, Edward Schnitzer, J. J. Unger, Harry Gold, Harry Buckley, Paul Lazarus, Sr., Walter Gould, Tom Mulrooney, Harry Muller, Sam Lefkowitz, Jack Ellis, Charles Steele, Phil Dow, Jack Wrege, Charles Goetz, Eddie Mullen, Walter Liebler, Harry Schroeder, Lou Pol- lock, Bernard Kamber, Rex Williams, James Dunn, Herb Berg, Major Mon- roe W. Greenthal and S/Sgt. Paul Lazarus, Jr. Also Jules Levey, William J. Heine- man, Lowell Calvert, David E. Wesh- ner, Seymour Roe, Budd Rogers, Archie Mayer, Bernie Kreisler, Harry Kosiner, Schuyler Wilson, Sol Krug- man, Bob Montgomery and Dan Frankel. SPU Asks Producers For Bargaining Date Hollywood, Jan. 3. — The Screen Players Union, which yesterday re- ceived National Labor Relations Board certification as the bargaining agent for extra players, today ad- dressed to producers, individually and collectively, a letter declaring the NLRB certification text covers types of work over which the Screen Actors Guild claims continuing jurisdiction and asking the producers to name a date for opening negotiations with re- spect to a contract. Simultaneously SAG addressed a letter to Class 'B' members, stating that the 'B' classification will be abolished Feb. 1 and asking the mem- bers to indicate, on a return postcard form supplied, their choice between applying for 'A' junior membership in SAG or resigning from the organiza- tion. The producers, who last week de- scribed their own position as a "di- lemma," had no comment today pend- ing receipt of the SPU communi- cation. Asks $500,000 from 20th-Fox on 'Wilson' Anthony Richard Pinci filed an ac- tion in U. S. Federal Court here yesterday against 20th Century-Fox charging that the company's "Wil- son" is an infringement upon his copyrighted, but unpublished play "Woodrow Wilson," and asking $500,- 000 damages and an accounting of profits from the film. Pinci said that he was a Washing- ton correspondent and a political writ- er when President Wilson was elected and cited two instances when he sub- mitted his play to 20th-Fox for con- sideration as a possible film. Personal Mention L. J. SCHLAIFER, 20th Century- Fox Central sales manager, will return to New Yofk early next week after visiting exchanges in Cleveland and Chicago. • Cpl. Herman Addison's 13th Field Artillery Brigade was awarded the Croix de Guerre in Italy by General Juin, French commander, and not Ad- dison, individually, as stated here on Tuesday. Addison managed Schine's Paramount, Glens Falls, N. Y. • Francis Harmon, War Activities Committee coordinator, 50 years old yesterday, recalled that 26 years ago he paid for a birthday dinner in Lux- emburg with Army issue soap, then a scarcity. • Lieut. Commander Douglas Fair- banks, Jr., has been awarded the Le- gion of Merit for "exceptionally meri- torious conduct" during the invasion of Southern France. • Lee Bryan, Republic Oklahoma City salesman, suffered a broken leg while changing trains at Memphis en route to visit friends in Atlanta. • Ralph L. McCoy, Warner Bros. Southern district manager, will return to his Atlanta headquarters tomor- row from New York. • Leon Schlesinger has arrived from the Coast to confer with novelty houses on forthcoming tie-ups for Warner Bros, cartoons. • Cpl. Milton Yassenoff, son of Leo Yassenoff, head of Academy Theatres, Columbus, O., is home after 34 months in the South Pacific. • Harry H. Thomas, Monogram Eastern division manager, left yester- day on a 10-day trip to Chicago, Mil- waukee and Detroit. STEVE BROIDY, Monogram gen- eral sales manager, left Holly- wood by plane yesterday to attend to- day's meeting with War Production Board officials in Washington. • Theodore Thomson Flynn, father of Errol Flynn, has been named a member of the Order of the British Empire for perfecting air-raid pre- cautions in the present war. The elder Flynn is a professor at Queens Uni- versity in Belfast, Eire. • Lou Cohen, manager of Loew's Poli in Hartford, and James Mc- Carthy, manager of the Warner Strand in that city, are both observ- ing their 31st anniversary in the in- dustry this week. • Howard Dietz, M-G-M vice-presi- dent in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation, will leave New York for the Coast Jan. 9. • Morton Downey is recovering from a throat infection in an Ameri- can hospital in Paris. • John J. Bacey of the RKO ex- change here has a grandson, John J. Bacey, III, born Sunday morning at Bronxville Hospital. • Mrs. E. O'Toole, executive secre- tary to Henry Needles, Warners Hartford district manager, is in New York until tomorrow. • Tom Hoffman of Comerford Thea- tres is the father of a girl born last week in Mercy Hospital, Scranton, Pa. • M. E. Morey of Monogram's New York exchange will be in Washington and Philadelphia the rest of this week. • Henry Blanke, Warner Bros, producer, is expected in New York next week. Brumberg Heads WB Field Service Men Mort Blumenstock, head of War- ners' Eastern advertising-publicity de- partment, announced yesterday the ap- pointment of William W. Brumberg, formerly a member of the field pub- lic relations staff in Cleveland, to the home office in charge of field service men. Brumberg succeeds Irving Yer- gin, recently elevated to a studio spot as aide to Steve Trilling and to Jack L. Warner, executive producer. Brumberg has been with Warners for more than 20 years, as branch manager, short subjects buyer, road- show manager and other posts in both exhibition and distribution. He will work under Larry Golob, East- ern publictiy manager. McCormick Calls Meeting Chicago, Jan. 3. — S. Barret Mc- Cormick, director of advertising and publicity for RKO, will hold an all- day conference with the company's local publicity staff Jan. 13, on a stop- off en route to New York from Holly- wood where he is holding studio con- ferences on exploitation campaigns. To Resume SOPEG Hearings Tuesday The resumption of conciliation hearings between the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, CIO and representatives of Loew's, 20th Century-Fox, RKO Radio, Paramount and Columbia, be- fore U. S. Commissioner James W. Fitzpatrick has been set for next Tuesday here. Some 2,000 'white col- larite' workers are involved. Lose Appeal on 306, Empire Merger Upset The Appellate Division of Kings County Supreme Court, in Brooklyn, has turned down the appeal of three members of Empire State Projection- ists Union who sought to upset the merger of Empire with IATSE pro- jectionists Local No. 306, here. The merger took place in July, 1943, and subsequently the three projec- tionists sought to upset it. When they lost their case yi the lower court they took an appeal to the Appellate Division. Coming Events Jan. 5 — Variety testimonial dinner for W. A. Steffes, Niccolet Hotel, Minneapolis. To Jan. 6 — M-G-M Field auditors meet, Hotel Astor, New York. Jan. 7-8 — Motion Picture Theatre 4 Owners of Mississippi, Arkansas » and Tennessee, annual meeting, Memphis. Jan. 15-22 — IASTE executive com- mittee meeting, Niccolet Hotel, Minneapolis. Jan. 17 — Cinema Lodge theatre par- ty, New York. Jan. 21-22— Motion Picture Theatre Owners of North and South Caro- lina, annual meeting, Charlotte. Jan. 24 — National Allied's board of directors' meeting, Deshler-Wal- lick Hotel, Columbus, O. Jan. 25-31 — March of Dimes cam- paign in theatres. Feb. 2 — Press Photographers As- sociation dance and entertain- ment, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York. Awards Damages for Unauthorized Show Federal Judge Mandelbaum of U. S. District Court, New York, yester- day granted judgments to Loew's Big U Film Exchange, and Universal Pictures in their copyright infringe- ment suit .against Sanfrelbob Theatre Corp.'s Grandee Theatre and Nathan Steinberg. The judge granted the plaintiffs statutory damages which will be assessed at from $250 to $5,000 per infringement, at the judge's dis- cretion, plus attorneys' fees. The actions were based upon the defendants' playing "Tortilla Flat," "San Francisco" and "You're a Sweet- heart" each one day beyond terms of contracts. The plaintiffs were rep- resented by Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin and Krim. Barrows Is Re-elected For 28th Term Boston, Jan. 3. — Thad,C. Barrows was elected president of the IATSE in Boston for the 28th consecutive time today, receiving four times the votes cast for his opponent. Other officers elected were : Joseph Nuz- zolo vice-president; Albert F. Moul- ton, financial secretary, and Joseph Rosen, treasurer. Members of the executive board are_: Barrows, Walter Diehl, Harold Kaitz and James O'Brien. Barrows is chief operator of the Metropoli- tan here. MPRF Buys 10 Acres Hollywood, Jan. 3. — The Motion Picture Relief Fund has purchased a 10-acre tract adjoining the premises of the Motion Picture Country Home at Calabasas, for $19,500, as the site of a proposed 90-room hospital. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvi n Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor Published daily except Saturday Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco Ne'w York "' Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor- Tames P Cunningham News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor- London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter Sept 23 1938 at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. 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Walsh has informed Nicholas M. Schenck, national 'Dimes' chair- man, that the IATSE will cooperate as in past years. Walsh is a member of the executive committee of the drive. Meanwhile, additional circuits have pledged for the 1945 March of Dimes, including Cooper Enterprises, Denver, 11 theatres; E. M. Loew, Boston, 35; J. J. Theatres Inc., New York, 15 ; Endicott Circuit, Brooklyn, eight ; Rugoff and Becker, New York, 13 ; Trans-Lux, five ; Wilbey-Kincey The- atres, Atlanta, 96 ; Evergreen The- atres, Portland, Ore., 12 ; Sterling Theatres, Seattle, 16. Other Circuits Also, Genesee Theatrical Enter- prises, Batavia, N. Y., 17; Publix- Richards-Nace, Inc., Phoenix, 27; Essaness Theatres, Chicago, 29; Gi- braltar Enterprises, Denver, 30 ; A. B. McCollum's Theatres, Hoopston, 111., six ; Wehrenberg-Klaman Circuit St. Louis, 10 ; Maine and New Hampshire Theatre Corp., Boston, 25 ; Irving I. Green Theatres, Mass., four. Also, Phil Smith Circuit, Massa- chusetts, 3 ; Western Massachusetts Theatres Inc., Springfield, Mass., 18; Herman Rifkin Theatres, Holyoke, Mass., six; Don Jacocks Theatres, Quincy, Mass., six ; Interstate The- atre Corp., Boston, 23 ; H. J. Griffith Theatres Inc., Kansas City, 30 ; Dick- inson Theatres Inc., Mission, Kan., 21 ; Fox Midwest Theatres, Kansas City, 115; Commonwealth Theatres, Kansas City, 46. Sinatra in 'Dimes' Drive Frank Sinatra has again been named chairman of the American Youth Divi- sion of the 1945 March of Dimes campaign by Basil O'Connor, presi- dent of the National Foundation for infantile paralysis. Six five-minute Sinatra recordings for the drive will be featured over radio hookups begin- ning Jan. 14. Riskin Back from European Survey (Continued from page 1) Information newsreel. it is understood. Also surveyed by Riskin, were dis- tribution problems encountered in showing the 40 Hollywood films and OWI documentaries to aid the psy- chological warfare and U. S. informa- tion program in Europe. W hile in London, Riskin conferred with Reginald Armour, whose specific OW I film assignment will be an- nounced shortly. Worst Blizzard in Theatres9 History (Continued from page 1) to hold over pictures they were show- ing when the storm hit. The Plymouth Theatre at Plymouth was among those thrown open to pro- tect hundreds of people walking from stalled automobiles and buses. Many industries are threatened by a short- age of gas. Schools are closed. The Ohio River is expected to reach flood stage late this week. "Mr. Emmanuel" G. C. F.-Unitcd Artists) I VRTHUR RANK'S Two Cities production, "Mr. Emmanuel," first to •J • be released in this country under the new distribution deal with United Artists, is a film of distinction and an excellent asset in Rank's bid for Ameri- can audiences. Based on the popular novel by Louis Golding, of several years back, it re- counts the engrossing and dramatic story of an elderly Jew's dangerous pilgrimage to Berlin in 1938 to seek information about one of the victims of the then rampant Nazi political and racial persecutions. Felix Aylmer achieves a memorable performance in the title role which completely dominates the action since it is more a story of a man and his deeds than a melodramatic expose of Nazi excesses before the outbreak of World War II. He is ably supported by Greta Gynt and Walter Rilla, with producer William Sistrom supplying an attractive production. The unknown quantity is the possible box office returns of a film of this type at this time. Directed by Harold French, the film has a tendency to lag during the early sequences before Aylmer sets out voluntarily on his mission to Berlin to dis- cover what has happened to the mother of a sensitive German refugee boy. Mr. Emmanuel is a forthright and simple-minded old codger, full of the milk of human kindness. His life has been devoted to the service of helping others, and, naively, he ventures forth into the lair of the dragon. As to be expected, his questioning about the whereabouts of a political victim of the diabolical Nazi methods of persecution, leads him into the hands of the Gestapo. It is only through the intercession of Miss Gynt as a cabaret singer and an old family friend, a Jew who has found favor with a high Nazi official, that Air. Emmanuel is saved from certain death as an infamous international spy. Re- leased from prison, he makes a final stab at finding the mother of the refugee boy. Discovering that she is married to a Nazi officer and that she has re- nounced all ties with her past, including her son, he sadly returns to England with the news that the mother is dead. Gordon Wellesley collaborated with Golding on the screen play. In prun- ing some eight minutes off the original British-made footage of 100 minutes, there appear to be some minor flaws in continuity. As a credit to everyone connected with this production it can be said that there are no obvious differ- ences in dialect which American audiences could find unsatisfactory. "Mr. Emmanuel" is certainly a film with which J. Arthur Rank's production organi- zations can elicit favorable reactions of American audiences. Running time, 92 minutes. "G."* Release date, Jan. 19. Milt Livingston *"G" denotes general classification. Balaban, Others Ask For Charity Group (Continued from page 1) to Walter Vincent, president, in New York. Vincent had sent letters to all board members requesting recommendations. The replies ask for the engagement of an expert in charity work to organize and set forth a plan. A plan which has been approved in principle by both Hoblitzelle and Vincent, is patterned after that of the Actor's Fund of America. Under this plan the Fund would have main offices in New York with secretaries and investigators for all applicants. A similar organization would be set up in every large city. Vincent declared yesterday that de- spite the size of the industry, and doubts expressed about the practical side of the plan, he personally felt it would work. He pointed out that each film company would appoint a repre- sentative in each territory7 which would keep expenses down. Decision of the board should be reached within a fortnight. Cohen a Colonel Lt. Col. Emanuel Cohen has been promoted to a full colonelcy in the U. S. Signal Corps. A former pro- duction executive, Cohen is executive producer of the Astoria, L. I., Sig- nal Corps Photographic Center in charge of all production of training films, industrial incentive films, the Army-Navy 'Screen Magazine,' staff reports, combat bulletins, 'GI' pictures and others. 20th Appeals 'Band' Plagiarism Verdict St. Louis, Jan. 3.— 20th Century- Fox will appeal from the verdict granted Miss E. Marie Cooper by Federal Judge George H. Moore here, in which "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was found to be a plagiarism of Miss Cooper's unpublished novel, "Love Girl." The court has appointed a special master to determine compensation for Miss Moore, and has issued an injunc- tion against the showing of the film which is said to have grossed $7,000,- 000. Previous court rulings here in similar cases have given the plaintiff approximately 20 per cent of the net profits. Pres. Camacho Lauds Disney's 'Caballeros' Mexico City. Jan. 3. — President Manuel Avila Camacho has sent con- gratulations to Max Gomez, local RKO manager, on Walt Disney's "The Three Caballeros," which the chief executive saw at a private screening. The premiere at the Cine Alameda here rolled up a record gross, 3.000 being turned away after the house had been sold out at a $2 top. Fine Arts Leased Boston". Jan. 3. — Jack Markle, for- merly manager of the Coolidge Cor- ner and Brookline Village theatres here, and Leonard Turtle, former manager of the Fenway, have leased the Fine Arts Theatre from George Kraska. and will continue its policy of showing foreign films. Short Subject Review "The Volunteer" (BMI-RKO) The British Ministry of Information offers a timely and informative subject cloaked in a tender story which should charm as well as inspire American audiences. In its two reels "The Volunteer" covers, quite compactly, life in the air arm of the British Navy, following Ralph Richardson, ex-matinee idol, and Pat McGrath, his valet, through their experiences as officer and enlisted man, respectively. Lending reality and ex- citement to the production are se- quences which were shot on and from the British aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable while it was on active service. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger produced, with the co- operation of the Royal Navy ; RKO is releasing in the U. S. Running time, 2\y2 minutes. Fly Exonerated by FCC House Report Washington, Jan. 3.— The House committee which investigated the Fed- eral Communications Commission, to- day filed its final report, the majority offering some defense of former chair- man James L. Fly, but criticizing his activities in connection with station WFTL, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In a review of the sale, the commit- tee expressed the opinion that there was "deception and double dealing on the part of persons negotiating in be- half of the purchaser," and commented that, while it does not charge Fly in- tentionally or knowingly participated in aiding fraudulent purposes, his ac- tivities and advice "tended to serve the purposes of those participating in the deception of the owner." The committee told the House that it found nothing basicallv wrong with the operations of the FCC. but rec- ommended revision of the Communica- tions Act to define more definitely the powers of the commission, and sug- gested also that Congress should de- termine whether or not newspapers are to be permitted to own broadcast- ing stations, rather than leave it to the commission. Minority reports filed by Represen- tative Louis E. Aliller of Missouri and R. B. Wigglesworth of Massachusetts, were sharply critical of Fly's chair- manship. Senate Gets Porter's Name For FCC Post Washington, Jan. 3. — Paul A. Porter's name was submitted for the second time today to the Senate to be chairman of the Federal Communica- tions Commission. Porter's nomina- tion originally was sent by President Roosevelt late last year shortly be- fore the session ended, and was not acted upon. He was given a recess appointment the day after Congress adjourned. A native of Kentucky. Porter was formerly Columbia Broadcasting counsel, and more recently publicity director of the Democratic campaign. He would succeed James L. Fly. Cary Grant Adventurous, reckless, smashing, virile ... in Nont (at ikb with Miss ETHEL BARRYMORE Barry FITZGERALD June DUPREZ Jane WYATT GEORGE COULOURIS • DAN DURYEA ROMAN BOHNEN* KONSTANTIN SHAYNE Produced by David Hempstead • Directed by Clifford Odets Screen Play by Clifford Odets From fhe novel by Richard Llewellyn £ author of "How Green Was My Valley" ■^^■■j 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 4, 1945 Some of the smiling winners in recent nation-wide poll conducted among radio editors of daily newspa- pers. The results were published widely throughout the nation. • Gary Cooper presents Champion of Champions scroll to Bob Hope, who also won several other honors in the annual poll of the nation's radio editors. • Paul White, CBS news head, re- ceives scroll from Milt Livingston of Motion Picture Daily. • Lionel Barrymore observes his scroll, awarded for being the Most Effective Film Player on the air. •Guy Lombardo's band voted Best on the Air — Rose Marie, Carmen and Victor Lombardo look on as Guy receives scroll. • Cecil B. DeMille's Lux Radio Theatre was voted Best Dra- matic Program. • Dinah Shore of radio and films, was adjudged the Best Popular Female Vocalist of the airwaves. • Best Popular Male Vocalist and Best Master of Ceremonies is Bing Crosby. • Red Kann presents scroll to Tom Breneman, whose 'Breakfast at Sardi's' was voted Best Daytime Program. Thursday, January 4, 1945 Motion Picture Daily ii Rodgers Says Merit Will Win Promotion (Continued from page 1) further, "We have always believed in building within the organization, and we will continue to adhere to this principle." Rodgers was followed by E. K. O'Shea, Eastern sales manager, who spoke on the importance of field audi- tors and 'Commando Girls' in keep- ing branch offices informed on devel- opments and changes in theatre oper- ations. Others from the home office who spoke were : Max Wolff, pur- chasing head ; Pincus Sober and S. S. Braunberg of the legal department ; William G. Brenner, head of exchange maintenance ; William Gleicher and Harold J. Cleary. Ten more will speak today ; they are : Harold Post- man, assistant to Cummings ; Jay Gove, head of sales development ; Mike Simons, editor of the sales house or- gan ; Matilda Green, Charles J. Quick, Bea Lustig, Leonard Pollock, Arthur Lacks, A. j. Nelson and Ira Martin. RCA Labs Win'E' Star A third star fo>r continued out- standing achievement in the war ef- fort has been added to the Army-Navy 'E' flag, won in 1943, by RCA Lab- oratories, at Princeton, N. J., O. S. Schairer, vice-president in charge of the Laboratories, announced here yes- terday. See No Challenge to IATSE In ' White Collar' Union (Continued from paye 1) of the new office workers interna- tional in Cincinnati, was present. The question of jurisdiction over some 800 office workers in the War- ner Bros, home office and branches, Universal" home office and Paramount News, who are members of Motion Picture Office Employes Union, Local 23169, is understood to have been left to the action of the new inter- national. Russell Moss, MPOE bus- iness agent, is reported to have asked the IATSE to take jurisdiction over his group but the lATSE has made no move to do so. MPOE, which has a charter as a Federal office workers' local under the AFL, auto- matically would come under the ju- risdiction of the new international but Moss is understood to feel that the interests of the MPOE workers lie with those of others in the film indus- try and that an IATSE affiliation would be more desirable than one with the new international. Moss will attend the Cincinnati convention. On the other hand, SOEG is un- derstood to be determined not to come under the jurisdiction of the IATSE if it is forced to leave the Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers, and is equally reluctant to join the new in- ternational. It has been suggested in some quarters that SOEG might con- sider an affiliation with the CIO, somewhat as the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, New York, is affiliated with the United Office and Professional Work- ers of America, CIO. SOPEG rep- resents over 3,000 office workers of film companies in New York. Rickenbacher Promoted Paul A. Rickenbacher has been named director of television and radio at Foote, Cone and Belding, New York agency. Rickenbacher, for- merly with Young and Rubicam and J. Walter Thompson, joined FCB in Sept., 1944, as an executive in the motion picture division. Lee Strahorn will continue as manager of the New York radio department. WB Sets Three Warners has set New York open- ings in its two Broadway houses for three productions : "Roughly Speak- ing" will open at the Hollywood Jan. 17 following the 14-week run of "To Have and Have Not"; "Objective Burma" will go into the Strand on Jan. 26, following "Hollywood Can- teen" ; and "God Is My Co- Pilot" will open at that house on March 9. France Endorses Rank 'Association' (Continued from paye 1) only to establish a 'trading associa- tion,' Carr said: "High officials of the French Embassy assure me that their government will in no circumstances tolerate usurpation of native control of cinema interests — production, dis- tribution or exhibition — by foreign in- terests. Nor will they tolerate France's becoming a battle cockpit between American and British interests." Nevertheless, the French welcome Rank's offer of assistance in theatre organization and of reciprocal film ex- change, Carr added. After his forthcoming Paris trip, Carr will visit Stockholm with a view to promoting a similar agreement in Sweden. He has also been invited to Russia, although governmental diffi- culties may arise there. A print of "Henry V" has been sent to Moscow with the approval of Russian Ambas- sador Gusev. Rank Takes Over Regal Theatre in London London, Jan. 3. — J. Arthur Rank has taken over the Regal Theatre here and closed it for at least a month of renovations and to give Odeon execu- tives an opportunity to consider the type of program to be presented there. JOHN MACK BROWN A SENSATION IN A POWERFUL DRAMATIC ROLE! One of the many screen favorites, including Gale Storm, Sir Aubrey Smith, Conrad Nagel, Mary Boland, Frank Craven and Johnny Downs, in 1945's great emotional smash! COMING SOON FROM MONOGRAM! MARY BOLAND ft MORE LOVABLE and AMUSING THAN EVER! One of the many screen favorites, including Gale gk Storm, Sir Aubrey Smith, John Mack Brown, Frank Craven, Conrad Nagel and Johnny Downs, in 1945's first great dramatic hit! COMING SOON FROM MONOGRAM! 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 4, 1945 Video in Theatres On Percentage Seen Sports promoters probably will make arrangements with exhibitors to supply television program material in exchange for a percentage of box of- fice receipts, in the opinion of Samuel H. Cuff, general manager of DuMont television station WABD in New York. Cuff projected this idea in a talk on the subject "Television as a News Medium" before the Woman's Press Club of New York City at the Hotel Pennsylvania. Sports events would be broadcast or piped by special coaxial cables di- rectly from stadium to theatre and never sent out as a radio signal, Cuff pointed out. The sports promoter in this manner would be able to increase his receipts beyond the capacity of the stadium, he pointed out. Supplement Newsreels "Theatre television will probably supplement, rather than replace news- reels," Cuff declared. "Within a few minutes of the time a motion picture is made, it is ready to be shown on the television screen," he said. Events can be filmed from a plane, processed while the plane is in flight to its base transmitter and the film negative can be reversed electronically and pro- jected onto the theatre screen con- verting it into a televised film pro- gram, according to Cuff. Other speakers at the meeting in- cluded Paul White, CBS director of news broadcasts and Claude A. Jager, assistant general manager of the As- sociated Press. The meeting was de- voted to a discussion of news in the postwar world. $18,300 Is Very Big For 'Frenchman' Toronto, Jan. 3. — "Frenchman's Creek" was flowing hightide at Shea's Theatre for an expected $18,300, al- though all kinds of weather was on tap. "Something for the Boys" held promise of $16,300 at the Imperial, and "Can't Help Singing" pointed to $13,800 at the Uptown. Second week of "Mrs. Parkington" will bring $14,- 300 to Loew's Theatre. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 5 : "Tall in the Saddle" (RKO) EGLINTON — (1,086) (18c-30c-48c-fiOc) 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $4,000). "Something for the Boys" (20th-Fox) IMPERIAL — (3,373) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $16,300. (Average: $12,- 800). "Mrs. Parkington" (M-G-M) LOEW'S — (2,074) (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,300. (Average: $11,200). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) SHEA'S— (2,480) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $18,300. (Average: $12,800). "Tall in the Saddle" (RKO) TTVOLI — (1,434) (12c-30c-48c) 6 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average: $4,400). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) UPTOWN— (2.761) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $13,800. (Average: $9,800). New Florida Theatre Carrabelle, Fla., Jan. 3. — George Stonoros has opened the Rex Thea- tre here. This city now has two theatres. WANTED ANIMATION -CAME RAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CINEFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 Sears Succeeds Depinet In War Activities Post {Continued from page 1) tributors, he called for a "rekindling of the spirit of patriotic service which has characterized the outstanding ac- complishments of my predecessors and their area chairmen." He named E. M. Schnitzer of his company as his assistant, succeeding Leon J. Bamber- ger of RKO. Herman Gluckman will continue as assistant to the chairman of the dis- tributor division at WAC headquar- ters in addition to his duties as na- tional treasurer. "The war is not over and our job as volunteeers for war service is not fin- ished until victory is won and peace brings back to our homes the men and women in uniform who carry the heaviest burden of all," said Sears. "I expect to use every facility of film distribution business to complete our part of the task voluntarily assumed for our government. With the help of the previous chairmen, Ned Depinet, Bill Rogers and Bill Scully, and the men and women in the exchanges throughout the country, I know our assignment will be done well." The committee voted to continue the plan to have district distributor chair- men with exchange area chairmen in each district as a general rule selected from the same company as district chairmen. The Chairmen WAC distribution district and area chairmen follow : Metropolitan New York — Milton Kusell, Paramount, district chairman; Henry Mandel, Paramount, New York City ; Ed Bell, Paramount, New Jersey. Northeast — Norman Ayres, War- ners, New York, district chairman ; William Horan, Boston ; Carl Goe, New Haven, Ray Smith, Albany ; Al Herman, Buffalo, all Warners. East — Salem Applegate, Universal, Philadelphia, and Dave Miller, Uni- versal, Cleveland, district co-chair- men; George Schwartz, Universal, Philadelphia ; John Allen, Loew's, Washington; Joe Krenitz, Universal, Cleveland ; Pete Dana, Universal, Pittsburgh. East— Carl Shalit, Columbia, De- troit, district chairman ; Alan Moritz, Cincinnati ; Joe Gins, Detroit ; W. Guy Craig, Indianapolis, all Colum- bia. Other Areas Southeast — Charles Kessnich, Loew's, Atlanta, district chairman; William Zoelner, Atlanta ; Ben Ros- enwald, Charlotte, both Loew's ; Luke Conner, Warners, New Orleans. Southwest — Phil Longdon, 20th- Fox, Dallas, district chairman ; Cecil House, Dallas ; Tom Young, Mem- phis ; M. W. Osbourne, Oklahoma City, all 20th-Fox. Midwest — Allen Usher, Para- mount, Chicago, district chairman ; J. Harold Stevens, Chicago ; Ben Blot- chy, Minneapolis ; Harold Wirthwein, Milwaukee, all Paramount. Prairie District — Tommie Thomp- son, United Artists, Kansas City, dis- trict chairman; B. J. McCarthy, St. Louis ; Wm. E. Truog, Kansas City ; B. V. McLucas, Omaha, all United Artists ; Jack Kennedy, Des Moines, Loew's. Rocky Mountain — (No district chairman). Arthur Abeles, Denver; Charles Walker, Salt Lake City, both 20th-Fox. West Coast — Herbert Mclntyre, RKO, Los Angeles, district chairman ; Harry Cohen, Los Angeles ; Newton Jacobs, San Erancisco ; Mark Corey, Portland, all RKO; Maurice Saffle, Loew's, Seattle. $9,000 Jump for 'Thirty Seconds' Buffalo, Jan. 3. — Boxoffice re- ceipts perked up here despite another crippling snowstorm. "Thirty Sec- onds Over Tokyo" appeared sure of the lead with about $26,400 at the Buffalo. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 6 : "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) BUFFALO— ,(3,489) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days. Gross: $26,400. (Average: $17,400). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $20,000. (Aver- age: $16,200). "The Doughgirls" (WB) HIPPODROME — (2,100) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $9,700'). "Experiment Perilous" (RKO) "Girl Rush" (RKO) TWENTIETH CENTURY— (3,000) (40c- 50c-60c-70c) 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Av- erage: $12,200). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Dead Man's Eyes" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,000) (40c -50c -60c -70c) 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $12,400). Screening for Editors "Resisting Enemy Interrogation," 57-minute Army Air Force film, will be shown to radio editors at noon today at the offices of Batton, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, ad agency. Film, which has William Holden in a feat- ured part, will be dramatized on the "Cavalcade of America" radio show over station WEAF next Monday. Kansas City Thrives On Bitter Weather Kansas City, Jan. 3. — Violently cold weather ushered in the New Year in Kansas City, but in spite of that theatres had excellent crowds. The Esquire, Uptown and Fairway, with "Winged Victory," grossed around $29,000. The Midland, with "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," scored $22,- 500. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 2-5 : "Winged Victory" (2ftth-Fox) ESQUIRE— (800) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average: $9,400). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (3,000) (40c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $22,500. (Average: $14,000). "And New Tomcrow" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,900) (46c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $10,000). "Experiment Perilous" (RKO) "Girl Rush" (RKO) ' ORPHEUM— (1,900) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $10,000). "Carolina Blues" (Col.) "When Strangers Marry" (Mono.) TOWER — (2,000) (39c-75c) 7 days. Stage revue. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $9,400). "Winded Victory" (Zflth-Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000) (45c-65c) 7 .days. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $5,600). FAIRWAY— (700) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average: $1,600). Allied Meeting Here A general membership meeting of Allied of New Jersev will be held on Monday, Jan. 8, at New York head- quarters. A buffet luncheon will be served. Coast Sees WPB Cut. Cutting Film Totals (Continued from page 1) stock for use this quarter than it had in the last three months of 1944 was indicated in Washington Tuesday night by tentative figures reached b*y Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the War Production Board photographic divi- sion. Whether the cut is to be ap- plied equally among the companies or graded on their ability to bear a re- duction will be worked out with the industry advisory committee when it meets with Burrows there tomorrow. Citing a typical case of release raw stock shortages, Monogram's Trem Carr said his company has ten fin- ished pictures for which it is unable to make release prints, adding further cuts would be "disastrous." Similar situations prevail at most other com- panies, a check-up reveals. Insiders Apprehensive While awaiting the outcome of to- morrow's meeting in Washington, in- siders here are likewise apprehensive that the WPB may revise the whole basis of the allocation system in use until now, as rumored under consid- eration. It is understood that one such revision under WPB study would apply a limitation to film used specifically for production, in contrast to the prevailing system which allows companies to use allotted raw stock for either production or release prints according to the decision of each. Since production-stock requirement is fractional as compared with distribu- tion, studios have been able hereto- fore to maintain shooting schedules although often with a knowledge that pictures, when completed, would rest long in vaults awaiting the availabil- ity of stock for release prints. Pro- duction heads say any ruling modify- ing this arrangement would create in- numerable problems all along the line from talent commitments to studio employment contracts, space rentals, and product announcements already made. Thalia Theatre Case On Trial in Chicago Chicago, Jan. 3. — The conspiracy case filed by Thomas Murray, local exhibitor, against the major distribu- tors and local theatre circuits opened in Federal Court here today. Judge Howly heard preliminary matters. Murray charges that he was forced to sell his second floor Thalia Thea- tre on the South Side because of his inability to get a choice of product. Lester, son of the plaintiff, is his at- torney. The suit asks $1,000,000 in damages. Samuel Halper Dies Chicago, Jan. 3. — Samuel Halper, one of the oldest neighborhood theatre operators here, died' of a heart attack today in a local gymnasium. He oper- ated the Irving and Metro Theatres. He is survived by his widow and three children. Funeral services will be held here Friday. Frank Miller Dies Frank O. Miller, 70, head of Co- National Players, play brokers and authors' agents, died Tuesday in New York Hospital. Miller was in various phases of the entertainment industry for many years, and managed theatres here and in Cleveland. Thursday, January 4, 1945 Motion picture daily 13 Review "This Man's Navy" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Jan. 4 TOLD here in terms of a tale better than most, and about people like the folks who live in your own block, is the story of the lighter-than-air craft which the U. S. Navy has been, and is, using without fanfare but with- much success in the prosecution of this war. The telling gives Wallace Beery his best picture in years, and he makes the most of it. As skillfully produced by Samuel Marx, and expertly directed by William A. Wellman, from a script by Borden Chase, based on an idea by Comm. Herman E. Holland, the film is firstly about its people and secondly, but with immense effectiveness, about the lighter-than-air branch of the Navy. Beery plays a seasoned veteran of this end of the service, a beloved braggart but a stout fighting man. After boasting of a son he doesn't have, he makes a' deal with a crippled youth to pretend a father-and-son relationship. Navy doctors restore the youth to normal health and he joins the service, serving first in lighter-than-air and later as a bomber pilot, his experiences and Beery's supplying a story with appeal and interest for all. James Gleason as Beery's pal and rival, Tom Drake as the youth, and Jane Clayton as his sweetheart provide excellent support. Running time, 98 minutes. "G."* Release date not set. William R. Weaver Grainger Back, Sets Plans for Regional Meets This Month James R. Grainger, president of Republic Pictures, upon his return to New York yesterday following a month's sales trip, announced home office and field delegates who will at- tend the series of three regional sales meetings to be held during January, in New York, Chicago and at the company's North Hollywood Studios_ Herbert J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the board, will address all sessions. F. L. Walton, assistant general sales manager, will attend the meet- ings, the first session being scheduled for next Monday, Jan. 8-10, at the New York Athletic Club. The New England, Eastern, and Central divis- ions, headed by district sales man- agers Jack Davis, Maxwell Gillis, and Sam Seplowin, respectively, will be represented by branch managers Ar- thur Newman, Jack Bellman, Jerome Lewis, Joseph Engel, Jake Flax, Sam P.' Grjrrel, George H. Kirby, I. H. Pollard, E. H. Brauer, Sydney Leh- man, A. Weiner, and Grover C. Schaefer. A. W. Perry, general manager of Empire Universal' Films, Ltd., Re- public's Canadian distributors, and A. J. Laurie, Republic Canadian sales manager, will also attend the New York sessions. Home Office repre- sentatives will include Walter L. Titus, Jr., Albert Schiller. Si Borus, E. H. Seifert, Special representatives A. E. Fox, Fred W. Franke, Charles Reed Jones and Steve Edwards. Chicago llth-13th The Chicago meeting will be held Jan. 11-13 a.t the Blackstone Hotel, with Yates, Grainger and Walton ac- companied by district sales managers Davis, Gillis and Seplowin, and Home Office representatives Titus, Schiller, Borus, and Seifert for conferences .with Central district sales manager Will Baker, Southern manager Mer- ritt Davis, Western manager Francis Bateman, and branch managers Win- field Snelson, Harold Laird, J. H. Dil- loh, L. V. Seicshnaydre, Lew H. Andrews, N. J. Colquhoun, Glen Alt, William Feld, J. G. Franckman, W. M. Grant, Harry Lefholtz, Nat E. Steinberg, and franchise holder Rob- ert F. Withers, Kansas City. Special representatives J. V. Scully, G. D. Milfqrd and John A. Alexan- der will also attend the Chicago meet- ing. The Coast session will be held at the company's studio on Jan. 22-23, and will be attended by Yates, Grainger and Walton, Western dis- trict sales manager Francis Bateman, and managers and salesmen from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Port- land, Denver, and Salt Lake City. New Appeal Board Terms Are Coming (Continued from page 1) so terms of all three judges would expire simultaneously. Since Judge Goddard voiced ap- proval of the arbitration system at the recent hearing on motion of the Justice Department for a hearing to revise the consent decree, he is ex- pected to grant extension of the judges' terms. *"G" denotes general classification. Weather, Holidays Hurt in St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 3.— Both tempera- ture and box office receipts dropped at first-runs here this week. Snow and the coldest weather of the year, com- bined with the holiday to keep patrons at home. "Kismet" at Loew's was high with $13,000. Estimated receipts for the week ended Dec. 31 : "Lake Placid Serenade" (Rep.) "Dead Man's Eyes" (Univ.) FOX — (5.038) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average: $18,700). "Bambi" (Walt Disney-RKO) "Dumbo" (Walt Disney-RKO) "Sa'udos Amigos" (Walt Disney-RKO) MTSSOURT—(3.514) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $9,900). "«Ci*met' (M-G-M) "Tahiti Nights" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE — (3.162) (40c-50c-60c- fi5c) 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $18,- 900'!. "The Very Thought of You" (WB) "The Singing Sheriff" (Univ.) AMBASSADOR— (3,1541 (40c-50c-60e1 7 dpvs. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $15,700). "Mpe* Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (1,900) (40c -50c- 60c-65c) 7 davs. 4th week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $7.1001. "Laura" (ZOth-Fov) "Bowrv to Broadway" (Univ.) SHUP^RT— (1.90O1 (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross; $5,800. (Average: $fi,1001. "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th-Fox) "S»-iptHivr f<-.r the Boys" (2 ^ « <-> c s a e > C/3 M Si 3 3 0£m s ^ 3o°u.Es! •o~> I fa fa fa o P3^ Ccm E~ - w _ OA.2 ."> » toP IS £C 17 o 2 c w M hi-' H OP.2 5 ►h < o E w-i 3 . E > 5~« W .ti -op S2b s c. W<~5 E2 H Q £7 re fa 1 P Q O 2w£~w H v re c « o s " a " «-g|2 s s 3 Son S ►2. s** fa js > C 0.-~ fa eO X < fc d, 2:* MO E =3 re s I Q "ha 00 2J o S S Ew OS.E 2 jo. SO c c re c m jj .lOOlw 3 >' J << 5 > w S, * 6 y °c w Q O U O h O Stdft! >>S"" »J4 c CO CO Oio^ UMr,^ c o« o. •? 1-3 r , ZJ c/3 H w S"° 0 U i-t M P W gco 2 15 Oh .5 ««E-2S Om o-o H I "si's c E p PL, OW 3 31 r J P O >'S" M.5QP4 cam v ». ^ . ?, M .2 « P cS 2 WmJ S'g S3* « P4 < QOco m O 3 Q - rj J3 re ooo H Cl, >< — Q OOg < hn p < 0, •S1-1 H « E°° co !; CO < -re^S^" SW S 5° ■ 2UV C O

- f>B E •za s °S: °o I 2 * k<^.': Wco .Sc •Jivja >>cm P (Atk 1 E p Eco c „^ M 00 «o~s 8 »S w ,u -B^ OM J5 I fa p •jcO 0 t— 1 ^ S I - p «fa .s & fflU uiN « «"?fa P CO c J s fa „ ■* re S os 1 > a 2 o 2-» co S > 03 i >, s fa r. re u> ^ gjHfa.S011 WHS > p«-t £ o P co^j3 Q T) H H c'B 2'3 wfa^>>SC U CM 52 c Ur; re cofa " "fa 5 cj 3 P fa 1^ Ml- si a s >, D c» 0 3 I £0 6 CCO 3 V; . Cti ^ O 00 |!;p<« »^ 2faSg "H|«n V p s J. fa h 2^ S & >>E ^ S 3 J2 > f „ §0. cj Ofa^ofvj J I - m o o 2W^ ws - fao CJ 00 r-u E " S" P> re g M cj S >l°f£ 2 Jd THIS MAN'S NAVY Wallace Beery James Gleason D— 100 mins. (517) (Special Release) 30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO Spencer Tracy Van Johnson D — 138 mins. (5 IT (Rev. 11/14/44) (Special Release) MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (Color) Judy Garland Margaret O'Brien M— 113 mins. (512; (Rev. 11/1/44) SAGEBRUSH HEROES Charles Starrett 0 SING ME A SONG OF TEXAS Rosemary Lane Hal Mclntyre Orch. M LEAVE IT TO BLONDIE Penny Singleton Arthur Lake C fc ^ O (2 ~ n O u co X g Ox gP O =3" fa < ' « o fr|2 . &-•<:. 5 «oe O o H 7 _ ^3 -a- < S ^Jfa ^ow S^W.S ^ So 22 «<< 2< O W 22 OS 3 E -"its > It. MO U fa Okh-5 S up'E|'S -^^fa fa.s 3Mfare§g 2 PfH O >< "o cj re S-oSP re 5"C feQW Pass" S gS'° fa fare bo s c o - s-s J3 O «fa, ^glre °^M>,E re fa wo ^ On Q Q n § * 3 " « CO c~*f ^% Join March of Dimes! January 25 to 31 First in FWffl-an< (Radio )ni Accuragc and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry 2 OL. 57. NO. 4 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1945 TEN CENTS $4,500,000 a Year Is Cost Of Checking 10,000 Checkers Used To Tab Percentages Distributors are currently spend- ing upwards of $4,500,000 a year to check some 450,000 playdates year- ly on percentage pictures, a survey by Motion Picture Daily reveals. Some 10,000 checkers are em- ployed with Ross Federal Ser- vice, which checks for Para- mount, RKO Radio, 20th Cen- tury - Fox, United Artists, Universal, Columbia and others, using an estimated 5,000 check- ers; Warner Bros., using 3,000, and M-G-M, 2,000. It is estimated that Warners and M-G-M each spend upwards of $750,- 000 a year on checking while Ross Federal derives upwards of $2,500,000 from its regular checking service for other distributors. M-G-M is understood to* be study- ing a rather widespread overhauling of its checking system, with final de- (Continued on page 3) Call for Action on ITOA's Trade Bill A membership meeting of the I. T. O. A. of New York went on recoro yesterday as favoring immediate ac- tion by the organization on the draft of proposed legislation regulating trade practices which it has prepared for in- troduction in the State legislature. Following lengthy discussion the draft was referred to the L O. T. A.'s (Continued on page 3) Murray Will Have Arlington Burial Washington, Jan. 4. — Funeral services will be held on Monday at the Church of the Nativity for Raymond B. Murray, 48, for 23 years director of the Army Motion Picture Service, who died of a heart attack Wednes- day, while driving his car. Burial will be in Arlington National Ceme- tery. Murray, native of Rockville, Conn., helped to organize the Army Motion Picture Service in 1920. He was made assistant director at that time and two (Continued on page 6) Convention Ban Is Expected Today Announcement of a ban on national conventions in 1945 is expected today or tomor- row from the Office of War Mobilization and the Office of Defense Transportation. The ban was predicted yesterday by the American Transit As- sociation as a means of re- lieving the increasing burden on wartime transportation fa- cilities. Name Titus Head of Republic Exchanges Walter L. Titus, Jr. has been made executive assistant in charge of branch operations for Republic Pic- tures, according to an announcement made here yesterday by James R. jrainger, president and general sales manager. Titus will assume his new post im- mediately and will accompany E. L. Walton, assistant general sales man- ager, on a tour of all Republic branches in the U. S., as well as the Canadian offices of Empire Universal, Republic's Canadian distributors. This :our will begin after sales meetings, vhich start Monday at the New York Vthletic Club. It is expected that Herbert J. Jates, chairman of the board, and Grainger, after consultations following the West Coast regional sales meet- (Continued on page 6) Arthur Loew and Harry Goldberg Are Named by WAC Major Arthur M. Loew, who re- cently returned to his post as head of the international department of Loew's after active service with the Army, was yesterday elected chair- man of the for- eign managers division of the War Activities Commit- tee. Major Loew was ad- vised by phone in Mexico City of his election. He is vacation- ing. Major Loew expressed the Maj. Arthur 51. Loew hope that dur- ing his term of office the foreign managers division (Continued on page 3) Depinet, Bamberger To Be Cited by WAC Ned E. Depinet and Leon Bam- berger, chairman and assistant chair- man, respectively, of the distributors division of the War Activities Com- mittee during 1944, will be honored at a WAC staff luncheon to be held at the Astor Hotel here next Tuesday. Plaques will be awarded to them for their services during the year. Gradwell L. Sears succeeds Depinet (Continued on page 3) Wartime Teamwork Should Be Preserved, Zukor Says If exhibitors and distributors co- operate with each other on trade problems as they do in their par- ticipation in the war effort, those problems could be solved with- in the industry much more sat- isfactorily than by out siders, Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of Para- mount, said in an In t erview with Motion Picture Daily yesterday. Zukor, who will celebrate Adolph Zukor his 72nd birth- d a y Sunday, emphasized that disputes and griev- ances within the industry can be ad- justed in the same spirit of whole- hearted cooperation that distributors and exhibitors accord their contribu- tions to the war effort. The industry will continue to serve the country after the war, if it is needed, Zukor believes, since its patri- otic spirit will be the same then as it is at present. "The industry has made a great contribution to the war effort," he observed. Expressing the opinion that the in- dustry has reached its highest point in production and technical develop- ments, and predicting a bright future for it, Zukor said : "We have developed the art of pro- ducing pictures to the point where their appeal now is to all kinds of people. The necessity of creating a (Continued on page 6) Heaviest Raw Stock Cut to Hit Big Users WPB, Committee Rule Out Horizontal Slash Washington, Jan. 4. — Al- though five hours of discussion here today between Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the War Produc- tion Board's photographic division, and members of WPB's motion pic- cure industry advisory committee failed to reach a decision on the ex- tent of the raw stock allocation cut that will be necessary for the current quarter or on specifically how the cut shall be applied to individual compa- nies, application of the slash on a horizontal basis was ruled out in favor of the development of a formu- la under which the companies most able to curtail their consumption will take the heaviest reduction, thus aid- ing the smaller companies, which might find themselves in a serious sit- uation if they had to bear their full share. Several formulas, it was decided, (Continued on page 6) Will Sell 359,000 Of RKO Common Public sale of 359,000 shares of RKO common stock, representing about 13 per cent of common shares outstanding, and valued at the current market price of $9 at over $3,230,000 is understood to be contemplated soon by Dillon Read and Co. The stock, according to an RKO spokesman, is presumably that held (Continued on page 6) Crosby, Rogers Win 'Fame' British Poll British exhibitors, voting in the annual Motion Picture Herald-Fame poll of 'International Box Office Win- ners' (either American or British players), for 1944, have selected the following top ten : Bing Crosby, Betty Grable, Greer Garson, Deanna Durbin, (Continued on page 3) Reviewed Today Review of "She Gets Her Man" appears on page 3. 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 5, 1945 Personal Mention PHIL WILLIAMS, March of Time advertising and publicity manager, left yesterday for Boston. • Sgt. Stanley Fishman, son of Selig Fishman, co-owner of Fishman Theatres in Connecticut, has been awarded the Silver Star in France for "gallantry in action." Sgt. Fish- man is now with the American Army in France. » Harry L. Gold, United Artists sales executive, and Mrs. Gold, yes- terday announced the engagement of their daughter, Gloria Jean, to Lt. Seymour Udell, USN Submarine Service. Fred T. Steele, Monogram's stu- dio manager, and Mrs. Steele are the parents of a baby boy, Fred T. Steele, Jr., born last week at Magnolia Park Maternity hospital, Burbank, Cal. • James Winn and Rud Lohrenz, United Artists district managers in Boston and Chicago, respectively, are in New York for home office confer- ences. • H D Hearn of Exhibitor's Serv- ice, Charlotte, N. C, and Mrs. Hearn have returned to that city after a visit here. • Charles E. (Chick) Lewis will leave New York Medical Center to- day to convalesce at home following an eye operation. • Fred Jack, Southern division man- ager for United Artists, is visiting at the Atlanta office. • Jack Price, Paramount branch manager in New Orleans, is visiting in Atlanta. Buford Craig, RKO publicist, was seriously injured in an automobile crash while en route from Hollywood to San Francisco yesterday. Northwest to Honor Al Steffes Tonight Minneapolis, Jan. 4. — State and local dignitaries and civic leaders will join film industry members to pay honor to W. A. (Al) Steffes, retiring chief barker of the Northwest Vari ety club, and pioneer exhibitor and exhibitor leader, at a testimonial ban quet at the Hotel Nicollet here tomor row night. The affair is in recognition of Steffes' Variety leadership which, dur- ing his three terms, was regarded as a potent factor in the club's charity accomplishments, including $25,000 raised for European war sufferers' re- lief, $90,000 for the Sister Kenny in- fantile paralysis treatment institute and free milk for underprivileged Minneapolis families. Gov. Ed. Thye of Minneapolis will be among those in attendance. A laryngitis attack will prevent Eddie Golden, film producer and close friend of Steffes, from acting as toastmaster. Meeting of M-G-M Auditors Concluded Nizer Book 'Foremost' The New York Times has selected Louis Nizer's 'What to Do With Germany" as "the foremost political work on Germany during the past year." Nizer, a member of the indus- try law firm of Phillips, Nizer, Ben- jamin and Krim, has also received recognition from the London Daily Express which reported that Pres- ident Roosevelt had sent ten copies of the book to Prime Minister Churchill and his cabinet. RCA's Thompson Killed Browder J. Thompson, 40, former- ly associate research director of RCA Laboratories, Princeton, N. J., on leave of absence to serve as consult- ant in the office of the Secretary of War, was killed July 4 while on a special mission in the Mediterranean theatre of operations, it was learned here yesterday. 'Wilson' Acclaimed In London Opening London, Jan. 4. — "Wilson" opened here today at the Odeon Theatre to great audience acclaim, with unsur- passed newspaper praise following the preview. The Duchess of Kent, re- ceived by J. Arthur Rank and Fran- cis L. Harley, 20th-Fox's British man- aging director, headed the audience, which included the Russian, Chinese and Belgian ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps. Also present were members of the British cabinet, led by Sir John An- derson, chancellor of the exchequer, the chiefs of staff of the American. British and Allied military forces here, the Greek Archbishop and Spy- ros Skouras, Jr. Eiges Now Manager Of NBC Press Dept. Sidney H. Eiges has been ap- pointed manager of NBC's press de- partment here, it was announced by Frank E. Mullen, NBC vice-president and general manager. Eiges has been acting manager of the department since the resignation of John McKay on Dec. 15 to join King Features Syn- dicate. The appointment of Dwight B. Her- rick as manager of the NBC public service department, of which Herrick had been acting manager, was also an- nounced by Mullen. Pictorial Films to Pathe Industries Pathe Industries, Inc., has ac- quired Pictorial Films, Inc., New York, distributors of 16 mm film. Milton J. Salzburg and Harold Baum- stone will continue as president and vice-president, respectively, of Pic- torial. A meeting of the board of directors of Pictorial elected J. Stinsen Young and Karl Herzog, president and treasurer, respectively of Pathe In- dustries, chairman of the board and treasurer, respectively, of Pictorial. M-G-M's annual meeting of field auditors and field 'Commando Girls,' ended here yesterday at the Astor Hotel, but individual meetings will be held today with home office execu- tives. At the final meeting, Walter Brooks, assistant to H. M. Richey, exhibitor relations director ; Jacques Van Starton, comptroller for Loew's Station WHN, and Sidney Stockton, New York branch office manager, were introduced to the group. Speakers yesterday included : Charles K. Stern, assistant treasurer ; Alan F. Cummings, in charge of ex- change operations ; Harold Postman, assistant to Cummings ; Charles F. Deesen and Paul J. Richrath, assist- ants to John J. Maloney, Central sales manager ; Joel Bezahler, assistant to J. E. Flynn, Western sales manager ; Leonard Hirsch, assistant to E. K. O'Shea, Eastern sales manager; Ar- thur Lacks, newsreel sales head ; Jay Gove, sales development; Mike Si- mons, editor of The Distributor, house publication ; Ira Martin, Bea Lustig. Charles Quick, Leonard Pollock and A. J. Nelson, head of the statistical department. Lt. Fran Heard, former Memphis office manager, now in the Navy, was at the meeting. Ontario Exhibitors Paying 30% Tax Toronto, Jan. 4. — The new 10 per cent ticket tax has become effective in Ontario. This makes a total of 30 per cent tax on tickets, since the Ca- nadian Government is already assess- ing tickets 20 per cent. The new tax is expected to yield an annual revenue of $2,500,000, to pay for school subsidies. The tax had been dropped in 1937 as a nuisance impost. Exhibitors in all other prov- inces, except Saskatchewan, are al- ready paying both Dominion and Pro- vincial ticket taxes, with Quebec the- atres carrying the heaviest burden. Honor Weiss eE' Bond $1,035,000 Sale Al Weiss of Loew's Pitkin, Brook- lyn, was honored yesterday for having sold $1,035,000 in 'E' bonds during the Sixth War Loan Drive, in addi- tion to $219,300 in 'F' and 'G' bonds. Weiss was presented with a special citation from Henry Morganthau, Secretary of the Treasury and a gold 'Merit 'of Honor' button by the War Activities Committee. Among those at- tending the ceremonies were : Brook- lyn's Borough president John Cash- more, the Kings County War Finance Committee and Max Cohen, represent- ing the WAC. Miss Mortland Promoted Marjorie Anne Mortland has been promoted to head editorial and adver- tising promotion for the Ideal Women's Group of fan magazines. William M. Cotton, publisher, also reported that Virginia Vincent will succeed Miss Moreland as beauty editor for the publications. NEW YORK THEATRES THIRD CAY WEEK! VERA HRUBA RALSTON Lake Placid Serenade featuring Eugene Palette Vera Vague Robert Livingston Stephanie Bachelor RAY NOBLE HARRY OWENS and his Orchestra and his Royal Hawaiians ' and ROY ROGERS (as Guest Star) A Republic Picture REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50TH STREET & 6TH AVENUE M-G-M's "NATIONAL VELVET" MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP - ELIZABETH TAYLO.R JACKIE JENKINS - REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'TOGETHER AGAIN' IRENE DUNNE CHAS. BOYER CHAS. COBURN IN PERSON R0SARI0& ANTONIO Extra l SALICI PUPPETS BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS I n Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE "Here Come the Waves" PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous" An RKO Picture 20TH CENTURY -FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronin's "THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous RIVOLI Performances B'way & 49th St. MOSS HART'S ~ ...siT/Mi/ MGEDnetm Produced by DARRYL F. ZANUCK Directed by GEORGE CUK0R rou'y ROXY 7lk AVf. ft joth sr. Henry Ownes Dies Atlanta, Jan. 3. — Henry Ownes, former head booker for Paramount here, died here recently after a linger- ing illness. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Friday, January 5, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3 Review "She Gets Her Man" ( U niversal ) JOAN DAVIS, voted 'Best Comedienne' in Motion Picture Daily's recent radio poll, proves equally adept on the screen in "She Gets Her Man," with a fresh, infectious style that evokes hilarity and merriment despite the obvious crudeness of much of the humor. A fast-moving screenplay by Warren Wilson and Clyde Bruckman, with many of the good lines no doubt contributed in the additional dialogue by Ray Singer and Dick Chevillat, affords Miss Davis and Leon Errol, her droll foil, a chance to display their gift for zany comedy. - Miss Davis, a well-intentioned lassie with a genius for bungling, is brought to the town of Clayton to solve a series of mysterious slayings of its leading citizens by a blow-gun murderer. Although ear-marked as a victim herself, she manages to evade the lethal attempts, and, with Errol's aid, stalks the murderer. The chase carries them to a theatre where she disrupts the per- formance of a play, tangles with a gang, and finally settles back in an orchestra seat to watch irate townsmen and the gang in a free-for-all which she has precipitated. Director Erie C. Kenton, in full realization that he has a mistress of slap- stick in Miss Davis, has handled the film in kind. William Gargan is com- petent as a harassed reporter, Vivian Austin lends her looks, while Russell Hicks, Virginia Sale, Cyrus Kendall, Paul Stanton, Emmet Vogan, Donald McBride and Milburn Stone round out the cast. Bob Allen effectively sings the standard melody, "For All We Know." Warren Wilson also produced. Running time, 74 minutes. "G."* Release date not set. Charles Ryweck Arthur Loew and Harry Goldberg Are Named by WAC (.Continued from page 1) would be able to expand the 16mm gift film service to civilians in liberat- ed countries. He also voiced interest in the OWI-WAC films now in work ^dn which the State Department is Especially concerned. Major Loew is * expected to return to New York on Jan. 15. He succeeds Joseph Mc- Conville of Columbia, who was WAC foreign division head during 1944. Previous chairmen were Joseph Seid- elman, vice-president of Universal, and Philip Reisman, vice-president of RKO. The WAC yesterday also announced the selection of Harry Goldberg, di- rector of publicity-advertising for Warner Theatres as chairman of its public relations division. Both Major Loew and Goldberg commence their terms immediately. They complete the WAC organization for this year. Gradwell L. Sears, vice president and general manager of United Artists, was elected this week as chairman of the distributors divi- sion. John Cromwell, president of the Screen Directors Guild, is the new chairman of the Hollywood division, while S. H. Fabian, chairman of the theatres division; Walton C. Ament, chairman of the newsreel division, and Jack Alicoate, chairman of the trade press division, will continue in their respective offices through 1945. Gold- berg succeeds Oscar Doob, director of publicity-advertising for Loew's Thea- tres, who has headed the division since Dec. 7, 1942. Depinet, Bamberger To Be Cited by WAC (Continued from page 1) as chairman, and Edward M. Schnit- zer succeeds Bamberger as assistant chairman, as reported here yesterday. Special guests at the luncheon will include N. Peter Rathvon, RKO president ; Leo Brecher, Harry Man- del, Arthur Brilant, H. M. Richey, William Michel and Major L. E. Thompson, all of whom are serving in the industry's 1945 Red Cross Drive, and Sears, Schnitzer and Har- ry Goldberg. Crosby, Rogers Win 'Fame' British Poll (Continued from page 1) Bette Davis, Bob Hope, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, Abbott-Costello. There were no. play- ers in this category winning because of British film appearances. The following top Western stars were selected : Roy Rogers, William Boyd, Gene Autry, Richard Dix, John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott, Johnny Mack Brown, Joel McCrea, Albert Dekker ; all in this group likewise are 'Hollywood-made' per- formers. The ten exclusively British players selected for appearance in the British films were : James MaSon, David Niven, George Formby, Eric Port- man, Laurence Olivier, Margaret Lockwood, Robert Donat, Phyllis Cal- vert, Anna Neagle, Robert Newton. *"G" denotes general classification. Call for Action on ITOA's Trade Bill (Continued from page 1) film committee and Harry Brandt, I. T. O. A. president, for action. Brandt had been asked by the meet- ing to clarify a published statement that he believed there would be no need for introducing the bill in the legislature if clearance problems were satisfactorily adjusted between the Department of Justice and distributor defendants in the New York anti- trust action. Brandt, explaining that he had spoken for himself, not the I. T. O. A., said that he believed if harmony prevailed within the indus- try, regulation from outside sources would serve no practical purposes. The membership felt that there was' no indication of any relief in present consent decree negotiations between the Department and the companies, and called for immediate action on the proposed legislative measure. Criticism of percentage and preferred playing time demands, of first run picture designations and of move-overs by first run exhibitors was voiced at the meeting. The latter practice was con- demned by resolution. Quigley Plaque Is Won by Lige Brien Lige Brien, manager of Warners' Enright Theatre, Pittsburgh, is the winner of the Quigley Awards show- manship plaque for the fourth quar- ter. Brien, who was awarded a 'Scroll of Honor' in the third quarter, won the 'Grand Award' in 1939. Scrolls of Honor for the fourth quarter were voted to Arnold J. Cof- fey, Carolina Theatre, Hickory, N. C. ; Edgar Goth, Fabian, Stapleton, S. I. ; James King, RKO Boston, Bos- ton; Jack Matlack, Broadway, Port- land, Ore. ; Rita Morton, RKO Albee, Providence ; 'Chuck' Shannon, Colum- bia Theatre, Sharon, Pa. ; Charles B. Taylor, Shea's, Buffalo. Judges were Harry McWilliams, Columbia exploi- tation director ; Leon Bamberger, RKO sales promotional director, and Irwin Gold, Randforce circuit general manager. $4,500,000 a Year Cost of Checking (Continued from page 1) tails expected to be ironed out within 90 days. The company is understood to have recently employed the serv- ices of Willmark Service System to make test checks in the New England area with the ticket-buying method being used instead of 'clocking.' In- dications are that while the company will continue to check key city en- gagements itself, it might utilize an outside source to check other opera- tions. Efforts to reach William F. Rodgers, M-G-M vice-president in charge of distribution, for comment on the reports were unsuccessful. M-G-M field auditors are presently in New York for meetings with Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange operations. International Again Releasing Via RKO Hollywood, Jan. 4. — International Pictures is expected to continue distri- bution through RKO on its 1945-46 program, again composed of at least four pictures and perhaps several more. Definitely scheduled are : "Along Came Jones," now shooting with Gary Cooper in the lead ; "Tomorrow Is Forever," co-starring Claudette Col- bert, Orsoii Wells and George Brent, and "The Countess of Monte Cristo," in color, starring Sonja Henie. The fourth will be a Somerset Maugham story, of which the title is being kept a secret at present. liowry Leaves USO Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Ed Lowry to- day resigned the post he has held three years as executive secretary in charge of West Coast activities of USO- Camp Shows. Wilson Gets 'Postman' M-G-M has announced James Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice" for production by Carey Wil- son with five stars. N.Y. To Coordinate 'Dimes' on Monday At Meeting Here A meeting to organize New York in the industry's "March of Dimes" Drive will be held here Monday in Warners home office, it was an- nounced yesterday by co-chairmen Sam Rinzler and Fred Schwartz. Ex- change managers, salesmen and others will attend. Charles Boasberg of RKO, has been appointed New York State distribu- tor chairman by national distributor chairman Tom Connors, who, with Boasberg, Oscar A. Doob, national campaign manager, and Harry Man- del, public relations chairman for New York, will give the details of the drive at the meeting. Connors has also named distributor chairmen for the New York area. They are : My- ron Sattler, Paramount, Manhattan ; Ray Moon, 20th Century-Fox, Queens; Phil Hodes, RKO, Brook- lyn; Dave Burkan, LTnited Artists, Richmond ; Jack Bowan, M-G-M, Bronx; Sam Lefkowitz, United Art- ists, Nassau-Suffolk; and Irving Wormser, Film Classics, for upstate as far as Poughkeepsie. 6,000,000 Seats Additional pledges for the drive now bring the total theatres enrolled to more than 6,000 with almost 6,- 000,000. seats. Six states have al- ready reported more pledges than during the entire drive last year ; they are : South Dakota, Arizona, Rhode Island, Delaware, District of Colum- bia, Virginia and Alabama. The drive's trailer, "The Miracle of Hickory," has arrived in New York. Some 13,000 prints are being prepared. National Screen will dis- tribute all by Jan. 11 or 12. Southwest 'Dimes' Meet Los Angeles, Jan. 4. — The theatre committee on the "March of Dimes" campaign for Southern California. Southern Nevada and Arizona met to- day in the office of Fox West Coast Theatres here and dispatched a letter to 750 houses in the area outlining plans for the collections Jan. 25-31. 'Dimes' Post to Cantor Eddie Cantor has been appointed chairman of the "March of Dimes of the Air," for the eighth consecutive year, it was reported yesterday by Basil O'Connor, president of the Na- tional- Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Gov. Lausche Honors Folliard, RKO Drive Cleveland, Jan. 4. — Arriving here today on the third lap of a tour cov- ering RKO exchanges in behalf of the 1945 'Ned Depinet Drive,' drive cap- tain Robert FolMard was honored by governor-elect Frank J. Lausche at the Hotel Statler. On hand to confer with Folliard and drive lieutenant Harry Gittle- son were RKO Eastern central dis- trict manager Bernie Kranze and branch managers A. Kolitz, Cleve- land ; S. C. Jacques, Cincinnati ; M. E. Cohen, Detroit : R. E. Brentlinger. Indianapolis, and their respective sales staffs and bookers. Following the meeting Folliard and Gittleson left for Chicago, next stop on their tour. III LOS ANGELES INDIANAPOLIS KAHSAS CITY DENVER WICHITA SACRAMENTO ROCHESTER CINCINNATI Washingfon, Memphis, Miami, iouisvi//e, Bosfon, St. Louis will soon add fo the proof that this is one of the great ones in The Most Eventful Year of CENTURY-FOX 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 5, 1945 Heaviest Raw Stock Cut To Hit Big Consumers Loop Booms; "Tomorrow' Does $65,000 Chicago, Jan. 4. — Loop houses had one of their biggest weeks. A zero cold wave came too late to hurt ca- pacity trade. "And Now Tomorrow" grossed $13,500 over par. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 4: "The Very Thought of You" (WB) APOLLO — (1,200) (55c-85c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $11,400). "And Now Tomorrow" (Para.) CHICAGO — (3,850) (55c-85c-95c) 2nd week. On stage: Johnny Long and or- chestra. Gross: $65,000. (Average: $51,- 500). "Murder in the Blue Room" (Univ.) DOWNTOWN— (1,800) (44c-55c-85c-95c) 2nd Loop run. On stage: Ray Kinney and orchestra. Gross: $19,500. "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th-Fox) GARR1CK— (1,000) (55c-65c-95c) 2nd Loop week. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $9,- 100). "The Woman in the Window" (RKO) "My Gal Loves Music" (Univ.) 2 days, 3rd Loop week "House of Frankenstein" (Univ.) "The Mummy's Curse" (Univ.) 5 days GRAND— (1,250) (50c-65c-85c-95c) 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $9,100). "Three's a Family" (UA) ORIENTAL— (3,200) (44c-55c-85c-95c). On stage: Harry Howard's Revue. Gross: $23,- 000. (Average: $24,000). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Enter Arsene Lupin" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,500) (55c-65c-90c) ("Enter Arsene Lupin" was eliminated during holi- day week-end). Gross: $30,000. (Average: $24,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) ROOSEVELT— 1,500) (5Sc-65c-95c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $20,000). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) STATE LAKE— (2,700) (55c-65c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $35,000. (Average: $29,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (50c-65c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $30,000. (Average: $25,- 000). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) WOODS— (1,200) (55c-65c-95c) 6th week. Gross: $19,500. (Average: $10,000). Murray Will Have Arlington Burial (.Continued from page 1) years later was made director. When the Special Services Division of the Army Service Forces was organized in 1941, he was appointed chief of the Army Motion Picture Branch while continuing as service director. Since the war, the organization has increased from the operation of 92 theatres at 87 Army posts to 1,050 theatres at 602 posts, with a yearly audience of approximately 200,000,- 000 soldiers attending 7,000 shows weekly. He is survived by his widow, three sons, two of whom are in the Army, and two brothers. Murray was a member of the Knights of Colum- bus, Holy Name Society, Society of Motion Picture Engineers and the Variety Club of Washington. Altec Signs B. and K. Altec Service Corp. has signed the Balaban and Katz circuit in Chicago, to service 81 houses. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CINEFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 (Continued from page 1) shall now be worked out by Burrows and submitted to the committeemen, who will consider them and make fur- ther recommendations to Washington by mail. When a single plan is de- vised, the committee will be called here for a final look at it. The sug- gestion was made that additional members be named to represent inde- pendent producers, but this was not acted upon. For the present, Burrows said after the meeting, the industry will continue to operate under the letters of au- thorization sent out last week, permit- ting the companies to use, during the first half of this quarter, up to 50 per cent of the raw stock they consumed in the last quarter of 1944. The session today was confronted with the most serious problem that has faced the committee since its forma- tion, more serious in some respects than the general curtailment of 25 per cent of 1941 consumption which was ordered when raw stock was put un- der government control in 1942, it was said, because at that time the companies had an ability to cut down their consumption which they do not Name Titus Head Of Republic Exchanges (Continued from page 1) ing which is to follow New York and Chicago meetings, will announce other promotions from the ranks in accord- ance with company policy. Republic Opens Peru, Colombia Offices Morris Goodman, Republic vice- president in charge of foreign sales, yesterday announced the opening of Republic branch offices in Peru and Colombia. Republic Pictures del Peru, Inc., will start operations this month, with Mario Feraboli, former manager in the Argentine in charge. Republic Pictures de Colombia will start in February, managed by Ricar- do Canals, formerly with Republic in Panama. Goodman returned) recently from a three-month trip to South America which included a survey of conditions and the inauguration of Republic Mex- ican production. Wright Awarded DFC Flying Officer J. E. F. Wright, former cameraman with Technicolor, was recently awarded the Distin- guished Flying Cross by King George in ceremonies at Buckingham Palace. With him was his father, E. J. H. Wright, British war correspondent and news editor of British Paramount News, who was the first war corre- spondent to win a decoration in the war. Father and son have each com- pleted 43 bombing missions over en- emy territory. Red Cross Film Feb. 1 The Red Cross film produced by the March of Time for release through RKO has been titled "Seeing Them Through," it was reported here yes- terday by the War Activities Com- mittee. Release date, originally set for Jan. 25, has been moved up to Feb. 1, due to the March of Dimes drive, Jan. 25-31. now enjoy. Since then waste has been practically eliminated. Burrows told the members that there is no possibility of avoiding a further cut now, estimated at some- thing like 20,000,000 feet, and the main desire of the WPB is to handle the matter so as not unduly to injure any of the smaller companies. The one bright spot in the proceed- ing was the possibility that the supply situation might improve during the quarter, but Burrows explained that this prospect could not be used as a reason to forego a cut now. If sup- plies increase, it was said, any reduc- tions ordered now might be eased or entirely eliminated. Also considered was the setting of ceilings on the number of prints to be used and the provision of a source of raw stock supply for independent pro- ducers who may switch from one dis- tributor to another. It was decided that the new raw stock cut will be based on 1941 con- sumption, as have previous alloca- tions. Also brought out was the fact that any 1944 allocations not fully used at the end of the year have heen cancelled. Zukor Cites Need of Postwar Teamwork (Continued from page 1) perfect illusion is never overlooked," he pointed out. Observing that prospects for the in- dustry in the postwar period look much brighter now than' they did af- ter World War I, Zukor explained that technical facilities and talent were not adequate to meet require- ments after the last wer. The indus- try ■ suffered from a lack of high- calibre writers then and sufficient time was not devoted to the preparation of scripts, he said. "The director had to make pictures and at the same time construct the story. Today, such a situation does not exist," he de- clared. He pointed out that produc- tions are well planned in advance and artists can "live" the characters they are to depict and can portray them better as a result of their preparation. "The motion picture will continue to be the greatest medium of mass en- tertainment and of education," Zukor predicted. Zukor does not believe that televi- sion will offer any great competition to the industry in the postwar. He pointed out that films have not of- fered competition to the legitimate theatre. He sees television as an add- ed attraction in theatres. Drop Clearance Charge The L. G. M. Memorial Theatre Corp., operating the L. G. M. Memo- rial Theatre, Lowell, Mass., has with- drawn a clearance complaint filed in the Boston tribunal against Warners, the American Arbitration Association reported yesterday. A general stipu- lation was signed by all parties. Chi. Variety to Induct Chicago, Jan. 4. — James Balmer of Pittsburgh, national Variety Club rep- resentative, will induct local Variety officers and directors at installation ceremonies on Jan. 19 at the Black- stone Hotel. 'Frisco Theatres Gross 50% Over; $45,000 for Toyko' San Francisco, Jan. 4. — All exist- ing house records were cracked in this war-busy Bay region, with theatres loaded with service men. Business was nearly 50 per cent better than last New Year's Eve. Twenty-nine indi- vidual house records were broken oi Sunday and Monday. Top grosser here was the Fox with "Thirty Sec- onds Over Tokyo," taking in excess of $16,000 on New Year's Eve and $9,- 000 on New Year's Day. Same pic- ture also broke records at the Para- mount, Oakland, with more than $9,- 000 on Sunday and in excess of $5,000 on Monday. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 3-6 : "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Murder in the Blue Room" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $28,200. (Average: $15,000). "Dark Waters" (UA) "My Gal Loves Music" (Univ.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $10,100. (Aver- age: $14,500). "Belle of the Yukon" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $38,000. (Average: $27,000). "Brazil" (Rep.) „ , WARFIELD — (2,680) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $29,500. (Aver- age: $25,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) PARAMOUNT — (2,748) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $31,000. (Average: $20,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) FOX— (5,000) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $45,000. (Average: $28,000). " 'Till We Meet Again" (Para.) "Hail the Conquering Hero" (Para.) STATE— (2,308) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Moveover from Paramount. Gross: $16,- 000. (Average: $13,000). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) "Adventures of Kitty O'Day" (Mono.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, on a moveover from the Fox. Gross: $18,500. (Average: $12,000). Will Sell 359,0 0 0 RKO Common Shares (Continued from page 1) by the Rockefeller interests in the name of Rockefeller Center. Dillon Read handled the sale of some RCA and Rockefeller Foundation holdings of RKO securities, consisting of 316,- 328 shares of common, 555,253 option warrants and 44,757 shares of six per cent preferred, in April, 1943. Floyd B. Odium's Atlas Corp. is another large holder of RKO common stock. Mark Sandrich Heads Academy Stage Show Hollywood, Jan. 4.— The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today appointed Marck Sandrich pro- duction manager in charge of the stage show which will precede the Acad- emy's annual awards ceremony at the Chinese Theatre March 15. WLB Orders Petrillo To End Radio Strike Chicago, Jan. 4. — James C. Petrillo, head of the American Federation of Musicians, was ordered today by the Regional War Labor Board to make striking employes of Radio Station KSTP in Minneapolis comply with a no-strike order issued Dec. 20, and to advise the board of his action within 48 hours. Friday, January 5, 1945- MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 Mexican Writers Hit Political Film Ban Mexico City, Jan. 4. — President Manuel Avila Camacho is consider- ing a petition from scenarists-adapta- ters section No. 45 of the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union, requesting removal of the cen- sor's ban on "Las Abanadas" ("The y( Abandoned Girls"). — The picture, featuring Dolores del Rio, had its premiere at the Cine Chapultepec, newest first-run theatre here, and was then prohibited from further showings because it contains an alleged slur on the Mexican Revolu- tion. Subsequently, Federico Rodri- guez, presented the film in Monterrey, Northeastern industrial center, but the run was stopped by the Governor of Neuvo Leon after he received orders by phone from the censors. Unable to get another feautre, Rodriguez had to refund admission money paid by a large audience. The writers' union, in its petition to the President, claims the ban violates constitutional rights to liberty of ex- pression. CBS Affiliates to Meet Columbia Broadcasting's affiliate advisory board will hold its first ses- sion of the new year here next Wed- nesday and, Thursday at the network- headquarters with program plans for the year scheduled to be discussed. Mono. Will Handle Mexican Releases Monogram has negotiated _a deal with Films Victoria of Mexico to dis- tribute its product in that country, according to Dave Home, Monogram foreign department representative, who returned recently from Mexico City after three weeks there. Jack La- mont, the company's Mexico City branch manager, handled negotiations for Monogram. Home assisted in opening the of- fice in Mexico City. Business there still maintains a high level, he said. Monogram has signed many contracts for its product there and has shipped a print of "Lady Let's Dance," dubbed in Spanish, for a January opening, he said. Capone Gang Appeal Their Conviction The six convicted members of the Capone gang in Chicago, who got more than $1,000,000 from the in- dustry before being apprehended, yes- terday filed a petition for a rehear- ing on the upholding of their con- viction with the Circuit Court of Ap- peals in New York, claiming, through counsel, that the Circuit Court had "misapprehended the evidence." The decision of the court had been unani- mous. The six are : Louis Campagnola, Paul De Lucia, Phil D' Andrea, Fran- cis Maritote, Charles Coe and Louis Kaufman. New High in Salary For Mexican Star Mexico City, Jan. 4. — Jorge Negrete, singing film actor, has signed a contract calling for a monthly salary of $2,550 for performances over Mex- ico's largest radio station, XEW, beginning in April. This marks a new high in pay for a radio entertainer in this country. Seek Improvement of Religious Air Shows The formation of the first inter- denominational committee to produce religious radio programs with profes- sional talent and to supervise a pro- gram of instruction for ministers and religious educators for more effective use of the broadcast medium is an- nounced by Ronald Bridges, moderator of the Congregational Christian Churches. The purpose of these plans of three major Protestant denomina- tions is to improve the quality of re- ligious broadcasting where it will com- pete successfully with the best radio broadcasts in other fields, it was said. Fishbaugh to Warners Philadelphia, Jan. 4. — F. Fish- baugh, Jr., has joined the local War- ner exchange as assistant field super- visor. Milwaukee Grosses Good, 'Canteen' Best Milwaukee, Jan. 4. — Good grosses are registering at nearly all theatres here this week, with "Hollywood Can- teen's" $15,000 on top at the Warner Theatre. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 4 : "Winged Victory" (2cl engaged by MBC, CBS and the Blue, to survey the broadcasting in- dustry and plan the organization, will be in charge. '"THE globe-trotting of the numerous J. Arthur Rank business emmissaries, which has caused many in the American industry to raise quizzical eye- brows now and then, appears to have reached a peak of some kind in the current peregrina- tions of Teddy Carr about the Continent. Members of the American in- dustry who would very much like to visit the Continent as Carr did, on business, were told some time ago that transporta- tion accommodations were not to be had and that British busi- ness men would find it equally impossible to travel to the Con- tinent. But from Motion Pic- ture Daily's London office last week came a news cable which read as follows: "E. T. Carr, representing J. Arthur Rank, has returned to London (from France) for con- sultations with Rank and Brit- ish and French government of- ficials regarding plans for the distribution and exhibition of British films in France, which he discussed in Paris during the past month. Carr will return to France within a few days for final ratification of an agreement which is said to have the ap- proval of the French govern- ment." • Apparently someone was a bit inaccurate in saying that British business men would find pass- ports, visas and accommodations as difficult to obtain as would American business men. There should be some explanation of how it is possible for Carr to enter and leave the Continent apparently at his convenience while that territory remains in- accessible to members of the American industry. One is in- clined to speculate whether or not the explanation lies with the British Board of Trade, that arm of the London government which has been so helpful to the British industry and so threatening to the American industry. The situation recalls charges made recently by William La Varre, former assistant to Sec- retary of Commerce Jesse Jones, in addressing the Export Man- agers Club in New York. La Varre said that American busi- ness men could not obtain pass- ports for certain trade terri- tories throughout the world, nor even pass in transit through British territory until their ap- plications for passports in Washington have been approved by the B. of T. in London. Washington, he said, is flood- ed with applications for pass- ports by American business men that have not been issued or have been held up for months. The reason, he said, is "because certain officials think that cer- tain men are too competitive in these areas, and until the Board of Trade clears a passport it cannot be issued." • If this is true, it is a condi- tion which should not be per- mitted to continue, for the par- tisanship of the Board of Trade for the British film industry, and its past unfriendliness to the American industry are too well known to permit an as- sumption that it would use its extraordinary power over the issuance of passports impartial- ly where members of the Amer- ican industry are concerned. It would appear to be a matter for instant study by the State De- partment and, if La Varre's charges are substantiated, one for immediate correction. It is one more instance of point being given by official cir- cumstances to that observation made some time ago by one of the industry's friends in Wash- ington concerning the contrast between British and American government treatment of their respective film industries. Said he: "In England they knight them. In America they indict them." • • The untimely death in New York last week of Albert J. Law, counsel and executive sec- retary for the Southern Cali- fornia Theatre Owners Associa- tion, cut short a movement for introduction of a new plan for conciliation of trade practice complaints that promised, on the basis of Law's early conver- sations with home office sales executives, to receive thorough consideration and, perhaps, a trial. Any method of conciliation of trade disputes which is fair and workable is a valuable and con- structive addition to trade rela- tions. It is to be hoped that the SCTOA, as the sponsor of the plan on which Law was working at the time of his death, will see fit to continue to press for its adoption; that the good work Law accomplished, even though it be interrupted, will not be lost. Chicago, Jan. 7. — Because the in- crease of colored trade in top Loop and neighborhood houses here has jumped almost 50 per cent within the last year, competition for that busi- ness, particularly in the Harlem area, is at an alltime high. The average Negro theatregoer has more amuse- ment money to spend than ever before and he shops among the ace houses. B. & K.'s Regal, leading colored house here, is losing a* good deal of its trade today to the Downtown, N. S. Barger's Loop house, which re- cently changed its stage policy to Ne- gro bands and attractions. While the Regal still spots colored stage shows (Erskine Hawkins comes in this week and Cab Calloway follows in the week of Feb. 2), the location of the Downtown with its 95 cent ad- mission top has been drawing hundreds of former neighborhood patrons into the Loop. To get some of that ex- tra business, B. & K.'s Chicago Thea- tre is looking around for top Negro names (Cab Calloway played there last month) and the independent Ori- ental gives top billing to name Negro acts whenever available. Recent bills there featured Louis Jordan, "Tip, Tap and Toe," Bill Robinson, the Mills Brothers, Maurice Rocco and Doro- thy Donegan. Warner's Met in the Harlem area has no stage policy but is on a con- stant search for good Negro shorts which are billed above the feature. Arthur to See Hardy On Decision Appeal Harry Arthur will leave for St. Louis today to confer with Russell Hardy, his attorney, on steps to be taken on the appeal of Arthur's St. Louis Amusement Co. to the Supreme Court, from a denial of a plea to in- tervene in the Government's consent decree litigation. Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard heard Hardy's arguments here on Dec. 20, and denied the ap- plication from the bench. Arthur's pending St. Louis suit against the American Arbitration As- sociation, the Government and the de- cree distributors, is scheduled to be heard on Jan. 23, and Arthur said here at the weekend that no move would be made in his decree intervention appeal until after that date. Franchise Suit Trial Now Off to February Suit of the Leader Theatre Corp. against 20th Century-Fox and the Randforce Circuit, scheduled to go to trial today in New York Supreme Court, will be postponed to about Feb. 1. Reason for the delay is that Sam- uel Rinzler of Randforce will be ex- amined before trial on Wednesday, and the plaintiff will require addi- tional time to get its case ready. Action claims that 20th-Fox shifted a franchise from the Leader to an- other theatre in the Randforce cir- cuit, after the Leader had been sold to the plaintiff. Suit will seek to de- termine whether a franchise can be legally transferred. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. CENTURY-FOX KEEP SELLING BONDS! PRINTED IN U.S.A. Monday, January 8, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Reviews "His Brother's Ghosf (PRC) THE team of Sigmund Neufeld and Sam Newfield is deserving of much credit for continuing their interesting and even novel low-budget West- erns. Successfully ■ utilizing all of the established elements of the routine ''horse-opera," this series strikes a new and refreshing note in each release. Archie Hall, deputy sheriff, and Karl Hackett, local doctor in disrepute, scheming to acquire Al (Fuzzy) St. John's property, hire Charles King to get rid of St. John's share croppers. When nightly raids and murders dis- rupt the serenity of his valley, Fuzzy calls on Buster Crabbe for aid. Shot by the raiders, the rancher, on his deathbed, asks his twin brother, also played by St. John, to help Crabbe break up the gang. Faking as his brother's "ghost," Fuzzy frightens the already-suspected members of the mob into a confession, leading Crabbe to their bosses. Director Newfield effectively attends to all elements of George Milton's story as well as to the all-important action. Crabbe turns in his usual satis- factory performance, and St. John, in his dual role, provokes sympathy, first, and laughter later. King, Hackett and Hall contribute in good measure. Neufeld produced. Running time, 58 minutes. "G."* Release date, Feb. 3. Helen McNamara "Marked for Murder" (PRC) TEX RITTER and Dave O'Brien, the Texas Rangers, match wits and brawn with Jack Ingram and his band of crooked cohorts in PRC's "Marked for Murder," which follows, with little deviation, the established Western formula, emphasizing action above all else. Pitting the cattlemen against the sheep ranchers makes it easy for Ingram's crowd to rustle cattle without being suspected, since the ranchers, following several crimes engineered by Ingram, are distrustful of each other. Ritter and O'Brien, with the left-handed assistance of Guy Wilkerson, who provides seme welcome comedy relief, uncover the plot. The climax comes in a rip roaring gun battle at the town jail. The Rangers, of course, are victorious. Arthur Alexander produced, and Elmer Clifton directed, from his own screenplay. Ritter, O'Brien and Wilkerson turn in performances up to usual standards, adequately supported by Marilyn McConnell, Edward Cassidy, Henry Hall, Charles King and Ingram. Running time, 56 minutes. "G."* Release date, Feb. 8. H. M. Tri-State Meeting Opens at Memphis Memphis., Jan. 7. — Annual conven- tion of Tri-State Theatre Owners, af- filiated with the MPTOA, opened here today and will continue tomor- row. After an informal gathering this afternoon, members attended the Roy Acuff show at Ellis Auditorium, spon- sored by the Memphis Variety Club Milk Fund. Tomorrow the members will hold a formal business conference, with Louis Haven, Jr., of Forrest City, Ark., presiding. Among those sched- uled to attend are : Ed Kuykendall, v Columbus, Miss., president of the MPTOA ; R. L. McCoy, district man- ager, Warner Bros., Atlanta ; Charles E. Kessnich, district manager, M- G-M, Atlanta; Duke Clark, district manager, Paramount, Dallas ; B. F. Busby, district manager, PRC, Little Rock; Ben Cammack, district mana- ger, RKO, Dallas ; Dave Palf reyman, MPPDA, New York ; Claude F. Lee, Paramount, New York; Jim Donahue, Texas exhibitor, Dallas ; Harold F. Cohen, district manager, Monogram, New Orleans ; Phil Longdon, district manager, 20th Century-Fox, Dallas ; Harry Graham, district manager, Uni- versal, Atlanta. Armour Is OWI Film Head Abroad Reginald Armour, former RKO European manager, now with the Of- fice of War Information overseas film bureau, has been assigned to take charge of all OWI film distribution of Hollywood features and OWI doc- umentaries in Continental Europe, the Near East and England by Robert Riskin, chief of the film bureau, it was learned here at the weekend. Armour is now in England where, after conferring with Riskin, he was given his new assignment. 'Navy9 At Lakehurst For Sailors, Press Thirty trade paper, newspaper, syndicate and magazine representa- tives will be guests of Admiral Ros- enthal, head of the U. S. Navy Light- er-Than-Air base at Lakehurst, N. J., this evening, for a special showing of M-G-M's "This Man's Navy," part of which was photographed at the base. Preceding the screening, they will tour the base and dine at the officer's club. Frances Gifford, M-G-M player, Herbert Crooker, Dorothy Day, Bill McCormick, Melmin Heymann and William Ornstein of the company's home office will also make the trip. Some 4,000 sailors and officers will attend the showing. NBC Host to Press Representatives of New York trade and newspapers and magazines were guests of National Broadcasting at a dinner at Toots Shor's Friday night in connection with the broadcast of "People Are Funny." NBC was also host to the press over the weekend in connection with broadcasts of "Gas- light Gayeties" and the "Harold Lloyd Comedy Theatre." Principals of all three shows, which usually originate from the West Coast, are in New York on visits. *"G" denotes general classification. Allport Returns to London for MPPDA Fayette W. Allport, MPPDA repre- sentative in London, has returned to England to resume his old post, it was learned at the weekend. Allport was here for about a year and a. half and had planned to return sooner but was delayed by illness. No definite plans for the return of Harold L. Smith, MPPDA represen- tative in Paris, have been made, it is understood, despite desires of the dis- tributors to send some representa- tion to France to counterbalance the reported efforts there of British inter- ests to secure French theatre hold- ings. 10 Millions Involved In Bob Hope Pact Chicago, Jan. 7. — Bob Hope has been given a new 10-year radio con- tract by Charles Luckman, president of Pepsodent, at a cost of nearly $10,- 000,000, which will include every- thing but radio time. The new pact gives Hope 17 years with the same sponsor. Hope will outline his radio show's future format before company executives and salesmen here this week. Hope was named 'Champion of Champions' in the Motion Picture Daily-Fame recent radio poll, and was one of the winners of Motion Picture Herald's 'Box Office Champ- ions' for 1944. Hazen and Wallis to Set Release for Two Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Releasing and distribution plans on "The Love Let- ters" and "The Affairs of Susan," the first Hal Wallis productions to be released by Paramount are to be dis- cussed when Joseph H. Hazen, pres- ident of Hal Wallis Productions, ar- rives on the West Coast from New York, probably today. Hazen expects to remain in Cal- ifornia for several weeks and will also participate in the launching of a third film, "Don't Ever Grieve Me." Lasky To Announce Release On Coast Jesse L. Lasky and Walter Mac- Ewen will leave for the Coast today or tomorrow after a month in New York during which time they set ten- tative releasing arrangements for the newly formed Jesse L. Lasky Pro- ductions. _ Lasky said here Friday that details of the arrangements will be announced after he has conferred with his financial interests in Cali- fornia. The company had announced plans to make at least four pictures, to cost $1,000,000 each, by Jan., 1946. Schildkraut Reception Joseph Schildkraut will meet the trade press here this afternoon at a Republic Pictures reception at the Hampshire House. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 7 RKO RADIO has given new long-term contracts to two stu- dio executives : Sid Rogell will con- tinue to function as executive pro- ducer, arid will be responsible for from 15 to 20 features on the studio's schedule for the current year. J. J. Nolan will continue in charge of all talent as an executive assistant to Charles W. Koerner. • Walter Abel and Katherine Alex- ander will play character leads in Sol Siegel's independent film pro- duction of "Kiss and Tell," for Co- lumbia. . . . Kathryn Grayson has been added to the cast of M-G-M's color musical, "Ziegfeld Follies." . . . Billie Burke will have one of the top featured roles opposite Eu- gene Pallette in Republic's "The Amazing Mr. M," which will have Joseph Schildkraut in the title role. • Screen rights to "Black Market Babies," by Virginia Reid, which ap- peared in the Woman's Home Com- panion, have been purchased by Mon- ogram producer Lindsley Parsons. . . . Warner producer-director How- ard Hawks has purchased "Dark Page," a psychological drama by Ser- geant Sammy Fuller. . . . RKO re- cently purchased two story proper- ties, "Anything Can Happen," Book- of-the-Month Club selection for Jan- nary, and "Fabulous Alibi," original by Dane Lussier. Conventions, Trade Shows Out on Feb. 1 Washington, Jan. 7. — James F. Byrnes, director of War Mobilization and Reconversion, "requested" at the weekend the cancellation of conven- tions and trade shows requiring the attendance of more than 50 persons after Feb. 1, unless they are deter- mined to be necessary to the prosecu- tion of the war. It was announced that this action was being taken with the approval of President Roosevelt. Although the element of strict com- pulsion appeared to be lacking, the announcement indicated an intention to follow through with measures that would expose uncooperative organiza- tions to public scrutiny. Claude Ellis Dies Cincinnati, Jan. 7. — Claude R. Ellis, 62, outdoor editor of Billboard, died here Friday. He was a member of the Showmen's League of Amer- ica. Surviving are his widow and a brother, Percy, of Long Beach, Cal. Barnett, 20th Renew George Barnett, president of Mod- ern Film Corp., has renewed, for one year, a product deal with 20th-Fox to supply films to the theatre circuit controlled by Nyja Bio, at Reykjavik, Iceland. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CINEFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 8 Motion Picture daily Monday, January 8, 1945 Connors Sets Nationwide 'Dimes' Aides (Continued from page 1) Warners ; C. G. Eastman, Albany ; M. A. Brown, Buffalo; C. H. Weav- er, Oklahoma City, all Paramount; W. E. Truog, United Artists, Kansas City ; William Zoelner, Atlanta ; F. J. Downey, Detroit; James Briant, New Orleans ; William H. Workman, Min- neapolis ; Sol Gottlieb, Pittsburgh ; J. J. M a 1 o n e y, Pittsburgh, all M-G-M ; Rovy F. Branon, Charlotte ; Sol M. Sachs, Dallas ; B. Pitkin, New Haven; Charles Boasberg, New York; E. A. Lamb, Seattle, all RKO; R. 0. Wilson, Portland, Ore.; B. Rose, San Francisco; Frank Mantzke, Milwaukee, all Universal; Tom Gilliam, Chicago; Clyde Eck- hardt, Los Angeles ; Leavitte Bugie, Cincinnati ; George Landis, Indiana- polis ; T. W. Young, Memphis ; Sam Gross, Philadelphia, all 20th-Fox. District Chairmen District chairmen appointed by Connors are: J. B. Underwood, Co- lumbia, Dallas; Henry Herbel, War- ners, Los Angeles ; A. M. Kane, Paramount, Boston ; Jack Goldhar, United Artists, Detroit; Jack Bowen, M-G-M, New York; Sam Shirley, M-G-M, Chicago. Distributor and exhibitor meetings are being set in all key centers. Connors has sent a bulletin to all distributor chairmen to start making collections at once in all exchanges. The New York March of Dimes Committee is planning a demonstra- tion in Times Square to launch its participation. A "polio" display will be erected and a screen will be erect- ed to show the appeal trailer. Ernest Emerling, aided by Harry Mandel, will be in charge, with Edward C. Dowden as special events chairman. California Seeks New March of Dimes Record Los Angeles, Jan. 7. — Southern California exhibitors, affiliated cir- cuits and independents, through George Bowser, predicted at the weekend that there would be at least 550 pledged theatres for March of Dimes Week, and that total collec- tions would exceed last year's by 25 per cent. NAB Approves Study Of Radio Regulations Washington, Jan. 7. — J. Harold Ryan, president of the National As- sociation of Broadcasters, expressed at the weekend the organization's ap- proval of the Lea committee's sug- gestion for a review of the com- munications act. Thompson to Produce Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Walter Thompson, executive assistant to William Goetz for more than a year, has been named associate producer for International Pictures. His first as- signment will be "Countess of Monte Cristo," color film to star Sonja Henie. To NICHOLAS M. SCHENCK, Chairman 1945 MARCH OF DIMES DRIVE SUITE 124, ASTOR HOTEL. NEW YORK, 19, N. Y. You may depend on my complete cooperation. At every performance, during week of Jan. 25-31, I promise to show the appeal trailer and make audience collections in my audi- torium. Send full details. (PLEASE PRINT PLAINLY) Signed .THEATRE COUNTY CITY-STATE SEATING CAPACITY 1945 MARCH of DIMES To Resume Thalia Case in Chicago Chicago, Jan. 7. — The conspiracy case filed in Federal Court here by Thomas Murray, former operator of the Thalia Theatre, against Balaban and Katz and the major distributors, will be resumed here tomorrow morn- ing after a recess since Friday. The case opened on Jan. 3 and is expected to last three weeks. So far, the court has heard only opening statements from attorneys represent- ing both sides, and part of the cross examination of the plaintiff, Murray, by Leonard G. Seeley, attorney repre- senting B. and K. Murray claims he was forced out of business due to lack of suitable product, and charges the defendants with conspiracy. Petitions for Theatre Cape May Court House, N. J., Jan. 7. — The local Chamber of Com- merce has recommended the building of a new theatre following notification from William C. Hunt, owner of the recently destroyed Grand, that the War Production Board had refused approval of construction of a new house. The chamber declared that resi- dents use extra tires and gasoline to reach out-of-town theatres and that retail business in the country-seat has been injured by lack of a theatre. Grainger to Open Republic Meeting (.Continued from page 1) distribution and production plans and policies. Herbert J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the board, will outline future pro- ductions and discuss extended adver tising and publicity coverage on forth- coming films. The meeting will also be attended by E. L. Walton, assist- ant general sales manager; Eastern Central, and New England district sales managers Maxwell Gillis, Sam Seplowin, and Jack Davis, respective ly, heading a group of managers ; A. W. Perry, general sales manager of Empire Universal Films, Republic's Canadian distributors ; A. J. Laurie, Republic Canadian sales manager ; Walter L. Titus, Jr., executive as- sistant in charge of branch operations, and home office representatives Al- bert Schiller, Si Borus, E. H. Seifert, Steve Edwards, Charles Reed Jones, E. L. Becker, Evelyn Koleman, Beatrice Ross, James Conniff, and special representatives A. E. Fox and Fred W. Franke. UA District Heads Meet Here Today (Continued from page 1) Thompson, Kansas City ; Rud Lohr enz, Chicago; W. E. Callaway, Los Angeles ; A. J. Jeffrey, Toronto. Highlights of the meetings will be an over-all discussion of sales policies on new product and plans for national advertising-publicity campaigns. Among those who will attend are: Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of distribution ; Carl Leser- man, sales manager ; J. J. Unger, Western division manager- Harry Gold, Eastern division manager ; Ed- ward Schnitzer, home office sales ex- ecutive and Paul Lazarus. Sr., Harry D. Buckley, Charles Steele, Phil Dow and Jack Wrege. Hicks Returns From First Army Front George Hicks, Blue Network com- mentator, has returned from the West- ern Front and discussed his experi- ences at a press luncheon at Toots Schor's here Friday. Hicks, whose coverage on D-Day from the Nor- mandy beachhead was voted the best radio news job in the recent Motion Picture Daily-Fame radio poll, dis- closed that he was 10 miles from the spot where the German offensive broke through the American First Army lines on Dec. 17. Screen 'Caballeros' Walt Disney's "The Three Cabal- leros," to be released through RKO, was screened Friday night for 1,300 educators attending the American Museum of Natural History's first Visual Aids Institute for Teachers, here. Also present were Arthur Hay- wood DeBra, assistant secretary of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America; William Levy of Walt Disney Productions, and Rutgers Neilson, RKO Radio pub- licity manager. Short Subject Review "Brought to Action" (WAC-UA-MGM) The story of our strategy and action in the great Naval battle of the Phil- ippines, last October, is depicted stir- ringly in the two-reel film produced by the Office of Strategic Services in cooperation with the United States Navy. Included in the film is authen- tic Japanese footage, captured from the enemy and released to the public for the first time. Behind the graphic account of our sweeping victory when the Jap was 'brought to action' lies also the sobering story of the price in human life and sacrifice we paid. While United Artists will distribute in other territories, M-G-M will han- dle the film for the War Activities Committee in Albany, Des Moines, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Port- land, Ore. Running time, 20 mins. NDGA Meet to Hear Television Leaders Television industry representatives will speak at the convention of the National Dry Goods Association at the Hotel Pennsylvania here tomor- row at which attendance is expected to reach 2,000. Leonard F. Cramer, executive vice- president of DuMont; James D. Mc- Lean, General Electric ; Dan Halpin, RCA, and others will talk at a morn- ing session devoted to television oper- ation and management. A television production panel in the afternoon will hear Samuel H. Cuff, general man- ager of DuMont's station WABD ; Thomas H. Hutchinson, RKO Tele- vision; Robert Gibson of General Electric's station WRGB ; Bud Gam- ble, president of Television Producers, and Raymond E. Nelson, vice-presi- dent of Charles M. Storm Co. Irwin A. Shane, director of the Television Workshop, organized the television sessions. MGM Office Heads, Exploiteers Arrive Three M-G-M office managers and three field exploiters will arrive here today for a week at the home office, visiting department heads and study- ing operations. Office managers are: Hazel Ander- son, Omaha; Lily Goodin, San Fran- cisco ; Eleanore King, Denver. Field exploiteers, first of a group of 34 to come here, are : J. E. Watson, Cincin- nati ; Charles Deardourff , Cleveland ; Norman Linz, Indianapolis. Monogram Reports $33,159 Profit Monogram Pictures reports a net profit of $33,159, equal to seven cents on each 458,659 shares, for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The net last year was $30,422. The report indicated that gross film rentals had increased 42 per cent from domestic sales and 84 per cent from foreign. Robards Press Chief Sidney M. Robards, who has been on the staff of the department of in- formation of RCA for the past seven years, was appointed manager of the department at the weekend. OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR "CAN'T HELP SINGING" IS WELL FOUNDED! Is) e felt that "Can't Help Singing" would be the biggest picture Universal has ever had. We also felt it would prove to be the most entertaining and the most satisfying to exhibitors and customers. All business returns prove this to be correct. "Can't Help Singing" has broken every record of every Universal picture in the engagements it has played so far. It has also received fine critical acclaim, and we are very happy about the fact that many critics refer to it as the best Deanna Durbin picture ever made. In the New York Daily Mirror, Frank Quinn referred to "Can't Help Singing" as "Filmdom's 'Oklahoma." No wonder we "Can't Help Singing" the praises of "Can't Help Singing." • Screen Play by LEWIS R. FOSTER and FRANK RYAN • Story by John Klorer, Leo Townsend • Based on "Girl of the Overland Trail" by Samuel J. and Curtis B. Wat-shawsky SIGN UP NOW! A GREATER DRIVE IN '45! MARCH OF DIMES (Jan. 25-31) DEANNA DURBIN'S FIRST IS UNIVERSALE BIGG C0tf UNIVERSAL PICTURE URBIN * Can't Help Singing m TFTHIVfirOI OR TECHNICOLOR PICTURE EST BOXOFFICE HIT! CHIca Go BUFF A NEW YORK, H. Y. isv/L Mo. 1*1*1*1' CISCO NEW BEDFORD, MASS. S„N ^ CAIIF. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. tTll*oRt' CRITERION, N. Y. aJWl ...i PA. "WDINCp* M.tf*«0>M HARRIS'*"116' PA- sac** asbury park, n. TOLEDO, OHIO nth ROBERT PAIGE AKI M TAMIROFF DAVID BRUCt LEONID K1NSKEV KAY COLLIN'S JUNE VINCENT ANDREW i iw h FUN k RUN /fcAcrfijFEUX JACKSON a,« /»«/«wFBAKK SHAW *,JEtO«: Screen Play by LEWIS R. FOSTER and FRANK RYAN • Story by John Klorer and Leo Taw Based on "Girl of the Overland Trail" by Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky • A UNW.RSA 12 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 8, 1945 Crescent Asks Rehearing Of Supreme Court Case Enough Freon Will Be Made Available Production on The Rise, with Eight Started Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Production has taken an upward turn, with work started on eight new features ; four others went to the cutting rooms. The shooting index has risen to 38, compared with 34 a week ago. The production scene follows : Columbia Shooting: "The Fighting Guards- man," "A Thousand and One Nights." M-G-M Shooting : "Her Highness and the Bellboy," "The Hidden Eye," "Week- end at the Waldorf," "Hold High the Torch." Monogram Started : "Docks of New York," with the^ East Side Kids. Paramount Finished: "The Love Letters," "Duffy's Tavern." Shooting : "Good Intentions," "The Virginian," "The Lost Weekend," "The Affairs of Susan," "Masque- rade in Mexico," "Too Good to Be True." PRC Started: "Phantom of 42nd Street," with Kay Aldridge, Dave O'Brien, Frank Jenks. RKO Radio Finished: "Sing Your Way Home" (formerly "Follow Your Heart"). Started: "Those Endearing Young Charms," with Robert Young, La- raine Day, Bill Williams. Shooting: "Johnny Angel," "The Spanish Alain," "Invisible Army," "Along Came Jones" (International). Republic Started: "New Faces of 1945," with Kaye Dowd, Robert Duke, Da- vid Street, Charles Kemper ; "The Fatal Witness," with Evelyn Ankers, Richard Fraser, George Leigh, Bar- bara Everest. Shooting : "Road to Alcatraz," "Return at Dawn." 20th Century-Fox Started: "State Fair," with Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain, Charles Win- ninger. Shooting : "Colonel Effingham's Raid," "A Bell for Adano," "Captain Eddie." United Artists Finished: "Blood on the Sun" (Cagney). Started: "Paris - Underground" (Constance Bennett), with Constance Bennett, Gracie Fields. Shooting: "A Walk in the Sun" (Bronston) ; "Story of G. I. Joe" (Cowan) ; "Guest Wife" (Skirball- Manning). Universal Started: "Senorita from the West," with Allan Jones, Bonita Granville, Jess Barker, Rene McEvoy. Shooting : "A Night in Paradise," "That's the Spirit." Warners .Shooting : "Mildred Pierce," "This Love of Ours," "Hotel Berlin," "The Big Sleep." RMA Has 227 Members Radio Manufacturers Association now has 227 member companies. {Continued from page 1) defendants had theatres did so through the normal processes of competition. The contention that the Government had failed to prove its case, ruled out by the high court as not being an as- signment of error, was not predicated upon lack of evidence to support the findings of fact, as the court assumed, it was explained, "but rather on the theory that, assuming the findings of fact to be unimpeachable, a decree predicated on these findings was nevertheless outside the scope of the complaint as amplified by the bill of particulars." "We think the defendants are en- titled to a consideration by the court of this important and material issue which was discussed in detail in the briefs," it was added. With respect to the use of buying power, the defendants objected to the example given in the court's opinion, that the defendants insisted that a dis- tributor give them monopoly rights in 'Pirate', 'Vanities' Smash at $43,000 Cleveland, Jan. 7. — Undaunted by the heaviest local snowstorm on record, Cleveland turned out en masse to attend theatres. Box office queues were the order of the day for "Prin- cess and the Pirate," at the RKO Pal- ace, which rang up a tremendous $43,- 000 ; for "30 Seconds Over Tokyo," at Loew's State, for a big $27,000; for "Hollywood Canteen," at Warners' Hippodrome, with a $27,000 take, and for all of the holdovers. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 3 : "The Very Thought of You" (WB) ALLEN— (3,000) (45c-55c-65c. Special mid- night show, 75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $8,500). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,500) (45c-55c-65c. Special midnight show, 75c) 7 days. Gross: $27,000. (Average: $22,100). "Laura." (20th-Fox) 6 days "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) 1 day WARNERS' LAKE— (714) (45c-55c-65c) Gross: $4,500. (Average: $3,200). "Lost in a Harem" (M-G-M) LOEW'S OHIO— (1,268) (45c-65c) 7 days, including special midnight show. 3rd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $5,000). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) RKO PALACE — (3,300) (50c-60c-85c-95c. Special reserved seat show at $2.40 to $1.80) 7 days. Stage: Earl Carroll's Vanities. Gross: $43,000. (Average: $25,400) "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,300) (45c-65c). Ex- tra midnight show. 7 days. Gross: $27,000. (Average: $19,000). "Kismet" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ST1LLMAN— (1,900) _ (45c-65c) 7 days, including special midnight show. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $10,000). Selznick Wins Award The New York Federation of Women's Clubs, with an affiliated membership of 300,000, announced at the weekend that a special award has been made to David O. Selznick for "Since You Went Away," as 'the best picture of the year for home front morale.' RCA Gets Generators Distribution of Actodector,' theatre- type motor generator sets, produced by Century Electric Co., St. Louis, has been taken over by the theatre equipment section of RCA Victor. towns in which defendants had compe- tition before distributors' pictures would be shown in closed towns. Cres- cent contends the high court's infer- ence that discrimination was induced for the purpose of restraining competi- tion, was unwarranted. "The so-called discriminations by distributors were induced by business reasons and the inference relied upon by the Government is not valid," Crescent contends. On the final point the defendants charge that the high court failed to deal in its opinion with defendants' contention that only the normal proc- esses of competition eliminated inde- pendent theatres. "There was absolutely no evidence," the Crescent petition states, "that de- fendants ever obtained, or attempted to obtain, from any distributor any agreement, express or implied, that it should not furnish pictures to a com- peting exhibitor, or should impose re- strictions on any other exhibitor." 'Tokyo' Lifts Slump With $29,000 Gross Pittsburgh, Jan. 7. — "Thirty Sec- onds Over Tokyo" ended a three- week slump in Pittsburgh receipts with an estimated gross of $29,000 this week at the Penn. Next to the top is "Hollywood Canteen," which is expected to bring $25,000 to the Stanley. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 2-5 : "Lake Placid Serenade" (Rep.) FULTON— (1,700) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $8,500). "Winged Victory" (20th-Fox) J. P. HARRIS— (2,200) (3Sc-44c-65c) 7 davs. 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $10,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) PENN— (3,400) (40c-55c-85O 7 days. Gross: $29,000. (Average: $21,700). "And Now Tomorrow" (Para.) RITZ— (1,100) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Stanley. Gross: $3,880. (Average: $3,000). "Carolina, Blues" (Col.) SENATOR— (1,750) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $3,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) STANLEY— (3,800) (40c-55c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $25,000. (Average: $22,000). "Kismet" (M-G-M) WARNER— (2,000) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Penn. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $9,450). Morrell Heads Managers Toronto, Jan. 7. — George Morrell, manager of Famous Players' St. Clair Theatre, was elected president of the Toronto Suburban Managers Associ- ation, succeeding Charles L. Querrie of the Palace Theatre, who had held the office two years. Other officers elected include M. J. Doyle, vice- president; Allan Nasson, treasurer; Jay Smith, secretary, and Querrie, honorary president. Settle Grafton Suit Suit by Grafton Films, Ltd., against Loew's, Inc., for $500,000 damages for alleged improper distribution of "The Stars Looked Down," has been settled out of the New York Federal Court. Among charges were failure to re- lease the film on time, and acceptance of alleged wrongful cancellations. (Continued from page 1) into their own cooling systems or con- tainers, but acquisition of freon will be made contingent upon the immedi- ate return of the empty flasks. On the whole, the motion picture industry is the largest civilian con- sumer of freon, but it is roughly esti- . mated that probably not much more | than 250,000 pounds will be required to fill all theatre cooling plants to capacity. That only this moderate volume of refrigerant will be needed, it was said, is due to the fact that no theatre has been permitted to close for lack of freon, although at no time in the past has it been possible to pro- vide enough gas to replace less seri- ous losses. 50 Hardship Cases During the past Fall, the WPB freon section took care of about 50 theatres which were in dire need of freon, operating on a geographical basis which took care first of those in the Southern states. At that time, reports were secured from nearly every theatre in the country, and not one exhibitor claimed he had been forced to close because of lack of the refrigerant. The current program of permitting consumers to secure gas now is de- signed to move into trade channels freon which cannot be stored in pres- ent capacity, permitting the manufac- turers to continue production at a high rate. By next summer, it was said, every exhibitor in the country will be able to get all the freon he needs with- out formality, provided, of course, that military demands for the gas or its basic constituents do not suddenly increase. Ten from Small to Cost $10,000,000 {Continued from page 1) Sanders and adapted by Curt Siod- mak, followed by "Bella Donna," from the Robert Hichens novel, with Louis Hayward starred and Douglas Sirk directing. Robert Smith is now at work on a screenplay from Dawn Powell's "A Time to Be Born," for which Rosalind Russell is being sought. "Valentino" will be pro- duced for 1946-47. Also listed for early production is Booth Tarking- ton's "Kate Fennigate," adapted by Michael Kanin. Small is prepared to spend more than $1,500,000 on "The Ghost of Monte Cristo," is was said. Addi- tional story properties include "Lucrezia Borgia," "D'Artagnan" and "Notorious Nancy Grey," the latter by Howard Emmit Rogers and James Edward Grant. Pekor in New CBS Post Charles F. Pekor, Jr. has been named assistant to the director of the CBS press department, according to an announcement by George Crandall, director. Artkino Has 'Skies' "Moscow Skies," produced at the Mosfilm Studio in Russia, will be re- leased in the U. S. through Artkino and is now being readied for early dis- tribution. First in M (Radio )l 1 Accura and Impartial MOTION PICTURE VOL. 57. NO. 6 NEW YORK, U. S. A., TUESDAY. JANUARY 9, 1945 TEN CENTS- No Separate /fepn6/ic Has Decree Peace 1 32% Increase Seen by U. S. Report No Overtures Made Yet by Warners Washington, Jan. 8. — Hav- ing heard unofficial and ' uncon- firmed reports that Warner Bros., which recently sent a notice of resignation to the Motion Picture Pro- ducers and Distributors of America, might seek to negotiate a separate peace with the Department of Justice, severing the company from other dis- tributor defendants in the consent de- cree case, the Department has indi- cated here that it would accept no compromise that would include reten- tion of distributor-owned theatres. (In New York recently, Joseph M. Proskauer, decree counsel for Warners, told Motion Picture Daily no effort is being made to conduct separate negotiations, and Assistant U. S. Attorney General Robert L. (Continued on page 6) Decorators Delay Studio Walkout Hollywood, Jan. 8. — Although vot- ing, last Saturday night, to authorize the calling of a strike of the Screen Set' Decorators, potentially tying up all studios, Herbert Sorrell, the union's president, told Motion Pic- ture Daily that there would be no walkout, yet Sorrell disclosed that he had received a telephone call from William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, say- ing that War Labor Board chairman (.Continued on page 6) Outstanding Service Award Given Blank Des Moines, Jan. 8. — A. H. Blank yesterday was named winner of the Des Moines Tribune's "Community Award" for outstanding service to this city during 1944. Blank, 64, and a theatre operator for 33 years, is president of Tri-States Theatre Corp. and Central States Theatre Corp. He was in Florida when the award was announced, and will receive a silver loving cup, symbol of the award, when he returns. The selection, made by a jury of (Continued on page 6) Republic registered a booking in- crease of 32J/> per cent in 1944 over the previous year, an all-time high for the company, James R. Grainger, president and . general sales ! manager, an- nounced at yes- terday's open- ing session of the regional sales meeting which will con- tinue today and tomorrow at the '■New] York Athletic Club. Herbert J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the board, reported that Republic will release one production costing up (Continued on page 6) James K. Graingrer Code for Existing Theatres Due Next Consideration of proposed provisions of the new building code for New York State, to apply to new struc- tures, including theatres, is nearly completed and the advisory commit- tee to Edward Corsi, State Industrial Commissioner, will shortly turn to the promulgation of rules affecting exist- ing structures, a spokesman for the committee said here yesterday. The advisory committee, which in- cludes representatives from the film (Continued on page 7) RAW STOCK CUT TO HIT FILM OUTPUT Grosses Hold Up at N.Y. First-Runs in Post-Holiday Week Grosses at New York first-run the- atres are holding up this week despite a Sunday snowstorm which cut into grosses of some houses as much as 20 per cent for the day. "Mr. Emmanuel," only new arrival, which opened at the Gotham last Sat- urday, brought a good $6,500 in the first two days and a big $17,000 is ex- pected for the first week. "National Velvet" continues to do good business at Radio City Music Hall, with $69,- 000 recorded for the first four days of its fourth week and $110,000 is ex- pected. The third week's gross of $140,500 was an all-time high for the Hall. A big $83,000 is expected for the second week of "Here Come the Waves" and a stage show featuring Woody Herman and band at the Par- amount; the first week brought a ter- rific $122,000. Roxy, Strand and Capitol were among those hit. "Winged Victory" and a stage show featuring the Nich- olas Brothers and Jack Durant are expected to bring the Roxy close to $79,000 for a third week on the basis of $59,700 recorded for the first five days. "Hollywood Canteen" and a Lionel Hampton stage presentation is expected to register $45,000 for a (Continued on page 6) Expect U. S. On Labor in Restrictions Theatres High Court Denies Crescent Rehearing Washington, Jan. 8. — The U. S. Supreme Court today closed finally the books in the Crescent Amusement Co. an- ti-trust case, denying a peti- tion of the company for a re- hearing of the suit. The Supreme Court's re- fusal to consider the case fur- ther was embodied in the day's orders, without explana- tion. Washington, Jan. 8. — Government imposition of some restrictions on theatre labor was seen as a possibility of the near future in official circles here today. Also, traveling shows may join racing as an activity suspend- ed for the duration of the war, it was said. The Administration's continued pressure for strict labor controls, de- signed to put as many men as possible into war or essential industry or the Army, is expected, however, with re- sard to this industry, to be aimed at the replacement only of men who do not fill jobs vital to theatre operation. (Continued on page 7) Reduction at Rate of 44 Films Yearly Seen; Newsreel Cut Is Severe By MILTON LIVINGSTON The 11 national distributors will be forced to curtail production and distribution of the equivalent of 44 top films this year, should the raw stock cut levied against the indus- try by the War Production Board for the first quarter of 1945 be con- tinued throughout the year, com- pany executives reported yesterday. The present WPB curtailment of 27,000,000 feet in the industry's allot- ment for the first quarter of 1945. will begin to be felt in March and will be- come increasingly serious thereafter, it was stated. The industry has been told the outlook for the second 1945 quarter is for a continuation of the cut unless large quantities of raw (Continued on page 3) WPB Hopes for Less Industry Stock Cut Washington, Jan. 8. — War Pro- duction Board officials today were still hopeful of keeping the first-quar- ter raw stock cut at 20,000,000 feet, despite an official announcement Sat- urday that a curtailment of "possibly" 27,000,000 feet would be required. They explained that while the higher figure is indicated by the sta- tistics now in, there are still some "loose ends" which may raise the to- tal quota for the industry from the (Continued on page 3) Rogers to Make 4 At $5,250,000 Charles R. Rogers will expand his production from one film yearly to four, he revealed in an interview here yesterday, with a minimum produc- tion budget estimated at $5,250,000 for the four. He will continue to re- lease through United Artists. "My Wild Irish Rose," in color, based on the life of Chauncey Olcott, will start shooting in March and will cost $1,500,000, to be followed in June by "Angel on My Shoulder," a fan- tasy by Harry Segall, starring Brian (Continued on page 6) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 9, 1945 Industry Meetings Unaffected by Ban The ''request" of James F. Byrnes, director of War Mobilization and Re- conversion, that conventions and trade showings requiring the attendance of more than 50 persons be cancelled af- ter Feb. 1, unless they are determined to be necessary to the prosecution of the war, appears unlikely to affect many meetings of the motion picture industry. Earlier transportation retrench- ments have for some time confined sales meetings to compact regional groups of less than 50, with a hand- ful of top sales executives doing the traveling. Exhibitor meetings have likewise been streamlined ; Byrnes' "request" apparently would not apply to exhibitor organizations or board or executive committee meetings. Byrnes has appointed a committee, headed by Col. J. Monroe Johnson, director of the Office of Defense Transportation, to pass upon applica- tions of meetings of more than 50 persons, determining whether they are sufficiently in the war interest. Con- ditions are so bad now that persons traveling on "important war assign- ments and our service men find it dif- ficult and sometimes impossible to ob- tain hotel accommodations," Byrnes declared. Loop Houses Will Feel Convention Trade Loss Chicago, Jan. 8. — The order of James F. Byrnes, War Mobilization Director, to ban all national conven- tions* for the rest of 1945 will mean the cancellation of 300 scheduled meet- ings here, which were expected to draw over 200,000 persons. The ban is a blow to Loop houses which have always enjoyed good convention trade. In normal times, an average of 800 national conventions are held in Chi- cago annually, attracting 1,000,000 persons. ITOA Now Attacks Simultaneous Runs A resolution condemning the prac- tice of distributors in playing the same picture simultaneously in two local theatres as first runs was passed yesterday at a meeting, here, of the film committee of Harry Brandt's Independent Theatre Owners Associa- tion. Reason given was "fears that this may create a larger backlog of product than exists today." The committee declared it is "fully aware this practice obviously removes one house that could play another picture and that it sets back releases. "Independents who make several changes a week find themselves in a position where they cannot obtain enough releases to carry proper bookings," the committee stated. "They find they cannot extend runs in subsequent run houses because pres- ent grosses do not justify this. It is their opinion that there are no indica- tions of any appreciable increase in grosses and, as a matter of fact, grosses in many subsequent run thea- tres are less than in previous years," said the ITOA statement. Personal Mention ADOLPH ZUKOR and Mrs. Zu- kor will observe their 48th wed- ding anniversary tomorrow. They were married in Chicago on Jan. 10, 1897. • Captain Walter Lloyd, Army dis- chargee, has resumed his post as man- ager of the M and P Allyn Theatre in Hartford after 30 months' service. Stanley Redmond, acting manager, will remain as assistant. • Gus King and Oscar Howell, president and vice-president, respec- tively, of Capital Supply Co., Atlan- ta, have returned there from New Orleans. • I. Coval, former Warner branch jnanager in Montreal, arrived in New York yesterday prior to being as- signed to a South American post. • Herman Goldberg, Warner dis- tribution department traveling repre- sentative, is en route to Seattle and Butte from New York. • William F. Rodgers, M-G-M vice- president and general sales manager, will leave here Friday for a two-week vacation in Miami. • Charles Midelburg, operator of the Capitol, Charleston, West Vir- ginia, arrived in New York yesterday. • Arthur C. Bromberg, president of Monogram's Southern exchanges, At- lanta, is in Charlotte. • Henry Hellriegel, Cleveland thea- tre contractor, was inducted into the Army Saturday. RB. WILBY of the Wilby-Kincey • circuit, and Mrs. Wilby, have returned to Atlanta from Miami. • James J. Donohue, Paramount Central division manager, left Mem- phis yesterday for visits in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. • Howard Dietz, M-G-M vice-presi- dent in charge of advertising, public- ity and exploitation, will leave New York for the Coast today. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal Southern district manager, left New York last night for Oklahoma City and Dallas. • Oscar A. Doob, Loew's Theatres advertising - publicity director, will leave today for a studio visit in Cali- fornia. • Edwin Dowden has returned to his desk at Loew's here after being con- fined for several days with a severe cold. • Leopold Friedman, Loew's attor- ney and secretary, will return from a two-week Florida vacation on Jan. 15. • Edwin Silverman of the Essaness Circuit, Chicago, is in Hollywood on a combination vacation-business trip. • Henry Blanke, Warner producer, will arrive in New York from the Coast early next week. • Fred Jack, Southern division man- ager of United Artists, Atlanta, is in New York. SOPEG Will Merge With UOPWA Local Members of the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, CIO, representing 'white collar' workers in the home offices of 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, Loew's, RKO Radio, Columbia, United Art- ists and other industry groups in New York, have voted in favor of an amal- gamation with United Office and Pro- fessional Workers of America, CIO, Local No. 1. Local 109's executive board reported here last night that 97 per cent of the ballots cast were in favor of the amalgamation. The report was ac- cepted by the Guild's merger commit- tee. Arrangements will be made with- in the next few weeks for Local 109 to occupy joint headquarters with Local 1, here, but Local 109 will also continue to maintain present quar- ters. Meanwhile, the resumption of hearings between SOPEG and rep- resentatives of 20th Century-Fox, Loew's, Paramount, RKO Radio and Columbia before U. S. Commissioner James W. Fitzpatrick of the U. S. Conciliation Service in a contract and wage dispute involving 2,000 office workers of those companies, scheduled for today, has again been postponed. Funeral Services for A. /. Law Tomorrow Hollywood, Jan. 8. — Funeral ser- vices for Albert J. Law, 40, formerly executive secretary and general coun- sel of the Southern California Theatre Owners Association, will take place at the Wee Kirk O'Heather on Wednesday. Interment will be at Forest Lawn. The attorney was stricken with a heart attack New Year's Day while visiting in New York, and died there the following day. He had been con- ferring with New York distribution executives on a plan for conciliating trade practice complaints prior to their submission to arbitration. Prior to going to New York, he had been in Washington, where his plan was re- ported under consideration by the De- partment of Justice. He had hoped to make the plan national, rather than local through the SCOTA. Pettijohn Child Dies Funeral services for Charles C. Pet- tijohn, III, three and one-half-year old grandson of C. C. Pettijohn, form- er MPPDA executive, will be held on Thursday at the latter's home in Rye, N. Y. The child died on Satur- day at Miami Beach, Fla., where his father. Ensign C. C. Pettijohn, is sta- tioned. The latter was with the Pro- duction Code Administration in Hol- lywood before entering service. Klein to Filmack as Promotion Manager Chicago, Jan. 8. — Bernard Klein, former sales manager for Screen Ad- vertising Service Co. here, has been appointed sales promotion manager for Filmack Laboratories, a division of Filmack Trailer Co. Also named to the Filmack staff re- cently were Seymour Kain, director of advertising, and Patricia Dollahan, his assistant, formerly with Foote, Cone and Belding on the West Coast. NEW YORK THEATRES THIRD GAY WEEK! VERA HRUBA RALSTON featuring Eugene Palette Vera Vague Robert Livingston Stephanie Bachelor RAY NOBLE HARRY OWENS and his Orchestra and his Royal Hawaiians and ROY ROGERS (as Guest Star) A Republic Picture REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50TH STREET & 6TH AVENUE M-G-M's "NATIONAL VELVET' MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP - ELIZABETH TAYLO.R JACKIE JENKINS - REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'TOGETHER AGAIN' IRENE DUNNE CHAS. B0YER CHAS. C0BURN IN PERSON R0SARI0& ANTONIO Extras SALICI PUPPETS BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS I n Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE '^Here Come the Waves" PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous" An RKO Picture 20TH CENTURY - FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronin's "THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous RIVOLI Performances B'way & 49th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Tuesday, January 9, 1945 Motion Picture daily 3 Deny Capone Gang Appeal from Jail The Circuit Court of Appeals in New York yesterday denied a petition for a rehearing by six convicted mem- bers of the Capone gang in Chicago, who were found guilty of extorting more than $1,000,000 from the film industry. Found guilty and sentenced in Dec, 1943, to a fine of $10,000 each and seven years in prison, they had appealed to the court from the Fed- eral court's ruling, but the Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously af- firmed the conviction. The six must serve their sentences, a year of which already has passed, since bail was de- nied to all but one. Louis J. Kaufman, business agent of the IATSE in Newark, is the one man still out on bail. He appealed yesterday to the court to stay its man- date, so that he can remain free on $25,000 bail pending his appeal for a review of his conviction to the Su- preme Court. Conviction of all was an outgrowth of the Bioff-Browne trial, in which the latter aided the Department of Justice in obtaining convictions of the others. Soundmen Demand a Browne-Bioff Probe Hollywood, Jan. 8. — A demand that the Senate Judiciary committee "investigate the recent action of Judge John C. Knox in permitting George Browne and Willie Bioff to walk the streets at liberty" was made by Sound Technicians Local 695, IATSE in a resolution adopted here yesterday. The resolution asks the committee to determine whether Judge Knox re- quired Browne and Bioff to refrain from activities affecting the IATSE; whether precautions were taken to prevent such activity, and whether he "required as a condition of their free- dom that they reveal what they did with millions of dollars collected by way of a two per cent tax assessed against earnings of members" while Browne and Bioff were in power in the International and for which, it was charged, there has never been an accounting. Romulo in Film Report General Carlos P. Romulo, resident Philippine Islands commissioner to the United States, recently returned here from Leyte, will meet the press at noon today and give a preview of a film report from the Islands, featur- ing the General and produced by Newsreel Distributors, Inc.; it will be released to the public through Em- bassy Newsreel Theatres, on Jan. 12 Raw Stock Cut May Mean 44 Fewer Films in '45 (Continued from page 1) stock can be saved from use by the Armed Services and the Office of War Information. Should the raw stock consumed by these groups be less than presently indicated, or should raw stock production increase, there may be a raw stock bonus for the indus- try, but the WPB did not offer the in- dustry's advisory committee too much hope at the meeting in Washington last week. The present cut in industry alloca- tions, which is final to all ostensible purposes except that the WPB is to notify the companies as to the man- ner in which the 27,000,000-feet cut is to be apportioned among the compa- nies, means the elimination of the pro- duction and distribution of one A pic- ture by each of the 11 national dis- tributors during the first quarter, in- dicating a cut of 44 Class A pictures by the 11 companies in 1945 if the cut continues at the present rate, it is said. The curtailment of more than 44 films is in prospect if the raw stock cut is increased in subsequent 1945 quarters. No Backlog Prints Although many of the companies have a sizeable number of pictures in backlogs, none have release prints of these films on hand now. In many cases, it is learned, the companies have been able to print only the nec- essary prints to maintain current sell- ing and releasing commitments. A minimum of 300 prints on A pictures are required by most companies and some require as many as 400 prints of A films. The WPB told the industry's ad- visory committee last Thursday that it proposes to cut allotments to the 11 companies by 18,000,000 feet dur- ing the current quarter with the other 9,000,000 feet being taken from news- reel companies. Stanley Adams, head of the WPB consumers durable goods division, who met with the industry committee, is understood to have been told that the newsreels would have to suspend if the cut were levied against them. Considerable opposition is under- stood to have developed to the WPB's proposed method of levying the cut of 27,000,000 feet against the compa- nies on a straight percentage basis instead of on a percentage basis such as has prevailed for the larger com- Fight Against Tax Legislation Urged At Tri-State Meet panies heretofore ; some of which were cut as much as 33 per cent, while smaller companies were cut as little as 12 per cent to make up an overall 25 per cent cut. Under the new WPB proposals all large compa- nies would receive the same cut of about 2,500,000 feet, while the cut for smaller companies would be over 1,000,000 feet, the equivalent in both cases of the amount of footage re- quired for the production and distribu- tion of at least one A picture. The industry's raw stock allotment for the last quarter of 1944 was 269,000,000 feet for production and distribution of feature releases and 51,000.000 feet for newsreels. The 27,000,000 feet cut during the first quarter will leave 251,000,000 feet for features with the allotment to news- reels being dropped to 42,000,000 feet which, it is claimed, will make it im- possible for them to operate. Cur- tailments in raw stock use for War Activities Committee releases are be- in? studied by the WAC distributors' division now headed by Gradwell L. Sears, United Artists vice-president and distribution head. Reduce Running Time Companies are understood to have taken the position that they cannot save any appreciable amount of raw stock on the production end by cur- tailing retakes and other production usages. Some of the companies are understood to have pointed out that they are now making every effort to reduce the running time of their films to save raw stock. Indications are that some considera- tion might be given to the plight of United Artists which requires almost 10,000,000 feet of raw stock for pro- duction purposes alone during the first quarter of 1945, while facing a cur- tailment of over 1,000,000 feet from its allotment of 15,000,000 feet during the last quarter of 1944. The com- pany wants to use additional footage this quarter and make it up in subse- quent quarters. Most of the companies printed their current releases during December, using allocations from the last quarter of 1944, but they will begin to feel the pinch to a much greater extent than hertofore if they cannot begin print- ing releases for the April to June quarter during the final month of this quarter, it was said. Memphis, Jan. 8. — Arkansas, Ten- nessee and Missisippi members of the MPTOA today were urged by nearly all speakers to be on the alert to cir- cumvent any discriminatory tax legis- lation which might be imposed upon the industry. This thought was ex- pressed by Dave Palfreyman of the MPPDA; Claude Lee, Paramount public relations director, and Claude Mundo, president of the Arkansas di- vision of MPTOA, Palfreyman point- ing out particularly that through or- ganization things could be accom- plished that could not be done singly. Ed Kuykendall, national president, was unable to attend because of ill- ness. Clayton Tunstill, field director of Malco Theatres, discussed better the- ater operation and M. A. Lightman, president of the Malco circuit, dis- cussed the great war effort by theatres and urged more support. Louis Haven, Jr., of Forrest City, retiring president, presided at the meetings. New officers elected by the tri-state group were : J. Allen West, Memphis, president ; W. E. Malin, Augusta, vice-president for Arkansas ; W. F. Ruffin, Covington, vice-president for Tennessee ; Sank Taylor, Laurel, vice-president for Misssissippi ; B. V. McDouglas, Monticello, Ark., chair- man of the board; E. R. Gillette, Memphis, secretary-treasurer ; W. L. Landers, Battesville; Claude Mundo, Little Rock ; L. F. Haven, Sr., For- rest City, Jack Rhodes, West Mem- phis, Sidney Wharton, Warren, and Emma Cox, Osceola, directors for Arkansas ;" R. X. Williams, Oxford, W. A. Rush, Houston, and Raymond Goodman, Starkville, directors for Mississippi ; M. A. Lightman, Mem- phis ; Mrs. Dave Flexer, Memphis ; Louise Mask, Bolivar, and W. F. Ruffin, Covington, directors for Ten- nessee. Mono, to Show 'Faith' Monogram will hold a special screening of "They Shall Have Faith" tomorrow morning at the Normandie Theatre here. Following the show- ing a buffet luncheon will be served at the Warwick Hotel. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CI N EFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 Murray Examined as His Suit Resumes Chicago, Jan. 8. — The Thomas Murray $1,000,000 damage suit in Federal Court here resumed today with the cross-examination of the plaintiff, Murray, former operator of the Thalia Theatre, by Paramount and Balaban and Katz attorneys. Murray claims he was forced to sell the house in 1941 due to a lack of product, because the producer-distrib- utors and Balaban and Katz, among other circuits, allegedly conspired to hold back choice pictures. During most of the day, defendants' counsel produced old contracts to show that Murray had played top product between 1931, following the dissolution of his two-year partnership with the neighboring Milo Theatre, and 1938. WPB Hopes for Less Industry Stock Cut (Continued from page 1) 296,000,000 linear feet seen Saturday as definitely assured to something slightly over 300,000,000 feet. In its weekend announcement, the Board said the cut, if continued through the year, would necessitate the elimination of 30 feature length pictures, but it was admitted that this was merely a guess designed to trans- late the footage of the cut into actual pictures as more understandable to the general public. At the same time, it said that con- ditions may materially improve in subsequent quarters, although no ac- curate forecast is possible now, and if a downward revision of military requirements does occur, additional film will be available for the industry. Schwartz, Rinzler Talk 'Dimes' Drive Over 250 bookers, salesmen and ex- ecutives of film exchanges in New York, met here yesterday to discuss the March of Dimes drive. Fred Schwartz, co-chairman with Samuel Rinzler for New York, outlined the procedure in contacting exhibitors. Charles BoasberF. New York dis- tributor chairman, urged exchange members to help exhibitors in every possible way and asked for the en- listing of services of secretaries and others in sales organizations to help those theatre managers short of as- sistants in making collections. Also among those present were : Oscar A. Doob, national director ; Harry Man- del, New York publicity director ; John Cassidy, publicity coordinator ; Ernest Emerling, publicity chairman, and Edward C. Dowden, special events chairman. REEVES SOUND STUDIOS, INC. 1600 BROADWAY, N. Y. 19 Circle 6-6686 Complete Film and Disc Recording Facilities AN UNUSUAL WELCOME (These theatres have dates with a beautiful picture ATL ANT A— f? ialto . . . Feb. 8 BIRMINGHAM— Empire . . . Feb. 8 MIAMI— Lincoln, Miami, Capitol . . . Feb. 1 CHARLOTTE— Carolina . . . Feb. 25 CHARLESTON , S.C. -Gloria . . . Feb. 4 NEWARK, O.-JSew Arcade . . . Feb. 4 SPRINGFIELD, O.-Regent . . . Feb. 8 HUNTINGTON— Pa/ace . . . Feb. 2 CHARLESTON, W. \A.-Virginia . . . Feb. 2 PARKERSBURG— Hiefde . . . Feb. 4 PORTSMOUTH— LeKoy . . . Feb. 16 CHILLICOTHE-Sfcerman . . . Feb. 16 CLEVELAND— Hippodrome . . . Feb. 8 YOUNGSTOWN-Pa/aee . . . Feb. 6 CANTON— Pa/ace . . . Feb. 1 MARION— Poiace . . . Feb. 18 E. LIVERPOOL-State . . . Feb. 15 TOLEDO-KiWi . . . Feb. 8 SANDUSKY— State . . . Feb. 21 LIMA-Quilna • • • Feb- 9 DALLAS— Pa/ace . . . Feb. 1 HOUSTON-MetropoJita/i . . . Feb. 1 GALVESTON— Martini . . . Feb. 1 WICHITA FALLS-Majestic . . . Feb. 2 AUSTIN-Paramoimt . . . Feb. 9 AMARILLO-Paramoimt . . . Feb. 11 EL PASO— Ellanay . . . Feb. 16 SAN ANTONlO-^ztec . . . Mar. 8 DENVER— Denver & Esquire . . . Feb. 6 DES MOINES-Orp/ieam . . . Feb. 1 DAVENPORT-Orpfcewm . . . Feb. 2 CEDAR RAPIDS-Jowa . . . Feb. 1 WATERLOO— Orpfieum . . . Feb. 8 DETROIT-Fo* . . . Feb. 2 SAGINAW— Tempie . . . Feb. 11 JACKSON-Micfiigare . . . Feb. 11 KALAMAZOO— State . . . Feb. 11 FLINT-Capitof . . . Feb. 11 LANSING— Michigan . . . Feb. 11 GRAND RAPIDS-JRegeret . . . Feb. 11 MUSKEGON-Micfiigarc . . . Feb. 11 BATTLE CREEK-Kegent . . . Feb. 11 TOPEKA— Grand . . . Feb. 2 JOPLIN— Paramount . . . Feb. 2 SPRINGFIELD, MO.-GiMioz . . . Feb. 2 ST. JOSEPH-Missouri . . . Feb. 4 LEAVENWORTH-Ho/Zywood . . . Feb. 4 JEFFERSON CITY-Capitoi . . . Feb. 4 SALINA-JTatsorc . . . Feb. 4 HUTCHINSON-Fo* . . . Feb. 4 WICHITA— MiWer . . . Feb. 1 MEMPHIS-MaJco . . . Feb. 1 0 A NEW RELEASE! MILWAUKEE— PaZace . . . Feb. 1 MINNEAPOLIS— Badio City . . . Feb. 2 HARTFORD— E. M. Loew . . . Feb. 2 OKLAHOMA CITY -State . . . Jan. 31 OMAHA- Brandeis . . . Jan. 31 SIOUX CITY-Orpheum . . . Feb. 1 BETHLEHEM— Boyd . . . Feb. 7 EASTON— Boyd . . . Feb. 7 HARRISBURG— Cofoniaf . . . Feb. 7 ALLENTO WN—CoJoniaZ . . . Feb. 8 READING— Embassy . . . Feb. 21 PITTSBURGH— J. P. Harris . . . Feb. 3 JOHNSTOWN-Em6assy . . . Feb. 2 CLARKSBURG— Booinson Grand . . . Feb. 3 ERIE— Colonial . . . Feb. 2 MORGANTOWN— Metropolitan . . . Feb. 2 ALTOONA— CapitoZ . . . Feb. 1 WHEELING— Court . . . Feb. 8 SPRINGFIELD, ILL.-Senate . . . Feb. 1 COLUMBIA, MO.-Uptown . . . Feb. 10 WASHINGTON— EaW & Ambassador... Feb. 22 BALTIMORE— f/ippodro m e . . . Feb. 1 NEWPORT NEWS-PaZace . . . Feb. 1 NORFOLK— Newport & Colley . . . Feb. 8 PORTSMOUTH— Gafes . . . Feb. 10 RICHMOND— Byrd & State . . . Feb. 1 ROANOKE-Grandm . . . Feb. 4 CUMBERLAND— MaryZand . . . Feb. 6 PETERSBURG— Century . . . Feb. 11 COLUMBIA PICTURES presents HAYWORTH MARC PLATT • LESLIE BROOKS Screen Play by Lesser Samuels and Abem Finkel Songs by Jute Styne and Sammy Cahn • Produced and Directed by VICTOR SAVILLE 6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 9, 1945 French Business Hit By Transportation, Robert Riskin Says U. S. companies are encountering severe difficulties in transporting films in France, and the Office of War In- formation overseas film bureau will render assistance in this direction whenever it can, Robert Riskin, chief of the bureau, revealed in a trade press interview at the weekend. Al- though the companies have enough prints for those Hollywood films al- ready in France, and are sending ad- ditional negatives, the raw stock 'situ- ation there remains critical. While in France, Riskin sought to obtain need- ed coal and transportation priorities for the Eastman Kodak plant. Denies Resignation Riskin, who returned here recently after spending two months in En- gland, France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, denied, in response to a question, that he would resign from his OWI post, stating that he hoped to head the film bureau until the end of the war. Riskin said that original plans to cut down production in New York and transfer it to Hollywood so as to arouse interest there in mak- ing documentaries and also permit the OWI , to avail itself of Hollywood talent^ have been somewhat altered as the result of the lag in the successful termination of the war in the West. Future production calls for 18 films, some of feature length, divided equal- ly between Hollywood and New York, and dubbed in as many as 23 languages. The bureau's production unit in London will also be continued, turning out combined newsreels, plus a supplement to United Newsreels, Riskin said. Close to 3,500 theatres are operating in France. Grosses Hold up at N. Y. First Runs After Holiday HochReld Is Headed For SPG Presidency Harry Hochfield, incumbent vice president of the Screen Publicists Guild of New York, is unopposed for the presidency to succeed Jonas Ros enfeld, who has vacated office. Bob Ferguson, first vice-president and Charles Wright, treasurer, are also unopposed for re-election. Al Hirsch, incumbent secretary, is opposed for election as second vice president by Vivian Moses. Charles Cohen and Fred Hodgson are candi dates for the secretaryship. Hauser to MBS B. J. Hauser, sales promotion man- ager of the Blue Network since 1942 has joined Mutual Broadcasting as cooperative program director. 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 {Continued from page 1) fourth week at the Strand; the third week's receipts were $63,000. The Capitol expects $63,000 for the third week of "Music for Millions" and a Tommy Dorsey band show, on the ba- sis of $45,000 registered for the first four days. The second week's gross was close to $85,000. All three films will continue. "The Keys of the Kingdom," at the Rivoli ; "Can't Help Singing," at the Criterion, and "Meet Me in St. Louis," at the Astor, are satisfactory. The Rivoli expects a second week of $42,000 for "Kingdom" ; first week's gross was $54,500. The Criterion recorded '$35,000 for the second week of "Can't Help Singing" ; first week's receipts hit a house record of nearly $51,000. Sixth week of "Meet Me in St. Louis" brought the Astor $32,000 after $42,000 was recorded for the fifth. "Tomorrow the World" is showing good stamina at the Globe with $15,- 000 expected for the third week ; this will be close to the $17,500 record in the second week. "The Sign of the Cross" continues to draw at the Vic- toria, with $16,000 expected for the third week after the second week's re- ceipts reached an all-time high of $26,400 to surpass the initial week's gross of $24,000. "Fighting Lady" will open at the Victoria on Jan. 17 due to a prior booking. "Experiment Perilous" has been drawing well at the Palace with $21,- 000 expected for the second week, after $31,900 was registered in the ini- tial week. "To Have and Have Not" is expected to bring a satisfactory $19,000 for its 13th week at the Holly- wood after a big $34,000 was recorded for the 12th. "House of Frankenstein" is expected to bring the Rialto $8,500 on a fourth and final week after $17,- 000 was recorded for the third week. "The Man in Half Moon Street" will open at the Rialto Friday. "Lake Placid Serenade" will conclude a third and final week at the Republic with about $5,500 after a second week which brought $6,000. "The Great Flamarion" will open at the Republic Saturday. Outstanding Service Award Given Blank Republic Has 32% Increase (Continued from page 1) wards of $1,000,000 each month, and will continue to promote each such film through an advertising-publicity expenditure of at least $250,000. Bookings on Roy Rogers' pictures have increased 40 per cent. In addition to William Saal, execu- tive assistant to Yates, and sales man- agers and home office executives, the following branch managers were present : Arthur Newman, Jack Bell- man, Jerome Lewis, Joseph Engel, Jake Flax, Sam P. Gorrel, George H. Kirby, I. H. Pollard, E. H. Brauer, Sydney Lehman, Grover C. Schaefer, Abe Weiner. Following tomorrow's meeting Yates, Grainger, district sales mana- gers, and a home office group will leave for Chicago, where a three-day conference will take place at the Blackstone Hotel, Thursday through Saturday. Edwards to Minnesota Directly following Republic's Chi- cago sales meeting, Steve Edwards, director of publicity, will visit the Mesabi iron range in Minnesota to gather material for the company's forthcoming "The Iron Master," which will start shooting in March. He will also arrange for a world pre- miere in Duluth. ■ Following his Minnesota visit, he will proceed to the Coast for a stay at the studio. , Host Schildkraut Today Trade press and fan and general magazine representatives will attend a Republic reception for Joseph Schild- kraut today at the Waldorf-Astoria. Paramount Signs Altec Paramount Pictures has signed Altec Service for its Netco Theatre Corp. houses. Separate Decree Peace Unlikely (Continued from page 1) Wright said that no overtures of that kind have been made to the Depart- ment of Justice.) The only consent decree which will be considered, a Department spokes- man said, will cover nothing more than trade practices. While an individual defendant in an anti-trust suit can enter into an in- dividual consent decree, Department officials said such a step in most cases is impractical, since the decree would depend to considerable extent on what the other defendants did. Wheth- er the deal accorded an individual de- fendant would be proffered to other defendants also would depend upon the circumstances, but it is probable that if the Department accepted a decree in which it relinquished some of the claims to one company, the others un- doubtedly could come in and secure the same terms. Department officials refused to com- ment on the possible procedure in such an instance but admitted that, in the past, individual defendants in suits in volving a number of companies have entered into separate decree agree ments. SPU Urges IMPPA To Give Recognition Hollywood, Jan. 8. — The Screen Players Union today addressed a communication to the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association suggesting that the Independents recognize their organization as a bar- gaining agent for extra players on the basis of the NLRB certification, covering fnajor studios, which fol- lowed the Dec. 17 election. An IMPPA spokesman told Mo- tion Picture Daily that such a com- munication, if received, would be taken up by the executive committee for consideration. (Continued from page 1) nine former winners, was based on the film executive's many "outstanding services to the community," among which was his recent donation to the city of the $300,000 Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital for children. He was also cited for his activities as chairman of the War Activities Com- mittee in Iowa-Nebraska, and his heading of the WAC's work in pub- licizing war loan drives. In addition, the jury was guided by Blank's work as head of activities for the Midwest film industry's various Iowa Red Cross campaigns, USO and March of Dimes drives. Iturbi, Melchior Set Dates with 'Millions' James A. Davidson, formerly with Grand National Films and now presi- dent of the William Morris Agency Concert Bureau, is working with the M-G-M booking department on "Mu- sic for Millions," setting concert ap- pearances for Jose Iturbi in cities day and date with the opening of the film. First booking will be Feb. 9 in Springfield, Mass., with the pianist- conductor and film opening at the same time. Davidson intends to fol- low the same procedure with Lauritz Melchior when the tenor's new M-G-M picture is released, probably in March. Rogers to Make 4 At $5,250,000 (Continued from page 1) Donlevy, budgeted at $1,000,000; "Varga Girl," a musical in color, cost- ing an estimated $2,000,000, and sched- uled to start in October, and "One Man's Family," based on the radio serial by Carlton Morse, costing $750,000. "Delightfully Dangerous," a musi- cal featuring Morton Gould and Jane Powell, has been finished, but because of the raw stock shortage, will not be released by UA before late February or early March, Rogers said. Rogers said some eight to 10 months will be utilized in exploiting "Varga Girl," with a series of national contests to select girls from 12 regions. Decorators Delay Studio Walkout (Continued from page 1) William Davis is sending an arbitra- tor to settle the jurisdictional dispute between the decorators and the IATSE. The decorators had voted five to one in favor of a strike, and Sorrell said this vote authorizes him and the local's officers to call out the workers whenever they consider it necessary, but added that time will be allowed for the WLB arbitrator to arrive here and take action. IOWCST SATES It tWlCIAOAT MUVHf MlvlCf mtASI I C A MOHC1ION KKM Tuesday, January 9, 1945 Motion Picture daily 7 Steffes and Variety Lauded at Banquet Minneapolis, Jan. 8. — State and lo- cal and film dignitaries at the week- end lauded W. A. Steffes, Northwest Variety Club retiring chief barker, at a testimonial banquet tendered by the Variety Club to Steffes in recognition of his accomplishments. Under his i leadership, the club last year raised 'I more than $100,000 for charities. Ben Berger, Steffes' partner in numerous enterprises, introduced Bill Elson, independent circuit owner, as toastmaster. Other speakers included ' the Minneapolis and St. Paul -mayors; "* John J. Friedl, who told of the char- ity work of Variety; Steffes himself, who gave credit to his board and club members for successful undertakings, and A. W. Anderson, chief barker elect. Friedl cited the local tent's $25,000 contribution to war sufferer's relief, a gift of 125,000 quarts of milk in a year to underprivileged Minneapolis families, donations of radios and equipment to General Hospital here. Among other guests were judges, council members and the State Attor- ney General. Those from out-of-town included Harry Thomas, Monogram Eastern sales manager ; Pete Harri- son, publisher of Harrison's Reports; Harry Burnell, Chicago exhibitor, and numerous other theatre owners. Tele- grams paying tribute to Steffes were sent by Tom Connors, R. J. O'Don- nell, John H. Harris, Jack Schlaifer, and others. Code for Existing Theatres Due Next (Continued from page 1) industry, expects to complete consid- eration of the proposed code in about three more meetings, it was said here yesterday. The code will then go to Commissioner Corsi ; next meeting will be held by the advisory commit- tee on Jan. 19. Representatives of this industry on the advisory committee have been asked to furnish information about the effect of theatre ventilators on stage curtains so that fire prevention pro- visions of the code can be made more practical. Progress is being made on all phases of the new code, which is not expected to cause any undue hard- ships upon the existing 750 theatres in New York State. The new code will not affect theatres in New York City, which come under the jurisdiction of New York City's code. Industry representatives on the ad- visory committee are: Henry Ander- son, Paramount; Martin J. Tracey, Century Circuit; Theodore Junge, al- ternate for Harry Moskowitz, Loew's, and Glen H. Humphrey of Projec- tionists' Local No. 337. Christenberry Reelected Robert K. Christenberry, pres- ident of the Hotel Astor, was yester- day reelected, for a fifth term, pres- ident of the Broadway. Association to which most Broadway theatres be- long. 12 Auditors of 20th Open Meeting Today A three-day conference of 20th Century-Fox traveling auditors will start today at the home office, con- tinuing until Thursday, after which the 12 auditors will return to their respective branches. The discussions, an annual affair, are to be under the supervision of Wilfred J. Eadie, comptroller, and will be conducted by his assistants, branch accountants Nat Brower and Maurice Goodman. Vice-presidents W. C. Michel and Tom Connors, general sales manager W. J. Kupper, sales managers W. C. Gehring, A. W. Smith, Jr. and L. J. Schlaifer, will address the auditors. The auditors attending will include L. R. Antos, George F. Cooper, R. Doherty, William Gunzelman, E. S. Hannahan, R. Hildreth, F. E. Hin- nant, E. Pelson, M. Schmalzbach, C. Wagner, A. C. Wilson, B. Wolff. WB Pla ns $100,000 'To Have* Campaign Warners will launch a $100,000 radio campaign for "To Have and Have Not" next week, it was dis- closed here yesterday by Mort Blum- enstock, head of advertising and pub- licity in the East. This is the first large scale national spot advertising undertaken by Warners and the re- sult will determine the company's future radio activity. , Stations in approximately 100 key cities will be used. See Restrictions On Theatre Labor (Continued from page 1) Because of the invaluable service theatres are rendering, it was ex- plained, there is no idea of closing them, and it is not believed that booth labor will be affected. There are, nevertheless, out-front jobs which manpower officials believe can be filled by women, and it is felt that any orders issued will be directed along these lines. There has been no indication wheth- er production or distribution will be affected, but in some quarters, it was said, privately, that the new orders might also go into those fields but with the same idea of protecting the industry against a shutdown. Screens to Tell Public Of Manpower Crisis The War Department will utilize screens to bring its message regarding the manpower shortage to the Ameri- can people, according to an announce- ment from the War Activities Com- mittee here yesterday. Robert P. Patterson, Under Secre- tary of War, and Lt. General Brehon Somervell, have joined in an appeal to the WAC to provide showings of the new War Department short subject, 'What's Your Name?", nine-minute film produced by the Army Pictorial Service, Signal Corps, highlighting the present labor situation by compar- ing the doughboy doing his fighting in the infantry with the factory worker. i***1 John CONRAD NAGEL RETURNS FROM RADIO STARDOM for a GREAT ROLE! ^Cbm^^-. . — — —~ rnXe storm, Sir WW**** Qcreen tavern ffQnk Cra C0NV»HG J SOON Cooperation Pays Prompt redesigning of projector carbons to war- time needs became essential, after Pearl Harbor. Long years of research and manufacturing experience en- abled National Carbon Company not only to make the needed changes at once, but also to produce "National" carbons that gave virtually the same screen brilliance as before. Aiding us was the welcome technical cooperation of exhibitor, projectionist, and lamp manufacturer. Throughout the many months of war, this coopera- tion has "paid off" for all concerned. Of special importance is the "dividend" paid off to the war effort by the enormous quantities of cop- per saved through recovery of copper drippings and stripping of copper from carbon stubs. Because of all these cooperative efforts, patrons have overflowed theaters everywhere for the benefi- cial relaxation of good movies. Keep Your Eye on the Infantry . . . the Doughboy Does It! The registered trade-mark "National" distinguishes products of National Carbon Company, Inc. 1 NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Unit of U nion Carbide and Carbon Corporation GH3 General Offices: 30 East 42nd Street, New York 17, N. Y. Division Sales Offices: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco MOTION PICTURE DAILY MARC THEATRE DRIVE I DIMES JANUARY 25-31 VOL. 57. NO. 7 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1945 TEN CENTS 1,500 Workers Get $495,000 In Back Wages WLB Approves Pacts for Nine Exchange Cities Regional War Labor Boards have approved retroactive 10 per cent wage increases for 1,500 film exchange service employes — ship- pers, inspectors and poster clerks in nine exchange cities. Involved is some $495,000 in retroactive pay. Cities in which the wage in- creases have been approved are: New York, Buffalo, Albany, Atlanta, Dallas, Oklahoma City, (Continued on page 6) 4U' Advertising Plan To Aid New Names Universal is appropriating several hundred thousand dollars to _ under- write the cost of a plan, devised by the sales and advertising department, whereby exhibitors will be aided in promoting new Universal players, W. A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager, announced here yes- terday. The plan will involve a series (Continued on page 6) Continue '4- A' Merger Plan Without SAG Plans for a trial merger of the '4A' actor unions will proceed despite the refusal of the Screen Actors Guild to participate at the present time. Ground- work has already been set in meetings between committees representing Act- (Continued on page 6) Half -Million in Four Weeks for 'Velvef "National Velvet" will end its fourth week at Radio City Music Hall, this evening, with an expected gross of $500,000, establishing what is believed to be an alltime industry rec- ord for that period. Expansion Is Republic Aim Disclosure of expansion plans of Republic Pictures highlighted the sec- ond day's session of a three-day meet- ing of district and branch managers and home of- fice personnel at the New York Athletic Club here yes- terday, presid- ed over by James R. Grainger, pres- ident and gen- eral sales man- ager. Herbert J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the board, reported that Republic's program of building manpower for the interna- (Continued on page 6) H. 3. Yates, Sr. Hollywood WAC in 1945 Meet Monday Hollywood, Jan. 9. — Francis Har- mon, Taylor Mills and Ted Gamble will outline the 1945 program and conduct the installation of officers, at the annual meeting of the War Activi- ties Committee, Hollywood division, on Monday, at Perino's Restaurant here. John Cromwell will succeed (Continued on page 7) Fabian Names WAC Manpower Comm. Si Fabian, chairman of the WAC theatres division, has appointed a war manpower committee to confer directly with Washington on the pres- ent critical labor shortage. The committee, headed by Harry Brandt, will provide assistance and information to local committees whose prob- lems are related to the na- tional situation. Other com- mittee members are: Harry Kalmine, assistant general manager of Warner Theatres ; Edward Rugoff of Rugoff and Becker; Jay Emanuel, pub- lisher of The Exhibitor, and William Crockett, president of the MPTO of Virginia. Coleman, Lesueur To Represent Rank Toronto, Jan. 9. — Representation of Odeon Theatres of Great Britain in General Theatre Corp., Ltd., Toron- to, and Canadian Odeon was com- pleted today with the following elected directors for J. Arthur Rank's British interests : D. C. Coleman, who is president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, chairman of Associated Screen News, Ltd., and a director of the Bank of Montreal, Consolidated Mining and Smelting, and other companies ; R. V. Lesueur, who is president of the Imperial Oil Co., Ltd., and a director (Continued on page 3) 9,000 'Dimes' Pledges Give Drive Seven-Day Head Start The 1945 March of Dimes Drive is seven days ahead of schedule, with two weeks to go before it begins, the National March of Dimes Committee, headed by Nicholas M. Schenck, re- ported here yesterday. Close to 9,000 pledges have been received with 16 states reporting more pledged the- atres than participated in the drive last year. Exhibitors who have seen "The Miracle of Hickory," this year's appeal trailer, predict that the unofficial goal of $5,- 000,000 will be reached, said the committee. Indications point to 14,000 theatres with over 10,000,000 seats being in the drive. Exhibitors and distributors in New York predict that all 700 theatres would be enrolled, against 92 per cent last year. George Mann, North- ern California, reports all of that area's 485 theatres are pledged. Conn- (Continued on page 7) Look for 15% Amusement Drop in '45-46 Roosevelt Cites Budget Figures in His Message By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 9. — Lower Government spending in the fiscal year which begins on July 1 will be reflected in a decline in business and in reduced tax collections, President Roosevelt warned Con- gress today in his annual budget message. In the case of amusements, it was indicated by the budget figures which accompanied the message, the decline in business may run to about 15 per cent from present levels, the Treas- ury estimating that revenue from the admission tax, other (Continued on page 10) Minnesota Owners Seek Tax Solution Minneapolis, Jan. 9. — In the face of heavy opposition from film inter- ests, a special committee of the state's mayors' group now is considering another possible source for needed ad- ditional municipality revenue in place of a proposed municipal theatre ad- mission tax. The committee believes that a larger slice, of the state public utility gross earning tax would solve {Continued on page 10) RKO Heads Honor Meakin January 15 Washington, Jan. 9. — Washing- ton's amusement world and industry leaders will honor Hardie Meakin, newly appointed RKO Theatres as- sistant division manager here, at a testimonial dinner Jan. 15, at the Wil- (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Review of "The Big Bon- anza" appears on page 6. $)q> Jt TUnfi-! that fibdtf,/ 'IhoJvzL oft Bism.- fan. 2,5-31 2 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, January 10, 1945 Personal Mention Biddle Hit on Bioff , Browne Releases Washington, Jan. 9. — U. S. Attor- ney General Francis Biddle today was under fire as a result of the re- lease from prison of George E. Browne, former IATSE president, and William Bioff, his Hollywood representative. In Hollywood, the 'IA' sound technicians local has con- demned the release of the two and asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate. In Congress, Representative Smith of Wisconsin, has called for Biddle's impeachment. Smith charged that the Attorney General "made a deal" with the two union men, which Biddle de- nied in a statement in which he de- clared they had turned informers, and enabled the Department of Justice to break up a Chicago underworld gang. "Therefore," he explained, "when mo- tion was made by attorneys for Bioff and Browne to reduce sentence of these two informers, the Government interposed no objection." Supreme Court Appeal Meanwhile, it was expected that the seven men convicted in New York with the assistance of Browne and Bioff on charges of conspiracy to ex- tort more than $1,000,000 from the industry under threats of strikes, will seek a Supreme Court review of their cases. It is dubious that they will be heard, however, since the Clerk of the Court in New York, has in- formed Motion Picture Daily that less than one case in a thousand is granted a hearing in the Supreme Court, when a unanimous opinion pre- vails in the Circuit Court of Appeals. Six of the men are serving seven- year sentences and the seventh, Louis Kaufman, former business agent for the IATSE in Newark, is still out on $25,000 bail, seeking a mandate from the Circuit Court staying his jail term until he can file an appeal to the Supreme Court. B-45 to Petition for An Additional 10% Chicago, Jan. 9.— IATSE Local B-45 will seek an additional 10 per cent increase when the local War La- bor Board approves the retroactive 10 per cent raise now pending, it is dis- closed here by Sam Lamansky, busi- ness manager. The petition now be- fore the board, and favored by dis- tributors, was filed several months ago. Action will be taken on the new de- mand, which is based upon the rising cost of living, at B-45's Jan. 19 meet- ing, provided the WLB has acted favorably on the now pending peti- tion. Army Sends SOS For Film Editors The U. S. Civil Service Commis- sion reports the War Department urgently needs film editors for mili- tary pictures. The positions will pay from $3,163 to $5,228 annually, and the work week will be 48 hours. The posts are open to both men and women who are citizens. C PYROS SKOURAS, 20th-Fox ^ president, has arrived on the Coast for studio conferences. • Edward Cohen, supervisor for South America, and Leslie Whelan, in charge of sales promotion for 20th Century-Fox International Corp., will leave this week for Latin America. • Harry Moskowitz and Theodore Junge of the Loew construction de- partment, New York, were recent Hartford visitors with Harry F. Shaw of Loew's Poli Theatres of New England. • William S. Bacon, general man- ager of the Wiethe theatre circuit in Cincinnati, and Mildred Dietz, were married recently. • Leo Miller, head booker for War- ner Theatres in Los Angeles, is the father of a seven-pound baby boy. • H. M. Bessey, Altec Service vice- president, has returned to New York from Detroit. • John Delmonica, chief of staff of Loew's Poli, New Haven, was mar- ried recently. • Louis Brown, head of publicity for Loew's Poli New England theatres, is nursing a fractured foot. • Jack Painter, 20th Century-Fox producer-director, is in Salt Lake City filming exteriors. • Davtd Loew will leave Hollywood for New York Friday on the Super- chief. • Joe Soloman, United Artists Des Moines salesman, is hospitalized. Depinet, Bamberger Get W AC Plaques Ned E. Depinet, chairman of the War Activities Committee distribu- tors' division for the past year, and Leon J. Bamberger, his assistant, were presented with plaques yesterday by the WAC, for their services. George J. Schaefer, WAC chairman, made- the presentation at a staff luncheon at the Astor Hotel here. Plaques were signed by Schaefer, Francis S. Harmon, WAC coordi- nator, and Herman Gluckman, treasurer. Party for Schildkraut Republic was host at a cocktail party at the Waldorf-Astoria yester- day to trade press and fan magazine representatives, in honor of Joseph Schildkraut, who leaves for the Coast today to start work in a new picture for the company. Susan Peters Paralyzed San Diego, Cal., Jan. 9. — Susan Peters, Hollywood actress, accidentally shot during a hunting trip on Jan. 1, is paralyzed from the waist down, but her physicians believe this is a temporary condition. I CHEEVER COWDIN, Univer- »J • sal chairman of the board, has returned to New York from California. • Pfc. William Woodworth, form- er assistant manager of the Wishart Theatre, Philadelphia, and now in New Caledonia, became the father of a daughter born last week in Phila- delphia. • Steve Edwards of Republic's home office advertising-publicity department will leave for the Coast today, with stopovers in Chicago and Minneapo- lis. • Pvt. Morris Phillips, former manager of the 56th Street Theatre, Philadelphia, wounded overseas, is hospitalized on Long Island, N. Y. • Joseph Churilla, assistant man- ager of Warner's Uptown, Philadel- phia, became the father of a daughter last week. • O. J. Hazen, operator of Service Theatre Supply Co., Salt Lake City, has returned from a trip into the ter- ritory. • C. J. Feldman, Universal division manager, and Hugh Braley, Para- mount district manager, are in Salt Lake City. • Margaret O'Brien, M-G-M star, is in New York, and will leave for Washington Jan. 17 for a "Dimes" broadcast on the 18th. • Tom Speck, manager of the Trans- Lux Theatre, Philadelphia, became the father of a son last week. • Giff Davison, head of RKO's Salt Lake City exchange, will leave that city soon for a West Coast meeting. New Election Sought By Local 802 Members Charging that the last two elections held by AFM Local 802, here, were not in accordance with the by-laws of the AFL, 58 members of the local have petitioned James C. Petrillo, president, and the AFM international executive board, to declare the last election null and void, and order a new one under impartial auspices. All the petitioners were unsuccessful can- didates in the Dec. 7 election. They also ask Petrillo for authority to seek a court order for a new elec- tion in the event neither he nor the board assume jurisdiction in the dis- pute. SPU Request Sent to Independent Society Hollywood, Jan. 9. — The Screen Players Union, duplicating its action taken yesterday with respect to the Independent Motion Picture Produc- ers Association, today requested the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers to recognize SPU as the bargaining agent for extra play- ers on the strength of the certification by the National Labor Relations Board pertaining to the major studios. Coming Events Today — Republic sales meeting, New York. Jan. 10-11 — Columbia Broadcasting System's affiliate advisory board meeting, New York. Jan. 11-13- — Republic sales meeting, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago. Jan. 13 — RKO Chicago publicity staff meets with S. Barret Mc- Cormick, Chicago. Jan. 15-22— IATSE executive com- mittee meeting, Niccolet Hotel, Minneapolis. Jan. 16 — Tub Thumpers of America . initiation, Parker House, Boston. Jan. 17 — Cinema Lodge theatre par- ty, New York. Jan. 21-22 — Motion Picture Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, annual meeting, Char- lotte. Jan. 22-24 — Public sales meeting, Hollywood. Jan. 24 — National Allied board of directors' meeting, Deshler-Wal- lick Hotel, Columbus. Jan. 25-31 — March of Dimes cam- paign in theatres. Feb. 2 — Press Photographers Asso- ciation dance and entertainment, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. Levey to Coast to Set Second for UA Jules Levey, independent producer, will leave New York for Hollywood today to conclude arrangements for the second film he will produce for United Artists release this year. Levey recently acquired rights to Ernest Haycox's "Trail Town," which he will place in production this Spring, to star Randolph Scott, with "The Homesteaders" as the probable release title. Levey plans to make the film in color and indicated here yesterday that the two films which he will produce will be budgeted at over $2,300,000. He will remain On the Coast indefinitely. Sign IATSE Newsreel Editors' Contracts Contracts between the five news- reels and the IATSE Motion film edi- tors Local No. 771 have been signed and will be submitted to the War Labor Board here for approval with- in the next few days. The contracts, which set up job classifications and minimum and max- imum wage scales for over 110 film editors and librarians, mark the first contracts for these workers ; benefits are retroactive. Tree Heads Consolidated Russell Tree, Northeastern district manager of the Carrier Corp., has re- signed to become president of the Consolidated Conditioning Corp., of Mount Vernon, N. Y. Ray Duncan and Lewis Wachs, sales engineers for Carrier, have also left to join the Consolidated sales staff. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 3 Wednesday, January 10, 1945 Motion Picture Daily Murray Examined in $1,000,000 Suit Coleman and Lesueur Will Represent Rank in Canada Chicago, Jan. 9. — Lester T. Mur- ray, son of Thomas A. Murray, plaintiff in the $1,000,000 damage suit on trial in the Federal Court here against the distributors and circuits, took the stand this afternoon follow- ing four days of direct and cross- examination. He stated he had been |)his father's assistant for years, and recalled that the Thalia Theatre, un- til 1927, could buy all the films it needed. After that, he said, the Thalia was forced out of better-product deals by •Jialaban and Katz, which allegedly influenced distributors to sell their best films to the competitive Milo Theatre in which Morris Leonard, Balaban and Katz counsellor, had a personal interest. He claimed the loss of M-G-M and half of Para- mount's product in 1927 to the Milo hurt the most, since he rated those companies the best at that time. Bill Would Limit Children at Work Albany, N. Y., Jan. 9.— A bill to limit the employment of school children, many of whom are now working as film messengers and ush- ers in theatres, was introduced in the New York legislature today by As- semblyman John R. Brook of New Yorlc City. Students between the ages of 16 and 17 would be limited to four hours' work in a school day and 28 hours a week during the school term, with an allowance of eight hours a day, six days a week, when school is not in session. Children under 16 would be permitted to work a maximum of three hours a day in a school day, 23 hours a week, and eight hours on a non-school day, six days a week. Sees Television in Sales Meeting Links Large-screen television equipment could be installed in public auditori- ums in large cities and make possible national conventions without making it necessary for sales representatives to leave their territories, J. R. Pop- pele, president of the Television Broadcasters Association, told the members of the National Retail Dry Goods Association at their annual convention at the Hotel Pennsylvania here yesterday. Poppele and other television leaders were featured at yesterday's sessions. ATS Meeting Tomorrow The American Television Society will meet here tomorrow night in the Museum of Modern Art auditorium. "The Comparative Effectiveness of Motion Pictures, Television and Radio" will be discussed by Lily Dache. Jo Coneland, Ira Hirschmann and Wylhs Cooper, with Allan T. Preyer as chairman. Fisher Joins Warners Franklin Fisher has joined War- ners' field nublic relations staff under Bill Brumberg, Mort Blumenstock, head of advertising-publicity in the East, reported here yesterday. Fisher for the past several vears covered film-stage news for New England newspapers. {Continued from page 1) of Confederation Life Insurance Co., Montreal Trust Co., Kirkland Lake Gold Mining Co., Northern Canadian Mining Co., and others ; John Davis of England for British Odeon and Leonard W. Brockington, K. C, of Ottawa, legal representative in Can- ada for Rank. These represent the holders of "B" shares in General Theatre Corp. Representing "A" shareholders are George H. Beeston and T. J. Bragg, who have been with the company since 1941; J. Earl Lawson, K. C. and Paul L. Nathanson. An official announcement says the company now constituted is com- pletely under Canadian management with officers as follows : Nathanson president and managing director, Bragg vice-president and secretary- treasurer, Beeston comptroller, and Lawson director and general coun- sel. Nathanson announced the formation of a partnership with A. I. Garson of St. John, N. B., for the development of a circuit of Odeon theatres in the three Maritime provinces, with Gar- son to be in charge of operations. He said building sites have been pur- chased in eight places in the Atlantic zone, including Sydney, St. John, Reagan Sees 'Cross' Doubling Old Gross Cecil B. DeMille's "The Sign of the Cross," in its current release, will double the domestic gross of the ori- ginal release in 1932, Charles M. Rea- gan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution, predicted here yesterday. Reagan said he based his prediction on the basis of the more than 6,000 contracts obtained in its first month of re-release and on box-office receipts of the first key situations. The film cost about $1,250,000 to make 13 years ago — "it probably couldn't be made today for less than $5,000,000," Reagan estimated— and in its original release the domestic gross was around $700,000. With revenue from foreign distribution it just about broke even. Among key dates up to now are : the Denham, Denver ; Broadway Capi- tol, Detroit ; Omaha, Omaha ; Capi- tol, Salt Lake City; Melba, Dallas; Hollywood, Ft. Worth ; Metropolitan, Houston ; State, Austin ; Missouri, St. Louis ; Texas, San Antonio ; State. Galveston ; Paramount, Toledo ; Keith's, Cincinnati ; Majestic, Wichi- ta Falls ; Rialto, Champaign : Orphe- um, Waco ; Academy, Wheeling ; Capitol, Worcester ; Paramount, Springfield, Mass. ; Hawaii, Los An- geles. WB Promoting 'Canteen' Warners is issuing a 16-page book- let, entitled "Movies and Morale," to approximately 12,000 educational and community groups in connection with "Hollywood Canteen." Produced by the company's educational bureau, the brochure contains a statement by Bette Davis, president and co-founder of Hollywood Canteen, and by-line articles by prominent writers. Halifax, Amherst, Campbellton, Glace Bay, New Waterford and Charlotte- town. Nathanson and Garson have completed the purchase of the theatre assets at Moncton, N. B., of Fred Winter and F. H. Sumner, compris- ing the Capitol and Express Theatres and two theatre sites. Garson already controlled the Garrick and Oxford Theatres in Halifax and the Kent at Moncton, while Odeon had the Casino in Halifax and operated the Capitol and Empress at Moncton. The announcement said the devel- opment in the Maritimes is but part of a plan to be represented "in every city and progressive town in the Do- minion. Many millions of dollars will be spent in theatre construction," it added. Announcement Startles London Financiers London, Jan. 9. — J. Arthur Rank's announcement of the appointment of D. C. Coleman and R. V. Lesueur to represent him on the board of Odeon Theatres of Canada startled financial circles here tonight. Indi- cations are that very strong British and Canadian interests will hence- forth work together, with govern- mental 'blessing.' Films, Radio Save Philippine Nation "Radio enabled the United States to successfully invade the Philippine Islands, and motion pictures will en- able my people to become rehabilitated and re-establish themselves as a na- tion," Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo, resident commissioner of the Philippines to the United States, and a member of Congress, stated here yesterday. General Romulo, the last man off Bataan, described how weak, home- made radio reports made contact with OWI receiving sets in Australia, and let General MacArthur know that guerrilla warfare was continuing on the Islands. American intelligence officers were landed there by sub- marine to organize the resistance and aid in sabotage, and over 5,000 guer- rilla Philippine soldiers smashed Jap installations prior to our landing in Leyte alone. The General will return to the Phil- ippines within a fortnight, and will take with him documentary films and newsreels to re-educate his people and destroy Jap propaganda. He will also take many Hollywood films for recrea- tional purposes. A one-reel film show- ing the Leyte invasion, with General Romulo as commentator, will be shown starting Friday in all Embassy Newsreel theatres here. MGM's Contest Ends M-G-M's 'Miss Anniversary Bath- ing Beautv Contest,' launched by Howard Dietz, vice-president and di- rector of advertising, publicity and exploitation, and William R. Fergu- son, exploitation director, last June as part of the company's 20-year anni- versary celebration, has ended with the selection of winners in 26 states and the District of Columbia. GI Fights Two Major Film Pass 'Battles* Atlanta, Jan. 3. — Robert Wood, USA, of Hogansville, is a very film-minded soldier. Given a pass to the Royal Theatre in 1942, and unable to use it, he carried it wrapped in cellophane through two major campaigns in New Guinea before presenting it two years late, last Dec. 26, at the theatre. Wood said that he had lain in mud and water for 54 consecutive days worrying whether the pass would still be good. It was. Skouras Extends War-Art Exhibit The Army- At- War art exhibit's na- tional schedule has been rearranged to provide a minimum of 14-day show- ings in each of the cities where it is yet to be shown, according to an an- nouncement here yesterday by Charles P. Skouras, chairman of the national executive committee, and released through the 20th Century-Fox home office. The exhibit, comprising some 150 paintings made by American artists in the various theatres of war, is be- ing sponsored by the War and Treas- ury departments, with Skouras and other industry leaders handling actual details of the tour. The national com- mittee is headed by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and Mrs. Henry Morgen- thau, Jr. The show, which originally opened in New York last Fall, is now play- ing in Milwaukee. From Milwaukee the pictures will be taken to Minne- apolis and thence to Seattle from which point they will begin a tour of leading Pacific Coast cities. The ex- hibit will not conclude the itinerary until December of this year. "In every city," explained Skouras, "the exhibit is presented free to the public, with catalogues given with the purchase of war bonds and stamps." Paine, Finkelstein To Havana Congress John G. Paine, general manager, and Herman Finkelstein, resident counsel of ASCAP, ■ will leave here Friday for Havana to attend the first Congress of La Federacion Interameri- cana de Sociedades de Autores Y Compositores. At this congress repre- sentatives of performing right socie- ties throughout the Western Hemi- sphere will exchange views on the advancement of copyright owners' rights. 'Action* Opens Tomorrow "Brought to Action," the Navy's film account of the Second Naval Bat- tle of the Philippines, being distribut- ed by the War Activities Committee, is scheduled to play 29 first- run houses in New York and New Jersey beginning tomorrow. Fire Destroys Lyric Guthrie, Ky., Jan. 9.— The Lyric Theatre here has been destroyed by fire. Loss is estimated at $50,000. 6 REASONS WHY LEO IS PROUD AS A PEACOCK! 1 NATIONAL VELVET BREAKS 9-YEAR * RECORD OF RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL! M-G-M Hit brings highest week's gross in history of house! | 2 "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS" IS THE NEW ASTOR THEATRE CHAMP! Tops all previous records! Other cities doing delightfully ditto! 3 "THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO" IS NATIONWIDE SMASH HIT! From Coast-to-Coast M-G-M's Great Film packs them in! 4 "MUSIC FOR MILLIONS" WINS BROAD- WAY CASH AND CHEERS! Producer of "2 Girls And A Sailor" does it again at Capitol, N. Y. 5 M-G-M's NEW GROUP OF 7 OFF TO A FLYING START! "Music For Millions", "Thin Man Goes Home" first of Tenth Group! 6 M-G-M WINS TOP HONORS IN TRADE PRESS ANNUALS! Exhibitors again vote Leo the box-office leader! IT'S ANOTHER %MfrM # FRIENDLY YEAR! Join March of Dimes! — Jan. 25 to 31 6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 10, 1945 Review "The Big Bonanza" {Republic) ALTHOUGH "The Big Bonanza" is handicapped by a rambling story, which eats up valuable screen time before it comes to the point, it does generate enough excitement and pathos in individual scenes to compensate for the slow beginning. The screenplay, by Dorrell and Stuart McGowan, and Paul Gangelin, de- rived from Robert Presnell's and Leonard Praskins' original, furnished di- rector George Archainbaud with stock situations ; for those who would forego the masculine diet of sluggings, there are three or four melodies of another era, sung by Jane Frazee. The story concerns Richard Arlen, escaped from the Union Army after a court-martial for alleged cowardice, who journeys with George (Gabby) Hayes to Nevada Springs, where his boyhood friend, Robert Livingston, is running a dance hall and numerous shady enterprises on the side. He breaks with Livingston and rallies the ranchers and miners who have been defrauded by Livingston and, when his little brother, Bobby Driscoll, is threatened because he is a witness to a killing performed by Liv- ingston's henchmen, a pitched battle ensues at the Big Bonanza mine. The gang is destroyed and Arlen is free to marry Lynne Roberts, having been cleared of the cowardice charge. Others in the cast are: J. M. Kerrigan, Russell Simpson, Frank Reicher, Cordell Hickman, Hayward Soo Hoo, Roy Barcroft, Fred Kohler, Jr., Monte Hale. Eddy White was associate producer. Running time, 69 minutes. "G."* Release date, Dec. 30, 1944. Charles Ryweck 'Canteen's' $22,000 $8,500 Over Par Cincinnati, Jan. 9. — The longest box office lines currently are at RKO's Albee, where the star-studded "Hollywood Canteen" is moving toward an expected $22,000, over av- erage by $8,500. "Winged Victory," after a terrific first week, is pulling practically average with $13,000 on a holdover, a rarity at this house. "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" looks like an over-par figure of $2,500 on a $9,000 take at RKO's Grand. Weather is cold and streets are hazardously icy. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 12 : "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) RKO ALBEE — (3,300) (44c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, plus a Saturday midnight show. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $13,500). "Belle of the Yukon" (RKO) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000) (44c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Albee. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $10,000). "Nevada" (RKO) "Moonlight and Cactus" (Univ.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000) (30c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average: $2,400). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) RKO GRANr>-(l,50O) (44c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, plus a Saturday midnight show; 3rd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $6,500). "Holiday Inn" (Para.) KEITH'S— (1,500) (44c-50c-60c-70c) 10 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average for 7 days: $5,000). "Tiger Shark" (WB) "The Walking Dead" (WB) RKO LYRIC— (1,400) (44c-50c-60c-70c) 4 days. Gross: $3,000. Average for 7 days: $5,000). "Winged Victory" (20th-Fox) RKO PALACE— (2,700) (44c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, plus a Saturday midnight show; 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $13,500). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) RKO SHUBERT — (2,150) (44c-S0c-60c- 70c) 7 days, 3rd week, following an initial week at the Albee and a moveover week at the Capitol. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,000). RKO Sales Executives Visiting Minneapolis Chicago, Jan. 9. — Robert J. Fol- lia'rd and Harry Gittleson, RKO cap- tain and lieutenant respectively, of the eighth annual Ned Depinet Drive, were in Minneapolis yesterday for an exchange meeting following similar conferences held here and in St. Louis over the weekend. The local meeting was attended by the entire Chicago and Milwaukee exchange staffs, Walter E. Branson, Western division sales manager, and Herbert Greenblatt, Midwest sales manager. Bob Dickey, Midwest pub- licity head, accompanied the drive leaders to Minneapolis. Nangle, Tribune Critic Chicago, Jan. 9. — Anna Nangle of the Chicago Tribune staff has suc- ceeded Mrs. Frances Grover as film critic. Mrs. Grover will retire after 30 years as a reviewer. Her Mae Tinee by-line will be retained. NBC Survey Luncheon National Broadcasting will pres- ent a report to the press on its 1944 nationwide survey of listening habits at a luncheon at thp Hotel Ritz Carlton here today. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CI N EFFECTS 1600 Broadway New York City Circle 6-6252 * "G" denotes general classification. Examine Rinzler in Franchise Transfer Samuel Rinzler will be examined before trial today by attorneys for Leader Theatre Corp., in connection with its action against 20th Century- Fox and Randforce Amusement Co., and which is scheduled for a New York Supreme Court trial about Feb. 1. Suit charges that Randforce sold the Leader to the plaintiff, Leonard Storch, and that 20th-Fox gave the Leader franchise to another theatre in the Randforce circuit. Plaintiff asserts this transfer is illegal, and seeks damages and the 20th-Fox fran- chise. Col. Sets 9 Advance 'Song' Engagements Columbia has set pre-release runs for "A Song to Remember," being sold apart from the regular program, in nine key cities, starting Jan. 18 at the Orpheum, San Francisco, and Roxy, Oakland; Jan. 25 at Loew's Orpheum and State, Boston, RKO Capitol, Cincinnati, RKO Orpheum, New Orleans, and Loew's State, St. Louis ; Feb. 7 at the Lafayette, Buf- falo ; Feb. 15 at the Hill Street and Pantages, Los Angeles, and Feb. 22 at the Palace, Dallas. Continue '4~A' Merger Plan Without SAG (Continued from page 1) ors' Equity, Chorus Equity, Amer- ican Federation of Radio Artists, American Guild of Musical Artists and the American Guild of Variety Artists. The merger will be for a stated period, with the organizations con- tinuing to function individually dur- ing that period. CBS to Honor 'Vox Pop' Columbia Broadcasting will honor Parks Johnson and Warren Hull of the "Vox Pop" radio show at a re- ception in the Hotel Berkshire here this afternoon. 1,500 Workers Get $495,000 Back-Pay (Continued from page 1) Memphis, Charlotte and Butte. The increases are retroactive to Dec. 1, 1942, for 110 weeks, with the average increase about $3 weekly per person. The latest approvals bring to 17 the number approved to date for the IATSE exchange workers. Applica- tions for similar increases are pending before the RWLB or are in the proc- ess of being filed for workers in the remaining 14 exchange cities. David Halper, associate of ex- Judge Matthew M. Levy, both IATSE at- torneys, has been meeting with film company exchange operational repre- sentatives to expedite the increases. Also pending before the RWLB are additional applications for IATSE film exchange office workers, to estab- lish a system of job classifications and minimum and maximum wage scales, plus a 10 per cent increase. Approval of these contracts has already been secured in many cities. Bill to Outlaw AFM Record Tax Offered Chicago, Jan. 9. — Representative Weber of this city introduced a bill in the Illinois House in Springfield, yesterday, to outlaw the American Federation of Musicians' tax on rec- ords. If passed, manufacturers of any product would be prohibited from paying a levy to any union under pen- alty of up to $5,000 fine and one year's imprisonment for each violation. Para. Bids for 'Land' Paramount is the only film com- pany so far to have bid for "Sing Out, Sweet Land," musical which is using mostly songs in the public domain. Paramount is one of the principal backers of the show, a Theatre Guild production. Asking price is under- stood to be over $100,000. Expansion Is Republic A im (Continued from page 1) tional field would continue, with par-' ticular reference to immediate expan- sion in Latin America. Republic re- cently announced the establishment of two new branch offices, in Peru and Colombia. Yates stated that announce- ment of additional operations in the foreign field would be made following a meeting with Morris Goodman, vice- president in charge of foreign sales. Goodman has just returned to this country after a three-months' trip during which he visited Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Cuba. Goodman is expected at the Republic studio shortly to discuss product pos- sibilities with studio vice-president Allen Wilson. Elliott in 'Texan' Yates reported that Wild Bill El- liott will be starred in the company's forthcoming "big-budget" picture, "The Fabulous Texan," based on "The Saga of Sam Bass" ; and that his western series will have increased pro- duction budgets, as well as heavy ad- vertising-publicity campaigns, includ- ing exhibitor cooperative campaigns in all key situations. Yates also reported that a group of district and branch managers will visit the company's Hollywood studio this year, to become acquainted with stu- dio operations and production. Following today's session, Yates, Grainger, William Saal, Maxwell Gil- lis, Sam Seplowin, Jack Davis, and a home office group including E. L. Walton, Walter L. Titus, Jr., Albert Schiller, Si Borus, E. H. Seifert and Steve Edwards, will leave for Chi- cago. They will be joined there by Will Baker, Merritt Davis, Francis Bateman and branch managers for a meeting at the Blackstone Hotel to- morrow, Thursday, Friday and Sat- urday. 'U9 Advertising Plan To Aid New Names (Continued from page 1) ■ of institutional cooperative advertise- ments to be placed by exhibitors on behalf of pictures which introduce new 'U' players. The company, Scully said, plans to advertise extensively pictures which introduce new personalities, not only to aid in securing better box office re- turns, but also to help build new tal- ent. Universal is now concentrating on eight new personalities. Scully will leave for the Coast on Friday, remaining until Feb. 10. He will be accompanied by Maurice A. Bergman, Eastern advertising-pub- licity director. USO Plans Anniversary The USO will observe its fourth anniversary ' on Feb. 4. Plans are under way for a luncheon to be held here to coincide with the annual meet- ing of the board of directors. Other observances will be held in other cities. Loew Board Meeting Loew's board of directors held its monthly meeting yesterday, here. Wednesday, January 10, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 India May Make Films in English Indian producers, whose output amounts to 150 features annually, are eager to make pictures in English if they can secure world distribution, according to H. Chaudbury, business administrator of 'Bombay Talkies, Ltd., who was interviewed here. In- dians are also desirous of having their national life realistically portrayed in Hollywood films, Chaudhury said, as they feel that product such as "Clive of India" and "And the Rains Came," are not representative of their country as the "Good Earth" is typical of Chinese life. This will serve to solidi- fy the good relations between Ameri- ca and India which American sol- diers stationed in that country have initiated, he said. Welcome U. S. Production Chaudhury, who is here from Bom- bay to study American production methods and buy studio equipment to replace existing material which is ob- solete, said that his studio would wel- come American production in India and would make available its facili- ties to such an enterprise. Negotiations between Chaudhury and Technicolor have been initiated, he said, for a deal to bring the color process to Indian production. He has broached formation of a company in India either wholly backed by In- dian capital and employing American technicians or a jointly owned com- pany consisting of U. S. and Indian money. Indian producers eagerly an- ticipate the introduction of color in their country because of the elements which would lend themselves to its use. 20 Annually After War Chaudhury said that his studio plans to produce 20 films yearly after the war when it will have expanded to five sound stages. Great good-will is being built up between the two countries, Chaudhury said, by the showing of the Office of War Information documentaries and United News. Indian studios are modern and well- equipped, comparing favorably to some of the smaller American production units, Chaudhury said. Chaudhury will remain in this coun- try for several months before his re- turn to Bombay. Hollywood WAC in 1945 Meet Monday (Continued from page 1) Mary McCall, Jr., in the chairman- ship. Tom Baily will succeed John C. Flinn as coordinator. .E. J. Man- nix will continue as vice-chairman. On the new executive committee are Bert Allenberg, Fred W. Beetson, Harry Brand, Trem Carr, Y. Frank Free- man, Emmet Lavery, George Murphy, Kenneth Thomson and Walter Wanger. 'U' Dividend Universal has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 50 cents per share on company stock payable Jan. 31, to stockholders of record on Jan. 17, it has been announced here by J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of Uni- versale board. 9,000 'Dimes' Pledges Give Drive Seven-Day Head Start (Continued from page 1) ecticut has passed last year's enroll- ment and is aiming at $100,000 against $78,000 last year. South Carolina expects to double last year's total, while Arkansas has 60,000 seats pledged, thousands more than last year. National Screen Service has shipped 6,000 trailers to its exchanges, with the balance due on Jan. 12. At Rochester, exhibitors will com- bine with the local National Founda- tion for Infantile Paralysis in a Dimes meeting tomorrow. Basil O'Connor, president, will speak, and exhibitor chairmen Pollock and Golden will be on hand. t Many theatre managers have 'jumped the gun' and have already put into operation lobby stunts. In Jersey City, a theatre installed a huge 'birthday card' in the lobby ; patrons put dimes in holes in the card and in two days it was filled twice with a total take of $132. In the Bronx, the Paradise and in Manhattan, - the 175th Street Theatre, tested a new stunt, a fish-bowl filled with coins ; patrons guess how many dimes are in the bowl, making a donation with each guess. Award is a $25 war bond. The 175th Street reported $417 in six days and the Paradise $78 in four days. 178 More Theatres Pledge for 'Dimes' Nine additional circuits, comprising 178 theatres, this week pledged for the March of Dimes drive, it was an- nounced by circuit chairman J. R. Vogel. The pledges were : Lam Amusement Co., Rome, Ga., 12 theatres ; Blumenfeld Theatres, San Francisco, 29; T. and D., Jr., Enterprises, San Francisco, 59 ; Ever- green Theatres, Seattle, 40; Andrew Tegu Theatres, Vermont, 5 ; Jos. Mathieu Theatres, Mass., 9 ; Middle- sex Amusement, Maiden, Mass., 7 ; George Giles Theatres, Boston, 9 ; Charles Morse Theatres, Boston, 8. New England States Top 'Dimes' in 1944 Boston, Jan. 9. — All five New En- gland states now have more theatres enrolled in the March of Dimes drive than participated in the entire drive in 1944, it was reported today by M. J. Mulliri, New England chairman. Massachusetts heads the list with 310 theatres signed up to the weekend, against 300 last year. Rhode Island passed last year's to- tal a week ago, and New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine have all exceeded their 1944 figures. 'Dimes' Aides Set by Arthur in St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 9. — Harry C. Arthur, Jr., state chairman for the- atres in the 1945 March of Dimes, has appointed his committees for St. Louis and St. Louis County. Appointed co-chairman were : Louis K. Ansell, Paul Krueger, Thomas James, Al Poos, and Henry C. Riegel, Jr. Others appointed included Herb Washburn, trailers and accessories and Lester Bona, Warner branch manager, who will act as co-distrib- utor chairman under Tom Connors. M. L. Plessner will handle theatre publicity and the general campaign. OJCeuf/ Bud/ , To NICHOLAS M. SCHENCK, Chairman 1945 MARCH OF DIMES DRIVE SUITE 124, ASTOR HOTEL, NEW YORK, 19, N.Y. You may depend on my complete cooperation. At every performance, during week of Jan'. 25-31, 1 promise to show the appeal trailer and make audience collections in my audi- torium. Send full details. ( PLEASE PRINT PLAINLY) Signed THEATRE COUNTY SEATING CAPACITY 1945 MARCH of DIMES Jack Benny is Due For 'Dimes' Shows National Broadcasting will honor Jack Benny at a press luncheon at the Hotel Sherry Netherland Friday. Benny is due here from Hollywood Friday morning for a series of ap- pearances for the March of Dimes drive and for four weekly broadcasts. He will make an appearance at Rockefeller Center, Jan. 15, in con- nection with the opening of the Dimes drive and will then appear at Car- negie Hall, Jan. 20 ; Philadelphia Academy of Music, Jan. 23, and at Boston Symphony Hall, Jan. 29. . Brackett, OWI Deputy Washington, Jan. 9. — OWI direc- tor Elmer Davis has designated James R. Brackett as senior deputy and liaison with the Office of War Mobil- ization and Reconversion. Prager Joins RKO Chicago, Jan. 9. — Bill Prager, for- mer Quigley Publications representa- tive in Seattle, has been named a publicity field representative for RKO here. Companies'Revenue In Argentina Lags U. S. distributors' business in Ar- gentina ■ has increased only slightly in the last year, despite a rise in thea- tre business of from 30 to 40 per cent in the last few years in that country, informed foreign department sources have reported here. This gap was ascribed to the method of selling used by most distributors there : flat rentals except for first-runs; consequently, the better theatre business is not com- pletely reflected in distributors' reve- nues. Exhibitors have experienced no hardship from the quota laws, which became effective last Sept. 1, as yet, because they have been able to draw on a backlog of 15 Argentine pictures. Native exhibitors, however, are still using American product as the basis of programs. The Argentine government is at- tempting to boost its film production to a minimum of 60 films yearly from 40. This year only 25 or 30 will be pro- duced because of the lack of raw stock, as none is entering the country from the U. S. Argentine exhibitors are still pro- testing against the quota decree, and are especially disturbed at the per- centage clause, which, in effect, they say, serves to subsidize Argentine pro- ducers. Para, Reports Army Personnel Advances The following military promotions of Paramount personnel have been reported to the Paramount service- men's committee : Capt. Jack Dailey, district advertising representative in Dallas and Atlanta, promoted to major. Major Dailey has been in charge of film distribution in the mili- tary area of Italy, Sicily and North Africa. Jack Brickel, formerly of the New York Paramount Theatre, has been promoted to captain and is now serving in India. Harry Schlar, former booker at the company's Boston exchange, has been advanced to lieutenant and is now sta- tioned at Camp Planche, La. Parme- ly W. Urch, formerly of the home office, now with the First Allied Air- borne Army in Europe, has been pro- moted to sergeant. Three Circuits Sign For Mono. Product Los Angeles, 'Jan. 9. — Three ad- ditional circuits, comprising 120 thea- tres, have signed for Monogram's 1944-45 product. Circuits are: Mar- tin Theatres, with 75 houses in Ala- bama, Florida, Georgia and Tennes- see ; Interstate Theatres, 38 houses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont ; Co-At-Co Theatres, with seven in Georgia and North Carolina. Crandall Joins Stone Hollywood, Jan. 9. — Milton Cran- dall, veteran of 10 years of film pro- motion campaigns, mostly with United Artists, has been appointed studio head of press and promotion for Andrew Stone, U. A. producer. Cran- dall's first assignment will be on "Bedside Manner." "Has arrived on the motion-picture scene at the last possible 1944 moment, but it belongs in the front rank of the year's mystery thrillers." -HOWARD BARNES, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE "Absorbing melodrama . . . Hedy Lamarr is perfectly cast as the most beautiful woman of her time . . . the direction is worthy of much praise." - WANDA HALE, N. Y. DAILY NEWS "Easily one of the better melodramas that has come this way . . . Well- calculated » to hold your attention." - BOSLEY CROWTHER, N. Y. TIMES "Thrilling . . . tops all . . . Miss Lamarr's performance is the best she's turned in . . . Paul Lukas is stupendous, and George Brent just the sort of rescuer Hedy should have." - LEE MORTIMER, N. Y. DAILY MIRROR SIGN THAT PLEDGE) MARCH OF DIMESI (JAN. 25-31) "Topnotch murder mystery. Story unfolds quietly, logically. Slowly the mystery grows, the suspense tightens. The ending is high-old melodrama." - EILEEN CREELMAN, N. Y. SUN 'Grapples with one of the screen's tougher hazards— and comes off very well. Audiences have effective set of shud- ders awaiting them." -ALTON COOK, N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM "The theme is provocative; the performances compelling. . . . Hedy never looked lovelier, and you can well believe that a mental quirk made Paul Lukas the heel he is. George Brent's administrations are nobly heroic." - IRENE THIRER, N. Y. POST "A cut above most thrillers, in addition to its heavyweight - JOHN T. McMANUS, PM r ;< o RADIO 10 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, January 10, 1945 Minnesota Owners Seek Tax Solution (Continued from page 1) the problem for needy towns and cities and make the admission tax unneces- sary. It has decided to investigate the matter fully before reporting back to the group. At a recent Twin City meeting, the mayors went on record in favor of an enabling act by the state legislature to permit municipalities to tax theatre admissions, but referred the proposi- tion to the special committee now mak- ing the study of the matter. In the meanwhile, however, many mayors and local officials in cities and towns throughout the state have started to line up support for the proposed measure in the next legislature, con- vening soon. The state legislature also would have to pass legislation alloting a larger share of the utility tax to the municipalities. Exhibitors have been greatly dis- turbed over the move not only be- cause they feel any further scale tilts would injure patronage, but also be- cause the proposal would make infor- mation on their grosses public prop- erty. Philadelphia Variety Installs Clint Weyer Philadelphia, Jan. 9. — Clint Weyer has been installed as local Variety's 11th chief barker. More than 150 members and guests at- tended the dinner and ceremonies held here recently at the Ritz Carlton Ho- tel. Weyer, associated with Highway Express, film delivery service, suc- ceeds Frank L. McNamee. Other officers for 1945 are: Ted Schlanger, first assistant chief barker ; David Supowitz, second assistant; Jack Greenberg, dough guy; Alfred J. Davis, property master ; Michael Felt, house chairman; Harry N. Ball, fixer; Ben Amsterdam, Jack Beresin, Harry Blumberg, James R. Clark, William J. Clark, Jay Emanuel, Felt, McNamee, Sam Gross, Dr. Leon Levy, Edgar Moss and Earle W. Sweigert, canvassmen. RKO Heads Honor Meakin January 15 (Continued from page 1) lard Hotel, under sponsorship of the Washington Variety Club. Among the executives scheduled to attend are: Ned Depinet, S. A. Schwartz, Robert Mochrie, Arthur Frudenfeld, Terry Turner, O. R. Mc- Mahon, J. M. Brennan and Malcolm Kingsberg, all of RKO, and Maurice White, Variety Club of Cincinnati chief barker. Speakers will include Depinet, John S. Allen, for the exchanges ; Carter T. Barron, for circuit and independent exhibitors; Ted Gamble, for Govern- ment, and Commissioner John Russell Young for the District of Columbia. Meakin had been manager of RKO's Keith Theatre in Washington for 15 years. SPG Votes Tomorrow The Screen Publicists Guild of New York will ballot for new officers at SPG headquarters here tomorrow night. Harry Hochfield is unopposed for the presidency. U.S. Looks for 15% Drop in Amusements in 1945-46 (Continued from page 1) than from roof gardens and cabarets, will amount to $292,- 900,000 for the current fiscal year (1944-45) and drop to $257,- 700,000 in 1945-46, while receipts from roof gardens and cabarets will amount to $54,700,000 this year and $46,500,000 in the year to come. The budget calls for a total Gov- ernment expenditure of $87,000,000,- 000 in 1945-46, $70,000,000,000 of which will be for war purposes. This will be $10,000,000,000 less than the current budget, but individual and cor- poration tax payments next year are expected to decline more than $4,000,- 000,000, and the national debt on June 30, 1946, will be $292,000,000,000. Service on the national debt, ex- penditures for veterans and tax re- funds in 1945-46 call for more than $7,000,000,000, exceeding the entire Cost of Government operations five years ago, Roosevelt said. Roosevelt firmly opposed tax reduc- tions at present, but told Congress that when the favorable development of the war allows a major decline in war expenditures, minor tax adjust- ments will become possible and de- sirable. Seeks Overhauled System At the same time, he urged Con- gress now to overhaul the tax system and develop a tax program which can be put into effect immediately after the war, to stimulate consumer de- mand and promote business invest- ment. The President also called attention to the need to make sure that there are opportunities for new and grow- ing business after the war, reminding Congress that the national and inter- national policies which we adopt now — affecting trade, credit, investment, and competition and monopoly — will largely determine future business and employment opportunities. Other points in the budget of inter- est to the film industry were: the Treasury will derive a revenue of $135,000 from the sale of Government films, from which it secured $31,872 in 1944, and expects to receive $75,- 000 this year. Detailed estimates for the Army, Navy and war agencies — including the War Production Board, Office of War Information, Office of Censor- ship, etc. — will be submitted to Con- gress next Spring, when they will re- flect any changes which may occur in the war picture. The Library of Congress will initi- ate preliminary investigations and prepare plans for the recording, stor- ing and servicing of motion pictures and still photographs, for which plans for a permanent repository are in the making. An appropriation of $21,000 is recommended, permitting the set- ting up of a staff, consisting of a chief of the project, at $6,500 a year; two technicians, at $3,800, and two clerks, at $1,800. The defense activities of the Federal Communications Commission will be further contracted, the appropriation being cut from $4,191,143 to $2,430,- 000, but in anticipation of increased responsibilties with respect to regula- tion of civilian communications its regular fund is to be increased from $2,104,500 to $2,756,000. D. of J. Gets More The appropriation for the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice is to be increased from $1,540,000 to $1,750,000, providing for an increase of ten employes in Washington and 60 in the field. The motion picture work of the Of- fice of Education, in connection with aids for war training, is to be liqui- dated, but its regular motion picture activities will be continued under an expanded civilian program for which the agency is to get $1,351,700, com- pared with $838,118 this year. The usual fund of $50,000 is pro- vided for the informational work of the Department of Agriculture. The end of the war will bring addi- tional responsibilities upon the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, it was said, including the motion pic- ture unit, and its appropriation is to be increased from $1,550,000 to $2,- 000,000. The State Department is to be giv- en $25,700, the same as this year, for its educational motion picture pro- gram, and for its cooperation with the American republics, including the provision of motion pictures, etc., it is to receive $4,430,000, compared with $3,450,000 this year. Legion Classifies 10 New Productions The Legion of Decency has classified the following new films : Class A-l, "The Fighting Lady," (documentary), 20th Century-Fox; "Marked for Murder," PRC ; "Hitch- hike to Happiness," Republic. A-2, "The Big Showoff," "Grissly's Mil- lions," Republic ; "Double Exposure," "Practically Yours," Paramount; "The Suspect," Universal; "Tahiti Nights," Columbia. Class B, "Rough- ly Speaking," Warners. Check on Delinquency Philadelphia, Jan. 9. — The No- vember session of the grand jury here has concluded an investigation of juvenile delinquency and has rec- ommended legislation to prohibit the admittance of children 17 or under to theatres between the hours of 10 :30 P.M. and 10 A.M. Arch B. Heath Dies, Was Film Director Arch B- Heath, 54, artist, motion picture director and writer, recently with the OWI, died here Saturday. He had been a director of screen serials for Pathe and a producer of training films for the Army. He was born in Brooklyn. Daniel Stearns Dies Cleveland, Jan. 9. — Funeral ser- vices will be held here Wednesday for Daniel C. Stearns, Jr., 55, who died yesterday following a heart at- tack. Connected with the industry hereabouts for 30 years, Stearns had been owner of the Willoughby The- atre, Willoughby, for 16 years. His early years in the business were with Universal where he was a booker, then salesman. Surviving are his widow, Margaret, a daughter, Georgiana Al- bright, and a son, Daniel, III. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 9 BILL WILLIAMS has been signed by RKO Radio for a fea- tured role in "Those Endearing Young Charms," which will- co-star Robert Young and Laraine Day. Lewis Allen is to direct the feature, Bert Granet will produce it. . . . Joan Loring has been assigned an impor- tant part in the Warner production, "Three Strangers," which Jean Ne- gulesco will direct and Wolfgang Reinhardt will produce for Warners. . . . Columbia has exercised its option on the services of Jimmy Lloyd, form- er radio actor. • Billy Daniels, Paramount dance di- rector, will have an acting role in "Masquerade in Mexico," which co- stars Dorothy Lamour and Arturo de Cordova. . . . 20th Century-Fox has renewed Phil Silvers' contract, and assigned him a role in "Two-Faced Quilligan." . . . Lew Landers has been signed by PRC to direct the Jack Schwarz production, "Enchanted For- est" • Marek Lubkov will be co-produc- er with Steve Sekely of Republic's "The Healer." . . . Edward Ryan has been assigned the romantic lead in "Caribbean Mystery" at 20th Century-Fox. . . . "Butterfly" Mc- Quean, former comedienne on the Jack Benny airshow, has been signed for a role in the current Warner production, "Mildred Pierce." . . . Dorothy Kingsley has been assigned to write the screen- play of "The Girl from Rector's," which Jack Cummings will produce for M-G-M. • First of the new year's independent set-ups has been formed by J. C. Copeland, Canadian entertainment ty- coon, whose Copeland Productions will turn out three features a year. No releasing arrangements have been announced as yet. ... Columbia has purchased an original from James Edward Grant, and signed him to write the screenplay, and produce the picture as well. The title will be "A Mother for May." • Spring Byington has been signed by 20th Century-Fox for a featured role in "Captain Eddie." . . . Gene Lewis will produce "White Tie and Tails" for Universal. Clearance, Some Run Complaint Is Filed G. Carey, operating the Stadium Theatre, Caruthersville, Mo., has filed a combination some run and clearance complaint against the five consenting companies in the St. Louis tribunal, the American Arbitration Association reports. Complainant charges that clearance between the Rogers and Gem Theatres, also at Caruthersville, and the Stadium, is unreasonable and unduly long, that these two theatres hold up product an unreasonable time after territorial release dates. He also al- leged that Loew's has refused to license pictures to the Stadium. In his petition, claimant asks that he be given a reasonable maximum clearance and that Loew's be directed to supply pictures for some run. THE FIRST COMPLETE STORY OF PHILIPPINE NAVAL VICTORY! A gratis short that will hold audiences spellbound! BROUGHT TO ACTION Ae#Uo, s — - """»>! °* e»,;,. "9 suSb„ . oxe«»ng „. sPeise *oo,0/ S0s<"»'ocKOn £• d'^>»yp{t ? Cor. The industry salutes the Navy with this thrilling film record of America's' greatest sea-air victory. It's a picture your audiences will thank you for' putting on your screen, not only because it's great entertainment but because it packs a terrific patriotic heart-thrill* Produced by the Office of Strategic Services in cooperation with the United States Navy} Distributed by United Artists (M-G-M, in Albany, Des Moines, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Portland, Ore.) ■k SPONSORED BY WAR ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE OF MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY, 1501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY * Released thru United Artists "OL. 57. NO. 8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1945 TEN CENTS Warners Nets $6,953,462, $1.87 a Share $1,285,021 Drop Is Due To Heavy Write-Offs Warner Bros.' operations result- ed in a net profit of $6,953,462 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1944, a decrease of $1,285,021 from the §8,238,483 net of the pre- vious year, ac- cording to an annual stock- holders' report prepared for release today by Harry M. Warner, presi- dent. The decrease took place de- spite the fact that gross in- come rose $9,- 357,499 —from $131,825,540 in 1943 to $141,183,039 in 1944. The largest portion of this increase, War- (Continued on page 7) Harry M. Warner Youngman Named to Decree Committee Gordon E. Youngman, vice-presi- dent and general counsel for RKO, has been named by the five consent- ing companies as their representative on the budget committee which votes the appropriations to cover the oper- ating costs of the motion picture ar- bitration tribunals. Youngman replaces Joseph Hazen, whose resignation from Warners last Summer left the post vacant. Other (Continued on page 6) Republic Chicago Meet Opens Today Chicago, Jan. 10. — James R. Grain- ger, president and general sales man- ager of Republic Pictures, will open the first day's session of the second in the company's current series of sales conferences here tomorrow, at the Blackstone Hotel, where field men and home office executives will re- view the company's distribution and production progress and confer on (Continued on page 6) Fitzgerald Calls For Exposition For All Exhibition Milwaukee, Jan. 10. — An annual exposition by exhibitors, for exhibi- tion, to be held annually in the post- war, over a period of at least five years, is proposed by Harold J. Fitz- gerald, president .of Fox Wisconsin Amusement Corp., with all branches of the industry participating. Fitzgerald makes the proposal as national chairman of the 50th Anniver- sary of the Motion Picture, and offers it in lieu of a 1945 celebration of the progress of motion pictures as orig- inally contemplated. The starter would be an 'interna- tional exhibition,' to be held in an ac- (Continued on page 7) Pollock Resignation From U.A. Accepted Lou Pollock, advertising and pub- licity director of United Artists, will leave the company tomorrow, his resignation, which was submitted last week, having been accepted yesterday by Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of distribution. A successor to Pollock is under- stood to have been chosen and is ex- pected to be announced today or to- morrow. Pollock, former Eastern ad- vertising-publicity manager of Uni- versal, was appointed to the United Artists post in October, 1943, after Paul Lazarus, Jr., entered military service. Fuel Shortage Will Close Theatres Buffalo, Jan. 10.— Film the- atres here will be forced to close before the end of the month due to an acute fuel shortage, E. Harold Brayer, chairman of Mayor Joseph Kelly's emergency fuel com- mittee, warns. Soft coal ship- ments are behind schedule as a result of snowstorms which have crippled rail traffic. Study Dimout Of Marquees Washington, Jan. 10. — The Gov- ernment is understood to be consider- ing a nationwide dimout that would darken every theatre marquee and shop window in the country, as a means of saving more than 2,000,000 tons of coal in 12 months. The emergency measure, it is said, was demanded by Secretary of the In- terior Harold L. Ickes at a recent Cabinet meeting, and was approved immediately by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestall and Secretary of War Henry Stimson. Coal is used to generate about two-thirds of the na- tion's output of electric power, it was pointed out. Although Government officials were reluctant to issue such a mandatory curtailment order a year ago, it is now felt that such action is warranted in view of the critical coal situation. Government officials are also dis- (Continued on page 6) Networks Will Not Curb Use of Television Shows Exhibitors using television pro- grams in their theatres in the post war will be able to screen video shows sent out by television broadcasters if they are willing to adopt a spirit of fair play in using the telecasts, John F. Royal, NBC vice-president in charge of television, indicated in an interview with Motion Picture Daily. The broadcasters are making an exhaustive study of the legal aspects of telecasting as they affect exhibitors' picking up programs and using them in theatres, Royal disclosed. He said he could see no opposition developing if exhibitors did not delete adver- tising and network credits in carrying special events telecasted. Royal doubts whether there will be sufficient special features like prize fights and outstanding horse races to permit a theatre to carry them exclus- ively. He believes that rights to tele- cast these events will probably be shared by all telecasters. Ralph B. Austrian, executive vice- president of RKO Television Corp., has suggested that groups of theatres might be able to contract for exclus- ive rights to certain sport events and make telecasts of these events avail- able solely to theatres rather than tc owners of home television sets in the post war. This spirit of competition would not hurt either the telecasters or the theatres. Royal indicated. Theatres' unauthorized use of tele- vision programs would be beset by liti- gation, Royal warned. Severe WMC Rules Hit Film, Other Fields Omaha 1st to Apply New Hiring Curtailment Omaha, Jan. 10. — Area War Manpower director William Park- inson has issued two orders, the most drastic here to date, which can seriously affect the motion pic- ture industry here. The first, effective now, places a 10-day "embargo" on the hiring of all male employes, except by a selected group of 27 war plants and high-priority firms behind on war production schedules. The second cuts back employment ceilings from 100 per cent of June figures to 90 per eent No firm in the non-essential class, which includes the theatre industry, may hire any person until the establishment's employment total drops below the 90 mark. Parkinson asserts that if these measures do not produce the needed men, "loans" of manpower may be (Continued on page 6) File Schine Briefs, Replies Due Feb. 1 Buffalo, Jan. 10. — A decision for another month at least, cannot be ex- pected in the Government anti-trust suit against the ■ Schine Circuit here, as briefs on both sides have just been submitted to Judge John Knight. Counter briefs are scheduled to be given the court by Feb. 1, and a de- cision should be forthcoming during the month. Briefs consisted of summary of the (Continued on page 6) CEA to Protest on Raising UK Quota London, Jan. 10. — The general council of the Cinematograph Exhib- itors Association has decided to pro- test to the British Board of Trade against its recommendation of a five per cent increase in the exhibitors' quota between now and 1947. This step will be taken in support of a viewpoint expressed by CEA's Scot- tish branch. The branch had condemned quota (Continued on page 6) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 11, 1945 Offer 100,000 Monogram Shares Personal Mention Insider's Outlook By RED KANN JOSEPH H. MOSKOWITZ, vice president and Eastern studio rep- resentative of 20th Century-Fox, left New York last night for the com- pany's West Coast studios. • Jeanne Dooley, formerly with Comerford Theatres in Scranton, is engaged to Cpl. Robert Kilcullen, who was a Comerford booker before entering the Army Air Forces. • Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president and studio head, is back in New York after a visit with his son in Boston. Freeman is scheduled to leave for the Coast at the weekend. • A. J. O'Keefe, Universal's West- ern division sales manager, will leave today for Chicago, Milwaukee and the West Coast. • A. A. Ward, vice president and general manager of Altec Lansing Corp., has arrived in New York from Hollywood. • Lester Cowan is scheduled to leave for the Coast at the weekend. Rondel New Head Of Board of Trade Henry Randel, Paramount New York branch manager, was installed as president of the New York Film Board of Trade last evening at the home of Louis Nizer, attorney and executive secretary* of the board. Nizer and Mrs. Nizer were hosts to 20 guests at a dinner preceeding the meeting, which included film execu- tives and former board of trade mem- bers. Other new officers are : First vice- president, Clarence Eiseman, War- ners ; second vice-president, Joseph J. Felder, Monogram ; treasurer, DavH Levy, Universal ; secretary, Robert J. Fannon, Republic ; sergeant-at-arms. Ralph Pielow, M-G-M. Outgoing of- ficers include : Pielow, president; Eise- man, first vice-president; Jack Ellis. United Artists, second vice-pres- ident; Ray Moon, 20th-Fox, treasur- er ; Fannon, secretary ; Felder, ser- geant-at-arms. Among those present were Louis Ros-' enbluh, Mrs. Louis Phillips, Charles Boasberg, Herman Gluckman, Saul Trauner, Ben Abner, Pete Lewis and Henry Danziger. Mono. Screens 'Faith* Monogram vesterday screened "They Shall Have Faith," which stresses in- fantile paralysis, for the press and other guests at the Normandie The- atre here, followed by a luncheon at the Warwick Hotel. Pictorial Host Today Pictorial Films will hold a reception today at the St. Moritz Hotel to ob- serve its new association with Pathe Industries, Inc. Pictorial distributes eight and 16 mm films. Hollywood, Jan. 10 MAJORITY opinion among studio responsibles is that ways and means of meeting the situation thrown on the table by impending reductions in raw stock will be determined large- ly by New York. The exact degree of the slash for the first quarter of 1945 thus far lacks finality. The method of alloca- tion continues uncertain, but no one here doubts that a cut is on the way. How seriously the production pattern will be disturbed is not wholly apparent as early as this. Naturally, executives are analyzing the nature and extent of the impact which, in the first- flush view of many, rolls into one conclusion : Fewer pictures. ■ An enforced dropping of films already scheduled would not be new. Reported here from time to time has been execution by sweeps of the pen of occasional "B" attractions, short subjects and serials for the obvious pur- pose of keeping the road clear for projects more essential in scope. There may be more of this in the future, and it could be a good thing. Industry-wise, no one will regret fewer low- budget features. Where the big-to-bigger ones enter, no concern need bother anyone's peace of mind. It is a definite part of Hollywood's thinking these days to keep the percentage of important films high. Therefore, if numerical sacrifices prove in order, . the top of the heap will escape un- harmed. ■ The problem, of course, is fractional where production is involved. While millions of feet of film are consumed in turning out any year's total output, those millions fade into a fine shade of obscurity alongside the many more millions required for release prints. This is why, in full justice from Hollywood's viewpoint, the major phases of the situa- tion automatically are returned to New York which possesses all the keys to distribution. This is why, too, there is some talk in these parts about the possibility of a further re-examination of the long-entrenched selling sys- tem to determine whether fewer prints are in the cards or whether a staggered plan of re- lease— based on geography — can be worked out, in whole or in part, for the nation. Discussions of this ilk are not advanced in the guise of any cure-all. No one here, so far as this telescope ranges, intends barging into a determination which rests so largely with dis- tribution and distribution's re- sponsibilities to exhibition. Theatres have to be kept go- ing, of course, but production feels it has to be kept going as well. If the state of affairs is reached at which total output has to be shaved to a point where theatres beyond the first runs cannot change as often as they now do or where not enough film is available to main- tain current levels in double feature policies, exhibition will be compelled to make required adjustments. However, it is highly dubious if production will be affected seriously. The raw stock to make pictures will be available. The raw stock to make release prints is something entirely dif- ferent. With their fixed over- head— executive salaries, player and talent salaries and staffs — a substantial percentage of costs runs on, in most cases, whether cameras are grinding or not. Commitments for outside per- v sonalities, many of whom know today how their working time will be apportioned for the next year or more, have to be picked up or paid off. ■ Consequently, production may be expected to continue on, or about, its established level. All studios, practically without ex- ception, are now accustomed to a fancy column" of inventories which today aggregate about $200,000,000 or more. It is the fact, naturally, that producers cannot pile up invest- ments without benefit of return, but those thousands of active theatres around the country continue to pick up . their play- dates. And playdates, as of yore, continue to mean money on the line. ■ Nevertheless, production can help the general situation by in- fluencing and educating its crea- tors to the increasing need for economies in raw stock con- sumption. On any number of -shooting schedules this has been done successfully and quality has not suffered one whit there- by. Much more than meeting an emergency is at stake, addition- ally. One of the essentials Emanuel and Co. yesterday offered 100,000 shares of five-and-one-half per cent cumulative convertible preferred stock of Monogram Pictures Corp. Stock is priced for the public at $10 a share, plus accrued dividends. Net proceeds of approximately^ $851,340 will be used for addition fjj working capital, while approximate^ $300,000 will be applied to the reduc- tion of current liabilities, and the re- mainder to film production. Out- standing capitalization, outside of this ; issue, is 493,439 shares of common at $1 par. The new preferred is convertible into common at two-and-a-quarter shares of common for each of pre- ferred. Tom Connors Talking Product with FPT Toronto, Jan. 10. — Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of sales for Twentieth Century-Fox, accompanied by W. C. Gehring, the company's Western sales manager, are here for a meeting with John Fitzgibbon, pres- ident of Famous Players Theatres, to discuss the company's pictures which will play the circuit during the com- ing months. Connors and Gehring will also talk with Sydney Samson, manager of Twentieth-Fox's five Canadian offices, and will visit Montreal before return- ing to New York. continues to be the need, for many reasons, to reduce run- ning times. Theatre operators want shorter attractions. Un- flinchingly, they are death on the babies in the two hour, or more, division. When the pro- ducer holds down the artistes- for -art's sake, he serves his cus- tomer, the exhibitor, better and makes it possible for the thea- treman to serve his customer, the public, in commensurate terms. But, if and when he holds down on length, the producer does himself yeoman's service by making his raw stock prob- lem easier to meet. An attrac- tion in 100 minutes, as against 140, means 40 minutes times 90 feet per minute by approximate- ly 300 prints. That works out as 1,080,000 feet on one film. Finally, if he holds down on length from the start and gov- erns his shooting script accord- ingly, the producer does more than save precious film. He saves many thousands of precious dollars. He moves in the very essential direction of keeping his costs from spiralling forever upward into the strato- sphere. MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Martin Quigley. President and Editor-in-Cliief : Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc.. 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York.'' M*rtin Quiglev. President; Colvin Rrown. Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.: Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden So.. London Wl. Hope Rurmip, Manager: Peter Biirnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres. International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y.( under the act of March 3, 18'° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 17th of a series, this national magazine advertisement introduces a new star and a new picture, together with a veteran star and a veteran policy. For in addition to stars, story, stagecraft and so forth, that policy — of combining good picture- making with good citizenship — is a vital ingredient of Warner Bros, productions. 0H& This is a scene from Warner Bros.' newest feature picture: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, from the novel by Hemingway. It shows famed screenstar Humphrey Bogart with a girl named Lauren Bacall. We believe that, with the release of this enormously dramatic film, Lauren Bacall becomes one of the most excit- ing discoveries in the history of motion pictures. • Commenting on Miss Bacall's sensational debut, Jack L. Warner remarked: "Major credit for the discovery of this new star belongs to Producer Howard Hawks, and is in the best tradition of our Company. "For Warner Bros., since its founding, has made many im-; portant discoveries — among them, that motion pictures may be adult, intelligent and. mind- ful of social realities, and still be magnificent entertainment!" HUMPHREY BOGART TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT WALTER BRENNAN ■ LAUREN BACALL DOLORES MORAN • HOAGY CARMICHAEl ' A HOWARD HAWKS PRODUCTION Screen Ploy by Jules Furlham & William Faulkner TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (which takes up entertainment- wise where 'Casablanca' left off!) serves booming notice that "combining good picture- making vjith good citizenship" is a permanent Warner policy. WARNER BROS. JACK L. WAINE R, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SIGN THAT PLEDGE FOR MARCH OF DIMES! OVERBOARD FOR... BOSTON-BALTIMORE-RICHMOND — PHILADELPHIA— ST. LOUIS- WASHINGTON— PROVIDENCE- MI NNEAPOLIS - CLEVELAND - and LONG BEACH-NOT TO FORGET CURRENTLY 8TH-WEEK CHICAGO AND THE SCORES OF OTHER CITIES PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED! 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 11, 1945 Severe WMC Rules Hit Film, Other Fields (Continued from page 1) forced from non-essential establish- ments. Washington, Jan. 10. — Strict la- bor controls imposed in Omaha by area War Manpower director William Parkinson, "under which theatres and other establishments not on the es- sential list are required to reduce em ployment in order that labor may be channeled into war plants, reflect a purely local situation, War Manpow- er Commission officials here said to- night. They explained that Parkinson's orders were undoubtedly approved by the regional WMC director and are designed to meet the labor needs of war plants faced with heavy new de- mands resulting from recent develop- ments in the European Theatre. Have the Authority Regional directors, it was said, have authority, within the broad pattern of the national regulation, to take such steps as may be necessary to meet lo- cal conditions. There were no reports of similar action in other areas, but WMC officials said some such orders might well be issued in other war centers where conditions are similar to those in Omaha. Such action may be taken by regional officials witnout reference to Washington, and the RWMC directors are encouraged to use their own judgment as to what is required in their jurisdictions. "The situation is rather tense, and we may reasonably expect local ac- tion of this nature, but it is not part of any broad national movement," a WMC spokesman explained. The spokesman pointed out that there are still areas where there is a surplus of labor, and adoption nation ally of restrictions such as applied in Omaha would serve only to increase that surplus. On the other hand, some of the important war centers are find- ing it difficult to recruit sufficient la- bor for important war and essential civilian activities, and officials in such areas are responsible for seeing that war production does not fail for lack of workers. More Theatres to Aid 'Dimes' Drive More theatres in six more states will partcipate in the 1945 March of Dimes drive than participated in the drive last year, according to re- ports received here from Elmer Nolte and Lawrence Schanberger, Mary- land ; Rovy Brannon and Roy Howe, North Carolina; E. O. Griffith, Okla- homa; Robert O'Donnell and Karl Hoblitzelle, Texas ; John Rugar, Utah, and A. H. Blank, Iowa. Additional circuit pledges received at national headquarters here include Pioneer Theatres, St. Louis and Wo- metco, Miami. The 'citation' one-sheet posters are now in all National Screen exchanges and mailing to theatres with regular poster shipments is under way. "The Tub Thumpers of America," a group of press representatives in the film and allied industries, will sup- port the drive in the Boston area. First Two Pledges For Red Cross Drive Harry Brandt, president of Brandt Theatres, operating 123 houses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and Mrs. J. J. Parker, operating seven theatres in the Portland, Oregon area, are the first exhibitors to pledge sup- port to the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week next March, it was an- nounced here yesterday by N. Peter Rathvon, industry national chairman. U. S. May Darken Theatre Marquees (Continued from page 1) cussing the possibility of banning non- essential air conditioning and outdoor floodlighting for amusements or sports in addition to the illumination of bill- boards. Nova Scotia Lights Up With Difficulty Halifax, N. S., Jan. 10. — Nova Scotia theatre men are finding it diffi- cult to restore electric signs to theatre fronts since much of the equipment was damaged in storage and recondi- tioning is hampered by the scarcity of parts and manpower. This province is the last to lift the outdoor lighting ban. Several houses have returned signs with missing letters and parts to marquees. Theatre exteriors here have been dark for more than five years. 57% in 1,077 Cities Hear NBC at Night Some 1,077 cities of more than 10, 000 population, report 57 per cent of their radio 'families' listen mostly to National Broadcasting network sta- tions after six p.m. local time, giving the stations a lead of 128 per cent over closest network competitors, accord- ing to NBC. The report was made at a luncheon- meeting at the Ritz-Carlton here yes- terday at which Niles Trammell, NBC president ; Roy C. Witmer, vice- president in charge of sales ; Charles P. Hammond, director of advertising and promotion and James H. Nelson, network sales promotion manager were speakers. Attending the session were executives of advertising agen- cies, program sponsors, representa- tives of the press, NBC's manage- ment committee and NBC's station- planning and advisory committee. Honor Cauger, Who Started Animators Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Screen animators this week feted A. V. Cauger, Independence, Mo., who started them more than two decades ago, in Kansas City. Cauger, visiting here, was honored at a dinner which the following Cauger gradu- ates attended: Walt Disney, J. B. Hardaway, Dick Clinton, Isadore Freleng, Max Ising, Fred Harmon, Henry Millar, Jack Miller, 'Butch' Davis, Henry Byers, James Craig, Ub Iwerks, Art Goebel, Hal McAlpin, George Miller, Jimmy Lowerre, John Con- nolly, and Mrs. Dick Clinton who had been secretary to Cauger when most of the 18 worked for him. File Schine Briefs, Replies Due Feb. 1 (Continued from page 1) evidence submitted, with the Depart- ment of Justice contending that it had shown evidence that Schine acquired and used illegal monopoly methods in six states with the ultimate purpose of eliminating independent competi- tors. Schine, however, contends that the evidence presented proved that it had not monopolized, and had not at- tempted to, or conspired with any dis- tributor to restrain trade. Pvt. Burke Killed Scranton, Pa., Jan. 10. — Pvt. Anthony Burke, former manager of the Rex, Dickson City, was killed in action in Germany on Dec. 5. FTC Reports 19,500 Radio Ads 'Quizzed Washington, Jan. 10.— Only 19,500 of more than 62/, 000 radio commer- cials examined during the year ended June 30, last, required review as con taining possibly false or misleading representations, the Federal Trade Commission told Congress tonight Of the cases thus developed, the Commission disclosed in its annual report, a large majority were adjusted by the procedure under which an ad vertiser is extended the privilege ol entering into a stipulation to cease and desist from the false or mislead ing advertising practices involved. The report showed that broadcast ing is doing a much better job of keeping its advertising clean than are newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, in which the Commission questioned 22,350 of 308,000 adver tisements scanned. Refuse Krim Theatre Clearance Change Paul W. Voorhies, arbitrator in the Detroit tribunal, has dismissed the clearance complaint originally filed by Sol Krim, operating the Krim Thea- tre, Highland Park, Mich., against the five consenting companies, the American Arbitration Association re- ported here yesterday. Complainant asked that that seven day clearance on product from Par- amount, Loew's, RKO and Warners after the Palmer Park Theatre, be eliminated and a provision reading "21 days after availability dates of key run theatres" be substituted; and also that seven day clearance on War- ner product, after the Highland Park and _ Woodward Grand theatres be eliminated Palmer Park Theatre Co., operating the Palmer #Park, and Highland Park Theatre Co*., operating the Highland Park, were intervenors. Republic Chicago Meet Opens Today Columbia Play Offices Columbia has opened separate offices here for its recently-formed play de- partment, under John Gassner, for- merly of the Theatre Guild. Depart- ment will 'cover' all plays in pro- duction or contemplated, for possible Columbia investment (Continued from page 1) line-up for 1945-46. Meetings are scheduled to continue Friday and Sat- urday. The Chicago session follows the New York meeting, which closed at the New York Athletic Club, with a tribute by Grainger to the salef' staff. V H. J. Yates, Sr., will make the opening address at the meeting here, which is being attended by William Saal, E. L. Walton, the company's six district sales managers — Maxwell Gillis, Sam Seplowin, Jack Davis, Will Baker, Merritt Davis, and Francis Bateman; also, by Walter L. Titus, Jr., Albert Schiller, Si Borus, E. H. Seifert, and Steve Ed- wards. Sales personnel present will in- clude: branch managers Winfield Snelson, Harold Laird, J. H. Dillon, L. V. Seicshnaydre, Lew T. Andres, N. J. Colquhoun, Glen Alt, William Feld, J.»G. Frackman, W. M. Grant, Harry Lefholtz, Nat E. Steinberg and franchise holder Robert F. Withers, of Kansas City. Special representatives J. V. Scully, G. D. Milford, and John A. Alex- ander are also attending. i 1 -■f CEA to Protest on Raising VK Quota (Continued from page 1) legislation altogether, maintaining that "a law enforcing showing of unac- ceptable British films is harmful to the British industry." The council, nowever, will refrain from taking this extreme position. As reported in Motion Picture Daily on Dec. 13, BOT's recommen- dations call for the present 15 per cent exhibitors' feature quota to rise to \7l/2 per cent next year and 20 per cent in 1947. A similar increase, in the distributors' quota is sought, and the upward revision on short sub- jects would be even sharper. Reso- lutions placing the new quotas in ef- fect require passage by both houses of Parliament and would become ef- fective in April. Youngman Named to Decree Committee (Continued from page 1) representatives of the committee are George Alger, for the appeal board, and Wesley Sturges, for the Ameri- can Arbitration Association. Costs of operation of the tribunals are estimated to be some $300,000 yearly, about $25,000 a month. Exhibitor Sowar Dies Muncie, Ind., Jan. 10. — Leonard B. Sowar, 49, manager of Theatrical Managers here and owner of the Strand and Uptown theatres, died re- cently after a short illness. R. D. Chapin Dies Lyons, Neb., Jan. 10.— R. D. Chap- in, .52, owner of the Plaza Theatre here, died recently following a heart attack. He had been in the theatre business more than 25 years. Thursday, January 11, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 Depinet Cites 1,500 Who Aided the WAC Ned E. Depimet said here yesterday he regrets that pressure of duties as president of RKO Radio forced him to relinquish the chairmanship of the distributors' division of the War Ac tivities Committee. "Every non-combatant who cannot -get into the service down in his heart |}vants to do something to be helpful,' Depinet said. "That is why I feel a great personal satisfaction in having served in this capacity. We in the motion picture industry are very for- tunate and privileged to have the op- portunity to cooperate with our Gov- ernment." He said that 1,500 managers, sales- men and district managers in the 31 excjiange centers who have been ac- tively engaged in the work of the dis- tributors' division deserve a vote of thanks for their efforts. Speaking of the part the industry must play in the post-war, Depinet said : "A continua- tion of this work is very important. Through the WAC, all factions have worked in complete harmony. It is my hope that with the coming of the peace the harmony will continue." Mayor Lauds Depinet For War Activities Portland, Ore., Jan. 10. — Mayor Earl S. Riley of this city, and S. Pal- mer Hoyt, publisher of the Portland Oregonian, today lauded Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio president, for his war work. Occasion was the visit of Robert Folliard and Harry Gittle- son of RKO, on their countrywide tour in connection with the Depinet sales drive. Present at the meeting, held at RKO's exchange, were : J. H. Mac- Intyre, Western division manager; M. E. Cory, Portland branch man- ager; E. A. Lamb, Seattle manager"; Reg. Doddridge, Calgary, and W. S. Jones, Vancouver, as well as sales staffs and bookers from those terri- tories. On Friday, Folliard and Gittle- son will confer in Los Angeles with managers from Louisiana, San Fran- cisco, Denver and Salt Lake City. Bob Paskow to WB Home Office Staff Bob Paskow, for 10 years director of advertising-publicity for Warner Theatres in the New Jersey zone, has joined Warner home office films ad- vertising-publicity staff under Mort Blumenstock to handle commercial tieup activities. Paskow has been with the company since 1926 in both exhibition and dis- tribution and once served as district manager for New Jersey. He will work with Larry Golob, Eastern pub- licity manager. $2,000 Ohio Fire Hamilton, Ohio, Jan. 10.— Fire re- sulting from an ignition breakage in the projection booth caused $2,000 worth of damage at the Strand Thea- tre, Marysville, today. The house will be closed indefinitely. Borrodaile to Australia Osmond Borrodaile, Ealing Studio cameraman is in New York, enroute to Australia, to work with Harry Watt in connection with a film Ealing is making there. He will leave for the Coast within two weeks. Warners Nets $6,963,462, Equal to $1.87 on Common (Continued from page 1) ner explained, is represented by re- ceipts from "This Is the Army," the net from which was turned over to Army Emergency Relief. Also, he pointed out, large sums were spent in the maintenance and improvement of . physical assets. Moreover, losses sustained from the sale of fixed assets amounted to $5,- iy3,455 and will result in the lowering of Federal income tax payable by $4,- 230,000, Warner added. Fixed asset sale losses amounted to $4,537,222 in 1943. The 1944 net was equal to $1.87 per share on the common stock outstand- ing, a decrease of 25 cents from the $Z.12 earned in 1943. Provision for Federal income taxes amounted to $13,135,000, compared with $13,890,- 000 the year before, a decrease of $755,000. Refinancing Completed The refinancing program of the previous fiscal year was completed by the issuance on Sept. 1, 1943, of the remaining $6,000,000 principal amount of four per cent debentures. Subse- quently, notes payable and other fund- ed debt were reduced by' $8,839,649, of which $2,904,000 represented mort- gages paid off in connection with the sale of fixed assets, the statement said. During the year, Warner reported, the company purchased five theatres, including four formerly under lease to it, at a cost of $1,335,030. A thea- tre site in Cairo, Egypt, and a film exchange site in Toronto were also acquired, at an aggregate cost of $215,953. Also acquired was the "Merrie Melodies" and "Looney Tunes" cartoon unit, at a cost of $700,000. Inventories were $8,966,241 greater last Aug. 31 than at the close of the preceding fiscal year, reflecting War- ners' policy of building inventories to be marketed at the most advantageous time. With regard to the future, Warner reported to the stockholders that the management will continue its policy of applying all available funds in the re- duction of funded indebtedness, in or der to place the company in a position to meet the uncertainties of the future. Also, he reported, the board of direc- tors has appointed a committee to con- sider the possible elimination of the 'goodwill' item from the consolidated balance sheet, as suggested by the Se- curities and Exchange Commission Most of the "goodwill,' now standing at $8,933,781, arose prior to 1930 as a result of the acquisition of Vitagraph Corp., First National Pictures, Inc., and M. Witmark and Sons. Business in the British Isles, War- ner said, was larger during the past year than at any time in the company's history, owing in part to the presence of American soldiers. He mentioned the current Depart ment of Justice petition in the New York anti-trust suit, with special re gard to divestiture of theatres, and added: "Your company is preparing its defense of this suit." Postwar Outlook Finally, Warner said: "Your man- agement would be less than realistic if it were not aware of the possibility of a falling off in theatre attendance as war production is reduced. Any adverse effect from lower industrial production could, of course, be par- tially offset by the return of millions of men and women now overseas with the Armed Forces. Provided there is adequate purchasing power, demobili- zation will proportionately enlarge the potential film-going public. Your company is preparing motion pictures designed for the type of demand that is expected to prevail." Warners' current assets at the end of the fiscal year amounted to $55,- 370,245; current liabilities, $27,816,- 922. Fixed assets stood at $104,422,- 507; capital and surplus, $105,250,481 Col. Promotion Men On* Song9 Openings iColumbia field promotion men have returned to their territories follow- ing a three-day meeting in New York with Frank P. Rosenberg, ad- vertising-publicity manager, and Harry K. McWilliams, promotion chief, to formulate plans for the pro- motion of "A Song to Remember." Jules Serkowich and Myron Eichler are back in St. Louis where the film will open at the Loew's State; Lee Septembre and William Shirley are in Cincinnati for the opening at the RKO Capitol; Abe Bernstein and Ed Rosen- baum are preparing for the Boston opening at Loew's State and Orph- eum; Henry G. Morris is in New Orleans for the opening at the RKO Orpheum, all opening on Jan. 25. Mike Newman, Al Rote and Sammy Siegel are handling the San Francisco show- ing at the Orpheum and the Oakland, opening at the Roxy on Jan. 18. Warners Promotes Rice Hollywood, Jan. 10.— Bill Rice, with Warners' studio publicity department since 1937, has been named assistant to Alex Evelove, studio publicity di- rector. Reintroduce Bill For Film Building Washington, Jan. 10. — Legislation authorizing the construction of a per- manent home for Government war pictures and other historical films has been reintroduced in Congress by Rep. Fritz G. Lanham, Texas, and is now before the" House Public Buildings and Grounds Committee, of which he is chairman. The proposed library would cost $2,800,000 and would be located on land now owned by the Government in Maryland, several miles outside of Washington. It would serve as a per- manent archive for 300,000,000 feet of available film, 75 per cent of which deals with the present- war. Pictures would be made available to film pro- ducers, publishers and others. 20th Press Lunch Thirty members of the foreign press will be guests of 20th Century-Fox at a luncheon at the Pallas Athene to- day, including publishers, dramatic editors and advertising managers of all foreign language newspapers and magazines published in New York. George A. Generalis, 20th-Fox for- eign press contact, will represent the company. Fitzgerald Calls For Exposition For All Exhibition (Continued from page 1) cessible place and to be opened by the President of the United States. Through the outside press and trade publications, public attention would be focused on the industry. The plan would be aimed at giving an im- petus to the desire to increase show- manship in film exhibition. The exposition, Fitzgerald's propo- sal sets forth, would be non-political, basically intended for the general im- provement of exhibition nationally, and would make available from the pool of showmanship benefits that are now accessible only to the origina- tors ; there would be a showmanship award akin to the Academy award. Representatives of the trade publi- cations would act in collaboration with exhibition publicity representatives. Fitzgerald proposes that there be a 'Distribution Hall,' 'Production Hall,' 'Public Relations and Publicity Hall,' 'Studio Hall' and a 'Hall of the 48 States' which daily would be presided over by seven stars from seven states, anticipating that the exposition be held for one week. Exhibits would also be arranged for war activities, industry personnel, radio, short subjects, the vending field, television, equipment, radio, Techni- color and fashions. Fitzgerald urges exhibitor leaders to 'get together' for consideration of such a plan. CEA May Set Up New Unit for Managers London, Jan. 10. — A plan for a sep- arate, autonomous branch of the Cine- matograph Exhibitors Association, for managers only, has been adopted by CEA's general council. All managers would be invited to join, y The branch would enjoy rights equal to CEA's present district branches, subject, as they are, only to general council discipline. A committee has been instructed to prepare an amend- ment to the association's rules for pre- sentation at the annual meeting. The move is regarded as an effec- tive rejoinder to the managers' trade- union movement and is also expected to put an end to current wrangles of rival managerial associations. Cutting New MPSA Foreign Group Head Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Jack Cutting of the Walt Disney studio todav suc- ceeded William Gordon of RKO as chairman of the foreign committee of the Motion Picture Society for the Americas. Selznick Signs Sternberg Hollywood, Jan. 10. — David O. Selznick yesterday announced the signing of Josef von Sternberg for the production staff of Selznick-Interna- tional and Vanguard Pictures. Stern- berg will be available to Alfred Hitch- cock, King Vidar, Dore Schary, John Cromwell, William Dieterle and other producers and directors under Selz- nick contract. Motion Picture Herald "Vera Hruba Ralston is back on skates again in 'Lake Placid Serenade,' dancing with the skill and grace which made her an Olympic champion. Around her Republic has placed a cast of competent performers. It's a large and attractive cast . . . impressive production, fully satisfying." Boxoffice "Eye-filling ice spectacles and tuneful numbers by two top name orchestras are the attractions of this production, upon which Republic spent a lot of money . . . the pitch of the entire pro- duction is a timely one . . . standout 'names' upon which the exhibitor may capitalize." Harrison's Reports "Those who enjoy watching graceful figure skating and lavish production numbers with ice-skating ballets should find much in 'Lake Placid Serenade' to please them. Miss Ralston is an excellent skater, executing her routines with the utmost of ease and grace." Variety "Republic has a nifty vehicle in 'Lake Placid Serenade.' Film is a lavish display of spec- tacle, specialty and girls. Pjc, with its ice-skat- ing background, is a timely seasonal film, and will do good biz. Lovely to look at, beautifully built, and a graceful figure on skates, Miss Ralston makes an appealing heroine." Showmen's Trade Review "Vera Hruba Ralston's build-up by Republic has been carried along intelligent, showmanly lines. The star never looked better than as a figure skating champion and the production numbers, built around her exceptional ability to carve graceful and intricate patterns in ice, are beautifully staged.'* Motion Picture Daily " 'Lake Placid Serenade' achieves beauty and distinction that augurs well for the wintry box office." The Independent "GOOD ENTERTAINMENT. Miss Ralston is highly to be recommended. She is allowed ample opportunity to display the skating talent that made her the figure skating champion of her native Czechoslovakia." The Film Daily "Ice spectacle, skating wizardry of Ralston and musical content should prove the making of this picture. A musical cut skillfully to pattern. Fash- ioned along popular lines, the eye-catching production constitutes a show of ample pro- portions." The Exhibitor "Tuneful skating show is packed with selling angles. Republic has spent plenty of money on this ice show, and the results should justify the expenditure. Ralston is seen to advantage in the skating numbers, which are well -staged, and she gets good support." T ' S A R E P U VERA HRUBA RALSTON in Seienade featuring EUGENE PALLETTE VERA VAGUE ROBERT LIVINGSTON STEPHANIE BACHELOR with WALTER CATLETT • LLOYD CORRIGAN RUTH TERRY • WILLIAM FRAWLEY JOHN LITEL • LUDWIG STOSSEL ANDREW TOMBES RAY NOBLE AND ORCHESTRA HARRY OWENS and HIS ROYAL HAWAIIANS McGOWAN AND MACK • TWINKLE WAITS THE MERRY MEISTERS with GUEST STAR ROY ROGERS KING OF THE COWBOYS STEVE SEKEIY - DIRECTOR Original Story by Frederick Kohner Screen Play by Dick Irving Hyland and Doris Gilbert / J HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN All- Star Cast M— 123 mins. (409) (Rev. 12/S/44) TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT Humphrey Bogart Lauren Bacall D— 100 mins. (410) (Rev. 10/11/44) OS j-. 63 3 S O,. o-g^ J^Q S . !! u « x i I s s -?_•-« go — -J OS ow vOh g ■ 2 c3-E >%. y-s do ?^£°? . 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E S'e« £00 rt H 630?a2« xo5 |S H U rj < c >> \ £Q<03 oiN 00 .S^ "■2 S E- 2aii >■ »-< H _S v v <6,^ool?« at 2 fa'i- «I ^I3s"e2 63 "*7« 03 ^ 63 2^ 63 S2 * ►J I- n_ u 000^ 2 « ■* O Z63f S 63S o».Sn 63o,_,mE- " ^c-^03 '»3. «Sx~5 2 03 « oi^ Z& E.EN oH|S£ z j I u 00 [Jcwa Z Si 1"? 2z|3£> w o E SS 03 H ^^"£ Ut-t u o ^ 7563«S^E- sw3 s §«> >; 5-0>r/>£" — 03 12 CM 0) — ^ "00 = t- -^•JOO-E- n H u u t. &63oo 3 ff^pj Sv COLUMBIA TOGETHER AGAIN C— 100 mins. (6003) (Rev. 11/3/44) SADDLE LEATHER LAW O— SS mins. (6203) (Rev. 1/3/45) DANCING IN MANHATTAN Fred Brady Jeff DonneU C — 60 mins. (6038) (Rev. 12/21/44) TAHITI NIGHTS Dave O'Brien Jinx Falkenburg C— (6025) LET'S GO STEADY Pat Parrish Jackie Moran June Preisser C— 60 mins. (6039) YOUTH ON TRIAL Cora Sue Collins David Reed Eric Sinclair D EADIE WAS A LADY Joe Besser Hal Mclntyre and Orchestra C I LOVE A MYSTERY •Jim Bannon Barton Yarborough Nina Foch SAGEBRUSH HEROES Charles Starrett O SING ME A SONG OF TEXAS Rosemary Lane Hal Mclntyre Orch. M LEAVE IT TO BLONDIE Penny Singleton Arthur Lake C THE CRIME DOCTOR'S COURAGE Warner Baxter Hilary Brooke ■ D HO & " e in &4 p£ 0 & -1 Thursday, January 11, 1945 Motion Picture daily 11 'Pirate' Is $7,300 Over in Phila.; 'Canteen' Is Strong Philadelphia, Jan. 10. — Center- city houses are still doing over-aver- age business despite holdovers and sec- ond runs predominating. "Hollywood Canteen," at the Mastbaum, points to i$28,800 for the second week ; "Princess and the Pirate," at the Stanley, looks like $27,300 for a second week with an additional $3,500 for a dual Sunday showing at the Earle. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing Jan. 10-12: "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) ALDINE— (900) (40c-45c-50c-6Sc-7Sc-85c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $22,800. (Average: $14,600). "Mrs. Parkington" (M-G-M) ARCADIA — (600) (40c-45c-5Oc-65c-75c) 7 days, 2nd run, 2nd week. Gross: $8,400. (Average: $4,000). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para-) BOYD— (3,000) (40c-45c-5Oc-65c-75c-85c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $16,800. (Average: $18,000). "One Body Too Many" (Para.) 6 days. "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) 1 day EARLE— (3,000) (40c-50c-85c-95c) 6 days of vaudeville, including Jan Savitt and his band, Helen Warren, Tommy Dix, Anita Martell, and Roily Rolls. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $27,600). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) FOX — (3,000) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $25,300. (Average: $20,500). "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" (Para.) KARLTON — (1,000) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 85c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $6,700. (Aver- age: $6,600). "The Climax" (Univ.) KEITH'S — (2,200) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,300. (Average: $5,800). * "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) MASTBAUM— (4,700) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $28,800. (Average: $22,500). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) STANLEY — (3,000) (4Oc-4Sc-50c-65c-75c- 85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $27,300. (Average: $20,000). "Gypsy Wildcat" (Univ.) STANTON — (1,700) (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 85c) 7 days. Gross: $13,800. (Average: $9,400). Mrs, Frances Mosen Leaving Paramount Forty Paramount associates will honor Mrs. Boris Mosen (Frances Gashel), secretary to Arthur Israel, Jr., for the past 17 years, at a dinner here tonight. Mrs. Mosen is retiring to private life tomorrow. Hirschmann Video Head Ira A. Hirschmann has been ap- pointed to organize frequency modu- lation and television activities for Fed- erated Department Stores, Inc., ac- cording to an announcement by Wal- ter Rothschild, president of Abraham and Straus, Inc., and of Metropolitan Television, Inc. Moulton V ice-Chairman Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Thomas Moulton today succeeded Douglas Shearer as vice-chairman of the re- search council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. WANTED ANIMATION-CAMERAMAN High Pay — Excellent Opportunity CINEFFECTS 1600 Broadway Now York City Circle 6-4252 FP-C's Starter of 18 Now Totals 311 Toronto, Jan. 10. — Famous Players-Canadian Corp., larg- est Dominion theatre opera- tion, headed by J. J. Fitzgib- bons, is now observing its 25th anniversary. Founded by the late Nathan Louis Nathanson, who mi- grated from his native Minne- apolis to Toronto exhibition in 1916, the circuit has grown in its two and a-half decades from 18 to 311 theatres. Aim French - Soviet Films for Export Louis Jouvet, French actor and di- rector, is named in a story published in the N. Y. World-Telegram yester- day, as a principal in a French and Soviet movement to win world film markets from Hollywood films after the war. Described as an "expert" on the South American market, Jouvet is said to have the collaboration of Maurice Thorez, "Communist leader," who is said to have returned to France from Moscow recently. The story relates that reliance is being placed upon obtaining Marlene Dietrich, Jean Gabin, Maurice Cheva- lier and Raimu for films designed for the South American market. SAG Meeting Jan, 17 On SPU Conflict Hollywood, Jan. 10. — The Screen Actors Guild today urged its mem- bership to attend a special meeting Jan. 17, when SAG will outline its stand in the bit-players jurisdic- tional dispute with the Screen Players Union. A letter to the membership said: "The producers have reaffirmed our contract right to this jurisdiction, but it must be vigilantly protected by all necessary action." Meanwhile, counsel for the Asso- ciation of Motion Picture Producers met informally to prepare information on the conflict for presentation to the producers at a meeting in the near future. Heart Attack Fatal To Edward Fielding Hollywood, Jan. 10.— Edward Field- ing, 63, character actor, died, appar- ently of a heart attack, while mowing the lawn at his Beverly Hills home to- day. He was within two weeks of completing work in "Colonel Effing- ham's Raid." His recent films includ- ed "The Song of Bernadette," "Wil- son," "See Here, Private Hargrove" and "Lady in the Dark." Surviving are his widow and a daughter, Eliza- beth. HVC Personalities in 1,654 Appearances Hollywood, Jan. 10. — The Decem- ber report of the Hollywood Victory Committee reveals that 397 Hollywood personalities made 1,654 appearances in 222 events during the month, 1,417 of them before members of the Armed Forces. Akron 'Navy" Premiere World premiere of M-G-M's "This Man's Navy" will be held at Loew's Theatre, Akron, Feb. 8. NBC, Blue Networks Refuse to Bargain National Broadcasting and the Blue Network have refused to bargain with either the American Federation of Musicians or the National Associa- tion of Broadcast Engineers and Tech- nicians regarding the issue of record changers until their jurisdictional dis- pute has been settled. Both networks declared they were confronted with strike possibilities whichever way they decided, due to inter-union differences. NABET, which the National Labor Relations Board certified last month in a de- cision which James C. Petrillo, head of AFM, refused to recognize, is ex- pected to ask the NLRB to enforce its decision through Federal court ac- tion, if necessary. Nassour Files Patent Suit Against Plastic Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Edward Nas- sour filed suit in Superior Court here today against Plastic Cartoons, Inc., asking declaratory relief from alleged infringement of a patent process he invented in 1936. Nassour recently became associated with Walter Lantz to produce four-reel features combin- ing cartoons with live action. CBS Promotes Stanley Howard Stanley, for the past year- and-a-half director of press informa- tion and sales promotion for WTOP, CBS owned station in Washington, has been named assistant director of promotion service for all CBS-owned stations. 'Pirate's' $18,000 Good in St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 10. — "The Princess and the Pirate," at the Fox, heads the week's box office parade with an esti- mated $18,000. Despite cold weather and slippery streets, attendance at most first runs was encouraging. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 7 : "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE — (3,162) (40c -50c -60c -65c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $18,900). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Enter Arsene Lupin" (Univ.) AMBASSADOR — (3,154) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,700). "The Man in Half Moon Street" (Para.) "Ministry of Fear" (Para.) MISSOURI— (3,514) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average: $9,900). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) "Murder in the Blue Room" (Univ.) FOX— (5,038) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: S18.000. (Average: $18,700). "Kismet" (M-G-M) "Tahiti Nights" (CoL) LOEW'S ORPHEUM — (1,900) (40c-50c- 60c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $7,100). "The Very Thought of You" (WB) "Lake Placid Serenade" (Rep.) SHUBERT— (1,900) (40c-50c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average: S6.100). "The Merry Monahans" (Univ.) "San Diego, I Love You" (Univ.) ST. LOUIS — (4,000) (45c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $6,500). (Average: $5,200). Blue Promotes Wamboldt Melvin P. Wamboldt, a production supervisor at the Blue Network and former senior production directpr with NBC's Central division, has been named Eastern production manager for the Blue, effective Feb. 1, and succeeding Lindsay MacHarrie who will join Young and Rubicam. TTh© balcony crowd wants to hear every sweet whisper of love in that Hollywood masterpiece. Does the "last seat Romeo" get it, or does he hear o second rate copy of the perfect Hollywood originol? You con check your audience response to improved sound and projection service at your box office. We've proved that in thousands of Altec Service houses. Our engineers con help you. They're backed by a nationwide organization alert to every development in booth operation and equipment. Call or write today for the Altec service especially suited to you. 150 West 57tb Street New York 19. N. Y. ) "■tV,°nkS' , VeWeV *frst off "\%»*- ' J^,^^??^'*»■ Steeple^/? ^ *atto«al Pea,taeaSarl"e,na,'ka,,fya''- ,rai« ter, tie k Vj°Ckej' w»» be«erp,c,orc. " '°n8 <» ft,,, , H,Ue Maggie S»»!Oa»,i -"««e„„1Ise.,n;^"e''»»S "6aV" suPer»W'M,, • g aJso doing with *usrf,,ne,, **■ of coi^*?** * great you. eyer7011e, incj«dilrg '30 Seconds 0ver r. , "Sht novv, Uo Join March o/ Dimes'. —Jan. 25 to 31 MOTION PICTURE DAILY MARC THEATRE DRIVE JANUARY 25-31 'VOL. 57. NO. 9 NEW YORK. U. S. A., FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1945 TEN CENTS Independents Move to Meet Curbs of War 'Keeping in Business' Will Keynote Allied Meeting Washington, Jan. 11. — Plans to "keep the independent exhibitor in business despite wartime restric- tions" will keynote the Allied board of direc- tors meeting at the Deshler- Wallick Hotel, Columbus, Jan. 24-25, it was announced here today from the office of Abram F, Myers, chairman of the board and gen- eral counsel. Discussions will center around the position that "the peo- ple and the Government both need theatres." The (Continued on page 8) Abram F. Myers Allow Time to Dim Marquees Washington, Jan. 11. — Definite orders to be issued by the office of public utilities of the War Production Board will darken the marquees of the nation's theatres, with the exception of those served with hydro-electric cur- rent, it was disclosed here tonight. Motion Picture Daily yesterday an- nounced the consideration of this order. The order will give all per- sons affected time to comply, but will be issued immediately. A meeting was held with public (Continued on page 8) Disney's Shorts Win Herald's Best Poll See 25% Rise from School Shutdown Theatre film bookers here are starting to rearrange booking schedules to take ad- vantage of a shutdown of New York City's schools from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5, ordered by the Board of Education to conserve coal. Trade circles estimate that business increases some 25 per cent on school holidays. Mono.Foreign Sales Up 60% Monogram's foreign sales have in- creased 60 per cent in the last year. Norton V. Ritchey, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, told Motion Pic- ture Daily here yesterday. iRem ittances from England, where Pathe Pictures, Ltd., handles the company's dis- tribution, are up 40 per cent, cent, Ritchey said. In Europe Monogram will revive franchise agreements in some instances, Norton V. Ritchey and establish its own offices in others, (Continued on page 8) SCTOA Backs Law's Plan Los Angeles,. Jan. 11. — The . South- ern California Theatre ..Owners Asso- ciation will take up the sponsorship of the trade grievance conciliation plan of the late Albert J. Law, which has already been adopted by the SCTOA locally. The plan, which was submitted by Law to Wendell Berge of the Department of Justice in Wash- ington in late December, reportedly received favorable consideration, and Law was in the midst of negotiations with film executives in New York when he died there on Jan. 1. Directors of the SCTOA will meet within the next few days to name a successor to Law, who was executive secretary and general counsel, and are expected to recommend officially that (Continued on page 8) Rosenberg Is Named Chairman of P.I.C. Frank Rosenberg, Columbia adver- tising-publicity director, yesterday was elected chairman of the industry Public Information Committee, East- ern division, succeeding Hal Horne, 20th Century-Fox advertising-publicity director, whose term expired. Under the PIC's rotating chair- manship schedule, each chairman serves for six-months. PIC member- ship consists of the advertising-pub- licity heads of the national distribu- tors. Glendon Allvine of the MPPDA is executive secretary. Rathvon Names 55 Area Chairmen for Red Cross Walt Disney's cartoons for the fifth straight year were the favorite box office short subjects of 1944, in a nationwide exhibitor poll taken by Motion Picture Herald for Fame. Color, cartoons and comedy, in that order, featured the year's favorites. Half of the top money-making 10 (Continued on page 8) N. Peter Rathvon, national chair- man of the industry's 'Red Cross War Fund Week1 for 1945, announced here yesterday the appointment of 55 exhib- itors who will serve as area chairmen throughout the U. S. and possessions during the drive, which will begir March 15. The appointees and the areas they will supervise are : C. J. Latta, Al- bany; R. B. Wilbv and O. C. Lam. Atlanta ; S. Pinanski and Nathan Ya- mihs, Boston : Ed Fay. Rhode Island : Robert T. Murphy. Buffalo: H. F Kincey. Charlotte : John Balaban and Tack Kirsch, Chicago : Col. Arthur Frudenfeld and P. J. Wood, Cincin- nati ; Meyer Fine and P. J. Wood. (Continued on page 8) Truck Situation Becomes Tighter Washington, Jan. 11. — The already serious truck situa- tion facing film delivery ser- vices is further aggravated by a new War Production Board order further cutting the manufacture of civilian trucks to 120,278 for the first half of 1945 from the 133,410 allowed in the original sched- ule. WPB officials disclosed that the reduced rate will continue also for the second half of the year. 'IA' to Decide On Managers' Unionization Salesmen Also on Agenda Of Mid-Winter Meeting The IATSE executive commit- tee at its Mid-Winter meeting, at the Hotel Nicollet, Minneapolis, during the week starting Monday, is expected to decide the question of whether the TA* will issue charters to thea- tre manager and film salesmen groups to launch such TA' locals throughout the country in a widespread or- g a n i z a t ion drive. Several thea- t r e manager and salesmen groups sought charters at the last (Continued on page 8; Richard F. Walsh Burrows Here On Raw Stock Washington, Jan. 11. — Stanley B. Adams, director of the consumers dur- able goods division of the War Pro- duction Board, and Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the photographic section, left here for New York to- night for weekend talks with company officials on raw stock. They are expected to discuss the more detailed determination of the al- location cut which they have been working on for some weeks, as well as possible plans for distribution of the (Continued on page 8) Scollard, Schubart To Set SOEG Pact C. J. Scollard, Paramount exchange operational head, and A. A. Schubart. RKO Radio exchange supervisor, left New York yesterday for California to start negotiations with representa- tives of the Screen Office Employes Guild for a new contract to cover about 150 office workers in Los A- - (Continued on page 8) ARRYI F.ZAfiUCK GEORGE CUKOfl 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 12, 1945 Republic Airs Stock Cuts at Chicago Meet Chicago, Jan. 11. — William Saal, executive assistant to Herbert J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the Republic board, stated here today that the re- duced raw stock situation will be aired at the company's regional sales meet- ing, which was delayed until late this afternoon because of disrupted train schedules, but that nothing definite will be decided as to the future num- ber of prints until the War Produc- tion Board's proposed method of levy- ing the cut is definitely ascertained. The new cut will affect the company's plans to release one "A" picture a month. Start New National Checking Service Formation of a new company to operate a checking service for partici- pating distributors is scheduled to be completed in the near future. John J. O'Connor, vice-president of Uni- versal, has been named to head the company, temporarily, until a per- manent executive head is employed. Indications are the new national checking service will begin function- ing some time next Spring with five national distributors subscribing to its services. They are : Columbia, Paramount. RKO Radio, United Artists and Universal. Individual company checking services are oper- ated now by Loew's and Warners, while 20th Century-Fox presumably will continue to use Ross Federal Service. Franchise Suit Trial Now Set for Feb. 2 Examination of Samuel Rinzler be- fore trial in connection with a suit by the Leader Theatre Corp. against 20th Century-Fox and Randforce Amuse- ment Co. has been postponed to Jan. 19. A possible appeal from the ex- amination may be taken by Randforce attorneys, since the court, in grant- ing the examination, is alleged to have allowed a wide latitude of question- ing. In the meantime, suit has been set for a Feb. 2 trial in New York Supreme Court by Justice Louis Va- lente. Suit seeks to determine whether a franchise can be shifted at will by a film company from one theatre to an- other. MGM Exploiteers and Office Heads Here M-G-M's second group of field ex- ploiteers and its third group of of- fice managers will arrive Monday for a week at the home office to become familiar with operations, in line with plans of William F. Rodgers, vice- president and general sales manager. Exploiteers are : Emery Austin, At- lanta; Mark Jenkins of the M-G-M Showbuilder traveling unit; Todd Ferguson, Memphis. Office managers are : Helmer P. Mosley, New Or- leans; R. W. Royalty, Oklahoma City; G. A. Derrick, Salt Lake City; G. E. Weber, New Haven. Personal Mention WILLIAM F. RODGERS, M-G-M vice-president and gen- eral sales manager, will leave today for a two-week vacation in Florida. • L. R. Antos, George F. Cooper, R. Doherty, William Gunzelman, E. S. Hannahan, R. Hildreth, F. E. Hinnant, E. Pelson, M. Schmalz- bach, C. Wagner, A. C. Wilson and B. Wolff, 20th Century-Fox travel- ing auditors who came to New York for a conference, have returned to their branches. • Vera Hardwood and Joe Stone of Staler and Company will be married on Sunday. • S. E. Pierpoint, Paramount Brazil- ian manager, will arrive in New York from the Coast today, accompanied by Mrs. Pierpoint and their son, and will leave for Brazil in a fortnight. • Thomas J. Hargrave, president of Eastman Kodak, has been named chairman of the Monroe County, N. Y., Red Cross War Fund Drive. • Phil Williams, March of Time advertising-publicity director, will re- turn to New York today from Bos- ton, Worcester and Springfield. • Frank Morin, manager of War- ners' Regal Theatre, Hartford, and Mrs. Morin, will observe their 11th wedding anniversary today. Tony Sudekum, president of Crescent Amusement Co., has been re- elected to the board of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. • George Glass left Hollywood for New York yesterday on the Chief and will announce a new affiliation upon his arrival here. • Henry Needles, Warners' district manager in Hartford, will leave Sun- day for a two-week vacation in New York. • Ed Hinchy, head of Warners' play- date department, will return to the home office next week from Boston. • R. M. Savini, president of Astor Pictures, is in Atlanta on business en route to Dallas. T OSEPH BERNHARD, Warners' »J general manager, will leave New York today for the Coast. • Lester Cowan will not leave here for the Coast at the weekend as in- advertently reported in Motion Pic- ture Daily yesterday, but is sched- uled to arrive here from Hollywood on Monday. • Fritz H. Thomas, manager of Crescent Amusement theatres in Huntsville, Ala., has been elected chairman of the Huntsville and Madi- son County Chapter of the American Red Cross. • Moe Silver, Warner Theatres zone manager in Pittsburgh, and Harry Feinstein and Ben Steerman of his staff arrived in New York yesterday and will return over the weekend. • John Balaban, head of Balaban and Katz, Chicago, is co-chairman of the 23rd anniversary dinner of the Hebrew Theological College, to be held in Chicago Sunday. • Pfc Robert A. Lynn of the 504th Parachute Infantry, son of Robert Lynn of the Roxy Theatre here, has received the Silver Star for gallantry in action. • Max Milder, Warners' managing director for Great Britain, and Jacob Wilk, Eastern production manager, will arrive at the Burbank studio to- day. • Burgess Waltman, manager of Richards-Lightman Theatres, Colum- bus, Miss., has been elected president of the Chamber of Commerce there. • Lt. Robert Taylor, USNR, and his wife, Barbara Stanwyck, have ar- rived in New York. • Harold Rodner, Warner executive, is in Chicago and will return to New York Monday. • Robert Buckner, Warner produc- er, will arrive in New York tomorrow from the Coast. • Sol Lesser will leave Hollywood for New York on the Superchief Tuesday. WAC to Show 'Name* The War Activities Committee, in conjunction with the War Depart- ment, will screen "What's Your Name" this afternoon in Paramount's home office projection room. Mrs. Anna Rosenberg, regional director of the War Manpower Commission, will speak and Sam Dembow, consultant to the Secretary of War, will be among those attending. The film, to be released Jan. 18, will be dis- tributed by 20th Century-Fox. 68%c Columbia Dividend Columbia's board of directors have declared a quarterly dividend of 68^4 cents a share on the $2.75 convertible preferred stock, payable Feb. 15 to stockholders of record Feb. 1. Reception Held By Pictorial Films Pictorial Films, distributors of eight and 16 mm films, held a recep- tion here yesterday at the St. Moritz Hotel to mark its association with Pathe Industries, Inc. Among those present were J. Stin- son Young, Karl Herzog, Nick Tron- olone, Harry Blair, Leo McCarthy, George Fleitman, Saul Jaffee, Nat Saland, Richard Altachuler, Phil Brody, Harry Michalson, and trade press representatives. Schlaifer's Sister Dies Mrs. Mary Taxman, sister of L. J. Schlaifer, Central sales manager of 20th-Fox, died recently after a long illness in Kansas City, Mo. NEW YORK THEATRES STARTS TOMORROW He's Great with a Gun And He's Got to Kill! Erich Mary Beth Von Stroheim Hughes The Great Flamarion with Dan Duryea Stephen Barclay A Republic Picture REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. FIRST N. Y. SHOWING! RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 40TH STREET & 6TH AVENUE "NATIONAL*" VELVET' MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP - ELIZABETH TAYLO.R JACKIE JENKINS ■ REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'I LOVE A SOLDIER- SONNY TUFTS IN PERSON RUBINOFF and his VIOLIN ROMO IT BING CROSBY I ,n PefSen BETTY UIITTAM I Woody HERMAN BETTY. MUTTON and Hjs 0rcnestra SONNY TUFTS I all-star revue "Here Come the Waves" PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous** An RKO Picture 20TH CENTURY -FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronln's THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous Performances RIVOLI B'way & 49th St. MOSS HART'S ~mtmMrtM/ Change 'Burma' Showing Warners will tradeshow "Objective, Burma" on Jan. 29 instead of Jan. 22 as previously announced. 9T79^ PICTU R E DAI LY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Uuigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Kditor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Goldenbq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing uo., inc. Utner yuigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 18?fl Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Friday, January 12, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 Non -Theatrical Aid Is Set for 'Dimes' Chicago, Jan. 11. — Members of the • non-theatrical committee for the March of Dimes drive in Illinois will assist theatres during collection week through organized groups in each county. M. M. Rubens, co-chairman of the drive and Great States division manager, reports this to be the first time theatrical and non-theatrical di- visions will be cooperating 100 per cent. 'Dimes' Opening Monday > To Feature Stars A March of Dimes rally will be held Monday at Rockefeller Plaza here with NBC broadcasting from 12 :30 to 1 :00 P. M. Frank Fay will be master of ceremonies. Featured will be Jack Benn, Don Wilson, Mary Living- stone, Eddie Anderson, Phil Harris, Larry Stevens and Margaret O'Brien, Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis will speak, and music will be provided by the Mitchell Field Army Air Forces Band and the Coast Guard Glee Club. Koerner Hosts RKO's Folliard, Gittleson Hollywood, Jan. 11. — Charles W. Koerner, RKO vice-president in charge of production, will be host to Robert Folliard and Harry Gittleson, handling the 1945 Ned Depinet Drive, J. H. Maclntyre, RKO Western dis- trict manager and the Denver, Salt Lake, San Francisco and Los Angeles sales staffs, at a luncheon today. Following the luncheon the sales force, headed by Folliard, Gittleson, Maclntyre and branch managers T. H. Bailey, G. Davison, H. C. Cohen and N. P. Jacobs of the Denver, Salt Lake, Los Angeles and San Francisco branches, respectively, will meet. Rosenberg New M&P Rhode Island Chief Boston, Jan. 11. — Ben Rosenberg, for the past several years manager of the Metropolitan Theatre here, to- day was appointed district manager for M. and P. Theatres in Rhode Island, with headquarters in Provi- dence. Rosenberg succeeds William Spragg, who will move to California. Max Nayor, manager of the Wash- ington Street Olympia, becomes man- ager of the Metropolitan. Harry Gold- berg, manager of the Modern, goes to the Olympia ; and Henry Kalis re- turns to downtown Boston after a pe- riod as_ manager of the Franklin Park to take over the Modern. Contracts Refused as Evidence in Chicago Chicago, Jan. 11. — Federal Judge William Holly today denied the en- trance of film contracts issued by dis- tributors to plaintiff Thomas A. Mur- ray, former operator of the Thalia Theatre, as evidence in the $1,000,000 conspiracy case against the majors, Balaban and Katz and others. Har- old Norman-, plaintiff's attorney, claimed the contracts, although issued bv different distributors, provide for similar price control regulations, due to alleged pressure from local theater circuits. Edward R. Johnston, defense attor- ney representing Paramount, claimed the contracts have nothing to do with the conspiracy charges as set forth in the plaintiff's complaint. McCormick to Return From Coast Monday S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising-publicity of RKO Radio, will return Monday from three weeks at the Coast studio where he conferred with Charles W. Koerner, vice-pres- ident in charge of production, and Perry Lieber, studio publicity chief, on promotional campaigns for forth- coming productions. McCormick set the campaign for "Murder, My Sweet," which will in- clude a number of key city personal appearances by Dick Powell. Plans were also discussed for campaigns on "The Enchanted Cottage" and "The Spanish Main." He also conferred with Leo Spitz and William Goetz on campaigns for International's "It's a Pleasure !" ; with Samuel Goldwyn on "Wonder Man ;" and with Walt Disney on "The Three Caballeros," his newest Technicolor production. Blumenstock Leaves For Chicago, Atlanta Mort Blumenstock, in charge of Warners' Eastern advertising-publicity department, will leave today for Chi- cago to set promotional plans for "Objective, Burma." He will then fly to Georgia for talks with officials there on the world premiere of "God Is My Co-Pilot," which will open Feb. 21 in Macon. Meanwhile Lamar Swift, Macon manager for Lucas and Jenkins Thea- tres, has announced that opening night admission prices will be scaled at $10, with proceeds going to charity. The premiere will honor Col. Robert Lee Scott of Macon, author of the book on which "God Is My Co-Pilot" is based. Phil Buchheit of the Macon ATetvs and Telegraph is general chair- man for the affair. RMA Cancels Meets To Aid Travel Curb The Radio Manufacturers Associa- tion has cancelled its annual mid- Winter conference scheduled for Feb. 19-21, at the Hotel Roosevelt here, in cooperation with the Government's travel curtailment. A meeting of the RMA board will be held here Feb. 21, but all other committee and group meetings have been cancelled. Cancellation also is in prospect for the tentative RMA trade show au- thorized for June in Chicago. It is nrobable that the annual RMA war Production Conference and annual membership meeting also scheduled for Chicago in June will be held but on a much reduced scale. 215 Honor Medals In So. California Los Angeles, Jan. 11. — Two hundred fifteen 'Medals of Honor' finally will go to men and women identified with 619 theatres in the Southern California territory for their outstanding effort in the Sixth War Loan. Charles Skouras of Fox West .Coast Theatres already has presented 110 to his per- sonnel, and today 31 men and women identified with Warner, Paramount and RKO theatres were presented medals at a luncheon at Perino's here. Ted Gamble, national director of the Treasury's War Finance Division, interrupted a holiday to attend the ceremonies and make a speech again lauding the part played by the nation's showmen in all war loan drives. Hugh Bruen made the presentations through Lou Halper for Warner, Marko Wolff for Paramount and Rodney Pantages for RKO. Tom W. Baily, executive director of the Cali- fornia Theatre Council, which gave the luncheon, presided. Speakers included Mayor Fletcher Bowron, who lauded the community and national spirit of the local theatre industry ; Gus Metzger, local drive chairman ; Robert H. Poole, repre- senting independent theatres, and Howard Mills and Robert Moulton, representing the war finance commit- tee of the Treasury. Columbia's Biggest Campaign for 'Song9 The most extensive advertising campaign ever undertaken by Colum- bia on a single picture has been pre- pared for the company's Technicolor production, "A Song to Remember," which is scheduled to open at Radio City Music Hall at the end of the month. In addition to heavy national adver- tising, the New York campaign has been launched with the first use by Columbia of subway car cards. Full page ads will appear in the magazine sections of this Sunday's Times, News and Mirror; all local newspaper space obtainable has been contracted for ; radio spot announcements have been set and billboards and subway station posters will be used in greater volume than ever before by the company. Frank Rosenberg, Columbia advertis- ing-publicity director, mapped the campaign. KQW in Col. Promotion Radio station KQW, CBS outlet in San Francisco, has joined the "George Sand Memorial Talent Search," es- tablished by Columbia Pictures in con- junction with "A Song to Remember," bringing to 39 the number of CBS sta- tion in the promotion. Honor Frances Gashel Paramount executives Barney Bala- ban, Austin C. Keough, Arthur Israel, Jr., Edwin L. Weisl, Paul Raibourn, and others attended a reception here last night honoring Frances Gashel (Mrs. Boris Mosen), secretary to Israel, who is retiring today. After the reception, Balaban was host to 40 at a theatre party. Henie Show Here Jan. 17 Sonja Henie will start her annual New York ice show engagement at Madison Square Garden Jan. 17. $47,000 Over For 'St. Louis' And 'Singing' Los Angeles, Jan. 11. — "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Can't Help Sing- ing" divided the cream of the grosses in a post-holiday week of good weath- er. "St. Louis" took $99,400 at the Egyptian-Los Angeles-Ritz trio, where $52,500 is average. "Can't Help Singing" got $56,000 at the Hill- street-Pantages pair. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 10 : "Winged Victory" (20th-Fox) CHINESE — (2,500) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,800. (Average: $14,900). "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) EGYPTIAN— (1.000) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $26,400. (Average: $15,000). "I'll Be Seeing You" (UA-Selznick) FOUR STAR— (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 davs, 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $3,250). "I'll Be Seeing You" (UA-Selznick) FOX-WILSHIRE — (2,300) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $10,500). "The House of Frankenstein" (Univ.) "The Mummy's Curse" (Univ.) HAWAII— (1,000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00j 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $5,700). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) HILL-STREET— (2,700) (50c-60c-80c) 7 days. Gross: $28,000. (Average: $18,500). "Winged Victory" (2»th-Fox) LOEWS STATE — (2,500) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $26,000. (Average: $29,300). "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) LOS ANGELES— (2,096) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days. Gross: $47,000. (Average: $25,000). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) PANTAGES— (2,096) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $28,000. (Average: $15,300). "Ministry of Fear" (Para.) "The Man in Half-Moon Street" (Para.) PARAMOUNT HOLLYWOOD — (1,407) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $12,200. ■ (Average: $11,900). "Ministry of Fear" (Para.) "The Man in Half-Moon Street" (Para.) PARAMOUNT DOWNTOWN — (3.595) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $19,500). "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) RITZ— (1.376) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $26,000. (Average: $12,500). "I'll Be Seeing You" (UA-Selznick) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,100) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $22,900. (Average: $20,300). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) UPTOWN— (1,716) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,200. (Average: $10,500). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) WARNER HOLLYWOOD— (3,000) (50c- 60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $24,113. (Average: $16,700). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) WARNER DOWNTOWN— (3.400) (50c- 60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $25,- 054. (Average: $18,700). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) WARNER WILTERN— (2,200) (5Oc-60c- 80c-$1.00) 7 days. 3rd week. Gross: $22.- 501. (Average: $15,800). New FWC Threesome Set in Los Angeles Los Angeles, Jan. 11. — Fox West Coast Theatres will establish an ad- ditional first-run set-up in the Los Angeles area about Feb. 1 when the 1,000-seat Music Box, former stage theatre now undergoing remodeling, opens as a key house in a new three- some. Downtown and midtown houses to be linked with the Music Box have not yet been selected. The move will tend to thaw the product jam, a FWC official said. Renew Fellows' Contract Hollywood, Jan. 11. — RKO today renewed executive producer Robert Fellows' contract for the third year. HE RIVOU 8 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 12, 1945 SCTOA Backs Law's Conciliation Plan IATSE Meeting to Decide On Managers ' Unionization (Continued from page 1) his plan be continued. Law's aim was to have the plan adopted nationally, and the SCTOA will attempt to fol- low through on that intention. The plan provides a three-point for- mula for settling exhibitor-distributor disputes without resorting to, or sup- planting arbitration board procedure. It was hoped that if the companies viewed its possibilities to the same ex- tent as the Department of Justice, it might be incorporated in the consent decree, and aid in the simplification of the present arbitration system, without in any way disturbing that system. • Distributor executives had told Motion Picture Daily prior to Law's arrival in New York during Christmas Week, that they were in- terested in any formula for conciliat- ing trade grievances which would re- sult in better industry relations. Meet- ings had hardly started, when Law, stricken by a heart attack, died. Rathvon Names 55 Exhibitor Leaders (Continued from page 1) Cleveland; R. J. O'Donnell, Henry Reeve and Don Douglas, Dallas ; Rick Ricketson, Denver ; A. H. Blank, Des Moines; Earl Hudson and Ray Branch, Detroit; Marc Wolf, Indian- apolis ; Freeman Smith, Kentucky ; Elmer Rhoden, Kansas City; Charles Skouras and R. H. Poole, Los An- geles ; M. A. Lightman, Memphis ; Harold Fitzgerald, Milwaukee ; John Friedl, Minneapolis ; I. J. Hoffman, New Haven. Also: E. V. Richards, New Or- leans ; Fred J. Schwartz and Sam Rinzler, New York ; Harry Lowen- stein and Frank Damis, Northern New Jersey ; L. C. Griffith, Oklahoma City; William Miskell, Omaha; Earle W. Sweigert, Philadelphia ; M. A. Sil- ver and M. Finkel, Pittsburgh ; O. J. Miller, Portland ; Harry Arthur, St. Louis ; Sam L. Gillette, Salt Lake City; B. V. Sturdivant and Roy Cooper, San Francisco ; Frank New- man and J. M. Hone, Seattle ; John J. Payette and Carter Barron, Wash- ington; I. J, Rappaport, Maryland; W. J. Crockett, Virginia. Area chairmen outside the Con- tinental United States are : Homer Garvin, Alaska ; Robert O. Schoham, Puerto Rico ; V. Fredericksen, St. Croix, and Clarence Payne, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Scollard, Schubart To Set SOEG Pact (Continued from page 1) geles exchanges. They will be joined there by Tom Murray of Universal. Contracts between SOEG and the eight film companies expired last Oct. 19, and benefits negotiated under the new contract will be retroactive to then. The IATSE represents film exchange office workers in all other exchange cities except in New York where Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109. CIO, rep- resents these workers in the Colum- bia, 20th Century-Fox, United Art- ists, and Loew's exchanges. (Continued from page 1) IATSE convention in St. Louis in May, but the question was referred to the "IA" executive board, and the board has deferred action on the peti- tions until the mid-Winter meeting, it was disclosed here by Richard F. Walsh, IATSE international presi- dent, who will preside at the sessions. It is understood that the IATSE is definitely interested in taking juris- diction over film salesmen, but "IA" officials have thus far remained non- committal on the question of taking jurisdiction over theatre managers. IATSE locals in New York and Chi- cago have already embarked upon campaigns to organize theatre help in those two cities under old IATSE charters. The New York local is con- fining its drive to ushers, doormen, cashiers, and matrons, but Chicago projectionists' Local No. 110 is in- cluding managers and assistant man- agers in its drive. The Motion Picture Theatre Op- erating Managers and Assistant Man- agers Guild in New York, which has won jurisdiction over managers and assistant managers in 40 RKO thea- tres in the Metropolitan area, is an independent union and it is believed that the IATSE will make no new bids to organize theatre managers un- Allied Plans Meeting New Wartime Curbs (Continued from page 1) meeting will be preceded by a din- ner on the evening of January 23, tendered the national directors by di- rectors of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio. The first session will be devoted to Myers' annual re- port and a discussion of the latest consent-decree developments. There will also be reports of the Allied Caravan committee and various special committees named at the last meeting at Bretton Woods, N. H. Later ses- sions will be devoted mainly to the election of officers and to measures affecting the internal organizations and functions of Allied. Several amendments to the constitution and by-laws have been proposed. Martin G. Smith, president, will preside. Among other Allied leaders who will attend are : John Adler, William E. Ainsworth, Maxwell Aderman, Ray Branch, H. A. Coe, Irving Dol- linger, Roy E. Harrold, Jack Kirsch, Meyer Leventhal, H. H. Lowenstein, M. A. Rosenberg, Sidney E. Samuel- son, P. J. Wood and Nathan Yamins. Hugh W. Bruen and Robert H. Poole will be present as observers for the Pacific Coast Conference of Indepen- dent Theatre Owners. Iris Barry to Coast Iris Barry, curator of the Museum of Modern Art film library, will leave New York for Hollywood Monday to survey and report on the use and pro- duction of non-theatrical films in war- time, for the Rockefeller Foundation. Miss Barry will be accompanied by Mary Morrissey, executive assistant to Col. John Hav Whitney, president of the Museum. Miss Barry and Miss Morrissey, who will represent Col. Whitney while on the Coast, will re- turn in March. til this union wins its first contract with RKO. The ease is presently before the War Labor Board since the company and the Guild are unable to agree on a contract. RKO's man- agement insists that the managers and assistant managers have no right to or- ganize since they are supervisory em- ployees, but the New York State Labor Relations Board, nevertheless, ordered an election and has certified the Guild as the collective bargaining representative of RKO managers and assistants. 'IA' Will Seek More Stage Production Minneapolis, Jan. 11. — When the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes' board of directors meets here at the Nicollet Hotel start- ing Monday, it is expected that it will consider ways and means to encour- age additional stage production in order to provide more employment for member stagehands. Other routine business carried overfrom the organi- zation's annual convention of last year also will be acted upon by 'IA' presi- dent Richard Walsh and the board members. Twin City IATSE unions will be host to the board at a banquet at the Hotel Nicollet on Jan. 17. Sufficient Time to Darken Marquees (Continued from page 1) utilities officials here yesterday, pur- suant to instructions issued the night before by War Mobilization Director James Byrnes, to effect a saving in fuel also by reducing temperatures in public and commercial buildings and eliminating outdoor lighting. Marquee lighting is specially desig- nated on the prohibited list, as is out- door decortaive and ornamental light- ing, outdoor advertising, promotional and display lighting, show window lighting and "White Way" lighting in excess of the amount needed for safety. Theatres in the New York area and on the Atlantic Coast had been blacked out beginning in April, 1942, to eliminate any possible radi- ance which might have been of aid to enemy submarines, but with the less- ening of that menace, the restrictions had been lifted, and theatres were per- mitted to turn on their outdoor elec- trical advertising under brown-out regulations. It will be necessary to reduce over- all consumption of coal by 25,000,000 tons during 1945. The elimination of lighted theatre marquees and adver- tising signs will sa"" 2,000,000 tons annually, it is estimated. L. V. Burrows Here For Raw Stock Talks (Continued from page 1) cut between the companies. Both of- ficials have been engaged in a series of conferences with military and war agency officials since the last meeting of the industry advisory committee, which is to pass on the program for curtailing the consumption of compa- nies before it is put into effect. Monogram Foreign Sales Are Up 60% (Continued from page 1) he said. Ernest Wettstein, former sales representative in Paris for Con- tinental Europe, is representing the company's interests until further clari- fication of the situation there. "Lady, Let's Dance" has been dubbed in French, but further dubbing in this language has been halted pending de- cision by the French government on how rigidly it will enforce its old dub- bing laws. Monogram expects to add more of its own branches to the one recently established in Mexico, but "we are not entirely changing our policy of doing business through local people," Ritchey said. Only where necessary, he indicated, will the company set up its own branches. The foreign department will remove its present headquarters in the RKO Building to larger quarters in the Bond Building - before March 1, Ritchey said, where it will have its own projection room, and also space for expansion. Monogram's foreign department head plans to go to England and the Continent when travel conditions per- mit. Disney's Shorts Win Herald's Best Poll (Continued from page 1) shorts were color cartoons, two were comedy subjects and only one, topical. The same five series which were first in 1943, repeated in the same order in 1944. The first 10 in order follows : Walt Disney Cartoons, RKO, first; Bug Bunny Specials, Warners, second ; Pete Smith Specialties, M-G-M, third; March of Time, 20th-Fox, fourth ; Technicolor Cartoons, M-G-M, fifth ; Merrie Melodies, Warners, sixth ; Passing Parade, M-G-M, seventh ; Speaking of Animals, Par- amount, eighth ; Popeye, Paramount, ninth ; Technicolor Specials, Warners, tenth. The next 15 winners were: Blue Ribbon Merrie Melodies, Warners ; Fitzpatrick Traveltalks, M-G-M ; Name Band Musicals, Universal; All Star Comedies, Columbia; Popular Science, Paramount; Terrytoons, 20th- Fox; Musical Parade, Paramount; This Is America, RKO; Miniatures, M-G-M; Little Lulu, Paramount; Community Sing, Columbia ; Unus- ual Occupations, Paramount ; George Pal Puppetoons, Paramount; Melody Master Bands, Warners ; Leon Erroll, RKO. Frawley Leaves Post G. B. J. Frawley, Paramount ex- ecutive, has retired as president of the New York Athletic Club after two terms. Frawley refused another term due to the fact that the club, to which several film company execu- tives belong, has been restored to a strong financial status and because of pressure of his other duties. MP A to Install Jan. 19 Motion Picture Associates will in- stall 1945 officers at a luncheon at the Hotel Astor Jan. 19. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, InteiUgerU to the^k tion Picture Industry i VOL. 57. NO. 10 NEW YORK. U.S.A.. MONDAY. JANUARY 15. 1945 TEN CENTS See Video Not Disturbed by Government Paramount to Have 29 Features This \ear. Freeman Says FCC Is Expected to Keep Present Megacycles The Federal Communications Com- mission is expected to retain the pres- ent commercial television channels, be- low 100 megacycles, and allocate new channels for frequency-modulation, above 100 megacycles, dispossessing F-M from its present 40-59 mega- cycle channels, informed television quarters indicated here at the week- end. The FCC's preliminary report on new frequency allocations for televi- sion, radio and communication serv- ices is expected to be handed down any day and industry executives point (.Continued on page 11) Honor Film Men for 4-Million Tickets The motion picture division of the New York City Defense Recreation Committee was honored by the main committee Friday at a luncheon at the 21 Club in tribute to the dona- tion of more than 4.000,000 tickets to film theatres for servicemen and women. The film division is headed by Harry Brandt and includes Joseph Vogel and Charles Moskowitz, Loew's ; Zeb Epstein, Strand; Robert Weitman, Paramount : Gus Eysell. Radio City Music Hall : Irving Les- ser, Roxy ; Monty Salmon, Rivoli ; Stewart R. Martin, Newsreel Thea- tres. Others present were : Maj . Gen. T. A. Tern-, Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly, Mrs. Anna M. Rosenberg. Mrs. Julius Ochs Adler, co-chairman of the committee : John Golden and Capt. D. C. Patterson. Jack Benny to Form Own Producing Unit Jack Benny disclosed here that he is in New York to make arrangements to set up his own film production company and to participate in the March of Dimes campaign, at a press luncheon given in his honor bv Na- tional Broadcasting at the Sherry Netherlands Hotel Friday. It is understood that while the (Continued on page 12) Paramount's production schedule for the current season calls for 22 fea- tures, including productions from Hal Wallis, B. G. DeSylva and Cecil B. DeMille, Y. Frank Free- man, Para- mount v i ce - president and s t u di o head, told Motiox Picture Daily on Friday. In addition, the company will have six or seven fea- tures from the William Pine- William Thomas com- bination, for a total of 28 or 29 features this year. The number is equivalent to the com- pany's schedule for last year. Freeman said that Paramount's (Continued on page 3) Y. Frank Freeman Gillham Calls Para. Promotion Meeting Paramount district advertising rep- resentatives and advertising-publicity directors of key theatres and circuits throughout the country will meet with home office executives next Friday and Saturday at the Hotel Pierre, here, to (Continued on page 12) Darken Marquees Ahead of Deadline Washington, Jan. 14. — With- in 48 hours after James F. Byrnes. Director of War Mo- bilization, ordered the 'Tirown out' of outdoor lighting, re- ports reached Washington from all sections that ex- hibitors are turning off their daytime display illumination and cutting marquee lighting up to 50 per cent or more, although it is probable that the formal order will not go into effect until Feb. L j WB Lists 19 Million Product Backlog Warner Bros, had $19,260,982 in films completed but not released as of Aug. 31 last, and an additional S9.704,- 398 in product in production, the com- pany's annual statement, currently re- leased, discloses. Sixteen films completed, but unre- leased as of Aug. 31, included: "Ar- senic and Old Lace." ''The Dough- girls." "The Very Thought of You" and "To Have and Have Not," since released, and "Christmas in Connec- ticut," "Conflict," "Devotion," "My Reputation," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Saratoga Trunk." "The Animal Kingdom" and "The Horn Blows at Midnight." Among those in produc- tion were: "God Is My Co-Pilot" "Hollywood Canteen," "Objective Burma," "Of Human Bondage." "Roughly Speaking," and "The Corn Is Green." Exempt Booth Equipment From Cutback AGVA-ites in War Plants To Save Stage Shows Walsh to Open (IA' Board Meet Today .Minneapolis, Jan. 14. — Rich- ard F. Walsh, IATSE Interna- tional president, will open the Mid-Winter week's meeting of the 'LA' executive board at the Hotel Nicollet here to- morrow. The board is expected to decide whether the IATSE should issue charters to film salesmen and theatre mana- gers groups which applied for them at the IATSE conven- tion in St. Louis last May. Chicago, Jan. 14. — Matt Shelvey. executive secretary of the American Guild of Variety Artists, stated here at the weekend that the actors' union hopes to forestall any action that might be taken in Washington to curtail stage entertainment in thea- tres or night clubs by making definite proposals to James F. Byrnes. War Mobilization director, to put in an average of 20 hours a week in defense plants, and to make an even greater contribution of talent to the USO. AGYA plans to appoint a Wash- ington representative to watch daily developments. Shelvy admits entertainment might be pulled from combination-policy film theatres and night clubs. But Supplies for Front Of the House Dwindle Washington, Jan. 14. — New- sharp restrictions which are being imposed on civilian production by the War Production Board to re- lease material, machinery and labor for more war production may make procurement of "front of the house" theatre supplies more difficult than in the immediate past, but will not af- fect the output of booth equipment, it is believed by Allen G. Smith, chief of the WPB theatre equipment sec- tion here. While it is not believed that the pro- gram for the current quarter — 111 projectors, 201 sound systems, 433 lamp houses and 413 rectifier s — will be curtailed, Smith said at the weekend that, in common with other industrial divisions of WPB. his office will keep actual production, beginning with the (Continued on page 12) Grainger Names 2 District Managers Chicago, Jan. 14. — Promotion of Nat E. Steinberg and N. J. Colquhoun to Republic district sales manager- ships, was announced at the weekend by James R. Grainger, president, at the close of the company' s three-day Mid-West regional sales meeting. Both had been branch managers, in (Continued on page 12) Schaefer Sees WPB Chiefs on Stock George J. Schaefer, chairman of the War Activities Committee and in- dustry raw stock liaison with the War Production Board, met here Friday with Stanley B. Adams, director of the consumers durable goods division of the WPB. and Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the photographic section, for (Continued on page 11) Reviewed Today Review of "Grissly's Mil- lions" appears on page 6; "Crazy Knights." page 12. 2 Motion Picture daily Monday, January 15, 1945 Personal Mention S barret Mccormick, rko • Radio advertising-publicity direc- tor, left Hollywood for New York Friday on the Superchief. • Joseph Curtis (Cohn), son of Jack Cohn, vice-president of Colum- bia, is the father of a son, Thomas Franklin, born Friday in the Lenox Hill Hospital. Curtis is in the Marine Corps. • Charles E. Kessnick and Ru- dolph Berger, Loew district manag- ers in Atlanta and Washington, re- spectively, will arrive in New York Jan. 22. • Clyde Eckhardt, 20th-Fox branch manager in Los Angeles, is in Chi- cago to testify in the Thomas Mur- ray damage suit in Federal Court there. • Arthur Groom, manager of Loew's State, and W. S. Samuels, manager of the Malco Circuit's Strand, both of Memphis, have reported for induc- tion. • Nathan E. Goldstein, president of Western Massachusetts Theatres, returned! to Springfield from New York over the weekend. • H. A. Ross, president of Ross Fed- eral Service, is in New York follow- ing a three-week trip to Midwest and Southern offices. • Leopold Friedman, general counsel and secretary of Loew's, will return to New York today from a Florida vacation. • Eugene Atkinson, business man- ager of projectionists union, local 110, Chicago, is vacationing until Jan. 30. • Russell Birdwell, New York and Hollywood publicist, left New York for California over the weekend. • Robert Adler, advertising manag- er of the Chakeres Circuit, Spring- field, Ohio, is vacationing here. • John Brahm, United Artists di- rector, will arrive in New York to- da1" from the Coast. • Edward Schnitzer, United Artists home office executive, is visiting ex- changes in the South. • Richard L. Hapgood, former Bos- ton publicist and exploitation man, is now in China. • Tom Gerety, Loew editor of "Lion's Roar," is the father of a third child, a boy. Kelly Back from Coast Arthur Kelly, American repre- sentative of J. Arthur Rank's Eagle- Lion Films, has returned from the Coast, where he arranged for color prints of "Colonel Blimp," which United Artists will release. Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE DESPITE statements to the contrary emanating from Washington during the past 10 days, it is not entirely certain that raw stock allocations to newsreels will be maintained at 1944 level. WPB officials first suggested that newsreel lengths be reduced from the 1944 stand- ard of 750 feet to 650 and 500 feet during the current quarter. Already cut from their prewar footage of 900 to 1,000 feet, the reels have found it difficult on many occasions in the past year to do justice to the news footage available to them and, at the same time, accommodate special official messages and events within the 750-foot maximum. A further cut to 500 feet would make that next to impossible. WPB officials next proposed fewer newsreel prints. It was pointed out that, in order to ef- fect any appreciable saving of raw stock in this manner, news- reel contents would be "stale" before 50 per cent of the theatre accounts were serviced. How- ever, there still remains expect- ancy, if not insistence, that raw stock savings be accomplished all down the line — with the reels to be excluded only in event the re- duction of raw stock consump- tion specified for the industry can be realized in other direc- tions. There is no question but what the new reduction in raw stock confronts the industry with one of the most serious and far reaching problems which it has had to face since the start of the war. The effects of the new allocations will not be felt too severely during the current quarter, inasmuch as release printing of features set for dis- tribution in this quarter was be- gun by almost all companies last month. The pinch will begin to hurt in March and will become progressively more painful for as long thereafter as the reduced allocations are continued. The situation, naturally, has encouraged all those concerned with the problem to examine minutely, not to say critically, every maw into which Ameri- can-made stock is fed. Why should Mexico and Brazil, some ask, continue to receive so much of our raw stock to fatten their film industries at the expense of the home industry? Why should Britain continue to re- ceive so much ? And why Russia? others ask. The answers, in all cases, are not quite clear. In others, they make sense or, at least, indicate that the War Production Board, which has the unenviable task of taking raw stock away from the home industry, is both blameless for the need to do so and help- less to prevent its going outside the country. This would appear to be true in the case of raw stock supplies to Russia, which supplies are classified as proto- col, which means they have been approved as "must" by the State Department, the War Depart- ment or the Administration. The British Ministry of In- formation in New York con- tends that all raw stock obtained from this country is used for military or other strictly war purposes, and other British sources say that raw stock sup- plies from America have been made necessary in part by the release printing in England of the films of American distribu- tors. Little hope for an easing of the problem is pinned on proba- bilities of increased output of raw stock here, manpower and plant facilities being what they are. The prime avenue of relief would be a. lessening of military requirements for raw stock and only an end of the war against Germany is likely to bring that about. Meanwhile, the industry would appear to be confronted with a disruption of releases first and production later. The latest issue of Warners' "Movies and Morale," a discus- sion guide and film appreciation publication distributed to ap- proximately 12,000 educational and community groups as well as National Education Associa- tion units, made its appearance last week on behalf of the com- pany's "Hollywood Canteen." Featuring articles by prominent educators, the publication is the work of Warners' Educational Bureau, established last year as part of Mort Blumenstock's home office advertising and pub- licity department. So acceptable has the publication become to the educational field that Wil- liam G. Carr, secretary of the Educational Policies Committee of the NEA, said in a letter to Warners urging more frequent publication of the brochures, that they had been found so helpful it was to be hoped that all film companies would pub- lish similar discussion guides Manta, Ross Form New Booking Corp. Chicago, Jan. 14. — Alex Manta and Jack Ross, executives of Indiana- Illinois Theatres, have formed a sepa- rate booking-buying corporation to book for outside houses. Under the new arrangement, D. J. Chrissis, In- diana-Illinois vice-president, has been named president of that circuit, chang- ing titles with Manta. Ross will con- i tinue as secretary-treasurer, and Al Raymer will remain booker and as- sistant buyer. Ross, prior to his Indiana-Illinois partnership, had his own booking- buying circuit, and was film buyer for the James Coston booking circuit. Espy Joins DeSylva As General Manager Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Reeves Espy has resigned as general manager of the Myron Selznick Agency, a post which he has held since Selznick's death, and will join the B. G. DeSly- va production unit at Paramount as general manager tomorrow. Espy, a former St. Louis sports writer, had been with the Skouras St. Louis circuit for 12 years, with War- ners' Theatres and Fox West Coast Theatres, before joining Selznick. 2 Monogram Branches Get Profit Sharing Monogram's 20 per cent profit shar- ing plan for employes in exchanges wholly operated by the company has been approved by the Government for workers making under $5,000 in the Philadelphia and New York ex- changes. The Treasury's Wage Stabilization Board and the WLB previously grant- ed approval for the plan in the Wash- ington exchange. RKO Paid $546,136 For Blue Web Time RKO Radio Pictures paid the Blue Network $546,136 for air time for its "Hollywood Star Time" radio pro- gram, which ran for 40-odd weeks during 1944 on a five-day-a-week, 15- minute basis, the Blue Network dis- closes. Total gross network time sales for the Blue Network for 1944 was $41,356,129. on their important productions. This would appear to be an opportunity which the industry could ill afford to ignore. It is not only an entree to the educa- tional organizations whose co- operation will be most valuable should the industry undertake large-scale production and dis- tribution of educational films af- ter the war but also it is the field in which some of the most valuable work can be done in the way of winning new theatre pa- trons and new and influential friends for the motion picture. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 127t> Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 2.0, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Bumup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 187° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Monday, January 15, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Brunet in Some Run, Clearance Charge R. J. Brunet, operating the Imper- ial Theatre, New Orleans, has filed a combination some-run, clearance complaint in the New Orleans tri- bunal against 20th-Fox, the American Arbitration Association reported here at the weekend. Complainant charges that the de- fendant has refused to license pictures for his theatres except on terms and conditions calculated to defeat Section 6 of the consent decree. Further, complainant alleges, those pictures which are licensed to him have an un- reasonable clearance imposed: 15 days after the Bell Theatres, and 75 days after the Arcade and Rivoli, all New Orleans. Relief sought by complainant in- cludes licensing of product in accord- ance with Section 6 and reduction in clearance in favor of the Arcade and Rivoli over the Bell to a period not to exceed 15 days so that complainant may play fourth run granted by 20th- Fox not more than 30 days after the Arcade and Rivoli. The Arcade and Rivoli are operated by United Theatres, the Bell by Mor- timore and Shiell. NABET Complains to NLRB on Petrillo The regional office of the National Labor Relations Board at the week- end was studying a complaint from the National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians that two networks have refused to recognize the NABET as bargaining agent. Refusal of such recognition by Na- tional Broadcasting and the Blue Net- work was blamed by the labor group on 'strike threats' made by James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians. Petrillo, it is alleged, refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the NLRB when, on Nov. 24, it certified NABET as bar- gaining agency. Near Agreement on Newsreel Contract Agreement is expected to be reached here this week between the news- reel companies and representatives of IATSE newsreel cameramen's Local No. 644, in New York, and Local 666, Chicago, on a new contract which has been in negotiation for several months. Representatives have been meeting with Pat Casey, producers' labor con- tact, this week to iron out two stumbling blocks which are the IATSE's demand for severance pay and the newsreel companies' insist- ence upon making provision for 20 per cent of their camera staffs being apprentices. 45 WAC-OWI Films Made In 1944, Flinn Reports SO Consuls to Attend PRC 'Lights9 Preview Hollywood, Jan. 14. — More than 30 consuls of the United Nations will attend Tuesday's preview here of PRC's "When the Lights Go On Again." Governors Robert O. Blood, New Hampshire; J. Melville Broughton, North Carolina, and Henry F. Schriker, Indiana, have designated "When the Lights Go On Again" week to commence on V-E Day. Hollywood produced 45 films as its contribution to the War Activities Committee-Office of War Information film program for 1944, involving 12 studios, 24 producers, 13 directors, 30 writers and 57 players, the WAC re- ported at the weekend. The figures are revealed in the an- nual report of the Hollywood division of War Activities issued by John C. Flinn, co-ordinator, for Mary C. Mc- Call, Jr., chairman. The report will be officially presented to Francis S. Harmon, executive vice-chairman of WAC, at the annual luncheon meeting to be held today at Perino's restaurant, Hollywood. At this meeting, the Hollywood WAC committee for 1944 will turn over its duties to the 1945 group headed by John Cromwell, chairman ; Edward J. Mannix, vice-chairman, and Tom W. Baily, co-ordinator. The new general committee in- cludes : Bert Allenberg, Fred W. Beetson, Harry Brand, Trem Carr, Y. Frank Freeman, Emmet Lavery, George Murphy, Kenneth Thomson and Walter Wanger. Flinn remains on the executive board. Following the installation, talks will be made by Taylor M. Mills, chief of the domestic motion picture bureau of the OWI ; Ted R. Gamble, national director of the War Finance Division of the Treasury, and Harmon. Plans for 1945 will be discussed and a pro- gram of subjects outlined. In his report, Flinn paid tributes to "the invaluable and ever-enthusiastic assistance of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Artists' Managers Guild, Association of Mo- tion Picture Producers, California Theatre Council, Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, Holly- wood Victory Committee, Hollywood Writers Mobilization, Public Informa- tion Committee, Screen Actors Guild, Screen Directors Guild, Screen Writ- ers Guild and the Society of Independ- ent Motion Picture Producers, and to Stanton Griffis, former chief of the OWI Bureau of Motion Pictures ; his successor, Taylor M. Mills ; George J. Schaefer, chairman, Herman Gluck- man, treasurer and Harmon, executive vice-chairman of the WAC. The films produced as a voluntary war effort and requested by various Governmental agencies varied from 50 to 2,000 feet and were made for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Treasury Department, Red Cross, National War Fund, Women's Army Corps and others, the report said. Colum- bia, Lester Cowan, Walt Disney, M-G-M, Paramount, RKO-Radio, Republic, David O. Selznick, 20th Century - Fox, Universal, Walter Wanger and Warner Bros, produced them. The subjects were released through the distributors' division of WAC to the 16,000 members of the theatre di- vision. Rules Out Evidence on Real Estate Losses Chicago, Jan. 14.: — The defense scored in the Thomas Murray $1,000,- 000 damage suit in Federal Court here Friday when Judge William Holly ruled out as evidence exhibits purport- ing to show the loss of the plaintiff's theater building due to his inability to secure a choice of product. The judge stated that the plaintiff is entitled to recover loss sustained in his Thalia theatre due to alleged conspiracy on the part of the distrib- utors and circuits. See George Glass Slated for UA Post It was widely reported in the trade at the weekend that George Glass, who will arrive in New York today from California, is slated to be ap- pointed to the United Artists adver- tising-publicity department. Efforts to reach Carl Leserman, UA general sales manager for com- ment were unsuccessful. Glass, a former publicity man for Samuel Goldwyn, has represented Andrew Stone and other United Artists pro- ducers on the West Coast. Pollack Receives Gift Associates of Lou Pollack presented him with a gold pen and pencil set on his leaving the United Artists adver- tising-publicity directorship on Friday. Monogram Sets Deals The Varbalow circuit, operating 22 theatres in New Jersey, and Alpine Theatres, comprising five houses in West Virginia, have bought Mono- gram's 1944-45 program. Paramount to Have 29, Freeman Says (.Continued from page 1) backlog of completed pictures has been reduced and may be further reduced during 1945, indicating that releases for the current season may exceed in numbers the new production schedule. Data on the present and prospective backlog are being prepared by Free- man and may be made public today. Freeman views the impending in- dustry raw stock cut as potentially the most serious wartime problem to con- front the industry to date. While as- serting that its full effects could not be anticipated at this juncture, and that the problems it entailed would have to be met as they arose, Free- man said it was entirely possible that the proposed raw stock reduction could dislocate production schedules. Freeman will remain in New York until the end of this week. Mary Piekford Starts 2nd Annual Tour1 For March of Dimes Universal Officials in Coast Product Talks Hollywood, Jan. 14. — William A. Scully, Universal vice-president and general sales manager, and Joseph H. Seidelman, president of Universal International, will arrive here from New York tomorrow to confer with president Nate Blumberg and with Cliff Work, vice-president and gen- eral manager in charge of production, on the company's preliminary program for next season. John Joseph, direc- tor of advertising, publicity and ex- ploitation, and Maurice A. Bergman, Eastern advertising-publicity manager, will take part in the discussions. Seidelman will be on the Coast three weeks and will then visit Mexico. Mary Piekford arrived in New York Saturday from the Coast to make her second annual tour in be- half of the March of Dimes drive, which opens officially today and runs through Jan. 31. The industry's drive in theatres will start Jan. 25. Miss Piekford, chairman of the na- tional women's division of the Nation- al Infantile Paralysis Foundation, will be in Hartford, tomorrow to ad- dress workers and to open the "Mile of Dimes" in the city. From there she will go to New Haven and Bridgeport, returning to New York on Wednesday for a luncheon-meeting of the Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations at the Hotel Astor. Other stops scheduled include Wash- ington, Thursday ; Richmond, Fri- dav; Cincinnati, Saturday; Minnea- polis and St. Paul, Jan. 22; Des Moines, Jan. 23; Toledo, Jan. 25; Syracuse, Jan. 26, and Philadelphia, Jan. 27. Miss Piekford will broad- cast from the White House with Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Margaret O'Brien and Helen Gahagan Douglas on Jan. 18. 'Dimes' Publicity Meet Here Tomorrow An industry publicity committee meeting of The March of Dimes will be held at War Activities headquar- ters tomorrow, with Harry Mandel, New York Metropolitan area public relations chairman, and Edward C. Dowden, New York City publicity chairman, officiating. Plans for the campaign will be discussed. To Entertain for 'Dimes' Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Margaret O'Brien, Ed Wynn, Joan Edwards, Jose Iturbi and others will participate in a benefit performance for March of Dimes campaign at Carnegie Hall here, Saturday evening, Jan. 20. French Production Halted at Weekend Paris, Jan. 14. — Jean Painleve, film division director of the French Minis- try of Information, announced late last week that production would be forced to shut down completely at the week- end because American camouflage units suddenly had requisitioned the few remaining stocks of plywood, glue and plaster necessary for sets. At the same time theatre operators revealed that the government had im- posed a new 18 per cent tax on gross receipts. Following a meeting, the operators issued a joint announcement, declaring all theatres in Paris would close beginning Saturday unless " the tax were lowered or they were per- mitted to boost ticket prices, which at present are frozen. Seiden Reopens Studios Joseph Seiden has reopened his Cinema Studios in Palisade, N. J., for theatrical work, after temporary sus- pension, during which he engaged in the manufacture of recording equip- ment for the Air Force. The studio is currently being rented by the March of Time. 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 15, 1945 $171,000 for 'Princess' in 7 Weeks in Chi. Chicago, Jan. 14. — Snow and cold hit all but the strong holdovers in the Loop this week. The leader continues to be "The Princess and the Pirate," which has grossed almost $150,000 in its first six weeks and attracted an- other $21,000 in the seventh. "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and "Can't Help Singing" are holding up well, too. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 11 : "The Very Thought of You" (WB) AFOLLO — (1,200) (55c-85c-9Sc) 3rd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $ll,400)r "And Now Tomorrow" (Para.) CHICAGO— (3,850) (5Sc-85c-95c) 3rd week. On stage: Dinning Sisters and revue. Gross: $40,000. (Average: $51,500). "Barbary Coast Gent" (M-G-M) DOWNTOWN — (1,800) (44c-55c-85c-95c) 2nd Loop run. On stage: Lil Green and Eddie Heywood and orchestra. Gross: $12,000. "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th-Fox) GARRICK— (1,000) (55c-65c-85c-95c) 3rd Loop week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $9,- 100). "House of Frankenstein." (Univ.) "The Mummy's Curse" (Univ.) GRAND— (1,250) (50c-65c-85c-95c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $9,100). "Dark Waters" (UA) ORIENTAL — (3,200) (44c-55c-85c-95c). On stage: Ina Ray Hutton and band. Gross: $22,500. (Average: $24,000). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Enter Arsene Lupin" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,500) (55c-65c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $27,000. (Average: $24,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) ROOSEVELT— (1,500) (55c-65c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $24,000. Average: $20,000). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) STATE LAKE — (2,700) (55c-65c-95c) 3rd week. Gross: $23,000. (Average: $29,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (50c-65c-95c) 3rd week. Gross: $29,000. (Average: $25,- 000). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) WOODS— (1,200) (55c-65c-95c) 7th week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $10,000). Sixth week's gross of "The Princess and the Pirate" reported here last week was under- estimated; the final total for that week is $28,700). Providence Strong, 'Canteen9 Is Tops Providence, Jan. 14. — Business con- tinues strong, despite a seven-inch snowstorm. "Hollywood Canteen" was tops, comparatively, with $15,000 for its second week at the Majestic. Estimated receipts for the week end- ed Jan. 11 : "Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) "Falcon in Hollywood" (RKO) RKO - ALBEE — (2,239) (35c-44c-60c) g days, 3rd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $12,800). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) STRAND — (2,200) (44c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,500). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) LOEWS STATE— (3,232) (35c-44c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,500. (Average: $17,700). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) MAJESTIC— (2,250) (35c-44c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $12,- 100). "Bowery to Broadway" (Univ.) "The Town Went Wild" (PRC) CARLTON— (1,526) (35c-44c-60c) 7 days, 3rd week, on a moveover from the Majestic. Gross: $3,700. (Average: $4,000). "Laura" (20th-Fox) FAY'S-^d.SOO) (35c-44c-60c) 7 days; pre- viously did five weeks downtown. On stage: June Lorraine. Gonzales Sisters, Eddie Shine, Land and Lee, Bobby Henshaw, Ora May Diamond. Gross: $7,400. (Average: $6,500). "Adventures of Kitty O'Day" (Mono.) METROPOLITAN— (3,050) (44c-60c-75c) 3 days. On stage: Patsy Kelly, Barry Wood, Mai Hallett's orchestra. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $6,900). Review 'Grissly's Millions?' {Republic) A MYSTERY film that emerges as satisfactory entertainment by virtue of an interesting situation and its air of suspense has been produced in "Grissly's Millions." John English's deft direction of Muriel Roy Bolton's screenplay also has the advantage of competent performances by Paul Kelly and Virginia Grey and a host of character players, including Don Douglas, Elisabeth Risdon, Robert H. Barrat, Clem Bevans, Eily Malyon and Francis Pierlot, among others. The story concerns patriarch Robert Barrat, waiting to die, and his relatives waiting to come into possession of his vast fortune. Miss Grey, his grand- daughter, is watching over him in his last days when Paul Fix, her estranged husband, returns to blackmail her, but is killed by the old man, who also succumbs. Coming upon this tragic scene, and fearing she will be implicated, she conceals her husband's body in the same coffin with her grandfather's remains, at the suggestion of Don Douglas, a lawyer. Paul Kelly, an investi- gator, appears, in pursuit of her dead husband. When it is revealed that the old man has been poisoned, suspicion fastens upon Miss Grey, who has mean- while received the entire inheritance. She confesses her action to Kelly, when she realizes her grandfather's body will be exhumed and the body of her hus band also discovered. Kelly rescues her after an attempt upon her life, and they bait a trap for the real murderer who is revealed as Miss Risdon, an aunt. Walter H. Goetz was associate producer. Running time, 71 minutes. "G."* Release date, Jan. 16. Charles Ryweck *"G" denotes general classification. 'Parkington' and 'Creek' Run Over Toronto, Jan. 14. — "Frenchman's Creek" maintained popularity at Shea's with $12,800 in sight for the second week in the face of cold and stormy weather. "Together Again" promised $13,800 at the Imperial, while the sec- ond week of "Mrs. Parkington" looks like $12,200 at Loew's. "Can't Help Singing," in its second week at the Uptown, indicated $9,800. Estimated receipts for the week end- ed Jan. 12: "Two Girls and a Sailor" (M-G-M) EGLINTON — (1,086) (18c-30c-48c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $4,000). 'Together Again" (Col.) IMPERIAL — (3,373) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $13,800. (Average: $12,800). 'Mrs. Parkington" (M-G-M) LOEW'S — (2,074) (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,200. (Average: $11,200). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) SHEA'S — (2,480) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,800. (Average: $12,800). "One Mysterious Night" (Col.) "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th-Fox) (Trans- ferred.) TIVOLI — (1,434) (12c-30c-48c) 6 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average: $4,400). 'Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) UPTOWN— (2,761) (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,800. (Average: ,800). 'One Body' Beats Norm By $4,800 Indianapolis, Jan. 14. — The $16,- 000 for "One Body Too Many" and a stage show at the Circle will lead gross receipts here this week. "Frenchman's Creek" at the Indiana expects $14,000. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 9-13 : "One Body Too Many" (Para.) CIRCLE— (2,800) (55c-70c) 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $11,800). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) INDIANA— (3,200) (32c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $11,600). "Strangers in the Night" (Rep.) KEITH'S— (1,500) (60c) 4 days. Gross: .$4,500. (Average: $5,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) LOEW'S — (2,800) (35c-55c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $11,500). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) LYRIC— (2,000) (32c-55c) 7 days, on a moveover from the Indiana. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $4,900). Average Is $21,700, Tokyo'Gets$31,000 Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. — "Thirty Sec onds Over Tokyo" held the lead for the second week at the Penn with an estimated gross of $31,000. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 8-12: "Lake Placid Serenade" (Rep.) FULTON— (1,700) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $8,- 500). "Winged Victory" (20th-Fox) J. P. HARRIS— (2,200) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) PENN— (3,400) (40c-55c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $31,000. (Average: $21,700). "And Now Tomorrow" (Para.) RITZ— (1,100) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $3,000). "Reckless Age" (Univ.) "Sergeant Mike" (Col.) SENATOR— (1,750) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average: $3,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) STANLEY— (3,800) (40c-55c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $26,000. (Average: $22,- 000). "Master Race" (RKO) WARNER— (2,000) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $9,450). 'Guest* Is Best in Quiet Milwaukee Milwaukee, Jan. 14. — With hold- overs at four houses it looked like average business for most theatres. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 1 1 : "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) "Dancing in Manhattan" (CoL) WISCONSIN— (3,200) (50c-80c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $14,- 000). "Frenchman's Creek" (Parau) "Tahiti Nights" (Col.) PALACE— (2,400) (50c-80c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $11,500). "Something for the Boys" (20th-Fox) "Lost in a Harem" (M-G-M) STRAND— (1,400) (50c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $4,500). "House of Frankenstein" (Univ.) "The Mummy's Curse" (Univ.) ALHAMBRA— (1,900) (50c-80c) 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000). "Guest in the House" (UA) RIVERSIDE— (2,700) (50c-80c) 7 days. Ray Eberle and other acts on stage. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) WARNER— (2.400) (50c-80c) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $14,000). 'Guest' Opens on a $20,000 Upturn San Francisco, Jan. 14. — Only one new bill hit the screens here this week. The first seven days of "Guest in the House," at the United Artists, grossed $20,000. Business, with hold- overs and second runs, was strong. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 10-12 : "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Murder in the Blue Room" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $15,- 000). . . "Guest in the House" (UA) "Hi! Beautiful" (Univ.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $14,- 500). "Belle of the Yukon" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $25,500. (Average: $27,000). "Murder in the Big House" (WB) WARFIELD— (2,680) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $28,500. (Aver- age: $25,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) PARAMOUNT — (2,700) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $22,500. (Average: $20,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) FOX— (5,000) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $28,000. (Average: $28,000). " 'Till We Meet Again" (Para.) STATE— (2,308) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $13,000). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) "Adventures of Kitty O'Day" (Mono.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (45c-65c-85c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,500. (Average: $12,000). Long' s Blues and 'Blues9 Get $20,100 Omaha, Jan. 14. — It looked as if everyone here decided to go to a theatre at once this week. The Or- pheum, beginning a new stage show season, collected $20,100 for Johnny Long's band on stage and "Carolina Blues" on the screen. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan." 11-12: "Experiment Perilous" (RKO) "Minstrel Mam" (PRC) BRANDEIS— (1,200) (44c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $8,400. (Average: $6,500). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) OMAHA— (2,000) (44c-60c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Paramount. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,400). Carolina Blues" (Col.) ORPHEUM— (3,000) (44c-60c-70c) 7 days. Johnny Long's band on the stage. Gross: $20,100. (Average: $14,900). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,900) (44c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $11,700). 'Tokyo9 Beats Drum For $5,500 Take Kansas City, Jan. 14. — "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" at the Midland continued to draw excellent crowds in its second week, taking $19,500. Weather was disagreeable all week. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 9-12": "Winged' Victory" (ZOth-Fox) ESQUIRE— (800) (45c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $9,400). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (3,000) (40c-60c) 2nd week. Gross: $19,500. (Average: $14,000). "And Now Tomorrow" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,900) (46c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $13,500. (Average: $10,000). "Experiment Perilous" (RKO) "Girl Rush" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (1,900) (4Sc-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $10,000). "Lights of Old Santa Fe" (Rep.) "Firebrands of Arizona" Rep.) TOWER— (2,000) (39c-60c) 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $9,400). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000) (45c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $5,600). FAIRWAY— (700) (45c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $2,000. (Average: $1,600). '"The SUSPECT' looks like SMASH BOX OFFICE!" —Variety f y. The mpicr is a motion picture about a matter that every hus- band and every wife are keenly interested in but never talk about. See it You'll understand . . PRINTED IN U. S. A. A FLAWLESS CINEMA ... A SUPERB THRILLER ... ONE OF THE FINES!! CHERCHEZ LA FEMME! GUARANTEED TO HAVE EVERY AUDIENCE HOLDING ITS BREATH . . GRIPPING SCREEN STORY . ... A NEW I CHARACTERIZATIONS OF LAUGHTON'S CAREER. . . (Motion Picture Daily) ELLA RAINES' BEST PERFORMANCE TO DATE . . . (Hollywood Reporter) IAUGHT0N AN IMPECCABLE PERFORMANCE . . . (Variety) A PICTURE OF UNUSUAL QUALITY . . . (Motion Picture Herald) STRONGLY DRAMATIC . . . LAUGHTON'S BEST PORTRAYAL . . . (Daily Variety) - Universal believes "The Suspect" is a fine motion picture in the tradition of exciting melodrama. We also believe there is a very large audience at the moment for this type of motion picture. You owe it to yourselves to have the nearest Universal exchange screen "The Suspect" for you. When you see it you will realize its box-office possibilities, and you should also be eager after seeing it to give it the support that it deserves. Robert Siodmak, who directed "Christmas Holiday," again turns in a very fine job. Ella Raines, whose popularity is mounting with each picture, is exceptionally good, and Charles Laughton, of course, gives his usual masterful performance. GUgaUi &lla LAUGHTON • RAINES with DEAN HARENS STANLEY C. RIDGES • HENRY DANIELL • ROSALIND IVAN Screen Play by Bertram Millhauser ■ Adaptation by Arthur T. Horman from a novel by James Ronald Directed by ROBERT SIODMAK • Produced by ISLIN AUSTER • A UNIVERSAL PICTURE Monday, January 15, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 CBS Affiliates Hear Video, FM Reports 'Woman Survives m Cleveland's Snow Television Is Expected to Keep Present Channels Cleveland, Jan. 14. — Heavy snow and icy streets hit theatre attendance hard, but "Woman in the Window" survived, with a very big week-end, looking to a $24,500 week. "Holly- wood Canteen" made an excellent sec- ond week's showing at the Allen with an estimated $11,500. Estimated receipts for the week end- ed Jan. 11 : "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) ALLEN— (3,000) (4Sc-S5c-65c; 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $8,500). "The Woman in the Window" (RKO) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,500) (45c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $24,500. (Av- erage: $22,100). "The Very Thought of You" (Warner) WARNERS' LAKE — (714) (45c-55c-65c) 7 days. 3rd week. Gross $2,700. (Average: $3,200). "Kismet" (M-G-M) LOEWS OHIO— (1,268) (45c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) RKO PALACE— (3,300) (50c-60c-85c-90c) 7 days, 2nd week. New stage show: Mills Bros.. Jean Parker, Cliff Nazarro. Gross: $24,000. (Average: $25,400). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M.) LOEWS STATE— (3,300) (45c-65c) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $18,000. (Average: S19,- 000). "Maisie Goes to Reno" (M-G-M) LOEWS STILLMAN— (1,900) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $10,000). Mrs. Rosenberg Talks At 'Name* Screening Mrs. Anna Rosenberg, Regional Di- rector of the War Manpower Com- mission, speaking at a special screen- ing at Paramount's home office, of "What's Your Name?" made at the request of the War Department to stimulate war labor recruiting said at the weekend that recent military events have changed war labor and production requirements. "I- know of no way of bringing home the war. need any better than visually, through the screen," she said. This film was produced by Army Pictorial Service, and will be dis- tributed nationally by 20th Century- Fox beginning Jan. 18, for the War Activities Committee. Clark Brown of Para. Law Department Dies Clark T. Brown, tax expert and member of the Paramount legal de- partment, was found dead last Friday at the Coast Guard base at Staten Island. Brown, who was 42, had been with Paramount since 1935, and during the past year had served vol- untarily at least one day weekly with the Coast Guard. He is survived by his widow, a son and daughter. May Restore Tax Nashville, Jan. 14. — A bill to per- mit" Hamilton County, which includes the city of Chattanooga, to restore the privilege tax on theatres, has been proposed in the state legislature. The legislation would cost theatres at least $12,000 annually. It was proposed by County Judge Wiley O. Couch. Griggs Publicity Head London, Jan. 14. — Jack Graggs has been named publicity director of Pathe Pictures, Ltd., Monogram representa- tive for the British Isles. He suc- ceeds E. Lindsay Shankland. (Continued from page 1) out that the trend at the recent FCC hearings on new allocations indicated an FCC intention of permitting tele- vision to go ahead on the basis of the present 525-line images and re- tain its present frequencies with cer- tain modifications. Should these indications crystallize it will mark a victory for manufac- turers of television sets, who have re- peatedly contended that their manu- facture will prove a tremendous aid to employment in postwar reconver- sion plans, it is pointed out. Moving television to higher frequencies, as ad- vocated by Columbia Broadcasting, and others, would necessitate a period of experimentation with the new fre- quencies. Plans for the film industry's par- ticipation in television have also been predicated to a large extent upon the FCC retaining television in its present frequencies. RKO Television Corp., which is now producing television programs for a" few clients, experi- mentally, is expected to launch a widespread campaign for clients with the fixing of television frequencies and the elimination of uncertainties that have hung over the industry for the past six months. Paramount, which has the greatest financial stake to date in the future of television of Ferguson Is Host to Exploiteers, Press William Ralston Ferguson, M-G-M exploitation director, was host at a weekend luncheon at the Hotel As- tor, here, to three visiting field ex- ploiteers and members of the trade press. Present were exploiteers Nor- man Linz, Indianapolis ; Charles C. Deardourf, oldest M-G-M exploiteer in point of service, from Cleveland, and J. E. Watson, Cincinnati. Others present were : William Ornstein, M-G-M trade press contact ; Al Steen, James Cunningham, Chet Friedman, R. W. Baremore, Tom Kennedy, James Jerauld and Mel Konecoff. The exploiteers are the first of 34 who will visit the home office, in threes, each for a week, to observe functionings and to hear Ferguson de- tail promotional plans. Ban 'Women in Bondage* Monogram's "Women in Bondage," an anti-Hitler film, has been banned by the Argentine government after prolonged negotiations by the com- pany to secure approval for the film. Monogram is understood to have been willing to submit to considerable cut- ting, but Argentine censors remained adamant. Austrian to Speak to CIA Ralph B. Austrian, vice-president of RKO Television Corp., will address the Cincinnati Industrial Advertisers Club on Tuesday on the subject of "Television — It's Effect on Advertis- ing and Public Relations." Myers En Route to Coast New Orleans, Jan. 14. — Bob Myers, discharged from the Marine Corps, is enroute to the Coast to rejoin the Los Angeles office of the Associated Press as a Hollywood studio reporter. any of the film companies, through DuMont, will probably accelerate its plans to provide radio relay links to make inter-city theatre television pos- sible. Warners and Loew's have applied to the FCC for permission to build experimental television stations and might now consider some commit- ments with one of the manufacturers for equipment ; 20th Century-Fox has an indirect interest in Scophony through General Precision Equipment and might be expected to indicate further plans when the allocations are no longer a matter of speculation. The FCC's new frequency alloca- tions are awaited in every quarter of television and affiliated industries since retention of present television frequencies would provide a 'go ahead' signal for continuing the map- ping of postwar plans announced to date. RCA is known to have developed a new television receiver which, it is said, provides a good picture on the present 525-line screen, but has de- layed showing the set to the press and public until the FCC has ruled on allocations. Several press repre- sentatives did see the set at an elec- tion night party held by Niles Tram- mell, NBC president, but there has been no formal unveiling. Hirschmann Against Overselling Video Ira Hirschmann, vice-president of Metropolitan Television, Inc., told the American Television Society at the Museum of Modern Art at the week- end that there is danger of oversell- ing television in its preliminary stage. Wyllis Cooper, program manager of Compton Advertising, Inc., seconded Hirschmann, saying all of television at first will be in motion pictures, since so far no other method for introducing the required editing has been devised. Hochfield, Ferguson, Wright Reelected Harry Hochfield, Robert Ferguson and Charles Wright have been unanimously elected to the offices of president, first vice-president and treasurer, respectively, of the Screen Publicists Guild, here. Results of the contests between Vivian Moses and Al Hirsch, for sec- ond vice-president, and Charles Cohen and Fred Hodgson, for secretary, will not be determined until after the tabu- lation of service men's ballots, the deadline for which is Feb. 10. Velez Left $150,000 Los Angeles, Jan. 14. — The will of Lupe Yelez, produced at the weekend, provided for disposition of an estate valued at $150,000. Mrs. Beulah B. Kinder, the actress's secretary and ex- ecutor of the will, was left one-third with the remainder to be divided equally between Miss Velez's mother and the children of her brother. To Film Velez Life Mexico City, Jan. 14. — The life of the late Lupe Yelez is being prepared for early production here by Alberto Santander. Television, frequency - modulation and sustaining program plans for the coming year were discussed by Col- umbia Broadcasting's affiliates' advis- ory board at its meeting at CBS head- quarters here at the weekend. Douglas Coulter, network vice-pres- ident in charge of programs, outlined plans for sustaining shows ; William B. Lodge, director of engineering, spoke on television and F-M. A pre- view of the seventh series of listening area studies conducted by CBS was given by John Churchill, director of research. Among those who attended were : C. T. Lucy, John M. Rivers. Arthur B. Church, Clyde Coombs, Franklin Doolittle, Leo Fitzpatrick, I. R. Lounsberry, C. W. Rembert and W. H. Summerville of the affiliates board, and CBS officials Paul W. Kesten, Joseph H. Ream, Frank K. White. Herbert V. Akerberg, William C. Git- tinger, Howard Lane and William A. Schudt, Jr., besides those mentioned above. Mark Fifth Year of Television Network Miles Trammell, NBC president, and William S. Hedges, vice-pres- ident in charge of stations, spoke on a special television program carried by NBC's WNBT, New York, and General Electric's WRGB, Schenec- tady, last Friday night, observing the fifth anniversary of the first television network to be operated as a public service. The network linking the two sta- tions was established in 1940 when GE began operation of its relay sta- tion atop Helderberg mountain, link- ing it with WNBT. Schaefer Sees WPB Chiefs on Stock (.Continued from page 1) general discussion of the WPB's raw stock reduction plan. It is understood that arrangements will be made for the holding of a meeting in Washington between the industry's advisory committee and WPB officials in about two weeks. Adams and Burrows visited the U. S. Signal Corps production studios in Astoria Saturday and left New York thereafter. It is understood the companies have been requested by the WPB not to hold meetings on the raw stock situa- tion unless a WPB or some other Government official is present. 'Lady* Premiere Set "The Fighting Lady," feature docu- mentary, in color, produced by Louis De Rochemont and being released by 20th Century-Fox in conjunction with the United States Navy, will have its premiere here Wednesday at the Vic- toria Theatre. Lt. Robert Taylor. USNR, did the commentary. A per- centage of profits will go to Navy Relief. Altec Signs Meiselman The H. B. Meiselman circuit has signed Altec Service Corp. to service its Atlanta district theatres. 12 Motion Picture daily Monday, January 15, 1945 Review "Crazy Knights" {Monogram) BILLY GILBERT, Shemp Howard and "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom follow up their initial collective comic effort, "Three of a Kind," with an equally rollicking farce, rather ineptly titled "Crazy Knights." The trio clicks again; for devotees of slapstick, this is highly satisfactory. A full house here enjoyed it thoroughly, responding to each crazy antic and gesture with hilarity. Tim Ryan, who also wrote the screenplay, is in fine fettle as a bungling private detective. There is also a gorilla to foul-up the proceedings and add to the general confusion. The story wavers between riotous comedy scenes and spine-chilling se- quences in cemeteries and secret passages. Gilbert, Howard and Rosenbloom are inadvertently projected into the center of a mystery. With Bernie Sell and Tay Dunn, the boys attempt to get to the bottom of strange goings-on — ghosts, queer voices, etc. — in the Gardner House. It resolves itself into a "gay" murder story, believe it or not, as Dunn, whom nobody liked anyhow, is found dead. William Beaudine directed; Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz produced; Bar- ney Sarecky was associate. Running time, 63 minutes. "G."* Release date, Dec. 8. Helen McNamara Production on Coast Spurts To 40 Filming Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Production continues its upward trend as eight new features go before the cameras, and six others to the cutting rooms. The shooting index rose to 40, com- pared with 38 a week ago. The pro- duction scene follows : Columbia Started: "Over 21," with Irene Dunne, Alexander Knox, Charles Co- burn, Jeff Donnell, Loren Tindall ; "Ten Cents a Dance," with Jane Fra- zee, Jimmy Lloyd, John Calvert, Rob- ert Scott, Joan Woodbury, Dorothea Kent. Shooting : "The Fighting Guards- man," "A Thousand and One Nights." M-G-M Finished: "The Hidden Eye," "Hold High the Torch." Started: "Yolanda and the Thief," with Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer, Frank Morgan, Leon Ames, Mildred Natwick; "The Harvey Girls," with Judy Garland, Ann Sothern, John Ho- diak, Edward Arnold, Ray Bolger, Virginia O'Brien, Selena Royle, Mar- jorie Main, Mary Mullen. Shooting : "Her Highness and the Bellboy," "Weekend at the Waldorf." Monogram Started: "Stranger from Santa Fe," with Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Beatrice Gray, Jack Ingram, Ray Elder. Shooting : "Docks of New York." Paramount Finished: "The Virginian," "The Lost Weekend," "The Affairs of Susan." Shooting: "Masquerade in Mexico," "Too Good to Be True." PRC Started: "Enchanted Forest," with Edmund Lowe, Brenda Joyce, Harry Davenport, Billy Severn, John Litel ; untitled Buster Crabbe film, with Bus- ter Crabbe, Al St. John, Sidney Lo- gan. Shooting : "The Phantom of 42nd Street." RKO Radio Shooting: "Those Endearing Young Charms," "Johnny Angel," "The Spanish Main," "Invisible Army," "Along Came Jones" (International). Republic Shooting: "New Faces of 1945," "The Fatal Witness," "Road to Al- catraz," "Return at Dawn." 20th Century-Fox Shooting : "State Fair," "Colonel Effingham's Raid," "A Bell for Adano," "Captain Eddie." United Artists Finished: "A Walk in the Sun" (Bronston) . Shooting: "Paris — Underground" (Bennett) ; "Story of G.I. Joe" (Cowan); "Guest Wife" (Skirball- Manning) . Universal Shooting: "Senorita from the West," "A Night in Paradise," "That's the Spirit." Warners Started: "Three Strangers," with Geraldine Fitzgerald, Sydney Green- street, Peter Lorre. Shooting: "Mildred Pierce," "This Love of Ours," "Hotel Berlin," "The Big Sleep." *"G" denotes general classification. Booth Equipment Exempt in Cutback {Continued from page 1) coming quarter, at the level of the final quarter in 1944, when 335 projec- tors, 156 sound systems, 365 lamp houses and 360 rectifiers were sched- uled. Smith explained that booth equip- ment enjoys an AA-2X rating, one of the highest assigned, and is con- sidered so important that production will be curtailed only as a last resort. So far, he said, only a few programs of this priority have been affected, al- though practically all programs with lower ratings will be cut back. The virtual elimination of the spot- authorization program, under which labor and material that could be re- leased from the war program were_to be turned to the production of civilian goods, will not affect the booth equip- ment situation, since only one or two such projects have been authorized, mostly of a minor character, he said. Less Optimism Elsewhere In other quarters, however, less op- timism was displayed regarding the future of any program consuming the metals which will be needed for the greatly expanded war production now getting under way. Copper, steel and aluminum are the three major metals for which demands will be greatest, it was said. Booth equipment and war products use them. However, it was pointed out, large supplies of these and other needed materials will be made available by the rescinding of spot authorizations and the cutting back of consumer pro- grams which had been enlarged in an- ticipation of an easier supply and la- bor situation, and it is not generally considered likely that the production of essential industrial goods, such as booth equipment, will be slashed. Cobian, 20th Sign Twentieth-Fox and Ramos Cobian, Puerto Rican exhibitor, who is also operating the Ernesto Smith circuit of Cuba, have signed a franchise for 1944-45 for the Cuban houses. Grainger Names 2 District Managers (Continued from page 1) St. Louis and Dallas, respectively ; their promotions were made to afford greater concentration for all district sales managers, Grainger said. Steinberg's territory will include St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Omaha ; with Colquhoun assigned to Dallas, Memphis and Oklahoma City. The . Midwestern sales district, under Will Baker, will now comprise Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Minneapolis ; Merritt Davis, Southern sales manager, will now cover At- lanta, Charlotte, New Orleans and Tampa; Maxwell Gillis, Eastern sales manager, will cover New York, Phila- delphia and Washington; Sam Sep- lowin, Central sales manager, will cover Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh ; Jack Davis, New En- gland sales manager, will handle Bos- ton, New Haven, Buffalo and Albany ; Francis Bateman, Western sales man- ager, will cover Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Denver. Yates, Others Arrive Herbert Yates, chairman of the board; William Saal, executive assist- ant, and Allen Wilson, studio vice- president, all arrived on the Coast over the weekend for the last sales conference, on Jan. 22-23 at the stu- dio. Edward Walton, assistant general sales manager, Grainger and Walter L. Titus, Jr., executive assistant in charge of branch operations, are in Kansas City, prior to leaving for the Coast. The Chicago meeting was attended by all district sales managers and by the following branch managers : Win- field Snelson. Atlanta; Harold Laird. Tampa; J. H. Dillon, Charlotte: L. V. Seicshnaydre, New Orleans ; Lew H. Andrews. Memnhis ; Glen Alt. Oklahoma City: William Feld, Des Moines ; T. G. Frackman, Milwaukee : W. M. Grant. Minneapolis ; Harrv Lefholtz. Omaha, and franchise holder Robert F. Withers, Kansas City. Steve Edwards, director of public- ity, will leave here todav for Minne- sota and then proceed to Hollywood. Gillham Calls Meet Of Para. Partners* Promotional Heads (Continued from page 1) discuss advertising and exploitation on "For Whom the Bell Tolls," which will be released Feb. 16 for popular- priced engagements, R. M. Gillham, advertising and publicity director, will preside. The produetion is in Par- amount's third block for 1944-45. Campaigns to be set up for the initial engagements will blueprint the cam- paign for subsequent engagements. In addition to "For Whom the Bell Tolls," other productions will be dis- cussed, including the first two Hal Wallis pictures, "Love Letters" and "The Affairs of Susan;" and, "Salty O'Rourke" and "Two Years Before the Mast." Advertising and publicity services to theatres will also come in for discussion. The meeting will be opened Friday by Gillham, who will turn the gavel over to Alec Moss, exploitation man- ager. Al Wilkie, publicity manager, and Stanley Shuford, advertising man- ager, will also participate. Paramount's advertising representa- tives and the theatre advertising heads will arrive here Thursday. A lunch- eon will be held for them at the Pierre on Friday, and the visitors will be the guests of Paramount at theatre parties Thursday and Friday evenings. Those Attending Circuit and theatre advertising-pub- licity directors attending will be : Howard Pettengill, Florida State The- atres ; Charles Winchell, Minnesota Amusement Corp. ; Harry Brown- ing, M. and P. Theatres ; Dale McFar- land, Tri- States Theatres ; Frank Starz, Interstate Theatres ; Louis J. Finske, Comerford-Publix, Scranton; Jerry Zigmond, Newman Theatre, Kansas City; Paul Snoddy, Denham, Denver; Ray Hendry, Intermountain Theatres, Salt Lake City; N. L. Plessner, Fanchon and Marco, St. Louis ; William Jenkins and Don Avey, Lucas and Jenkins Theatres ; James Nairn, Famous Players Cana- dian. Paramount district advertising rep- resentatives at the meetings will in- clude : Arnold Van Leer, Boston ; Edward J. Wall, Albany; J. M. Joice, Cleveland ; Charles Perry, Cincinnati ; William Brooker, Philadelphia; James Levine, Pittsburgh; E. G. Fitzgib- bon, Chicago ; James Castle, Kansas City; Robert Blair, Denver; Allan S. Glenn, Dallas ; Vernon Gray, At- lanta. Jack Benny to Form Own Producing Unit (Continued from page 1) comedian is in New York he will dis- cuss financing for the company with banking interests and will probably set releasing plans for the films, the total of which he did not disclose. Members of Benny's NBC radio show at the luncheon included Phil Harris, 'Rochester,' Don Wilson and Larry Stevens. Benny stressed the importance of the March of Dimes drive, for which he is to make several personal ap- pearances in the East, pointing out that although it is not linked to the war effort, it has a vital purpose in the nation's life. MOTION PIC^tre MARC THEATRE DRIVE t DIMES JANUARY 25-31 ') VOL. 57. NO. 11 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1945 TEN CENTS Theatre Video Channels Held Back by FCC Report Retains Present Video Lanes Below 100 Washington, Jan. 15. — Theatre television will get no place in the spectrum until it is further devel- oped, but experimental operations will be encouraged, it was disclosed tonight by the Federal Communica- tions Commission in a report on the proposed allocations of frequen- cies for the various radio services. Black and white television broadcasting will be given 12 six megacycle channels in the lower part of the spec- trum, roughly where it is now, but will lose six of the 18 chan- nels it now has because of the inability to provide additional frequencies above 225 mc. It will, however, have space for experimental operation between (.Continued on page 10) W. M. Vogel, Export Film Pioneer, Dies William M. Vogel, 60, industry vet- eran and one of the pioneers in for- eign distribution of American films, died at his Pound Ridge, N. Y., home on Saturday and will be buried at 2 :30 p.m. tomorrow from the William H. Clark Funeral Parlor, Katonah, N. Y. Vogel entered foreign distribution in 1915 as representative in Australia for the old World Film and Metrr Production companies. In 1917 he contracted for world distribution {Continued on page 7) Funeral of Edward Klein Here Today Funeral services for Edward L. Klein, 57, pioneer film executive, who died here Saturday at Montefiore Hospital after a lengthy illness, will be held at noon today at Riverside Memorial Chapel. At the time of his death, Klein had been Eastern mem- ber of Ver Halen Publications, mo- tion picture magazine group of Hol- lywood. Born in Peoria, 111., Klein started a law practice in 1911, and was a mem- ber of the Kentucky State Bar. He (Continued on page 7) Warner Takes Lead In Chicago Dimout Chicago, Jan. 15. — The Warner circuit of 22 theatres here, before receiving definite orders from the War Produc- tion Board, turned off the lighting of all vertical signs and all decorative illumina- tion. Other circuits and in- dependents are expected to follow. Thomas Flannery, president of the White Way Electric Co., sign maintenance firm, said the WPB order would put many maintenance com- panies out of business. He suggested that a 'lightless days' program be inaugurated. Owen Going Back to Para. Hugh Owen will rejoin Paramount next month, having resigned yesterday as general sales manager of Vanguard, and will assume the post of sales manager of the newly created New York and Southern divi- s i o n, Charles M. Reagan, vice - president in charge o f Paramo unt sales, an- nounced here yesterday. Ow- en's resignation becomes effec- tive in Febru- ary. He had originally re- signed from Paramount as Eastern division sales r Hugrh Owen {Continued on page 10) One Bulb (Small) Per Marquee Is WPB Dimout Order Washington, Jan. 15. — An almost total blackout of exterior theatre lighting, effective Feb. 1, was ordered today by the War Production Board. In an order conforming to the di- rective issued last week by War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes, designed to save coal, the WPB limited the lighting of mar- quees to 60-watts and ordered a com- plete switch-off of outdoor advertising and promotional, display, decorative and ornamental illumination. .- spokesman for the Board said that the order will permit the use of only one 60-watt bulb in any marquee, al- though the degree of illumination in- side of box offices and inside the out- er doors of the theatres will not be restricted. All establishments using exterior lighting are similarly blacked out. (Continued on page 10) WPB, Industry Raw Stock Meet Feb. 1 The industry's raw stock advisory committee and the War Production Board will hold further discussions of new raw stock allocations at a meeting in Washington, Feb. 1, it was learned here yesterday. Meanwhile, George J. Schaefer, chairman of the War Activities Com- mittee and industry raw stock liaison with the WPB, will meet with WPB officials in Washington this week in a continuing attempt to secure as much stock for the industry as pos- sible. Schaefer is studying raw stock use by the various Government agen- cies, including the Foreign Economic (Continued on page 10) Theatre Building to Reach Lowest Level Since 1935 Washington, Jan. 15. — Sharp lim- itations on new theatre construction, extended to other lines of industrial and commercial activity, will compress building this year to the lowest level since 1935, it was reported here today by the War Production Board. Preliminary estimates of the con- struction volume, based on thcassump- tion that the war on both fronts will continue throughout the year, indicate a total of only $3,250,000,000, or 18 per cent under last year and 76 per cent under the peak year of 1942. Pri- vately-financed construction, however, will be very slightly ahead of last year, by reason of the drop in war plant building which is expected, but will be confined largely to factory building. Because of the very small amount which is expected to be spent on new theatre construction, estimated at $8,- 000.000 to $9,000,000 last year, the WPB did not attempt to develop any figures for that operation specifically. Goldwyn and Selznick to Share Astor Independents in Unusual B'way 'Showcase' Deal David O. Selznick and Samuel Goldwyn have contracted for the use of the Astor Theatre on Broad- way as a first-run showcase for their films. Deal was made with City Investing Co., owner of the Astor and other Broadway film houses. In announcing details of the arrangement here yesterday, Neil F. Agnew, vice-president and general sales manager of Selznick's Vanguard Pictures, and James Mulvey, Goldwyn vice-president, indicated that similar arrangements might be made for first-run showcases in other cities. Goldwyn and Selznick will alter- nate their pictures at the Astor un- (Continued on page 8) N. Y. Receipts Hit By Snow, War News The weekend snowstorm, combined with cold weather and war draft news are all advanced as factors contribut- ing to a drop of grosses at New York's first-run theatres this week, with holdovers predominating. "Here Come the Waves" and a stage show featuring Woody Herman and his orchestra are expected to bring the Paramount a moderate $70,- (Continued on page 8) Industry, WMC and Army Meet Here At a meeting here yesterday, mem- bers of the industry's War Activities Committee met with representatives of the War Manpower Commission and the Army Second Service Command, and set plans for the industry's co- operation with the WMC in recruiting workers. Harry Brandt, national chairman of the theatre division of the industry's (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Review of "The Big Show- Off" appears on page 8. 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday. January 16, 1945 Personal Mention Carolina Theatres Face Two New Taxes Charlotte, Jan. 15. — North Caro- lina theatres are faced with the re- newal of a three per cent gross re- ceipts tax, as well as state license fees ranging from $25 to $425, provided in the 1945 revenue bill now before the North Carolina General Assembly. The three per cent tax was first levied in 1933 and then removed in 1943. But the provision for license fees, contained in an amendment to the 1945 budget revenue bill, is de- veloping considerable opposition al- ready. If amended, the bill would provide that "every person, firm, or corpora- tion engaged in the business of oper- ating a moving picture show or place where vaudeville exhibitions or per- formances are given or operating a theatre or opera house where public exhibitions or performances are given for compensation shall apply for and obtain in advance from the commis- sioner of revenue a state license for the privilege of engaging in such bus- iness, and shall pay for such state li- cense for each room, hall or tent, using the following base tax. . . ." Scale to $425 The scale of license fees begins with $25 per unit in places of less than 1,500 population and rises to $425 in cities or towns of 25,000 or more. A Charlotte representative of the industry described the proposed rev- enue bill, as "outlandishly terrific." Aside from the fact that the state does not need the revenue, the local spokesman said, the new tax would amount to "double taxation." He found no fault with the Federal 20 per cent amusement tax, but said the proposed state tax would be a "terri- fic load" on theatres. Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, Inc., have scheduled a meeting for Jan. 22 in Charlotte and it is expected that the new revenue bill will come in for considerable dis- cussion at that time. $2,545,583 in Ohio Taxes for the Year Columbus, O., Jan. 15. — State col- lections of the Ohio retail sales and admission taxes and censor fees were considerably higher in 1944 than in 1943, it is disclosed in a report by Don H. Ebright, state treasurer. The three per cent retail sales tax revenue was $65,559,716, compared with §61,971,949 in 1943. Collections of the three per cent admission impost amounted to $2,545,583, against 1943 figures of $2,175,795. Censor fees were $209,361, against $172,995 for the preceding 12 months. There was, however, an exceptionally sharp de- cline in license fees, the 1944 figures being $9,109, while in 1943 the yield was $34,022. Propose Bill to Reduce Ohio Tax Columbus, O., Jan. 15. — A bill to reduce the state sales tax from three per cent to two per cent will be pro- posed in the Ohio state legislature, convening this week. TOM CONNORS, 20th Century- Fox vice-president in charge of sales, and W. C. Gehring, Western sales manager, have returned from Toronto. • Ira Hugh Jaffee was born Sunday at Polyclinic Hospital here to Colum- bia assistant treasurer Leo Jaffee and Mrs. Jaffee; their third son. « Joe Roberts of Vanguard Films left New York yesterday for Chicago, Des Moines and Dallas, to be gone several weeks. • Robert Buckner, Henry Blanke and Arthur Schwartz, Warner pro- ducers, have arrived in New York from the Burbank studio. • Ben Katz, Universal's Midwest publicity representative, is in Grant Hospital, Chicago, recovering from an appendectomy. • Robert K. Hawkinson, assistant to RKO foreign sales vice-president, Phil Reisman, has left for Central America, to be away six weeks. • Fred S. Gulbransen, RKO mana- ger for Panama and Gentral Amer- ica, has arrived here for home office conferences. • George D. Burrows, Monogram vice-president and treasurer, left New York last night for Hollywood, a Harry Paul, Wil-Kin Theatre Supply Co., Atlanta, is in Jacksonville, Fla., on business. • G. T. Malafronte, assistant to the Universal branch operations manager, is visiting Atlanta. • Mrs. Joseph Sistrom has arrived from Hollywood. Columbia May Make Theatre Guild Films Columbia and the Theatre Guild are working on a -deal whereby Columbia will produce and release for the Guild one feature yearly, to be selected from Guild plays. Theresa Helburn of the Guild has left New York for the Coast where she will work on details of the deal as well as cast "Carrousel," musical version of "Lilliom," for the Guild. Eddy Rehabilitation Plan for Dischargees Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Arthur Eddy, independent publicist, has established a Career Rehabilitation Service to aid film professionals on their discharge from the war services. Under Eddy's plan a complete publicity service is given each discharged veteran with- out charge for a two-months period. SMPE to Meet The Society of Motion Picture Engineers, Atlantic Coast section, will meet here tomorrow in the RCA studio. Julien Bryan, producer and lecturer, will be guest speaker. MESSMORE KENDALL, New York attorney and president of the Capitol Theatre here, and Sepha Treble of London were mar- ried at Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday. • Mrs. Herbert Horstemeier, wife of Universal's Cleveland exchange manager, is at Lutheran Hospital, that city, recovering from an operation. « Roy Haines, Warner Western- Southern division sales manager, re- turned to New York- yesterday from Dallas and Oklahoma City. • S. Barret McCormick, RKO advertising-publicity director, returned to New York yesterday from Holly- wood and a Chicago stopover. • Harold Postman, assistant to Alan F. Cummings, head of M- G-M exchange operations, was home ill yesterday. • William McCormick of M-G-M's publicity department will go to Wash- ington tomorrow with Margaret O'Brien for a 'Dimes' broadcast. • A. A. Schubart, RKO manager of exchange operations, has arrived in Los Angeles. • Charles Reagan, Paramount vice- president, has returned to New York from Atlanta. • Nicholas Napoli, Artkino Pic tures' president, left New York yes- terday for Cleveland. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern district sales manager, left New York yesterday for Cleveland. • Herbert Morgan, Eastern M-G-M short subject representative, left New York yesterday for Chicago. UA Appoints Wylie New Haven Manager Ray Wylie, United Artists sales- man in the Buffalo territory, has been promoted to branch manager at the New Haven exchange, it was reported here yesterday by Carl Leserman, UA general sales manager. Wylie suc- ceeds William S. Shartin, who has been transferred to Pittsburgh. Leserman also reported the trans- fer of Morton Magill, UA Pitts- burgh branch manager to Philadel- phia, were he will succeed Harry Bod- kin, resigned. In the announcement of field per- sonnel changes, Leserman also con- firmed the appointment of Jack Wrege as assistant to J. J. Unger, Western division manager. Celestials Lunch Today The Celestials' monthly luncheon will be held today at the Waldorf- Astoria Hotel with Basil O'Connor, chairman of the Infantile Paralysis Fund, as guest speaker. Organiza- tion is composed of workers in the film, radio, newspaper and magazine i fields. Jack Benny will be featured. Act Favorably on Porter's FCC Post Washington, Jan. 15.— The Sen- ate Interstate Commerce Committee today voted a favorable report on the President's nomination of Paul Porter to be a member of the Federal Com- munications Commission to succeed former chairman James L. Fly. Porter's nomination originally was sent to the Senate for confirmation toward the end of the last session but was not acted upon before Congress adjourned. The President thereupon gave Porter a recess appointment and re-submitted his nomination later. NEW YORK THEATRES He's Great with a Gun And He's Got to Kill! Erich Von Stroheim Mary Beth Hughes The Great Flamarion with Dan Duryea Stephen Barclay A Republic Picture REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. FIRST N. Y. SHOWING! RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL OUTH STREET & 6TH AVENUE M-G-M's "NATIONAL VELVET' MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP - ELIZABETH TAYLOR JACKIE JENKINS - REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'I LOVE A SOLDIER SONNY TUFTS IN PERSON ' RUBINOFF and his VIOLIN ROMO VINCENT BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS In Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE "Here Come the Waves*' PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous" An RKO Picture 20TH CENTURY- FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronin's "THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous RIVOLI Performances B'way & 49th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Burean, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden S3., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the pott office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 18^° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. OU HAVE A DATE WITH A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE... -7^ TONIGHT AND EVERY NIGHT ! :zfcr 5^ lb SCREEN'S FIRSl ^ DRAMATK . glittering with gaiet > HAYWORTH OMGHI WITH JANET BLAII MARC PL ATT Screen Play by Lesser Samuels and Abem Finkel • Songs by Jule Stj iammy Cahn • Produced and Directed by VICTOR SAVILLE ads...'w national magazines1. YOU HAVE A DATE WITH A RFAIITIFIII PICTURE. ..the musical drama of your dreams... in TECHNICOLOR! > aw COLUMBIA PICTURES presents cMn H AYWO RTH rGffT I JANET BLAIR LEE BOWMAN MARC PLATT ■ LESLIE BROOKS f ft WBm mm Screen Play by Lesser Samuels and Abem Finkel Songs by ; Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn Produced and Directed by SAVILLE Tuesday. January 16, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 'Dimes 9 Pledges Roll in at Rate of 1,000 Per Day Short Subject Review Seek to End Patent Monopoly by Law Washington, Jan. 15— Spurred by a recent Supreme Court decision _ that patents had been used as a basis of monopoly in industry, Rep. Jerry Yoorhis, Cal, today introduced legis- lation in Congress to amend the patent laws to prevent "monopolistic abuse." Voorhis explained that his bill would \ require the registration of patent / agreements, revoke patents which are illegally used to restrain trade or commerce, authorize the Government to intervene in Federal Court pro- ceedings involving the infringement I or validity of patents, and permit de- termination of the validity and scope of patents in anti-trust proceedings. It would not, however, provide for the compulsory licensing of patents, an idea which has long been agitated in Congress. Pointing out that a patent is a Government-bestowed monopoly, the Congressman asserted, "If one of the major policies of this Government for 50 years has been to prevent restraints of trade in an effort to maintain a free enterprise system, then surely monop- oly grants by the Government, which can only be given to promote science and the useful arts, should be with- drawn, if these grants are used against the fundamental policy of this coun- try. Patents today have become of increasing importance because new industrial processes have been de- veloped during the war, and new in- dustrial enterprises will not be able to survive if illegal monopolies bar ac- cess to these processes." Nominate 11 for Academy Award Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Eleven pic- tures have been nominated for consid- eration of the sound recording awards committee of the Research Council of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sci- ences. Nominated by the sound de- partments of the studios at which they were produced, the pictures will be screened under identical conditions for the committee and the one selected as best, from the sound-recording point of view, will be the subject of an award at the Academy's annual awards ceremony on March 15. Nominated were : "Cover Girl," by Columbia ; "It Happened Tomorrow," Sound Service ; Casanova Brown," Samuel Goldwj'n Studio ; "Kismet," M-G-M ; "Double Indemnity," Para- mount ; "Voice in the Wind," RCA ; "Brazil," Republic; "Music in Man- hattan," RKO-Radio ; "Wilson." 20th- Fox ; "Phantom Lady," Universal ; "Hollywood Canteen," Warners. 9,150 Eligible for Academy Balloting Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Approximate- ly 9,150 professionals will be eligible to vote in this year's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' balloting, according to rules made public here. Pollock Novel Accepted "Your Baby, Sir," novel about an expectant father, written by Louis Pollock, former United Artists di- rector of advertising-publicity, has been accepted by the World Publish- ing Co. for Fall publication. Pledges of participation in the theatres' March of Dimes drive are reaching national headquarters in the Hotel Astor, here, at the rate of 1,000 a day. Through yesterday over 12,- 000 theatres had been pledged, which is considerably more than on the same date one year ago. The regular cam- paign headquarters staff has been aug- mented by a dozen volunteers. Robert J. O'Donnell and Karl Hoblitzelle, Texas chairmen, have announced that the entire opening night's receipts of Interstate's new 1,000-seat Laurel Theatre in San An- tonio will be turned over to the Texas "Dimes" fund. Wired O'Donnell : "Our goal is to double last year's col- lections of $214,056." Connecticut Near 100% With the exception of 20 theatres remaining unpledged, the theatres of Connecticut are 100 per cent in the drive, reports I. J. Hoffman, state chairman. Harry Browning's Boston publicity committee has lined up every large restaurant and cafeteria in that city for the placement of "Dimes" coin col- lection boxes on cashiers' desks. Dedication of the Times Square March of Dimes display, as part of the WAC's Statue of Liberty, is scheduled for noon on Thursday, Jan. 25. A parade, military bands, per- sonal appearances of stars, and ad- dresses by Mayor Fiorello LaGuar- dia, Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, and Harry Brandt of the national drive committee, will precede the unveiling of a large screen upon which the Greer Garson appeal trail- er will be screened. Each day a dif- ferent Broadway theatre will be in charge of securing contributions. Paula Gould, publicist for Loew's State, New York, has arranged to have a special "Dimes" appeal by lit- tle Margaret O'Brien recorded. This record will be amplified continuously during the drive as part of a peram- bulating street display on Broadway. W. M. Vogel Export Film Pioneer, Dies (Continued from page 1 ) rights, outside of the United States and Canada, for First National's 'Million Dollar' Chaplins. Subsequent- ly, he organized William Vogel Dis- tributing Corp., which handled foreign distribution for Producers Distribut- ing Corp. and for independent produc- ers. In 1925, he organized and was vice-president and general manager of Producers International Corp. which opened exchanges in England and other leading markets abroad. The company, in 1929, was merged with the Pathe foreign department to be- come Pathe International Corp. In 1931 Vogel headed V. and D. Prod., Inc., which produced "Honey- moon Lane" for Paramount distribu- tion, and in 1938 he produced "Topa Topa" for Pennant Pictures. Kilgallen to Y. and R. Eleanor Kilgallen, casting director for Columbia Broadcasting, has re- signed to join the radio department of Young and Rubicam, advertising agen- cy, here, effective Feb. 5. Lehman Reports High Quota for Mississippi Mississippi, which collected $32,166 in the 1944 March of Dimes campaign, should top §50,000 this year, Arthur Lehman, state chairman, reports to industry drive headquarters here. He said 135 pledges have been received, which is only two short of last year's total theatres participating. Lehman hopes to enroll another 130 theatres, including 100 houses catering strictly to Negroes. Howard London of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis has arranged with television stations in New York City, Philadelphia, and Schenectady to televise the Greer Garson "Miracle of Hickory" appeal trailer. Roscoe Drissell, manager of Loew's State, Norfolk, Va., whose theatre col- lected a record $12,585 in the 1944 drive, has been appointed vice-chair- man of the coming drive by the Na- tional Foundation. Drissell's campaign has been accepted as a model one.- Benny to Headline Boston 'Dimes' Benefit Jan. 29 Boston, Jan. 15. — A March of Dimes show will be held at Symphony Hall here on Jan. 29. Scheduled to appear are : Jack Benny, Mary Liv- ingstone, Rochester, Phil Harris, Ralph Edwards, and others. A $100 dinner at the Copley Plaza Hotel has been arranged by George Swartz, general chairman, and the Boston Tub Thumpers are aiding with publicity. SOPEG Sponsors 'Dimes' At Screen Canteen Here A 'March of Dimes' night will be held at the Silver Screen Canteen here, tomorrow night, sponsored by the Screen Office and Professional Employees Guild, Local No. 109. Lionel Hampton and his band, with Mildred Bailey, will be guest stars, and a Coast Guard orchestra will play dance music. Hostesses will be from home offices and film exchanges. Funeral of Edward Klein Here Today (Continued from page 1) continued at law in Milwaukee, Louis- ville and New York until 1917, when he built, owned and operated a num- ber of theatres, and shortly thereafter he went into foreign distribution with offices in London and Paris, continu- ing until 1941, when he returned to New York. Among the early films he placed abroad were those dealing with Felix the Cat, Walt Disney's first cartoons, and those of Master-Art, Gotham, A.C.A. and others. For years he was representative of independent Ameri- can producers and distributors in the foreign field. He was an early presi- dent of the Associated Motion Pic- ture Advertisers here, and also had been managing director of World- Wide Pictures, Ltd. Klein is survived by his widow, Etta, and his father. Pitts Re-Signs Altec Pitts Theatres, Fredericksburg, Va., has renewed its contract with Altec Service, for 21 theatres in Virginia. "Whafs Your Name?" (WAC-20th-Fox) This pictorial presentation of the need for more factory workers is told in a stirring and admirable manner. The timeliness of this film is empha- sized by today's manpower shortage. It fulfills a service to the nation by presenting a convincing plea for war workers. It will give complacent Americans more cause to think. Ade- quately and effectively it tells the story of the valor and steadfastness of 'GI Joes' and contrasts these Ameri- cans with persons on the home front who are shirking their duty. The an- onymous soldier is compared with the anonymous worker, each nameless but both doing a job that will hasten vic- tory. This short with its timely and important theme, if given adequate distribution, should be a healthy influ- ence on easing the manpower shortage. Running time, 9^4 minutes. Thumpers' Initiation In Boston Today Boston, Jan. 15. — The Tub Thump- ers of America will hold its first initiation at a 'charter closing' dinner at the Parker House here tomorrow. Harry Browning of M. and P. The- atres, chief tub thumper will preside, and Bill Cunningham, columnist, will be the principal speaker. Units may be formed soon in Holly- wood and Washington. The services of members have been offered for the March of Dimes Drive. Wiseman, Theatre Architect, Is Dead Harrison G. Wiseman, 67, archi- tect, who designed many New York theatres, died Friday at his home here. He was born in Springfield, O., and spent 30 years as an architect in New York, retiring in 1940 because of ill health. Among places he designed were Fox studios, here, Loew's Oriental, Alpine, Cameo, Commodore and John Golden Theatre. He is survived by his widow, an adopted daughter and a brother. Variety Honors Salesmen Columbus, O., Jan. 15. — Local Variety honored film salesmen in this area at a party held at club headquar- ters last Saturday. Guests of honor included: Nat Kaplin, Columbia; J. M. Jacobs, Tom Smiley, M-G-M; Frank Decker, Monogram; Bernie Gardiner, Paramount ; Harry Bugie, PRC; Paul Kreiger, Republic; Mark Cummins, RKO ; Jack Needham, Bob McNabb, 20th Century-Fox, Mitchell Blachschleger, United Art- ists ; Harry Young, Universal ; Bob Burns, Warners. Scollard on Const Hollywood, Jan. 15.— C. J. Scol- lard, Paramount exchange operational head, arrived here from New York today to represent the major compan- ies on a new contract embracing about 400 members of the Screen Office Employes Guild at the Los Angeles exchanges. 8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 16, 1945 Review "The Big Show-Off" {Republic) Hollywood, Jan. 15 ARTHUR LAKE and Dale Evans make an effective team in a light, ro- mantic little musical with some pleasant production numbers. Miss Evans sings several songs, the most tuneful of which are "There's Only One You" and "Hoops, My Dear." The screenplay, by Leslie Vadnay and Richard Weil, is an inconsequential affair that strains the credulity rather than the intelligence. It is all about a bashful' young pianist who falls in love with a night-club singer, but is too shy to tell her so. The night-club owner, competently portrayed by Lionel Stander, undertakes to forward the cause of young love, and is about as help- ful as a bull in a china shop. Acting on the theory that women prefer cave- men, he tells the singer that the young pianist is in reality a wrestler who, wearing a mask, is known only as "The Devil." Deception, as usual, proves a tangled web, and in the end it takes the police force to untangle it and bring about a happy ending. . . • ^ Sydney Williams is credited with a smooth production job; Howard Breth- erton directed with his customary feeling for pace. Running time, 70 minutes. "G."* Release date, not set. Thalia Bell Goldwyn and Selznick to Share Astor (Continued from page 1) der the terms of the deal made with City Investing, which is headed by Robert W. Dowling. The arrange- ment runs for a minimum period of about two and one-half years on a participating basis, whereby they will receive a percentage of the receipts, with the Astor Theatre Corp., a City Investing subsidiary, operating the theatre. The length of runs at the Astor will be determined by box office receipts of individual pictures. Gold- wyn's "The Princess and the Pirate" is set to open Feb. 9, inaugurating the new arrangement, and is to be fol- lowed by Selznick's "Spellbound" and, possibly, "Goldwyn's "The Wonder Man," thereafter. Agnew and Mulvey indicated the house might be made available to other independent product during the period of the operating arrangement, with the booking of outside films to be determined by mutual agreement be- tween the two renting parties, Gold- wyn and Selznick. Dark Several Days Loew's, which has leased the As- tor heretofore, made arrangements to continue the run of "Meet Me in St. Louis" until Feb. 4, at which time the house will be darkened for several days to permit extensive alterations, which will eventually increase the As- tor's present seating capacity of al- most 1,200 seats by about 200 addi- tional seats. City Investing will in- stall sound and projection equipment to replace that being withdrawn by Loew's, whose lease expired the first of the year. Maurice Maurer, who operates the Victoria Theatre, adja- cent to the Astor, for City Investing, might operate the Astor as well, it was reported. City Investing also owns the Bijou and Fulton Theatres, used for legitimate shows, adjoining the Astor and Victoria on 45th and 46th street, it is said. Agnew Hails Plan Agnew hailed the arrangement as demonstrating that independent pro- ducers can work together even though they release through different com- panies. He said the Astor arrange- ment will partially solve his com- pany's releasing problems, since na- tional release dates, which have to be set three and four months in advance now in view of the placing of national advertising, are usually predicated on securing first-run Broadway commit- ments. Long runs and holdovers are tieing up key city first-run theatres, Agnew pointed out, creating new problems for the independents. Sam Spring of the New York law office of Spring and Eastman represented Selznick in the deal. J. Arthur Rank has been variously reported seeking a Broadway showcase for his films, but competition for the available houses may increase now with M-G-M expected to replace its use of the Astor with another house. City Investing also owns the Republic Theatre, which is operated by the Brandt interests on a joint arrange- ment with Republic Pictures. *"G" denotes general classification. Rank Buys Control Of Denham Labs London, Jan. 15.— J- Arthur Rank has completed his British industry co- ordination program with the purchase, announced here today, of Sir Alexan- der Korda's controlling interest in the Denham Laboratories, bought through Denham and Pinewood studios. Board of directors of the labora- tories will reorganize, with Rank as chairman, replacing Harold Boxall. Other members up to now have been Sir David B. Cunynghame, William Harcourt, John Jackson, John Pendle- ton, John Sutro and Randal Ter- raneau. The wartime interlocking director- ates of the Denham Laboratories and George Humphries and Co., Ltd., will be discontinued. Comdr. A. W. Jar- ratt, RNVR, is chairman of the Humphries board, which also includes Boxall, Terraneau, Charles J. Gold- smith and Bernard Charles. The Denham management staff, however, will remain unchanged. Boxall is managing director. Turner to Set South; Southwest Campaign Terry Turner, RKO Radio exploi- tation chief, left yesterday for the South and Southwest. En route he attended the dinner given Hardy Meaken, RKO Theatres division manager, by the Variety Club in Washington last night, and will pro- ceed to conferences with field man- agers in Atlanta, Memphis, New Or- leans, Chicago and Milwaukee. In St. Louis Turner will set up a campaign for the special showing of "The Body Snatchers" at the St. Louis Theatre Feb. 15 and will re- main for the "kick off" of the Dick Powell personal appearance tour in connection with "Murder, My Sweet," at the Fox Theatre on Feb. 21. Turn- er will accompany Powell until he reaches New York. Make WAC Feature Part of a War Activities Commit- tee film featuring Edward R. Stettin- ius, Secretary of State, was made here over the weekend, at 20th-Fox Movie- tone Studios ; the balance will be made on the Coast. Simon Schiffrin to Paris on Film Report Simon S. Schiffrin, representative of the film division of the French Ministry of Information here, will leave late this month for Paris to con- fer with Jean Painleve, director of the French cinema, and M. Teitgen, min- ister of information and report on a study of Hollywood studios which he has made. He will also discuss prob- lems bearing on the future of the in- dustry in France. Conferences with Painleve and Teit- gen are expected to determine how many French films made during the German occupation will be available for distribution here, and on what terms. Several major companies are understood to have manifested a de- sire to undertake their distribution. Selection will be made from 40 avail- able films. Company representatives in Paris are conferring with the ministry on how many films dubbed in French here by U. S. distributors will be admitted to France. Cooperative French film- making, to be assisted financially by cooperative French banks, remains to be decided, Schiffrin said. If decided in the affirmative, the French industry will have private producers competing with the cooperative ventures. Tech- nical difficulties which have handi- capped resumption of French produc- tion will soon be overcome, Schiffrin said. While in Hollywood, three French films were screened there by Schiffrin, a short, "Liberation of France," and two features, "Pontcarral" and "Goupy Mains Rouges." Pierre Blanchar of the French underground will accom- pany him to Paris. Ernstthal - Merriam Wedding Set for May Howard Ernstthal, textile convert- er, and Gertrude Merriam, associate editor of Motion Picture Herald's' Managers' Round Table, announced their engagement here yesterday. They will be married in May. Allport Reaches London London, Jan. 15. — Fayette W. All- port has arrived here to resume his old post as London representative of the MPPDA. Receipts at B'way Houses Hit by Snow, War and Draft News (Continued from page 1) 000 for a third week, which is profit- able but not outstanding. The film has been set for a six-week run. With $65,000 recorded for the first four days of a fifth week, $100,000 is ex- pected for "National Velvet" and a stage show at Radio City Music Hall ; the film will hold for a sixth. The fourth week's gross was below early expectations, at $105,000. "Winged Victory" is yielding mod- erate business at the Roxy, combined with a stage bill featuring the Nich- olas Brothers and Jack Durant ; $65,- 000 is expected for a fourth week, on the basis of $52,000 for the first five days. The third week's gross was be- low expectations, at $73,000 and the film will conclude next Tuesday night, making way for "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier." "Mr. Emmanuel," J. Arthur Rank's British-made Two Cities film, the first of the Rank United Artists releases, is scoring at the Gotham with $16,500 expected for a second week, following a first week of $17,000. $58,000 at Capitol "Music for Millions" and a stage show featuring Tommy Dorsey and his band is continuing moderately at the Capitol with $58,000 expected for a fourth week on the basis of $40,000 recorded for the first four days ; the combination will continue. The Strand will continue "Holly- wood Canteen" and a show headed by Lionel Hampton and his band, with $38,000 expected for a fourth week on the basis of $22,000 in three days. Of the long-run and straight-feature houses, the Rivoli expects $34,500 for a third week for "The Keys of the Kingdom"; the Hollywood expects $18,000 for the 14th week of "To Have and Have Not"; the Astor recorded $30,000 for the seventh week of "Meet Me in St. Louis" ; and the Criterion completed a third week of "Can't Help Singing" with $27,000. "Roughly Speaking" will follow "To Have and Have Not" into the Hollywood, on Jan 30; "Meet Me in St. Louis" will conclude its run at the Astor Feb. 4. $19,000 at Palace "Experiment Perilous" is continuing profitably at the Palace with $19,000 expected for a third week ; the film will hold for a fourth before making way for "The Woman in the Win- dow," on Jan. 25. "Tomorrow the 'World" is contin- uing to draw profitably at the Globe, with $14,000 expected for a fourth week ; it, too, will continue. The Vic- toria will conclude a fourth and final week of "The Sign of the Cross" with a $10,200 gross ; "The Fighting Lady" will open there tomorrow. "Main Street After Dark," which was brought into the Rialto last Friday, is expected to bring about $10,000 but it will not hold over. "The Great Flamarion," last week's only new ar- rival, is not expected to bring more than $7,000 for a first week, -but it will continue. Camera Stock Issue Floyd D. Cerf Co., Chicago, will offer today a new issue .of 50,000 shares of 80-cent cumulative-dividend preferred stock of the Universal Camera Corp. at $10 each. "AW MISTER...HAVE A HEART! For years we have prided ourselves on the quick, careful and courteous manner in which we handled our customers. Today we are on the spot as never before, trying to maintain the reputation for service we were so many years building up. As you read these lines, exactly 504 of our highly-trained personnel are giving their services to Uncle Sam. 504 out of 1 600 employees, or practically one out of every three employees are away on military duty. That's a big chunk to take out of a service organization like ours, and for us to still keep going as well as we do. Many of these boys are right out of your own territory too, and when they went— God bless them— they left a hole that seems almost impossible to fill. So we are trying hard to carry on until they come back to us. And when things go wrong, please have a little understanding, a little tolerance— Please Mister, have a heart! In the meantime, kindly get those play- dates in to us, as far ahead as possible. That will help us a lot. And when some new boy or girl here, hap- pens to pull a boner, or something else hap- pens to aggravate you— Please have a heart. And thank you. WHO CAN REFUSE TO HELP CHILDREN? JOIN MARCH OF DIMES (JAN. 25-31) nftnonoL Qyieetl service \J PRIZE 8RBY OF THE MDUSTRY TANDARD ACCESSORIES • T 10 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 16, 1945 Theatre Video Lanes Are Held Back by FCC Hugh Owen Rejoins Para. Sales Dept. (Continued from page 1) manager in April, 1944, to accept the Vanguard post. At the same time, Reagan an- nounced a split-up of parts of existing divisions supervised by William Erbb, Eastern division head; James J. Don- ohue, Central division, and George A. Smith, Western division. Neil Agnew, vice-president in charge of sales for Vanguard, could not be reached yesterday to determine whether he would absorb Owen's sales duties at Vanguard or whether a suc- cessor would be appointed. Under the new divisional plan, which will go into effect when Owen rejoins Paramount, the exchanges will be divided as follows : Eastern division, under Erbb: Boston, New Haven, Albany, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington ; New York and Southern division, under Owen : New York, New Jersey, At- lanta, Charlotte and New Orleans. Central division, under Donohue : Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indi- anapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Dallas, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City and Memphis. Western division, under supervision of Smith : Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City and Omaha. Oscar Morgan will continue as short subjects sales manager for the United States. WPB, Industry Raw Stock Meet Feb 1 (Continued from page 1) Administration, which handles film for export, and the Office of War Infor- mation. To date, the 11 companies have not been advised of allocations for the cur- rent quarter and, it is understood, they will either receive notification in the mail from the WPB before the Feb. 1 meeting, or will be told of their allo- cations at that meeting. The compa- nies are being permitted to use up to 50 per cent of the footage allocated for the last quarter, to carry them over for the present until new alloca- tions are set. Indications are that the WPB will enlarge the industry advisory com- mittee from its present membership of 11 representatives to include repre- sentatives of independent producers. Hawkinson to Americas Robert Hawkinson, RKO's assistant foreign manager, has left for a month's tour of the company's ex- changes in Central America. GLOBE TICKET COMPANY 154 W. 14th ST. N. Y. C. Phone W Atkins 9-1486 PROMPT SERVICE AS USUAL (Continued from page 1) 480 and 920 mc, to permit the development of color pictures. In a third field of interest to the film industry, the film producers will be given 26 channels for communica- tion service, both point-to-point over short distances and the "walkie-talkie" service which is expected to become important after the war. However, the industry will have to share these chan- nels with other services requiring in- termittent use of radio communica- tion. FM Moved Up Frequency modulation broadcasting will be moved up from its present 42- 50 mc. operating area to 84-104 ms. and the number of commercial chanels will be increased from 35 to 70, and of educational channels from five to 20. In addition, the area between 102 and 108 mc. will be left unassigned for possible future F-M operations. However, it was emphasized, existing F-M stations will not be required to move upward until new receivers ca- pable of tuning in the new frequencies are generally available. The Commission's report, based on hearings which ran through last Oc- tober, is designed to set the pattern for postwar, rather than current, op- erations, and few of the proposed al- locations will be put into effect until after material, equipment and man- power again become available for civilian purposes. The report, which covers the spec- trum from 25 to 30,000 megacycles and will be followed by another cov- ering frequencies up to 25 megacycles, will be the subject of oral argument before the Commission, beginning Feb. 14. No Theatre Video Frequencies Discussing the question of theatre television, for which channels were sought by the Society of Motion Pic- ture Engineers, and other industry representatives, the FCC explained that since it still is in the experimen- tal stage of development no specific frequencies will be assigned at this time. "However," the report added, "the Commission will give consideration to applications for experimental authori- zation involving intra-city transmis- sions, including studio-to-transmitter, remote pick-up and intra-city multi- ple address stations, on the frequen- cies between 480 and 920 megacycles allocated to broadcasting on the basis that the use of these frequencies will be discontinued when needed for the broadcast service." These experimental operations may also be authorized on the channels : 1,900-2,300, 3,900-4,550, 5,750-7,050, 10,500-13,000, 16,000-18,000 and 26,- 000-30,000 mc, allocated to relay services. The 12 television channels will be the 44-50, 54-60, 60-66, 66-72, 78-84, 180-186, 186-192, 198-204, 204-210, and 210-216 mc. frequencies, together 'Worlds' in Washington Washington, Jan. 15. — M-G-M's "Between Two Worlds" will have its world premiere at the Capitol here on Jan. 25. with the 72-78 mc. channel when it is cleared of aviation markers, and in addition the present channel 7, 102- 108 is left unassigned and before al- location the requirements of televi- sion will be considered. "On the basis of the foregoing al- locations," the Commission explained, "it will be possible to authorize seven television- stations in one city if the need therefor is shown. Four of these stations can be assigned in the six channels below 100 megacycles and the other three in the six chan- nels available between 180 and 216 megacycles." Experimental Channel With the exception of one channel temporarily excluded, that portion of the spectrum between 480 and 920 mc. has been made available for experi- mental television and the space be- tween 1,225 and 1,325 mc. has been assigned for television relay stations, to be used by "pick-up" stations for relaying programs to the main station for broadcasting. Pick-up service also will be permitted between 480 and 920 mc. until those channels are needed for television broadcasting. When color television is perfected, it was indicated, the question of per- manent channels will be considered, but that problem, involving the use of wider channels than required for black-and-white, will be deferred un- til it is necessary to take action. Im- proved monochrome service also may be conducted experimentally in the same 480-920 mc. field. Discussing the question of channel widths, the Commission defended its allocations on the basis of a 6-mc. channel, as now used, as being desir- able until the improvements which are claimed possible with wider channels are perfected. The report showed that six com- mercial television stations now are in operation, three are under construc- tion, and applications for 100 are on file. Three experimental stations are rendering a limited program service, and it is estimated that there are about 7,000 television receiving sets. Keston Sees Preference For High Frequencies "It seems to us that the whole fac- tual content of the television sections of the FCC allocations report clear- ly indicates the Commission's desire and belief that American television should move promptly into the higher frequencies which alone permit high- quality pictures and true nationwide television," Paul W. Kesten, executive vice-president of Columbia Broadcast- ing, said here yesterday in comment- ing upon the new FCC allocations. CBS has been advocating moving the television channels to the higher fre- quencies to achieve better picture definition. Kesten explained that the facts in the FCC report "strip" the advocates of low-frequency, low-definition tele- vision of all hope that television will remain at that level. New Theatre Firm Albany, Jan. 15. — Theatre Man- agement Corp. has been, incorpated here. Weisman, Celler, Quinn, Allan and Spett are the attorneys. WPB Cuts Marquees To One Bulb Apiece (Continued from page 1) and WPB officials estimated tonight that the order will save three billion kilowatts of current annually, about 2,000,000 tons of coal. This, however, is less than 10 per cent of the savings of 25,000,000 tons which Byrnes called for. As issued by WPB, the order specifically prohibits the use of dec-- tricity for the following purposes : Outdoor advertising and outdoor promotional lighting. Outdoor display lighting, except where necessary for the conduct of outdoor businesses. Outdoor decorative and ornamental lighting. Show window lighting, except where necessary for interior illumina- tion. Marquee lighting in excess of 60- watts for each marquee. Outdoor sign lighting except for di- rectional or identification signs re- quired for fire and police protection and similar purposes. The last restriction will permit the continued use of the usual "Exit" signs required outside of theatre doors by local ordinances, but those and the single marquee light, it was said, will be all the exterior lighting per- mitted. Immediate application voluntarily of the new restrictions is being asked, but after the order goes into effect the discontinuance of electric service may be directed by the WPB in any in- stance where a consumer willfully violates its restrictions. Industry, WMC and Army Meet Here (Continued from page 1) manpower committee named the fol- lowing to handle the New York-New Jersey area in the drive : Leo Brech- er, liaison between the WMC and the M PI- War Activities Committee for the New York area, and Frank Damis in a similar post for New Jersey. Four two and one-half-minute trail- ers, "Silence," "Just for Remem- brance," "Hands" _ and "Have You Killed a Jap?," have been prepared for distribution by the Second Service Command. At yesterday's meeting were : My- ron Sattler, Paramount; Capt. Monty MacLevy, representing Major Mon- roe Greenthal ; Abe Savage, chief of information, WMC ; Miss Zoe Fales, assistant to Savage ; Al Naroff , Brandt Theatres and John Cassidy, RKO. Higher Industry Goal In Next Loan Drives Hollywood, Jan. 15. — The Treas- ury Department will ask the industry to do even more for the Seventh and Eighth War Loan campaigns than for the successfully concluded Sixth, Ted Gamble, director of the War Finance Division, told the Hollywood Division of the War Activities Committee at a luncheon meeting today. Gamble's address, studded with statistics, fol- lowed a talk by Taylor Mills on the new, sterner "win-the-war-now" atti- tude prevalent in Washington. Installation of officers and reading of reports on the WAC's 1944 activity preceded the addresses. THIS PAGE EXCLUSIVELY FOR EXHIBITORS WHO NEVER JOINED THE MARCH OF DIMES There are only a few thousands of you. Fortunately, some 11,000 theatres with 9,000,000 seats have joined in previous drives. Why not enlist in this 1945 drive and get that swell, tingling feeling from helping save the lives of little Americans — perhaps, kids in your own town. Maybe, your own child! It's a grand feeling. Ask any of the 11,000 exhibitors who were in the 1944 drive and who are enlisting again for '45. Ask them whether taking collections hurt their business, ask them if their patrons didn't respect and honor them for wanting to help this noble charity. Ask them what happened when the 1944 polio epidemic hit their communities. It is interesting to note that once a theatre participates in the March of Dimes, it comes in eagerly year after year. It's easy to do— and it's a fine, human, American thing to do. No matter how small your theatre may be, even if you are not open seven days a week — you can be important in this drive. We need you! Come on, sign your name to this coupon, tear out and mail to suite 188, Hotel Astor, N. Y. C. I The "shorts" she sees at the movies are a big help to the family purchasing agent. The non-stop War Bond and Stamp drive by exhibitors has brought in millions. Many a WAC made up her mind to enlist . . . "at the movies." WE'VE all been in this war so deeply, and for so long, that it's hard to remember back to the days when we thought that wars were fought by fighting men alone. One of the most important and most effective of the "recruiting officers" who are making this everybody's war is the motion picture exhibitor. Hundreds of hours of theater time have been contrib- uted to the showing of films designed to enlist men and women for the war plants ... to recruit for the armed services, the merchant marine, and similar organi2ations ... to help fight inflation ... to keep the scrap tin coming in, and the kitchen fat and waste paper rounded up. Millions have been collected for the War Funds. And when it comes to selling War Bonds and War Stamps, the exhibitors, their cashiers, and their volunteer work- ers not only have smashed quotas right and left during the drives, but have kept the money rolling in when the going is toughest — in between the drives. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., Distributors FORT LEE CHICAGO HOLLYWOOD Every war drive counts heavily on the exhibitor °ne °* a series of advertisements by KODAK testifying to the achievements of the movies at war First In [Radio jf Accural and Impartial MOTION PICTURE OL. 57. NO. 12 NEW YORK. U.S.A., WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 17, 1945 TEN CENTS Film Jobs Are Continued As 'Essential' Television and Sound Equipment Jobs 'Critical' Washington, Jan. 16. — In a move to program the raising of the 900,000 men who will be needed for the Armed Forces during the first half of this year, the War Alan- power Commission today revised its year-old list of critical and essential industrial activities to serve as a guide to Selective Service in the drafting of men in the 26-29 age group. Only about one-third of the occupations originally listed as critical are retained in that category, none of the occupa- tions in the motion picture in- dustry being so rated. Listed {Continued on pane 6) M Wal IAT o 'IA' Move »n Managers Minneapolis, Jan. 16. — Richard F. Talsh, international president of the IATSE. now indicates that the IATSE executive board now meeting here at the Nicollet Hotel, will take no definite action on the question of organizing theatre managers. Sessions are being confined to "rou- tine matters" referred to the board by the last 'IA' convention and by vari- ous locals, Walsh said. Whatever recommendations are made will be re- (Contimted on page 7) U.S. Pushing Probe Equipment Field Washington, Jan. 16. — The De- partment of Justice is still pushing its investigation of film equipment com- panies, but officials said today that no reports have been received from their field agents making the survey, and that some time is expected to be required for its completion. No indication was given of the ingle of the investigation, believed to liave been prompted in part by com- plaints from film interests, and it \va? emphasized that the whole matter is a 'long term' affair on which no decis- ions will be posible probably for many nonths. Favor Blocks, 20% Option Independent exhibitors' favor block buying provided sufficient cancellation is. made available, H. D. Hearn, head of Exhibitor's Service, a buying- booking organization servicing 41 in- dependent theatres in the Charlotte area, told Motion Picture Daily prior to his return to his territory after a visit here. He said, "No less than a 20 per cent cancellation privi- lege should be offered." Hearn sees little effect on independ- ent exhibitors in his territory- result- ing if the Department of Justice achieves affiliated theatre divorcement, because the only circuit affiliate there. Wilby-Kincey circuit, a Paramount partner, is, according to Hearn, "one of the cleanest operations in the U. S." Hearn approves of the Department's (Contimted on page 7) Sears Names Kamber Assistant on WAC Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of distribution for United Artists, and War Activities distribu- tor division chairman, announced here yesterday the appointment of Bern- ard M. Kamber as assistant WAC distributor chairman with Edward M. Schnitzer. Kamber will act in a supervisory capacity assisting Schnit- {Continued on page 7) Five Companies Set New Checking Group Confidential Reports, an or- ganization formed to check on percentage pictures and having Paramount, RKO Ra- dio, Universal, United Artists and Columbia as participants, has been set up and will start functioning around March 15, it was learned here yesterday. Acting president of the new organization is understood to be John J. O'Connor, Uni- versal vice-president. M-G-M Not Seeking Astor Replacement M-G-M has no immediate plans to obtain another Broadway first-run to replace the Astor here, which is tc be used by Samuel Goldwyh and David O. Selznick, starting next month, Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-president of Loew's, Inc., told Motion Picture Daily yesterday. Moskowitz said Loew*s will con- tinue to use Loew's Criterion, as here- tofore, on a part-time basis, and ruled out the immediate possibility that M- G-M might seek some other 'show- case,' like the Victoria or convert Loew's Mayfair into a first-run house. M-G-M first-run product plays the Capitol on a full-time basis, and some is booked into Radio City Music Hall and some into the Globe, as well as the Criterion. U.S. Asks Industry for New Home Front Stimulant Cinema Lodge Will Honor Sam Rinzler Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith here will honor Samuel Rinz- ler, exhibitor, at a meeting at the Hotel Edison on Tuesday- evening, Jan. 23. He will be cited for his efforts on behalf of the industry's participa- tion in various war drives and charitable undertakings. Jack L. Levin will present a scroll to Rinzler, who has been hailed in some circles as "the Mark Twain of the film industry". Film industry executives are expected to attend the special meeting, arranged by Albert A. Senft. Cinema president. Hollywood, Jan. 16. — Taylor M. Mills, chief of the Office of War In- formation's bureau of motion pictures, yesterday called on motion pictures to inform and stimulate the home front in a concerted effort to speed victory and save American lives. "There has been complete reversal of feeling in Washington, with no more second- guessing about when the war will end," Mills told a luncheon meeting of War Activities Committee board members. "There is no more talk of reconversion, either," he said. "Everything is directed toward a driv- ing finish in the war, and motion pictures must inform and stimulate the home front toward that end." In describing the urgency of a con- centrated drive toward just one goal — shortening of the war — Mills told the meeting that, "The Army, Navy and OWI are fully cognizant of the {Continued on page 7) Public Safety Seen Halting Lighting Ban Gov't May Heed Owners' Warnings on Dangers Washington/ Jan. 16. — Easing of the ban on the use of more than 60 watts of illumination for theatre marqees after Jan. 31 may be ordered by the War Production Board following- a brief trial period to determine whether, as contended by exhibitors, dangerously inade- quate lighting of box office areas will result from the ban, it was learned here today. As reported today in Motion Picture Daily, an almost total blackout of exterior theatre lighting, effective Feb. 1, was (Continued on page 6) Fuel May Shut Hub Theatres Boston, Jan. 16. — Shortage of both oil and coal in the Boston metropol- itan area is so critical that the local OP A offices warned today that it might become necessary to close the- atres and other places of amusement hereabouts. Merchants and theatre men are vol- untarily cooperating with the sug- gestion of the 'brownout' to conserve fuel and the Boston business districts will again be unlighted. Coal a Worry to Ohio Exhibitors Columbus, O., Jan. 16. — Although there is no apparent likelihood that the present coal situation will force immediate emergency closing of any Ohio theatres, exhibitors in some quar- ters, whose stockpiles are dwindling, are visibly apprehensive over the crit- ical fuel shortage, termed the worst {Continued on page 6) Reviewed Today Review of "H a n g o v e r Square" appears on page 6. 2 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, January 17, 1945 Personal Mention SAMUEL GOLDWYN will arrive in New York from Hollywood on Friday. • Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century- Fox president, left Hollywood by plane for New York last night following studio conferences. • Lt. James O'Shea, son of E. K. O'Shea, M-G-M's Eastern sales man- ager, has arrived from 16 months overseas on a 21 days' furlough. He will stay in New York. • Edward Levinson, son of Col. Na- than Levinson, head of Warners' studio sound department, has been pro- moted to Captain in the Army Signal Corps. • Howard P. Robinson of St. John, N. B., a Famous Players-Canadian director, has been elected to the board of Canadian Pacific Railway. • Marjorie M. Sweigert, daughter of Earle W. Sweigert, Paramount Philadelphia district manager, has en- listed in the Army nursing corps. • L. E. Goldhammer, vice-president and general sales manager of Film Classics, Inc., has left for Seattle and Portland. • H. William Fitelson of Fitelson and Mayers, film attorneys, left for the Coast yesterday. • Irving Wormser, Eastern sales manager of Film Classics, Inc., has left for Oklahoma City. • Joel Levy, Loew out-of-town book- er, has returned to New York from Pennsylvania. © William Gleicher of M-G-M's sales department will leave Monday for the Midwest and South. • George Hickey, M-G-M Los An- geles district manager, is on a trip to Portland and Seattle. • Roy Sullender, manager of War- ners' Uptown, Philadelphia, has en- tered the Army. • John P. Byrne, M-G-M Detroit district manager, is in a hospital there with the flu. • Louis Brown and Virginia Mono- han of M-G-M's Cincinnati exchange are vacationing in New York. • Edwin W. Aaron, M-G-M circuit sales head, was at home ill yester- day. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN' Eastman Elects Three Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 16. — Perley S. Wilcox and Herman C. Sievers were today elected vice-chairman and board members of Eastman Kodak. Charles H. Flint, vice-president and Kodak Park Work's general manager, was named a director. Hollywood, Jan. 16. CPYROS SKOURAS to the ^ 20th Century-Fox sales force painted part of the wave of their future with this: "Because of the purchase of National Theatres from the Chase Bank and because we bought part of the M-G-M hold- ings in Gaumont British, it was inadvisable to present a pension plan at the last stockholders' meeting, but we are proposing a plan with the" hope of approval of the board of directors which will embrace practically every- one in the company. "This plan will be presented at the stockholders' meeting next May, and I want you to know when that will be realized, it will be one of the happiest moments in my association with you, as there is nothing I desire more than to safeguard the future of everyone who is associated with the company." He went further. For in- stance, on the business of mak- ing pictures in this kind of a market : "The negative cost alone of the program which we are go- ing to release from August to August will amount to approxi- mately $33,700,000. When you add to this amount $5,000,000 for the cost of prints, positives, advertising — direct, corporative, trade, all kinds and types of ad- vertising—it will total $38,700,- 000. And I have not included the cost of distribution in any of these figures. No other com- pany, in a single year, has spent this much money." ■ And on the business of keep- ing a company of the size of 20th-Fox going, there are fig- ures that are difficult to get down in a single gulp. For example : Weekly operating expenses ran at the rate of $208,000, or $10,816,000 annually, in 1940. But in 1944, the per-week cost had risen sharply to $387,000 which puts the annual operating overhead at $20,124,000. Sim- ple mathematics show an in- crease of $179,000 per week in a four-year span. If you want it in more formidable terms, it cost 20th-Fox $9,308,000 more to maintain maneuverability last year than it did in '40. That's outgo. On the intake side is the expectancy interna- tional film rentals will hit $1,- 534,600 every seven days, or approximately $80,000,000 on the vear. Theatre grosses, via National, are heading for a staggering $1,747,770 a week which, if finally realized, would bulk an annual $90,000,000. ■ Skouras' approach to the al- ways vital matter of goodwill is sound and interesting : "In this company we are not working as individuals, but we are working for the public and, as such, we are the servants and employes of the public. "That demands of us an eagle- eye watchfulness and alertness. It requires of us to give our full- est time and effort. It demands of us that we create friendly public relationship and good- will with our customers and with the public alike. It requires that our relationship with the trade be better than that of any company in the business." ■ "Many times," it is his view- point,' "I have repeated this statement that the goodwill of this company, which we develop, will be its reservoir, its ware- house, its stockpile, upon which we can always draw. It is the imperishable asset which we will have stored up for ourselves. . . . There may come a time when we will not be so fortunate. Then the 'goodwill which we have created will be of the great- est value to us." ■ ■ Los Angeles, which is down the line from Hollywood, has looked with askance from time to time at the community of cel- luloid. Came the other day, a luncheon drawn up by the Cali- fornia Theatre Council and Fletcher Bowron, Mayor of Los Angeles, high upon the sneakers' list. A few words from the may- oralty lips : "Before the war I heard many persons describe the theatreman as being too aggressive. . . . The war has changed that. The theatremen themselves have changed that. Today the thea- treman ranks with the best of the citizens of a community. . . . Yes, the theatre of today is a definite part of community life in wartime. I wonder if it will remain so in peacetime." The Mayor was given the proper assurances. ■ ■ His hurried trip here had nothing to do with a UA bid for International Pictures' distribu- tion, according to Grad Sears, but that's not exactly the way we heard it. Coming Events Jan. 19-20 — Paramount district ad- vertising representatives and ad- vertising-publicity directors of circuits, meeting with home of- fice executives, Hotel Pierre, New York. Jan. 21-22— Motion Picture Theatr Owners of North and Sout Carolina, annual meeting, Char- lotte. Jan. 22-24 — Republic sales meeting, Hollywood. Jan. 24 — National Allied board of directors' meeting, Deshler-Wal- lick Hotel, Columbus. Jan. 25-31 — March of Dimes cam- paign in theatres. Feb. 2 — Press Photographers Asso- ciation dance and entertainment, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York. March 15 — Academy of Motion Pic- ture Arts and Sciences annual awards, Hollywood. Murray Damage Suit Limited to 5 Years Chicago, Jan. 16.— Thomas Mur- ray today concluded his suit in Fed- eral Court, here, against producer- distributors and Balaban and Katz, in which he is seeking $1,000,000 dam- ages for alleged conspiracy to de- prive him of product. Argument was started by defense counsel for a dis- missal verdict from the bench. Judge William Holly ruled that the damage period must be between 1937 and 1941, when Murray ceased to_ operate the Thalia and filed his suit. Plaintiff had sought damages back to 1924, but the court ruled that damages sought beyond a five-year period of the filing of the suit are outside the statute of limitations. Coe Set for Two More Industry Addresses Charles Francis Coe of the MPPDA will address the 20th Century Club in Pittsburgh on Jan. 29 on the sub- ject of drama and how it has devel- oped in the film industry's 50 years, and on Jan. 30 he will speak before the Advertising Club of Washington on "Movies at War." Coe began a series _ of talks in Pittsburgh and Washington two years ago. His new addresses will be made to audiences of more than 500 in both cities, including civic, religious and educational leaders, as well as club and film personnel. Anne O'Donnell Joins PRC Sales Dept. Anne O'Donnell is being brought into PRC's home office, from Detroit, in an executive capacity under Leo J. McCarthy, general sales manager. Miss O'Donnell was one of the origi- nal PRC franchise holders in Detroit: she and William Flemion recently sold their holdings in the parent company. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Puhlished daily except Saturday, Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20. N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann. Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, New? Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau. 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at th* post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 187° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Wednesday, January 17, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Akers Hits Proposed Changes in Okla.Tax Oklahoma City, Jan. 16. — C. B. (Brownie) Akers, vice-president of the MPTO of Oklahoma and an ex- ecutive of Griffith Amusement Co., ap- peared today before a legislative ap- propriations committee to protest pro- posed changes in the state sales tax law. Akers attacked proposals which would alter admission schedules for Oklahoma box offices, which are not adjusted to conform to a two per cent state sales tax levy. The bill intro- duced in the legislature would elim- inate mill levies on all admissions of 14 cents or less, and place a one-cent flat levy on admissions in the 15-64 cents bracket. At present, children's tickets to most Oklahoma theatres are priced at nine and eight-tenths cents, thus al- lowing the two mill levy to bring the price up to 10 cents and avoid the Federal tax. Akers said the legislature, by pass- ing the amendment, would cause children's tickets to come under the Federal tax, boosting them from 10 to 12 cents, which would cost patrons an estimated $7,000 weekly. Minneapolis Tax On Admissions Unlikely Minneapolis, Jan. 16.— Strong op- position from the industry has influ- enced a Mayor's committee here to abandon its plans for local theatre ad- mission taxes and to seek another source for needed revenue. It is now considered a foregone conclusion that the committee, which is seeking addi- tional revenue for municipalities, will abandon the planned theatre tax pro- vided the state legislature, currently in session, agrees to its request for a larger share of the state public utilities gross earnings tax to be al- loted to cities, towns and villages. Committee members point out that municipalities in other states receive a much larger proportion than in Minnesota. A Mayors' meeting in St Paul had approved a proposed enab- ling law, to permit municipalities to tax theatre admissions, but had re- ferred the matter to a committee of 15 for action, which now seems un- likely to be forthcoming. O'Connor Addresses Celestial Luncheon Monthly luncheon of the Celestials here, organization of executives in the film, radio, newspaper and magazine fields, took place yesterday at the Waldorf-Astoria, with 300 in attend ance. Basil O'Connor, chairman of the Infantile Paralysis Fund and head of the Red Cross, addressed the meet- ing on problems of returning veterans Robert Gillham, Rutgers Neilsen and Al Wilkie were among those pres- ent from this industry. Disney Net for '44 Increases $55,000 Hollywood, Jan. 16.— Walt Disney Productions reports for the year ended Sept. 30, 1944, a net income of $486,287, after provision of S221,000 for income taxes and $397,736 for additional losses on inven- tories. The net compares with $431,536 for the previous year. Joyce Sees Video With 300,000 Jobs Washington, Jan. 16. — In five /ears after full postwar production is begun, the television industry will pro- vide 300,000 new jobs and gross nearly $1,500,000,000 annually in re- tail sales, T. F. Joyce, general man- ager of the radio-television department of RCA-Victor predicted before the Advertising Club of Washington to- day. Joyce stressed that it will take one year after the 'go-ahead signal' to or- ganize production facilities before television receivers start to come off the line. If granted, Joyce pointed out, the more than 100 applications for commercial television broadcasting licenses now pending before the Fed- eral Communications Commission, will provide service to 50 per cent of the wired homes of the United States. At the end of five full television production years, the billing of the radio-television industry, in terms of retail pricing, will be approximately $1,440,000,000, contrasted with the 1941 retail value of approximately $620,000,000, according to Joyce. Urge War Jobs for St. Louis Operators St. Louis, Jan. 16. — In a letter to the House Military Affairs committee made public today, the St. Louis Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors committee urges that 167 skilled union employes on theatre payrolls not needed by the- atres be shifted at once to war fac- tories. The letter, signed by Louis E. An- sell, committee chairman, and ad- dressed to Rep. Andrew J. May, charges the employes are kept on the payrolls "through the pressure of the union." A similar suggestion was made by the exhibitors to the War Manpower Commission when the local operators' union, in an action directed at two subsequent run theatres, forced the closing of virtually all St. Louis first runs for several days last month. "We feel the public has been stirred up sufficiently by the strike to increase the chance of getting something out of Washington," Ansell explained. Officials of the operators' union could not be reached for comment. The union contends that two men in theatre projection booths are nec- essary' for the safety of the public. A St. Louis ordinance requires two op- erators but local theatres have asked the board of aldermen to repeal the ordinance. The theatres agree to pay to union men taking war jobs any difference in salary and guarantees to rehire therrr after the war. Austrian Sees Films Leading Video Show Cincinnati, Jan. 16. — Television on film will offer an effective method of spreading the story of large corpora- tions to the public, Ralph B. Aus- trian, executive vice-president of RKO Television Corp., told a meeting of the Cincinnati Industrial Adver- tisers Club here tonight in an address titled "Television, Its Effect on Ad- vertising and Public Relations." "It will be possible to portray what a large corporation does for its em- ployes via motion pictures to be made for telecasting.," Austrian pointed out. Short Subject Review 'World Without Borders' ( Universal) The history of aviation, which Jos- eph O'Brien and Thomas Mead of Universal News have sketched brief- ly in newsreel clips of early fly- ing feats and action shots of the pres- ent war has an understandable empha- sis on military operations but offers, too, a glimpse of peacetime flying, perhaps in 1948. Present, past and future are represented by pictures and facts of unusual interest. In addition to the familiar shots of early biplanes, balloons and gliders — some of them taken from the aviation exhibit in Rockefeller Center — there are the in- ventions of the Gilmore brothers, who preceded the Wrights with machines of amazing design which never flew. The air achievements of World War II are shown as the climax of more than 40 years' of experimentations and daring. But even they may be over- shadowed for the moment by the promise of Bermuda by air, round trip, for little more than $30. The drama is in the picture, while a factual com- mentary supplies identification. Run- ning time, 2014 minutes. Video Demonstration A demonstration of how radio com- mercials can be adapted for television will be the highlight of the Tele- vision Producers Association's month- ly meeting, Jan. 22, at the Pennsyl- vania Hotel, here. Dan Halpin of RCA Victor will be in charge of the demonstration. Fawcett Names Three William H. Thomas, James W. Mc- Glone and Michael Slater have been named to the Chicago sales staff of Fawcett Publications, it is reported here by Eliott Odell, advertising di- rector. Seek Television Permit Cincinnati, Jan. 16. — The Crosley Corp., operating radio stations WLW, WSAI, and several short-wave sta- tions, has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission for per- mission to operate a new commercial television station in Columbus, to run on 60.000 to 66,000 kilocycles. Start to Sign New Newsreel Contracts Newsreel companies have started signing new contracts with JATSE newsreel cameramen's Local No. 644 in New York and Local 666 in Chi- cago, having reached a compromise agreement on two stumbling blocks which have delayed signing of the pacts for many months, it was learned here yesterday. A representative of one of the news- reel companies indicated here yester- day that a compromise has been ef- fected in the cameramen's demands for severance pay and the newsreel companies' demands for provision that 20 per cent of their staffs may be apprentices. Pat Casey, producers' labor contact, aided in the reaching of the agreements, which will affect over 60 cameramen. Para. Sales Meeting On Coast Jan. 29 Hollywood, Jan. 16. — Charle.s M. Reagan, George Smith and Claude Lee, Paramount home office executives, are due here next Monday prepara- tory to a one-day sales meeting to be held in San Francisco Jan. 29, with Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco managers, salesmen and head bookers attending. Russell Holman and John Byram will arrive at the same time in ac- cordance with a plan for rotating East- West production executives, set up by_ Henry Ginsberg, general man- ager in charge of studio operations. Also due next Monday are Robert Gillham, on routine Coast business, and Y. Frank Freeman. Barney Balaban is expected two weeks later. Legion Classifies 10 New Pictures The Legion of Decency has classi- fied the following: A-l, "Ghost Guns/' "Gun Smoke," Monogram; "His Brother's Ghost," PRC; "She Gets Her Man," Universal, and "This Man's Navy." Class A-2, "Ad- ventures of Kitty O'Day," Monogram, and "Having Wonderful Crime," RKO. Three films were placed Class B : "Delightfully Dangerous," ^United Artists ; "House of Frankenstein," Universal ; "2,000 Women," Gainsbor- ough-United Artists. UA Regional Meeting Atlanta. Jan. ■ 16. — Fred Jack, Southern division manager for United Artists, will hold a regional meeting for personnel of the Charlotte, New Orleans, Dallas and Atlanta branches at the Jung Hotel in New Orleans Friday through Sunday. Folliard, Gittleson to Be Feted in Dallas Dallas, Jan. 16. — Ned Depinet Sales Drive captain Robert Folliard and his assistant, Harry Gittleson, will be guests at a luncheon here Thursday when they arrive on the last leg of their tour for the drive. Robert J. O'Donnell and other exhibitors will attend. Following the luncheon, Folliard and Gittleson will confer with RKO Southwestern district manager Ben Cammack and branch managers S. M. Sachs, A. M. Avery and R. B. Wil- liams of Dallas, Memphis and Okla- homa City, respectively, with their sales staffs and bookers. To Discuss IRE Meet Trade and newspaper radio editors have been invited to a luncheon at the Hotel Warwick here today to hear plans for the Institute of Radio Engi- neers' Winter technical meeting, to be held at the Hotel Commodore here. Jan. 24-27. E. L. Bragdon of the NBC press department, is chairman of the IRE publicity committee for the meeting. Isn't it Wonderful ? M-G-M GETS acne Wo-** OUT OF THE 10 BEST PICTURES OF THE YEAR! — IN FILM DAILY'S NATIONWIDE POLL! AND HERE ARE M-G-M HITS FOR 1945 HONORS! MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS ... . in Technicolor . . . Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO . . . Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson, Robert Walker, Phyllis Thaxter THE THIN MAN GOES HOME ... William Powell, Myrna Loy BETWEEN TWO WOMEN ... Van Johnson, Lionel Barrymore, Gloria DeHaven, Marilyn Maxwell NATIONAL VELVET . . . in Technicolor . . . Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Jenkins THIS MAN'S NAVY . . . Wallace Beery, Tom Drake, James Gleason MUSIC FOR MILLIONS . . . Margaret O'Brien, Jose Iturbi, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson THRILL OF A ROMANCE ... in Technicolor . . . Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Frances Gifford, Lauritz Melchior, Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF . . . Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Robert Benchley THE VALLEY OF DECISION ...Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore ANCHORS AWEIGH . . . in Technicolor . . . Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Jose Iturbi, Rags Ragland, Carlos Ramirez THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY . . . George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford HOLD HIGH THE TORCH ... in Technicolor . . . Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan and Lassie WITHOUT LOVE . . . Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball FOR OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES . . . Edward G.Robinson, Margaret O'Brien, James Craig, Jackie Jenkins ZIEGFELD FOLLIES . . . in Technicolor . . . Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Judy Garland, Lena Home, Gene Kelly, James Melton, Victor Moore, William Powell, Red Skelton, Esther Williams KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY . . . Lana Turner, Laraine Day, Susan Peters SON OF LASSIE . ... in Technicolor . . . Peter Lawford, Donald Crisp, Lassie and Laddie THE CLOCK . . . Judy Garland, Robert Walker March of Dimes! — Jan. 25 to 31 IT'S ANOTHER FRIENDLY YEAR! 6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 17, 1945 Review "Hangover Square" (20th Century-Fox) COMBINING again the acclaimed talent of the late Laird Cregar in de- livering a sinister performance, the intelligent production guidance of Robert Bassler, the keen directorial skill of John Brahm, and the fine crafts- manship of Barre Lyndon in fashioning screenplays, a quartet responsible for "The Lodger" last year, 20th Century-Fox has achieved another grim, grue- some and grotesque horror film in "Hangover" Square." It is a picture that ranks high in the thriller-chiller class, being handsomely produced, smoothly acted by a good cast, including Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Faye Marlowe and Alan Napier, besides Cregar ; and it is directed with suffi- cient restraint to keep it within the bounds of plausibility, despite unique aspects of the story. If the box office returns of "The Lodger" can be used as any criterion, this film is headed for healthy receipts. "Hangover Square" is based on the novel by Patrick Hamilton, who created "Gaslight." The background is London at the beginning of the present cen- tury. The story is a moody and suspenseful psychological melodrama built around a brilliant young composer afflicted with a strange homicidial mania which manifests itself during periodic mental lapses into the sub-conscious, induced by discordant sounds. The composer's emotional conflict is heightened by his urge to create a piano concerto for his fiancee, Miss Marlowe, whose father, Napier, is an outstanding orchestra conductor ; and popular music for Miss Darnell, a willful, conniving, and ambitious cabaret singer. Cregar is revealed as a murderer in the first scene but he is unaware of his crime, espe- cially since he takes his suspicions to Sanders, a Scotland Yard psychiatrist, and is exonerated. Miss Darnell is his next victim after she jilts him, but again the murder is so cleverly executed and the body is so ingeniously dis- posed of, that suspicion detaches itself from Cregar. When Sanders finally confronts Cregar with the evidence he has painstakingly assembled, Cregar is only half convinced and begs for time to enjoy the triumph of the perform- ance of his first piano concerto. Then in the mental agitation created by the playing of the concerto and the attempt of Scotland Yard to take him captive, his deeds are revealed to him during another of his spells. He perishes in a fire, as did his two previous victims. Cregar's murders are amongst the most bizarre ever perpetrated in a film. Bernard Herrmann's music heightens interest in the performances by Cregar and Miss Darnell which are excellent. Joseph La Shelle's lens work is also an outstanding asset in the uniformly splendid production provided by Bras- sier. If it's a good shocker that the customers want, this will certainly pro- vide it. . Running time, 77 minutes. "A."* To be released in February. Milton Livingston. Six 'Tub Thumpers' To Follow Boston Boston, Jan. 16. — The Tub Thumb- ers of America, composed of film and related press agents, and others, was officially launched here tonight with an installation at the Parker House of Boston members and the announce- ment that charters will be granted im- mediately for units in New York, Portland, Me., Hollywood, Cleveland, Chicago and Lowell, Mass. Bill Cunningham, columnist of the Boston Herald, and other papers, was the chief speaker. Fifty charter mem- bers were voted into the organization, with Harry Browning of M. and P. Theatres installed as chief tub thumber. Browning announced that it is the aim of the Tub Thumpers to be- come "a vital national organization of several thousand members all engaged in publicity and public relations work." The charter has been so drawn as to permit publicists of any industry to become members. The initial campaign of the Boston Thumbers, Tub No. 1 will be in be- half of the March of Dimes, and it was on this subject that Cunningham, Martin J. Mullin, Sam Pinanski and others spoke at this initial dinner- meeting. Public Safety Seen Halting Light Ban (Continued from page 1) ordered yesterday by the War Production Board, the order conforming to the directive is- sued by War Mobilization Di- rector James F. Byrnes, de- signed to save coal, and limit- ing the lighting of marquees to 60-watts. A. Julian • Brylawski of the MPTOA discloses that the matter has been taken up with WPB officials, by a group of theatre men, who ex- pressed their determination to go along with anything the WPB ordered, Brylawski said, but making representations regarding the public safety problem involved. It was represented, however, that the WPB was anxious to get the order out, and it was indicated that if the marquee restriction did not work out well, it could be corrected. Meanwhile, it was suggested that exhibitors could install stronger light- ing inside their box offices, providing additional illumination to the imme- diate area outside. Since this would be interior illumination it would not be affected by the order. Representatives of the exhibitors are expected to make further protests to the WPB in an effort to have the restriction eased to the point where dim, but adequate, illumination may be provided around a box office. Set Hochstein Trial The trial of Harry Hochstein, for- mer morals inspector in Chicago, and the sentencing of Isadore Nevin, for- mer bookkeeper for George E. Browne, ex-president of the IASTE, both of whom were indicted by a Fed- eral Grand Jury for alleged perjury in the Bioff-Browne proceedings, have been set for Feb. 13, by Judge John W. Clancy in the New York Federal Court. *"A" denotes adult classification. Fitzgibbons Here to Set FP-C Dinner Toronto, Jan. 16. — John J. Fitz- gibbons, Famous Players- Canadian president and managing director, will leave for New York tomorrow to make final plans for the company's 25th anniversary dinner here Jan. 23, when 37 employes will be installed in the 25 Year Club for continuons ser- vice. Among those expected to at- tend are Adolph Zukor, Barney Balaban, Austin C. Keough and John W. Hicks, Jr. RKO to Show Five Films in February RKO has set national trade show- ings for five new productions, as fol- lows : "The Enchanted Cottage" and "What a Blonde," Feb. 13 ; "Betrayal from the East" and "Having Wonder- ful Crime," Feb. 14; "Pan-Ameri- cana," Feb. 15. To Set Red Cross Plans Plans for cooperation of the radio industry in the 1945 Red Cross War Fund drive will be discussed at a luncheon at the Hotel Waldorf-As- toria here next Tuesday. James E. Sauter, head of the United Theatrical War Activities Committee, has been appointed radio division chairman. Altec Signs Steifel Steifel Bros, of Ephrata, Pa., has renewed agreements with Altec for the servicing of its sound equipment. Coal a Worry to Ohio Exhibitors (Continued from page 1) in the State's history, exhibitors re- port to Motion Picture Daily. Many homes, apartment buildings and business establishments in central and northern Ohio areas are without heat, their fuel supplies exhausted ; replen- ishments not immediately possible, be- cause a month of continuous snow and ice on highways has reduced to a mini- mum the movement of trucks, the sole method of coal transportation to cer- tain situations. Railroad sidings in some sections are said to be complete- ly filled with cars of coal frozen solid, and with forwarding impossible because of lack of equipment. Pub- lic libraries are closing one day a week, some communities report ; others have shut off street lighting. Deny Petition of 802 James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, an- nounced yesterday that the union's executive board had denied the peti- tion of a group of members of Local 802 that the 1942 and 1944 elections be set aside on the grounds that they were not in accordance with the local's by-laws. Morrow Rejoins CBS Marjorie Morrow, who recently re- signed as Warner Brothers' Eastern talent director, will rejoin Columbia Broadcasting here on Monday in the post of casting director, which she had left in 1943 for Warners. Unger Leaves for 3 Field Meetings J. J. _ Unger, United Artists West; ern division manager, will leave here today on a swing around exchanges under his supervision and will con- duct district sales meetings in Chi- cago, St. Louis and San Franisco. Each will be attended by branch man- agers and salesmen from all exchanges in each district. s Dates of meetings are now beinjp arranged. The first is scheduled in district manager Rud Lohrenz's Chi- cago territory with branch managers and salesmen from Chicago, Indianap- ; olis, Milwaukee and Minneapolis ; the second will get under way with dis- trict manager T. R. Thompson presid- ing in St. Louis with members of staffs from Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis; the final session will be held in San Francisco, with district manager W. E. Callaway presiding over members from Denver, Los An- geles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle offices. Unger will return to the home of- fice in about four weeks. WMC Retains Film Jobs as 'Essential' (Continued from page 1) as critical, however, are those jobs in the production of com- munication equipment, includ- ing radio and radio equipment, television and electrical sound equipment. The various film occupations which were carried on the original list are continued as essential, however, in- cluding motion picture production of technical and vocational training films for the Army, Navy and war produc- tion industries; film processing; news reels, and the development of sensi- tized film. The new classification is designed primarily to protect key men in the most important war and war-support- ing programs. Under the plan for taking men now deferred for occupa- tional reasons, the first to be called will be those not employed in any activity on the essential list; second the more readily replaceable men in the essential, but not critical occupations ; 'hird, the replaceables in critical pro- grams and, finally, a clean sweep, first of the essential and then of the critical list. Honor Ullman Today Chicago, Jan. 16. — Frederic Ull- man, Jr., president of Pathe News, will be honored today by the Ameri- can Civil Liberties Union in a cere- mony to be held at the Esquire Thea- tre, here. He will receive a plaque in recognition of his work in foster- ing tolerance in the U. S., specifical- ly for "New Americans," released through RKO, in the "This Is Ameri- ca" series. Glass Back to Coast George Glass, West Coast publicist who is in New York on personal busi- ness, just completed, plans to leave for Hollywood as soon as travel ac- commodations can be obtained. Glass yesterday denied reports linking him with a United Artists home office ad- vertising-publicity department post. Wednesday, January 17, 1945 Motion Picture daily 7 Loew's, Paramount List Bond Sales Loew's Theatres sold $20,868,605 in war bonds to patrons during the Sixth War Loan, according to an an- nouncement made here yesterday by Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew theatre executive. Of this amount, $17,080,- 900 were 'E' bond series. The bal- ance, $3,887,705, were 'F and 'G' ser- *^ ies. Sales represented 211,843 indi- _ vidual bonds. Al Weiss and the staff at the Pit- kin Theatre, Brooklyn, led with 'E' bond sales amounting to $923,450. In addition the Pitkin reported $219,300 s in 'F' and 'G' bonds. Paramount's Sixth War Loan drive in the New York area resulted in a total of $663,140 in sales of extra bonds to individuals, Edward A. Brown, drive chairman, reported yes- terday at a Paramount Pep Club meeting at the home office. Brown further reported that combined sales during the drive in the area amounted to $7,063,900, which included pur- chases by the company subsidiaries and outside sales credited to Par- amount. This does not include sales made by the Paramount Theatre. Zukor Accepts Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board, accepted a citation on behalf of Paramount, presented by John Whit- ney Richmond, deputy manager of the New York State War Finance Committee. The citation testifies that the employes during the drive sold War Bonds in an amount sufficient to finance an eight-car hospital train. Richmond also presented a citation to Brown, who, in turn, presented Treas- ury citations to employes who per- formed outstanding jobs. Other speakers at the home office em- ployes' meeting included : Oscar Mor- gan, short subject sales manager; Russell Holman, head of the East- ern production department ; Sam Buchwald, executive head of Famous Studios ; Graham Place, animator, and Joseph Stoltz of the story depart- ment. J. L. Brown, president of Paramount Pep Club, and Irving Singer, chairman of the entertain- ment committee, had charge. RWLB Defers RKO Managers Pact Meet The Regional War Labor Board here has uostponed until next Monday the initial hearing in the contract dis- pute between RKO and Motion Pic- ture Theatre Operating Managers and Assistant Managers Guild : the hear- ing had been set for yesterday. The guild represents managers and assistants in 40 RKO theatres in the Metropolitan New York area. The dispute was certified to the WLB sev- eral weeks ago when RKO and the guild failed to agree on contract lerms. Final Kent Accounting A final accounting of the estate of Sidney R. Kent, late president of 20th Century-Fox in Surrogate's Court here, disclosed that Peggy Ann Kent Moxley, daughter, will receive the bulk of the estate, $830,000. Kent died March 19, 1942, leaving $1,403.- 836 net. Mrs. Kent will receive 40 per cent of the estate : life annuities are created for a sister and two brothers. U.S. Asks Industry for New Home Front Stimulant {Continued from page 1) raw film stock situation. You may be sure that only essential projects will be dealt with. Toward that end, armed services are now working to- gether on a film showing cooperative effort in one big operation." Public information films now in work through the cooperation of Gov- ernment agencies and the War Ac- tivities Committee, deal with veteran rehabilitation, the "GI Bill of Rights," international trade, an explanation of lend-lease, nurse's aid recruiting, and post-war jobs. Lauds Previous Effort Ted R. Gamble, national director of the War Finance Division, U. S. Treasury, lauded the industry for the work done in previous war loans. In disclosing significant aspects of the national economy, Gamble said, "The job that has been done would have been utterly impossible without the aid of the motion picture industry." He revealed that from Mav, 1941, up to the last war loan, the Treasury bor- rowed $157,000,000,000, of which amount $38,000,000,000 came from some 85,009,000 individuals, averaging nine bonds per person. "These are buyers the Treasury especially wants to reach," Gamble explained, "not onlv for financing the war, but for the welfare of our future economy." Gamble stated that in the seventh and eighth war loan drives, the Treasury will call on Hollywood — both the Victory Committee and the War Activi- ties Committee — for even more aid than has been provided in the past. Board members representing the in- dustry at the meeting dedicated the entire industry to the nation's service, and launched a stepped-up program for the coming year. Plans for even closer cooperation with Government agencies this year were explained by Francis S. Harmon, WAC coordina- tor. Harmon read messages of thanks to the industry from Basil O'Con- nor, head of the Red Cross ; Winthrop W. Aldrich, president of the National War Fund, and Rear Admiral A. S. Merrill of the Navy. Cites Trade Press Aid Harmon, at the luncheon-meeting, paid tribute to the work of the trade press in loan drives. Harmon revealed that 12 industry publications have contributed a total of 833 pages of advertising to all War Activities Committee undertakings which, had it been purchased, would have cost $272,934. Trade journals also devoted 13,554 editorial columns tc the same causes. Six More States Pass 'Dimes' Total Six more state chairmen have re- ported to March of Dimes national headquarters here that their states have passed the mark of 1944 theatre participation. Chairmen reporting are : 'Rick' Ricketson, Colorado ; J. O. Brooks and Paul Schlossman, Michigan ; Arthur Lehman, Missis- sippi ; Fred Schwartz, Samuel Rinz- ler, Max Yell en and J. Meyer Schine, New York; William Sears and H. W. Workman, Minnesota: and Ted Schlanger, Moe Silver, Sidney Sam- uel son, Pennsylvania. Circuit chairman Joseph R. Vogel has reported that two-thirds of all circuits of 10 or more theatres have pledged to book the strongest avail- able attractions Jan. 25-31. Up to yesterday, the total number of theatres pledged was 12,739. 'I A' Board Not to Act On Managers9 Union (Continued from page 1) ferred to members at the next IATSE national convention, he announced. One matter being studied bv the board, according to Walsh, is the en- couragement of more stage shows. Mrs. Ivan Abramson Mrs. L. Einhorn Abramson, 88, re- tired actress and singer, died Sunday night at Lutheran Hospital here. She was the widow of Ivan ' Abramson, former motion picture producer and, in the silent film era, appeared in some of her husbanH's films. Surviving are a son. David H. Gould of Hollywood, two brothers and a sister. Warners' Best Foot Forward in Booklet Warners' home office advertising- publicity staff is telling it to the ex- hibitor these days through a gay little cartoon yarn, just off the press, de- picting the Hollywood adventures of "Joe from Mo." (a "Happy Hollow, Missouri," exhibitor who, true to the tradition of his state, goes to the Coast to find out for himself about new product). Joe, in, quite a few red-and-black pages, checks Gallup-wise into the problem of what company he should buy from. He consults the cop. the cab driver, the soda clerk, the shoe- shine bov. the panhandler, the caddy, and finallv a fat little pink elephant in a bar. He looks into coming films, novels and plays purchased, actors, writers- producers and directors on the roll, and Oscars in the bag. Joe returns home with his mind made un and. the folks there are so pleased with the results that they elect him to a string of local offices. Jack L. Warner, in a foreword, re- lates that the companv's policy is to make pictures that will reflect credit on the exhibitor. "Joe from Mo." was created and sent on his hapnv wav by the staff under Mort Blumen- stock. Eastern advertising and pub- licity director. T. L. Harry Wurtzel Dies Hollywood, Jan. 16. — Harry Wu'-t- tp\, 51. talent aeent. brother of Sol Hen, Sam and Henrv Wurtzel, died of a heart attack at his home here todav. Also surviving are his widow and daughter. Mrs. Edvthe Ziffren Services will be held on Thursday. Favor Blocks, 20% Option (Continued from page 1) announced objective of seeing that the sale of one picture is not conditioned upon the sale of another, but feels that 'teeth' should be put into this provi- sion if it is incorporated into a revised consent decree. He cited alleged forc- ing of shorts in his territory, despite the original decree provision to the contrary, and estimated that Carolina exhibitors overbuy shorts 50 per cent more than they require because of 'pressure.' Hearn, who is a member of the MPTOA, advanced a proposal for ex- hibitor associations to maintain a spe- cial representative in New York to carry the complaints of independents, regardless of affiliation, direct to home offices. This representative, Hearn as- serted, would have to be one who both speaks the distributors' language and understands the independents' problems. Hearn also is in favor of exhibitors submitting their trade prob- lems to informed trade people before resorting to formal arbitration before arbitrators not familiar with the trade. New Combine Function Booking and buying organizations, originally formed to obtain better deals than was possible for the individ- ual exhibitor, are now serving a new function securing better service on print availability. Peak business has definitely passed ; grosses commenced to decline about Thanksgiving, Hearn said. Product is abundant in his single-feature sell- ing territory. Building after the war bids fair to achieve the proportions of a near boom in his territory, Hearn claimed, citing "at least 25 exhibitors" who have purchased property with a view to building. "If and when television comes, the exhibitor will welcome it, but he is not showing any concern over it at the moment," Hearn concluded. Joseph Named PIC Western Chairman Hollywood, Jan. 16. — John Joseph of Universal today was elected chair- man of the Public Information Com- mittee, Western division, for six "ionths, succeeding Harry Brand of 20th Century-Fox. PIC unanimously approved a re- port submitted by its international committee, pledging that studio pub- licity directors in the future will ob- serve an international, rather than a strictly domestic, viewpoint. Close cooperation with foreign press corre- spondents was agreed upon. Sears Names Kamber Assistant on WAC (.Continued from page 1) zer on many phases of distributors' WAC setup for future patriotic in- dustry drives. KamDer >s director of special events at U.A. and will continue in that capacity. With Schnitzer now visiting U.A. Southern exchanges, on both company and WAC business, Kamber assumes his new duties immediately, assisting national distributor chairman Sears. MOTI )F DIMES JANUARY 25-31 VOL. 57. NO. 13 NEW YORK. U.S.A.. THURSDAY. JANUARY 18. 1945 TEN CENTS :| Reagan Calls I Nine Regional IP Sales Meetings 1 1 1 — ;.v Smith, Lee and Gillham '.' Will Tour with Him For the first time since he was named vice-president in charge of Paramount distribution, nearly a year ago, Charles M. Reagan will visit the com- pany's Holly- wood studio to map new prod- uct plans, and subs equently will tour the nine sales dis- trict headquar- ters in the field, conducting re- gional sales meet ings in each. Reagan will for Chicago to- day, and accompanied by George A. Smith. Western division manager, and (Continued on page 3) Charles 31. Reagan leave New York MGM, RKO, 20th in Joint Dubbing Plan RKO will launch production here of Spanish dubbed films within the next few months and will produce them 'in as- sociation' with M-G-M and 20th Century-Fox. The companies will use Spanish Synchronizations* studios, formerly the old Lo- pert studios here, and a stock company of Mexican and Ar- gentine plavers. assembled by Metro. U. S., Britain Near Set On Double Taxes Ask Essential Classification Of Booth Men AAA Given 30 Days To Answer Arthur WB Creates New Division ', Ben Kalmenson, general sales man- 'i ager for Warner Bros., announced yesterday that with a view to pro- ,' viding more effective concentration of ,' sales and distribution services in one of the largest trading areas in the i' country, Warners' Southern and ', Southwestern distribution map has ', been altered to provide two district ', offices in place of the present head- '> quarters in Atlanta. 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S O u 22 '-,< >.=3 0^1bC 22 Sie <=. U H ON CO E e- o oS'C o" tn a cu -3 wfc «'-3 e J,/3Eh S 30 2 • 3E- O >• an' co £ eQf |x cu iJ!x ^ .E H K ra i-c as : coco &a 040 ■ «« a w on < j > woo E « Ufa wo eg (3 ^ § ^ § 0 ^ O He Thursday, January 18, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 "A Song to Remember" (Continued from page 1) teacher, on the one hand, and Merle Oberon as George Sand, on the other. Cornel Wilde, as the adult Chopin, owes his initial success in Paris to the latter and, succumbing to her romantic spell, quickly enough succumbs to her influence as well. Acting upon her counsel, he abandons his old friend and also his intention of dedicating his talent to the liberation of his native Poland, which he had been forced to flee because of his association with revolutionists. He secludes himself at Majorca and composes his numerous waltzes and noc- turnes, ignoring the completion of his more serious "Polonaise." EVENTUALLY, his childhood sweetheart brings word of the suppression of the Polish rebellion, the imprisonment of his old friends and, too, a packet of soil from his native land, and pleads for his help. His will restored, Chopin begins a concert tour of Europe's capitals to earn money for the Polish cause. His health fails and he dies in Paris among his old friends after completing the tour. Charles Vidor's direction skillfully blends the plenteous piano compositions with the drama and movement of the screenplay. Chopin's initial debut and later triumph in Paris are as well endowed with the feeling and drama which moves audiences deeply as is any superbly done parlor drama or action film. The music, which plays so prominent a part in the production, is a rare delight, never obtrusive and, in fact, as essential to the story as any principal in the cast. It is regrettable that circumstances do not permit credit being given to Jose Iturbi, whose piano artistry is so important to this distinguished picture, in which he himself never appears. His is the music for Wilde's Chopin. The performances of Muni and Wilde are outstanding. Miss Oberon's un- sympathetic role is effectively enacted. Maurice Tauzin as the adolescent Chopin ; Stephen Bekassy as Liszt ; George Coulouris as an impresario and Nina Foch as Chopin's childhood sweetheart, all are excellent. Buchman's effective screenplay is matched by his and Louis F. Edelman's production con- tributions. Technicolor photography endows lavish period sets and costumes with exceptional interest and audience values. Musical supervision and direc- tion and musical recordings are in keeping with this quality production. Despite its unique character, it would be unjust to describe "A Song to Remember" as an experiment in new fields of film making. There is nothing uncertain about its box office values. Running time, 113 minutes. "G." * Release date, not set. Sherwin Kane Wobber Set to Make 20th-Fox Sales Tour (.Continued from page 1) meetings will be held with branch and sales personnel. Meanwhile, Earl Wingart has been designated co-ordinator at the home office publicty office of 20th Century- Fox by Hal Home, director of adver- tising, publicity and exploitation, and Gabe Yorke has been given an iden- tical position at the studio by Harry Brand, studio publicity director. Both jobs are in connection with 20th-Fox's campaign for its anniversary. While the first objective in the cam- paign is in April, the entire year will be involved in the company's publicity-advertising campaigns and an anniversary year trailer for exhibitors is now being completed. The cam- paign will embrace trade papers, daily papers, magazines, fan magazines' and radio. Charles Schlaifer, assistant to Home, states that the advertising forces have prepared the first series of trade paper and other promotionals. AAA Given 30 Days To Answer Arthur ( Continued from page 1 ) their difficulties with the Department of Justice without being forced to go to trial on the whole issue. A hearing set before Judge Goddard on March 5 will determine this issue, and it is believed that the defendant film company attorneys will try to delay filing answers in the St. Louis Amuse- ment Co. action until after the ques- tions on the decree as a whole are wofked out with Judge Goddard, who stated last December that he felt that the decree should not be tossed aside, and that he would force the companies and the Government to agree if he had "to bang their heads together." Harry Long Named To Assist Steam Pittsburgh, Jan. 17. — Col. Harry Long has been named assistant to Bert M. Steam, head of Co-Operative Theatre Service, here, servicing 80 theatres. Stearn is also president of Film Classics here. Col. Long was a former Canadian manager for Universal and was asso- ciated with Loew's Theatres in the U. S. for 13 years as Eastern and Central district manager. For the past two years he has been district manager for Schine in New York and Ohio. NLRB Hits NBC, Blue The National Labor Relations Board, through regional director Charles T. Douds, has issued a com- p'aint against National Broadcasting and the Blue Network, claiming that both refused to bargain collectively with the National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians. A hearing will be held here on Jan. 30. 'Suspect' on Mutual The quiz show, "Double Or Noth- ing," originating over Mutual, Fri- day, will salute Universal's "The Sus- pect." A special preview of the pic- ture will follow the broadcast. * "G" denotes general classification. Bayshore Trust Suit Is Discontinued The triple-damage anti-trust suit of Associated Playhouse, Inc., operators of the Bayshore, Bayshore, L. I., against Loew's, Paramount, United Artists and Universal, was discon- tinued without prejudice to a renewal in Federal Court here yesterday. Action claimed that the Bayshore was forced to play 140 days after a Broadway showing of a picture, and that Loew's Valencia in Jamacia, 32 miles away, and the Bayshore's near- est competitor, overbought on product to prevent the plaintiff from securing 'choice' pictures. The discontinuance without prejudice means that legally the action can be started again with no loss to the plaintiff, provided the settlement, which is not indicated in the filed stipulation, is unsatisfactory after a reasonable period. 5 Companies Out In Murray Damage Suit (Continued from page 1) on defense counsel's argument that little evidence had been presented by Murray against those defendants. Monogram and Warner were dropped as defendants by mutual agreement. The plea to dismiss the action against the other defendants, mostly distributors, was denied. During this afternoon the jury was taken to Murrays' former theatre, the Thalia, and to the Balaban and Katz competitive theatre, the Milo, to get a clearer picture of the properties under discussion. The defense will begin its case tomorrow. Murray contends that the distributors gradu- ally deprived him of product for the Thalia over a period of years, favor- ing the Milo, and finally forced him out of business. Warners Creates New Sales Area (Continued from page 1 ) fice of the newly designated South- eastern district, with Ralph L. McCoy continuing as district manager in that territory ; his sales area will include Atlanta, Charlotte and New Orleans. A newly-created Southwest district has been set up under Doak Roberts, promoted from' Dallas branch man- ager, with headquarters in that city. This district will take in Oklahoma City and Memphis. J. W. Loewe, manager in Oklahoma City, has been promoted to Dallas manager, with J. B. Sokley, salesman in the Chicago branch, elevated to the Oklahoma City managership. All changes will become effective on Monday. Para. Workers Sue For $35,000 Overtime Fifty building maintenance em- ployees of the Paramount Building, here, filed suit in New Yofk Federal Court yesterday against Paramount, owners of the building, and William A. White and Sons, agents, seeking overtime pay, asking $35,000 in back pay and charging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act; they seek penalties in a similar sum. Mrs. Studer to Goldwyn Mary Curtis Studer has been named assistant director of East Coast pub- licity, under Leo Katcher, for Samuel Goldwyn Productions. Mrs. Studer, former radio commentator and actress, recently director of radio publicity and special events for the American Red Cross, Eastern area, will have charge of magazine and radio pub- licity. Newsreels May Be Spared Further Raw Stock Cut (Continued from page •!) Washington conferring with WPB of- ficials, and it is expected that on the basis of the information he has as- sembled on minimum raw stock re- quirements of the reels, the WPB will arrive at definite allocations. There were no indications here yes- terday that the overall cut of some 27,000,000 feet of raw stock which the industry has been asked to take dur- ing the current quarter, has been al- tered. Schaefer is understood to have studied current raw stock usage by Government agencies in an effort to see if any more raw stock can be made available to the industry. 900 Prints Weekly The newsreels were originally asked to cut 9,000,000 feet from their 1944 fourth quarter allocation of 52,000,000 feet. The 43,000,000 feet available would have necessitated cutting the equivalent of 12,000 prints for the quarter. About 68,000 newsreel prints were made during the quarter, or about 5,200 prints each week for the five companies. The suggested WPB cut of 9,000,000 feet would have meant cutting the equivalent of 900 prints weekly, if no cuts were to be made in the actual footage maximum of 750 feet. Several companies are understood to . have pointed out that they sold their reels on a yearly contract of 104 issues and they could not, there- fore, cancel customers to curtail prints. Leveling the cut against the length of the reels would have cut the average of 750 feet per issue to 600 feet, and the newsreel companies are understood to have pointed out that it would not be advisable to cut to that length. Reports current this week that the reels would only be cut by five per cent in raw stock usage are not viewed with too much optimism in in- formed quarters, where it is pointed out that the actual savings in stock usage would not warrant the wide- spread revamping of the size of the reels, which the cut in size would en- tail. Film company officials appear to be more pessimistic about the cut in newsreel raw stock allocations than they are about feature printing alloca- tions. 'Week' Retains Condon This Week. Sunday supplement, edited by William Nichols, has re- tained Richard Condon, Inc., as con- sultant to the editorial department. Condon reports that his program for This Week, distributed in New York through the Sunday Herald Tribune, will be to effect closer relations be- tween the magazine and the motion picture industry, as well as radio and the press. Flanter Joins Fawcett Adrian James Flanter has joined the public relations department of Fa"w- cett Publications in an executive ca- pacity. Flanter had been in the broadcasting field as promotional counsel for many years. Barbara Van Sleet, formerly with NBC, has also joined the same unit. % BIG One Is Ready! BIG in Theme! BIG in Cast! And BIG in Reviews! "Excellent. Its cast is the. best ever to appear for Monogram. Story is powerful, direction splendid, production exceptional."..^^^^ reporter "Sure-fire hit.'L^^ PARS0NS "Poignant, timely, effective ".^ ANGELES mES v "Formidable contender for big league bookings and patronage."_ff(?jro^/(;f "Subject has great topical importance. Rates top Wl." showmen's trade review "Deft and interesting. Gale Storm gives top performance.".^^ P/CTURE HERALD HAVE FA 1 1 11 GALE STORM ith SIR AUBREY SMITH FRANK CRAVEN CONRAD NAGEL JOHN MACK BROWN MARY BOLAND JOHNNY DOWNS f5- GYPSY ROSE LEO OUTSTRIPS ALL RIVALS! First In Accural and Impartial MOTION H ST TURE DAILY VOL. 57. NO. 14 NEW YORK. U.S.A., FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1945 TEN CENTS Allied Board To Review Trust Suits But Exhibitors' Decree Conference Is Deferred Washington, Jan. 18. — Nation- al Allied's board of directors' meet- ing at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel, Columbus. Jan. 24-25, will be de- voted largely to discussions of anti- trust suits, the consent decree, addi- tional product sources for independent exhibitors, the work of the organi- zation's Caravan Committee, a pro- posed new plan for serial-numbering theatre tickets, and the annual elec- tion of officers, it was announced here today from the office of Abram F. Myers. Allied board chairman and general counsel. The conference of independent ex- (Continued on page 8) awrence to Handle Rank Promotions London, Jan. 18. — J. Arthur Rank oday announced the appointment of fol. Jock Lawrence. Hollywood writ- r and publicist, as his American pub- 'c relations representative to handle 11 publicity and exploitation, con- rming a Motion Picture Daily tory of Dec. 5. Lawrence, before entering the {Continued on page 10) I A' Favors Salesmen, nters Video, 16mm Minneapolis, Jan. 18. — IATSE ex- cutive committee members, holding heir mid-Winter meeting here this :eek, indicated today that they are avorably disposed toward the organ- ation of film salesmen under the ion's banner. Requests for charters rom salesmen's groups are being studied and probably will be granted {Continued on page 7) Seventh War Loan In May: Gamble Portland, Ore.. Jan. 18.— The Seventh War Loan drive will probably begin about May, Ted R. Gamble, national director of the Treasury's War Finance Division, pre- dicted here todav. Law Plan to Distributors Los Angeles, Jan. 18. — Hugh Bruen and Robert Poole, executives of the Southern California Theatre Owners Association, will arrive in New York next week to present to distributors the trade grievance conciliation plan of the late Albert J. Law, former ex- ecutive secretary and general counsel of the SCTOA, who died there Jan. 1. A successor to Law is scheduled to be elected at a board meeting here Mon- day, and it is probable that the suc- cessor will join Bruen and Poole in New York. The first stop of both executives, who will leave today, will be Colum- (Continued on page 10) Million for ITOA Film Production The Independent Theatre Owners Association, following a meeting here yesterday at the Astor Hotel, an- nounced plans for independent produc- tion with $1,000,000 reported to be available to start immediately. Xo further details were made available. Harry Brandt, president, and other executives of the organization, refused to comment. The ITOA membership pledged 100 per cent support of the March of Dimes drive, taking collections at every performance. The organization will also back the manpower recruit- ing campaign by devoting program space, show trailers, permit announce- ments from the stage, and, if neces- sary, make arrangements to recruit manpower in the lobby. Exhibitor Wants a Tax — for Circuits Butte, Mont., Jan. 18.— State Representative Frank H. Hor- rigan, himself an exhibitor — independent — has introduced in the legislature a bill which would require theatre cir- cuits in Montana to pay $1,000 annually for a license for each theatre operated by a circuit. Freeman to Outline Para. Studio Plans Production plans of the Paramount studio will be outlined by Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president in charge of studio operations, at a luncheon at the Hotel Pierre today in conjunction with the company's two-day meeting of theatre and circuit advertising and publicity heads and district advertis- ing representatives. Barney Balaban, Adolph Zukor, Leonard Goldenson and other Par- amount executives will attend the luncheon, in addition to the out-of- town representatives. The meeting (Continued on page 10) SAG May Carry Fight To Supreme Court Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Screen Act- ors Guild attorney William Berger told the membership, at a meeting here last night, that overlapping jurisdic- tional claims of SAG and the Screen Players Union are subject to review by the Xational Labor Relations Board and also by the federal courts in an unfair labor practice case, and (Continued on page 7) 'Gift-Films Make Millions Of Post-war Customers7 "The industry will have millions of new soldier customers and will have to build many additional theatres to house them in the post-war, as a direct result of its free distribution of films to soldiers," Lt. James O'Shea, son of E. K. O'Shea, Eastern sales mana- ger of M-G-M, told Motion Picture Daily here yesterday. Lt. O'Shea. home after 300 bombing missions over Germany, in a year-and-a-half abroad, is on leave in Xew York. Lt. O'Shea, 21, who plans to enter the film industry at the end of the war, made several private surveys of film conditions while overseas, and .reports he bases his findings on the fact that thousands of men from farms, the mountains, and other out-of-the- way places who seldom, if ever at- tended films, now find them their only source of relaxation. At O'Shea's post, he said that four films were shown weekly, with pilots receiving seven, and that a complete 'sell-out' in attendance was always the order. It is difficult to get some soldiers to leave the showing even after having seen the same film twice. "These soldiers, on their return home will demand motion pictures for entertainment, and if no theatre exists in their area, they will see that one is built." declared Lt. O'Shea. "The goodwill the industry has cre- (Continucd on page 10) Studio Strike Monday Unless WLB Steps In Sorrell Says He Cannot Hold Situation in Check Hollywood, Jan. 18. — A strike by the Screen Set Decorators Union on Monday loomed here to- day as Conference of Studio Unions president Herbert Sorrell telegraphed War Labor Board chairman William H. Davis asking him to "confirm or deny" the statement of William Green, Amercian Federation of Labor presi- dent, that the WLB is appointing an arbitrator in the jurisdictional dispute between the decorators' union and IATSE. Sorrell's telegram declared, "It is impossible to hold the situation in (Continued on page 7) Ontario Exhibitors To Fight 10% Tax Ontario exhibitors will meet in To- ronto next Wednesday to organize against a proposed additional 10 per cent admission tax on all theatres in the province, John J. Fitzgibbons, president and managing director of Famous Players-Canadian, disclosed here yesterday. Fitzgibbons is in Xew York to discuss final plans with Para- mount officials for the company's 25th anniversary dinner in Toronto on Jan. 23. He will return to Toronto today. Fitzgibbons expressed confidence that the industry conciliation code for Canada which has been more than a (Continued on page 10) U. S. Files Cartel Suit Against G.E. Washington, Jan. 18. — Initiation of a civil suit charging General Elec- tric Co., manufacturer of motion pic- ture television, radio and other elec- trical equipment, and the International General Electric Co. with maintaining international cartel agreements, the (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Review of "Gun Smoke" ap- pears on page 10. 2 Motion Picture daily Friday, January 19, 1945 'Dimes' Pledges Are Now Up to 13,373 Some 13,373 theatres have pledged participation in the 1945 March of Dimes drive, through yesterday, in- cluding Puerto Rican theatres, whose pledges were cabled by chairman Ned Seckler. For the first time, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, Hawaii, and Alaska will make collections. Robert Peratrovich, Jr., is Alaskan chairman. P. J. Wood, state chairman for Ohio, reports that his state also has enrolled more theatres than in any previous year. Rosenwald Names 28 to Assist on 'Dimes' Charlotte, Jan. 18. — W. Frank Phillips, Mecklenburg County chair- man of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, has named the Charlotte Variety Club to head the county drive for a quota of $25,750 in the 1945 March of Dimes campaign. Benn H. Rosenwald, chief barker of the tent, has appointed Scott Lett and Lester C. Sipe to serve as co-chairmen for the campaign. Named from the membership to as- sist are : Tom Little, H. H. Everett, Roy L. Smart, H. F. Kincey, Bob Allen, Bob Jeffers, Hank Hearn, Bill White, J. V. Frew, Tack Austin, Walter Griffith, A. B. Craver, J. Henry Dillon, George Roscoe, Sam Hinson, Harry Jones, Ernest Stelling, Bob Saunders, Hy Holston, Robert Bradley, Max Bryant, Royal Penny, John Ward, Haskell Porcher, Al Burks and Leonard Allen. Rubens and Kirsch Call Illinois 'Dimes' Meet Chicago, Jan. 18.— M. M. Rubens and Jack Kirsch, co-chairmen of the March of Dimes drive, have called a statewide meeting and luncheon to be held at the Blackstone Hotel on Mon- day. Exhibitors participating in the drive and all executives and news- papermen have been invited. Coval, Palmeri in WB Foreign Posts Irvin. Coval, formerly branch man- ager for Warners in Montreal, has been made manager in Trinidad and the British West Indies, succeeding Lester Cohen, who was shifted to Panama, and Vincent Palmeri, for- mer manager of Warner theatres in Bridgeport, becomes manager of the Warner branch in Peru, replacing Armando Trucios, who has been pro- moted to supervisor for Peru, Colom- bia and Ecuador, Wolfe Cohen, vice- president of Warner Pictures Interna- tional Corp., disclosed here yesterday. Both Coval and Palmeri are now en route to their new posts. Stuber Head of EK Advertising, Sales Rochester, Jan. 18. — Adolph Stuber. Eastman Kodak vice-president, has been named director of sales and ad- vertising for the company, by the board of directors. James C. White. \ ice-preside'it and general manager of Tpnru'wr RjKtman. has named pr^siirnt "f t'-at orn. Personal Mention NICHOLAS M. SCHENCK, pres- ident of Loew's, Inc., and Oscar A. Doob, Loew's Theatres advertising- publicity director, will leave Holly- wood for New York today on the Superchief, followed Tuesday by Howard Dietz, M-G-M advertising- publicity director. • Herman Liveright of the Para- mount story department in New York and Paramount SOPEG chairman, has become a father. • M. J. McDekmott, Universal audi- tor, who has been visiting the com- pany's Atlanta branch, has left for Dallas. • William B. Brenner, National Screen Service vice-president in charge of operations, is in Minneapo- lis. e Spvros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, has returned to New York from Hollywood. • Frederic Ullman, Jr., RKO-Pathe News president, was in Chicago this week. • . Claud Morris, East Coast exploi- tation director for Samuel Goldwyn, is on a trip to the Southwest. • Henry Blanke, Warner Bros, pro- ducer, has arrived in New York. Y. Frank Freeman is scheduled to leave. for the Coast today. H ARRY COHN is scheduled to leave for the Coast today. Capt. Gene Markey, chief of the Navy's motion plicture section, ar- rived yesterday in Hollywood for con- ferences with Commander A. J. Bol- ton/ Hollywood liaison officer, and with the Hollywood division of the War Activities Committee. • Pvt. Howard Helleberg, formerly manager of the Art Theatre, here, is now stationed in England after hav- ing been wounded in General Hodges' first invasion of Germany. • Ed Dupar, Warner Bros, camera- man, who has been in the East for the past few weeks with a unit shoot- ing exteriors, left yesterday for the Coast. • Russell Holman, head of Para- mount's Eastern production depart- ment, and John Byram, play editor, will leave today for Hollywood. • Earl Cunningham, vice-president and general manager of the Fountain Square Theatre Co., Indianapolis, was a recent New York visitor. • Jack Kirby, Paramount Southern division manager, is in New York from Atlanta. • Harry David, general manager of Northio Theatres, is a New York vis- itor from Cincinnati. Porter Is Approved By Vote of Senate Washington, Jan. 18 — Nomination of Paul Porter to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, was confirmed today by the Senate. Porter is already serving on the Com- mission, having been given a recess appointment by President Roosevelt following the adjournment of the last Congress, which failed to act on the nomination. WB Promotes Batlan To District Manager Five promotions among Warner theatre executives and managers in the New Jersey zone were announced yesterday by Frank J. Damis, zone manager. Edward Batlan, Branford Theatre, Newark, has been promoted to dis- trict manager, succeeding Robert M. Paskow, who has moved to the home office to handle commercial tieups on films ; Louis Stein of the Regent, Elizabeth, takes over the Brandford ; Maurice Ingram, former manager of the Sanford, Irvington. succeeds Stein in Elizabeth and is replaced in Irving- ton by Edward Kane from the Cran- ford, Cranford ; J. Conheim goes to the Cranford. 'Caballeros' Set for Globe Walt Disney's "The Three Cabal- leros" will have its New York prem- iere at th'' Globe Theatre on Satur- day, Feb. 3. RKO Radio is releasing. Services Tomorrow For Judge Walker Judge Thomas J. Walker, brother of Postmaster General Frank C. Walker, head of the Comerford Cir- cuit, died in St. Vincent's Hospital here yesterday following an illness of several weeks. The body will repose at the home of the deceased, 1088 Park Avenue, to- day. Funeral services will be held at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, 980 Park Avenue, at 11 a.m. tomor- row. Burial will be at Butte; Mon- tana. Judge Walker presided in the Customs and Patent Appeals courts here. He is survived by his wife and two sisters, in addition to the Post- master General. Report Masters Is Leaving Odeon Post It was reported in informed circles here yesterday that J. Arthur Rank would appoint a representative to the Odeon Theatres, Ltd., of Canada board of directors to succeed Has- kell M. Masters, Odeon vice-pres- ident. Reached in Toronto, Masters said that the report was 'news' to him. Columbia Joins CAB Columbia Pictures is one of five advertisers whose new applications for membership in the Cooperative Analy- sis of Broadcasters has been accepted. Membership involves the receipt of research data being released under CAB's extension program. NEW YORK THEATRES SECOND THRILL WEEK! Erich Von Stroheim Mary Beth Hughes The Great Flamarion with Dan Duryea Stephen Barclay A Republic Picture REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. FIRST N. Y. SHOWING! RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50TH STREET & 6TH AVENUE M-G-M's "NATIONAL VELVET" MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP • ELIZABETH TAYLO.R JACKIE JENKINS - REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN '30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO' SPENCER TRACY VAN JOHNSON ROBT. WALKER IN PERSON ^ JEAN PARKER JOEY ADAMS 20TH CENTURY -FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronin's "THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous RIVOLI Performances B'way & 49th St. BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS "Here Come PARAM0UN In Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE • the Waves" T Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous" An RKO Picture FIGHTING LADY' IN TECHNICOLOR 20th CENTURY-FOX RELEASE VICTORIA THEATRE BROADWAY & 46th ST. MfDNIGHT SHOW EVERY NIGHT MOSS HART'S ~ -^-rs*nl/ mmEDvmm Produced by A 2M> DARfiYt F. ZANUCK Oirttted by GEORGE CUK0R/ ^ J* AVE, " Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald. Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938 at the office at New York, N, under the act of March 3, 187" Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Co., Inc post *«e lor >e* '945 wi""he bi99es( o, all its productions 'CAN'T HELP SINGING," paralleled by such .,\ot>s 1 V* 0** OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR CAN'T HELP SINGING IS WELL FOUNDED Held over in all first engagements Durbin Cufi Help Sf«G/#e i» TECHNICOLOR iith ROBERT PAIGE AK1M TAMIROFF DAVID BRUCE LEORID R1NSKEY BAY COLLINS JUNE VINCENT ANDREW TOMBES THOMAS GOMEZ iwt, FRANK BTAM jWwtyFEMX JACKSON x^&wFiUNK SMW^^JEgOME KERN Wi»Et MBSRS A UNIVERSAL PICTURE Screen Play by LEWIS R. FOSTER and FRANK RYAN • Story by John Klorer, Leo Townsend • Based on "Girl of the Overland Trail" by Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky The SOSPtCT looks like SMASH BOXOFHCtf .Variety it THE SUSPECT is a motion picture about a matter that every husband and every wife are keenly interested in but never talk about Mofhn p.-. ,0" Picture Daily Charles Ella LAUGHTON RAINES Sujpict DEAN HARENS STANLEY C. RIDGES HENRY DANIELL • ROSALIND IVAN Screen Play by Bertram Millhauser Adaptation by Arthur T. Horman From a novel by James Ronald Directed by ROBERT SIODMAK Produced by ISLIN AUSTER A UNIVERSAL PICTURE aPv- "House of Frankenstein," Universale horror classic starring all its Titans of Terror, has broken all existing records at the RIALTO THEATRE on BROADWAY, NEW YORK. This again proves that Universal knows when and how to make this type of boxofiice bonanza. We really believe that "House of Frankenstein" is headed for an all- time record for horror pictures So, brother, don't be wary of this scary. You, too, can play it! starring BORIS KARLOFF • LON CHANEY with john carradine . j. carrol naish ANNE G WYNNE • PETER COE • ELENA VERDUGO • LIONEL ATWILL Screen Play by Edward T. Lowe • Directed by ERLE C. KENTON • Produced by PAUL MALVERN • Based on a Story by Curt Siodmak A UNIVERSAL PICTURE & LAUGH / ' \n Motion merriment- IIGN UP NOW! A GREATER DRIVE IN '45 ! MARCH OF DIMES (JAN. 25-31) PRINTED IN U. S. A. •^mediate claims offers two «*meu first *> ,as '. » with WILLIAM GARGAN LEON ERROL Vivian Austin • Milburn Stone • Ian Keith Russell Hicks and Bob Allen Original Screen Play by Warren Wilson and Clyde Bruckman Additional Dialogue by Ray Singer and Dick Chevtllat Directed by ERLE C. KENTON Produced by WARREN WILSON • A UNIVERSAL PICTURE Friday, January 19, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Fire Epidemic Up At Carolina Meet Charlotte, Jan. 18.— Theatre Own- ers of North and South Carolina, meeting in annual session here Mon- day, at the Hotel Charlotte, will take under consideration the number of fires which have been occurring re- cently in theatres of the two states. Mrs. Pauline Griffith, association sec- retary, reported that three theatres in North Carolina alone have been de- stroyed by fire in the past month. Legislation now before the North Carolina general assembly proposing a return of the three per cent gross receipts tax on theatres will be dis- cussed at the afternoon session. The tax was discontinued in 1943, and under present law theatres pay a li- cense fee on a graduated scale rang- ing from $125 to $2,500. The convention will start Sunday night with a meeting of the board of directors. Registration Monday will be followed with an open meeting. Ed Kuykendall, previously slated to speak at this session, will be unable to be here. Kuykendall is head of the MPTOA, with which the local organ- ization is affiliated. $15,000 for 'Can't Help Singing' Tops Pittsburgh, Jan. 18.— "Can't Help Singing" brought an estimated $15,- 000 to the Harris this week, with bad weather conditions taking a toll of re- ceipts elsewhere. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 15-19 : "The Suspect" (Univ.) FULTON— (1,700) (35c-44c-6Sc) 7 clays. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $8,500). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) J. P. HARRIS— (2,200) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $10,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) PENN— (3,400) (40c-55c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $21,700). "The Master Race" (RKO) RITZ— (1,100) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Warner. Gross: $2,500. (Average: $3,000). "Winged Victory" (ZOth-Fox) SENATOR— (1,750) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 4th week, on a moveover from the Harris. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $3,000). "Tall in the Saddle" (RKO) STANLEY— (3,800) (40c-55c-85c) 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $22,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) WARNER— (2,000) (35c-44c-65c) 7 days, 3rd week. Moveover from the Stanley. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $9,450). RWLB May Change AFM Hiring Policy Radical modification of the tradi- tional contract policy of the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians requiring employers to hire fixed numbers of its members regardless of the amount of available work, has been recommended in a formal panel report filed with the Regional War Labor Board, it was disclosed yesterday. $75,000 to Navy Washington, Jan. 18. — Paramount and DeMille Productions today pre- sented a check for $75,000 to the Navy Relief Society, representing another payment from the returns of "The Story of Dr. Wassell." The check was given to Admiral J. O. Richard- son, executive vice-president of the Society, who had also received the first check for $50,000, several months ago. MGM Paid $981,418 For Mutual Time M-G-M was the fourth larg- est buyer of time on the Mu- tual network last year, spend- ing $981,418 for air time on that system alone. It had two shows, "Screen Test" and "People's Reporter," both five evenings a week. Mutual's billings for 1944 totaled $19,533,650 with Dona- hue and Coe, advertising agency which handles the M-G-M account, placing $1,- 056,848 in time, also to rank fourth among agencies plac- ing time. Yates Will Address Republic Meeting Hollywood,, Jan. 18.— The third and last in Republic's series of region- al sales conferences will begin at the company's studio here Monday, where James R. Grainger, president and gen- eral sales manager, will meet with Western sales, studio and home office executives. H. J. Yates, chairman of the board, will make the opening address. Among those in attendance will be: Francis Bateman, Western district sales man- ager ; J. T. Sheffield, franchise holder ; J. H. Sheffield, Portland manager; Gene Gerbase, Denver; Harold C. Fuller, Salt Lake City; L. W. Mar- riott, Los Angeles; Sid Weisbaum, San Francisco; Edward L. Walton, assistant sales manager; Walter L. Titus, executive assistant to Grain- ger; Steve Edwards, New York pub- licity director ; Si Borus, contract de- partment; William Saal, executive assistant to Yates ; Allen Wilson, stu- dio vice-president; J. L. Kaufman, studio publicity head, and other stu- dio executives. Berman, Gilbert Cited For 'Army' Services A. L. Berman and Francis Gilbert have been cited in connection with their services as president and secre- tary, respectively, of the charitable organization "This Is' the Army," which has realized about $10,000,000 as a play and film. The awards for "exceptionally meritorious conduct," were signed by Under-Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson and Major General K. Wilson, executive director of Army Emergency Relief. Berman, theatrical attorney, rep- resented the interests of Irving Ber- lin, author and producer of "This Is the Army." Gilbert is also an attor- nery. SAG MayCarry Fight To Supreme Court {Continued from page 1) such proceedings may be appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court. Berger's statement, backed by other SAG officials, is interpreted as an in- dication that the SAG-SPU conflict may flare into possible violence after Feb. 1, when the organizations close their membership books. It will be prolonged indefinitely unless the NLRB or some other agency works out a basis for amicable settlement of the jurisdictional dispute, according to observers here. Set Blue Television With DuMont, GE The Blue Network's plans for active participation in television in conjunc- tion with General Electric and Du- Mont were announced here yesterday by Hubbell Robinson, Jr., vice-presi- dent of Blue, in charge of programs and production. Negotiations are underway with Balaban and Katz to present suitable Blue network programs by television from the studios of WBKB in Chi- cago. The television debut of the web will take place Feb. 25 with a half-hour program, "Ladies Be Seated," over WRGB, the GE station in Schenec- tady. This will be followed by a variety program featuring Blue web stars over WABD, DuMont station in New York, on Feb. 27. Regular weekly half-hour programs on both stations will continue thereafter. The Blue's television plans, Robin- son stressed, are not to limit its ex- perience to any one variation in the use of television nor to any one manu- facturer's equipment. The Blue's_ tele- vision directors and engineers will be getting actual experience in studios, on location, and in experimental lab- oratories of two major manufacturers, he pointed out. "Out of this," he said, "will come a knowledge of equipment and an experience in the use of the medium." 'Singing' Grosses A Heavy $23,000 Kansas City, Jan. 18. — An aver- age or better-than-average report came from theatres here this week. Esquire, Uptown and Fairway, with "Can't Help Singing," totaled around $23,000. Weather was unpleasant all week. Estimated receipts for the week ending Jan. 16-19 : "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) ESQUIRE — (800) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross:) $13,000. (Average: $9,400). "The Thin Man Goes Home" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (3,500) (40c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average: $14,000). "And Now Tomorrow" (Para.) NEWMAN — (1,900) (46c-65c) 3rd week. Qross: $11,000. (Average: $10,000). "The Very Thought of You" (WB) "Dead End" (Film Classics) (Reissue) ORPHEUM — (1,900) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $10,000). "San Diego, I Love You" (Univ.) "The Navy Way" (Para.) TOWER— (2,000) (39c-60c) 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $9,400). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) UPTOWN — (2,000) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average: $5,600). FAIRWAY — (700) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average: $1,600). Studio Strike Monday Unless WLB Steps In (Continued from page 1) check much longer," and asked for a reply before Sunday. A spokesman for the decorators told Motion Picture Daily that the strike, authorized by the membership in a vote two weeks ago, will be called Monday, according to present plans, unless the WLB gives assur- ance that action toward a settlement is under way. Illness Delays Pickford Mary Pickford, scheduled to start a two-week tour this week for the Na- tional Foundation for Infantile Paral- ysis, is ill at the Waldorf-Astoria, suffering from grippe. She will enter St. Luke's Hospital. Trankenstein' And 'Mummy' $10,000 Above Chicago, Jan. 18. — The Loop en- joyed a big week, despite a long snow- fall. The best runs are "The House of Frankenstein" and "The Mummy's Curse," at the Grand which, in its second week, topped the first and grossed a record-breaking $20,000, against a house average of $9,100. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 18 : "The Very Thought of You" (WB) APOLLO1— (1,200) (55c-85c-95c) 4th week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $11,400). "The Doughgirls" (WB) CHICAGO^-(3,850) (55c-85c-95c). On stage: Kitty Carlisle and Henry Youngman's Re- vue. Gross: $43,000. (Average: $51,500). "Music in Manhattan" (RKO) DOWNTOWN — (1,800) 44c-55c-85c-95c) 2nd Loop run. On stage: Andy Kirk and orchestra. Gross : $15,000. "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (20th-Fox) 1 day "Hail the Conquering Hero" (Para.) "Dark Mountain" (Para.) 6 days GARRICK — (1,000) (55c-65c-85c-95c) 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $9,100). "The House of Frankenstein" (Univ.) "The Mummy's Queen" (Univ.) GRAND— (1,250) (50c-65c-85c-95c) 2nd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $9,100). "Dark Waters" (UA) ORIENTAL— (3,200) (44c-55c-85c-95c) 2nd week. On stage: Ray Eberle and Chaz Chase Revue. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $24,000). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Enter Arsene Lupin" (Univ.) 6 days, 3rd week "Tall in the Saddle" (Univ.) "The Falcon in Hollywood" (RKO) 1 day PALACE— (2,500) (55c-65c-95c) 7 days. Gross: $25,000. (Average: $24,000). "Hollywood Canteen" (WB) ROOSEVELT— (1,500) (55c-65c-95c) 3rd week. Gross: $23,000. (Average: $20,000). "Frenchman'si Creek" (Para.) STATE LAKE — (2,700) (55c-85c-95c) 4th week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $29,000). "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (50c-65c-95c) 4th week. Gross: $25,000. (Average: $25,- 000). "The Princess and the Pirate" (RKO) WOODS— (1,200) (55c-65c-95c) 8th week, i Gross: $16,500. (Average: $10,000). 'I A' Favors Salesmen, Enters Video, 16mm (Continued from page 1) before adjournment Saturday, al- though there is a chance action may be deferred. President Richard F. Walsh said IATSE will enter the television and 16 mm fields, plans along those lines having been formulated at the sessions here. However, as far as the IATSE is concerned, there will be no unioniza- tion of theatre managers, he declared. Several requests from managers' groups for charters were denied. Walsh said he was emphatically op- posed to bringing house managers into the fold and that the majority of the committee sides with him. This matter is being settled once and for all here, it was indicated. Sessions thus far have been devoted mainly to the hearing of appeals from locals on decisions previously handed down in inter-union disputes. "Sleuth" in Washington Washington, Jan. 18. — Represen- tatives of the War Department's Safe- ty Council; and safety Heads of Gov- ernment departments here, will attend a special showing of M-G-M's short, "Safety Sleuth," tomorrow. A Pete Smith 'Specialty,' the short, deals with measures to reduce accidents. 8 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 19, 19-1 4Creek\ 'Keys' Are Very Big In Los Angeles Los Angeles, Jan. 18. — "French- man's Creek" and "Keys of the King- dom," only two new offerings in a week of holdovers, did substantial business, with the former slightly ahead ; it took $53,000 at the two Paramounts, where $31,400 is average. "Keys" got $73,500 at the Chinese- Loew's State-Uptown trio, where the average is $54,700. Estimated receipts for the week ended Jan. 17: "Keys of the Kingdom" (20th-Fox) CHINESE-(2,500) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 7 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $14,900). "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) EGYPTIAN— (1,000) (50c-60c-85c-$1.0O) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $18,500. (Average: $15,000). "I'll Be Seeing You" (U-A Selznick) FOUR STAR-(900) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average- $3,250). "I'll Ba Seeing You" (UA-Selznick) FOX-WILSH1RE-(2,300) (50c-6Qc-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $10,500). ^The House of Frankenstein" (Univ.) "The Mummy's Curse" (Univ ) HAWAII— (1,000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,700). ^Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) "Enter Arsene Lupin" (Univ.) ti m\LL^REET ~ (2>70O> (S0c-60c-80c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,000 (Average: $18,500). "Keys of the Kingdom" (ZOth-Fox) t,™EF? STATE-(2,50O) (50c-60c-85c- $29 300) S: $35'000- (Average: "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) *, ™S v ANGELES - (2,096) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $22,000 (Average: $25,000). "Can't Help Singing" (Univ.) Enter Arsene Lupin" (Univ.) PANTAGES-(2,096) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 7 $f5y!60)nd WSek' Gr°SS: $16'm- (Average: "Frenchman's Creek" (Para.) PARAMOUNT HOLLYWOOD - (1,407) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $18,000 (Average: $11,900). "Frenchman's Creek" (Para) PARAMOUNT DOWNTOWN — (3 595) 50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $35',000 (Average: $19,500). "Meet Me in St. Louis" (M-G-M) RITZ-0,376) (50c-60c-85c-$1.0O) 7 days S.mSS^ $l5'3CO- (Average: $12,500) ttm^t-??6^ You" (UA-Selznick) $1 mTT7E? ARTISTS-(2'1(») (50c-60e-85c- (A ' 7 d*?„S',Jrd week- Gr°ss: $16,600. (Average: $28,300). of the Kingdom" (2«th-Fox) UPTOWN-0.716) (50c -60c-8Sc"l.OO) 7 '•tin Gr°ss: $16,500. (Average: $10,500) Hollywood Canteen" (WB) 60eW8tR$^o> "°HLLYWppi>-(3.000) (50c- wc 8Oc-$1.0O) 7 days 4th week. Gross: S3„ (Average: $16,700). Hollywood Canteen" (WB) 6te»teX DOWNTOWN-(3,400) (50c- $17 2V i'*} i ^ 7 daJh 4th week- Gross: (Average: $18,700). Hollywood Canteen" (WB) 80cW*l mwRH WIL7ERN-(2,200) (50c-60c- 8Oc-$1.00) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $12,226 (Average: $15,800). *","o. Pix Circuit Has Six, Plans Two More Pix Theatre Co. now has six houses with the opening of the High Theatre in Portsmouth, Va. Samuel Cummins is general manager. Plans are under way for the completion, in 1945, of two more theatres, one in Philadelphia and one in Long Beach, Schoof Succeeds Field Chicago, Jan. 18.— Charles M. Schoof has been named motion pic- ture editor of Downtown Shopping News, here, succeeding David Field. Allied Board Will Review Decree Anti-Trust Suits (Continued from page 1) nibitors on the decree, originally scheduled to be held at the same time, has been postponed until Allied's Spring board meeting, in late April or early May, the statement added, holding that there has been "no ma- jor development in connection with Jie decree." This conference will be at the call of Hugh W. Bruen, mode- rator. Allied's forthcoming board meeting will be preceded on Jan. 23 by a din- ner, with the directors of the Inde- pendent Theatre Owners Association of Ohio as hosts. The morning session on Jan. 24, following opening remarks by Allied president Martin G. Smith, will be Jevoted to Myers' annual report. He will lead the decree discussion at this time, and Allied will formulate a pol- .cy pending the decree hearing in New York Federal District Court on Mar. 5. Reports listed for the afternoon ses- sion on the 24th include: Col. H. A. Cole on the action taken by his com- mittee on the serial-numbering of tickets ; Nathan Yamins on the work of the Allied committee studying 16mm competition ; Irving Dollinger on sources of new product ; Sidney E. Samuelson on the Caravan, and omith and H. H. Lowenstein on recent War Activities Committee meetings in New York. There will also be a general discussion of film rentals and distributor practices. A closed session limited to directors and national officers will be the first order of business on Jan. 25, followed by an open session which will con- sider tax conditions in Washington and in Allied's territories, plus the work of the industry's advisory com- mittee to the War Production Board. Col. Cole will lead a discussion of WPB's attitude regarding new thea- tres. Also reporting at this time will be William L. Ainsworth, treasurer, and M. A. Rosenberg, chairman of the nominating committee. Officers, whose one-year terms will expire, include, in addition to Smith, Myers and Ainsworth : secretary, Roy E. Harold ; recording secretary, P. J. Wood, and executive committee- men Smith, Cole, Samuelson, M. A. Rosenberg and Jack Kirsch. The Caravan Committee includes Samuel- son, Cole, Rosenberg, Ainsworth and Robert H. Poole, the latter represent- ing the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners. Murray Trust Case To Jury Next Week Chicago, Jan. 18. — The Thomas A. Murray $1,000,000 conspiracy case against a number of distributors in Federal Court here will go to the jury before the end of next week, Myles G. Seeley, defense counsel, said today. A parade of defense witnesses tes- tified today, among them Felix Men- delssohn, former M-G-M branch man- ager, now retired ; Sam Gorelick, RK0 branch manager ; Clyde Ek- hardt, 20th Century-Fox branch man- ager in Los Angeles and former man- ager here, and Ben Isenberg, sales manager for Monogram here. All re- counted selling experiences with plaintiff Murray, former operator of the Thalia Theatre, and the competi- tive Milo theatres in the 1940's. Cowan to Set Plans On Return Here Lester Cowan, independent produc- er releasing through United Artists, will return to Hollywood today, after conferring here this week with UA executives. He will return here in several weeks, and will then announce his production plans for 1945. Currently in release now is Cow- an's "Tomorrow the World," to be followed by "GI Joe," which has been finished. IRE to Hear DeWolf Francis Colt deWolf, chief of the telecommunications division of the De- partment of State, will speak at the Institute of Radio Engineers dinner to be held at the Hotel Commodore here Jan. 25 in conjunction with the IRE Winter technical meeting. E. L. Bragdon, chairman of the publicity committee for the IRE meet which will be held Jan. 24-27, outlined pro- visions which have been made for the press at a luncheon at the Hotel War- wick here yesterday. 'Canteen', 'Woman' Are Buffalo's Tops Buffalo, Jan. 18. — "Hollywood Canteen" was strong at the Buffalo and probably will hit $22,000 to be way out in front here. "The Woman in the Window" and "My Pal, Wolf" were hits at the Twentieth Century, good for $18,000. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing Jan. 20 : "Hollywood! Canteen," (WB) BUFFALO— (3,489) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $17,400). "Mrs. Parkington" (M-G-M) GREAT LAKES— (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Aver- age: $16,200). "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (M-G-M) HIPPODROME— (2,100) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 7 days, 3rd week, on a moveover. Gross: $9,100. (Average: $9,700). "Can't Help Singing" (Unav.) "Murder in the Blue Room" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-7Q) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,300. (Average: $12,400). "The Woman in the Window" (RKO) "My Pal, Wolf" (RKO) TWENTIETH CENTURY— (3,000) (40c- 50c-60c-70c) 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Aver- age: $12,200). Markham Named GE Television Head Schenectady, Jan. 18. — Emerson Markham, associated with General Electric broadcasting for 20 years, has been appointed manager of tele- vision, it was announced here by Rob- ert S. Peare, vice-president in charge of advertising, broadcasting and pub- licity. Markham fills the vacancy created when Robert L. Gibson, former as- sistant to Peare, was named advertis- ing sales promotion manager for the new GE chemical department. Sterling M-G-M Manager Atlanta, Jan. 18.— Arthur Ster- ing has been appointed M-G-M branch manager here. Appointment was made by Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange operations. Appeal from Dallas Decision Is Denied Action of the Dallas arbitration tribunal in dismissing a . combined some-run, clearance complaint against the five consenting companies, as filed by W. V. Adwell, operating the Roxy Theatre, San Angelo, Tex., has been upheld by the New York Appeal Board, the American Arbitration As- sociation reported here yesterday. Complainant charged that the dis- tributors ignored a previous order brought against them, with the excep- tion of RKO, in which the companies were directed to offer their films to the Roxy on a run to be designated by them and upon terms fixed by them and not calculate to defeat the pur- pose of Section 6 of the decree. He also charged that pictures were offered to him 120 to 150 days after first-run and asked that a reasonable maximum clearance be set. Concho Theatres, Inc., operating the Texas, Ritz, Plaza, Angelus, Lyric, Royal and Rex, all San Angelo, Tex., intervened. Nine of M-G-M Field Personnel Are Due Nine more of M-G-M's field staff will arrive Monday for a week at the home office. Two are district man- agers : Charles E. Kessnich, Atlanta, and Rudy Berger, Washington; three are exploiteers : Ted Galanter, Port- land-Seattle ; Howard Herty, Los An- geles ; W. Newbery, San Francisco ; three are office managers : Mrs. E. Mitchell, Memphis; Mrs. Blanche Carr, Charlotte; Mrs. Amy Sinclair, Kansas City. Mrs. Adeline Kerr, as- sistant office manager in Chicago, will come in place of Edna Frank, man- ager, who attended the annual field auditors' meeting here recently. Leaving New York for their head- quarters at the weekend will be ex- ploiteers Emery Austin, Atlanta; Todd Ferguson, Memphis ; Mark Jen- kins of the M-G-M Showbuilder traveling unit, as well as office man- agers Helmer P. Mosley, New Or- leans ; R. W. Royalty, Oklahoma City; G. A. Derrick, Salt Lake City; G. E. Weber, New Haven. Rice Named to New Intermountain Post Denver, Jan. 18.— Harold E. Rice has been named Southern district manager for Fox Intermountain, suc- ceeding Chet E. Miller, who has been appointed city manager at Sterling, Colo., it was reported here by Frank H. Ricketson, Jr., F-I president. Rice was manager of Paramount's Fox here for six years. Other changes in Fox Intermoun- tain's set-up include the appointment of Ralph J. Batschelet to the man- agership of the Paramount and the naming of Robert L. Etter to a sim- ilar post at the Webber. Etter suc- ceeds A. C. Knowles. Variety Honors Collier Baltimore, Jan. 18.— Rodney Col- lier, retiring chief barker of local Va- riety, was presented with a watch by members at the recent installation of Frank Durkee, new chief barker. During Collier's term Variety spon- sored a boys' club, outfitted Cly- burne Home for children and contrib- uted to numerous local charities. alon _3= 00 tf><> AZHLSMITH SPECIALTY ^ SAFETY SLEUTH Accidents are funny -when they happen to Joe Beet/ebrain AN M-G-M CARTOON (In Technicolor) MOUSE TROUBLE Tom and Jerry in their scrappiest fun Y4o^°n , J«LWiiiico/of) h WANDERING HERE AND THERE and very royri/y too/ AS BOSLEY CROWTHER SAID IN THE N. Y. TIMES "A lot of meat and solid substance is in short-length films and a diet habit is being formed/' On any movie menu you'll find the most nourishing of them are M-G-M. Here are some current and choice selections. It's truer than ever: "M-G-M— the Long and the Short of it." ■J y "4 VI' U. tin March of Dimes! — Jan. 25 10 31 10 Motion Picture daily Friday, January 19, 1945 Millions of Postwar Soldier Customers {Continued from page 1) ated cannot be measured in dollars and cents now, but should result in an additional 5,000,000 weekly admis- sions," he said. The Lieutenant said that from a morale viewpoint, films are even more important than food. He had seen but one 'live' show of the USO since he was overseas, but both he and his men looked forward to the films they were to see, even when engaged in combat. The men prefer musical comedy, or 'corny' pictures, he said, and liked war pictures only because they could find flaws in them. They all enjoyed 'hooting' a hero crawling through mud with a clean face. Want More Newsreels He said that the one request the men had, was for more American newsreels, since the only ones they now receive in his sector are British, and these hardly indicate America's participation in the war. Mostly the films are 16mm with a few in 35mm ; 35mm projectors are still hard to get. In France, only 16mm films are shown. The best and most recent pictures are exhibited, and the soldiers are well satisfied with the quality. Lt. O'Shea will leave for Miami when his leave expires. Freeman to Outline Para. Studio Plans {Continued from page 1) was called primarily to discuss the advertising approach and exploitation for the popular priced engagements of "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribution, who had originally planned to leave for the Hollywood studios yesterday, will re- main to attend the first day's sessions, and will leave for the Coast tonight. R. M. Gillham, advertising and publicity director, will open the meet- ing, following which Alec Moss, ex- ploitation manager, will preside. In addition to the theatre and cir- cuit representatives previously, an- nounced to attend, the following will be present : Harry Goldberg, Warner Theatres' advertising and publicity director ; Ernest Emerling, Loew's Theatres ; William Kernan, Jr., and Blanche Livingston, RKO Theatres ; Leroy Furman, Monarch Theatres ; Eugene Street, city manager in Knox- ville, Tenn., for Wilby-Kincey Thea- tres; Win Barron, Paramount sales promotion manager in Canada, and William Pine of the Pine-Thomas production unit. Mass. to Investigate Sale of Hope Tickets Boston, Jan. 18. — The Massachu- setts legislature today voted a probe of the ticket sale on the Bob Hope show at the Boston Garden here on Jan. 24. State Senator George W. Stanton has introduced an order in the Senate to investigate sale of tickets for the show, which is being sponsored by the Boston Record and Boston American for the benefit of disabled veterans. Tickets were presumably completely sold out within several minutes after the sale opened, and Senator Stanton charged that 'scalpers' and 'racketeers' got them all. Review "Gun Smoke" (Monogram) Hollywood, Jan. 18 ABOVE par for the Johnny Mack Brown-Raymond Hatton series of Westerns, this one, which Charles Bigelow supervised, takes the boys from an opening which involves three murders, to a climax which sees the villains put out of action for the length of a prison term. Nevada and Sandy, vacationing in the wilds, come upon an overturned stagecoach with the driver, his helper and a passenger lying dead around it. Upon investigation, the boys discover that the passenger was a noted archae- ologist who had recently come upon treasure trove in the form of gold Indian relics. The gang who murdered him, however, have been unsuccessful in locating the treasure, and how the cowboys beat them to it occupies the re- mainder of the running time. The ending sees the gang in jail, the archae- ologist's son saved from the fate which befell his father, and the treasure on its way to an Eastern museum. Howard Bretherton directed, in his usual fast-action fashion, a cast also composed of Jennifer Holt, Riley Hill, Wen Wright, Ray Bennett, Steve Clark and other competent players. Running time, 57 minutes. "G."* Release date, Feb. 16. Thalia Bell *"G" denotes general classification. SCTOA Executives East on Law Plan (Continued from page 1) bus, O., to attend Allied's board meet- ing, and from there they will proceed to New York. Should the confer- ences be successful, for distributor agreement to adopt the plan, they will then see Wendell Berge, Assistant U. S. Attorney General, in charge of the industry consent decree, in Wash- ington, on the next procedure. Law's plan, which had reportedly received favorable comment from the Department of Justice, is a three-point formula, already adopted by the SCTOA. It attempts to settle exhib- itor-distributor disputes without re- sorting to, or supplanting, arbitration board procedure. It is expected that if the companies are favorably disposed, the plan can be incorporated in the consent decree, and aid in the simplification of the present arbitration system, without in any way disturbing that system. May Cancel Phila. Charity Exemptions Philadelphia, Jan. 18. — An ordi- nance to amend city amusement tax legislation has been introduced in the City Council here, which would cancel amusement tax exemptions held by charitable, religious and educational organizations, symphony orchestras, veterans' groups and similar organiza- tions ; it would augument the city treasury by $1,500,000. If the ordinance is adopted the various groups will be subject to a four per cent tax, one cent on every 25. The amendment also provides for fines up to $100 for failure to pay the tax. Responsibility for collection will be placed on producers of entertain- ment. A clause to raise the cost of amuse- ment licenses from one dollar to $10 is also included. Rinzler Examined Today Samuel Rinzler will be examined before trial today in the office of Emil K. Ellis, attorney for the Leader Theatre Corp., which is suing 20th Century-Fox and the Randforce Circuit, Inc., in the New York Su- preme Court, claiming unauthorized and illegal transfer of a franchise. Ontario Exhibitors To Fight 10% Tax (Continued from page 1) year in the making, will eventually be worked out. Trade practices which would be regulated within the indus- try under the new code include runs and availability of product, according to present discussions, Fitzgibbons said. Also being discussed in con- nection with the code is representation on the six regional boards to be es- tablished in the Dominion to deal with trade disputes. A dinner of the '25-Year Famous Players-Canadian Club' will be held in Vancouver on Jan. 31 in connection with the 25th anniversary, Fitzgibbons said. Weshner to Aid Mono. On Film Promotions Monogram has retained David E. (Skip) Weshner and Associates, here, as consultants in connection with spe- cial advertising, exploitation and pub- licity on "They Shall Have Faith" and "John Dillinger." Weshner will work with Louis Lif- ton, Monogram's advertising-publicity head, in Hollywood, and with Made- leine White, the company's Eastern publicity representative, in New York. Major campaigns, according to Mono- gram, are being lined up on the two films. Lawrence to Handle Rank Promotions (Continued from page 1) Armed Forces, was assistant to the president, in charge of public relations, of the Association of Motion Pic- ture Producers, in Hollywood. He was a newspaper reporter and maga- zine writer before entering the pub- licity departments of RKO and Par- amount. He became associated with Samuel Goldwyn in 1934 as publicity director, becoming production execu- tive to Goldwyn subsequently. In 1940 he joined the AMPP. U. S. Files Cartel Suit Against G. E. (Continued from page 1) other parties to which were German, French, British, Belgian, Italian and Japanese corporations, was announced today by Attorney General Francis Biddle. The suit, filed in the U. S. District Court in Newark, N. J., charges the arrangement is still in effect despite the war and that, under it, an allo- cation of world markets was made for the manufacture and sale of all types of electrical equipment except lamps and radio apparatus. The ef- fect of the agreement, the Department contends, is to close the doors of the United States markets to imported electrical equipment, a restraint of trade which has served to keep prices for equipment at levels above those which might prevail under free com- petitive conditions. Covers Equipment Field A spokesman for the Department explained that the suit covers the whole field of electrical equipment, household, industrial and commercial, other than lamps and radio. The lamp situation, he said, was taken care of in a previous suit, and an investigation of the radio situation is on the Department's books, but has been held in abeyance because of the war. The case was prepared under the direction of Assistant Attorney Gen- eral Wendell Berge, chief of the anti-trust division, who declared to- day it is one of a series "to elim- inate the effect of cartels on the American economy." Altec Signs Buffalo Altec has signed Buffalo Theatres, Inc., to service that circuit's 12 houses in the Buffalo area. O'Donnell Head of Lunch Delegation Dallas, Jan. 18. — Headed by Rob- ert J. O'Donnell of Interstate The- atres, a delegation of Texas showmen welcomed drive captain Robert Fol- liard, lieutenant Harry Gittleson and the RKO Radio '1945 Ned Depinet drive' at a luncheon here today, at the Variety Club. Also on hand were : R. I. Payne and Ray Higdon, R. E. Griffith The- atres ; Ed Rowley and C. V. Jones, Robb and Rowley ; Julius Gordon, Clifford Porter and S. L. Oakley, Jefferson Amusement Co. ; John Ro- senfield, Morning News; RKO South- western district manager Ben Cam- mack, and RKO branch managers S. M. Sachs, A. M. Avery, and R. B. Williams of the Dallas, Memphis and Oklahoma City branches, respective- ly, and their sales staffs and book- ers. Following the luncheon, Folliard and Gittleson conferred with Cam- mack, Sachs, Avery, Williams, sales- men and bookers at the Dallas ex- change on the drive. Film Stars at Inaugural Orson Welles and Edward G. Rob- inson will attend President Roose- velt's fourth-term inaugural in Wash- ington tomorrow. Welles arrived in New York yesterday from Hollywood. Rockefeller 'Outstanding* Chicago, Jan. 18. — The U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce has named assistant Secretary of State Nelson Rockefeller as the "nation's outstanding young man of 1944." WHATS YOUR "I might have saved lives by staying on my job!" ARE 9 MINUTES OF YOUR SCREEN -TIME WORTH ONE LIFE? The most thrilling, timely film of the day-"WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" It will hold your audience spellbound and simultaneously inspire them to be faithful to the boys dying on the Western Front. That's what's in your power to do! "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" is absorbing to watch— and you'll be doing your nation a ser- vice in the war's critical phase by faithfully showing it. AVAILABLE GRATIS AT ALL 20th CENTURY-FOX EXCHANGES Presented by the War Dept. Produced by Army Pictorial Service, Signal Corps. "A" *k ^ Sponsored by War Activities Committee of Motion Picture Industry, 1501 Broadway, N. Y. C. * * ~k THE FIGHTING LADY NICOLOR ROKE ALL EXISTING OPEN ING DAY RECORDS VICTORIA,™ ARE YOU SET? STILL TIME TO JOIN! MARCH OF DIMES WEEK, JAN. 25-31! MOTION PICTURE MARC THEATRE DRIVE f DIMES JANUARY 25-31 > VOL. 57. NO. 15 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1945 TEN CENTS SMPE Claims Theatre Video Aided by FCC Say Needed Experimental Facilities Are Provided Despite early beliefs that the in- dustry had been sidetracked on theatre television by the new Fed- eral Communications Commission frequency allocations, Donald E. Hyndman, president of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, said at the weekend that the allocations actually give the industry almost everything it had sought. SMPE applied for experi- mental television channels to make possible the direct pickup of programs from film studios and elsewhere, for transmitting programs to theatres within a city, and to relay programs from city to city. Hyndman said that he, as SMPE president^ Paul J. Larsen, SMPE (Continued on page 11) Freeman Says Para. Studio at New Peak The Paramount studio is "in better shape than it has been in a long time," Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president in charge of studio operations, told a meeting of Paramount district ad- vertising representatives, circuit and home office executives at the Hotel Pierre here at the weekend. Freeman pointed out that the com- pany's production setup has been strengthened by the Hal B. Wallis and B. G. De Sylva independent units and by the appointment of Henry Ginsberg to head up the pro- duction of Paramount's own program. "I want all of you to know that the (Continued on page 14) Relieve Cameramen In Newsreel Pool Washington, Jan. 21. — General realignment of the personnel of the five U. S. newsreels in combat zones, comprising the American newsreel war-pool, has been completed with the assignment of seven Free French pre- war newsreel veterans to those zones in Europe, it was announced at the (Continued on page 14) Canadian Province Demands Exchanges Regina, Sask., Jan. 21.— The provincial government of Sas- katchewan is reported plan- ning the unusual demand that film exchanges be established here for this province. Exhib- itors here are now served from Winnipeg and Calgary. Both they and the distribut- ors oppose the plan, claiming it would boost distribution and rental costs and that Nova Scotia and Prince Ed- ward Island, which also have no exchanges, would follow by demanding them. Republic Sets Up International Corp. Republic Pictures International Corp. has been formed to handle the company's foreign business with a capital stock of 1,000 shares, no par value. Officers are : Morris Goodman, president ; E. H. Seifert, vice-presi- dent ; Walter Titus, treasurer, and A. E. Schiller, secretary. Republic is the latest company to form a foreign corporate subsidiary' for purposes of following a plan first adopted by Loew's. A tax saving is permitted as the result of two features of the U. S. excess profits tax law, from which companies doing 95 per cent of their business abroad are ex- empt and which, making a 40 per cent annual levy on profits from direct operating, applies this rate to only 15 per cent of the dividends paid by cor- porate subsidiaries to parent com- panies. Films Are Greatest Morale Factor In Winning War: Army "The motion picture has not only been the greatest single morale builder of American troops, but has ranked with equal importance with guns, planes and ships in winning the war," Major John V. Hubbell, second in command of the Overseas Motion Pic- ture Service, who has just returned from a tour of the European theatre, stated Friday at an Army press con- ference here. "We have 2,400 shows a night with an average attendance of 700,000," the Major stated. "And we have gone so far as to pull men out of front lines at night to let them see films. It is not just recreation, but more neces- sary even than food or sleep, and our psychiatrists have pre- scribed it as a necessary battle measure." "Films have become an integral part of soldiers' lives : thousands who had (Continued on page 14) Set Two Move RWLB Service Help Pleas Film company exchange operational supervisors and representatives of the IATSE have set applications for filing with Regional War Labor Boards having jurisdiction over the Philadel- phia and Milwaukee exchanges, for permission to grant 10 per cent wage increases to exchange service etti- ployes in those two cities. Approvals of the increases have al- ready been secured for 17 of the 31 exchange cities. Raw Stock Cuts Delaying Monogram Releases: Broidy Monogram, which normally has a backlog of five films, has, principally because of the raw stock shortage, the largest backlog in its history, num- bering 13 films, Steve Broidy, vice- president and general manager, told Motion Picture Daily here at the weekend. Broidy is here from Holly- wood in conjunction with campaigns on "They Shall Have Faith" and "Dillinger," both scheduled to open at the Broadway Victoria. Despite Monogram's policy of keep- ing itself as 'liquid' as possible, the "release of pictures will continue to depend entirely on what stock is avail- able," Broidy said. Twenty films have been completed or are in production, out of 33 which Monogram is committed to deliver in 1944-45, he added. "Sales are running better than 50 per cent ahead this year compared to last year," Broidy observed. He declared that, "if no greater amount of stock is available than ap- pears apparent at the moment, the in- dustry will have to make fewer pic- tures and concentrate on bigger ones." Production costs have risen 30 per cent in the last year, Broidy said. "Monogram is definitely not inter- ested in acquiring any theatres," Broidy said. Money that was rea- lized on the recent stock issue will be used in the reduction of current in- debtedness and the balance earmarked for production. Over 1,000 in Theatre Bands May Be Curbed WLB May Rule on AFM 'Stand-By' Policies More than 1,000 musicians em- ployed as "stand-by" orchestras in combination film-stage show houses during engagements of "name" bands would be dropped under a Re- gional War Labor Board examiner's report handed down late last week in a dispute between the American Fed- eration of Musicians and radio station WOV, New York. The report, which contains a strong condemnation of the so-called AFM "feather-bedding" practices and con- sequent waste of manpower, particu- larly in wartime, must, however, be upheld by the regional board and per- haps the national board before it be- comes an official WLB order. Jurisdiction over the employment of AFM members in film theatres hav- ing stage show policies is left to in- dividual locals, according to an AFM (Continued on page 11) Cartoonists Denied 20% on Reissues Hollywood, Jan. 21. — The Screen Cartoonists Guild's demand for 20 per cent of the gross on all reissues of cartoon pictures, also on the use of such films for television, was turned down at the weekend by the National War Labor Board in a directive settl- ing a dispute between SCG and Walt Disney Prod. The Guild's demand has been close- ly studied by all branches of pro- duction as likely to establish a prece- dent with unlimited ramifications if granted. Disney's opposition to the demand was based on his contention (Continued on page 11) Rank's Two Cities to Make Five: Sistrom J. Arthur Rank's Two Cities Films will produce five pictures in England this year ; it has five others finished and ready for United Artists release, according to William Sistrom, Two Cities production executive who pro-, duced "Mr. Emmanuel," first Rank film to be released by UA. He has (Continued on page 14) Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 22, 1945 Personal Mention SAMUEL GOLDWYN will arrive in New York today from the Coast. Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president and studio head, and Mrs. Freeman, left New York at the weekend for the Coast. • Morris Goodman, Republic vice- president in charge of foreign sales, returned to New York over the week- end from the Coast. • Harry Cohn, president and Nate Spingold, vice-president of Columbia, left New York for the Coast over the weekend. • Roberto Socas, PRC foreign sales manager, will leave New York today for the Coast. ASCAP Is Upheld in Royalty Collections The Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court, upholding a decision of Justice Morris Eder, dis- missed an action by the Hotel Edison, here, on Friday, against Deems Tay- lor, president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publish- ers, in which ASCAP was charged with maintaining a monopoly, and that its license fees for public music per- formances restrained and prevented competition; royalty fees are similarly paid by the theatres. In finding for ASCAP, the court ruled that ASCAP was engaged in licensing intangible rights created by copyright, which is neither trade nor commerce. McHenry from RKO To Abbott-Herbert Hollywood, Jan. 21. — Murphy Mc- Henry has resigned from the RKO Radio Studios publicity department to become director of advertising and publicity for Abbott-Herbert Produc- tions, it was announced here at the weekend. He joined RKO last year, having previously headed the Edward Small advertising-publicity depart- ment. George Thomas, Jr. President of SPG Hollywood, Jan. 21. — George Thomas, Jr., was elected president of the Screen Publicists Guild at a meet- ing held here at the weekend. Other officers named were : Dan Thomas, vice president ; Lyle Roos, secretary, and John Del Valle, treas- urer. Ted Taylor was reelected busi- ness agent. Welles* 'Posf Column Orson Welles, screen, stage and radio actor, has become a newspaper columnist, with his first column, "Or- son Welles Almanac," appearing in the New York Post today. Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE A GLANCE backward (20 years backward) into some B. F. Keith Circut files resur- rected by Charles B. McDonald, now of RKO Theatres home of- fice staff, brought to light, among other things, the museum pieces hereafter recorded. A letter addressed to the U. S. Collector of Internal Revenue, Fisk Building, New York, dated June 13, 1924: "Dear Sir : Enclosed find check for income tax due, June 16th (on B. S. Moss' Broad- way Theatre) . Quarterly amount due, $12.92, less 50 per cent, $6.46, as per check." (Whatever happened to that "less 50 per cent" custom?) • A letter to the Moss' Broad- way Theatre (Broadway and 41st) from Sam Phillips, Big U Film Exchange, 1600 B'way: "Dear Sir: "We wish to thank you for allowing Loew's Avenue B, Canal and Apollo theatres to play "Freedom of the Press", beginning Sept. 29th." (Nothing like lending a help- ing hand to the" "little fellow.") • Letter from Bill Hanrahan of the B. F. Keith-Albee Vaude- ville Exchange to the Broadway Theatre, dated Sept. 7, 1928: "There is an opportunity to arrange a week for Ethel Wat- ers in the Broadway Theatre. I think she would be a good bet. Her salary is $1,000." The letter bears this penciled notation, presumably appended in the Broadway's business of- fice: "I wouldn't pay $1,000 for four weeks." (Eddie [Rochester] Anderson has just been booked for Loew's State here at $7,250 per week, starting either Jan. 25 or Feb. 1). • A report to B. S. Moss from the Broadway Theatre, dated Sept. 8, 1924: "About 3 a.m. this morning the watchman at the Jefferson Theatre encountered three men with revolvers in the upper box of the theatre. They tied him up; one remained on guard over him while the other two went down to the manager's office, knocked off the two levers of the safe (a Diebold) and tried to drill a hole to blow it. They could not penetrate the steel so left their tools and departed. The watchman claims they took $56 off him before they trussed him up. His salary is $35 a week." (Well, he could have owned a pair of dice, couldn't he?) • • Returning to the present, the modern mailman brings the fol- lowing message from the Nor- folk (Neb.) War Dads, for- warded by Art Thomas of the Voice of the People program on Radio Station WJAG, Norfolk. "The Norfolk War Dads re- cently sent a questionnaire to sons of members asking what the Norfolk War Dads could do for them. One Army man with a New York City A.P.O. num- ber replied: ' . . . there is one re- quest I have to make. I refer to the entertainment which comes overseas. The motion pictures are not at all what they should or can be. They are Class B films which can't be sold in the States, so are sent over here. It is just as easy to send the good as the bad. If anything could be done to alter this, I would appreciate the attempt.' " The letter concludes : "We will publicize this man's plea and pass it on to National Head- quarters." • A complaint of this kind is difficult to answer because so many unknown factors, any one of which may provide the full explanation, are involved. If the service man was in an area to which films could not be read- ily transported or in which it was not practicable to exhibit them regularly, his complaint, no doubt, has long ceased to ex- ist. If he was in a newly liberat- ed area, perhaps the only films available were those which had remained in the territory since the start of the war. Or perhaps he was visiting civilian, rather than Army theatres. By and large, it may be said that the industry and the Army Pictorial Service do all within their power to get films, good ones and new ones, to service men wherever they may be. The films are selected by A.P.S. with a view to service men's prefer- ences, and they are made avail- able by the industry to A.P.S. as promptly as possible; in a great many instances, months before release of the films in this country. Proof of this is that letters such as the above are rarities; whereas praise of films and the film job being done for servicemen come uninter- ruptedly from every action area and the military way-stations between. Carolina Exhibitors 33 Years A-Meeting Charlotte, Jan. 21.— When George Parr, president, pounds the gavel, tomorrow morning, in the Hotel Char- lotte, for the opening of the annual meeting of Theatre Owners, Inc., of North and South Carolina, he will signal that organization's 33rd con- secutive annual convention. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest exhibitor group in the country, founded away back in the nickelodeon days of 1912 by that old Southern exhibition pioneer, the late 'Jake' Wells. Poole, Bruen Not on Conciliation Plan It was inadvertently reported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday that Hugh Bruen and Robert Poole of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners would come to New York to discuss with distribution heads the plan for con- ciliation of trade practice grievances which has been proposed by the Southern California T. O. A. Bruen and Poole will come to New York late this week for conferences with company heads on an as yet un- disclosed subject and are scheduled to go to Washington thereafter to con- fer with Wendell Berge, Assistant U. S. Attorney General. The nature of their latter conference likewise has not been disclosed. The two will attend the meeting of the Allied States board of directors in Colum- bus, O., on Wednesday and Thurs- day. Rinzler, Schwartz Head Red Cross Unit Samuel Rinzler of the Randforce Circuit, and Fred Schwartz of the Century Circuit, will be bureau chair- men of the motion picture division of the Red Cross 1945 War Fund of New York, which will open March 1. James Sauter will serve in a similar capacity for radio. Mrs. N. Peter Rathvon, wife of the RKO president, will serve as vice- chairman for the second year. Ferguson Is Host to 3 MGM Exploiteers William Ferguson, director of ex- ploitation for M-G-M, was host to three exploiteers and the trade press at luncheon at the Astor, here, on Friday. The exploiteers, who left over the weekend for their respective territories, are : Todd Ferguson, Memphis ; Mark Jenkins of the 'Show Builder' unit in the South, and Em- ery Austin, Atlanta. Wendt Here on Dimout Harold Wendt of the Wendt Agency in Toledo, is in New York to consult several of his accounts on the new dimout regulations as they affect theatre signs. _ — __, — -- — ~ -j- — ----- ~: uuiepuuco, j^onaon. ah contents copyngntea Dy uuigiey ruDiisning Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 187° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 22, 1945 Personal Mention SAMUEL GOLDWYN will arrive in New York today from the Coast. Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president and studio head, and Mrs. Freeman, left New York at the weekend for the Coast. • Morris Goodman, Republic vice- president in charge of foreign sales, returned to New York over the week- end from the Coast. • Harry Cohn, president and Nate Spingold, vice-president of Columbia, left New York for the Coast over the weekend. • Roberto Socas, PRC foreign sales manager, will leave New York today for the Coast. ASCAP Is Upheld in Royalty Collections The Appellate Division of _ New York Supreme Court, upholding a decision of Justice Morris Eder, dis- missed an action by the Hotel Edison, here, on Friday, against Deems Tay- lor, president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publish- ers, in which ASCAP was charged with maintaining a monopoly, and that its license fees for public music per- formances restrained and prevented competition; royalty fees are similarly paid by the theatres. In rinding for ASCAP, the court ruled that ASCAP was engaged in licensing intangible rights created by copyright, which is neither trade nor commerce. McHenry from RKO To Abbott-Herbert Hollywood, Jan. 21. — Murphy Mc- Henry has resigned from the RKO Radio Studios publicity department to become director of advertising and publicity for Abbott-Herbert Produc- tions, it was announced here at the weekend. He joined RKO last year, having previously headed the Edward Small advertising-publicity depart- ment. George Thomas, Jr. President of SPG Hollywood, Jan. 21. — George Thomas, Jr., was elected president of the Screen Publicists Guild at a meet- ing held here at the weekend. Other officers named were : Dan Thomas, vice president ; Lyle Roos, secretary, and John Del Valle, treas- urer. Ted Taylor was reelected busi- ness agent. Welles* 'Posf Column Orson Welles, screen, stage and radio actor, has become a newspaper columnist, with his first column, "Or- son Welles Almanac," appearing in the New York Post today. Tradewise . . . By SHERWIN KANE A GLANCE backward (20 years backward) into some B. F. Keith Circut files resur- rected by Charles B. McDonald, now of RKO Theatres home of- fice staff, brought to light, among other things, the museum pieces hereafter recorded. A letter addressed to the U. S. Collector of Internal Revenue, Fisk Building, New York, dated June 13, 1924: "Dear Sir: Enclosed find check for income tax due, June 16th (on B. S. Moss* Broad- way Theatre) . Quarterly amount due, $12.92, less 50 per cent, $6.46, as per check." (Whatever happened to that "less 50 per cent" custom?) • A letter to the Moss' Broad- way Theatre (Broadway and 41st) from Sam Phillips, Big U Film Exchange, 1600 B'way: "Dear Sir: "We wish to thank you for allowing Loew's Avenue B, Canal and Apollo theatres to play "Freedom of the Press", beginning Sept. 29th." (Nothing like lending a help- ing hand to the" "little fellow.") • Letter from Bill Hanrahan of the B. F. Keith-Albee Vaude- ville Exchange to the Broadway Theatre, dated Sept. 7, 1928: "There is an opportunity to arrange a week for Ethel Wat- ers in the Broadway Theatre. I think she would be a good bet. Her salary is $1,000." The letter bears this penciled notation, presumably appended in the Broadway's business of- fice: "I wouldn't pay $1,000 for four weeks." (Eddie [Rochester] Anderson has just been booked for Loew's State here at $7,250 per week, starting either Jan. 25 or Feb. 1). • A report to B. S. Moss from the Broadway Theatre, dated Sept. 8, 1924: "About 3 a.m. this morning the watchman at the Jefferson Theatre encountered three men with revolvers in the upper box of the theatre. They tied him up; one remained on guard over him while the other two went down to the manager's office, knocked off the two levers of the safe (a Diebold) and tried to drill a hole to blow it. They could not penetrate the steel so left their tools and departed. The watchman claims they took $56 off him before they trussed him up. His salary is $35 a week." (Well, he could have owned a pair of dice, couldn't he?) • • Returning to the present, the modern mailman brings the fol- lowing message from the Nor- folk (Neb.) War Dads, for- warded by Art Thomas of the Voice of the People program on Radio Station WJAG, Norfolk. "The Norfolk War Dads re- cently sent a questionnaire to sons of members asking what the Norfolk War Dads could do for them. One Army man with a New York City A.P.O. num- ber replied: ' . . . there is one re- quest I have to make. I refer to the entertainment which comes overseas. The motion pictures are not at all what they should or can be. They are Class B films which can't be sold in the States, so are sent over here. It is just as easy to send the good as the bad. If anything could be done to alter this, I would appreciate the attempt.' " The letter concludes : "We will publicize this man's plea and pass it on to National Head- quarters." • A complaint of this kind is difficult to answer because so many unknown factors, any one of which may provide the full explanation, are involved. If the service man was in an area to which films could not be read- ily transported or in which it was not practicable to exhibit them regularly, his complaint, no doubt, has long ceased to ex- ist. If he was in a newly liberat- ed area, perhaps the only films available were those which had remained in the territory since the start of the war. Or perhaps he was visiting civilian, rather than Army theatres. By and large, it may be said that the industry and the Army Pictorial Service do all within their power to get films, good ones and new ones, to service men wherever they may be. The films are selected by A.P.S. with a view to service men's prefer- ences, and they are made avail- able by the industry to A.P.S. as promptly as possible; in a great many instances, months before release of the films in this country. Proof of this is that letters such as the above are rarities; whereas praise of films and the film job being done for servicemen come uninter- ruptedly from every action area and the military way-stations between. Carolina Exhibitors S3 Years A-Meeting Charlotte, Jan. 21.— When George Parr, president, pounds the gavel, tomorrow morning, in the Hotel Char- lotte, for the opening of the annual meeting of Theatre Owners, Inc., of North and South Carolina, he will signal that organization's 33rd con- secutive annual convention. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest exhibitor group in the country, founded away back in the nickelodeon days of 1912 by that old Southern exhibition pioneer, the late 'Jake' Wells. Poole, Bruen Not on Conciliation Plan It was inadvertently reported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday that Hugh Bruen and Robert Poole of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners would come to New York to discuss with distribution heads the plan for con- ciliation of trade practice grievances which has been proposed by the Southern California T. O. A. Bruen and Poole will come to New York late this week for conferences with company heads on an as yet un- disclosed subject and are scheduled to go to Washington thereafter to con- fer with Wendell Berge, Assistant U. S. Attorney General. The nature of their latter conference likewise has not been disclosed. The two will attend the meeting of the Allied States board of directors in Colum- bus, O., on Wednesday and Thurs- day. Rinzler, Schwartz Head Red Cross Unit Samuel Rinzler of the Randforce Circuit, and Fred Schwartz of the Century Circuit, will be bureau chair- men of the motion picture division of the Red Cross 1945 War Fund of New York, which will open March 1. James Sauter will serve in a similar capacity for radio. Mrs. N. Peter Rathvon, wife of the RKO president, will serve as vice- chairman for the second year. Ferguson Is Host to 3 MGM Exploiteers William Ferguson, director of ex- ploitation for M-G-M, was host to three exploiteers and the trade press at luncheon at the Astor, here, on Friday. The exploiteers, who left over the weekend for their respective territories, are : Todd Ferguson, Memphis ; Mark Jenkins of the 'Show Builder' unit in the South, and Em- ery Austin, Atlanta. Wendt Here on Dimout Harold Wendt of the Wendt Agency in Toledo, is in New York to consult several of his accounts on the new dimout regulations as they affect theatre signs. 91 u K • , DAJLuT'J^an^n Qulgley; President and Editor-m-Chief; Colvin Brown Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holiday, by Quigley Publishing Company Inc 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvm Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York. N. Y.. under the act of March 3. 187° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. C ENTRY- FOX I * RISING ABOVE ALL OTHEP. . . WITH THE FIRST TWO HITS THAT START ITS SOST EVENTFUL YEAR Monday, January 22, 1945 Motion Picture daily n Over 1,000 in AFM Bands Face Curbs {Continued from page 1) spokesman. New York theatres which would be affected include the Para- mount, Capitol, Strand and Loew's State. These theatres use "name" bands as part of their stage show poli- cies and must pay for "stand-by" mu- sicians when the bands they book are | not members of New York AFM Local 802. Usually the theatres must pay AFM New York scale wages for the same number of musicians as are in the non-Local 802 band even if the Local 802 designated musicians do not v work. The Roxy and the Radio City Music Hall pit orchestras are regular Local 802 members and they work practically all the time. New York's legitimate theatres are forced to use "stand-by" orchestras on a wider scale, it is said. Outside New York, film theatres having stage show policies are obliged to make wider use of "stand-by" or- chestras when using "name" bands since the bands do not hold AFM memberships in the local having juris- diction in the particular city. The theatre's regular orchestra merely per- forms a few minutes daily. Theatres would save thousands of dollars yearly in their operations if the WLB were to make an official order of the New York examiner's report, and the effect on radio stations throughout the country would be widespread, it is said. AFM wage scales range from approximately $42 weekly per man in Utica to over $85 weekly in New York City. Commerce Chamber Attacks Clearance Council Bluffs, la., "Jan. 21. — Floyd Willette, Chamber of Com- merce secretary, told C. of C. direc- tors here that an "arbitrary rule" that Class A pictures may not be shown in Council Bluffs until 28 days after Omaha, is a "violation of the Sherman anti-trust Act." Willette, who said he was speaking for R. D. Goldberg, who owns the Broadway Theatre here, received the 'green light' from chamber directors to sound out other exhibitors, and if they agree, to protest to the distribu- tors. Report Progress in SOPEG Pact Dispute Conciliation efforts in the wage, job classification and contract dis- pute between Screen Office and Pro- fessional Employes Guild, Local 109, CIO, and Loew's, 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, RKO Radio and Colum- bia, involving almost 2,000 of their home office 'white collar' workers, are proceeding favorably, it was said at the weekend, following a meeting be- tween the companies and the Guild be- fore Commissioner James W. Fitzpat- rick of the U. S. Conciliation Service. The next meeting will be held "in two weeks. M. and P. Gets State Boston, Jan. 21.— The M. and P. circuit has taken over the State in Taunton and will enlarge and modern- ize the house. M. and P. officials also report that the circuit will no longer be associated with the Strand, Taun- ton. SMPE Claims Video in Theatres Aided by FCC {Continued from page 1) engineer, who presented the organiza- tion's petition to the FCC, and SMPE's television committee, all feel that the FCC granted what they sought in promising that "considera- tion will be given to applications for experimental authorization on the fre- quencies between 480 and 920 mega- cycles allocated to broadcasting on the basis that the use of these frequen- cies will be discontinued when needed for broadcasting." He pointed out that this will provide ample opportun- ity for experimentation on pickup, inter-city and intra-city television links. The experimenters can request specific allocations when they have completed their experimentation, Hyndman said. "The motion picture industry now has the right to experiment on specific frequency bands allotted for the pur- pose," Hyndman emphasized. "SMPE is almost unanimous in its feeling that it has scored a victory for the industry," he added, pointing out that the industry is given fred reign to discover the frequencies it will actual- ly need. SMPE's television committee head- ed by Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, CBS chief television engineer, includes Paul Raibourn, Paramount ; Nathan Levin- son, Warner Bros. ; Lester B. Isaac, Loew's; Ralph B. Austrian, RKO; E. I. Sponable, 20th Century-Fox; Herbert Griffin, International Projec- tor; Charles Horstman, RKO Thea- tres; T. T. Goldsmith, DuMont Tele- vision; Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith and others. The FCC merely declined to assign specific frequencies for theatre tele- vision, explaining that it could not do so since it is still in the experimental stage of development, it was pointed out. Expressing satisfaction with the new FCC allocations for television, J. R. Poppele, president of -Television Broadcasters Association said, "TBA earnestly believes that further experi- mentation in television will bring new wonders to the public in years to come. It is extremely pleased that the recommendations of the Radio Techni- cal Planning Board and TBA, that space in the spectrum be provided for experimental development, has been accepted by the Commission. This space for experimentation is to be available between 480 and 920 mega- cycles (also available for experimen- tation on theatre television) and I feel certain the industry will apply itself most arduously to the task of solving the problems which these ultra high frequencies present." ' Allen B. DuMont, head of DuMont Television, also expressed satisfaction with the new allocations. 16 Nominated for Academy Art Awards Hollywood, Jan. 21.— Nine pictures in black-and-white and seven in color have been nominated for art direction awards in the 17th annual awards ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Black-and-whites : "Address Un- known," Columbia ; "Adventures of Mark Twain," Warners ; "Casanova Brown," International-RKO ; "Gas- light," M-G-M; "Laura," 20th-Fox; "No Time for Love," Paramount; "Since You Went Away," Selznick- UA; "Song of the Open Road," Charles Rogers-UA; "Step Lively," RKO Radio. Color : "Climax," Universal ; "Cover Girl," Columbia; "Desert Song," W.B. ; "Kismet," M-G-M ; "Lady in the Dark," Paramount; "Princess and the Pirate," Goldwyn-RKO ; "Wil- son," 20th-Fox. Winners will be determined by a committee. Cartoonists Denied 7c on Reissues (Continued from page 1) that property right in product rests with the owner. A Guild spokesman told Motion Picture DaIly that SCG officers, di- rectors and counsel would study the directive over the weekend before de- ciding whether to ask within the legal seven days for reconsideration . Mochrie's Mother Dies Funeral services were held on Sat- urday at the Walter Cook funeral home here for Mrs. Emily R. Mochrie, mother of Robert Mochrie, RKO gen- eral sales manager. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery. Harry Gold Held Three UA Meetings Harry L. • Gold, United Artists Eastern sales manager, will return to New York today after holding com- pany sales meetings in Philadelphia, Boston and Cleveland. Accompanied by his assistant, Phil Dow, Gold attended the Philadelphia meeting conducted by district manager Sam Lefkowitz, on Friday ; Saturday he was present at the Boston meeting, conducted by district manager James Winn for branch managers and sales- men from Boston, Buffalo and New Haven. On Sunday, Gold attended the Cleveland meeting presided over by district manager Jack D. Goldhar and attended by branch managers and salesmen from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Gov, Tobin at Boston Art Reopening Boston, Jan. 21. — Gov. Maurice J. Tobin, acting mayor John E. Kerri- gan, the French consul and his staff, and other state, city, industry and press representatives were among those invited to the reopening of the Fine Arts Theatre here on Friday. A luncheon was served at the Hotel Statler previous to the opening. The theatre has been leased to John Markle and Leonard Tuttle. It has a policy of showing foreign films. Macaulay Post Dinner Boston, Jan. 21. — Members of the theatrical Macaulay Post of the American Legion, here, are in charge of arrangements for the National Commander's dinner-conference to be held at the Hotel Statler Feb. 3. Ad- jutant Richard Sullivan, publicist, is in charge of reservations. New Ad Space Cut In Boston Papers Boston, Jan. 21. — Local newspapers notified theatres here this week that film advertising space will be held to a minimum, for both national and local advertising. The Traveler, morning and evening, gave its schedule for a first-run pic- ture as 140 lines in one three-column insertion or 100 lines in one two-col- umn insertion, with the alternative of 50 lines in two columns inserted twice, for a maximum of 480 lines. The Post will hold to a maximum of 200 lines daily. In some instances, this will be taken by theatres for front page advertising, which does not exist in other metropolitan cen- ters. The Globe will hold rigidly to its tightened policy. In the Record and American, Hearst tabloids, adver- tisements are also limited to smaller space. The Christian Science Mon- itor, which has never used large dis- plays and accepts advertising only for approved pictures, has not announced any change. Tub Thumpers Elect Five New Officers Boston, Jan. 21. — Newly-elected officers of the Tub Thumbers, here, besides Harry Browning, whose pres- idency was previously reported, are: George Carens, vice-president; Mar- jorie Spriggs, treasurer; Al Fowler, secretary; Dan Hickey, clerk. Mem- bers of the board are: Joe Di Pesa, Col. Walter Brown, Fred Knight, Mary Ann Sullivan, Eliot Norton and George Lasker. It was revealed that applications for the establishment of chapters had been received from 15 other cities. Actors May Give Part Time to War Plants A proposal that members of the theatrical profession be permitted to work part time in war plants and con- tinue in their stage jobs is being con- sidered by the League of New York Theatres as a means of keeping shows open in the event of work-or-fight leg- islation which would seriously deplete the ranks of actors, singers and dancers, it was learned here at the weekend. Garden Settles Suit An action by the Madison Square Garden Corp. here, against Warners, was settled out of New York Federal Court Friday. The suit had sought an injunction and an accounting of profits of "Mission to Moscow," the Garden claiming that Warners had injected scenes of two rallies held at the Gar- den into the film without permission. 'Bataan' Opens Jan. 31 "Pledge to Bataan," Warner color documentary based on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philip- pines, will have its Broadway pre- miere at the Hollywood Theatre Jan. 31 and will be released nationally im- mediately. Cowboy, Smith Killed Boston, Jan. 21.— Pvt. Joseph W. Smith, son of Harry Smith of RKO, and John Cowboy, former employe of Deckers Film Transportation, have been killed in action in Europe. 14 MOTION PICTURE DAIL! Monday, January 22, 1945 Freeman Says Paramount Studio Is at New Peak the board; David Rose, Paramount' s British managing director; Robert M. Gillham, director of advertising- publicity; George A. Smith, West- ern division manager; Alec Moss, ex- ploitation director ; Al Wilkie, pub- licity manager, and Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribution. Discussing campaigns and plans for the popular price release of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," Reagan said the picture already is one of the in- dustry's top box office grosses with more than 13,000 theatres still un- played. : r y. In a tribute to advertising, ex- ploitation and publicity men, Reagan said: "Advertising is and always has been the life-blood of our business. I have never believed there are only three branches of our industry — pro- duction, distribution and exhibition. There are four branches, and advertis- ing is. equally as important from the standpoint of good operation as any of the other three branches. You men whom we have called in for your help and advice on 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' are the recognized leaders of your profession." Freeman told the meeting that in "A Medal for Benny," Paramount has a picture with the same funda- mental qualities as "Going My Way." Relieve Cameramen In Newsreel Pool Rank's Two Cities to Make Five: Sistrom {Continued from page 1) been here from England since Nov. 1, and will return in about a week. The five which will be produced this year are: "Rendezvous," by Terence Rattigan, with Anthony Asquith direc- ting ; "Men of Two Worlds," in color, to be directed by Thorold Dickinson; "Carnival" ; "Hungry Hill," from the Daphne du Maurier story, and Duff Cooper's "Talleyrand." Winston Churchill's book on the Duke of Marl- borough will be filmed in 1946, Sis- trom said. Five films finished, which UA is releasing, or will release, are : "Mr. Emmanuel," "Henry V," in color, Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" and "This Happy Breed," and "My Man Gilbey," by Terence Rattigan. There will be considerable studio building in England after the war,P Sistrom observed, to replace studios' destroyed and damaged by bombing; to replace obsolete building for wjrfich it will be cheaper to erect new stndios than to reequip, and to cover thjft nor- mal building which was blocked in the last five years because of the war. Although British producers are at- tempting to make better films without imitating Hollywood, at the same time they are taking cognizance of require- ments for the world market, he said. Sistrom said that American and Eng- lish film tastes run parallel, citing the success of "Going My Way" in both countries. {Continued from page 1) weekend by Claude Collins, industry coordinator of the pool. The six French cameramen, who will each be assigned to an individual newsreel to operate out of the Paris office, are: Jules Delalands, George Mejat, Raymond Mejat, Gaston Ma- dru, Dion Martelliere and Yves Nain- tre. Naintre will act temporarily as newsreel pool manager for the Euro- pean area, and the others have been assigned with American forces on the German front. The new men will relieve Ameri- cans who have been in Europe since the beginning of the war. John Bock- horst of M-G-M's News of the Day, Robert Blair of Fox Movietone, Jack Lieb of News of the Day, and Neil Sullivan of Pathe have been recalled to this country and, except Sullivan, now are awaiting new assignments. Still in Europe is Thomas A. Priest- ley of Universal Newsreel, who will be brought back shortly. Other Changes Other changes recently made in the war staff of the pool, Collins said, in- clude the recall from the Pacific of Earl Crotchett and Irving Smith of Universal, Langdon Senick of Movie- tone and Howard Winner of Pathe._. Winner was the "first motion picture cameraman to fly over Tokyo on a bombing mission. Assignments to the Pacific include Norman Alley of News of the Day, who was on a bombing mission over Manila shortly after he relieved Crockett, and Robert Donahue, Jr., of Pathe News, who was brought home from Italy to recuperate from jaundice. New Film Laboratory Association Formed Movie Film Laboratory Association has been chartered in Albany in an effort to tie all of the smaller film processors in the East together, to improve conditions in the laboratory field, enforce trade practices and work for the betterment of both employers and employees. The MFLA will" have a directorate of seven who will serve until the first annual meeting ; they are : Russell C. Holslag, Precision Laboratory; Na- than Saland, Mercury ; Saul Jeff ee, Movielab ; Jacob Cosman, Producers ; Joe Malcolm, Malcolm Laboratories ; John N. Weber, Mecca, and ftaul Guffanti, Film Service. \ Two Mass. Bills to\ Curb Speculators Boston, Jan. 21. — Two bills have been introduced in the state Senate to place a curb on ticket speculators and agencies. The measures will be heard shortly. One of the proposed bills states that no ticket shall be sold at a higher price than the one appearing on the printed ticket; another specifies a heavy penalty for agencies or individ- uals charging more than ceiling prices. Salesmen's Union Is Brought Up at Meet Of M.P. Associates Charging the industry with failure to provide economic security for its workers, and stressing its failure to set up a charity to provide relief for industry members in sickness and in- digency, Harry Brandt, guest speak- er, president of the ITOA and one of the largest independent film buyers in the territory, on Friday encouraged the formation of a union for film sales- men, at an installation luncheon of Motion Picture Associates at the Ho- tel Astor. The MPA is composed principally of salesmen. (Several companies recently have adopted pension plans for employes; and, headed by Walter Vincent, sev- eral industry leaders have been at work for months on the formation of an in- dustry philanthropic organization.) Good Attendance Many salesmen of this territory were present at the luncheon to in- stall Morris Sanders as president, and jack Ellis, as first vice-president. Sanders is with 20th Century-Fox, and Ellis is with United Artists. Sanders announced that MPA will produce a short film to raise funds for MPA's charities and that MPA plans hospitalization and group insurance for members. It will also donate an ambulance to the Red Cross. Other officers installed at the luncheon included: Howard Levy, second vice-president; Saul Trauner, treasurer ; Charles Penser, financial secretary; Morris Fraum, recording secretary; Leo Abrams and Seymour Schussel, trustees; Louis I. Kutinsky, sergeant-at-arms ; Charles Berliner, chaplain. MPA board of directors, of which Ellis is chairman, includes Sam Rinzler, Jack Hatton, Jack Bowen, David Snaper, Leo Abrams, David Levy, James Frank, Jr., J. J. Felder, Moe Kurtz, Harold Klein and Cy Seymour. Harold Rodner, War- ner Bros., was master of ceremonies at the installation. Major Harry Miller and 1st Lt. Wilbur Snaper were guests of honor. No Complaints Although salesmen at the luncheon were reluctant to discuss the new union, they stress it is being organized solely for economic security, and that they have no complaints against wage policies and working conditions. A committee of three has been set up, it is learned, to study an affilia- tion for the new organization. The report of the committee will be heard at a meeting to be held shortly, sec- ond for the new group. Jacob Leff, attorney for Unaffiliated Independent Exhibitors of New York and a mem- ber of the board of UIE, whose name has been linked to the new salesmen's union, is drawing up necessary papers, and is not otherwise affiliated with the group. (As reported in Motion Pic- ture Daily last Thursday, the IATSE is favorably disposed toward the organization of film salesmen un- der its banner. Col. to Entertain Columbia will be host tomorrow at a cocktail party at the Copacabana for Janet Blair and Lee Bowman. {Continued from page 1) placing of Ginsberg in charge was at my request," Freeman said. "He is eminently fitted for the task. He brings to Paramount all of the quali- ties of a fine executive and a full knowledge of the motion picture in- dustry gained through an intimate as- sociation with it over the last 20 years. "My own association with Par- amount couldn't be happier than it is at the present time. I started in the motion picture business with Para- mount, and my association with this great company over a span of some 20 years signifies to me a relationship with, the individuals within the com- pany which has grown to mean to me much more than a mere commercial venture on my part." ' Freeman said that the unit headed by William H. Pine and William H, Thomas "is doing a good, conscien- tious job of production." Barney Balaban, Paramount pres- ident, welcomed the guests on behalf of the company and the home office group. He paid particular tribute to the representatives of the circuits not associated with Paramount who came to New York under difficult travel- ing conditions to attend the advertis- ing-exploitation meeting. Others who addressed the sessions included Adolph Zukor, chairman of Films Big Factor In Winning of War {Continued from page 1) never gone before or more often than once or twice a month will be regular patrons from now on. I would esti- mate the new weekly attendance in the post-war period at millions," Ma- jor Hubbell stated. (Lt. James O'Shea, son of E. K. O'Shea, M-G-M Eastern sales man- ager, told Motion Picture Daily Thursday that gift-films will make millions of post-war new customers.) An average of 150 prints are used weekly, 50 each of three different pic- tures. The Army is now taking 156 films yearly, although in stabilized areas such as Alaska, the Army takes 200 yearly. Neither German civilians nor prisoners of war are permitted to see the films. The average "GI" in a non-combat area sees three different pictures weekly, 150 a year, against the average civilian's 62, Hubbell dis- closed. The Major stated that the projec- tor difficulty of a year ago had been solved, and that replacement parts are adequate. He said that more newsreels were needed, and more shorts, and declared that "Going My Way," "Song of Bernadette," "Two Girls and a Sailor" and "Home in Indiana" were among the most popular films. He went into detail on training films which, he said, did the work of thou- sands of officers, and without which, he stated, "we would not have had an Army ready in time." Film Classics Meeting St. Louis, Jan. 21. — Film Classics' franchise holders will meet at the Coronado Hotel here Jan. 27-28. Preston Joins Hare Joel Preston has resigned from the Moe Gale publicity staff to become an associate of Spencer Hare here. USO Board Elects Russel Crouse, Moss Hart, Richard Rodgers and Herman Shumlin have been elected to the board of USO- Camp Shows. Med the extra P^ch .ha. ra.sed „„ *. Greer Garson Trailer prov.ded * ^ ^ ,„ 1944 *e Gree ^ ^ d,me, M,ss $4,500,000 for poho v.ct.m her . tha» s du , ,c $5 000,000 . . - and hopes .ha. you ^ w,ocle of a" ? Greer Gars<§! pending new 1945 ^ 5>jm. dimes'. . • • 0,reer oni(4emic that hit HicKory, «W. •* °f I P° la beco.es a, .he .oney we g.v * « mer. » answers .he aues,on of Who. ^ aga,nst NSS BRANCH AT ONCE! . ■ • * ii We confidently predict this picture is one of the best we will see this year!" -NEW YORK TIMES 1 «8< Shivery, simon-pure suspense . . . "Mr. Emmanuel" is one of those things that will glue you to your seat . . . this is one of the most noteworthy cinemas now on Broadway. —IS. Y. Daily Mirror The story carries a terrific emo- tional jolt to the beholder. -IS. Y. Daily News Taut and gripping drama . . . sus- tains a tense and compelling mood. —N. Y. Journal-American "Mr. Emmanuel" wins a welcome . . . he's the kind of man it is good for all of us to meet! -IS. Y. PM Warm and stirring . . . touches the heart-strings and calls forth teary-eyed laughter. -N. Y. Post ^1 starring FELIX AYLMER with GRETA GYNT and WALTER RILLA From a novel by Louis Golfing • Directed by Harold French • Produced by William Sistrom • Released thru United Artists ATwo Cities Films Production Made in London, England MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. tion Picture Industry 'OL. 57. NO. 16 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1945 TEN CENTS Admissions at Keys Average $15,200 Week Average Increase $1,030 Per Theatre Over '43 In a year marked by consistently high grosses seldom, if ever, ex- ceeded for a twelvemonth, 143 key- city first-run theatres maintained a $15,200 weekly box-office average throughout 1944, over $1,000 ahead of the average in 1943, according to the annual tabulation of reports from Mo- tion Picture Daily field correspon- dents. A total gross of $122,690,200 for the year was amassed by the 143 key houses included in the reports, a gain of $9,660,- (Continued on page 6) Montague Presides At Columbia Meet Although it was the original inten- tion of Columbia to have the majority of its national sales force, as well as prominent exhibitors from all sections of the country, see "A Song to Remember" a t iits New York premiere, the company has decided to alter its arrange- ments, if) line with Govern- in e n t rulings against large business meet- ings, and, in- stead, has set a three - day meeting here, starting tomorrow, for 31 branch and seven district mana- (Continued on page 8) A. Montague RKO Queries RWLB Action in Dispute RKO yesterday challenged the ju- risdiction of a panel of the Regional War Labor Board over its contract dispute with Motion Picture Theatre Operating Managers and Assistant Managers Guild, representing mana- gers and assistant managers in 40 RKO theatres in Metropolitan New (.Continued on page 6) Similar Themes on Duals Are Growing Chicago, Jan. 22.— The use of two pictures with similar themes on the same program recently innovated by B. and K. in ace neighborhood houses, has been adopted by Jones, Linick and Schaefer, currently featuring "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "The Can- terville Ghost" in the Mc- Vicker's, and Warners, using this week "The Conspirators" and "Woman in the Window" in the Avalon. Bookers argue that fans of a particular theme prefer two on a program to one added feature that is foreign to their tastes. 'Fighting Lady' in Lead at N.Y. Houses With New York's first-runs get- ting a break in the weather last week- end after being hit by snowstorms twice successively, grosses at most of the houses showed improvement ; holdovers continue to dominate. Radio City Music Hall, Roxy, Strand and Capitol will bring in new films this week. Outstanding this week is the Navy's documentary, "The Fighting Lady," at the Victoria, where, with a compara- tively tremendous $27,000 recorded for the first five days, ending Sun- day night, a record $37,000 is ex- (Continued on page 7) No Raw Stock Improvement The outlook for the industry to avoid any substantial portion of the 27,000,000 feet raw stock cut ap- peared slimmer here yesterday with the return from Washington of George J. Schaefer, chairman of the War Activities Committee and in- dustry liaison with the WPB. Schae- fer conferred with WPB officials last week and plans to go to Washington again this week for further confer- ences. Schaefer, who has been studying the (Continued on page 7) Selznick, Saphier Agencies Merged Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Myron Selz- nick and Co., pioneer film talent agency, will be taken over by a group headed by James L. Saphier and Tom Fizdale, according to a joint announcement here yesterday from Saphier and the executors of the late Myron Selznick's estate : David O. Selznick, Charles H. Sachs and Harry M. Bardt, the latter vice-president of the Bank of America. The new firm will be known, temporarily, as Myron Selznick, James L. Saphier and Co. The business of the present Saphier and Selznick offices will be handled by the merged personnel of both (Continued on page 8) Johnston Deal with Hays Office Still in Discussion Status Confirming rumors that have been in circulation for some time, it has been learned that representatives of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Inc., have been conducting discussions with Eric Johnston, president of the United States Chamber of Commerce. The discussions have been with a view to the possibility of Johnston becoming president of the association, in which case Will H. Hays would become chairman of the board. Hays has been party to the discussions and it is understood that he favors an arrangement under which Johnston would play an important part in the post-war plans of the association. The proposal relative to Johnston contemplates Hays' continued activity in the affairs of the associaion with which he has a con- tract which runs until March, 1946. It is authoritatively stated that no immediate action in the matter is planned because of Johnston's present commitments and because the proposed ar- rangements are being considered alongside the whole problem of future developments and operations of the association. Washington, Jan. 22. — Reports that Eric Johnston would join the Hays Office failed to bring any comment from Johnston here today, but it was indicated at the U. S. Chamber of Commerce that no contract has yet been signed and the whole matter is still in the discussion and negotiation stage. Teeth' in N.Y. Building Code By a New Law Enforcement Bill Would Eliminate Exemptions Legislation is expected to be in- troduced shortly in the New* York State Legislature, at Albany, to give the new building code now be- ing promulgated by the State Labor Department's advisory committee the full teeth of law and eliminate ex- emptions of certain types of structures from its provisions.. A new law, rather than the present mere enabling ~ct, would make enforcement of the code much stricter. A spokesman for the advisory com- mittee said here yesterday that the members of the advisory committee drafting the new code, which will ap- nly to some 750 theatres in New York State, excluding New York City, is in complete agreement that new legislation is necessary. It was indicated that the legislation might (Continued on page 8) New York Police to Enforce 'Brownout' Washington, Jan. 22. — New York theatre exteriors will be darkened next week under the auspices of New York's police force, which has been placed by Mayor LaGuardia at the service of the War Production Board to assist in enforcing the 'brownout' which goes into effect Feb. 1, it was disclosed here today by WPB chair- man J. A. Krug. Krug revealed that Edward Falck, (Continued on page 8) Strike Threat Held Off Till Wednesday Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Screen Set Decorators Local 1421, which last week threatened a studio strike un- less the War Labor Board took defi- nit action toward settling its juris- dictional dispute with the IATSE, (Continued on page 4) Reviewed Today Review of "The Great Fla- marion" appears on page 7. 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 23, 1945 Offer Loop Run to Goldwyn- Selznick Chicago, Jan. 22. — James Jovaney, general manager of Globe Film Co., who has bought the Monroe Theatre Building, housing the Loop's Monroe Theatre, from the Northwest Trust Co., reportedly will attempt to line up David O. Selznick and Samuel Gold- wyn product for the house, in a deal similar to that recently completed for the Astor Theatre. He will also try to line up United Artists product, since UA films have been delayed or sent to second run houses because of a lack of "A" outlets in the Loop. The Monroe is currently operated as a second-run, double feature house by Lubliner and Trinz. Trinz told Motion Picture Daily that his com- pany still has a three to nine-month lease on the house, the legality of the term yet to be decided. Jovaney, who is at present in New York, is a distributor of unusual fea- tures, his latest being "The Power of God." Personal Mention James Mulvey, vice-president of Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., in New York disclaimed, yesterday, any knowledge of overtures by Jovaney for the ac- quisition of Goldwyn product for the Monroe. Famous Players 25th Birthday Today Toronto, Jan. 22.— A 25th Anni- versary dinner of Famous Players Canadian Corp., will be held here to- morrow, with president J. J. Fitz- gibbons presiding. A feature of the dinner will be the installation of original employees in the 25 Year Club. A similar dinner will be held in Vancouver on Jan. 30 for the com- pany's Western division. Fitzgibbons, vice-president R. W. Bolstad and J. R. Nairn, director of advertising, will go to Vancouver for the latter. Seeks to Organize Coast Theatre Help Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Irwin Waite, former cashier at the Hollywood Paramount, today called a meeting of Hollywood theatre cashiers, door- men, usherettes, to form a union. Waite said plans do not include man- agers and the movement is not in- spired by any existing organization. Although the Hollywood is now the only house involved, the organization will be expanded to include all Los Angeles theatres if successful. LeRoy Starts First For WB In 6 Weeks Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Mervyn Le- Roy's first Arrowhead production for Warners will be "The Fountainhead," with production to start in six weeks. Henry Blanke will produce and Humphrey Bogart and Barbara Stan- wick will co-star. Leroy recently signed a long-tem deal with Warners for a series of films to be directed by him for Ar- rowhead at the Warner studio. NEIL AGNEW, Vanguard vice- president and distribution head, arrived on the Coast yesterday for conferences with David O. Selznick. • Saul Krieg of the Paramount press book department here and Mrs. Krieg are the parents of a daughter, Bonnie Jo, born Sunday at Lying-in Hospi- tal. • Lt. Robert Taylor, USNR, and his wife, Barbara Stanwyck, left New York yesterday for the West Coast. • William C. Gehring, 20th Cen- tury-Fox Western sales manager, left New York yesterday on a visit to branch offices. • Dale McFarland, Tri-States The- atres' publicity head, has returned to Des Moines from a New York busi- ness trip. • R. J. Ingram, Columbia Southern division manager, will arrive in New York from Charlotte tomorrow. • Shirley Brown, daughter of Mannie Brown, Paramount Buffalo branch manager, is engaged to Ber- nard Cohn. o Pvt. Charles Harter, former Col- umbia Buffalo booker, is recovering from wounds received in combat in Germany. • Bill Baker, Republic Midwest district head, will leave Chicago in late February for a three-week Coast trip. • Henri Elman, PRC franchise hold- er in Chicago, will return there from the Coast the first week in March, after four months in Hollywood. • Elia Kazan and John Brahm, 20th Century-Fox directors, have ar- rived in New York. Sam Bloom, Paramount's theatre associate in Toronto, was a recent visitor in Buffalo. e Dave Freedman, assistant booker for Paramount in Buffalo, has re- turned there from Birmingham, Ala. • James Jovaney, Globe Film Co. general manager, Chicago, is in New York on business. • Clyde Eckhardt, 20th-Fox Los Angeles branch manager, has left Chi- cago for the Coast. • Ben Judell, producer, is in Chi- cago, enroute to New York from the Coast. • Sol Lesser has arrived from the Coast. New Toronto Film Office Toronto, Jan. 22. — The National Film Board of the Dominion has opened a new branch here to facilitate the release of its product to industrial, school, trade union and rural circuits, which it supervises. OSCAR DOOB, advertising and publicity director of Loew's The- atres, returned to New York from the Coast yesterday. • William W. Brumberg, head of Warners' field public relations staff under Mort Blumenstock, will be guest speaker at today's meeting of the Queens Federation of Women's Club, Motion Picture Council, in Jamaica. • Bernard Goodman, Warner Bros, assistant supervisor of exchanges, and Mrs. Goodman are the parents of a son, Alfred Nelson, born Sunday at Jewish Hospital, Brooklyn. • Richard Walsh, I.A.T.S.E. presi- dent, William P. Raoul, assistant president, and James F. Brennan, vice-president, have returned to New York from Minneapolis. • Mort Blumenstock, head of War- ners' advertising and publicity in the East, and Larry Golob, Eastern pub- licity manager, left New York last night for Atlanta and Macon, Ga. • Leo F. Samuels, manager of Walt Disney Productions' foreign depart- ment, has returned to New York from the Caribbean area and Central Amer- Howard Dietz, vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation of Loew's, Inc.,. will re- turn to New York from the Coast on Friday. • Samuel Goldwyn is now sched- uled to arrive in New York from Hollywood on Feb. 5, having post- poned a planned earlier trip. • Colette Forster of the United Art- ists staff in Cleveland, was married recently to RM 2/C William Mc- Eween of the Coast Guard. • Joe V. Gerbach, manager of the Ames Theatre, Ames, la., recently be- gan his 33rd year as a showman in that town. • E. T. Gomersall, Universal's as- sistant general sales manager, is vis- iting in Detroit. • Mary Pickford left St. Luke's Hospital here yesterday after four days' treatment for grippe. • Sidney S. Kulick, PRC's Eastern district sales manager, left yesterday for Pittsburgh. • Roy Braur, Universal's branch manager in Atlanta, is on a business trip to Florida. • Merritt Davis, Southern division manager for Republic in Dallas, is visiting in Atlanta. Republic '44 Spending To Double This Year Hollywood, Jan. 22. — H. J. Yates told delegates to the Republic sales convention here today that the com- pany will double its 1944 expenditures in 1945 production. Stressing the im- portance of foreign markets, Yates said : "This is no time to be satisfied, but to achieve even wider distribution and prestige." He revealed that Republic will make two technicolor pictures during the year and will concentrate on de- veloping star personalities. The con- vention will continue tomorrow. NEW YORK THEATRES $66,791,319 for CBS Columbia Broadcasting's gross bill- ings for 1944 totaled $66,791,319. Gen- eral Foods was the highest time pur- chaser, with $5,537,409; Young and Rubicam, the agency, bought the most time, $7,966,037 worth. SECOND THRILL WEEK! Erich Von Stroheim Mary Beth Hughes The Great Flamarion with Dan Duryea Stephen Barclay A Republic Picture REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. FIRST N. Y. SHOWING! RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50TH STREET & 6TH AVENUE M-G-M's "NATIONAL VELVET" MICKEY ROONEY DONALD CRISP - ELIZABETH TAYLOR JACKIE JENKINS ■ REGINALD OWEN and THE MUSIC HALL'S SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN '30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO' SPENCER TRACY VAN JOHNSON > ROBT. WALKER IN PERSON JEAN PARKER JOEY ADAMS 20TH CENTURY. FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronin's THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous Performances RIVOLI B'way & 49th St. BING CROSBY I Person BETTY HUTTON .^.."o^ SONNY TUFTS I all-star revue "Here Come the Waves" PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. . HEDY LAMARR GEORGE BRENT - PAUL LUKAS "Experiment Perilous" AnRKO Picture MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y.. under the act of March 3. 187° Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. BIG ROSEMARY LANE • HAL MclNTYRE Mi HIS ORCHESTRA THE HOOSIER HOTSHOTS • TOM TYLER 3UINN Si? WILLIAMS SLIM SUMMERVILLE CAROLE MATHEWS NOAH BEERY, sr. PINKY TOMLIN MARIE "butch- AUSTIN FOY WILLING K! RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE )riginal Screen Play by J. Benton iheney and Elizabeth Beecher rodoced by COLBERT CLARK •irected by VERNON KEAYS 4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 23, 1945 Eyssell to Head Show for Roosevelt Birthday Party Kobak Outlines New Policies for Mutual Edgar Kobak, president of Mutual Broadcasting, stressed that emphasis will be placed on building Mutual as a compact network rather than a loosely affiliated group of some 249 stations, 212 of which can carry a network program, at the radio trade press luncheon at the Hotel New Weston here yesterday. Kobak outlined contemplated changes in the network's operating, sales and programming policies in a discussion of Mutual's present situa- tion in competition with the other three networks. Sales policies are be- ing revamped, Kobak said, so that the selling of time will be keyed to the full network rather than blocks of stations. Rates are also being over- hauled. New emphasis is being given to station relations and new program ideas, Kobak pointed out. He also disclosed that a new corporate set-up is being studied. Buckam Over Sales Duncan R. Buckam will head a new Mutual Eastern sales division, Kobak disclosed, and a new commission plan for salesmen is being considered. Mu- tual also intends to put war-effort programs on a continuous weekly basis rather than confine them to "one- shots," Kobak said. He pointed out that Mutual is in television through the Don Lee Broadcasting System in California, one of its affiliates, and is also in frequency-modulation through the Yankee Network, an- other affiliate. Monogram Pays Out $30,000 for Bonus Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Monogram has distributed some $30,000 as its an- nual employees' bonus for 1944, to studio, home office and company- owned exchanges in New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Senior officers do not participate in the dis- tribution. The lowest-salaried employe who has been with the company for a mini- mum of two years receives $255. Law Successor to Be Chosen Tomorrow Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Directors of the Southern California Theatre Owners Association today adjourned after a short session devoted to dis- cussing the choice of a successor to the late Albert J. Law as executive secretary and general counsel. They will reconvene tomorrow for further considerations expected to culminate in an announcement of a selection fol- lowing a meeting on Wednesday. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents G. S. Eyssell, managing director of Radio City Music Hall, will be in charge of entertainment for President Roosevelt's 'Dimes' birthday party at the Waldorf-Astoria, here, on Jan. 30. The production will be produced by Leon Leonidoff, with settings by Bruno Maine, and the stage direction will be under Irving Evans, with dances by Florence Rogge. Music will be under direction of Erno Rapee. The show will start with a four network broadcast of the Jack Benny show, to be followed with a special prologue by Bert Lytell, which will lead into the President's annual birth- day talk from the White House. Fill- ing out the balance of the program will be Beatrice Lillie, Benny Good- man, Joan McCracken, the chorus from "Bloomer Girl," the Music Hall Glee Club, June Forrest and the Drum Ballet. California's $650,000 Goal in 'Dimes' Drive A pledge that Northern California alone will raise more than $400,000 RKO Branch Meeting To Be Held Today The last, but one, of RKO branch conferences for the Ned Depinet sales drive, will be held today at the New York exchange, with 'captain' Rob- ert Folliard and 'lieutenant' Harry Gittleson, drive leaders, presiding. At- tending the meeting will be : Nat Levy, Eastern sales manager ; Charles Boasberg, Metropolitan district man- ager ; Phil Hodes, branch manager ; Herman Silverman, office manager ; Lou Kutinsky, John J. Dacey, Charles Penser and E. T. Carroll of the sales staff ; William Hartman, Jean Slade, Dorothy Post, Lillian Vallon, Mur- ray Blutrich, bookers, plus a dele- gation from the home office. The final meeting will be held by Folliard and Gittleson in Philadel- phia, tomorrow, with representatives from Washington, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Strike Threat Held Off Till Wednesday (Continued from page 1) went into a membership meeting to- night with unofficial assurance that a telegram from the WLB conveying official notification of an arbitrator's being appointed would be received from Washington. , A decorators' spokesman told Mo- tion Picture Daily that the member- ship would be informed of all cir- cumstances and that preparations have been made for a walkout, probably Wednesday, unless tangible action is taken by the WLB. A producers' labor contact said the matter rests wholly in the WLB's hands. Cleveland Exhibitors To Elect Feb. 15 Cleveland, Jan. 22. — The Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Associa- tion will hold its annual meeting to elect officers Feb. 15, preceeded by a luncheon. Ernest Schwartz, presi- dent for the last 11 years, will prob- ably be re-elected. in the 'Dimes' drive was received by Harry Brandt, yesterday from George Mann, co-chairman for California. California exhibitors are aiming at a $650,000 goal, having collected $477,- 129 in 1944. Loew's Theatres has set a $500,000 goal for the drive, having raised $443,- 781 in 1944. Total pledges received are 13,641, almost 2,000 more than in 1944. Harry Katz and Ken Collins, chair- men for Indiana, and A. J. Finke, Oregon chairman, have reported their States are over the top on pledged theatres. Skouras Broadcast to Aid 'Dimes' Drive Skouras Theatres will salute the birthday of President Roosevelt and the March of Dimes on the broadcast of "This Is Our Cause," over WOR, here, Jan. 27. Guest artist will be Alexander Kipnis of the Metropolitan Opera, with Annette Burford, so- prano and Earl Palmer, tenor, per- manent artists on the program also appearing. Bloom Mgrs. Elect Ross as President Toronto, Jan. 22. — Lou Ross, man- ager of the Lansdowne Theatre, has been elected president of the B and F Managers Association of the Bloom and Fine Circuit, a subsidiary of Famous Players Canadian Corp. Ross succeeds Tom Waterfield of the East- wood Theatre. Others elected were : Ted Smith, York Theatre, secretary; Leo Bloom, Century, treasurer ; and, Art Grover, Carlton ; Ron Hall, Gerrard, and Jack Hutt, La Plaza, directors. SPU Offers Interim Agreement Proposal Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Screen Play- ers Union officials today presented to the producers' labor committee a plan for an interim agreement to govern the employment of extra players pend- ing the outcome of negotiations for a contract. Following a three-hour meet- ing, which a joint statement described as friendly, a spokesman disclosed that the plan will be given further dis- cussion at a second meeting in the near future. Randforce Premium Suit Cleveland, Jan. 22. — The Metro Premium, Boston, and Randforce Amusement Co., Brooklyn, have sought a preliminary injunction in U. S. District Court of Northeastern Ohio, against the W. S. George Pot- tery Co. of East Palestine, Ohio, to prevent the pottery company from re- fusing to deliver tableware to Metro and Randforce operated theatres. Variety to Honor Stone Albany, Jan. 22. — Local Variety will honor Abraham Stone, independ- ent exhibitor here, at a dinner on Sun- day at the Hotel Ten Eyck. An in- dustry veteran, Stone has been in the business for 35 years and once served as head of New York State Allied. He operated the Eagle Theatre here for 17 years, selling out last summer. Dismiss Complaint Of Colony Theatre William A. McSwain, arbitrator in the Chicago tribunal, has dismissed the combination some-run, clearance complaint filed against the five con- senting companies by R. J. Miller, operating the Colony Theatre, Mc- Henry, 111., the American Arbitration Association reported here yesterday. At the same time, the AAA report- ed that Benton Roy, operating the Roy Theatre, Mansura, La., has filed a some-run complaint against 20th- Fox, RKO, Warners and Paramount. Complainant alleges that although de- fendants have offered him product they have employed methods calcu- lated to defeat the purpose of Section 6 of the consent decree. Gallup to Report on Photoplay Poll Dr. George Gallup of the Gallup Institute will report on Feb. 16 on the results of a poll he has conducted for Photoplay Magazine, on a survey of film audiences to determine who the public believes is America's most popular actress, actor and most popu- lar picture. This is understood to be the first time that a national public survey of this kind has been taken, all other public polls having been critics, trade publications or box office opinions. Gold medals will be given poll win- ners, when the announcement of the winners are made in the March issue of Photoplay, out on Feb. 16. Cartoonists to Act on Appeal Tomorrow Hollywood, Jan. 22. — The Screen Cartoonists Guild executive committee will meet Wednesday night to decide whether an appeal will be taken from the War Labor Board decision in the Walt Disney dispute settlement. SCG counsel said today that the Disney contract, from which the WLB elimi- nated a provision for cartoonists' sharing in grosses from reissues and television, doubtless will stand as a pattern for other cartoon studios in whatever form it is finally ratified. Todd, Sears Still Talk U.A. Deal Michael Todd is still negotiating with Gradwell Sears of United Artists for UA release of a number of pro- ductions he intends to make. Twentieth Century-Fox is financing Todd's "Way Up In Central Park" on a 50 per cent basis, it was learned here yesterday. Todd tried to change the title to "Central Park," but War- ners owns the title, having released such a picture in 1932, and reportedly refuses to relinquish it unless it ac- quires an interest in the play. Cowan to Cincinnati Lester Cowan, producer of "To- morrow the World," will leave New York shortly for Cincinnati to appear on several radio programs and to at- tend a press reception there in con- nection with the mid-West premiere of the film at the Palace Theatre Jan. 30. Martin Starr, UA radio direc- tor is already in Cincinnati arranging for the premiere. 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 23, 1945 Box Office Receipts at Keys Average $15,200 ASCAP Held Not a Florida Monopoly Rathvon Gets First Red Cross Pledges N. Peter Rathvon, national chairman of the industry's Red Cross "War Fund Week," Mar. 15-21, announced here yesterday that pledge cards have been sent to 17,000 ex- hibitors in the U. S. and pos- sessions, and acknowledge- ments of several hundred of them have already been re- ceived by Rathvon. RKO Queries RWLB Action in Dispute {Continued from page 1) York, at a hearing before the panel here. The company's jurisdictional challenge was on the ground that the theatres involved are not con^ nected with the prosecution of the war. Issues discussed at the hearing in- cluded the questions of union secur- ity and dues checkoff ; length of the work week for managers and assist- ants and overtime pay provisions for work in excess of 40 hours ; a five- day week ; holidays with pay ; sen- iority and a preference to be given present managers and assistants. Also discussed were the Guild's de- mands for grievance machinery and impartial arbitration of disputes. The RWLB panel was said to have pointed out that the WLB in previous cases has ruled favorably on the incorpora- tion of such provisions into union contracts and is understood to have urged both parties to attempt to reach agreements on the provisions. Next meeting before the panel will be held Wednesday, Jan. 31. Agnew Will Appoint New Sales Head Soon Neil Agnew, vice-president and general manager of Vanguard, has disclosed here that he will desig- nate a successor to Hugh Owen soon. Owen resigned as general sales manager of Vanguard last Monday to return to Paramount as sales man- ager of the newly created New York and Southern division. Agnew will leave for California this week for a brief visit and will probably designate a successor to Owen upon his return. Complete First 2 of Six Sack Shorts "Ration Blues," Negro musical short produced by Sack Amusement Enterprises of Dallas and Atlanta, has been completed as the first of a series of six Sack will release for its 25th anniversary. The series is being filmed at Filmcraft Sturios here under direction of William Crouch. Sack will distribute through inde- pendent exchanges where it does not have its own facilities. REEVES SOUND STUDIOS, INC. 1600 BROADWAY, N. Y. 19 Circle 6-6686 Complete Film and Disc Recording Facilities {Continued from page 1) 306 over the preceding year, when 153 houses totaled $113,- 029,994. The weekly average per theatre of $15,200 for 1944 com- pares with $14,170 for 1943. Although the pre-Christmas weeks of this past December showed the usual seasonal decline from the grosses of the month before, traceable to holi- day shopping, the receipts, neverthe- less continued to average more than $1,000 a week higher than the cor- responding period in December, 1943. The average per theatre fluctuated during 1944 between a low of $13,329 for the week ended March 31 and a high of $20,664 for the week ended Jan. 7. Other outstanding weeks were March 17-18, $18,761 ; Sept. 8-9, $18,- 775, and Dec. 1-2, $18,494. The 1943 range was from $11,240 to $18,967. Two films, "And Now Tomorrow" and "The Woman in the Window," were tied for top box-office honors in December, appearing more often than 1944 Average Week No. of Total Per Ending Theatres Gross Theatre Jan 7-8 117 2,417,700 20,664 Jan. 14-15 134 2,040,700 15,229 Tan. 21-22 149 2,311,400 15,513 Tan. 28-29 147 2,365,200 16,090 Feb. 4-5 153 2,512,200 16,419 Feb. 11-12 137 2,220,000 16,211 Feb. 18-19 155 2,459,800 15,870 Feb 25-26 161 2,760,100 17,144 March 3-4 147 2,397,100 16,307 March 10-11 147 2,463,400 16,758 March 17-18 153 2,661,100 18,761 March 24-25 150 2,487,700 16,585 Mar. 31-Apr. 1. ... 152 3,025,000 13,329 April 7-8 153 2,340,600 15,298 April 14-15 143 2,506,800 17,530 April 21-22 148 2,564,200 17,326 April 28-29 130 2,090,900 16,084 May 5-6 143 2,238,700 15,655 May 12-13 146 2,338,700 16,018 May 19-20 162 2,417,000 14,926 May 26-27 155 2,349,400 15,157 June 2-3 143 2,242,500 15,683 June 9-10 141 1,938,000 13,752 June 16-17 135 1,934,400 14,322 June 23-24 136 2,002,800 14,726 Tune 30- July !.... 126 2,178,300 17,288 July 7-8 145 2,490,900 17,178 July 14-15 144 2,228,500 15,478 July 21-22 148 2,321,400 15,685 July 28-29 135 2,245,400 16,632 Aug-. 4-5 141 2,324,500 15,777 Aug-. 11-12 148 2,355,200 15.913 Aug. 18-19 153 2,514,100 16,433 Aug. 25-26 141 2,516,800 17,850 Sept. 1-2 127 2,313,600 18,217 Sept. 8-9 144 2,703,600 18,775 Sept. 15-16 158 2,638,200 16,697 Sept. 22-23 146 2,505,900 17,164 Sept. 29-30 156 2,640,700 16,927 Oct. 6-7 136 2,411,500 17,732 Oct. 13-14 152 2,457,200 16,165 Oct. 20-21 157 2,641,300 16,824 Oct. 27-28 145 2,450,900 16,902 Nov. 3-4 139 2,322,400 16,708 Nov. 10-11 140 2,246,900 16,049 Nov. 17-18 145 2,285,300 15,761 Nov. 24-25 150 2,471,600 16,477 Dec. 1-2 132 2,441,200 18,494 Dec. 8-9 129 2,008,300 15,569 Dec. 15-16 135 2,068,700 15,324 Dec. 23-23 132 1,883,400 14,268 Dec. 29-30 112 1,939,000 (a) 17,313 Krenitz to WAC Post Cleveland, Jan. 22— Joe Krenitz Universal branch manager here, has succeeded Morrison Orr, United Art- ists branch manager, as War Activi- ties Committee distributor chairman for Northern Ohio. any others as key-city grossing lead- ers in the field correspondents' re- ports. Likewise deadlocked, for sec- ond place, were "Frenchman's Creek" and "Mrs. Parkington," followed closely by "The Very Thought of You," "Till We Meet Again" and "Kismet." Almost equally strong were "Bowery to Broadway," "Some- thing for the Boys," "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and "Lost in a Harem." Other pictures in the top-grossing bracket during the month were "Abroad With Two Yanks," "The Song of Bernadette," "Music in Man- hattan," "Marriage Is a Private Af- fair," "None But the Lonely Heart," "Together Again," "Rainbow Island," "San Diego, I Love You," "Heavenly Days," "The Princess and the Pir- ate," "The House of Frankenstein," "Can't Help Singing" and "Winged Victory." Composite key first-run box office reports for 1944, compared with the corresponding weeks of 1943, follow : 1943 Average Week No. of Total Per Ending Theatres Gross Theatre Jan. 8-9 154 2,424,300 15,742 Jan. 15-16 149 1,830,500 12,285 Jan. 21-22 127 1,448,600 12,981 Tan. 29-30 127 1,789,500 14,091 Feb. 5-6 126 1,743,000 13,040 Feb. 12-13 132 1,919,000 14,588 Feb. 19-20 139 1,885,900 13,568 Feb. 26-27 149 2,005,200 13,458 March 5-6 142 1,933,400 13,615 March 12-13 151 1,944,600 12,878 March 19-20 143 1,968,300 13,764 March 26-27 147 1,938,200 13,185 April 2-3 •.. 123 1,785,800 14,519 April 9-10 147 2,029,100 13,803 April 16-17 147 1,868,500 12.711 April 23-24 158 2,006,200 12,634 Apr. 30- May 1.... 154 2,284,200 14,184 May 7-8 161 2,168,400 13,468 May 14-15 161 2,053,700 18,967 May 21-22 158 2,096,200 13,267 May 28-29 155 2,036,600 13,139 June 4-5 169 2,289.700 13,548 June 11-12 166 1,865,873 11,240 June 18-19 163 1,961,600 12,034 June 25-26 168 2,125,300 12,650 July 2-3 164 2,133,800 13.010 July 9-10 153 2,433,700 15,906 Tuly 16-17 151 2,109,400 13,970 July 23-24 155 2,185,100 14.097 July 30-31 164 2,347,900 14,316 Aug. 6-7 138 2,032,400 14,727 Aug. 13-14 166 2,302,200 13,869 Aug. 20-21 153 2,341,600 15,304 Aug. 27-28 175 2,681,500 15,322 Sept. 3-4 163 2,559,900 15,705 Sept. 10-11 168 2,926,000 17,417 Sept. 17-18 165 2,456,300 14,887 Sept. 24-25 175 2,588,200 14,790 Oct. 1-2 166 2,473,800 14,902 Oct. 8-9 173 2,595,800 15,005 Oct. 15-16 167 2,544,600 15,237 Oct. 22-23 163 2,479,000 15,209 Oct. 29-30 179 2,608,800 14,574 Nov. 5-6 170 2,393,200 14,078 Nov. 12-13 166 2,467,100 14,862 Nov. 19-20 132 2,134,500 16,163 Nov. 26-27 145 2,259,600 15,583 Dec. 3-4 138 2,333,900 16,912 Dec. 10-11 151 2,221,900 14,714 Dec. 17-18 150 2,061,600 13,744 Dec. 24-25 135 1,743,100 12,912 Dec. 31 135 2,213,500 (b)16,396 Jordan Joins Monogram Atlanta, Jan. 22. — Hal Jordan, 'for the past 20 years with 20th Century- Fox in Charlotte, has joined the Monogram Southern exchanges sales force, covering Alabama and Ten- nessee. special Master James Messer, Jr. of Florida, has ruled that the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers "does not constitute an unlawful monopoly or combination operating in restraint of trade or in violation of the statutes of Florida and is legally qualified and entitled to operate within the state," the Society announced here yesterday. ASCAP was one of three original defendants in a suit brought by Flor- ida Attorney General J. Tom Watson, charging infringement of the Florida statute. Last March 20, Louis D. Frohlich of ASCAP general counsel, won separate trial for the society, and the ASCAP case was then tried last July in New York. Benoit Westinghouse Radio Vice-President Walter E. Benoit has been elected vice-president of Westinghouse Radio Stations, Inc., Walter Evans, vice- president of the Westinghouse Elec- tric and Manufacturing Company and head of the broadcasting subsidiary, announced yesterday. Benoit will take over executive du- ties for all Westinghouse standard band and short-wave broadcasting fa- cilities, while continuing as assistant to the vice-president of the radio and X-ray divisions. He will maintain headquarters in Baltimore. Two in Year Rejected By Chicago Censors Chicago, Jan. 22. — Only two films of the 1,086 screened were rejected by the local censor board in 1944. Cuts totalled 104, and 13 productions were given adult classification. During December, the board passed on 97 pictures, a record number. Only two, "The Mummy's Curse" and "The House of Frankenstein," were given adult classification. For the fifth con- secutive month, all were approved. 'Fighting Lady9 at Cinema Lodge Meet A special screening of "The Fight- ing Lady," Navy documentary being released by 20th Century-Fox, will be held at the meeting of Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith at the Hotel Edison here tonight. Samuel Rinzler will be honored at the meeting to which industry execu- tives have been invited. Roy Mack Appointed New USO Coast Head Hollywood, Jan . 22. — Abe Last- vogel, president of USO-Camp Shows, Inc., has appointed Roy Mack as suc- cessor to Ed Lowry, in charge of the West Coast branch of USO Camp- Shows. Mack, who was formerly Lowry's assistant, will take over on Feb. 1. Plan Sparta Theatre Sparta, Ga., Jan. 22. — Col. Marvin Peck, owner of the Pex Theatre, has announced that he will build a new theatre here as soon as materials are available. Application for approval has been made to the War Production Boa-*"d. • GRAND (Total | GRAND (Total AVERAGES ... 143 Gross: $15,200 AVERAGES ... 153 Gross: $14,170 $122,690,200) " I $113,029,994) (a) — Does not include heavy New Year's Eve business. (b) — Includes heavy New Year's Eve business. (Copyright, 1945 Qidgley Publishing Co.) Tuesday, January 23, 1945 Motion Picture daily 7 Review "The Great Flamarion" {Republic) ..^p HE GREAT FLAMARION" is tailor-made for stiff-necked Erich A Von Stroheim, who broods his way through a good portion of the film until inflamed by Mary Beth Hughes, and then he shares his affections between Miss Hughes and his set of guns. Von Stroheim portrays a vaude- ville star with a sharp-shooting specialty who lives only for his art: Miss Hughes is a scheming little vixen ready to discard her drunken husband, Dan Duryea, and prevails on Von Stroheim to shoot Duryea while that worthy is performing as a stooge in the act. A coroner acquits Von Stroheim, ascrib- ing the "accident" to Duryea's intoxication. When Miss Hughes does not keep a rendezvous with Von Stroheim, he seeks her out and strangles her before dying in turn from a wound inflicted by Miss Hughes. The film, with an air of contrivance about it, sustains mild interest without becoming absorbing. Anthony Mann's direction is sufficient for the material at hand; the screenplay was by Anne Wigton, Heinz Herald and Richard Weil, from Miss Wigton's story based on a character, "Big Shot,", by Vicki Baum. Producer William Wilder also cast Stephen Barclay, Lester Allen, Esther Howard, Michael Mark, Joseph Granby, John R. Hamilton. Fred Velasco, Carmen Lopez and Tony Ferrell do several turns with a Latin flavor. Faith Watson and Lester Allen wrote two musical numbers: "Chita" and "Lights of Broadway," respectively. Running time, 78 minutes. "G."* Release date, not set. Charles Ryweck 'Fighting Lady' in Lead at N.Y. Houses By Record $37,000 (Continued from page 1) pected for the week at this 720-seat house. Previous high there was §26,- 400, for "The Sign of the Cross." Also doing outstanding business is the Rank-LA "Mr. Emmanuel," at the Gotham, where receipts for the third week are expected to reach $17,000 to equal the gross of the initial week. "Tomorrow the World" is also showing exceptionally fine holding power at the Globe with the fifth week's gross expected to hit $15,000, beating both the fourth and third weeks. "The Keys of the Kingdom" is expected to bring a subsatntial S41.000 for its fourth week at the Rivoli, a healthy upswing from the third week's $34,500. "Here Come the Waves" and a stage show with Woody- Herman and his band, and Buddy Les- ter, at the Paramount, continues to lead holdovers with a good $70,000 expected for the fourth week, equal- ing the third week ; the combination is set for six weeks. $96,000 for 'Velvet' "National Velvet" and a Radio City Music Hall stage show are headed for a good $96,000 for a sixth and final week, on the basis of $64,500 re- corded in the first four days. "A Song to Remember" will open at the Hall on Thursday. A satisfactory, 562,000 is expected for the fourth and final week of "Winged Victory" and a stage show at the Roxy ; "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" and a stage show featuring Bill Robinson, Mau- rice Rocco, the Delta Rhythm Boys and Louis Armstrong and his band will open there tomorrow. "Hollywood Canteen" and a stage presentation is expected to give the Strand a moderate $39,000 for a sixth and final week; "Objective Burma" and a stage show featuring Artie Shaw and his band will open there Friday. A profitable fifth and final week's gross of $60,000 is expected for "Music for Millions" and a show at the Capitol, on the basis of $40,000 recorded for the first four days ; "The Thin Man Goes Home" and a stage show with Frankie Carle and his band will open there Thursday. Others Improve Other theatres are also doing bet- ter business than last week. The Cri- terion recorded $28,500 for a fourth week of "Can't Help Singing" ; it is holding for a fifth week, with "The Climax" expected to follow. The As- tor counted $30,000 for the eighth week of "Meet Me in St. Louis" ; the film is set to run until Feb. 4. "To Have and Have Not" is headed for $19,000 for its 15th week at the Hol- lywood ; it will hold one more week, with "Roughly Speaking" set to fol- low on Jan. 31. A substantial $17,000 is expected for the fourth and final week of "Ex- periment Perilous" at the Palace ; "The Woman in the Window" will open there Thursday. A profitable first week of $10,000 is expected for "The Man in Half Moon Street," at the Rialto, and the film will hold. "The Great Flamarion" is headed for a poor $4,000 for its second and final week at the Republic, and "On Approval," J. Arthur Rank film being released here by English Films, will open there Saturday. *"G" denotes general classification. $l-a-Reel Tax Is Proposed for Iowa Des Moines. Jan. 22. — Harvey Long (Rep., Clinton, la.) has pre- pared for filing in the state assembly a bill to charge film distributors an annual license fee of $1,000, plus^ $1 for every reel sent into the state "for use where an admission fee is charged." The yield would go to the Iowa state old age assistance fund. Long said. The state tax commission would collect the tax. The film industry, under the pro- posal, would not be permitted to pass on the tax in the form of higher ad- mission charges. Para. Sets 'BelV in 50 Spots for Feb. 22 "For Wrhom the Bell Tolls" will be given Washington's Birthday week openings in 50 key centers, to launch a regular-admission release, accord- ing to Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribu- tion. An extensive campaign, stressing the regular admissions, has been put in work under direction of_ R. M. Gill- ham, advertising-publicity director, following the two-day advertising- exploitation meeting here, on the film, late last week, at which circuit adver- tising-publicity heads presented ideas. Murray Conspiracy Suit to Jury Today Chicago, Jan. 22. — Closing argu- ments of counsel in the Thomas Mur- ray $1,000,000 conspiracy suit against the distributors and Balaban and Katz in Federal Court here, will start to- day. Case is expected to go to the jury before the end of the day. Final witnesses heard today were plaintiff Murray and his son, Lester, who checked gross receipts of pictures nlayed in the Thalia Theatre, which they formerly operated. Henri Elman, PRC exchange owner and one of the defendants, was excused from attend- ing the trial because of ill health. He is now in California. Stock Cuts Seen Sparing Newsreels Washington, Jan. 22. — Newsreels will take little, and maybe none, of the cut in raw stock allocations now being worked out for the current quarter and to be disclosed to the in- dustry advisory committee at its meet- ing with War Production Board of- ficials here next week, it was learned today. Rumors which have been current that the newsreels would have to take a substantial cut were branded unfounded, and while officials could not say definitely what the final out- come of present calculations would be, they indicated that the special cir- cumstances under which the news- reels operate will render a small cur- tailment of raw stock impracticable. It is possible that instead of being given a cut, the companies will be asked to save every foot of film pos- sible and turn back any they do not absolutely need. It was suggested that this would be a lot easier than to attempt to work out any new for- mula for length of reel, number of prints, etc., which would be required for application of a percentage cut. Only One Objection On Banned Short Toronto, Jan. 22. — Following with- drawal by the Canadian Government of National Film Board's "Balkan Powder Keg,*' LTnited Artists dis- tributing, because of 'international fac- tors' involved, O. J. Silverthorne. chairman of the Ontario board of cen sors, said he received only one com- plaint from the public while the pic- ture was playing the Toronto uptown and he had called back the short for second viewing but passed it again without further revision. Originally there had been some deletions by Ontario censors but he did not explain what these scenes were. To his mind the subject was "innocuous." But, Silverthorne said further, "it was just a conglomera- tion' of old news reels" and that "practically all news reels are contro- versial." No Raw Stock Improvement (Continued from page 1) use of raw stock by Government agen- cies and other groups, indicated that he has not found any means of mak- ing any substantial amount of addi- tional raw stock available to the in- dustry during the current quarter which promises to see the industry's allotments cut by 27,000,000 feet. The WPB is still working on al- locations for individual companies and newsreels, Schaefer said. These are expected to be ready when the indus- try's advisory committee goes to Washington for a meeting with WPB officials on Feb. 1. Indications are, Schaefer said, that the newsreels will be cut to about 700 feet per issue from the present 750 feet. This would save an estimated 3,400,000 feet for the quarter instead of the 9,000,000 cut originally sug- gested by the WPB. The difference, however, would have to be made up by cutting more than the original 18,- 000,000 feet from feature releases, Schaefer pointed out. Method Not Set The outlook for an increase in raw • stock production, which would make more film available to the industry is also slim, it was pointed out. Still to be determined is the method which the WPB will utilize in levying the cut against individual companies. Originally suggested when the in- dustry's advisory committee met with WPB officials, several weeks ago, was a method which would cut the alloca- tions of each of the large companies by some 2,500,000 feet and the smaller companies by about 1,000,000 feet, rather than by the previous method wherein the companies in the best position to sustain cuts received the largest curtailment. Original esti- mates for individual companies might go even higher, it is said, if a part of the proposed newsreel cut is trans- ferred to feature release stock curtail- ments. Turner in New Blue Post John Coburn Turner has been ap- pointed to head a new program pro- motion division of the program de- partment of the Blue Network, ac- cording to an announcement by Hub- bell Robinson, Jr., vice-president of programs and production. United Renews Altec United Detroit Theatres Corp, has renewed its agreement with Altec for the servicing of the circuit's 21 De- troit theatres. 8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 23, 1945 Production on Coast Jumps To 40 Filming Hollywood, Jan. 22. — Production improved, with eight features com- pleted and work started on 11 others. The shooting index hit 40. The pro- duction scene follows : Columbia Started: "Kiss and Tell," with Shirley Temple, Virginia Welles, Walter Abel, Katherine Alexander, Porter Hall, Edgar Buchanan. Shooting : "Over 21," "Ten Cents a Dance," "The Fighting Guardsman," "A Thousand and One Nights." M-G-M Shooting : "Yolanda and the Thief," "The Harvey Girls," "Her Highness and the Bellboy," "Weekend at the Waldorf." Monogram Started: "The Robot Murder," with Sidney Toler, Benson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Helen Devereaux. Shooting: "Stranger from Santa Fe," "Docks of New York." Paramount Shooting : "Masquerade in Mexi- co," "Good Intentions," "Too Good to Be True." PRC Finished: "Gangster's Den" (form- erly "Untitled Buster Crabbe"), "The Phantom of 42nd Street." Started : "Enemy of the Law," with Tex Ritter, Dave O'Brien, Guy Wil- kerson, Kay Hughes. Shooting : "Enchanted Forest." RKO Radio Shooting: "Those Endearing Young Charms," "Johnny Angel," "The Spanish Main," "Invisible Army," "Along Came Jones" (In- ternational). Republic Finished : "The Fatal Witness," "Road to Alcatraz." Started: "Bells of Rosarita," with Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Dale Evans, Adele Mara, Sons of the Pioneers, Robert Mitchell Boy Choir. Shooting : "New Faces of 1945," "Return at Dawn." 20th Century-Fox Started: "Two-Faced Quilligan," with William Bendix, Joan Blondell, Phil Silvers, Anne Revere, Mary Treen, B. S. Pully, John Russell, Roy Roberts, Rene Carson ; "The Dolly Sisters," with Betty Grable, John Payne, June Haver, S. Z. Sakall, Frank Latimore, Trudy Marshall, Gene Sheldon, Ricki Van Dusen, Evon Thomas, Donna Jo Gribble. Shooting: "State Fair," "Colonel Effingham's Raid," "A ■ Bell for Adano," "Captain Eddie." United Artists Finished : "Story of G.I. Joe" (Cowan). Started: "Captain Kidd" (Bo- gcaus). Shooting : "Paris — Underground" (Bennett) : "Guest Wife" (Skirball- Manning) . Universal Finished: "Senorita from the West. Started: "The Naughty Nineties," with Abbott and Costello, Alan Curtis. Lois Collier, Rita Johnson, Henry Teeth in N. Y. Code Through New Law {Continued from page 1) even be introduced before the comple- tion of consideration of the code by the advisory committee. Setting new legislation to enforce the provisions of the code, it is point- ed out, would not make it necessary for the State Labor Department to bring violators to court, but would provide for the punishment for viola- tions as they are uncovered. Indications are that there will be no harsh provisions in the new code as they affect existing theatres and that those affecting new theatre con- struction are reasonable, it is pointed out. Discussions at meetings of the Labor Department's advisory commit- tee, which includes Henry Anderson, Paramount ; Martin J. Tracey, Cen- tury Circuit ; Theodore Junge, alter- nate for Harry Moskowitz, of Loew's, and Glen H. Humphrey of projectionists Local No. 337^ now center around seating arrangements and theatre curtains. The next meet- ing will be held Feb. 2. Two More Meetings Estimates now are that two more meetings will be necessary on rules for existing structures and two addi- tional meetings on provisions for new construction. The committee has been meeting every two weeks and in- dications are that it will complete consideration of the code by mid- March. It will then go to Edward Corsi, State Industrial Commissioner, and public hearings will probably be held. Loew's New England Managers Hold Meet New Haven, Jan. 22. — A man- agers' meeting of all theatres of Loew's Poli-New England Theatres, Inc., has been held here with Harry Shaw, divisional manager, presiding. New dimout regulations, general op- erations, maintenance and publicity, were discussed. Also attending were : Lou Brown, publicity director of Loew's Poli Theatres, and Bert Mc- Kenzie, M-G-M exploitation manager for New England territory. Second prize in M-G-M's "Ameri- can Romance" Contest was awarded to Louis Cohen and Lou Brown. Pre- sentation of $150 in bonds was made by M. Goldstein, M-G-M branch manager, and McKenzie. Travers, Joe Sawyer, Sam McDaniel, Mantan Moreland ; "Invitation to Death," with Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Hillary Brooks, Henry Daniell, Sally Shepherd, Mathew Bolton, Eva Amber ; "Lady on a Train," with Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy, Da- vid Bruce, Edward Everett Horton, Dan Duryea, Allen Jenkins. Shooting : "That's the Spirit," "A Night in Paradise." Warners Finished: "Hotel Berlin," "The Big Sleep." Shooting: "Three Strangers," "Mildred Pierce." Independent Started: "Ten Little Indians" (Pop- ular Pictures), with Barry Fitzger- ald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young, June Duprez, Sir Au- brey Smith, Judith Anderson, Mischa Auer, Richard Haydn, Queenie Leonard. Selznick, Saphier Agencies Merged (Continued from page 1) agencies, operating from the Myron Selznick Building in Beverly Hills and .he Selznick offices in New York. Saphier said more employes would be added and that expansion plans would be announced shortly. Also prominently identified with the com- pany's activities will be Lester W. Roth, attorney for the estate. Monica McCall, head of the Selz- nick New York office, will continue in charge of the joint enterprise there, while Bruce Powell will re- main chief of that branch's radio de- partment. Substantially all execu- tives and personnel will remain in their present posts. Two New Agents Saphier said he would announce shortly the association with the com- pany of two well-known agents who were among Selznick's principal lieu- tenants in the founding and building of his enterprise. James Doane, an associate of Saphier, will move into the new set-up with his 'package' radio show, "The Mayor of the Town," starring Lionel Barrymore. Fizdale, public relations and publicity specialist, will be general manager of the new organization. Although Myron Selznick, Ltd., of London is not included in the merger, Saphier and the executors stated that a working arrangement is practically completed whereby the two groups will collaborate in an interchange of clients and in developing the interna- tional phase of their activities. The Saphier agency, which has op- erated for 14 years, primarily in the radio field, now packages and repre- sents the Bob Hope Pepsodent pro- gram, the Herbert Marshall Lockheed show, "The Saint," for Bromo Seltz- er, "Corliss Archer" and others. Joe Lee Named 20th Manager in Detroit Joe J. Lee, former branch manager of 20th-Fox in New York, has been appointed branch manager in Detroit for that company. Lee entered the in- dustry in 1911, touring with the Joe Lee Stock Company, and talking be- hind screens in theatres as an off- screen voice which accompanied silent films. He then spent several years in the independent field, selling and pro- ducing. In 1915 he joined Famous Players as salesman for New Jersey, leaving in 1924 to join Fox, where he continued as New Jersey sales manager. He became sales manager for New York in 1932. Red Cross Meeting Today Plans for the cooperation of the radio industry in the 1945 Red Cross War Fund Drive, will be discussed at a luncheon today at the Waldorf- Astoria. James E. Sauter, head of the United Theatrical War Activities Committee, and radio chairman, will preside. Morton Downey Returns Morton Downey will be interviewed today at the USO-Camp Shows of- fices, following his return from an overseas tour of the European thea- tre. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 22 NUNNALLY JOHNSON will write and produce "Ashenden, British Agent" as his next Interna- tional picture. The Somerset Maugham novel was purchased re- cently by William Goetz. . . . Josephi Cotten will be co-starred with Ingrid' Bergman in David O. Selznick's forthcoming "The Scarlet Lily." . . . Dan Duryea has been signed by Uni- versal for "Lady on a Train." • Arthur Shields, Barry Fitzgerald's brother, has signed a Warner contract. . . . Byron Barr will play the heavy in "Follow that Woman," next Pine- Thomas picture for Paramount. . . . Republic has exercised its option on services of Bobby Blake and Alice Fleming, both well-known to "Red Ryder" fans. • Ruth Hussey and Adolphe Menjou will have top comedy roles in RKO's "Man Alive." . . . Dorothy Dayton, the dancer, has been signed by Paramount. . . . Dolores Moran has been assigned the second feminine lead in Warners' "Too Young to Know," which will star Joan Les- lie and Robert Hutton. . . . Colum- bia will continue its "Boston Blackie" series for at least two m *re years, and has signed Frank Su'ly to be a permanent member of the troupe, in support of Chester Morris. • Margaret O'Brien will be starred in "The Face of Heaven," being zcrit- ten for M-G-M by Robert Nathan. Montague Presides At Columbia Meet (Continued from page 1) gevs, as well as Canadian represen- tatives, at which the handling and treatment to be given the produc- tion will be discussed, A. Montague, general sales manager, who will pre- side, announced here yesterday. The delegates will see "A Song to Remember" at Radio City Music Hall premiere, on Thursday. Although prints of "A Song to Remember," which is being sold apart from the program, have been in exchanges since last September, it has not been screened for either members of the sales force or exhibitors. The film will not be available for other show- ings until after the New York pre- miere, when delegates will have re- turned to their territories and made necessary arrangements. New York Police to Enforce 'Brownout' (Continued from page 1 ) director of the Office of War Utili- ties, conferred with the Mayor in New York last week and also met with Police Commissioner L. A. Valentine and representatives of the Consoli- dated Edison Co. to discuss details of the city's enforcement program. Final plans for use of the police to nsure that exhibitors, merchants and advertisers comply with the dimout order will be made at further confer- ences to be held within the next few days, it was said. First in Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry It VOL. 57. NO. 17 NEW YORK, U. S. A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1945 TEN CENTS Suggest WPB Ban Raw Stock For Reissues Idea May Be Discussed At Industry Meet Feb. 1 Washington, Jan. 23. — Sug- gestions that the use of raw stock for reissues be banned so long as the present tight film situation con- tinues have been submitted to the War Production Board by industry sources. Whether such a ban will be imposed when the first-quarter allocations are decided, next week, has not been de- termined, it is understood, and the subject may be brought up for discus- sion at the meeting of the industry advisory committee on Feb. 1. The question of reissues is said to have arguments on both sides which must be considered. It is admitted that in putting out reissues a com- pany saves production footage, but against this, it is feared by some of- ficials, that any producing company might sell old pictures to an indepen- dent distributor, who then would want footage for its release over-running his quota. WPB Insists on No Theatre Closings Washington, Jan. 23. — The the- atre equipment division of the War Production Board will continue its policy of permitting adequate equip- ment to be manufactured to prevent the closing of any theatre for the lack of equipment, a WPB spokesman said here today. Applications for equipment are be- ing scrutinized very closely to insure that it is installed only in a theatre (.Continued on page 12) Studios Ask NLRB to Clarify an 'Extra' Hollywood, Jan. 23. — Stewart Mea cham, Regional Labor Relations Board representative here, reveals here that the studios have petitioned the Na- tional Labor Relations Board at Washington for a clarification of the certification given the Screen Players Union, as bargaining agent for extra players performing- bits, stunts and parts. The producers are in the middle of """" Demands 'Acreage* For All Standees Baltimore, Jan. 23. — Theatre owners here are organizing to fight a proposed ordinance introduced in the City Coun- cil requiring theatres and other public places of assem- bly to allow a minimum of ten square feet for each per- son standing. Mayor Theo- dore McKeldin introduced the measure. Standing room now is less than four square feet. 'Dimes 5 Starts Tomorrow The March of Dimes drive in 700 theatres in Metropolitan New. York, and in 14,000 theatres nationally, will be launched tomorrow. A 'giant demonstration in Times Square, New York, at noon, will be followed by a parade of miltiary bands and uni- formed members of various auxiliary war services. Addresses by Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, and Harry Brandt of the industry's drive executive committee, will pre- cede the appearance of stars of screen, stage and radio. Among those sched- uled to appear are : Luise Rainer, Marilyn Maxwell, Johnnie Johnston, Martha Scott, Mady Christians, Tom- my Dix, Neil Hamilton, Paul Lukas, James Ellison, Skeets Gallagher, Jane Withers, Louis Calhern, Oscar Homolka, Frank Fay, Florence Rice, John Boles, Margo, Michael O'Shea, Jean Hersholt, Lee Bowman, Fay (Continued on page 5) FP-C Marks 25 Years Toronto, Jan. 23. — Marking the 25th anniversary of Famous Players- Canadian, representatives of Para- mount and FP-C met in the Royal York Hotel here tonight to honor 27 charter members of a new '25 - Year Club.' A d o 1 p h Zukor, Para- mount board chairman, and Austin C. Keough, vice- president and general counsel, were among the guest speakers here from New York. J. J. Fitzgibbons was toastmaster and pre- (Cohtinued on page 6) J. J. Fitzgibbons Academy Lists 137 Award Potentials Hollywood, Jan. 23. — Combining individual lists of eligible pictures sup- plied by the studios as containing those which, in their opinion, rate nomina- tion for awards, the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences has supplied the following reminder list of 137 produc- tions to the 9,150 members of the Academy, the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Directors Guild with invitation to select five for place- ment on the ballot in the forthcoming (Continued on page 12) 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 9 (20th Century-Fox) THE screen version of the widely sold, read and discussed novel, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," is another addition to that ever- increasing group of films which, in vital respects, are better than the works upon which they are based. It retains the essential realism of the Betty Smith novel, while discarding much that was gross and sordid therein. Because it is more compact, it has greater impact. It says all that the novelist had to say, and saying it expertly in the more graphic medium, it says it more forcefully. It follows, therefore, that the novel having been a best-seller among readers, this superior screen version is destined to be a proportionately greater attraction among film-goers. The screen play, by Tess Slesinger and Frank Davis, eloquently re-states the fundamentals of the novel. There is the poverty of the city tenement and the spiritual desert of city pavements and grimy rooftops where the people of this story live out their lives. But in this starved soil, human love and aspiration take root and grow as inexplicably as {Continued on page 14) Myers Warns Of Decline In Attendance Foresees No Relief for Theatres on Manpower Columbus, Jan. 23. — Warning that current conditions point to a decline in theatre attendance, Abram F. Myers, chairman and general counsel of Allied States, de- clares in his annual report to be pre- sented to a meeting of Allied direc- tors at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel here tomorrow that, "Only by ex- traordinary efforts can exhibitors maintain, much less increase, the vol- ume of their business." Factors named by Myers as likely to contribute to a decline in attendance are: further in- ductions and population shifts, extended engagements in prior (Continued on page 6) Studio Strike Put Off by WLB Move Hollywood, Jan. 23. — A studio strike by Screen Set Decorators Local 1421 today appeared averted by re- ceipt from the War Labor Board of a telegram notifying the union that an arbitrator in its jurisdictional dis- pute with the IATSE is being selected and will be named in a few days. A union spokesman told Motion Pic- ture Daily that this puts off the strike possibly at least a week. Arthur to Insist on Decree Intervention St. Louis, Jan. 23. — Harry Arthur, Jr., general manager of Fanchon and Marco in St. Louis, disclosed here to- day that his St. Louis Amusement Co. has decided definitely to appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court from the denial of the company's plea to intervene in (Continued on page 11) Also Reviewed Today In addition to the review of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", appearing in adjoining col- umns, a review of "Tahiti Nights" appears on page 14. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 24, 1945 Personal Mention Insider's Outlook By RED KANN- ARTHUR SILVERSTONE_ of 20th Century-Fox's international department, returned from London yesterday for home office conferences which will keep him in the U. S. for an indefinite period. • Milt Young of the Warner The- atres advertising and promotion de- partment in Philadelphia has returned to his office after a brief hospital confinement. • Harry Mayer, head talent booker for Warner Theatres, and Mrs. Mayer are the parents of a daughter born Friday at Beth David Hospi- tal. H. J. Schad, head of Schad The- atres, Reading, Pa., has been re- elected to the board of directors of the Berks County Agricultural Asso- ciation. • Harry Gold, United Artists East- ern sales manager, is expected at the home office today following meetings in Boston and Cleveland. • Budd Rogers, a member of Univer- sale board of directors, and Mrs. Rogers will celebrate their 25th wed- ding anniversary Saturday. • Lou Krouse, secretary-treasurer of the I.A.T.S.E. and head of Local 307 in Philadelphia, is convalescing there from a recent illness. • James Reimel, former Warner booker in Philadelphia, and Mrs. Reimel are the parents of a son, James, Jr., born last week. • Richard F. Walsh, I.A.T.S.E. president, was in Philadelphia yes- terday. • G. L. Carrington, president of Al- tec Service Corp., has arrived from Hollywood. Appeal Board Order To Court This Week The American Arbitration Associa- tion will submit this week to Federal Judge Henrv W. Goddard, here, an order, based on the signed stipula- tions of the consenting companies, for an extension of the terms of the arbitration appeal board for one year. The Department of Justice has also •approved the extension. Captain Ameno Killed Official notice was received Monday by Mrs. Laura Halle Ameno, daughter of the Postmaster General and Mrs. Frank C. Walker, of the death in action of her husband, Cap- tain Robert L. Ameno in Belgium on Dec. 30. Captain Ameno was a com- pany commander in the 11th American Armored Division. Hollywood, Jan. 23 WHEN he addressed mem- bers of the California Theatre Council, his statistics on bond sales were off the record. When he addressed the annual meeting of the Hollywood divi- sion of the War Activities Committee, some of the same statistics went on the record. Then, Ted R. Gamble, direc- tor of the War Finance Divi- sion of the Treasury Depart- ment, revealed the Treasury had borrowed $157,000,000,000 from May, 1941, up to, but not in- cluding the Sixth Loan. Of that astronomical sum, $38,000,- 000,000 came from about 85,- 000,000 individuals, averaging nine bonds per person. While the figures on redeemed bonds must be kept under the rose, it is permissible to report their to- tal is unimportantly small when compared with overall sales. Gratifying and well-deserved are these words from Gamble: "The job that has been done would have been utterly impos- sible without the aid of the mo- tion picture industry. Soon, as we approach peace, movies must help to keep the people advised of inflationary dangers." Thus, there shapes up part of the pattern of the industry's use- fulness in the period ahead. ■ This same meeting heard highlight figures from the report of Jack Alicoate, chairman of WAC's trade press division. To date, 12 publications have con- tributed 833 pages of advertis- ing, representing $272,934 in paid space, and 13,554 columns of news. The trade press also serves. ■ ■ Hugh Harman has interest- ing maneuvers afoot. Like other cartoon producers in Hollywood, various types of in- structional and technical shorts for the war establishments have pre-empted much of his time. The fact with him is he is now making his first non-Govern- ment short in two years and, at that, it's a dental hygiene film for the health department of the State of Tennessee. This year, he plans a pair of feature length subjects under a cartoon-live ac- tion formula which he calls "Animaction." One will be "King Arthur," and that sug- gests the fabled Round Table, and the other "Hollywood Merry-Go-Round." Harman's long-view approach on the future: "Visual educational films of- fer an unlimited field. Sales to foreign governments should be tremendous after the war and we intend to have representa- tives in many countries." ■ ■ Producer, evidencing enthusi- asm over his new leading man: "He's so easy to handle, it's a pleasure. Any old dressing room is good enough. He is al- ways on the set on time. He never hogs scenes. He gets along with everyone. He's hap- pily married, thinks his wife is the one woman in the world, has four fine sons. "Besides, he brings me but- ter and eggs from his ranch." ■ ■ Old hat is one experience many New York executives go through on their studio visits. Switchboard operators will know the makers of the 'B's,' but they don't always know the instrumentalities of policy. This situation finally caught up with Maurice Bergman, Uni- versale Eastern advertising di- rector, the other morning. A call for him at the studio brought that inescapable: "What does he do here?" ■ I Hedda Hopper, reporting RKO has signed Boris Karloff for three pictures in two years, also reported his "Body Snatch- er" and "Isle of the Dead" are "paying big dividends." It's a scoop. Neither picture has been released as yet. ■ ■ Futureless Future : "What are you working on?" "Couple of stories." "How are you doing?" "Fine, fine. I'll make the shelf with them, right on schedule, too." ■ ■ Valley Note: How goes it with Republic? It goes like this : Seven years ago, the company was grossing $90,000 a week. Now, it averages $300,000 every seven days. ■ ■ Studio Scene: Two produc- ers meet in a corridor, get in- volved in a long and weighty discussion. Subject matter: Their ulcers. ■ ■ Hollywood Vignette: He starts his day with a mean look even when he feels well. ■ ■ Blackout: Empty stages make more decisions than sense. Coming Events Today — Ontario exhibitors meet to organize against new tax pro- posal, Toronto. Jan. 24-25— National Allied board of directors meeting, Deshler- Wallick Hotel, Columbus. Jan. 25 — Institute of Radio Engi- neers dinner, Hotel Commodore, New York. Jan. 25-31 — March of Dimes cam- paign in theatres. Jan. 27-28 — Film Classics franchise holders' meeting, Coronado Ho- tel, St. Louis. Jan. 29' — Paramount regional sales meeting, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco. Jan. 30 — Paramount luncheon for . exhibitors, Hotel St. Francis, San Francisco. Feb. 1 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Denver. Feb. 2 — Press Photographers Asso- ciation dance and entertainment, Hotel Waldorf Astoria, New York. Feb. 2— Paramount luncheon for exhibitors, Denver. Feb. 5 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Hotel Muehlebach, Kan- sas City. Feb. 6 — Paramount luncheon for exhibitors, Hotel Muehlebach, Kansas City. Feb. 8 — Paramount regional sales meeting Dallas. Feb. 12 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Chicago. Feb. 14 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Cleveland. Feb. 20 — Paramount regional sales meeting, New York. March 8-9— Paramount regional sales meeting, Atlanta. March 15— Academy of Motion Pic- ture Arts and Sciences annual awards, Hollywood. Cinema Lodge Cites Exhibitor Rinzler Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith paid tribute to Samuel Rinzler, New York pioneer exhibitor, at a meeting at the Hotel Edison, here, last night, at- tended by representatives of the film and allied industries in New York. Rinzler was presented with the Cinema 'Honor Scroll' for his efforts on be- half of industry's participation in various war drives and charitable undertakings, by Jack H, Levin. Speakers who paid tribute to Rinz- ler, besides Levin, included Albert A., Senft, Cinema president, Harry Brandt and Emanuel Frisch, son of Louis Frisch, Rinzler's lifelong partner in the Randforce circuit. Rinzler in- ducted a large group of new members into Cinema following the scroll pres- entation. Final portion of the program was given over to a screening of the U. S. Navy's documentary film, "The Fight- ing Lady." MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quipley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. Sullivan, Secretary-; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 18?°- Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; tingle copies, 10c. 4tf e *«! ***** Keep Selling Boncis I LITHO US Wednesday, January 24, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 5 Newspapers Ads Are Essential: Gillham 'Dimes 9 Drive Launching Is Set for Tomorrow Continuing studies prove that there is no substitute for newspaper adver- tising in selling motion pictures to the public, and theatres, therefore, should make every effort to obtain the maximum newspaper space under present rationing conditions, states R. M. Gillham, Paramount advertis- ing-publicity director. "Continuing studies of newspaper readership conducted by the Advertis- ing Research Foundation since 1938 show that filmgoers are accustomed to look at newspapers to find out what is playing," said Gillham, add- ing: "All surveys, moreover, prove the value of entertainment-page loca- tions over other locations in papers. "It is necessary to constantly keep reminding newspaper advertising de- partments that with the exception of department stores, motion picture the- atres are their best customers and the most attractive from a readership standpoint. Theatre men will find that a persuasive argument," concluded Gillham. Freeman, Reagan, Gillham on the Coast Hollywood, Jan. 23.— Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount production vice- president; Charles M. Reagan, vice- president in charge of sales ; Russell Holman, Eastern production head; Robert Gillham, advertising-publicity director, and John Byram, head of the New York play department, ar- rived here today from New York. This is Reagan's first trip to the studio since his appointment as sales head nearly a year ago. The visiting sales executives will confer with Henry Ginsberg, studio head, and will view a number of completed films. Ritchey Names Gates For South America Norton V. Ritchey, vice-president and export manager of Monogram Pictures, here, yesterday announced the appointment of Bernard J. Gates as the company's special representa- tive in Central and South America. Gates goes to Monogram from United Artists, his service in the foreign field dating back to 1928, when he became M-G-M's manager in Argentina. Later he held similar positions in Mexico, Central America and Puerto Rico. Although for the time being, Gates will make his headquarters in New York, he plans to leave shortly on a tour of his territory. Wallis' 1st for Para. In UK Set for June Hal Wallis' first British production for Paramount, "Whenever I Remem- ber," will get underway in June at either the Denham or Pinewood studios, according to David Rose, Par- amount's managing director in Eng- land, now here. Wallis will endeavor to put a second film in production there soon after the first is launched, Rose said yesterday. Deborah Kerr, British star, is being sought for the role in the first film. Rose will leave this week for Lon- don after more than a month here and on the Coast. {Continued from page 1) Wray, Carol Landis, Roscoe Karns and Michael Whalen. President Roosevelt's 1941 Georgia auto license plate will be auctioned off to the highest "Dimes" donor. Gus Van, vaudevillian, will be at the controls of a special March of Dimes trolley, with Jack Benny and "Rochester" as passengers. A special accounting set-up has been put into effect by Harold J. Cleary of Loew's and William En- gland of RKO Theatres, to obtain daily collection figures from the cir- cuit's theatres. Liberty Background For 'Dimes' Drive The Statue of Liberty replica erect- ed in Times Square for the Sixth War Loan Drive will serve as the "back-drop" for a huge birthday cake for the March of Dimes drive. The cake, being built by Jacob Starr of Artcr aft- Strauss Sign Corp., on a non-profit basis, will be in place by the weekend and will stand 14 feet high and be eight feet in diameter at its base; and will have 62 candles, one for each anniversary of Presi- dent Roosevelt's birthday. Storm, White to Dimes Washington Reception Gale Storm, Monogram star, will arrive in Washington on Jan. 29, from Hollywood, as one of the_ repre- sentatives of the industry invited to appear at the President's Birthday Ball and to take part in other activi- UA Midwest Sales Meet Starts Today Land O'Lakes, Wise, Jan. 23. — United Artists' Midwest sales meet- ing will get under way here tomor- row at King's Gateway Inn, with Rud Lohrenz, Chicago manager, pre- siding. Branch managers, salesmen, fcffice managers and bookers* from exchanges in Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Minneapolis will at- tend. The meeting will be devoted not only to a discussion of company prod- uct and policies, but also to an analysis of each individual branch's salesman's problems. A new expectancy figure for each individual account in the Midwest will be set up, which, it is hoped, will result in improved terms and distribution on future product. J. J. Unger, Western sales manager, will attend, and will also go to similar lat- er meetings in St. Louis and San Francisco. Mono. Has $50,000 'Frozen' in Africa Monogram has accumulated up- wards of 2,500,000 francs, some $50,- 000, from its operations in North Africa in a little over a year. These funds are presently frozen by the French Government, together with other distributors' blocked assets, es- timated in some quarters, to amount to some $3,000,000. The franc is pegged currently at 50 francs to the dollar. ties being arranged in connection with the annual March of Dimes drive. Madeleine White, Monogram's east- ern publicity representative, will leave New York Sunday for Washington to meet Miss Storm, and to act as her "official companion" while there, re- turning with her to New York on the 31st. Raise Wisconsin 'Dimes' Goal to 75c a Seat A minimum goal of 75 cents per seat in the March of Dimes drive has been set by state chairman Harold J. Fitzgerald for theatres of Wisconsin. Last year the per seat average was 37^ cents. "Although the national theatre campaign dates have been set for Jan. 25-31," said Fitzgerald, in a wire to national drive chairman Nicholas M. Schenck, "we are re- questing each exhibitor in the state to extend collection dates to Feb. 4, allowing the showmen two Saturdays and two Sundays in which to utilize their showmanship ingenuity." In Connecticut, 184 out of 185 thea- tres have signed pledges, reports Lou Brown of the publicity committee. Para. Theatre 'Dimes' Headstart for $6,300 The New York Paramount Theatre has inaugurated its March of Dimes week in advance of the official start tomorrow, and R. M. Weitman, managing director, announced yester- day that in the first four days the the- atre has collected $6,300. Columbia Sales Meet Will Open Today Columbia's three-day sales meeting will get under way here today, at the Warwick Hotel, with 31 branch and seven district managers in attendance, as well as home office personnel. A. Montague, general sales manager, will preside. The seven district managers attend- ing are : Sam Galanty, Mid-East ; Ben Marcus, Mid- West; Carl Shalit, Central ; Jerry Saffron, Western ; R. J. Ingram, South-Eastern ; Jack Underwood, South-Western ; Nat Cohn, New York. Branch managers are: Joe Miller, Albany; R. J. Ingram, Atlanta; I. H. Rogovin, Boston; Phil Fox, Buffalo; George Roscoe, Charlotte ; B. J. Lou- rie, Chicago; A. S. Moritz, Cincin- nati ; L. Zucker, Cleveland ; J. B. Underwood, Dallas ; R. C. Hill, Den- ver; M. H. Evidon, Des Moines; Joseph Gins, Detroit ; W. Guy Craig, Indianapolis; Tom Baldwin, Kansas City; W. C. Ball, Los Angeles; J. J. Rogers, Memphis ; O. J. Ruby, Mil- waukee ; J. J. Chapman, Minneapolis ; T. F. O'Toole, New Haven; N. J. Cohn, New York ; C. A. Gibbs, Okla- homa City ; J. H. Jacobs, Omaha ; H. E. Weiner, Philadelphia; A. H. Levy, Pittsburgh; J. R. Beale, Port- land ; W. G. Seig, Salt Lake City ; L. E. Tillman, San Francisco ; L. N. Walton, Seattle ; C. D. Hill, St. Louis ; Ben Caplon, Washington ; H. Duvall, Louisiana. Louis Rosenfeld will head the Ca- nadian delegation. Grainger Announces 4 More Promotions Hollywood, Jan. 23.— James R. Grainger, president and general sales manager of Republic, today an- nounced four additional promotions to branch sales posts, at the closing ses- sion of the third and last in the series of sales conferences, held at the Hol- lywood studio. The promotions, effective Feb. 12, follow : William Feld, former Des Moines branch manager, will become Chicago sales manager; William Weiss, former St. Louis salesman, will become St. Louis sales manager ; B. C. Talley, former Atlanta sales- man, becomes Atlanta manager; Dave Nelson, former St. Louis salesman, becomes manager in Des Moines. Nat E. Steinberg and N. J. Colquhoun, managers in St. Louis and Dallas, were promoted to posts of Prairie and Southwestern sales managers, re- spectively, at earlier sessions. Attending the meeting were H. J. Yates, Sr., chairman of the board; Edward L. Walton, assistant general sales manager ; Francis Bateman, Western sales manager ; J. T. Shef- field, franchise holder ; branch man- agers J. H. Sheffield, Portland; Gene Gerbase, Denver ; Harold C. Fuller, Salt Lake City ; L. W. Marriott, Los Angeles, and Sid Weisbaum, San Francisco ; also, William Saal, ex- ecutive assistant to Yates ; Allen Wil- son, studio vice-president; Walter L. Titus, Jr., executive assistant to Grainger ; J. L. Kaufman, studio pub- licity head; Steve Edwards, New York publicity director, and Si Borus, home office contract department head. Yates and Grainger will remain at the studio indefinitely. 'Depinet Drive' Meet At N. Y. Exchange RKO's 1945 'Ned Depinet Sales Drive' received its New York send- off yesterday, when drive 'captain' Robert Folliard held a meeting at the exchange, here, after completing a 22-day tour of the U. S. and Canada. Attending were drive 'lieutenant' Harry Gittleson, Charles Boasberg, New York Metropolitan manager, Phil Hodes; John J. Dacey, E. T. Carroll, Lou Kutinsky, Charles Pen- ser, Ann Levy, William Hartman, Jean Slade, Dorothy Post, Lillian Val- lon, Herman Silverman, Harry Mi- chalson, Mike Poller, William Mc- Shea, Irving Kane, Herb Wappaus, Harry Reiners, Rutgers Neilson, Jack Level and Bob Boehnel. Today Folliard and Gittleson will hold the last meeting, in Philadelphia, for representatives of that city, Wash- ington and Pittsburgh. New Jersey Owners In Buying Combine Philadelphia, Jan. 23/ — Indepen- dent Theatres Service, booking-buy- ing combine, has been launched here. For the present, only Southern New Jersey exhibitors will participate in the new combine, including theatres covered from both the New York and Philadelphia exchanges. Scheuerman to Co-Op. Cleveland, Jan. 23. — Fred Scheuer- man, PRC office manager and city salesman here, has resigned to join Co-operative Theatres of Ohio. 6 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, January 24, 1945 FP-C Marks 25 Years {Continued from page 1) sented each member of the club, com- posed exclusively of employes of the staffs of original theatres in the cir- cuit, with a jeweled lapel pin of mem- bership, a certificate of appreciation and either an inscribed watch or a $100 war bond. Fitzgibbons voiced the company's appreciation of the long service of the workers who have contributed to the growth of the company in 25 years from 18 theatres to more than 300. Zukor spoke of the early days of Famous Players, from which the Ca- nadian company took its name. Zukor was elected an honorary member of the 25- Year Club. Other speakers were : R. W. Bolstad, vice-president of FP-C ; Mayor Saunders of To- ronto and Norman S. Robertson, To- ronto, a director. 'Teddy' Gee, old- est doorman in Canada, also spoke. Sixteen millimeter sound films in color were taken of the charter mem- bers, and a sound track containing music and commentary will be added. This will be kept as a permanent record, and will be shown at 25-Year Club dinners to be held henceforth on Jan. 23 of each year. Throughout Dominion Famous Players is celebrating 'An- niversary Week' throughout the Do- minion, with special film programs and campaigns. Radio salutes on the Canadian networks will mark the celebration. Famous Players executives will hold a similar dinner in honor of ten Western members of the 25-Year Club, in Vancouver, on Jan. 30. R. W. Bolstad and James W. Nairn, ad- vertising-publicity director, will at- tend the Vancouver dinner. Mayor Robert Saunders spoke in behalf of the city of Toronto, offering high praise for FP-C in both national and local endeavors. Elsewhere throughout Canada the celebration was proclaimed in special newspaper sections, editorial salutes, decorated theatres and anniversary week programs. Canadian directors at the function included Fitzgibbons, vice-president R. W. Bolstad, secretary Noel Bar- row, Norman S. Robertson and Angus MacCunn. Countless wired greetings were re- ceived from trade executives in the United States and Canada, all paying tribute to "Fitz" and his associates. Legion Classifies 8 New Productions The National Legion of Decency has classified the following new films ; A-l, "Nothing but Trouble," M-G-M ; "Sagebrush Heroes," Colum- bia ; "Shadows of Death," PRC; Class A-2, "I'll Be Seeing You," United Artists; "Mr. Emmanuel," GCF-United Artists ; "The Mummy's Curse," Universal; "A Song to Re- member," Columbia ; "Thorough- breds," Republic. Strickland Appointed Atlanta, Jan. 23.— Robert Strick- land of Strickland Film Co., has been appointed a member of the industrial film producers' advisory committee in Washington. Myers Warns Exhibitors of Decline in Attendance (Continued from page 1) runs, rising living costs and re- strictions on lighting. The report urges exhibitors to ex- ert to the fullest their talent for showmanship, and utilize to the fullest all exploitation and advertising media, pointing out that exhibitors who "put on the pressure now will gain the momentum to carry them over the rough places later on." The report cautions that film rentals must be kept "in check," and suggests the exten- sion of cooperative buying to supplies and equipment. It warns, however, that cooperative film buying "in some instances may represent only the ef- forts of self-seeking promoters" and advises exhibitors to "retain a high degree of control over such organiza- tions so that they will not develop in- to Frankenstein monsters." Myers' report also warns that the already acute manpower situation "will be aggravated as more men are inducted into service and the dwindling supply of workers is di- verted to essential industries." "There is no present indica- tion," it states, "that theatres will be given a higher essen- tiality rating." Declaring, however, that there "is no cause for despair," the report holds that it is certain that theatres will fare better in essentiality ratings than other components of the amusement field. "There is no likelihood that they will be summarily dealt with as were the race tracks," Myers says. "Another reassuring factor," the re- port continues, "is the tremendous vigor and resourcefulness of the in- dustry in all its branches. In its his- tory the industry has overcome many obstacles. There is no reason to sup- pose that this energy and ingenuity have been exhausted. Better team- work among exhibitors and a better understanding with other branches will ease us over the rough spots." Discussing taxes, Myers' report ob- serves that continued war expendi- tures and the mounting public debt carry the threat of increased taxation, even though there is no present indi- cation that a higher amusement tax rate will be sought. It reminds, how- ever, that there was no advance notice of the Treasury's recommendations for a higher admission tax rate in 1943. "A fair-minded view indicates that the admission tax now is as high as can be justified," the report states. It observes that when the subject of post- war taxation is taken up, "exhibitors undoubtedly will make a bid for re- peal of this nuisance tax in its en- tirety, but the time is not now ripe." Treasuries Brimming State treasuries are "brimming" and, in consequence, there is not much likelihood of revenue measures direct- ed at the industry developing within the states, Myers observes. Measures to permit municipalities to levy excise taxes should be watched, however, he warns. The report reviews developments in the field of Federal litigation, includ- ing the consent decree. It observes, in discussing the latter, that the "pro- visions under which the industry must operate should be adapted to the needs of the industry as well as to the tech- nical requirements of the law. It would be to the advantage of all con- cerned for the industry to enter the precarious reconversion period with practices and procedures stabilized. A decree in keeping with those proposals would promote harmony between ex- hibitors and distributors and would pave the way for needed cooperation in the postwar era." 980 FP-C Employes In Allied Forces Toronto, Jan. 23. — Some 980 em- ployes of Famous Players Canadian Corp. are now serving in the armed forces of Canada and the U. S. Forty have been reported killed or missing in action, ten are prisoners, and an un- determined number have been wound- ed or invalided through illness. Cpl. Thomas O'Connell, formerly of the Granada Theatre, Hamilton, one of the first Canadian paratroopers to land in France on D-Day, is a patient in a military hospital in Eng- land. Originally reported missing, Cpl. O'Connell was captured by the Nazis and later rescued by advancing Allied forces. Two former members of the St. Clair Theatre here are recent casualties. Archie Whitelaw of the RCAF was killed in a transport crash in Labrador, and Sgt. David Richard- son, also of the RCAF, is missing after his fourth flight over Germany. Family Club Barn Dance The 20th Century-Fox Family Club will hold its annual barn dance and dinner Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, at the Civic Center Ballroom instead of at _the Movietone News Building, as originally planned. The change is due to fire ordinances prohibiting further use of the Movietone build- ing- for social functions. United Amusement Offers Bond Issues Toronto, Jan. 23. — United Amuse- ment Corp., Ltd., associate of Famous Players Canadian Corp., has offered an issue in two blocks totaling $1,250,000, dated Feb. 1. The first is for $450,- 000 and has a schedule of maturities from 1946 to 1955, with graduating in- terest from two-and-a-half to three- and-a-half per cent, while the second is $800,000 four per cent bonds, due Feb. 1, 1963. _ United, which operates 30 theatres recently called for. five per cent 20- year 'bonds for redemption, Feb. 1, through the Montreal Trust Co. A premium of two-and-three-quarter per cent and accrued interest is being paid on the redeemed bonds. Plan Film Exhibit Milwaukee, Jan. 23. — Louis Orlove of the M-G-M exploitation depart- ment here is soliciting old motion pic- ture equipment from exhibitors for the construction of a proposed per- manent film exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Nedley in MGM Post Salt Lake City, Jan. 23. — C. P. Nedley, recently appointed M-G-M branch manager here, has taken over his new post. Jury Gets Murray Conspiracy Case Chicago, Jan. 23. — The jury late this afternoon received the Thomas Murry million-dollar conspiracy case for deliberation after three weeks of testimony. Harold Norman, plaintiff's attorney, in his closing arguments earlier today said his client is seeking only $40,000 in damages based on a five-year per- iod starting Jan. 1st, 1937. He ar- gued that the plaintiff did not have the freedom of an open market in buying choice product, and that dur- ing Murray's operation of the Thalia Theatre, since 1926, the competitive Milo Theatre combined with the B. and K. Midwest Theatres, Inc., book- ing and buying corporation, and the major distributors to force him out of business. Because Federal Judge William Holly earlier ruled that the plaintiff cannot introduce as evidence price fixing contracts or claim damages for loss of real estate property, Murray reduced his claim. Myles G. Seeley, attorney for the defendants, stated that none of them entered into any conspiracy to force the plaintiff out of business. He charged that the only reason the Milo was given the better product was due to that theatre's ability to pay better prices. Regardless of the decision, the case will go to the U. S. Court of Appeals here. Ginsberg to Build New Para, Talent Hollywood, Jan. 23. — Paramount will intensify its policy of building new talent during 1945, it was stated here today by Henry Ginsberg, studio head. Since Ginsberg took over production reins frorn B. G. De Sylva, last September, Paramount has signed up a number of new players, all of whom will be spotted importantly in forth- coming films, said Ginsberg. Men- tioned were : Joan Caulfield, Billy De Wolfs, Patric Knowles, Ann Thomas, Pat Phelan, Virginia Welles, Bob Graham, Noreen Nash and Margaret Field. New Move. Against Sunday Showings Philadelphia, Jan. 23. — Another move to outlaw Sunday films is ex- pected to face state legislators now in session. According to a notice is- sued by the State Federated Legisla- tive Committee, representing 12 church and reform groups, the com- mittee will offer a six-point program to the Assembly, which will be pre- sented to every member of the Legis- lature. The committee urges "making sure that the Sabbath shall never be dis- graced with Sunday events." Jovan Has Enemy Film James Jovan, general manager of Globe Film Co., Chicago, is here to arrange for distribution for "Behind the Enemy Lines," a film wholly com- piled from captured Japanese and Nazi films. Jovan is also seeking a Broadway first-run house for the local showing of the film. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY, under a new and exclusive arrangement THE AMERICAN MOVIE-GOING PUBLIC will determine the winners of a motion picture award — for: America's Most Popular ACTRESS America's Most Popular ACTOR America's Most Popular PICTURE PHOTOPLAY APPOINTS DR. GEORGE GALLUP DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE RESEARCH, INC. TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL POLL OF THE UNITED STATES MOVIE-GOING PUBLIC For many years Photoplay has felt that the public itself should have an opportunity to name its own selection of the year's most popular actress, actor, and picture. Not only the industry, the critics, and the exhibitors have this opportunity through many special polls, hut so do editors and different groups of readers of single magazines and newspapers. Now -America itself will have its chance-and the oldest, most honored award of all, the Photoplay Gold Medal, will go each year to the winners. This preview of Photoplay's editorial page for February- tells the whole story. Dr. George Gallup heads, as well, the Institute which has correctly predicted— before election— the voters' choice in five U. S. presidential elections and scores of other elections in the United States and other countries. For the first time in the history of motion picture awards, this same scientific polling method will be applied to determine the real favorites of the movie-going public. By Dr. Caliup's methods, polls are conducted periodically through the year so that pictures and stars can compete on an even basis, controlling the problems of timing and distribution. Announcing with Pride... The .\ew Photop, f- Gold Meda, A ^SSicr;eas%rr'S Sim actor „ At the cK of lihT P°PU'" "CU'eSS? -There ai-e the fil Juugea the makers but "TV P."** M criti<* »' ProfeS? °f, ^ ■*<> Now Pbot„apS,^hh'2ymQ,Public m°Vie- industry and ftf V readers, of the Roil «nged «SS? n h% generaI public pLf ,lywood film audfence rehsea?crh Seor^ Ga^Jup, best kni^ ^ ai" »?st Po^g^^ra, to dete^ ne Thrna^ .Or- GalJup tf" &ach rear. ^on^T^ h- « tLTa;t7hSearCh Unique x-t. Gallup Publishing no f Lng to any balW k only as thTv Its readers are do11~: u ofan-v lssue Papers of th« „ ihe announcement-c * a?vance of selects afthe . 'he "'""•idual sSrf ^erloa' fa™nte taken in De^i^tht^f °ut the country was and prmters until the day of Tat* ' I writers, editors wiU be made in the daflv „ nen the announcement nrst annua] Gold Medal ™wl 5 e w.mne" of Photoplays th€ new PhotopJav-Galf pof glV&n on the basis ^ 27 PHOTOPLAY GOLD MEDAL AWARDS The First Annual Motion Picture Awards- REESTABLISHED - to be presented during the ween of February 19, 1945 Who is the whole nation's most popular movie actress 9 Who is the whole nation's most popular movie actor 9 What was the whole nation's most popular picture / PHOTOPLAY on the nation's newsstands February 16 . . . will carry the full report of the final results AMERICA'S FASTEST SELLING MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE Wednesday, January 24, 1945 Motion Picture daily 11 Lawrence Abroad On 'Henry V Plans By PETER BURNUP London, Jan. 23. — Jock Lawrence, U. S. West Coast publicist recently appointed to handle publicity for J. Arthur Rank in that country, has been summoned to England in the im- mediate future to discuss an unprece- dented American roadshow scheme for "Henry V" devised by Rank himslf, the British production executive told Motion Picture Daily here today. Rank believes "Henry" is the greatest picture yet made. Rank has laughed at the advice cabled here from New York that "Henry" will be unacceptable to American audiences. He contends that viewpoint does not appreciate the possibilities inherent in Laurence Olivier's revolutionary treatment of Shakespeare, contending that this film has taken them unawares just as talk- ing pictures did originally. Declaring that Britain now leads the way in developing the possibilities of motion pictures and will not be bound by the standards of Hollywood, Rank added: "I will roadshow 'Henry V and demonstrate that the industry's salescraft has not yet tapped one- tenth of the potential revenue." Dr. Alexander Galperson and Bar- rington Gain will return to the U. S. with Lawrence to organize the road- show. Rank said he would make the trip himself had he not vowed to re- main in London, despite bomb attacks, until the end of the war. Boston Concerned Over 'Brownout* Boston, Jan. 23. — The 'brownout' order is causing some consternation here, especially among newsreel the- atres. If enforced, it will mean the blackout of electric news ribbons. The Boston Herald Traveler is now consulting with Government officials to determine what can be done in its case, since it had been contemplating an arrangement with the Old South Theatre whereby its electric tape would be shown outside the theatre day and night. Congress Silent On St. Louis Plea St. Louis, Jan. 23. — Louis K. An- sell, chairman of the St. Louis Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors Committee, re- ported today that no answer has been received from the committee's letter sent last week to Rep. Andrew J. May, chairman of the House Military Affairs committee at Washington, urging that 167 reputedly "excess" union employes on theatre payrolls here be transferred to war jobs. The committee asserted that the men are not needed in theatres and kept on the payrolls through union "pressure." Ansell explained the committee did not anctipate an answer, but felt it was its duty to call the situation to the attention of Congress. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen has not tak- en any action on the committee's sug- gestion that the ordinance requiring two projectionists in all theatre booths be repealed. In view of the approach- ing mayoralty election, it is not an- ticipated that any action will be taken this Spring. Mobilize New York Radio To Aid Red Cross Drive Plans for the mobilization of New York's radio stations for the Red Cross 1945 War Fund drive were out- lined at a luncheon at the Hotel Wal- dorf Astoria, here, yesterday. James E. Sauter, head of the United The- atrical War Activities Committee, who is chairman of the radio division of the New York drive, and Walter L. (Red) Barber, general Red Cross chairman for Greater New York, pre- sided. Barber stressed the importance of an advance drive build-up by the 14 New York radio stations, and sug- gested items which might be used to make radio listeners aware of the functions of the Red Cross. He also pointed out the importance of con- centrating drive efforts this year to get collections in as quickly as pos- sible to help reach the New York goal of $21,187,000. Stations were asked to start ad- vance campaigns Feb. 1, by Harry Levin, regional radio bureau director for the Office of War Information, another speaker at the luncheon. Pre- campaign themes should start Feb. 19, he suggested, and lead up to the 'kickoff' day of the drive on Feb. 26. Levin asked that the Red Cross drive be given top priority over other Gov- ernment matter during March. Dan Weinberg Named Red Cross Director Washington, Jan. 23. — Dan Wein- berg, president of Bedford Theatres, Inc., operating houses in Virginia, who has ben serving as assistant field director with the American Red Cross in the Pacific theatre, has been promoted to field director. Weinberg was formerly district manager for Warner theatres in Virginia, and later held a similar post with Skouras in New Jersey. During his absence his wife, Alyce T. Weinberg of Freder- ick, Md., is managing his theatre hold- ings. Other industry members now with the Red Cross in the Pacific include Stanton Griffis of Paramount, who is Red Cross commissioner for the Pa- cific Ocean Area, and Arthur Mayer of New York's Rialto Theatre, deputy commissioner in charge of pub- lic relations. Gottlober Named to 'Cross' War Fund Sigmund Gottlober, president of the American Foreign Language Press Institute, specializing in motion pic- ture promotion, has been appointed chairman of the foreign language press division of the public information committee of the 1945 Red Cross War Fund campaign, it was reported here yesterday by James M. Cecil, commit- tee chairman. Gottlober's group will serve as liaison between the 94 foreign lan- guage newspapers published in New York City and the Fund committee. Sams New Head of Carolina Group Charlotte, Jan. 23. — A. F. Sams, Jr., Statesville, yesterday was elected new president of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, in its annual session here, succeeding George Parr, Lancaster, S. C, who was elect- ed first vice-president. Other officers named were : Roy Rowe, Burgaw, N. C, second vice-president ; Mrs. Pauline Griffith, reelected secretary- treasurer. Directors are : H. H. Ever- ett, Sam Trincher, H. F. Kincey, T. A. Little, H. E. Buchanan, George Carpenter, E. L. Hearne, C. H. Ar- rington, O. T. Kirby, J. F. Miller, all from North Carolina ; and, H. R. Berry, J. C. Long, J. D. Harvey and Ben L. Strozier, all South Carolin- ians. The association reports a member- ship of 357, largest in its history. Nearly 300 were in attedance. John Vickers, Charlotte, described television as a definite postwar development in the South. Col. Donald B. Thurman of Morris Field Army Air Base, was the chief afternoon speaker. Also speaking were Charles W. Lewis of Raleigh, North Carolina state fire marshal, on "Good Housekeeping in Theatres," and H. M. Richey of M-G-M. Sgt. Fishman, 19, Killed New Haven, Jan. 23. — Sgt. Stan- ley Fishman, 19, son of Selig Fish- man of the Fishman circuit, operat- ing four theatres here, has been killed in action. The sergeant was the nephew of Jack and Aaron Fishman, also associated with the circuit. Photoplay Reports 1st Poll Tabulations First tabulations of Photoplay Mag- azine's annual poll, being conducted this year by the Gallup Audience Re- search, Inc., to determine filmgoers' preferences in pictures and players, were reported yesterday by Dr. George Gallup. Final results, analyses of which are still incomplete, will be revealed Feb. 15. Following are the top ten films to date, listed alphabetically: "A Guy Named Joe," M-G-M ; "Destination Tokyo," Warners; "Going My Way," Paramount ; "Laura," 20th Century- Fox ; "Mrs. Parkington," M-G-M ; "See Here, Private Hargrove," M- G-M ; "Since You Went Away," United Artists ; "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Paramount; "The Sulli- vans," 20th Century-Fox ; "Two Girls and a Sailor," M-G-M. The poll of actors to date has pro- duced the names of Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant and Bob Hope, while actresses listed are Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Greer Garson, Betty Grable and Gin- ger Rogers. Photoplay will make its Gold Medal awards on Feb. 15, in the respective Hollywood studios of final winners. Orr J. Elder, president, and Carroll Rheinstrom, general manager of Mac- Fadden Publications, Inc., will make the presentations. Lt. Bifarella Missing Buffalo, Jan. 23. — Lt. Sam Bi- farella, formerly of the Joyland The- atre, at Springville, is reported miss- ing while en route from overseas. Philco Heads Favor FCC Video Rules The fullest possible development of television will be simulated in the im- mediate postwar period and the pub- lic will have the benefit of this great new service just as soon as war con- ditions permit, as a result of the new allocation of frequencies by the Fed- eral Communications Commission, ac- cording to Larry E. Gubb, chairman, and John Ballantyne, president of the Philco Corp. Philco plans to be ready with post- war television sets for the general public within a few months after the end of the war. In a statement to the FCC, Gubb and Ballantyne commend the new al- locations. "In our judgment, especially when consideration is given to the magnitude of the problems confront- ing the Commission, a splendid over- all job has been done in reconciling the claims of the many different radio services for portions of the spectrum," it was said. "While we would have preferred that a greater number of channels be- low 216 megacycles be reserved for television, we believe that the Com- mission adopted a forward-looking policy in making it possible to give a high quality television service to the public in that part of the spectrum already being used for television, where most of the presently available engineering and operating experience lies, while at the same time encourag- ing research and development work to go ahead in the ultra-high frequen- cies," Gubb and Ballantyne stated to the FCC. TBA Elects Bingley To Succeed Gibson Frank J. Bingley, chief television engineer for Philco, has been elected vice-president of Television Broad- casters Association, succeeding Rob- ert L. Gibson of General Electric, who has resigned as an officer and director of TBA. The vacancy on the board remains. New TBA chairmen, appointed by TBA president J. R. Poppele, are : Paul Raibourn, publicity chairman, and Douglas Day, co-chairman ; Ralph B. Austrian, membership ; Bingley, engineering, and O. B. Han- son, television station operations, standards and personnel. Arthur to Insist on Decree Intervention (Continued from page 1) the Government's pending consent de- cree litigation. The plea was denied by Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard in New York on Dec. 20. Arthur said that the decision to ap- peal was decided upon without waiting for the outcome of his decree damage and injunction suit against the Ameri- can Arbitration Association, the Gov- ernment, and the five decree distribu- tors, pending in the United States District Court here. Defendants in that case have been granted additional time in which to file their answers. Eli Goldstein Dead Buffalo, Jan. 23.— Eli W. Gold- stein, 58, theatre architect, who de- signed the Mercury and the Little theatres, here, died Sunday after a short illness. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 24, 1945 WPB Insists on No Theatre Closings (.Continued from page 1) urgently in need of replacements, so that the stockpile will not be com- pletely depleted in the event of a sudden emergency. This became known following this week's approval of a booth equip- ment production program for the sec- ond quarter of this year by the WPB. The program calls for output at the same level as in the final 1944 quarter — 335 projectors, 156 Sound systems, 360 lamp houses and 365 rectifiers. The approved program, it was learned, represented all that was asked by Allen G. Smith, chief of the WPB theatre equipment division, in recognition of the tight manpow er, material and machinery situation created by expanded war programs and the need for large numbers of men for the Armed Forces, which has necessitated the paring of most civilian production programs. Expanded Last Year Smith late last year was success- ful in securing approval for an ex- panded output of booth equipment for the current quarter, and that pro gram was not disturbed when WPB cut back other programs to meet new war exigencies. In passing on the second-quarter program, WPB took into consideration the high importance of the industry's war effort, which also was recognized last week by the War Manpower Commission in its re vision of the list of critical and es sential industries, in which the pro- duction of photographic equipment was rated as critical. Academy Lists 137 Films 2,000 Due at ire As '45 Award Nominees Winter Meet Today Judges Pick M-G-M Winners Jan. 31 M-G-M will hold a special luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the Hotel Astor, here, at which the three na- tional winners in M-G-M's "Miss An- niversary Bathing Beauty Contest," launched last June by Howard Dietz, vice-president and director of adver- tising-publicity, and William R. Fer- guson, exploitation director, as part of the company's 20-year anniversary celebration, will be announced. Judges who will make the selec- tions are: Vincent Trotta, National Screen Service; Arthur William Brown, president of the Socitey of Illustrators ; Earl Wilson, New York Evening Post columnist; Russel Pat- terson, illustrator, and George Frazier, associate editor of Life Magazine. Studios Ask NLRB to Clarify an 'Extra' (Continued from page 1) a jurisdictional dispute between the SPU and the Screen Actors Guild, with both claiming jurisdiction over extra players. The SAG defines extras as engaged in non-speaking, nun-sing- ing, non-stunt work, while SPU as- serts it has rights over those players. SPU won a National Labor Relations Board election, last December, giving it jurisdiction over extra players, but the interpretation and definition of what constitutes an extra, has con- tinued to leave the jurisdiction in a turmoil, with the studios in the middle. (Continued from page 1) 17th annual awards voting, with nomi- nations closing Feb. 3 : Abroad With Two Yanks, Edward Small; Adventures of Mark Twain, WB; Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, U ; American Romance, MGM ; And Now Tomorrow, Para; Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble, MGM; Are These Our Parents ?, Mono ; Arsenic and Old Lace, WB; Atlantic City, Rep; Bathing Beauty, MGM; Be- tween Two Worlds, WB ; Bowery to Broadway, U ; Brazil, Rep ; Bridge of San Luis Rey, UA; Broadway Rhythm, MGM ; Canterville Ghost, MGM ; Casanova Brown, RKO ; Chip Off the Old Block, U; Christ- mas Holiday, U ; Climax, U ; Cobra Woman, U ; Conspirators, WB ; Cow- boy and the Senorita, Rep; Cross of Lorraine, MGM ; Days of Glory, RKO; Delinquent Daughters, PRC; Desert Song, WB; Dixie Jamboree, PRC; Double Indemnity, Para; Doughgirls, WB. Also Nominated Also: Dragon Seed, MGM; En- emy of Women, Mono. ; Eve of St. Mark, 20th-F; Fighting Seabees, Rep ; Follow the Boys, U ; Gaslight, MGM ; Ghost Catchers, U ; Going My Way, Para; Government Girl, RKO; Greenwich Village, 20th-F; Gung Ho, U; Guy Named Joe, MGM; Gypsy Wildcat, U; Hail the Conquering Hero, Para; Hairy Ape, UA; Hands Across the Border, Rep; Happy Land, 20th-F; Her Primitive Man, U; Higher and Higher, RKO; His Butler's Sister, U ; Hollywood Canteen, WB ; Home in Indiana, 20th-F; House of Frankenstein, U; I Love a Soldier, Para; I'll Be See- ing You, UA ; Imposter, U ; In Our Time, WB ; In Society, U ; Invisible Ma's Revenge, U; Irish Eyes Are Smiling, 20th-F. Also: Iron Major, RKO; It Hap- pened Tomorrow, UA ; Jack London, UA ; Jane Eyre, 20th-F ; Janie, WB ; Johnny Doesn't Live Here Any More, Mono ; Kismet, MGM ; Knickerbock- er Holiday, UA ; Lady and the Mon- ster, Rep; Lady in the Dark, Para; Lady, Let's Dance, Mono; Ladies Courageous, U ; Laura, 20th-F ; Life- boat, 20th-F; Lodger, 20th-F; Lost Angel, MGM ; Make Your Own Bed, WB ; Man from Frisco, Rep ; Marine Raider, RKO; Mask of Dimitrios WB; Master Race, RKO; Meet Me in St. Louis, MGM ; Merry Mona hans, U; Minstrel Man, PRC; Mir acle of Morgan's Creek, Para; Mr Skeffington, WB ; Mrs. Parkington MGM ; Music in Manhattan, RKO My Pal Wolf, RKO. Also : No Time for Love, Para None But the Lonely Heart, RKO Our Hearts Were Young and Gay Para ; Passage to Marseille, WB Pearl of Death, U; Phantom Lady U ; Princess and the Pirate, RKO Purple Heart, 20th-F; San Diego, I Love You, U; San Fernando Valley, Rep ; Scarlet Claw, U ; See Here, Private Hargrove, MGM ; Sen- sations of 1945, UA; Seventh Cross. MGM ; Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman, U; Shine on Harvest Moon, WB; Show Business, RKO. Since You Went Away, UA; Song of Nevada, Rep ; Song of Russia, MGM ; Song of the Open Road, UA [ Standing Room Only, Para; Step Lively, RKO ; Storm Over Lisbon Rep ; Story of Dr. Wassell, Para ; Sullivans, 20th-F; Summer Storm, UA. Others Listed Also: Sunday Dinner for a Soldier, 20th-F ; Swing Hostess, PRC ; Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, MGM; Three Men in White, MGM ; Three Russian Girls, UA ; Two Girls and a Sailor, MGM; Uncertain Glory, WB; Up in Arms, RKO ; Up in Mabel's Room, UA; Very Thought of You, WB ; Voice in the Wind, UA; When Strangers Marry, Mono; Where Are Your Children?, Mono; White Cliffs of Dover, MGM; Wilson, 20th-F; Wing and a Prayer, 20th-F; Winged Victory, 20th-F; Woman of the Town, UA ; Women in Bondage, Mono ; Yellow Rose of Texas, Rep Omission of Columbia productions from the list was explained by the Academy in a statement quoting a letter from Columbia executive D. G. Cassell confirming a "telephone re- quest that none of the Columbia Pic tures be included." The statement pointed out : "The non-appearance of Columbia pictures does not affect their eligibility." Columbia officials did' not comment on matter. Deny Mexicans Seni Argentina Raw Stock Mexico City, Jan. 23. — Charges by El Popular, labor daily, that Argen- tina was supplied with 20,000,000 feet of raw stock from Mexico, have been denied by Government and industry sources here. What stock went to the Argentine during 1944 "leaked" from this coun- try's black market, as all stock avail- able was needed in the production pro- gram of 66 Mexican pictures, it was pointed out. Alexander in New York J. Don Alexander, president of Alexander Film Co., and chairman of the board of General Screen Ad- vertising, Inc., has arrived in New York from Colorado Springs, for three weeks. Alexander attended a Chicago meeting of General Screen stockholders while enroute here. New Bill Legalizing N. Y. Bingo Offered Albany, N. Y„ Jan. 23. — A resolu- tion legalizing, by constitutional amendment, the game of Bingo in New York City and Nassau and Suf- folk counties, has been introduced in the state legislature by Sen. James J. Crawford, who introduced a simi- lar proposal last year. Pickford Picking Players Mary Pickford announced here yes- terday that she is assembling a stock company of young players to be used in the making of Mary Pickford Pro- ductions for United Artists release. Sam Coslow, Pickford producer, and Miss Pickford, are interviewing stage players, here. Screen tests will fol- low. Robert Cummings will be signed as soon as Cummings secures a re- lease from Universal, Miss Pickford said. The 1945 Winter technical meeting of the Institute of Radio Engineers, to .cover television and radio and other electronic communications media, will open at the Hotel Commodore here today and will continue through Saturday. Over 2,000 engineers, physicists and representatives of the Armed Forces are expected to regis- ter for the four-day meeting. Sessions today will be devoted en- tirely to reports of IRE sections from all over the country. This evening, the IRE will join the American In- stitute of Electrical Engineers in sa- luting Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson, consulting engineer of General Elec- tric, with the award of the Edison Medal. Papers on Progress Tomorrow, the engineers will hear the first of 41 technical papers cov- ering progress during wartime. Panel sessions will be held morning and af- ternoon. In the evening the Institute will hold its 33rd annual banquet and present two honors to communications scientists. The Morris Liebmann Memorial prize award will go to W. W. Hansen of Stanford University. H. H. Beverage, associate director of RCA Laboratories, Princeton, will receive the Medal of Honor. Pres- entations will be made by Dr. W. L. Everitt, newly elected president of the Institute. H. B. Richmond, chair- man of the board of the General Radio, will act as toastmaster and Francis Colt de Wolf, chief of the telecommunications division, Depart- ment of State, Washington, will be the principal speaker. Para, to Award Bonds for (BelV Campaigns Paramount will award $1,400 in war bonds to the six theatre managers who stage the best campaigns for the pop- ular-priced engagements of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," it was dis- closed here yesterday by Alec Moss, exploitation manager. Managers playing the film by June 1, 1945 will be eligible. District judges will be the Par- amount district manager, a local the- atre operator and the company field representative; national judges will in- clude executives of Paramount and trade paper representatives. $3,803,462 Record olumbia Bond Buy arry Cohn, president of Columbia Pictures, in Hollywood, announced yesterday, through the home office, here, that purchases of war bonds to- taling $3,803,462, during the Sixth War Loan drive, established a new record for Columbia. The company's quota was $3,400,000. The final total represents purchases made by employes, the sale of bonds for which Columbia personnel was re- sponsible, and purchases by the cor- poration. 20th Seeks 'Indians' Hollywood, Jan. 23. — Twentieth Century-Fox is negotiating with Pop- ular Pictures, Inc., regarding the pos- sible release of "Ten Little Indians," now in production, Joseph M. Schenck said here today. ARE YOU ALL SET? EVERYTHING READY FOR RECORD-BREAKING GROSS? MARCH OF DIMES. ..JAN. 25-31 V 1. Is your pledge in? (still time to rush it thru) 2* All set with plenty of volunteer collectors? 3. Ready with enough wide, open collection containers? 4. Entire theatre staff pepped up? 5. Collections scheduled for every show, no matter how small the audience? 6. Greer Garson appeal trailer ordered from National Screen? 7. Those two one-sheets in lobby frames? 8. Your theatre citation framed in boxoffice? 9. Arrangements for collections at public gatherings outside of your theatre? 10* Wishing Well in your lobby? 11. Ushers filling those birthday coin-cards? 12. Other money-getting stunts in campaign book? Okay . . . let's go. Let's do our best! * ^V^^S' 14 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 24, 1945 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 9 (Continued from page 1) the tree that grows in Brooklyn, the strange but indigenous upstart which virtually pushes aside the cement of tenement courtyards to raise its branches to air and sun and sky. Why or how either human spirit or tree can grow in such environment is no more stated in the film than in the novel. But the miracle that they do is affirmed by gifted cast and camera, under the brilliant direction of Elia Kazan and through Louis D. Lighton's authentic production. DOROTHY McGUIRE is the tenement janitress who labors so that her children, Peggy Ann Garner and Ted Donaldson, may some day know a life better than that to which they were born. James Dunn, as the father, is a singing waiter unemployed more often than not, and an alcoholic to boot. Yet in him are joviality and kindness and love of humanity, which he dispenses prodigally while he lives and, when he dies, still a young man, leave him more beloved by both children and neighbors than the wife and mother who gave as lavishly of herself as did he, but in the less endearing although more practical terms of self-sacrifice and discipline and ambition. The daughter, whose love for her father was foremost, learns from him the pleasure of dreaming and the excitement of imagination, and from the mother, responsibility and aspiration which, in a lesser measure, have been imparted to the younger brother, too. And when a Brooklyn police officer makes stilted but welcome marriage proposal to the widowed mother, it is implicit that what the children have become will, like the tree that grows in Brooklyn, bring them triumph over their environment. THERE is more sustained pathos, unrelieved heartache, in this production than the reviewer has encountered in many a motion picture. The last half of the film offers virtually no emotional escape up to the final few minutes. In this respect it is a great women's picture, although one that will get to the men, as well. The work of Peggy Ann Garner, Miss McGuire and Dunn is outstanding among performances that leave little to be desired. In supporting roles, Joan Blondell as the children's aunt with a weakness for men named Bill ; Lloyd Nolan as the police officer ; James Gleason as a saloon keeper ; Ferike Boros as the children's grandmother; Ruth Nelson as a school teacher, and John Alexander as the children's uncle, are excellent. The picture is one which lends itself naturally to judicious exploitation, apart from the exceptional popularity of the book on which it is based and the word of mouth advertising which in themselves will make it an outstanding box office attraction. Running time, 128 minutes. "G."* Release, in February. Sherwin Kane "Tahiti Nights" (Columbia) Hollywood, Jan. 23 JINX FALKENBURG and Dave O'Brien are called upon to portray a pair of Polynesian lovers in Sam White's production, and it's pretty tough going for both of them. They certainly do not look Polynesian, but they do look mighty attractive, lolling around in as few clothes as the law allows. Lillie Hayward's story is laid in a South Sea island such as never existed anywhere, even before the Japanese invasion. Its natives speak a most peculiar jargon in which the familiar form of atidress, "thee" and "thou," is used in the same sentence with the more formal "you." As for the plot, it is one which Shakespeare used on several occasions with greater success. A girl and a boy betrothed in infancy by their parents, meet and fall in love, each unaware of the other's identity. They try to prevent their own wedding, but the truth is revealed at the critical moment and all ends well. The Vagabonds provide some comic diversion, and several songs by Harry Owens are spotted throughout. Will Jason directed. Running time, 63 minutes. "G."* Thalia Bell Chicago Variety's Charity Officers Set Chicago, Jan. 23. — Jack Kirsch, Al- lied of Illinois president and newly elected chief barker of Variety Clubs Tent No. 26 here, has appointed a special committee to formulate char- ity drives which the local tent will support. The committee is composed of Kirsch, John Balaban, Hal Hal- perin, Eddie Silverman and Tom Flannery. Other officers for 1945 are: Kirsch,, president; Jack Rose, first vice-pres- ident; Edward Brunell, second vice- president; Balaban, treasurer; Irving Mack, property master; canvasmen are: Johnny Jones, Hal Balperin, William Baker, William Banford, Tom Flannery, Ben Eisenberg and Lou Harrison. St. Louis Tent No. 4 Chairmen Named St. Louis, Jan. 23. — Committee chairmen of Variety Club Tent No. 4 have been appointed by chief barker Albert Stetson, as follows : Herb Washjburn, membership; Henry C. Riegel, Jr., house committee ; Harry C. Crawford, entertainment; Sam Levin, constitution and by-laws ; Barney Rosenthal, welfare and char- ity; M. L. Plessner, publicity. Also, Joseph C. Ansell, finance; Matt Schulter, ticket selling; Tom Canavan, attendance; Harry Craw- ford, fellowship ; Albert Wheeler, initiation ; Tony Peluso, sports ; Andy Dietz, club headquarters ; Louis K. Ansell, ways and means. Seek to Establish a Toronto Variety Club Toronto, Jan. 23. — Permanent club quarters in a downtown hotel here are being sought by film men as the first step in the establishment of a Variety Club. Among sponsors are : J. J. Fitzgib- bons, Oscar Hanson, Leo Devaney, Paul Nathanson and Gordon Light- stone. Albany Variety Inducts Albany, N. Y., Jan. 23.— Two hun- dred attended the Variety dinner held here at the Ten Eyck Hotel for re- tiring and incumbent officers. Herman L. Ripps, M-G-M manager, was in- stalled as chief barker and C. J. Latta, New York state manager for War- ner theatres and retiring chief barker, was presented with a gift. Guests included Steve Broidy and Harry Thomas, Monogram executives. George Jeffrey, local United Artists representative, was in charge of ar- rangements. Kinsler Appoints Eight Cincinnati, Jan. 23. — Ralph Kins- ler, newly-elected chief barker of lo- cal Variety, has appointed the follow- ing committee chairmen : House, Al- lan S. Moritz ; entertainment, Arthur Frudenfeld ; publicity, Noah Schecter ; memberbership, Lev Bugie ; activities, Irving Sochin ; welfare, H. J. Wessel ; law, A. L. Weinstein ; finance, Mau- rice White. Epstein Buys Monogram Hollywood, Jan. 23. — Monogram's program for 1944-45 has been bought by Epstein Theatres of Omaha. *"G" denotes general classification. Treasury Tax Refund To Stars, Others Washington, Jan. 23. — The Treasury Department this week dis- closed that six film personalities over- paid income taxes during the last fis- cal year, and were entitled to refunds. The estate of Carl Laemmle drew a refund of $163,291. Others were: Charles Laughton, $3,033; Henry Fonda, $2,572 ; Conrad Nagel, $1,082 ; Simone Simon, $956; Adolphe Men- jou, $698. Eastman Kodak is due for a return of $23,806. Two Sign for Altec Lewen Pizor Circuit, Philadelphia, has signed Altec Service. Neighbor- hood Theatres has also contracted for Altec for its 24 situations in Virginia. New Sound System Test Unit from RCA A new 'audio chanalyst,' which in a single unit is said to be capable of checking theatre sound equipment for operational breakdowns at any point from photo-cell to speaker, has been announced by RCA. It is comprised of several testing sections or channels and can also serve in emergencies as a bridging unit to substitute for the defective section of an inoperative amplifier. 'Approval' Opens Sat. English Films' "On Approval," British-made and starring Beatrice Lillie and Clive Brook, will have its American premiere at the Republic Theatre, here, on Saturday. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 23 RAY ENRIGHT will direct "Man Alive," RKO's new romantic comedy starring Pat O'Brien. . . . Universal has purchased "Black An- gel," a mystery by Cornell Woolrich, and has assigned it to Islin Awster tm produce. . . . Angela Greene has been assigned an important role in "Danger Signal," which William Jacobs will produce for Warners. • "Voodoo Queen" original by Wil-' limn Lively, has been set as the first Monogram feature to star Ac- quanetta under her new contract. . . .' RKO has signed Boris Karl off to c, new contract calling for three pictures during the next two years. • Sol Siegel has borrowed Scott Elliott from 20th Century-Fox for a featured role in "Kiss and Tell," which will be released through Columbia. . . . Constance Bennett has signed Paul Andor for her cur- rent production, "Paris — Under- ground." . . . 20th Century-Fox has signed Samuel Engel to a writing contract. • Erskine Caldwell has been signed by Ripley-Monter productions to write the screenplay for "Look Home- ward, Angel," which Arthur Ripley will direct. . . . Chester Morris has signed a new contract with Columbia which calls for him to do four more pictures for that studio in the next two years. . . . Angela Lansbury has been added to the cast of M-G-M's "The Harvey Girls." SPG Studies Merger With UOPWALocall The Screen Publicists Guild of New York, representing over 300 publicists in the home offices and on leave to the Armed Forces, is considering an amalgamation with local No. 1 of the United Office and Professional Work- ers of America, CIO. Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, local 109, another CIO union, rep- resenting 3,000 'white collar' work- ers in home offices, recently voted to amalgamate with local No. 1. SPG has appointed a committee to study the amalgamation, which will probably be put to a vote by the SPG membership shortly. Details of the amalgamation will be further dis- cussed at a meeting on Feb. 15. UOPWA local No. 1 also repre- sents 'white collar' workers in the magazine, book publishing, insurance and other fields, with a membership of about 60,000. Col. Entertains for Blair and Bowman Columbia was host at a cocktail party at Copacabana yesterday for Janet Blair and Lee Bowman, featured in "Tonight and Every Night." Among those attending, in addi- tion to trade press, newspaper, mag- azine and radio representatives, were : Jack Cohn, Gus Eyssell, B. K. Blake, Frank Rosenberg, Mrs. Lee Bowman, Adrienne Ames, Fred Lynch, Harry McWilliams, Dick Condon, Ed Schreiber, Hortense Schor and Ray Murray. MOTION PICTURE MARC THEATR£ v DRIVE JANUARY 25-31 ) VOL. 57. NO. 18 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1945 TEN CENTS 13,000 Houses Start 'Dimes' Drive Today Pledges at Record High; Expect $6,000,000 The 1945 March of Dimes drive will get under way today in over 13,000 theatres in the U. S. and possessions, a far greater number of theatres than have been pledged in any previous 'dimes' campaign. The more . optimistic of the indus- try's drive committee yesterday pre- dicted a record $6,000,000 as the re- sult of this year's collections, against the high $4,667,000 raised in 1944, to where totals have grown from 1941 's $435,000, 1942's $1,403,000, and 1943's $2,116,000. Twenty-four hours before the. new campaign got under way, 694 out of a (Continued on page 6) Allied Keeps Decree Stand Columbus, Jan. 24.— The Allied States board of directors, meeting here today and tomorrow at the Deshler- Wallick Hotel, reaffirmed by resolu- tion their approval of the Department of Justice proposals for modifying the industry consent decree, which were filed in U. S. District court, New York, last Aug. 7. The resolution held that the pro- posals would "dispel existing uncer- (Continued on page 6) Goddard Extends Appeal Board Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard signed an order here yesterday extending the terms of the three members of the arbitration appeal board for another year. Presently serving on the board are George W. Alger, Albert W. Putnam and Robert McC. Marsh. 13 Films Above Average In Grosses at 15 Keys By MILTON LIVINGSTON "To Have and Have Not" leads in Motion Picture Daily's survey of weekly grosses for theatres in 15 key cities, excluding New York City, for the week ending Jan. 24, on the basis of reports from correspondents. The next four top grossing films are "And Now Tomorrow," "The Woman in the Window," "Hollywood Canteen" and "Winged Victory." The cities reported upon in this week's survey include Los Angeles, St. Louis, Denver, Pittsburgh, Buf- falo, Philadelphia, Baltimore,, Cincin- nati, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, San Francisco, Providence, Kansas City and Omaha. $52,790 Over Reports from six theatres in four key cities give "To Have and Have Not" a gross of $164,490 where ave- age for the theatres is $111,700. The film made its best showing at the Mastbaum, Philadelphia, were $55,000 was recorded against an average of $22,500. About $8,000 above average is reported from Kansas City and San Francisco and $54,490 was recorded by the three Warner houses in Los Ange- les against an average of $51,200. "And Now Tomorrow" scored with $97,800 at five theatres *in as many cities against an average of $71,000. The film did best in St. Louis, Prov- (Continued on page 6) Murray Wins Trust Suit By SAM HONIGBERG Chicago, Jan. 24. — A Federal Court jury today awarded $35,000 in damages, plus costs and attorney's fees, to Thomas A. Murray, former exhibitor, who sued distributors, and others, for $1,000,000, charging con- spiracy. Under the Sherman law, the award is automatically tripled to $105,000. Found guilty were: Milo Theatre Corp.; John L. Manta, Van A. Nomikos, Henri Elman, Capitol Film Exchange, Loew's and 20th-Fox Film. RKO, Universal and Warners were dismissed. Appeal Feb. 5 Judge William H. Holly will hear defense counsel's motions for appeal Feb. 5. Murray charged the defendants with conspiracy in combining to withhold choice product from his Thalia The- atre. He stated that between 1906 and 1925 he had plenty of product, but beginning in 1926, when the com- petitive Milo opened, he was unable (Continued on page 11) 'Tonight and Every Night 9 [Columbia] RITA HAYWORTH's new musical ranks with the best she has done and nestles neatly and comfortably alongside the best of any studio's contemporary efforts in the same field. "Tonight and Every Night" has stronger story content than most productions of its type, probably because it is based on "Heart of a City," the stage play by Lesley Storm, with blitz-beleaguered London as the dramatic and tense backdrop for the backstage musical. The scene is different and, because it is different, it is all the more effective. Lesser Samuels and Abem Finkel captured these opportunities in their script. Miss Hayworth is an American performer working in a theatre which prides itself on a record of uninterrupted performances. Come the Nazis and bombs. She and others actually are soldiers of the home front, undeterred by the terror from the skies, in their self-imposed duty of entertaining the men and women of all Allied nations. She meets Lee Bowman, British airman, and that leads to love which once again fol- lows its usual, checkered course. Offshoots of the main romance find (Continued on page 11) $300,515,911, All-Time High Admission Tax Averaged Better Than $800,000 Daily in yU Washington, Jan. 25. — Federal revenue from theatre admission taxes last year reached the record figure of $300,515,911— slightly bet- ter than $800,000 a day, it was dis- closed here today by the Internal Revenue Bureau. The year's collections topped 1943's $165,730,178 by nearly $135,000,000 partially as a result of the higher rates which went into effect last April under the Revenue Act of 1944, plus the increased rate of collections during the eight months of the (Continued on page 11) Columbia Is 90% Sold Columbia, in seven months, has written more than 90 per cent of the number of contracts closed in all of the 12 months of 1943-44, A. Mon- tague, general sales manager, will tell a meeting of branch and district man- agers today at the Hotel Warwick, here. Montague also will tell the sales gathering that 1944-45 to date is Co- lumbia's best year with regard to the number of pictures sold each account. Today's session will be opened by Jack Cohn, vice-president, who will then turn the meeting over to Monta- gue. Yesterday's meeting was devoted to individual meetings between home office and field executives on product. * In This Issue Besides "Tonight and Every Night," in adjoining columns, reviews of "Topeka Terror" and "Shadows of Death" ap- pear on page 7; Motion Pic- ture Daily's booking chart, page 10. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 25, 1945 Personal Mention Paramount Set to Produce in Canada Toronto, Jan. 24. — Para- mount plans to establish a small production unit in Can- ada to make short subjects and possibly, i f suitable stories are developed, fea- tures with Canadian themes, Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of directors, re- vealed here today. He said the films would be shown throughout the world. SPU, SAG, Studios Argue Over 'Extras' Hollywood, Jan. 24. — The Screen Players Union has wired the Nation- al Labor Relations Board asking for a dismissal of the weekend requests made by the studios for a reconsidera- tion of the SPU certification as bar- gaining agency for extra players per- forming bits, .. stunts or parts, juris- diction over whom is also claimed by the Screen Actors Guild. SAG to- day notified the NLRB that it will file a petition for the right to inter- vene in the case. The producers are in the middle of the jurisdictional union dispute between SAG and SPU. SPU won a December NLRB elec- tion, giving it rights over extras, but the question of what constitutes an ex- tra is causing the dispute. SAG de- fines extras as engaged in non-speak- ing, non-singing, non-stunt work, while SPU asserts it has rights over those players, too. Cowan to Appeal to OWI on 'Tomorrow* Lester Cowan, producer of "Tomor- row the World," announced yesterday that he plans to request a review of action by the Office of War Informa- tion overseas branch in refusing ship- ping facilities for the film to liberated countries of Europe. A spokesman for the OWI pointed out that the film was found "unsuit- able" to policy and directives of the OWI, and, consequently, refused ship- ping facilities to France, Belgium, Holland and other areas, but said it could be sent, to England, Turkey, Sweden, South America and similar territories. United Artists is releasing for Cowan. Four from Skirball To Cost $6,000,000 Hollywood, Jan. 24. — Jack Skir- ball's schedule for 1945 will comprise four major films, to cost $6,000,000. The first will be "It's in the Bag," starring Fred Allen. "Guest Wife," co-starring Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche, is currently before the cameras. In preparation are "French Town," musical in color, and "Genius in the Family," in which Ameche will portray Hiram Maxim, the inventor. Bruce Manning is writing the screen- play. RJ. O'DONNELL, vice-president • and general manager of Inter- state Circuit, Dallas, is in New York. • Ed Hinchy, head of Warner Bros, playdate department, returned to New York yesterday from Toronto and Montreal. • John C. Flinn, S.I.M.P.P. execu- tive secretary, has left Hollywood for New York and Washington on a fort- night's visit. • J. E. Robin of the Robin Imperial Electric Co., has left Polyclinic Hos- pital here after four week's confine- ment. • Mrs. E. S. Lauer, assistant to Wil- liam S. Cotton, publisher of Ideal Women's Group magazines, has ar- rived in Hollywood. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal Southern and Canadian sales mana- ger, left for Dallas last night. • Nat D. Fellman of Warner Bros. Circuit was in New Haven yester- day. • Arline Lee Robbins has joined the staff of RKO's servicemen's magazine, Salute, edited by Jack Level. • Frank Rogers, president of Florida State Theatres, Jacksonville, is in New York. James J. Donohue, Paramount's Central division manager, is in Cleve- land. William Erbb, Paramount's East- ern division manager, is in Washing- ton. • Henry M. Herbel, Warner West Coast division manager, is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City this week. • Lester Cowan will leave here to- day for Cincinnati. Dissolve DeMille's AFRA Fee Order Los Angeles, Jan. 24. — Superior Court Judge Emmett H. Wilson to- day dissolved the temporary restrain- ing order granted Cecil B. De Mille in the radio producer's protest against paying the American Federation of Radio Artists' one dollar assessment levied on its membership to finance a campaign against Proposition 12 in last November's election. The judge's ruling declared the ef- fect of the restrainer to be "inimical to the welfare of the principle of closed shops." The jurist told Mo- tion Picture Daily his decision em- powers AFRA to keep De Mille off the radio. Sues Over 'Lifeboat Sidney Easton, playwright, filed suit yesterday in New York Federal Court against 20th Century-Fox, charging plagiarism of his play "Life- boat 13," in the film, "Lifeboat." BEN KALMENSON, Warners' general sales manager, will leave today for the Coast with a stopover in Chicago. • Sp. 2/C Joseph Kearns, former assistant manager of the Comerford, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and now stationed at Pensacola, and Mrs. Kearns are the parents of a daughter born last week in Mercy Hospital, Wilkes- Barre. • J. J. O'Leary, president of Comer- ford Theatres, has been named cam- paign chairman for the Lackawanna County March of Dimes Drive for the second consecutive year. • Tom McDonnell, former manager of Comerford's State, Scranton, has been given a medical discharge from the Army and has been named mana- ger of the circuit's Bell in that city. Pvt. Arnold Skillestad, formerly with the Rex Theatre at Albion, Neb., is reported to be a prisoner of war in Germany. • Howard Dietz, Loew's vice-presi- dent in charge of advertising, pub- licity and exploitation, will return to New York tomorrow from the Coast. • Max Milder, Warner's managing director in Great Britain, has re- turned to New York from Hollywood, en route to London. • Benjamin Thau, M-G-M produc- er, will leave here tomorrow for the Coast. • Alexander Korda and Ben Goetz will arrive in New York Monday from the Coast. • C. J. Feldman, Universal's West- ern division manager, has been in Salt Lake City this week. • Hugh Braley, Paramount district manager, has been in Salt Lake City meeting with manager F. H. Smith. Services Today for James A, Byren, 56 Philadelphia, Jan. 24. — Funeral services will be held here tomorrow for James A. Byren, 56, who died Mon- day after a long illness. Byren, re- tired at the time of his death, had been connected with the industry for 25 years as film booker and manager. He had been manager of the Clear- field Theatre here. Surviving are two sons and two daughters. Shotwell to Coast on OWI Film Program Hollywood, Jan. 24. — Dr. James T. Shotwell, State Department con- sultant to the Office of War Informa- tion, arrived here today to spend a month advising on OWI films in pro- duction. He will be the guest of War Activities Committee executives and studio research department heads at a luncheon at the Brown Derby to- morrow. Canada Theatre Tax Hit by Exhibitors Toronto, Jan. 24. — Some 400 ex- hibitors and film representatives here today unanimously adopted a move to oppose a proposed 10 per cent tax on theatre admissions in Ontario, and launched a campaign to block the measure, at a mass meeting in the Victoria Theatre. The directorates of the Motion Picture Theatres Associa- tion of Ontario, and of the Ontario Council of Independents appointed a general committee to draw up a plan of action, with theatres to be assessed for expenses. A request made by chairman N. A. Taylor for information on the tax proposal has gone unanswered by L. M. Frost, provincial treasurer. J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players, declared, "We are not going to fight the Government, but we must defend this important business, and we have a perfect right to oppose a tax even while cooperating in support of the war effort." Haskell Masters, general manager of Canadian Odeon, gave an outline of the campaign program to be fol- lowed. Harry Alexander of Toronto urged the committee to continue to function in also opposing the Federal 20 per cent tax, after the Ontario tax problem is settled. Final 'Depinet Drive* Branch Meet Held Philadelphia, Jan. 24. — Final branch conference for RKO's "Ned Depinet Drive" was held here today by drive "captain" Robert Folliard and "lieutenant" Harry Gittleson, conclud- ing a 22-day tour of the company's exchanges. Conferences were held with Nat Levy, Eastern sales manager; C. Za- grans, M. E. Lefko and J. B. Bre- cheen, branch managers in Philadel- phia, _ Pittsburgh and Washington, re- spectively. Leon Levy, president of station WCAU, and Frank L. McNa- mee, former RKO Philadelphia branch manager, now deputy to Paul McNutt, War Manpower Commis- sioner, were also present. Rites at Salt Lake For John W.Trewhela Salt Lake City, Jan. 24. — Fun- eral services were held for John W. Trewhela, industry veteran, who died at Coeuer d'Alene, Ida., after an ill- ness of two months. Trewhela, who for five years man- aged two houses for the Symons Amusement Co. at Coeur d'Alene, had been with Fox West Coast Theatres in Utah, Idaho and Montana. 20th to Screen Three "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and "Hangover Square," 20th Century- Fox February releases, will be na- tionally trade shown on Jan. 30; "Thunderhead," March release, will be screened on Jan. 31, it was reported here yesterday by William J. Kupper, general sales manager. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quip-ley, President; Colvin Brown. Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising ^Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Thursday, January 25, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3 Plan to Compel War Work Is Spreading Washingtpn, Jan. 24. — Extension to other sections of the country of the "war-work-or-no-work" labor draft instituted in Pennsylvania yesterday was foreseen here today by War Man- power Commission officials. Under the Pennsylvania plan, em- ployment ceilings of non-essential in- dustries are reduced and the workers thus released are offered war jobs. Failure of a worker to accept a war job bars him from any employment. It was explained here that War Mobilization Director James F, Byrnes issued a directive last August calling for enforcement of employment ceilings as a means of securing work- ers for war plants, and regional di rectors of the WMC have authority to cut those ceilings or take such other action as they deem necessary to keep war production going. Plants Behind Schedule It is expected that the Pennsylvania plan will spread to other areas where there are "must" war plants behind schedule, and it is possible that if the cutting back of non-essential industry ceilings fails to release the necessary labor workers will be taken also from less urgent essential and war plants. The Washington office of the WMC was without information as to how the plan would affect exhibitors, but pointed out that the problem of- fered by theatres would have to be worked out by each regional director individually for his own territory. However, in general, it was pointed out, field officials have been sympa- thetic to the difficulties of exhibitors and have avoided any action which would necessitate the closing of any theatre. Report Commends U. S. Canadian-Theme Films Video Needs 2 Billion For Film Competition "Television needs an income of $2,- 000,000,000 yearly to be able to com- pete successfully with motion pictures, and no such sum is available," J. J. Nance, vice-president of Zenith Radio Corp., said here yesterday at a meet- ing of the New York Society of Se- curity Analysts.- "Advertisers can- not profitably sponsor good television production until it has a mass audi- ence, and it can not get that until it provides continuous entertainment, pleasing enough to persuade millions to buy receiving sets," he stated. Nance declared that the problem of securing a return was a serious one, for there is no practical way as yet of making people pay for what is giv- en them. Nance indicated that get- ting money for expansion was televi- sion's most serious problem. Washington, Jan. 24. — Commen- dation of Hollywood's "Going to Canada with increasing frequency for subject material" is given by H. M. Bankhead, commercial attache of the American Embassy at Ottawa, in a report on the industry in Canada, released here today through Nathan D. Golden, chief of the motion picture unit of the U. S. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. "While it is not true," says the re- port, "that Canadian audiences pre- fer a film with a Canadian subject, feature pictures with Canadian themes are popular and will continue to be so, particularly in view of Hollywood's new consciousness of its international obligations and the feeling among Canadians that their country has risen in stature as a result of the war and commands a deeper and wider interest among film audiences." Also com- mended is "the generosity of the American film industry in making available short subjects and film per- sonnel for Canadian Victory Loan campaigns." Noting that war themes are "not so popular now as they once were," the report, however, states : "Too much flag-waving in United States films and too little attention shown in them, especially in newsreels, to the efforts of the Canadian and British forces are resented by Canadians." In Toronto, where there is a particularly strong feeling of 'imperial loyalty,' newspaper reviewers generally favor British films ; nevertheless, local distributors state that British productions must be outstanding and accompanied by con- siderable publicity to achieve box-of- fice success in that city, the report adds. Throughout the Dominion, about 95 per cent of the features smown are from the U. S., the remainder from England and Russia. Although no features are produced in Canada, the National Film Board produced some 350 information short subjects last year, Bankhead reports. These included two monthly series of war films for the Dominion's theatres and also 16mm productions for the 90 rural circuits the board operates and for 40 industrial circuits. The report cites 1,269 theatres in Canada. All provinces reported in- creases over the previous year. The proportion of single-feature programs shown here increased slightly, from 38.5 per cent to 39.4; some 32 per cent of all theatres use single features only, another 30 per cent use double features exclusively, and the remain- der fluctuate between the two policies. Authors' Injunction Out Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough, authors, have lost a plea for an injunction against Paramount to prevent the company from making a fictional sequel to "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," based on their book and experiences abroad. Justice Louis A. Valente in the New York Supreme Court, in denying the injunc- tion, ruled that the contract signed bv the authors granted Paramount se- quel rights. The court granted plain- tiffs an early trial. Paramount was represented by Louis Nizer. New Dallas Circuit Gets 4 More Houses Dallas, Jan. 24. — The recently or- ganized Dallas Associated Theatres has leased the Peak, Airway, Grove and Urban theatres from P. G. Cam- eron. The Urban, recently damaged by fire, is now under reconstruction. Headed by Glenn McClain, the new enterprise will make temporary head- quarters at the Airway, pending the availability of downtown offices. Mc- Clain will be city manager, with Theo Routt as booker and J. G. Long Theatres of Bay City also booking and buving for the new circuit. Managers named to date are J. P. Price, the Peak; R. J. Yowell, Air- way, and Albert Cameron, the Grove. Cameron, who recently bought the Aero in Santa Monica, Calif., has left for that city with his son-in-law, Claude Connell, former manager of the Grove. Cameron's son, Guy, former manager of the Airway here, has been managing the Aero. Vacation Bonus for FP-C 25-Year Folk Toronto, Jan. 24. — J. J. Fitzgib- bons, president of Famous Players- Canadian, announced here today in connection with the company's 25th anniversary week that employes quali fying for the 25-Year Club, now and in the future, through continuous service for a quarter of a century would be granted an extra week's va- cation with pay as a special reward The policy will become effective if and when federal wartime manpower authorities grant official permission. Mage to Build Circuit, Acquires 3 Houses Boston, Jan. 24. — A new circuit is planned by James J. Maee and his general manager, Harold Weisenthal. Mage, who recently opened the Laff- movie Theatre here, has already ac- quired the leases and management of the Old South, the Tremont, previ- ously operated by the Liebermann in- terests, and a newsreel theatre here. Mage owned 14 theatres in Paris prior to France's invasion by Ger- many in 1940. Orchard Park Opens Buffalo, Jan. 24. — The Orchard Park Theatre in the suburbs has opened under direction of Bill Brett, former manager of Shea's Buffalo Theatre. WFIL to Air Story Of Films' Invention The story of the invention of mo- tion pictures will be presented on the "Science Is Fun" radio program of Feb. 5, on station WFIL, Philadel- phia. The series, presented by Frank- lin Institute in cooperation with schools of the Philadelphia area, is a regular feature of WFIL's "Studio Schoolhouse." The Feb. 5 broadcast will go back to the evening 75 years ago when Henry R. Heyl presented his street show in Philadelphia. Listeners will hear about the program for that eve- ning, during which it was stated that this "new scientific invention was de- signed to give to various objects and figures on the screen the most grace- ful and life-like movements." The broadcast will also tell of other high- lights in the industry's history. Sherwood Quits ASCAP Cleveland, Jan. 24. — Edwin A. Sherwood, American Society of Com- posers, Authors and Publishers dis- trict supervisor in this territory, has resigned and will return to his Balti- more home this month. 'Song' in Warsaw As Poland Is Reborn Columbia's "A Song to Re- member," featuring the life and music of Poland's Fred- eric Chopin, was played in Warsaw the day the city fell to the Russians, a 16mm print having been rushed to the Reds by American forces, it is disclosed here by Major John W. Hubbell of the Over- seas Motion Picture Service. The last Chopin music to be played in Warsaw was the broadcast, daily, during the 18 days of the German siege, in September, 1939, and when Warsaw fell the music ceased. 4 Named Winners On Drive Posters Four winners were announced yes- terday by the national industry com- mittee of the 1945 'Red Cross War Fund Week' in the contest held to pick the best posters to be used in the drive, March 15-21. The winning sketches, to be made into four_ lithographed four-color posters which will be furnished free to exhibitors, were created by Granger Richardson, Walter Hood, Fred Small and Rico Tomaso, all film home office free-lance artists. Judges of the contest were: N. Peter Rathvon, national chairman of the industry's drive, Si Fabian and Francis Harmon of the War Activi- ties Committee, and Howard Bonham of the American Red Cross. The Participants Among the art directors who par- ticipated were : David Strumpf, RKO ; Terry Novat, 20th Century-Fox; Lew Fields, M-G-M; Herman Barnett, RKO Theatres; Jack Myers, Colum- bia ; Vincent Trotta, National Screen ; Joseph Tisman, Warners; Herbert Jaediker, United Artists; Harold Gutman, Universal ; and the Kayton- Spi ero Advertising Agency. Among the artists who competed, besides the winners were: Ben Rogers. George Kessler, G. A. Jaediker, Allan Mel- hado, Irwin Perchonok, Walter Harmeman, William Hanneman, Saul Schiavone, Howard Barnes. Albert Cohen Leaves Renublic for Col. Hollywood. Jan. 24.— Albert J. Cohen, Republic associate producer resigned today. He will join Colum- bia soon. Cohen joined Republic as a scenario writer in 1936, and in 1940 was made associate producer. He had owned and operated his own literary agency in Hollywood until 1932, when he be- came a storv editor of Universal, leaving in 1934 to write independently for Warners and M-G-M. Blue Promotes Donohue John-Donohue, Blue Network De- troit district manager, has been an- notated Eastern sales manager of the Blue, succeeding Donald R. Buck- ham, who has resigned to join Mu- tual Broadcasting, according to an announcement here yesterday by C. P. Jaeger, general sales manager of the Blue. YOUR ATTENTI PROUD NEW HISTORY FOR THi TOMORROW IS THE BEGINNINGS TOl FIRST ENGAGEMENT, STRAND, N. Y Jack L. Warner, ON PLEASE IE INDUSTRY IS ON THE WAY! MORROW IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE W OF WARNERS' UNSURPASSABLE xecutive Producer COLLECT!— MARCH OF DIMES WEEK— JAN. 25-31. 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 25, 1945 13,000 Houses In'Dimes'Drive 13 Films Above Average In Grosses at 15 Keys (.Continued from page 1) potential 700 theatres in downstate New York were pledged to make col- lections, according to Fred Schwartz, co-chairman; in 1944, only 584 the- atres participated. New Jersey is 100 per cent in the drive, with every the- atre making collections, stated Frank Uamis, state co-chairman. "We need to hear from as many ex- hibitors as possible on the progress of the drive in their individual theatres and communities," Oscar A. Doob, campaign director, urged yesterday, "this in order to furnish facts for the newspapers to be used as an incentive to theatres which may be lagging." Promotion Ideas The current campaign is said by the committee to be developing more promotion ideas than any previous drive. A concerted effort is being made to cover all large local events. Thousands of stores will have coin boxes, 'wishing' wells and other types of collection gadgets. In today's New York 'Dimes' pa- rade, which will precede a Times Square demonstration at noon, will be a mounted police escort, the March of Dimes national executive committee, ' the Coast Guard color guard, Coast Guard band, contingents of Waves and Wac's, Cadet Nurses, American Women's Voluntary Services, Civilian Defense, show girls carrying 'Dimes' banners, and open cabs with screen, stage and radio stars. 613 More Theatres Pledge 'Dimes' Support Pittsburgh, Jan. 24. — Of the 617 theatres in this exchange area, 613 have pledged support to the March of Dimes campaign. All houses will run trailers and make collections, it was disclosed here by distributor chairman John Maloney and exhibitor chairman M. A. Silver. Maloney re- ports that this is the largest number of theatres in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia ever to support any unified drive. Cincinnati Hard Hit By Convention Ban Cincinnati, Jan. 24. — Downtown theatres here expect to feel the ef- fects of War Mobilization Director James Byrnes' order banning national conventions. Joseph Turner, manager of the local Chamber of Commerce convention bureau, estimates that ap- proximately 50 conventions, with 25,- 000 delegates, scheduled for this city, will be cancelled. Theatres in the business section have profited sub- stantially from local conventions. Frazier Back to WB Hollywood, Jan. 24. — Major Del Frazier, short subject director before going into service, has been placed on the inactive list by the Army and is back at Warners' studio to resume under Gordon Hollingshead, head of short subject production. Nedley in Salt Lake Salt Lake City, Jan. 24. — Carl Nedley has taken over as M-G-M branch manager here, and has left on his initial tour of the territory. (Continued from page 1) idence and Philadelphia, where it was $6,000 or better over average. In To- ronto and San Francisco it drew $4,- 000 above average. "The Woman in the Window" brought $22,500 above average in five theatres in four key cities, recording $100,700 against an average of $83,200. It was $8,000 above average in Kan- sas City, a big $12,700 above average in two theatres in Los Angeles, just above average in San Francisco and Buffalo. "Hollywood Canteen" drew $140,800 in nine theatres in nine cities, $16,- 950 above an average of $123,850. Best business was recorded in St. Louis where it was about $6,700 above aver- age. The film was also above aver- age in Chicago, Denver, Toronto, Bos- ton, Buffalo and Omaha, but below average in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The film is in its third week in Cin- cinnati and in its fourth week in Pittsburgh. $15,000 Victory "Winged Victory" was $15,000 above average in four theatres in four cities with; best business re- corded in Buffalo. A total of $66,000 was reported against an average of $51,000 from Buffalo, St. Louis, Cin- cinnati and Boston. Eight other films are doing better than average business in the 15 cities where the films are playing in at least three theatres in these cities. The eight, listed in order of amount scored above average, without consideration given to the particular week of the run, are "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier," "Princess and the Pirate," "Can't Help Singing," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Together Again," "Keys of the Kingdom," "The Thin Man Allied Reaffirms Its Decree Stand (Continued from page 1) tainties and confusion" and aid the industry in entering the postwar per- iod with a firm legal foundation and "united in the observance of fair trade practices." The resolution added that if distributors make the entry of "an adequate or ad interim decree by con- sent impossible," then Allied will sup- port such move as the Attorney Gen- eral "may be compelled to take to obtain some temporary relief and to force the trial of the case on its mer- its." The resolution empowered Allied's executive committee, pending the next regular or special meeting of the board, to act as a special committee to advise and consult on the subject with Allied's general counsel, Abram F. Myers and, if necessary, "to direct the making of an oral statement to the court or the filing of a brief in the name of Allied and others wish- ing to join with it as amicus curiae in the furtherance of Allied's policy. Beery* s 32nd Film Year Hollywood, Jan. 24. — Wallace Beery, starting his 40th year in show business, and his 32nd in films, has signed a new contract with M-G-M. His next film will be "Bad Baccomb," story of an 1860 bandit leader. Goes Home" and "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" was $11,405 above average in three thea- tres in three cities, Denver, Baltimore and Cincinnati, with best business re- corded in Denver. "Princess and the Pirate" scored $8,800 above average in three theatres in Chicago, St. Louis and Pittsburgh with best business be- ing recorded in Chicago. 'Singing': $5,200 "Can't Help Singing" did $5,220 above average in seven theatres in Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh, Cincin- nati and Kansas City, with best busi- ness done in Denver. "Meet Me in St. Louis" was $4,200 above average in four theatres in Los Angeles and Philadelphia with best business done in Philadelphia. "Together Again" was $3,100 above average in three the- atres in Chicago, Philadelphia and Providence, with best business re- ported from Chicago. "Keys of the Kingdom" was $2,900 above average in reports from five theatres in Los Angeles and Denver, with best busi- ness done in Denver. "The Thin Man Goes Home" was $1,300 above average in four theatres in Pittsburgh, Cincin- nati and Boston, with Boston report- ing the best business. "Thirty Sec- onds Over Tokyo" scored $600 above average in reports on six theatres in Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pitts- burgh, San Francisco and Omaha, with best business done in Pittsburgh. "Frenchman's Creek" was better than average in second week at the Paramount Hollywood and Down- town, Los Angeles, and did a strong $20,000 in a fifth week in Chicago at the State-Lake. "Experiment Peril- ous" was off on a second week in Providence but did average business in Cincinnati. Graetz to Reissue 3 Selznick Films AFE Corp. has acquired domestic reissue rights, for three years, to the following David O. Selznick pictures : "Prisoner of Zenda," "Garden of Al- lah" and "Tom Sawyer." Paul Graetz, president of AFE, said that the films will be released immediately and that sufficient prints are avail- able. AFE, which is also the American distributor for Ealing Studios, Lon- don, will also place five new Ealing films in release, Graetz said. They are: "48 Hours," "Halfway House," "Return to Yesterday," "Saloon Bar" and "Champagne Charlie." Free Film Programs New Orleans, Jan. 24.— An annual average of "100,000 underprivileged children see free weekly motion pic- ture programs sponsored by the New Orleans Better Film group, Mrs. F. K. Williams, chapter president, re- ports here. The The films are shown at Kinglsey House, the city's largest community center. Allen Opens Talbot Atlanta, Jan. 24.— T. F. Allen, Jr., has opened the New Talbot Theatre in Talbotton. Mexico Has Stock For Only 15 Films Mexico City, Jan. 24.— Mexico will not be able to produce more than 15 pictures in the first quarter of 1945, because only 14,000,000 feet of raw stock is available from the U. S., Felipe Gregorio Castillo, chief federal censor and one of a committee of three which the Mexican Government has assigned to investigate the in- dustry's problems, reveals. Stock avail- able for the first quarter will be fur- ther depleted because of the necessity of using it to make prints for some 56 films which have already been com- pleted; consequently the 15 new films will remain unprinted until more stock is available. Rationing, stricter even than that in force last jear when only producers of proven ability got any quantity of stock, will be in effect in 1945, it is learned at the Ministry of the In- terior. Castillo's committee is con- ferring with Jesus Grovas, president of the Producers Association, and Salvador Carrillo. representing film labor, to determine what producers shall have raw stock this year. Their selection will be on the basis of ability, experience, integrity and solvency. Bar Foreign Producers Effects of the stock shortage, ac- cording to official sources, will be to put Mexican producers on a preferred list to obtain stock; and to bar for- eign producers from using stock allo- cated to Mexico, but permitting them to continue to work here, provided they secure their own stock. These measures will assure only exclusively Mexican films ; only Mexican direc- tors will be permitted to work on Mexican pictures. . Meanwhile, the government is at- tempting to secure more stock and also plans to arrange for its produc- tion in Mexico. First step would be to use old film for making of new, but this is said to be very unsatisfactory to producers, who feel that it would result in defective productions, chiefly in point of photography. Producers are also opposed to making raw stock on the ground that it would be a war- time expedient and would be over- whelmed when stock becomes plentiful again. The stock shortage has caused cen- sors to tighten their rules so as to avoid cutting and other waste, by scrutinizing scenarios before they go into production. This is also expected to result, they say, in better pictures. Mexicans Honor Alstock Mexico City, Jan. 24. — Francis Alstock, chief of the film division of the U. S. Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, was hon- ored at a banquet here by the Asso- ciation of Producers and Distributors of Mexican Motion Pictures for his services to the Mexican industry dur- ing 1944. Exchange Workers Elect Cleveland, Jan. 24. — Leah Gold- man has been elected president of Ex- change Workers, Local No._ F-5, at a meeting of the organization, suc- ceeding Arthur Young. Other new officers are: Sarah Altschule, 20th- Fox, vice-president; Grace Dolphin, Paramount, financial secretary; Syl- via Simon, Warners, recording sec- retary, and Irwin Sears, Paramount, business agent. Thursday, January 25, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 $684,000 'Velvet9 Gross in 6 Weeks "National Velvet" conclud- ed a six weeks run at Radio City Music Hall, here, last night, with a gross of $684,- 000, one of the top six weeks' grossers in its 13-year his- tory. "A Song to Remember" will open there today. During the run, "National Velvet" set a new all-time week's record of $141,000. First week's gross was $115,- 000, second week's take built to $130,000, third week was the record $141,000, fourth was $105,000; the fifth, $95,- 000; and the final will be close to $98,000. Pedrueza New Film Censor for Mexico Mexico City, Jan. 24. — Antonio Ramos Pedrueza, former head of the Mexican government's press and pub- licity bureau, and until recently di- rector of its tourist office in New York, has succeeded Felipe Grego- rio Castillo as head of the federal film censoring and film supervision de- partment. Castillo, who directed the department since its inception five years ago, has become adviser to the committee of three that is working to aid the film industry, especially on raw stock problems. The Association of Producers and Distributors of Mexican Motion Pic- tures has named the following com- mittee to advise on raw stock: Gre- gorio Wallerstein and Raul de Anda, representing large producers, and Santiago Reachi and Jose Calderon, the smaller producers. Film Ban Sustained By Mexican Court Mexico City, Jan. 24. — The Mex- ican Supreme Court, in a precedent- making decision for this industry, has sustained the Ministry of Public Ed- ucation in refusing to register "A la Sembra del Aguila" ("In the Shadow of the Eagle"), a nationalistic Mex- ican film produced by Humberto Rivas, on the grounds that it distorts Mexican history. The court, ruling on the case, which has been in litigation since early 1944 when the ministry refused a license, held that while the Government will encourage films that portray Mexico in a true light, it is determined to ban those that distort the truth or disparage the nation. 12 Mexican Films Are Good Box-Office Mexico City, Jan. 24. — Although Mexican production totaled 66 pictures during 1944, this was considerably short of the expected 83 that was fore- cast as late as Nevember. During 1944, 64 Mexican films were exhibit- ed, out of which only 12 did well at the box office. Anda New President Mexico City, Jan. 24. — Raul de Anda, producer, has been elected president of the Association of Pro- ducers and Distributors of Mexico. Other elected officers are Gregorio Wallerstein, secretary, and Jesus A. Grovas, treasurer. Reviews "Shadows of Death" {PRC) SAM NEWFIELD and Sigmund Neufeld present another Western winner. Old slapstick routines are dragged out and dressed up for Al 'Fuzzy' St. John, who does a slick job in his role, which, for the first time, allows him to carry the picture practically alone. There is no attempt this time to push Fuzzy in the background in favor of Buster Crabbe, and the results are highly pleasing. The story, which does not bear out its ominous title, has Fuzzy as sheriff, judge and barber in a small town which is about to boom following disclosure of proposed plans for a railroad. Charles King and his band of infamous cohorts arrive on the scene prepared to cash in, but Crabbe, Fuzzy's friend, breaks up King's game and saves the honor of Fuzzy and his town. Edward Hall and Dona Dax carry the slight love interest. All members of the cast handle their roles with competence under Newfield's direction. George Milton wrote the original screenplay. Neufeld produced. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." * Release date, March 24. Helen McNamara The Topeka Terror {Republic) Hollywood, Jan. 24 ASSOCIATE producer Stephen Auer and director Howard Bretherton have achieved- here a well-paced Western, snugly grounded in historical facts. The cast, headed by Allan Lane, Linda Stirling and Earle Hodgins, is an able one, and the trio of villains, impersonated by Roy Barcroft, Bud Geary and Frank Jacquet, constitutes a mighty convincing menace. The screenplay, by Patricia Harper and Norman Hall, based on an origi- nal by Miss Harper, is laid in Oklahoma at the time of the great land rush. Certain unscrupulous operators, desirous of obtaining the best town site, fal- sify the records so that the settlers are left homeless. Plenty of shooting takes place before Lane, in the role of a Government investigator, traps the villains and straightens matters out to the satisfaction of all. Patrons of Hollywood's Hitching Post Theatre, who are connoisseurs of Western drama, received this offering with evident satisfaction. Running time, 55 minutes. "G."* Release date, not set. Thalia Bell *"G" denotes general classification. Davidson to See Film Heads on Opera Stars James A. Davidson, former Grand National Pictures executive, now pres- ident of the William Morris Concert Agency, arrived in Hollywood for con- ferences with film executives on forth- coming pictures for three concert and opera stars: Lauritz Melchior and Jose Iturbi, at M-G-M, and Rise Stev- ens, at Paramount. Davidson will book concert dates day-and-date with the opening of the films. Fires Destroy Four More Film Houses Four more fires have completely destroyed theatres. In Jefferson City, Tenn., the Cherokee, operated by Mrs. C. K. Hutton, was destroyed; she plans to rebuild as soon as possible. In Guthrie, Ky., a fire destroyed the Lyric, which was insured and will be rebuilt. Also destroyed were the Auditorium, Tampa, Kan., and the Gem, operated by H. E. Porta, in Richland, Mo. TV A Lighting to Be Cut Nashville, Jan. 24. — The Tennes- see Valley Authority has announced that all unnecessary outside lighting will be banned in this area effective early next month, despite the fact that most of its power is water-generated and does not require coal. 'Guest' Set for Capitol Hunt Stromberg's "Guest in the House," which United Artists will release, will open at the Broadway Capitol about Feb. 15; following M-G-M's "The Thin Man Goes Home," which will open today. ITOA Asks Rank to Meet with Owners An invitation has been extended by the Independent Theatre Owners As- sociation of New York to J. Arthur Rank to meet with its membership during the latter's contemplated visit here in the Spring, from London. Mutual problems will be discussed, if Rank accepts, and it is expected that Rank will also give some details of plans available by then on his acquir- ing, or eventually building a Broad- way "show-window" for his British product. (In a cable from London published in Motion Picture Daily yesterday, it was disclosed that Rank would not leave London until the end of the war in Europe.) Hits House Violations New Haven, Jan. 24. — State police commissioner Edward J. Hickey has notified all Connecticut theatre man- agers that the following safety regu- lations must be followed: parked cars must not "block exits or areas near exits ; areas outside exit doors must be free of snow to facilitate safe pe- destrian travel. Failure to comply with these rules will result in revoca- tion of theatre licenses, he said. $310,000 for 'Follies' Philadelphia, Jan. 24. — "Ice Fol- lies of 1945," which has closed a four- week engagement at the 6,500-seat Philadelphia Arena, established a new local box-office record, according to Pete Tyrrell, Arena manager. With tickets scaled from $1.24 to $3.72, and performances nightly, plus Saturday matinees since Christmas night, the show grossed $310,000. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 24 UNDER a contract he recently signed with Columbia, Marion Parsonnet will write and produce his own scripts for that studio. . . . David O. Selznick has taken an option on Niven Busch's latest novel, "They Dream of Home." . . . Bert Horswell has been signed by Monogram pro- ducer Lindsley Parsons to write an original for the next in the "Kitty O'Day" series. • Columbia has purchased "Dark Hour," original by Aubrey Wisberg. It will be used as a basis for the fifth in the studio's "Crime Doctor" series. . . . Barry Fitzgerald will play one of the principal roles in B. G. De Sylva's first Paramount pro- duction, "The Stork Club." . . . Seven Warner players have had their con- tracts renewed: Joyce Reynolds, Faye Emerson, Robert Hutton, Rob- ert Arthur, Dorothy Malone, John Miles and Pat Clark. • Gregory Peck has been assigned the lead in M-G-M's "The Yearling," which Sidney A. Franklin will pro- duce. . . . David Bruce gets his best role to date with his designation as Deanna Durbin's lead in Universal's "Lady on a Train." • M-G-M has signed Ferenc Molnar to write "Daddy Is a Wolf," which Joseph Pasternak will produce; it will be the first Mvlnar comedy to be writ- ten directly for the screen. , . . Repub- lic producer James S. Burkett has signed Saundra Berkova, 11-year-old z'iolinist to a contract. She will make her screen debut in "Tugboat Annie's Son." . . . Frank Faylcn has been as- signed a featured role in "Masquerade in Mexico," currently shooting at Paramount. • Matthew Roulton and Eve Amber have been signed by producer-di- rector Roy William Neill for fea- tured roles in Universal's "Invita- tion to Death." . . . Roy Rowland will direct "Death in the Doll's House," which Robert Sisk is pro- ducing for M-G-M. . . . Arthur St. Clair has joined PRC as a staff writer; his initial assignment is the Ulmer - Chadwick production, "Swamp Man." • Marc Cramer has been assigned a featured role in RKO's "Those En- dearing Young Charms." . . . Univer- sal has exercised its option on the ser- vices of Kirby Grant and Charles Lamont. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents WARNERS Hifc S3 TO HAVB AND HAVE NOT Humphrey Bonrt Lauren BacaU D — 100 mina. (410) (Rev. 10/11/44) OBJECTIVE, BURMA Errol Flynn D— 144 mins. 411) S w > 1— 1 D CAN'T HELP 1 SINGING \ (Color) Deanna Durbin Robert Paige Akim Tamiroff M — 88mins. (9071), (Rev. 12/14/44) | NIGHT CLUB GIRL Vivian Austin Edward Norris M— 60 mins. (9035) (Rev. 12/8/44) SHE GETS HER MAN Joan Davis William Gargan . Leon Errol C — 74 mins. (Rev. 1/S/4S) j UNDER WEST- ERN SKIES Martha O'Driscoll Noah Beery, Jr. Leo Carrillo O — 57 mins. (9039) (Rev. 1/3/45) THE SUSPECT Charles Laughton Ella Raines Dean Harens D — 85 mins. CRev. 12/22/44) HERE COME THE CO-EDS Abbott and Costello Phil Spitalny and Orch. C HER LUCKY NIGHT Andrews Sisters Martha O'Driscoll M THE HOUSE OF PRANKENSTEIN Boris Karloff John Carradine D — 7 1 mins. (Rev. 12/22/44) THE MUMMY'S CURSE Lon Chaney D — 60 mins. (Rev. 12/22/44) FRISCO SAL Susanna Foster Turhan Bey M I'LL TELL THE WORLD Lee Tracy Brenda Joyce C SEE MY LAWYER Olsen and Johnson Grace McDonald C < o s § »; MH a » J. 5 to ^ w 1 o H o 04 M O a J 2^* . ^ _ j o bug00 lis S USE fed Sow ■a W 'en 5 o to « , . _ to 2 _ k." O H w « is? o g o g S > Q *7 1 |3=3 ,2 Oh > * S CvU• w Q ■ Kta „ g~ D E»0 ^- !ft * W <- < - « > w ■ o o" gOS? oo US E> h Q 60 8« < - c> "It iSfcffi o .2--° K >, I" u -_ o — — ^ -•2 &.S '"2 > u o1-1 O u ° s<£ « zJi ^ m _ < mil Sj, 3 « Was J n u C o M M hO^U g« oo c t,W o i I. HwM a1? fa o M MO I 5«B I Jfla a H. § 3 <: < 5 3 Sis D - >v OH g.3 c o o K S fi« fH < "-..ace 8 a ■32- ?2 &3o ao^l*! 20S-S « Q <23 T£ ?2 Soil a 6 2 &J55^ °o I S - W CO ,BM 22 -a s" Q snoi. o .in rt, o » o 2—' om « |- n. Q HO£§ E™ « |2t« o O CO ^, > oa * ■is n O Q co «3 o a ■ 2§2§fi 3 °l« i a 3 5 - Jo °3 2«CU« sM £co | |B" So^ |£ H O H (V — 4>>o «5 5 O ,00 CO .5 .5 2g SB c ^ 23«M'i^ SB § 1SJ3 > pcq_, i r <>-« s «soofsoss aW co 3S2 ■3 ess St • O H u 0 _ CC 3 O i «9 v go 4 SiS o a c uSO'g w3 C! O ° SB 6s eo o | O CO < OO So coZ o ^ 2 a c- xi u a 2 Ho CO uO 3 e u g< Pi S«o S g KO<«i OH« UMQ wooE| . co •= 2-|| wo 8 ^ 4 « ^ o Thursday, January 25, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 'Tonight and Every Night9 (Continued from page 1) Marc Piatt in love with Miss Hayworth, and Janet Blair in love with Piatt. He and Miss Blair are killed in an air raid. The theatre is about to close, but does not. Miss Hayworth does her girl companion's number, then decides to stick it out in London while Bowman is assigned to Canadian duty. Their reunion in calmer times is indicated. Against this story pattern, with its inescapable overtones of tragedy and suffering, is. music, dancing and comedy, centered largely around Professor Lamberti of the vaudeville era, as many showmen no doubt will remember. \A ISS HAYWORTH is very good, indeed. She shows improvement in her straight dramatic moments and, of course, is completely eye-filling. Miss Blair sings and dances in a fashion that proves a pleasant surprise. Bowman reveals his established competency again. The show girls are ne plus ultra and the rest of the small cast of principals, including Philip Merivale, Ernest Cossart, Florence Bates and Leslie Brooks, is solid. Music-wise, the attraction is a clicker. Appraisals will vary, but perhaps the two outstanding numbers of the six by Sammy Cahn and Julie Styne are the title song, which is a salute to the courage of England and the United Nations, and the beautiful ballet built around the number, "Cry and You Cry Alone." Production-wise, moreover, this is a job exquisite enough to authorize a genuine salute for the art direction by the group headed by Stephen Gooson ; the set decorations by Frank Tuttle ; those special effects by Lawrence W. Butler ; Jean Louis's gowns and costumes ; Rudolph Mate's magnificent color photography, and, not the least, the dance direction of Jack Cole and Val Raset. The surprise of a fine production, however, is Piatt. Recruited from "Okla- homa," he dances in the Paul Draper manner, plus techniques and interpreta- tions of his own. "Terrific," that favorite of all Hollywood words, belongs to him for what he puts on display in this film. He will be heard of again and again and again, and it's proper he should. In the dual capacity of producer and director, Victor Saville, of course, fits inescapably high into the record of what "Tonight and Every Night" is about. By this one he will be known. Running time, 91 minutes. "G." * Release, not set. Red Kann Film Classics Plans 16mm Branches St. Louis, Jan. 24. — Plans for the establishment of a 16mm branch in each exchange center and preparations for the post-war period, will be ma- jor items on the agenda of Film Classics' distributors, at their first na- tional meeting here on Saturday and Sunday, at the Coronado Hotel. Approximately 80 per cent of the exchanges will be represented at the meeting, which will also see the forma- tion of a national committee to repre- sent the entire group, and the duties of which will be to contact indepen- dent producers to assure a flow of product, and further a policy of ac- ' quiring key reissues. ABP's 7V2% Dividend Same as Last Year London, Jan. 24. — Associated Brit- ish Pictures today declared an interim dividend of seven and one-half per cent on the ordinary shares of the company, the same as last year. The action was disappointing in financial circles where it was known that the company's revenue has increased and that improvement has resulted from a reorganization of the company's af- fairs. Authorative sources declare that a larger final dividend may be antici- pated at the end of the company's fis- cal year. Film Companies Buy Air Time on WJZ Loew's, 20th Century-Fox and RKO have signed contracts for air time on station WJZ, New York out- let of the Blue Network. Loew's bought one station-break announce- ment weekly for 52 weeks, for film promotions, through Donohue and Coe. Twentieth Century-Fox, through Kayton-Spiero, has bought three addi- tional station-break announcements weekly for 42 weeks and several other periods for "The Fighting Lady" pro- motions. RKO has purchased several spots for a two-week period, through Foote, Cone and Belding. $105,000 to Murray In Anti-Trust Suit (Continued from page 1) to secure good product. Manta is a former operator of the Milo and No- mikos was its booker and buyer. Mur- ray sold his theatre in 1941. The verdict surprised Film Row, since defense counsel, in closing ar- guments, reduced demands from all de- fendants to $40,000. Earlier in the case the judge ruled out evidence of the plaintiff's real estate losses, linked to the closing of the theatre, as well as alleged price fixing contracts. The case has been in preparation for five years. It is expected to reach the United States Court of Appeals here. Ideal Pension Plan William M. Cotton, publisher of Ideal Publishing Corp., publishers of Movie Life, Movies and Personal Ro- mances, has purchased a pension-in- surance plan for all employees of one year's service, the entire cost to be borne by Cotton. Plan provides for an annuity based on salary and length of service, payable upon retirement at 65. * "G" denotes general classification. Grand Rapids Asks Variety Charter Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 24. — A group of local film men have peti- tioned Variety Clubs of America for a charter for a Grand Rapids and Western Michigan unit. Tentative elected officers for the proposed tent are : Jack Stewart, chief barker ; Wal- ter J. Norris, first assistant; Grove Wilier, second assistant; Leo Robin- son, dough guy; Frank A. Kleaver, property master. The application was addressed to R. J. O'Donnell, national chief barker, at Dallas. In addition to the officers, the application listed the fol- lowing founders : John D. Locks, George W. Sampson, Howard M. Carter, Emmet Roche, Glenn Wal- lace, Nama Frank, Ed Lane, Emmet Goodrich, Mark Christeson, Herb Schilds, Stanley Johnson, Morris Frank, Elmer Woods, Roy Taylor, Allen Johnson, William B. Potts, J. M. McKearnan, Henry Carley. Hagen to Field Meets R. P. Hagen, manager of Warners' film checking service, left last night for Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleve- land, to hold conferences with check- ing supervisors and newly appointed assistant supervisors in those areas. The home office also reported the ap- pointments of R. A. Navarro and W. O. Love as assistants, working out of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, re- spectively. O'Donnell Installs Board Buffalo, Jan. 24. — National chief barker Robert J. O'Donnell, here from Dallas, installed the new board of the Variety Club at a dinner and recep- tion here recently. Geissman Supervises Blumenfeld Territory San Francisco, Jan. 24. — Clifford E. Geissman, who recently resigned the managership of the Golden Gate Theatre to join Blumenfeld Theatres, here, will take over supervision of the circuit's Southern territory. Blum- enfeld recently acquired the Los Ange- les Tower and deals for two other houses in that city are pending. The circuit now operates the United Artists, Orpheum, Esquire and Tivoli in this city, three in Oakland, two in Berkeley, four in Sacramento and two in Stockton. RFC to Dispose of • Excess Equipment Washington, Jan. 24. — Some $26,- 000 worth of photographic equipment, declared surplus by the Government, is now in the hands of the Reconstruc- tion Finance Corp. for disposition, it was disclosed here yesterday. A report by the RFC on its sur- plus disposal activities to Dec. 31 showed that most of the equipment, $25,498 worth, consists of aerial cameras, with $583 worth of camera parts and accessories, other than lenses; $55 worth of projection ap- paratus and enlargers, and $350 worth of processing apparatus. Delay 'Burma* Showing Due to delay in delivery of prints resulting from interruption of air ex- press traffic by bad weather, the na- tional tradeshowing of Warner's "Ob- jective, Burma," scheduled for next Monday, has been postponed to Feb. 5. The film will have its world premiere tomorrow at the New York Strand. $300,515,911, All-Time High Admission Tax (Continued from page 1) year during which the new levies were in effect (they aver- aged better than $30,000,000 a month). However, on Jan. 9, in his annual message to Congress, President Roose- velt warned that lower Government spending in the fiscal year which be- gins on July 1 will be reflected in a decline in business and in reduced tax collections. In the case of amusements, it was indicated by the budget figures which accompanied the message, the decline in business may run to about 15 per cent from present levels, the Treasury estimating that revenue from the admission tax, other than from roof gardens and cabarets, will drop to $257,700,000 in 1945-46. December collections, representing November admissions, were the third- highest for the past year, amounting to $31,182,977 against $30,183,455 for the preceding month and $13,048,274 for Dec, 1943, the Revenue Bureau re- ported. Half on Broadway The special report for the Third New York (Broadway) District showed .that ' slightly more than half of the increase in December was col- lected in that area, where the total reached $4,611,188, against $4,015,458 in November. The Bureau also reported that box office admissions in the Broadway sec- tor paid taxes of $3,914,573, against $3,505,675 in November ; taxes on tickets sold by brokers were $52,653, against $28,690 ; taxes on tickets sold by proprietors in excess of the estab- lished price were $2,770, against $155, and admissions to roof gardens and cabarets, $641,192, against $480,937. • National over-all collections of ad- mission taxes by months, compared with 1943, were as follows : 1944 1943 January .... $16,744,936 $11,728,489 February ... 12,094,184 11,317,101 March 14,893,007 11,874,676 April 14,907,919 13,283,114 May 28,617,078 14,625,614 June 26,240,195 11,109,476 July 31,343,729 15,750,518 August 34,168,118 16,178,305 September... 29,042,668 13,926,347 October .... 31,097,641 16,499,395 November .. 30,183,454 16,388,863 December .. 31,182,977 13,048,274 Total $300,515,911 $165,730,177 Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents Aon* part rd week'- l r"'«, Ne~le"9agen Y°«, to*"". J"-" ft 3r" Titfi^ a1 A ^e \ TOP ^ei/er QBctvari ^re4en& r Fredric MARCH . Betty FIELD skippy'homeier in'TOMORROW-THE WORLD!" with Agnes Moorehead • Joan carroii . Edit SN£?fi? MZf First in and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAI LY Alert, tion Picture Industry OL. 57. NO. 19 NEW YORK. U. S. A., FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1945 TEN CENTS Labor Draft Spreads to 2 More States Pa., N. J., Delaware Hit; N. Y. Considers Plan Philadelphia, Jan. 25. — The modified labor draft compelling non-essential workers to take war jobs or go jobless, which was adopted for labor shortage areas in Pennsylvania yesterday by the War Manpower Commission, today was ex- tended to similar areas in Xew Jer- sey and Delaware. (A spokesman for the New York regional WMC said a sur- vey of non-essential businesses here soon would be conducted with a view toward placing workers in essential industries.) Allentown, Pa., was the first com- munity where the new order actually (Continued on page 7) $1,000,000 in 1 st Dimes Day The-industry's 1945 March of Dimes drive opener yesterday poured at least $1,000,000 into the funds of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and its local chapters, the industry drive committee reported here last night. -Incomplete reports esti- mated at least 14,000 theatres are participating, with hundreds having jumped the_ gun^ and collected an ad- ditional $500,000 before the opening. Zero weather in Xew York yester- day caused the special events commit- tee to call off the Times Square pa- 1 rade and demonstration. " $194^07,628 in War Bonds for Loew Loew's total sale of war bonds and stamps by the- atres and employee and com- pany purchases, totaled S194,- 207.628, from June 1. 1942 to Dec. 31, 1944. The companv bought $57,821,500 of this amount and emplovees, S21.- 140,705, plus $6,935,531 in stamps- Sale to the public through Loew theatres, totaled $92.- 173,480 in 'E' bonds, and $16.- 136.412 in 'F* and 'G' bonds. Walker Renamed for Postmaster General Washington, Jan. 25. — Pres- ident Roosevelt today nomi- inated Frank C. Walker for reappointment as Postmaster General. The only member of the Cabinet whose term is limited by law, the Postmas- ter General serves a statu- tory four-year term. Walker is head of the Comerford Circuit. British May Raise Monetary Quota 50% : Silverstone California Relief on Taxation Sought Redoxdo Beach, Cal., Jan. 25. — In the first legal step to obtain general relief from municipal admission taxes levied in several California towns, Fox West Coast's Strand and Redon- do theatres here, have filed a claim with the City Council for a refund of S7,947 in taxes, paid since Oct. 20, 1943. A local ordinance assesses one cent per ticket The claim describes the" tax as "discriminator}", excessive, unreason- able and in violation of both United States and California Constitutions." It asserts that the ordinance has forced two theatres to "supply approx- imately 25 per cent of all license fees collected from all business in Re- dondo." The circuit's next step, in case the Redondo council denies the claim, will be to file suit in Superior Court, Los Angeles county. The British Government has under consideration an increase in the pro- visions of the monetary law of the Films Act of as much as 50 per cent. Arthur Silverstone, home office repre- sentative of 20th Century-Fox's in- ternational department, disclosed here yesterday. Silverstone has just re- turned to the U. S. after a year in London, where he made a survey of the British market for 20th. Under terms of the act, each Amer- ican company must make or acquire one British film per 100,000 feet of imports ; each must be at least 7,000 feet in length and must each have in- volved a payment of at least $82,000 in wages to British labor. Silverstone said 20th-Fox's business (.Continued on page 7) Davis to Africa to Get Rank Theatres Loxdox. Jan. 25. — John Davis, managing director of Odeon Theatres, Ltd., left here today for Cairo on the first leg of a trip designed to secure theatre outlets for J. Arthur Rank I product in Africa and the Near East. ! His itinerary will extend to Palestine i and then to Rhodesia and other parts | of South Africa. With the 'blessing" of the South (Continued on page 7) "Objective, Burma 99 Warner Bros.] Hollywood, Jan. 25 r I ^ HE cold, hard facts of the kind of warfare being waged in the 1 Asiatic theatre unroll with a stark and fierce realism in •"Objective Burma." They are not pretty facts and the attraction which reveals them is not a pretty film. It is entertainment for those who want their brew straight and strong. The squeamish had better look else- where. This reviewer has to report "Objective, Burma" is decidedly up his alley. It is up his alley because it serves once more to re-forge the realities, thereby pounding home, still again, an appreciation that the road is long and tough and unrelenting : that the enemy — this time, the Japanese — is resourceful and competent and cruel. In this light and by such an approach, this film reaches an objective beyond the one offered in its title. The story is extraordinarily simple and may be told quickly : General Stilwell has taken his initial beating in the Burmese area. Plans are under way to re-invade. A radar station in the jungle interior must be destroyed in order to block enemy intelligence. A raider group, under command of Errol Flynn, is assigned the job. Dropped by air, the mission is accomplished without casualties. The problem thereafter is to get out of Japanese-overrun territory. The adventures and the incidents which dot that hazardous and highly (Continued on page 7) Administration Of WAC Is Hit by Allied It Should T ermin ate With War, Board Says Columbus, Jan. 25. — Martin G. Smith of Toledo was reelected president of Allied States at the closing session of a two-day meet- ing of the or- g a n i z ation's board of direc- tors, highlight- ed by adoption of a resolution markedly criti- cal of industry War Activities Committee op- e r a t i ons and which recom- mended the termination I the WAC the end of war. Other Allied were : Abram F. Martin G. Smith OI at the officers reelected (Continued on page 7) File Suit On Percentage Bostox, Jan. 25. — Two actions based on alleged false returns on per- centage pictures were filed today in Massachusetts Superior Court by dis- tributors against Thompson Square Theatre Co., and Albert D. Ruden- stein, operator of the Capitol, Maiden ; Capitol, Bridgewater, and the Stone- (Continued on page 7) No Delay on Gov't Consent Decree Brief Washington. Jan. 25. — A spokesman for the Depart- ment of Justice has insisted that the Government's brief in the consent decree pro- ceedings will be ready for submission to decree com- pany attorneys on Feb. 1. the date it is due, despite reports to the contrary. The brief may not be com- plete on coverage ot all points but it will be adequate for the purpose of the initial moves of which it is a part. 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 26, 1945 Personal Mention EE. O'SHEA, M-G-M Eastern • sales manager, and his son, Lt. James O'Shea, will return to New York tonight after a visit to Buffalo. • Ralph Pielow, M-G-M's New York branch manager, has been noti- fied that his son, Ralph, Jr., has been seriously wounded in Belgium. • Lynn Farnol, Samuel Goldwyn studio publicity director, will leave Hollywood for New York today. • Leonard Picker, Columbia produc- er, arrived in New York from Holly- wood yesterday. • Sam Dembow, Jr., of Golden Pro- ductions is scheduled to leave here for the Coast on Monday. • Marvin Schenck, M-G-M Eastern talent head, will leave for the Coast today. • . Samuel Goldwyn is expected here from the Coast next Tuesday. Zukor, 72, Up in the Air for First Time Adolph Zukor, now 72, chairman of the board of Paramount Pictures, yester- day took his first airplane trip on his return from To- ronto where he attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Famous-Players-Canadian. Zukor has traveled around the world by almost every conceivable means of trans- portion, except plane. WLB Indefinite, So Strike Action Near Hollywood, Jan. 25. — The War Labor Board's telegram saying an ar- bitrator would be appointed in the Screen Set Decorators Union-IATSE jurisdictional dispute failed to give his name or when the appointment would occur, with the result that SSD ex- ecutives will take strike action before next week, a spokesman for the union told Motion Picture Daily today. Only setting a date for the appoint- ment would prevent the action, he added. Hirliman Expands His 16mm Holdings International Theatrical and Tele- vision Corp. will expand its 16mm branches trom 17 to 30, it was dis- closed here yesterday by George Hir- liman, president. Hirliman also has purchased the Walter O. Gutlohn Corp., and will retain Harry A. Kapit in an executive capacity, to develop a new television department for ITT, and will also retain the entire Gutlohn personnel, with the addition of Alfred Crown, as vice-president ; David E. Weshner, to handle public relations ; Carol Weill, director of publicity, and Ann Exelberth and Betty Carol. Through the acquisition of Gutlohn, ITT now has a film library of over 3,000 subjects. Hirliman has also acquired Certified Film Distributors, which will function as his sales organization, concentrat- ing on outright sale of prints to sub- agencies, including department stores, photographic dealers, general industry and Governmental agencies. Kapit, as head of Gutlohn, has appointed Victor Roudin and George Zehrung, former heads of the motion picture bureau of the YMCA, to head the educational division of the company. Shotwell Sees Screen Vital to World Peace Hollywood, Jan. 25. — Defining what he called the "thinking picture" in its relation to the world of today and tomorrow, Dr. James T. Shotwell, State Department consultant, told a War Activities Committee luncheon here today : "We must have a way of security not so dear as the preparation for total war. I want to see the screen become the living literature of the planning being done to save this world. The art of the motion picture is going to move the spirit of mankind far more than radio or the printed word ever can do once we really learn how to use it, and we are learning fast." Shotwell will spend a month here advising on the production of WAC- Office of War Information films. De Mille to Supreme Court in AFRA Fight Hollywood, Jan. 25. — Cecil B. De Mille stated here today that he would appeal to the Supreme Court from yesterday's Superior Court decision dissolving an order restraining the American Federation of Radio Art ists from collecting a $1 political-ac tion assessment. Stating that AFRA had declared him suspended from the air, De Mille said : "My conception of American citizenship is more important than the large salary involved. If my efforts result in legislatures' passing laws for the protection of American citizens to correct this situation, I shall feel more than repaid." Raw Stock Cuts Para. Fourth Block to Four Paramount is understood to have cut its fourth block to four films, from the usual five or six, presumably be- cause of the raw stock shortage. The four are : "Bring on the Girls," in color ; "Salty O'Rourke" ; "The Unseen" and "High Powered." Para. Sponsors Sachar Paramount will be one of the three sponsors of the three-times weekly se- ries of 15-minute news commentaries by Dr. A. L. Sachar, noted educator, historian and lecturer on radio station WOR, New York outlet of Mutual. Koenig Gets 30 Days Samuel Koenig, owner of the Gloria Theatre, Brooklyn, has been fined $100 and sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty of violating a safety ordinance by allowing 295 peo- ple to stand in the house on Jan. 13. RCA Sets Up a New Television Company Albany, N. Y., Jan. 25.— To pos sibly enter the television network business in the future, RCA has in corporated RCA Television Co., Inc. RCA's television broadcasting ac- tivities are now conducted through National Broadcasting, its subsidiary. Banshees Honor Baer The Banshees honored Arthur (Bugs) Baer, King Features column ist on his 25 years with the Hearst organization, at a luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria, here, yesterday, at- tended by several hundred newspaper, film, radio and other representatives. James J. Walker was toastmaster ; en- tertainment was by Carole Landis, Frank Fay and Danny O'Neil. Hope to Entertain 900 Bob Hope will entertain 900 officers and enlisted men of the Eastern De fense Command on the "Stage Door Canteen" radio program tonight. NEW YORK THEATRES International Radio Regulation Urged American broadcasters must be pre- pared for the surrender of "a certain modicum of sovereignty" by the U. S. for the more efficient control of radio, Francis Colt de Wolf, chief of the State Department's telecommunica- tions division, told the Institute of Radio Engineers at the Commodore Hotel here last night. An inter-Ameri- can regulatory body, he said, will be proposed at the Third International Radio Conference at Rio de Janeiro in June, as will an early conference with United Kingdom representatives. The Institute's annual medal of honor was presented to H. H. Bever- age of the Radio Corporation of America for work in the field of an- tenna design, while the Morris Lieber- mann memorial prize went to Dr. W. W. Hansen of Stanford Univer- sity. Famous International To Release 6 Films Famous International Film Corp. has been formed here to release for- eign films and expects to distribute six in 1945. First release will be the French film, "Dawn Over France," which will open at the World Thea- tre here. Premiere will be sponsored by representatives of the French Gov- ernment in the U. S. WMC Raises McNamee Washington, Jan. 25. — Frank L. McNamee, former film exhibitor, and Philadelphia director of the War Manpower Commission, has been named deputy chairman of the WMC, it has been reported by Paul V. McNutt, director. McNamee recently returned from an overseas trip. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Picture in TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ANNE BAXTER JOHN HOD I AK "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" A 20th Century-Fox Picture Plus on Stage — Bill Robinson - Maurice Reeeo — Delta Rhythm Boys — Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra BUY MORE |J Q ^ Y 7th AVC' & BONDS 50th St. NOW PLAYING ROXY THEATRE -VFALED! i^^ft fiTPAi ATLAST.-JT *asr The hVN MARCH OF TIME " A 20th Century -Fox Releoso FIGHTING LADY' IN TECHNICOLOR 20th CENTURY-FOX RELEASE VICTORIA THEATRE BROADWAY & 46th ST. MIDNIGHT SHOW EVERY NIGHT ON SCREEN '30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO' SPENCER TRACY VAN JOHNSON ROBT. WALKER IN PERSON 1 JEAN PARKER JOEY ADAMS 20TH CENTURY. FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cronln's "THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" Continuous RIVOLI Performances B'way & 49th St. BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS I n Person Woody HERMAN and His' Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE "Here Come the Waves" PARAMOUNT Times Square PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" An RKO Picture m4 Paul Muni to Produce Paul Muni has purchased a new play, "Plant fro Seed," from A. B. Shiffrin. Muni will produce, direct and star in the show on Broadway. Claire Leonard represented Shiffrin. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief ; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Qirigley, President; Colvin Brown. Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; Tames P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R Weaver, Editor; Londen Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publication* : Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 In the Americas and $12 foreign- single copies 10c VltlCOl* Motion Picture Daily: "A wondrous film that delights for every second of its 70 minutes. Disney dazzles with color and sound and delights with comedy and story incident ... A felicitous combination of live action and anima- tion, it weaves a spell of enchantment. Disney has come up with some- thing truly spectacular, yet wholly sound boxoffice. It will catch the imagination of young and old and will serve as a source of endless enjoyment." Variety: "Walt Disney reveals a new form of cinematic entertainment wherein he blends live action with animation in a socko feature production . . . Gay, colorful, resplendent . . . Punchily interspersed are socko songs, surefire for hitdom . . . There's no question that Disney has brought to the screen a technique which is revolutionary and significant." Boxoffice: "In 'The Three Caballeros' the past master of animation has planted, production-wise at least, another milestone . . . Carries fantasy to a new and almost unbelievable high . . . Sequence after sequence breath- takingly beautiful . . . Boundless artistry and technical perfection should make the feature a winner." Motion Picture Herald: "As in the case of 'Snow White,' the cue for showmen is to shout from their housetops that Disney, The Great, has pioneered again and counsel them to come and see what he has wrought . . . The picture has com- manding stature." Showmen's Trade Review: "Another full-length Disney feature for the enjoyment of his followers . . . Should do well at the boxoffice ... A dazzling, swiftly-moving comedy . . . has plenty of entertainment." Hollywood Variety: "Contrived with the perfection of a revolutionary new screen technique . . . A swiftly-shuttling, feature-length musical comedy combining live action and animation, potent with song and dance and seduc- tive beauties . . . Will hold any audience spellbound." Hollywood Reporter: "Has moments of enchanting beauty, other moments of richly hilari- ous comedy, and some of the most remarkable technical camera feats ever achieved in a motion picture." ■ DISNEY'S f ECHNICOlOU /ONDROUS HEW RUttt^1 DUCK -JOE GARIOCA - PANCHITO The Cocky Mexican Casanova! and, in the flesh, AURORA MIRANDA CARMEN MOLINA Sensational star from South of the Border cmTiStiomwioe premiere set FOR FEB. 22md! 9 * nationally advertised to 22,655,121 circulation the coverage in big national mag- azines with full page ads in lull color or in black and white, ■ * LIFE .... Dec. 25th 4,040,300 LIBERTY . . Jan. 20th 1,262,296 LOOK .... Feb. 6th 1,895,265 SAT. EVE. POST . . . Jan. 27th 3,403,674 ENTIRE FAN LIST . . . March 7,456,365 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 2,535,000 RELEASED THROUGH RKO RADIO PICTURE Friday, January 26, 1945 Motion Picture Daily / Administration Of WAC Is Hit by Allied (Continued from page 1) Myers, chairman and general counsel ; W. L. Ainsworth, treasurer ; Roy E. Harrold, secretary, and P. J. Wood, recording secretary. The Allied board, while paying trib- ute to the accomplishments of WAC and the contributions of independent theatres to those accomplishments, criticized several administrative phases of WAC in the resolution adopted today. Asserting that it is the duty of the board (Allied's) to point out that the "inner councils of WAC are not representative of the industry as a whole," the resolution goes on to say : "The authorities and duties of several (WAC) committees and officers have not been defined or prescribed; that many of the most important decisions, and the selection of chairmen of the War Loan and other campaigns, have been made by two or three individuals without reference to or consultation with members of supposedly responsi- ble committees." Goes Beyond Purpose "The board also feels," the Allied resolution continues, "that it should express the view that WAC goes far beyond its original purpose when func- tioning as above described. It names individuals familiar with conditions in only a single territory to represent and speak for the entire industry with reference to manpower and material shortages, fuel conservation and other matters not within the original prov- ince of the Committee." "In view of changed conditions in- dicating the possible prolongation of the war," the resolution said, "the board is constrained to recommend that the Committee can better serve the industry and better exemplify the principles we are all striving to de- fend and maintain, if the organiza- tion's responsibilities and functions were clearly defined and its affairs conducted along representative and democratic lines. It is also the feel- ing of the board that the WAC, creat- ed for the war emergency, will have no reason for continued existence af- ter the termination of that emergen- cy." War Pledge Renewed The resolution asserts, however, that the Allied board "pledges its con- tinued and loyal support (to WAC) on all matters pertaining to the war effort." The board removed the limitation making it compulsory to hold future meetings in the territory of an Allied unit. The location of the next meet- ing was not set, but it may possibly be held in Dallas. No action was taken on the report covering new sources of product, Abram F. Myers, board chairman and general counsel, pointing out that the subject will re- main academic as long as the raw stock situation remains acute. The committee on 16 mm. compe- tition will continue its investigation but that subject is not considered as serious now as it may become later on, it was indicated. Don Rossiter of Indiana was added to the membership of the committee. Members of all other committees were reelected and "Objective, Burma (Continued from page 1) dangerous course through swamp and wild animal terrain make up the bulk of the film. Finally, Flynn brings his decimated ranks to a hilltop, so ordered there by plane-to-ground radio, and there he and his men wait. Japanese patrols attack and are repulsed, but the indication is clear such overwhelming odds cannot be long resisted. Relief and rescue come with the invasion, spear- headed by paratroopers. The most gripping portions of a gripping film are devoted to the manhunt. It follows the small American band through impenetrable underbrush with its ' unknown and unheralded dangers, its ambushes and its hazards. In these I stretches, the picture is almost entirely' devoid of dialogue. Only the shrill ] chatter of monkeys, the terrifying grunts and growlings of forest beasts — and awful silences — punctuate the screen. The dramatic result achieves great tenseness and a grim breathlessness which never relents. It turns out to an audience experience on the exhausting side. Highly arresting, as well, is the detailing of raider tactics and the techniques of jungle warfare. There is no romance. The tender sex is alluded to in comedy lines placed on the lips of George Tobias ; they furnish counterpoint to an unrelieved drama. Performances are uniformly good from Flynn, William Prince, Tobias, James Brown, John Alvin, Warner Anderson, Stephen Richards, Dick Erdman and others. Henry Hull, as the war correspondent, is not always believable, and some of the dialogue handed him does not help. The attrac- tion, moreover, is longer than it need be for the ground it covers. Essentially, however, these become minor carpings, for "Objective, Burma" has power, drama and purpose. It is quite a film which Raoul Walsh directed for producer Jerry Wald from an original by Alvah Bessie and a script by Ranald MacDougall and Lester Cole. Some of James Wong Howe's camera effects are particularly noteworthy, and Franz Waxman's music is dynamic and drama-heightening. Running time, 144 mins. "G."* Release date, Feb. 17. Red Kaxx *"G" denotes general classification. British May Raise Monetary Quota 50% (Continued from page 1) had doubled in Britain since the war's inception, with a 40 per cent increase registered in the last two years. Con- firming Motion Picture Daily's story' of last Dec. 29, Silverstone an- nounced that Marcel Hellman, inde- pendent British producer, and 20th- Fox will jointly produce in England "Wanted for Murder," from the stage play, for world distribution. Almost 5.000 British theatres are operating at present, Silverstone re- ported, with several hundred having been shut down or destroyed. Where distributors formerly placed films in release within two weeks in the Lon- don area, they are rationing their raw- stock and, by using fewer prints, are taking three weeks to put them in cir- culation. British producers, including the smaller studios, are currently turn- ing out about 80 films a year, Silver- stone said. Many difficulties are encountered in exploitation ; advertisements are lim- ited to single insertions in newspapers, displays on buses and subways and some poster stands, and only a limited supply of accessories is available. Silverstone is scheduled to return to London in about six weeks. Premiere of 'Navy' Is Set for Akron M-G-M has completed plans for the world premiere of "This Man's Navy" at Loew's Theatre, Akron, on Feb. 8. Charles C. Deardourff, exploiteer, has been working on the promotion with Charles Raymond, district manager ; A. D. Seawright, secretary to Mayor Charles E. Slusser of Akron; Frank Henson, theatre manager, and Hugh Allen, the film's technical advisor. Wallace Beery, who is starred, will make personal appearances and visit war plants, hospitals, the Goodyear Rubber plant, and make a number of broadcasts. Nathan Yamins was added to the ex- ecutive committee for a one-year term. M. A. Rosenberg withdrew from the Caravan committee and was not re- placed. Continuation of the Caravan committee was approved. A report was presented by the com- mittee on the serial numbering of tickets, of which H. A. Cole is chair- man. Cole was authorized to make representations on the subject to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, offering a plan which would not af- fect tax collections but which would make blind checking more difficult. Skouras, Connors in Allied Board Parley Columbus, Jan. 25. — Spyros Skou- ras, 20th Century-Fox president, and Tom J. Connors, vice-president in charge of distribution, attended a closed session of the Allied States board of directors here last night re- portedly to discuss company playing terms and policies on specific pictures which have been the subject of inde- pendent exhibitor criticism. Neither issued any statement. Their appearance was at the invita- tion of the Allied board and, it was indicated here, other company heads and sales executives may be invited to appear at subsequent Allied meet ings in the event similar mutual prob- lems should arise in the future. New Percentage Suit Filed by Distributors (Continued from page 1) ham, at Stoneham, all Massachusetts. Complaints allege defendants gave "intentionally false and inaccurate statements" of gross admission re- ceipts for film rentals due on various percentage pictures, and that the ex- hibitors allegedly induced checkers to help them falsify reports. It is further charged that it was the exhibitors' purpose to obtain lower terms of pay- ment on future flat and percentage rentals. Complaint asks an injunction to prevent altering or disposing of the- atre records pending an audit, permis- sion to make such an audit, and judg- ment for alleged unpaid balance due, with interest. Eight of distributors filed in the first action, and 20th-Fox, Loew's, Warners, Universal and Par- amount are plaintiffs in the suit against Rudenstein. Labor Draft Spreads To 2 More States (Continued from page 1) went into effect, designed to fill 1,- 000 vacancies in essential war indus- tries now employing 50,000, and re- gional director Paul Lewis said pre- paratory steps had been taken in other Group 1 and Group 2 shortage areas. Under the plan, the employment ceilings of non-essential industries are reduced. The workers thus released are offered war jobs. If they refuse without valid reasons, the U. S. Em- ployment Service denies them job re- ferrals. The current action in the East is basically similar to that taken Jan. 10 by director William Parkinson in the Omaha area, where a 10 per cent cut-back in employment ceilings was ordered, accompanied by a 10-day em- bargo on the hiring of all male em- ployes. Theatres and film offices were affected along with other local businesses. 20th-Fox to Produce In Mexico: Silverstone Twentieth-Fox has acquired a half interest in Producciones Intermerica- nas, a Mexican studio, to produce films in that country, Murray Silver- stone, 20th-Fox foreign distribution vice-president, announced here yester- day. First film, as reported in Motion Picture Daily on Jan. 3, will be "Cantaclaro," starring Tito Guizar and Esther Fernandez. "Seventh Heaven" is expected to follow, he said. At the same time, Silverstone re- ported that the company is dubbing in Spanish in New York, "Keys of the Kingdom" and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," using M-G-M's dubbing facilities. At least half of 20th's pro- gram will be dubbed in Spanish, Sil- verstone said. Silverstone revealed that distribu- tors are considering joint dubbing of pictures in Portuguese. Davis to Af ricato Get Rank Theatres (Continued from page 1) African government, Davis hopes to obtain an 'association' for Rank in the ownership of an existing circuit or, as is more likely, secure building sites for new houses. Also explored will be the possibility of making pic- tures in those areas, a project for which local interests are pressing en- thusiastically'. Meanwhile, E. T. Carr, another Rank representative, is in Paris and hopes to finalize, at any moment, a deal for Rank's association with a major French circuit. This project tentatively consummated in the last days of 1944, was reported in Motion- Picture Daily on Jan. 4. Exhibitors See gP* ,?29 SEVENTH AVE NYK= 10B¥ C0HN AND COLUMBIA PICTURES PRODUCTION A fE CONSIDER HARRY WHH AND C p|CTURE 0F ITS KIND SONG TO REMEBER THE FINEST . pR0DUCT|0M BUT NOW HAS EVER MADE NOT ONLY IS IT » off|ce> jhE PR0VEN TO BE A RECO RD^ THE ^ ^ ORPHEUM THEATRE P.CTURE OPENED ITS ^™ OAKLAND DAY AND DATE ON . SAN ERANCISCO AND RO J goX OFFICE RECORD IN BOTH OF JANUARY 18TH. IT SMASHE ^ (j ENGAe£MENT. THESE THEATRES FOR ' ^ ^« F ^ , (_ONG RUN RECORD UNQUESTIONABLY THE TERR I FlC« HUNDREDS OF BOTH THEATRES- S |y f0R A SECOND PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY COME BACK AND ^ MANT HUNDREDS ^ WILL BE BACK P.CTURE THEY ^^^^^ PERSONALLY AM PROUD TO BE T0 SEE IT TWO 0* A p| CTUFU^ OF THIS CALl BRE IN OUR THEATRES- B,;,RACPLE"U,N ENTERTAINMENT AND PRODUCTION. 18 WH.L APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FEOM ITS PA.TBON8 CONCERNING B6 SBKVlCT. w ince this Wire m$ receive, we have been formetUamf are happy 9*0 +o aimowne* io +he irate tfcat 4 $0M To RmtMBBH has broken all existing records m both theatres -for ffie 6 Motion Picture daily Monday, January 29, 1945 Doob's Theatre 'Brownout' Slogans Adaptable to Offset Its Effects Potential adverse box office effects from the theatre marquee 'brownout' wherever it will become effective next Thursday, can be avoided, at least partially, by a series of special slogans pre- pared by Oscar Doob, Loew's Theatres advertising-publicity man- ager. They were prepared following a decision by the management of that circuit to make a direct effort in its public advertising to offset the dimming of outfront displays. Copy suggestions include the following: Brown-out! We're cooperating with the save-fuel campaign. Our outside lighting may be dim — but inside the show is brighter and as colorful as ever! Boxoffice open as usual — 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Don't let the Brown-out make you blue! Our outside lights may be low — but our entertainment is still in high! Brown outside — but technicolorful inside! Boxoffice open usual hours. Don't let the Brown-out fool you! Our outside lights will be low to help the save-electricity drive — but inside the show is bright, colorful, the spirit high, the entertainment rosy and color- ful. Brown-out to save electricity! But don't let your morale go down. Go to Loew's to re-charge your morale-batteries! Our outside lights may be low— but brightness and cheer reigns inside. Theatres Ordered To Conserve Coal (Continued from l>uye 1) usually severe winter weather which has slowed down and in places halted the railroad movement of fuel. So serious has the situation he- come that on Friday, Solid Fuel Ad- ministrator Ickes called upon munici- pal authorities in the affected areas to damp down on all but es- tial uses of coal, specifically, by requiring the conservation of fuel in theatres and other places of amusement "where it can be effected without damage to health." Ickes declared he was prepared to use his authority as administrator to support any appropriate conservation measures that officials indicated re- quired Federal assistance to insure compliance. It is expected that the congestion of the railroads, caused by extreme cold and heavy snows will have cleared up over the weekend, but some few days will be required to get shipments of coal to destinations. Ac- cordingly, Ickes said, the controls on coal will remain in effect until further notice. The area covered by the order in- cludes the District of Columbia, the city of St. Louis, and the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indi- ana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jer- sey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Vir- ginia and the Northern section of Virginia. Fuel Shortage Closes Albany Film Houses Albany, Jan. 28— Acting Mayor Frank S. Harris Friday issued an order closing all of the city's theatres, effective this morning at seven o'clock. The action was the result of the re- quest of the Solid Fuels Administra- tion for War, which stated here that the idea is to conserve fuel and per- mit deliveries only to householders who are nearly "out" of coal. The order also closes schools, night clubs and other places of amusement. A Fabian Theatres official, com- menting on the situation, declares houses in that circuit have an "eight or ten-day" coal supply on hand and Warner managers report that their present supply will last several days. To Show Gallup Methods After four years of experimentation, Dr. George Gallup and his Audience Research, Inc., will preview the or- ganization's "jury system" used for previewing films and radio shows to determine audience reaction, at a press luncheon at the Hotel New Weston, here today. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents Walsh Wants NLRB To Settle Fight (Continued from page 1) tie the issue would arrive there on Feb. 1. The jurisdictional dispute is over whether the IATSE will permit set decorators, described by Walsh as "foremen" belonging to a different union, to exercise supervision over IATSE set dressers. Walsh declared that the IATSE will definitely not countenance such a situation, indicat- ing that the dispute traces back to the producers' original refusal to per- mit the IATSE to bargain for the set dressers and decorators as a unit. Walsh holds that the dispute is not one which comes under the jurisdic- tion of the War Labor Board, but should go to the NLRB. The proce- dure of having the NLRB adjudicate the dispute was originally started sev- eral months ago, but the Studio Con- ference suddenly withdrew and called the decorators out on strike. Walsh said that the decorators' union had violated its American Federation of Labor "no-strike" pledge when it caused the walkout the first time and it will be doing so again if it precipi- tates another studio strike, he added. Walsh explained that the IATSE made no attempt to seek jurisdiction over the Screen Set Decorators Union while it was an independent group but its affiliation with the Conference has altered the situation. Mexico Theatres in Anti- Argentine Move Mexico City, Jan. 28. — All film and radio programs were suspended for 15 minutes throughout Mexico at the weekend to make way for public services protesting against non-Demo- cratic tendencies in the Argentine gov- ernment. The demonstrations, pro- moted by the Confederation of Mex- ican Workers, this country's strongest labor organization, were similar to those held last year. Burt Ohmann, 69, Dies Lyons, N. Y., Jan. 28.— Burt C. Ohmann, 69, for 30 years a motion picture theatre operator and for 50 years a jeweler, here, died last week after a long illness. WB Stockholders Annual Meet Feb. 20 (.Continued from page 1) is the election of five 'directors to serve for two years. Samuel Carlisle, Stanleigh P. Friedman, Charles S. Guggenheimer and Morris Wolf have been nominated for reelection and Samuel Schneider has been named as a new. member of the board. , Proxy statement sent to stockholders discloses that there are 3,701,090 shares of common stock outstanding, and that the aggregate remuneration to directors for the year ended Aug. 31, 1944, was: Joseph Bernhard, $159,- 800; Samuel Carlisle, $44,750; Wad- dill Catchings, $700; Stanleigh P. Friedman, $66,950; Charles S. Gug- "genheimer, $800; Joseph H. Hazen (resigned, April, 1944), $41,500; Rob- ert W: Perkins, $67,050; Samuel Schneider, $79,500; Herman Starr, $66,250; Albert Warner, $106,800; Harry M. Warner, $185,900; Jack L. Warner, $185,500 ; Morris Wolf, $600. All but Catchings, Guggenheimer and Wolf are employed in the corpora- tion. 186 at $20,000 Plus The company's actors, actresses, writers and directors, who during the year received remuneration in excess of $20,000 total 186 from the corpora- tion and its subsidiaries. Seventeen received in excess of $100,000, for a total of $2,637,957; 51 received in ex- cess of $50,000 but not more than $100,000, for a total of $3,420,146 ; and 118 received in excess of $20,000 but not more than $50,000, for a total of $3,668,110. James Cagney, formerly under contract, and a participant in gross receipts of certain of his pic- tures made for the company, received $183,652 last year. Harry Kuckuck Dies Harry J. Kuckuck, 69, owner of Lee Lash Studios, manufacturers of the- atrical sets, died at his home here last week after a long illness. Kuckuck, who joined Lee Lash in 1892, is sur- vived by a son and a sister. PRC Signs E. M. Loew PRC's Boston office has closed a 100 per cent deal with the E. M. Loew circuit in that city, it was reported at the weekend by Leo J. McCarthy, general sales manager. Ease WPB Marquee Light Restrictions (Continued from page 1) necessary for public safety. The eas- ing of the original ban was exclusive- ly reported in Motion Picture Daily on Jan. 17, after protests had been made that the lighting originally al- lowed would constitute a menace to public safety. WPB officials said that any exhibi- tor or other person believing that the restrictions are too severe in his in- dividual case may file an appeal with the district office, if his claim can be substantiated by certification of the local police authorities that more light is required for public safety. No re- laxation will be permitted, however, where intensified lighting is intended to augment street lighting, it was said. Clarification Coming A clarification of the Jan. 15 order is expected to be issued by the WPB early this week defining more specifi- cally the circumstances under which the_ limitations may be relaxed in in- dividual cases. There will be no gen- eral easing of the requirements, how- ever, it was said, and the 60-watt limitation on marquee lighting will be enforced for at least as long as it is required for a test of exhibitor con- tentions that it is dangerously low. It was suggested when the order goes into effect this week it may be found that increased lighting inside of box offices and in lobbies may be found to alleviate the situation created by the cutting off of marquee lights. In enforcing the dimout order in New York, city police will merely warn first-time violators and subse- quently will report violators to the utilities company furnishing the light. Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valen- tine announced at the weekend. In cases of repeated violations, the utilities company will report them to the WPB regional office, which is "em- powered to take appropriate action. Special Pressbook for New 'Bell' Release Paramount has prepared a special 28-page exploitation manual for early booking of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," which will have 50 pre-re- rease engagements during Washing- ton's Birthday week. The picture, heretofore roadshown, will be sold in Paramount's third block for popular- priced engagements. The press book, produced under supervision of R. M. Gillham, adver- tising-publicity director, and Alec Moss, exploitation manager, high- lights the previous roadshow cam- paigns. No Exemption for Phila. in 'Brownout Philadelphia, Jan. 28. — There is no possibility of an exemption for Philadelphia theatres when the nationwide 'brownout' becomes effective Feb. 1. A spokesman for the Phila- delphia Electric Co. said that "because our electric supply is definitely tied in with steam-generation, it is not our intention to ask for an exemption." Monday, January 29, 1945 Motion Picture daily 7 Review "What A Blonde" (RKO Radio) IF a moral can be drawn from this 71 minutes of slapstick comedy, featur- ing Leon Erroll, it is that the complications which ensue when a citizen tries to put one over on his gasoline ration board, do not compensate for the effort, let alone the amount of gas that can be secured. That is the hub of the plot structure of "What a Blonde," produced as a moderate budgeter by Ben Stoloff, and directed with fast, and neat, timing by Leslie Goodwins. Besides Erroll, the cast includes Richard Lane, Michael St. Angel, Elaine Riley, Ceda Ann Borg, Clarence Kolb, Lydia Bilbrook, Ann Schoemaker and Chef Milani. All in all, it adds up to better than average for fare of this genre. Errol is a wealthy, but henpecked manufacturer of ladies' unmentionables. Non-essential work says the ration board, and, therefore, no extra gas to ride to work. However, they rule, if Errol carries riders he could qualify for extra gas. It's the same war situation in Errol's factory, so, therefore, no more silk for Errol. Complications ensue, both when Errol tries to get riders and promote a synthetic silk manufactured by Clarence Kolb. Instead of just being buffeted around by his wife and butler, Errol has to combat Kolb, the latter's wife, and a bevy of chorines. Things are rather hectic for a while as Errol tries to squirm out of his various predicaments, but things turn out well in the end, although there is no extra gas, and no synthetic silk. The screenplay is by Charles Roberts, from an original by Oscar Brodney. Sid Rogell was executive producer. Running time, 71 minutes. "G."* Released in block No. 3. Miltox Livingston. r CBS Sets Institute For Video Reaction Columbia Broadcasting System has created the Television Audience Re- search Institute which will make a continuing study of television audi- ences ; evaluate programs and pro- gram ideas through audience reac- tions, attitudes and viewing habits ; Bad maintain television operation rec- ords and program reference data, it is announced by John K. Churchill, CBS .director of research. Operating as a separate division of the CBS research department, the In- stitute will have its own offices and staff and will be under the manage- ment of Dr. Donald Horton. Experi- mental studies in television audience research have been conducted by CBS since June of last year. Weekly tests of audience reactions, using small panels of inexperienced reviewers as respondents, have accumulated much material that can now be incorporated into Institute records, it is pointed out. Demand Upgrading Of 'White-Collarites' (Continued from page 1) collar' workers whose "economic plight," the national union states, "represents a grave threat to our na- tion's economic stability and must be promptly corrected to enable them to make their maximum contribution -to our strenuous drive for victory and to the nation's prosperity during re- conversion and peace." The CIO union acted at the week- end through its general executive board, following a two-day board ses- sion here last Wednesday and Thurs- day at the Hotel McAlpin. The UOPWA urged the extension of col- lective bargaining to all 'white-collar' workers through expanding organiza- tion as well as Government interven- tion to make current wage policies meet their needs. Phil a. May Repeal Children Exemption Philadelphia, Jan. 28— The pro- posal to repeal the exemption of the local tax on children's theatre admis- sions tAs met considerable protest from the local industry. Louis J. Goffman, attorney for Warners, de- clared that the passage of the amend- ment by the City Council will result in increased juvenile delinquency by keeping youngsters away from the- atres. Theatres and other amusement en- terprises are taxed by the city one cent on each 25 cents, with non- profit amusements and' tickets for children under 14 tax-free. Boston in New NBC Post Whitney M. Baston, former trans- mission engineer of NBC, has been appointed to the newly-created post of technical training director, accord- ing to announcement by O. B. Han- son, NBC vice-president and chief engineer. Butler Is Promoted Ralph Butler, producer of radio shows for Young and Rubicam, will become daytime production supervisor in the advertising agency's radio divi- sion, starting today. *"G" denotes general classification. 'Dimes' 25 to 50% Ahead of Last Year March of Dimes theatre collections are running 25 to 50 per cent ahead of last year, national campaign head- quarters reported at the weekend. First out-of-town community to re- port total collections is Chapel Hill, N. C, where the Carolina and Pic Theatres have already taken in $1,062, already higher than last year. Sam- uel Rinzler, head of Randforce circuit, here, reported $2,600 for his first day, against $1,800 last year, a 40 per cent increase. Loew's New York theatres on their first day did $25,759, against $16,231 last year, an increase of over 50 per cent. Loew's out-of-town the- atres reported $32,665, a 30 per cent increase over last year's $24,295. Times Square Rally A demonstration for the drive was held Saturday in Times Square, here, during which a 'Dimes' trolley car, was driven by by Olsen and Johnson between Columbus Circle and Times Square, with chorus girls as passen- gers and conductor ettes. 'Passengers' fares went to the drive. A 'conga-line' was led by Frankie Carle and his or- chestra, starting at Capitol, and marching to Times Square, with all in line contributing. The 'Statue of Liberty' in Times Square was lit with 63 candles, featuring President Roose- velt's birthday cake. Home offices and studios have started a campaign among the work- ers. Leonard Goldenson has set up a complete organization here, with a chairman for each home office. They are: Max Seligman, Columbia; Wil- liam England, RKO ; Harry Kalmine, Warners; Sam Machnovitch, Univer- sal ; J. Land, 20th-Fox and National Theatres; Harry Buckley, United Artists ; Walter Cokell, Paramount ; Eugene Picker, Loew's ; A. E. Schil- ler, Republic ; Norton Richey. Mon- ogram ; Ben Schwalb, PRC ; Herman Robbins, National Screen ; N. Kell- man, Century Circuit; Nick Matsukas, Skouras ; Phil Harling, Fabin Thea- tres; Erwin Gold, Randforce Thea- tres. Newsreel Raw Stock Cut Is Lowered (.Continued from page 1) where he conferred last week with WPB representatives. Schaefer also indicated that the WPB overall industry' cut in allocations for the 11 com- panies might be considerably less than the 27,000,000 feet cur- tailment for the quarter, also suggested by the WPB at the conference with the industry's advisory committee. Study by the WPB of stock figures presented by the newsreels indicates that the average length of the reels has been running around 700 feet in- stead of the 750-foot length permitted under earlier WPB allocations ; a new figure slightly below 700 feet will be set. No curtailment in the number of newsreel prints is contemplated. Allocations for individual compa- nies on features will be ready by the time the industry's advisory commit- tee meets with WPB officials in Washington on Thursday. Schaefer will return to Washington either to- morrow or Wednesday. Hartford Honors Lloyd Hartford. Tan. 28. — One hundred film executives and theatre managers from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York attended a 'welcome home' reception for Capt. Walter Lloyd, USA, recently retired, who has resum- ed the managership of the M. & P. Allyn Theatre here. Lloyd was pre- sented with a gift and a scroll. The reception also honored Stanley Red- mond, who has been acting manager in Lloyd's absence and who will join M. and P. in Lowell, Mass. Schrank a Partner Herbert Schrank. associated with the law firm of Barshay. Frankel and Rothstein and handling legal matters for IATSE New York projectionists' local No. 306, has become a member of the same firm. Seven Started, Seven Finish, 43 Are in Work Hollywood, Jan. 28. — Production activity at the studios maintained its level last week as seven features were started, and seven others completed. Total number of pictures in work re- mained unchanged, at 43. The produc- tion scene follows : Columbia Started: "Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion," with Chester Morris, Lynn Merrick, Steve Cochran, Rich- ard Lane, George E. Stone, Frank Sully. Slwoting: "Over 21," "Ten Cents a Dance," "The Fighting Guardsman," "A Thousand and One Nights," "Kiss and Tell" (Sol Siegel). M-G-M Shooting: "Yolanda and the Thief," "The Harvey Girls," "Her Highness and the Bellbov," "Weekend at the Waldorf." Monogram Finished: "Stranger from Santa Fe," "Docks of New York." Shooting: "The Robot Murder." Paramount Finished: "Good Intentions." Shooting: "Masquerade in Mexico," "Too Good to Be True." PRC Finished: "Enemy of the Law." Started: "Undercover Girl," with Mary Beth Hughes, Claudia Drake, Hugh Beaumont, Edmund MacDon- ald; "Deadline." Shooting: "Enchanted Forest." RKO Finished: "Johnny Angel," "Along Came Jones" (International). Started: "George White's Scandals of 1945," with Joan Davis, Jack Haley, Phillip Terry*, Gene Krupa, Martha Holliday, Ethel Smith ; "Man Alive," with Pat O'Brien, Adolphe Menjou, Ellen Drew. Shooting: "Those Endearing Young Charms," "The Spanish Main," "In- visible Army." Republic Finished: "Return at Dawn." Started: "Desperadoes of Dakota," with Wild Bill Elliott, Alice Fleming, Bobby Blake, Ian Keith. Shooting: "Bells of Rosarita," "New Faces of 1945." 20th Century-Fox Started: "Caribbean Mystery," with James Dunn, Sheila Ryan, Eddie Ryan, Jackie Paley, Reed Hadley, Roy Roberts, Richard Shaw, Daral Hudson, Rene Carson. Shooting: "Two-Faced Quilligan," "The Dolly Sisters," "State Fair," "Colonel Effingham's Raid," "A Bell for Adano," "Captain Eddie." United Artists Shooting: "Paris — Underground" (Bennett) ; "Captain Kidd" (Bo- geaus) ; "Guest Wife" (Skirball- Manning). Universal Shooting: "The Naughty Nineties," "Lady on a Train," "Invitation to Death," "That's the Spirit," "A Night in Paradise." Warners Shooting: "Three Strangers." "This Love of Ours," "Mildred Pierce." Independent Shooting: "Ten Little Indians" (Popular Pictures). N.Y STRAND HAS TO DO IT TO HANDLE T IOBS POURING IN TO WARNERS' MIGHTY am"s ERROL HYNN iduced by Screen Ploy by Ronold MacDougall & Lester Cole • From an Original Story by Alvah Bessie • Music by Franz Waxman Directed by 10 Motion Picture daily Monday, January 29, 1945 Army Has Received 52,687 Prints Hollywood, Jan. 28. — A total of 25,785 prints of features and 26,902 of short subjects have been furnished to the Army by the industry to date, the Army reported to the War Activities Committee here at the weekend. Altec Promotes Pierce R. E. Pierce, Altec's installation supervisor of technical apparatus for the Armed Forces, working in Lex- ington, Mass., has been named De- troit branch manager under F. C. Dickely, Altec's district manager there. Review Her Lucky Night" ( Universal) Hollywood, Jan. 28 THE Andrews Sisters, Martha O'Driscoll and Noah Beery, Jr., are fea- tured in a minor musical which starts out briskly enough, but all too soon begins to drag. Occasional songs relieve the tedium, among them "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" and "Dance with the Dolly with the Hole in Her Stocking." Warren Wilson, who produced, also wrote the story on which Clyde Bruckman's screenplay is based. It is about a millionnaire who hires a girl to investigate his nephew, whom he has never met. The girl, a firm believer in astrology, discovers the nephew is dogged by misfortune because of an unfortunate conjunction of planets in his horoscope. It all comes out all right in the end, presumably when the stars begin to revolve the other way. Edward Lilley directed a cast which includes George Barbier, Maurice Cass, Marie Harmon, Olin Howlin and Robert Emmett Keane. Running time, 63 minutes. "G."* Release date, Feb. 9. Thalia Bell 'G" denotes general classification. Report to the industry . . . In this war-torn year, food rationing and hotel personnel short- ages have not worked well on AMPA's format of operation. Thus, there may not be many "big" open meetings this season. To be sure, well have a few salutes within keeping of AMPA prestige. Members of AMPA will understand. As will others to whom AMPA has meant much in the over-all pattern of a great industry geared for its contribution to the progress of Peace and prosecu- tion of War. In the service of the industry since 1917, AMPA realizes the trust in which it is held — a trust it cannot fail. AMPA's is a proud heritage cleaved out of the hard bedrock of deep loyalty to the inspiring enterprise that is the Motion Picture; an abiding faith in its destiny; and a practical sympathy for our fellowmen (members or non-members) who need a helping hand. To the latter, AMPA's Relief Fund is the first port of call. In war as in peace AMPA will go forward, hand in hand, with the creative forces of our industry. AMPA will rise to the fullness of responsibilities placed on it by the sales, distribution and exhibition forces of our business. That is both our profes- sional credo and our personal commitment. Inspired by its glorious past, AMPA faces those unborn tomor- rows with new hope forged out of a world of chaos; with courage to meet the ever-changing conditions in an ever-changing world; and confidence in the ability and integrity of the leaders of our business to guide it to ever greater achievements. To those simple ideologies and matter-of-fact philosophies the AMPA of today dedicates itself toward the moulding of an even better, bigger AMPA of tomorrow. For, in so doing AMPA hopes to play its humble part in civilization's great production — the Motion Picture. ASSOCIATED MOTION PICTURE ADVERTISERS Ferguson Lunch for More Exploiteers William Ferguson, M-G-M director of exploitation was host on Fridav to four more M-G-M field exploita tion men, Ted Galanter, Portland and Seattle; Howard Hertz, Los Ange- les; William Newberry, San Fran cisco. and Elliott Foreman, New York and New Jersey, at a luncheon at the Astor Hotel. Also present were representatives of the trade press. Four more M-G-M exploiteers and three office managers will arrive to day for home office conferences. The exploiteers are Charles Baron, Pitts burgh ; Dewey Bloom, Canada ; Charles Dietz, Detroit; and William Green, assistant to William Bishop Chicago. Office managers are J. Zimmerman, St. Louis ; A. W. Cross, Minneapolis, and Ben Wolf, Boston Leaving over the weekend were Galan- ter, Herty, and Newberry, and office managers, Mrs. E. Mitchell, Memphis ; Blanche Carr, Charlotte ; Airs. Amy Sinclair, Kansas City; Mrs. Adeline Kerr, assistant manager, Chicago. Others departing included Charles N. Kessnich, Atlanta, and Rudy Berger, Washington, both district managers. Hollywood Triangle Honors Basson Joseph D. Basson, ex-president of local No. 306, IATSE, became the first honorary member of the Tri- angle Club of that organization at a meeting held here last week at Fra- ternal Hall. Following Basson's in- duction he installed new officers of the club, including Mike Pericleous, new president. A buffet luncheon was served the 70 attending members. Guests included Morris Klavitz and Harry E. Storin. Hoffberg Buys 'Jones' "Emperor Jones," released several years ago through Lnited Artists, has been acquired by J. H. Hoffberg, for reissue in March. Deals are reported pending for a Broadway first-run. The film, which stars Paul Robeson, was produced by John Krimsky and Clif- ford Cochran. Fire Destroys Cherokee Jefferson, City, Tenn., Jan. 28. — The Cherokee Theatre, owned by Mrs. C. K. Hutton, was destroyed by fire at an estimated loss of $15,000. The house will be rebuilt as soon as materials and manpower are available. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 28 PARAMOUNT has nine short sub- jects lined up for Academy award consideration. The list is headed by "Bombalera," two-reel Musical Pa- rade subject produced by Louis Har- ris. . . . Hal Wallis is closing a deal for the purchase of screen rights to "The Perfect Marriage," current Broadway play by Samson Raphael- son. Rudy Vallee will liave an important role in "Man Alive" at RKO. . . . 20th Century-Fox has exercised its option on the services' of June Haver. . . . I. A. Beszerides has been signed by Paramount to a long-term writing contract. . . . Bettejane Greer will have a top spot in "George White's Scandals of 1945," which Nat Holt and George White will produce for RKO. . . . 20the Century-Fox has signed Frank Latimore. • William Castle, Columbia con- tract director, has been granted a leave of absence to go to New York to direct the stage drama "Star Spangled Widow." . . . Lauritz Mel- chior, Metropolitan opera star, has been given a contract by M-G-M, and assigned a role in "Brighton Beach." . . . William Dieterle will direct Selznick's "The Scarlet Lily," in which Ingrid Bergman will be starred. Joe Santley's first directing assign- ment under his new Warner contract will be "Shadow of a Woman," from the novel, "He Fell Down Dead" by Virginia Perdue. Alexis Smith, Hel- mut Dantine and Craig Stevens are set to head the cast of the mystery drama, which is slated to get under- way shortly with William Jacobs pro- ducing. RCA Names Fields to South American Post Camden,. N. J. Jan. 28. — J. L. Fields, formerly assistant chief of sales and operations in the Hollywood plant of RCA Victor, has been appointed to the staff of RCA Mexicana, S.A., as technical consultant to RCA film sound recording licensees in Mexico. His headquarters will be in Mexico City. Associated with RCA in Holly- wood since 1936, he supervised instal- lation of RCA recorders in the War- ner studios in 1937 and 1938, was placed in charge of maintenance shops and mobile recording equip- ment in 1939, and in 1940 assumed re- sponsibility for the company's re- cording equipment rental program in Hollywood. 15 Years for CBS Show Columbia Broadcasting's "American School of the Air," voted one of the best daytime programs in the recent Motion Picture Daily-Fawh? radio poll, will observe its 15th anniversary on the air on Feb. 5. Launched in 1930 as a twice-weekly series, it cur- rently presents 150 programs over 30 weeks through 100 CBS stations in the U. S. and 38 in Canada. FAME ELEVENTH ANNUAL . EDITION IS NOW ON THE PRESS ^HE INTERNATIONAL INDEX TO PRODUCTION, TALENT AND TECHNICAL VALUES IN THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT SCREEN . CONCERT . RADIO One Dollar the Copy EDITED BY TERRY RAMSAYE QUIGLEY PUBLICATIONS ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK (20) First jn Accurate > and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY to the Picture Industry tion 'Vol. 57. NO. 21 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY. JANUARY 30. 1945 TEN CENTS IATSE Will Organize All Film Salesmen Procedure Is Set For Relief from 'Brownout' Orders j Executive Board Studies 1 Best Way to Aid Them h The IATSE will "'in every way" encourage the unionization of the industry's estimated 2,500 film salesmen and will probably embark upon its own campaign of organiza- tion once the IATSE executive board determines procedure. Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president indicated here yesterday. Salesmen's groups in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and four or five other cities have already approached the IATSE for charters and aid in organiz- ing, according to Walsh. A three-man committee, represent- ing New York film salesmen, now organizing here, reported on the re- sults of its study of possible affiliation at a meeting here over the weekend. Plans of the New York group are still in the formative stage but reac- tion of their representatives is re- ported to be favorable. Xew York (Continued on page 4) Washington, Jan. 29. — In a warn- ing that violation of the "Brown- out" order which requires the dark- ening of theatre rharquee and adver- tising lights starting Thursday may result in total discontinuance of e.'ec- tric service and may also be punish- able by a fine and imprisonment, the War Production Board today outlined the procedure to be followed by ex- hibitors who believe the restrictions will work an exceptional or unreason- able hardship upon them or will endanger public health or safety. In such instances, the YVPB said, the exhibitor should appeal in writing to the nearest WPB field office, setting forth all pertinent facts, including a statement of the necessity for the light- ing, and the amount and the number of hours it needs to be used each day. Where discontinuance of lighting i< (Continued on page 4) Poole - Bruen - Berge Decree Meet Today Robert Poole and Hugh Bruen. ex- ecutives of the Pacific Coast Confer- ence of Independent Theatre Owners will confer with Wendell Berge. as- sistant U. S. Attorney General, and Robert L. Wright, assistant to the Attorney General, in Washington, to- da.y, on the Department of Justice's pending court action on the consent decree. Bruen said in Xew York yes- terday that the discussions will deal with the present status of the Govern- (Continued on page 4) 'Dimes' 25% Ahead Of 1944 Campaign The first four days of the industry's March of Dimes campaign indicate collections are running from 20 to 30 per cent ahead of last year's results, according to reports reaching national industry headquarters yesterday. Harry Brandt reported his theatres are collecting about one-third more than in 1944 ; Joseph R. Yogel re- ported for Loew's out-of-town thea- (Continued on page 4) Army DSM Award To General Curtis Brig. Gen. Edward P. Cur- tis, formerly sales manager of the motion picture depart- ment of Eastman Kodak, now chief of staff of the U. S. Eighth Air Force, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for "extraordi- nary services." General Cur- tis received the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I when he served as a major in the Air Force. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre and Order of St. Anne at that time. He was made chief of staff of the Eighth Air Force in 1943. Capra and Briskin Form Partnership Hollywood. Jan. 29. — Col. Frank Capra and Lt. Col. Samuel Briskin have formed a partnership to produce, effective whenever the Army releases Capra. Functioning under a name yet to be determined, they will make one picture annually and supervise an additional series. Briskin, recently honorably dis- charged, meanwhile, will open offices, negotiate a releasing deal, select stories and further plans to the point where Capra will step in when resum- ing his civilian status. This has resuscitated persistent reports here that Capra was about to enter the inactive Army list. He has always denied knowledge of when this might develop. 27,000,000 -Ft. Cut Shaved To 15,000,000 Cut Will Still Cause Difficulties, However The War Production Board's raw stock allocations for the indus- try for the first quarter of 1945 will probablv represent a cut of onlv 15,000,000 feet rather than the 27,000,- 000 feet indicated when the industry's advisor}7 committee met with WPB officials in Washington several weeks ago. it was learned here yesterday. This would represent a cut of less than five per cent. As reported in Motion Pic- ture Daily yesterday, the news- reels will probablv have less than 1.000,000 feet cut from their allocations for the first quarter with the 11 companies (Continued on page 4) ODT Offers to Expedite Film Transportation Goldhammer Sees Raw Stock Easing St. Louis. Jan. 29. — Film Classics territorial distributors were told by L. E. Goldhammer. president and general manager, at their first nation- al meeting at the Hotel Coronado. here, that assurances have been re- ceived from Washington of obtaining sufficient raw stock. Goldhammer said Government of- ficials have promised that the raw stock shortage will be eased by April and that Film Classics would receive its full quota. There is also assurance (Continued on page 4) Carr Meets with Rank On French Gaumont Loxdox, Jan. 29. — E. T. Carr. man- aging director of J. Arthur Rank's Eagle-Lion Distributors. Ltd., has gone into immediate consultation with Rank here over formal ratification of an agreement providing for Rank to become interested in a major French circuit, which is understood to be Gaumont British. Arrangements are being expedited for Carr's departure to Sweden on a similar mission. Delivery of film to exhibitors from exchanges and from theatre to theatre is seen greatly expedited by an offer of prompt aid to secure replacements for damaged or broken down truck parts, made here yesterday by John W. Adelung, district manager of the highway transport division of the Of- fice of Defense Transportation. Trucking companies have been un- successful for the most part in ob- taining priorities for broken or dam- aged parts, and in many cases exhibi- tors have been forced to use their own cars to obtain needed prints, or even hire taxicabs to pick up prints because of a lack of sufficient tracks. Alleviation of this situation will be taken care of by the highway trans- port division from now on, it was said. Adelung stated : "It is a prime func- tion of our maintenance section to assist operators in obtaining automo- bile parts and tires to - keep essential transportation in operation. It is. therefore, vitally important that truck and bus operators notify the ODT of- fice promptly in case of any difficul- ties. In most cases, immediate aid can be given.'" Adelung declared that film deliver}" service falls within the category of "essential transportation." and that replacement parts and aid for dam- aged vehicles can be obtained from his office. WLB Sets Feb. 8 for Studio Mediation Los Axgeles. Jan. 29. — The War Labor Board has set an arbitration hearing for Feb. S in an attempt to settle the jurisdictional dispute be- tween the Studio Set Decorators local Xo. 1421 and the IATSE. Thomas- Tongue, Seattle attorney, will preside as arbitrator. The IATSE contends that the dis- pute is one which should be under the jurisdiction of the Xational Labor Relations Board and not the WLB since it is the function of the XLRB to decide upon what should constitute a collective bargaining unit and who should represent it. 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 30. 1945 Personal Mention X/IAJOR MATTHEW J. FOX, •L^-l Universal vice-president, has been assigned by the Army to indus- trial mobilization operations in France. • S. G. Rayment, editor of Kine- matograph Weekly, London, will ob- serve his 65th birthday on Feb. 6 and his 25th year with that weekly Brit- ish trade publication, 18 of them as editor. • William Gleicher of the M-G-M sales department will arrive in At- lanta today from Kansas City. He will return to New York at the end of the week. • Thomas Baird, director of the film division of the British Information Services, here, has returned to New York from Hollywood. • Victor Morelli, manager of the Bristol Theatre, Bristol, Conn., is ill with pneumonia at Bristol Hospital. • Nate Schultz, Monogram fran- chise holder in Cleveland, is due in New York for a business visit. • Bob Hickey, Midwest publicity chief for RKO, is visiting St. Louis, from Chicago on business. • Wesley Ruggles has entrained from Hollywood for New York, en route to London. • Martin Quigley left for the Coast yesterday, to be gone several weeks. • Joseph Roberts of Vanguard's pub- licity staff, is in Cleveland. Sir William Jury Left $2,002,952 London, Jan. 29. — A probate of the late Sir William Jury's will reveals that he left an estate valued at $2,- 002,952. Florence Cook, Jury's secre- tary, was bequeathed a nine-room house and $400,000 in a life trust fund. Jury was an industry- veteran who at one time was governing director of Jury-Metro Goldwyn, Ltd., M-G-M's London office. After a family bequest — he was a widower — he left the rest of his estate to 10 charities, including the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, of which he was formerly presi- dent. Lt. Mooney Wounded First Lt. Paul C. Mooney, Jr., for- merly of the editorial staff of Motion Picture Herald, here, was wounded in action in Belgium on Jan. 7. Lt. Mooney is the third staff member of Quigley Publications to be wounded ; the others were Capt. George Spires, who has been awarded the Croix de Guerre, and Sgt. Gene Arneel. Central Casting for British Film Extras London, Jan. 29. — A board of in- quiry that has been studying condi- tions of studio extras has submitted its report to the Ministry of Labor and, it is understood, the suggestion of the British Film Producers Asso- ciation has been adopted whereby an official central casting bureau will be established, similar to Hollywood's, through which all extras will be hired. The demand of studio unions here for a closed shop Will, therefore, be sidestepped, but the union, however, is accepting seats on the bureau's con- trolling committee. Asks Ban on Union Political Levies Hollywood, Jan. 29. — Reportedly as an outgrowth of the Cecil B. De Mille-American Federation of Radio Artists case, in which De Mille was assessed a dollar by the union to fight an open shop law, Assemblyman Phil Davis, West Los Angeles, today intro- duced in the state legislature a meas- ure which would make it "unlawful for a labor organization to levy an as- sessment upon any of its members for the purpose of raising funds to par- ticipate in a political campaign, or to suspend, expel or discriminate against any member for refusing to pay such assessment." Violation of the proposed law would be made a misdemeanor. Percentage Only For 'Remember* Columbia's "A Song to Remember," which is being sold separately, will set a new precedent for the company by being its first picture to be sold exclusively on percentage to all runs. A. Montague, general sales manager, disclosed here yesterday. Following openings at the Orphe- um Theatre, San Francisco, and the Roxie, Oakland, Cal., on Jan. 18, pre- release engagements are now playing at Radio City Music Hall, New York ; OrpheuiTH New Orleans ; Orpheum and State, Boston ; Capitol, Cincinnati, and State, St. Louis. Law on Employment Discrimination Pends Albany, N. Y., Jan. 29.— The Tem- porary State Committee Against Dis- crimination recommended today in a report that New York create a per- manent five-man commission to fight racial and religious discrimination in employment, and to punish with fines and jail terms those found guilty of such discrimination. Legislation to carry out these pro- posals will be introduced this week in both Senate and Assembly. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey and legislative leaders of both parties are aligned behind the measure. Rose in London London, Jan. 29. — David Rose, Paramount's British managing direc- tor, arrived here today from the U. S. Gallup Explains His Sampling Method Dr. George Gallup, head of the au- dience and public survey organization, and Albert E. Sindlinger, executive of his Audience Research Institute, outlined the operations of ARI in measuring audience reactions at a luncheon for film and radio press representatives at the Hotel New Weston here yesterday. Dr. Gallup also explained the work- ings of the two audience reaction measuring machines, the Hopkins elec- tric 'televotingL machine to register re- actions of sample audiences to films, and the 'ballot analyzer' for measuring individual reactions to films or radio programs. Industry clients of ARI include RKO, Columbia, Walt Disney and David O. Selznick, as well as Photoplay Magazine. National Theatres in Annual Meet Feb. 5-7 Los Angeles, Jan. 29. — With Charles Skouras presiding, the annual meeting of National Theatre's division presidents will be held at the Fox West Coast headquarters here Feb. 5-7. Spyros Skouras will attend some of the session, and George Skouras possibly will be present also. The agenda includes reports on the past year and setting of policies for the year ahead. Among the delegates will be Elmer Rhoden, Rick Ricketson, Frank Newman, Al Rosenberg, Har- old Fitzgerald, Dave Idzal and Dan Michalove. FWC Has New First Run in Los Angeles Los Angeles, Jan. 29. — Fox West Coast Theatres has established a new first run trio here with the opening of the re-furnished Guild Theatre, for- merly called the Music Box, on Hollywood Boulevard. The house will be linked with the downtown United Artists and the Fox Wilshire. Scheduled for the opening are RKO's "Bride by Mistake" and "The Falcon in Hollywood." 'U' Names H J.Martin New Haven Manager Harry J. Martin of Universal's Boston sales staff has been named to succeed John Pavone as manager of 'U's' New Haven branch. Martin, who joined the company in 1931, will assume his new duties on Thursday. Young Calls R. C. Meet Memphis, Jan. 29. — Tom W. Young, chairman of the Memphis ex- change area for the War Activities Committee, will hold a meeting of exhibitors here on Feb. 23 at which time Tom J. Connors of 20th Century- Fox, and R. J. O'Donnell of the In- terstate circuit, Dallas, will speak in behalf of the. Red Cross. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Picture in TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION NOW PLAYING ROXY THEATRE teVEALED! kllitt ffiA! ATLAST.-R OH***"* The MfW MARCH OF TIME ■ lie ^ 2Qth Ce(lh)ry.Fox Ketoa„ ON SCREEN '30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO' SPENCER TRACY VAN JOHNSON ROBT. WALKER IN PERSON JEAN PARKER JOEY ADAMS 20TH CENTURY -FOX PRESENTS A. J. Cron/n's THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" RIVOLI B'way & 49th St. Continuous Performances BING CROSBY BETTY MUTTON SONNY TUFTS In Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE "Here Come the Waves** PARAMOUNT Times Square B'WAY & 47th St. PALACE Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE — A RKO RELEASE SOEG Seeks NLRB Conciliator in Dispute Los Angeles, Jan. 29. — The Na- tional Labor Relations Board has been asked by Screen Office Em- ployees Guild negotiators to appoint a conciliator to adjudicate the 'friend- ly impasse' reached between the union and Pat Scollard, chairman of a com- mittee representing all distributors, on a new salary contract covering i about 300 exchange workers here. The union seeks studio scales which are higher than present ex change scales. The distributors op pose this, partly because they are re luctant to establish a precedent which might be applicable to other pacts in all exchange cities. Should a concilia- tor fail to break the deadlock, which is probable, the case would be certi- fied to the War Labor Board for final determination. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. THE Bill BONANZ STARRING RICHARD ARLEN ROBERT LIVINGSTON JANE FRAZEE BUY U. S. WAR BONDS WITH GEORGE "GABBY" HAYES and LYNNE ROBERTS and BOBBY DRISCOLL J. M. KERRIGAN GEORGE ARCHAINBAUD - Director Screen Play by DORRELL and STUART McGOWAN and PAUL GANGELIN Original Story by ROBERT PRESNELL and LEONARD PRASKINS A REPUBLIC PICTURE 4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, January 30, 1945 'Dimes' 25% Ahead Of 1944 Campaign (Continued from page 1) tres that the weekend total was $147,- 064, against $126,958 last year ; , Charles C. Moskowitz, for Loew's New York theatres, reported $100,860, against $79,743 last year. Largest amount by an individual theatre was $8,628 by the Capitol, Washington. Jack Kirsch, co-chairman of Illi- nois; Sol Schwartz, RKO; Harry Kalmine, Warner Theatres; Charles C. Moskowitz and Joseph R. Vogel, Loew's; Harry Brandt, Brandt Thea- tres; David Weinstock, Rayburn Theatres, and Charles Skouras, Fox West Coast, have all agreed to con- tinue collections an additional four days where shows do not change. Stars to Appear at President's Ball Washington, Jan. 29. — Among stars scheduled to appear tomorrow at President Roosevelt's birthday cele- bration are: Myrna Loy, Veronica Lake. Alan Ladd, Linda Darnell, Monty Woolley, Danny Kaye, and Margaret O'Brien. Seventeen in all are billed for the ball. Oyster Triumphs at 'Co-Eds' Preview Universal was host to the trade press and syndicate representatives at a dinner at Toots Shor's here last night prior to a sneak preview of the new Abbott-Costello film, "Here Come the Co-Eds," at RKO's 58th Street Theatre. Highlight of the picture, which evoked considerable hilarity, was a wrestling match be- tween Costello and an oyster which he actually found in a bowl of oyster stew. IATSE to Organize All Film Salesmen (Continued from page 1) salesmen emphasize that they are or- ganizing for basic reasons of economic security, of course, but also because of the growth of film buying combines. Walsh stated emphatically here that if the film salesmen are organized, the IATSE intends to represent them; the IATSE represents all other "front- office" employes in film exchanges, ex- cept supervisory help like division, branch and assistant managers. The IATSE executive board dis- cussed plans for the organization of film salesmen at its Mid-Winter meet- ing in Minneapolis two weeks ago. 27,000,000-Ft. Cut Shaved 12,000,000 (Continued from page 1) sustaining a cut of approxi- mately 14,000,000 feet for other production. The industry's raw stock allocation for the final quarter of 1944 was 325,- 000,000, but with indications now that the industry will be allotted some 310,000,000 feet for the current quar- ter. The industry's advisory commit- tee will meet with WPB officials in Washington Thursday to receive the allocations and to learn how the WPB intends to levy the proposed cut among the companies. It was pointed out here yesterday that any raw stock saved from use by the newsreel companies cannot be used for feature releases since a light- er type of raw stock is used for the reels. Film company officials empha- sized that the cut of 14,000,000 feet in the industry's raw stock allocations will still create considerable difficulties for the industry. Bronston's $4,350,000 Action Over Sun' Long Beach, Cal., Jan. 29.— A. suit for $4,350,000 was filed in Superior Court here, Saturday, by Samuel Bronston, producer, against Ideal Fac- toring Corp., Walter E. Heller and Co., David Hersh, and five others, charging them with seeking to de- fraud him of the profits and his inter- est in the film "A Walk in the Sun," which Broston says he mortgaged to the defendants for $650,000, last November. Bronston, who is joined as plaintiff with Comstock Productions, charges the defendants sold all his rights to the film to Ideal Factoring, for the amount he owed. Goldhammer Sees Raw Stock Easing Powell Heads Britannica E. H. Powell, president of the En- cyclopedia Britannica, has been elected president of Encyclopedia Britannica Films, Inc., and Dr. Miller McClin- tock, formerly president of the Mutual Broadcasting System, and Dr. V. C. Arnspiger have been elected directors, William B. Benton, chairman, an- nounced yesterday. Crosley Buys WINS Radio station WINS, New York, was sold yesterday to the Crosley Corporation, of Cincinnati, for $1,- 700,000, Leonard Kapner, general manager of Hearst Radio, Inc., an- nounced. Warners Sets $200,000 Over for 'Berlin* A trade and newspaper advertising budget which will exceed normal ex- penditures by $200,000 has been an- nounced by Warners for "Hotel Ber- lin," which Jack Warner is reported rushing for release in order to take advantage of timeliness. Exploitation funds, apart from spe- cial newspaper and tradepaper budgets, have been set for key city campaigns by the company's field men. The field exploitation force will leave this week to start the promotion work on the drive. Harry Neville Dies Funeral services were held here yes- terday for Harry Neville, 77, actor, at the Church of the Transfiguration, Neville died of a heart attack. RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. announces the following revised date for the NEW YORK TRADE SHOWING OF WHAT A BLONDE it THURSDAY, FEB. 1, AT 2:30 P.M. RKO PROJECTION ROOM, 630 Ninth Ave., New York, N. Y. Poole - Bruen - Berge Decree Meet Today (Continued from page 1) ment's action against the five consent- ing companies. He pointed out that the PCCITO has had a conciliation plan in effect in' California with distributors for the past five years to iron out trade prob- lems. The plan was promulgated by the Los Angeles law firm of Albert J. Law, when the latter was a coun- sel for the PCCITO. Law drafted a trade conciliation plan for Southern California Theatre Owners Associa- tion, with which he was affiliated, be- fore his death here early this month. PCCITO does not plan an affiliation with Allied States, Bruen said in again discounting suggestions that such an affiliation was planned. Bruen pointed out that PCCITO's by-laws prevent such an affiliation and pro- vide only for West Coast operations. Bruen and Poole will return to Cali- fornia following their conference. (Continued from page 1) he said, of adequate supplies for ad- vertising accessories. The raw stock and the accessories problems were the principal subjects discussed at the two-day meeting. Be- cause of the greater importance of these matters plans for establishing 16 mm branches and post-war prepar- ations were not considered. The national executive committee to act as a liaison agency between the home office and the Distributors was named, with Albert Dezel of Detroit as chairman. Members of the com- mitee are : Bert Stearn, Pittsburgh ; J. Francis White, Charlotte, N. C. ; Joseph Wolf, Minneapolis ; Arthur Locku ood, Boston ; Sam Whaler, Washington. The meeting was attended by ap- proximately 30, representing eighty- five per cent of the company's fran- chise holders. In addition to Gold- hammer, the home office was repre- sented by Irving Wormser, Eastern sales manager. Harry Arthur, Jr., St. Louis franchise holder entertained the delegates. Henshaw in Hollywood Hollywood, Jan. 29. — Don Hen- shaw of the Canadian War Finance Committee, arrived in Hollywood to- day from Toronto to work with the industry's War Activities Committee on a film for the Eighth Canadian Victory. Loan. 42 Some-Run Cases Filed Motion Picture Daily yesterday inadvertently stated that there were 242 some-run arbitration cases filed in the four years of the consent decree. This was a typographical error and should have been 42. Procedure Is Set For 'Brownout' Aid (Continued from page 1) seen as endangering public health or safety, a certificate to that effect should be secured from the local fire, police or health department, for sub- mission to tne board's office. It was emphasized that financial hardship that might result from the discontinuance of prohibited lighting is not sufficient basis for granting an appeal, and that the lights which are the subject of the appeal may not be used pending a decision on the peti- tion. / It was pointed out that the order applies to the use of electricity, re- gardless of the type of lighting equip- ment used, and, therefore, will re- quire the darkening of marquees and signs using neon or fluorescent lights as well as those using filament bulbs. Neon-lighted marquees will be limit- ed to 60 watts, as well as those lighted by the more usual bulbs. Hayworth's Mother Dies Santa Monica, Cal., Jan. 29. — Funeral services will be held here to- morrow for Mrs. Volga Cansino, mother of Rita Hayworth and for- merly a member of the Cansino Danc- ers, who died here last Friday after a short illness. Rites for Mrs. Silver Funeral services for Mrs. Hannah Silver, mother of Milton Silver, film advertising executive, will be held to- morrow morning at Park West Mem- orial Chapel. Interment .will be pri- vate. Another Fire Epidemic Atlanta, Jan. 29. — Another series of fires has hit this area. Two Army theatres, one at Hendricks Field, Se- bring, Fla., and the other at Lake Butler, Fla., were recently destroyed. C. J. Williams Dies C. Jay Williams, 86, director of Edison Vitagraph in the silent-film era and veteran stage actor, died at his home here over the weekend. He was a past president of the Actors Order of Friendship and a member of Actors Equity, Actors Fund, Lambs and the Elks. GLOBE TICKET COMPANY 154 W. 14th ST. N. Y. C. Phone WAtkins 9-1486 PROMPT SERVICE AS USUAL First in F>lm-an< [Radio ]M' Accural* i ^and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAI LY to the Picture Industry tion IVOL. 57 NO. 22 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1945 TEN CENTS Seek Essential Rating for Theatre Seats New WPB Order Will Not Affect Projectors Washington, Jan. 30. — Estab- lishment by the Office of Civilian Requirements of a definite produc- tion program for the manufacture of theatre seats, placing them on the essential list for the issuance of spot authorizations to procure ma- terials, was urged here yesterday by the Theatre, School and Public Seating Industry Advisory Com- mittee at a meeting with War Pro- duction Board officials. Committee members reported that the production of theatre chairs is insufficient for essen- (Continued on page 4) Extend Drive To Feb. 4 Following receipt of wires from several state chairmen, suggesting that the March of Dimes drive be extended to Feb. 4, at least, national drive chairman Nicholas M. Schenck yes- terday wired all state chairman a re- quest to prolong the drive from Feb. 1. It was pointed out that the 'polio' fund lost money because of reduced attendance due to the severe weather during the opening days of the drive. A few more days added to the drive would make up that loss, it was said. The National Foundation for Infantile (Continued on page 4) IATSE Considering Charter for MPOE The I \TSE is expected to decide within the next 10 days whether or not it will issue a charter, to Motion Picture Office Employes Union, Local 23169, A.F.L., representing over 800 office workers in the Warner Bros home office and subsidiary companies : Universal home office and Paramount Sound News. MPOE, a Federal office worker union under the A.F.L. setup, recently came under the jurisdiction of the new A.F.L. Office Workers International (Continued on page 6) No III Effects Seen From 'Brownouf Chicago, Jan. 30. — Charles Ryan, assistant zone manager of the Warner circuit here, which has had the "brownout" in effect for two weeks, states that receipts have not dropped as a result. He is of the opin- ion that neighborhood houses might eventually profit by the change, at the expense of Loop theatres. Theatre operators in this area have received official notice from Edison Common- wealth Co. on the 'brownout' order which starts tomorrow. Tt emphasized the change in lighting of theatre fronts, which, it said, must be fol- lowed to the letter. Exempted on 'Brownout' Washington, Jan. 30. — Exhibitors throughout California, except San Diego and vicinity, and Catalina Is- land, were today exempted from the "brownout" order which goes into ef- fect Thursday. Their exemption, announced by the Office of War Utilities, will run until June 30, next, indicating that War Production Board officials have in mind the possibilities of a coal short- age extending well beyond the winter months. It was also announced that South- ern Louisiana and most of Arizona and Nevada also have been exempted, together with an additional area in New Mexico, and areas served by the (Continued on page 8) Goldwyn Urges Raw Stock Allocations For All Producers Terming the current rationing of raw stock by the War Production Board as "more important than any previous issue facing the industry," Samuel Goldwyn in a trade press in- terview here yesterday called for di- rect allocations of raw stock to inde- pendent producers so that they will not be dependent upon distributors for their supplies. "Up to now," Goldwyn said in a prepared statement, "ration cards had been handed out to distributors and not to producers. The producers, as the original creators of the industry, demand a standing which will permit them to survive. No longer do they intend to remain subservient to the dis- (Continued on page 6) Independents Join Raw Stock Group The industry's advisory commit- tee to the War Production Board on raw stock has been enlarged to include independent producers and re-issue companies. The new repre- sentatives are scheduled to be present at the meeting in Washington tomor- row between the advisory committee and the WPB, at which the industry is expected to be advised of its raw stock allocations for the first quarter. The cut is expected to total about 15,000,000 feet under the fourth quarter of 1944, instead of 27,000,000 feet originally pro- posed by the WPB to the indus- (Continued on page 6) Acute Shortage of Shorts Hits Midwest Subsequents Chicago, Jan. 30. — An acute short- age of new short subjects exists in the Chicago area, exhibitors explain- ing that the condition is due not only to fewer releases here as compared to past seasons, but also due to long runs of big features in the Loop, which tie Hp shorts for periods rang- ing from two to ten weeks. Janet Stevenson, head shorts book- er for the Balaban and Katz Circuit, states that it has never been harder to maintain B. and K.'s policy of get- ting shorts in all subsequent runs a month ahead. While she has the free- dom to' "pull" shorts from B. and K. first runs in the middle of a feature run, there is seldom anything new for use in their place. Another contributing factor is the increased demands for one and two- reelers by exhibitors switching double bill programs temporarily for single top product. Such features as "Go- ing My Way," "Since You Went Away," "Dragon Seed" and "Lady in the Dark," among others, are potted singly and require an average of two shorts for each play date. Color short releases have also hit a new low due to the Government's in- creased consumption of that stock for its "Fighting Lady," which has been widely distributed, War Program Needs Block Freon Supply Theatres to Be Serviced Only on Application Washington, Jan. 30.— Objec- tions of other claimants for basic materials used in the production of freon gas have blocked a pro- posed War Production Board or- der releasing unlimited supplies of the refrigerant for theatre cooling systems, it was learned here to- day. Essential needs of exhibitors, however, are being taken care of through the appeals proce- dure, and a large number of theatre operators who were faced with the possibility of an (Continued on page 8) Frozen Funds For France Washington, Jan. 30. — The State Department has accomplished a trans- fer to Paris of funds which American distributors could not draw out of North Africa because of the lack of dollar exchange, and the money will be available for use in reconstituting their business in France, it was learned here today. Motion Picture (Continued on page 8) Para. Officials to Meet Partners Leonard H. Goldenson, Paramount vice-president in charge of theatre op- erations, will head a group of theatre department executives who will leave Feb. 4 for Detroit, on the first leg of a trip to the Coast during which they will confer witli theatre part- ners and associates in six key cities. Accompanying Goldenson will be Ed- (Continncd on paije 8) Reviewed Today Review of "Roughly S"'ak ing" appears on page 4; "Here Ccma the Co-Eds," page 5. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday-, January 31, 1945 Personal Mention GEORGE J. SCHAEFER left for Washington yesterday. • Alexander Korda is recuperating from an attack of acute indigestion in a Hollywood hospital and both he and Ben Goetz, M-G-M's supervisor in England, have delayed their return to New York. • F/C Tony Hargreaves and Sgt. Howard Hamilton are the first As- sociated Screen News members to return from active service. Both were with the Royal Canadian Air Force. • Emil Stern, vice president of the Essaness Circuit, Chicago, has left for Springfield, Mo., to visit his son, Lt. Arthur Stern, who was wounded in action in Europe. • Warren Weilland, treasurer of the Weilland-Lewis Circuit, Atlantic City, has been named to the board of directors of the Boardwalk National Bank. • Patricia Fitzgerald of the 20th Century-Fox branch in St. John, N. B., and William J. McLaughlin of Montreal were married recently. • Russell Holman, John Byram and Meta Reis will leave Para- mount's Hollywood studio on Friday for New York. • Lou Formato, M-G-M's Philadel- phia branch manager, and Bud Bache, booker, returned there yes- terday from New York. • Alan Courtney, manager of the Newsreel Theatre, Los Angeles, is on a business trip to Baltimore, Wash- ington and New York. • Maury Goldstein, M-G-M's New Haven branch manager, and Phil Gravitz, booker, were in New York yesterday. • Elmer Nolte, executive of the Dur- kee Circuit, Baltimore, is a patient at Union Memorial Hospital in that city. • Mort Blumenstock and Larry Golob of Warners have returned to New York from Macon, Ga. • Edward C. Raftery and Gradwell L. Sears left for Washington yester- day. • William Newbery, M-G-M ex- ploiteer in San Francisco, left New York yesterday for the Coast. • Isador Rappaport, owner of the Baltimore Hippodrome, is visiting in New York. Milton Silver, manager of the Northio Palace, Hamilton, O., is in Florida. E. K. O'Shea, M-G-M's Eastern sales manager, is ill at his home. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Hollywood, Jan. 30 IT is common knowledge that the peak in admissions began to slide on or about Labor Day, tbjat national circuit operators recognize a fractional recession has set in, that Government spending will be lower in the fiscal year beginning July 1, that Washington calculates amusements may taper off about 15 per cent from today's levels. Common by way of general reaction, no doubt, will be com- plaints from those who have projected themselves into a fine dream world where everything goes up and nothing ever comes down. It will be too bad for these visionaries because the bump will be the harder when they get back to terra firma. But— ■ How hard need that bump be ? Cold reasoning surely ought to take into realistic account the full realization this business has been, and is, fortune's child dur- ing the war ; that surplus money in the billions has no place to go and that some of it automatically finds its way into theatres; that cars, refrigerators, radios and other presently unavailable items in consumer goods inevitably must siphon off a huge volume of dollars whenever their day returns. It was that way before and it will be that way once again, of course. ■ Does this mean ruin for this industry? Most certainly, it does not. Probably it means the direction of the curve will be downward. Merit will count far more heavily than it does now. Showmanship and greater atten- tion to business will be part of the process which will return the industry from abnormal to nor- mal, regardless of what normal is to be. Viewpoints will have to undergo a re-processing of their own and there will have to be taken into the reckoning an appreciation of the blunt truth that no gravy train runs on per- petual motion. ■ Meanwhile, it is interesting to pass along a remark about the current drift of matters. It was made the other day by two men who are in a position to know of what they speak, and it bears on many published stories about na- tional declines in theatre busi- ness. The remark: "Business is off, yes. Seri- ously off? Of course not. Our records show very clearly that even now in many, many situa- tions we are doing more theatre gross in a weekend than we for- merly did in a full week. And we always thought the full week was good." When you hear stories of slid- ing grosses, ask what the slide compares with if you want to learn what really gives. ■ ■ Blueprint for a producer's job by a producer who says it's worked for him as far as he and it have gone, although he ad- vises against it as general prac- tice : 1. — Never make more than a one-year deal. 2. — Condition of the deal spe- cifically sets forth the first three months are to be devoted to "mulling." 3. — Next proviso allows two months for matters "pending." 4. — Devote June and July to putting "your best foot forward." 5. — August and September go to "tightening things." 6. — Last three months go to the studio head who never gets around to matters finally sub- mitted. The contract is up by this time, is not renewed and the pro- ducer goes to another studio where he starts all over again. By the time he makes the rounds and returns to the original lot, the original studio head is no longer there. At that point, the cycle goes into its second swing. ■ ■ Jimmy Starr in the Los An- geles Herald-Express. "Lauritz Melchior, famed Metropolitan Opera baritone, has warbled his way into movie importance . . . his click ... in 'Thrill of a Romance' has prompted M-G-M to sign him to a long-term contract. . . . Pro- ducer Joe Pasternak, who did cinematic wonders with Jose Iturbi, is placing Melchior in the cast lineup of "Brighton Beach" with Kathryn Grayson, June Allyson and Jimmy Durante." Melchior's future is now as- sured. ■ ■ Leonard Goldstein, that wit, noticed a friendly pup frisking up and down a corridor. Point- ing an unheralded finger, he upped with: "And what are you producing now?" ■ ■ "What are you doing at ?" "If you find out, wish you'd let me know." Buchanan Here to Discuss U.A. Post Hollywood, Jan. 30. — Barry Buchanan, for the past two years on the special events and exploitation staff of the War Savings Division of the Treasury Department here, has left for New York to confer with Gradwell L. Sears, United Artists vice-president, concerning a post in the home office advertising-publicity | department. The post of director of the department has been vacant since the resignation three weeks ago of Lou Pollock. Sears was in Washington yesterday and could not be reached for com- ment. Carl Leserman, U. A. sales manager, said that no decision has been made on the appointment of an advertising-publicity director and that "several persons" are being con- sidered. He made no specific denial that Buchanan was one of them. /. L. Warner, Einfeld, Kalmenson Huddle Hollywood, Jan. 30. — Main topic of conferences now under way at Warners' studio between Jack L. Warner, executive producer; Charles Einfeld, director of advertising pub- licity, and Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, is the company's "Hotel Berlin," which is being rushed for national release to coincide with the Russian Army's approach to the Ger- man capital. A number of day-and-date openings are being set up, including simul- taneous premieres in nine American towns named Berlin, and more than double the regular advertising budget has been allocated for a news and trade paper campaign. Warner, Einfeld and Kalmenson also are discussing plans for handling of "Objective, Burma," "Roughly Speak- ing," "God Is My Co-Pilot," "Escape in the Desert" and other productions. Merit Legion Award To Lt. Col. Boettiger Washington, Jan. 30. — Lt. Col. John Boettiger, son-in-law of Presi- dent Roosevelt, publisher of the Hearst Seattle Post-Intelligencer and formerly executive assistant to Will H. Hays in the MPPDA, has received the Legion of Merit for "exceptional- ly meritorious conduct in Italy." Boettiger was a liaison officer of the Allied Military Government in Italy from September, 1943, to January, 1944. ITOA Board to Meet Tomorrow on Rentals Complaining about rising costs in film rentals and a decrease in grosses, the Independent Theatre Owners of America board of directors will hold a special meeting, prior to the regular scheduled board meeting tomorrow, to discuss the matter and determine the action to be taken. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-i„ and holiday! by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Martin Quigley, President: Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, . - - - Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weavw, Mitor, London Buraau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Bumup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley FuMisning Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publication*: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatre*, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at tbe post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1»79. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and J12 foreign; single copies, 10c. CUTTING AMAZING FIGURES FROM COAST TO COAST! Collections Every Show . . . Every Seat ! MARCH OF DIMES WEEK— Jan. 25-31 4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 31, 1945 Review "Roughly Speaking" {Warner Bros.) Hollywood, Jan. 30 ROSALIND RUSSELL returns, after too long an absence, in a biographi- cal film which first unfolds in Nosegay 1902 and continues its amusing line of travel to the outbreak of World War No. 2. "Roughly Speaking" thereby travels a long road, but completes its journey with credit to its prin- cipals before and behind the camera. Louise Randall Pierson wrote an autobiography which she called "Roughly Speaking." The title, kept for the film version, suggests what it does not contain. There is nothing rough in this breathless, helter-skelter, come-what- may story. She found life played tricks and usually was sharp in its disap- pointments, but the going evidently was also relieved and lightened by unquenchable good humor and an overwhelming confidence that what will be, will be for the best. Thus, many things happen to Miss Russell in the leading role. A rebel against stuffy convention from her girlhood days and a disciple of her father's belief about heading always for the stars, she marries once and later again. By Donald Woods, her first husband, she has four children. By Jack Carson, her second, she has a fifth. 'Polio' strikes most of them and remains with one. Wood loses his bank job, then Miss Russell loses him in a deal which does her dirt. Later, she meets Carson and their temperaments blend, hand-and-glove-like. They marry, grow roses, lose their nurseries and their shirts, start all over again. They finance an aeroplane engineer successfully. By this time, how- ever, it's 19291 and they are broke once more. They sell hot dogs, fix flat tires, operate a parking lot near the New York World's Fair. Carson tries to sell vacuum cleaners. In short, Miss Russell and Carson are failures. In that sense, they are down. In the larger and important sense, on the other hand, they are never out. Their family life is a huge success. Through one device or another, the boys go through good schools and, when the war arrives, they are off to the battle fields. Rosy plans for the comforts of economic freedom are never attained, but it does not cut any ice in the final analysis. There is a refreshing quality about "Roughly Speaking" because of its two central characters and, the more particularly, because of Miss Russell. The impression is undeniably created these are real people — solid and substantial, whether financial successes or not. In this respect and in one manner or another, the wealth of incident no doubt will hit responsive chords among untold numbers of those who see this attraction. The hopes, the ambitions and the letdowns of the common man are mirrored, and mirrored with under- standing. "Roughly Speaking" is crowded with story. Something is always going on with Miss Russell and most of it is either funny or made so by the way she reacts. Her highlights, therefore, are many and are highly amusing. She dominates the show. Carson does well in a romantic role, new for him. The long supporting cast is competent and includes Ray Collins, Kathleen Lockhart, Andy Clyde, Arthur Shields, Ann Doran, Hobart Cavanaugh, Alan Hale, Craig Stevens, John Alvin, Mary Servoss, Sig Arno, John Qualen, Mona Freeman, Andrea King, Robert Hutton, Jean Sullivan and Robert Arthur. Mrs. Pierson wrote her own screenplay and thereby preserved the flavor of her book. Henry Blanke produced and Michael Curtiz directed ; they have reason to be content with the outcome. It is this reviewer's opinion, however, that the picture would fare better in less footage. Running time. 124 minutes. "G."* Release date, not set. Red Kann. Seek Essential Rating for Theatre Seats {Continued from page 1) tial replacement purposes and tor the equipment ot new the- atres authorized to be built in war production -centers. At least 200,000 to 300,000 seats are needed for those purposes, it was said. WPB material experts told the committee the scarcity of textiles in particular will continue to be a lim- iting factor in the production of seats. The committee not only stressed the need of assistance in obtaining mate- rials and manpower for their opera- tions but emphasized that the war- time increase in manufacturing costs has exceeded the normally small profit margin and a price adjustment will be necessary to permit production without serious loss. Booth Equipment Unaffected Meanwhile, production of projection booth equipment is not expected to be materially affected by the latest order of the War Production Board halting the production and delivery of capital goods for civilian use, since most of the output is in areas where the labor situation is not too difficult, it was said today in WPB circles, here. However, it was admitted, should the order be extended it is probable that projection production will be af- fected in common with other lines, and there is no assurance that, in its ef- forts to make the most efficient use of manpower, facilities and materials for war purposes, the scope of the order may not be materially broad- ened in the near future. A large part of the booth equipment production, it was said, has gradually switched to areas where the labor sit- uation is not critical, plants in the tighter labor sections having shifted almost entirely to war work. This relocation of the industry has been one of the reasons why the WPB has been generous in dealing with theatre equipment production pro- grams. 'Nick' Carter Dies Atlanta, Jan. 30. — Louis William (Nick) Carter, formerly associated with the old First National Pictures, and later with United Artists, has passed away here. *"G" denotes general classification. Lexey Dies, Veteran With Warner Circuit Philadelphia, Jan. 30. — Jack Lexey, district manager for Warner Theatres in West Philadelphia, died suddenly in his sleep here last night at the age of 55. He was associated with the circuit for 22 years, before t was taken over by Warners and when it was known as the Stanley Company. Lexey was house manager of the circuit's Broadway, Uptown and other key houses before becoming a district manager. His wife, a son and a 'laughter survive. Funeral arrange- ments have not been set yet. Name Five 'M.C's' Milton Berle, Frank Fay, Harry Hershfield, Ed Sullivan and Danton Walker have been named masters of ceremonies for the 16th annual dance and entertainment of the Press Pho- tographers Association on Friday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. 'Velvet' Opening in 10 Cities, 12 Houses M-G-M will hold a 10-city engage- ment of "National Velvet" in 12 thea- tres starting tomorrow. The Paramount, Miami ; and the Sheridan and Beach, Miami Beach, will open tomorrow ; the State, Houston, Feb. 7 ; Palace, Indianapo- lis; Grand, Atlanta; State, Syracuse; Midland, Kansas City ; Boyd, Phila- delphia ; Des Moines and Roosevelt, Des Moines, on Feb. 8, and the Cen- ter, Salt Lake City, Feb. 9. 2 Maine Houses Burn Boston, Jan. 30. — The series of the- atre fires which has swept the country in recent weeks has taken its toll of New England houses with two Maine theatres the most recent to be hit. The State in Prescott, owned by Lloyd Bridgham, now with the Navy, was completely destroyed, while the Cen- tral, an M. and P. house in Bidde- ford, was damaged. 'Dimes' Drive Will Run to Feb. 4 (Continued from page 1) Paralysis, having a similar experience in its general drive, is extending its campaign to Feb. 15. Before sending wires to the state chairmen, Schenck's committee had assurances of continuing the drive over next weekend from the follow- ing : Harry Kalmine, Warners ; Sol1 Schwartz, RKO; Charles C. Mos- kowitz and J. R. Vogel, Loew's ; Charles Skouras, Fox West Coast; David Weinstock, Raybon Theatres ; Max Cohen, Cinema Circuit; I. J. Hoffman, Warner Bros. Connecticut; R. J. O'Donnell, Interstate ; Jack Kirsch, Illinois. In many cases where hold-over at- tractions are being played, theatres are pushing the drive through an en- tire second week. Loew's Theatres, in the first five days of the current 'Dimes' campaign, have collected $285,599, against $237,- 961 during a like period last year. RKO Theatres report $62,000 for five days, an increase of 22 per cent over 1944. Many Film Stars at Washington Observances Washington, Jan. 30. — Among the film stars who appeared here last night at various observances of the President's birthday were Alan Ladd, Monty Woolley, Danny Kaye, Linda Darnell, Joe E. Brown, Susanna Fos- ter, Myrna Loy, Margaret O'Brien, George Murphy, Jane Wyman, Ver- onica Lake, Kay Kyser, Georgia Car- roll, Gale Storm, Charles Bickford, Victor Borge, Gene Kelly, Ella Logan, Victor Moore and Hal Mclntyre and his orchestra. Waldorf Party Here Wendy Barrie and Mona Barry rep- resented the screen and stage as host- esses for 10 wounded service men at a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Ho- tel here last night preceding the Pres- ident's birthday ball there. Entertain- ment was supervised by G. S. Eyssell, managing director of the Radio City Music Hall, and the entertainers in- cluded Jack Benny, the Music Hall Glee Club, Joan McCracken, the De- Marcos, Benny Goodman and Beatrice Lillie. $72,000 in 'Dimes' in Coast's Record Drive Hollywood, Jan. 30.— Record col- lections, surpassing the 1944 mark by 20 per cent, were reported here today, at the official close of the March of Dimes drive, by the industry's cam- paign chairman, Fred S. Meyers. A total of $72,000 was subscribed by 20,000 individuals. Barrymore Replaces DeMille on the Air Hollywood, Jan. 30. — Lionel Bar- rymore will appear on the CBS Lux Radio Theatre air program until Ce- cil B. DeMille's appeal to the Su- preme Court of a Superior Court de- cision upholding the right of the American Federation of Radio Artists to levy a one dollar assessment against DeMille, is settled. The fee was as- sessed by AFRA to fight a closed shop proposal on the California bal- lot, which was defeated last Novem- ber. Barrymore first appeared for DeMille on last Monday night's broad- cast. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents Wednesday, January 31, 1945 Motion Picture Daily ill Minorities' Views For Screen, Radio Hollywood, Jan. 30. — Organized for the purpose of rectifying what it terms 'inaccurate representation' on screen and radio of the status of Negroes and members of other racial minorities in American life, the Inter-racial Film and Radio Guild, Inc., is amassing statistics for incorporation in a booklet which, according to an IFRG spokes- man, will be furnished to producers for observance as a 'code' in the pro- duction of films and radio programs. When this has been done, it was stated, a larger organization will be formed with a membership consisting of Negroes and members of' all other racial minorities. The IFRG was formed on a small scale last Summer, following the con- vocation here of the National Associa- tion for the Advancement of Colored People, and has broadened its scope to embrace a national sponsoring commit- tee of six members, in addition to a nine-member board of directors. Adam Clayton Powell, New York, is chair- man of the national board, and Nor- man O. Houston, secretary-treasurer^ of Golden State Mutual Life Insur-" ance Co., is chairman of the direc- torate. Executives of Tuskegee In- stitute, the NAACP, and the Na- tional Urban League, are among the organization's officials. Two Park-Ins for Coast Los Angeles, Jan. 30. — Park-In Theatres, newly formed organization of which Seth D. Perkins is president, is to open two new 650-car open-air theatres in California, according to announcement. Locations were not disclosed. Review "Here Come the Co-Eds" (Universal) Hollywood, Jan. 30 THE Messrs. Abbott and Costello go a good deal of the way back to first principles of slapstick at several points in this undertaking, eliciting from a public that has never had too much of that commodity in its simplest terms, at least half-a-dozen rounds of all-out laughter. At other times Phil Spitalny and his all-girl orchestra entertain with music and song of a kind that furnish directly contrasted relief. By and large, it is the best Abbott- Costello comedy among the last several, and the producing company has sup- plied plenty of additional names with which to round out the billing. Standout sequences are an oyster-stew bit which reminds of the boys' hilarious first films, a wrestling match that rocks the rafters, a basket-ball game in which Costello believes himself the world's greatest girl center, and a song number in which he works with Peggy Ryan in simultation of Donald O'Connor. In addition to Miss Ryan's, the names of Martha O'Driscoll and Lon Chaney are available for marquee purposes. The scene is principally a girl's college, where the boys are employed as assistant care-takers and take care, not well, but altogether amusingly, of everybody's business but their own. Producer John Grant collaborated with Arthur T. Horman on the script, based on an original by Edmund L. Hartman. Jean Yarbrough directed with a nice eye and ear for audience effect. Seven songs by Jack Brooks and Edgar Fairchild, four of them handled by the Spitalny group and three by Miss Ryan, supply the musical comple- ment. Running time, 88 minutes. "G."* Release date, Feb. 2. William R. Weaver *"G" denotes general classification. NTS Issues Manual National Theatre Supply has issued a new projection room planning book, it is reported here by A. E. Meyer, manager of the NTS's projection equipment division. The book con- tains new material and suggestions supplementing the features found in previous editions, and is now available through NTS branches in key cities. Nazis Ruin WB Offices All Warner offices in Greece were demolished and burned by the Ger- mans before their evacuation, accord- ing to word received here by the com- pany. It is assumed that other com- panies also lost their branches. Con- tents of film vaults, however, were undamaged, the cable indicated. 17 Shorts Named For Academy Poll Hollywood, Jan. 30. — Seven com- panies have nominated 17 short sub- jects for consideration in the 17th annual awards competition conducted by the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences. They are : One Reel Subjects: "Movie Pests," M-G-M ; "Jammin' the Blues," War- ners ; "50th Anniversary of Motion Pictures," Columbia ; "Who's Who in Animal Land," Paramount ; "Blue Grass Gentlemen," 20th-Fox. Tzvo-Reel Subjects: "Bombalera," Paramount; "I Won't Play," War- ners ; "Main Street Today," M-G-M ; "Feather Your Nest," RKO ; "Gents Without Cents," Columbia. Cartoons: "And To Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street," Paramount ; "My Boy Johnny," 20th-Fox ; "Mouse Trouble," M-G-M ; "Swooner Croon- er," Warners ; "The Dog, Cat and Canary," Columbia ; "Fish Fry," Universal ; "How to Play Football," RKO. Final judging of the films will take place the night of Feb. 6 at a special screening for Academy members and guests at the Marquis Theatre. All Academy members present at the showing will vote for winners in the three classifications. Announcement will be made at the annual awards presentation on March 15, at Grau- man's Chinese. 'Powder' Tradeshow M-G-M will trade show "Keep Your Powder Dry" on Feb. 21 in all exchange centers, except Omaha, where the film will be screened on Feb. 19. "FOR DISTINGUISHED FILM ACHIEVEMENT" The First Hollywood Writers Mobilization Award to Qe.j&/e ^-/SeW6tn''6 "TOMORROW— THE WORLD" This award was made by the Hollywood Writers Mohilization — a group of 3500 eminent artists — to focus public attention on films distinguished for maturity of outlook as well as sound entertainment value." We are proud that ' Tomorrow — the World!" has been so highly honored and we are sincere in our belief that you will find in this great and daring picture an experience you will enjoy and long remember. AWARDS COMMITTEE ANNE BAXTER LEONARD BLOOM JOHN CROMWELL BETTE DAVIS HOWARD ESTABROOK FRANKLIN FEARING GREER GARSON PAUL H EN RE I D KATHARINE HEPBURN JAMES HILTON LENA HORNE JOHN HOUSEMAN WALTER HUSTON ALEXANDER KNOX EMMET LAVERY KENNETH M ACGOWAN EDWARD G. ROBINSON DORE SCHARY VINCENT SHERMAN LAMAR TROTTI ORSON WELLES FREDRIC MARCH * BETTY FIELD and the sensational SKIPPY HOMEIER in ^TOMORROW— THE WORLD!" with AGNES MOOREHEAD and JOAN CARROLL A United Artists Release 6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 31, 1945 Independents Join Raw Stock Group ( Continued from page 1 ) try committee several weeks ago, as reported yesterday in Motion Picture Daily. The enlarged industry advisory committee which will meet with WPB officials tomorrow is expected to in- clude: Barney Balaban, Paramount; N. Peter Rathvon, RKO; Jack Cohn, Columbia; Samuel Schneider, War- ners ; John J. O'Connor, Universal ; W. C. Michel, 20th Century-Fox; Gradwell Sears, United Artists ; Wal- ter L. Titus, Republic; Steve Broidy, Monogram; Leo J. McCarthy, PRC; William F. Rodgers, M-G-M repre- sentative on the committee is not ex- pected to be present. Also, added independent and re-issue company representatives expected to include A. W. Schwalberg, International Pic- tures ; James Mulvey, for Samuel Goldwyn; Neil Agnew, Vanguard; Roy Disney, Walt Disney Produc- tions ; R. M. Savini, Astor Pictures, and a representative of Film Classics. Schaefer Leaves George J. Schaefer, chairman of the War Activities Committee and indus- try liaison with the WPB, who will also be present at the meeting, left for Washington last night, and Sears and Edward C. Raftery have been in Washington since Tuesday. Zanuck Will Receive 'One World* Award For his production of "socially sig- nificant films," including "Wilson," "Grapes of Wrath" and "Public Ene- my," Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Cen- tury-Fox will receive a "One World" award at a dinner in memory of the late Wendell L. Willkie at the Hotel Astor here Feb. 18. Similar awards will go to Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, president of the Radio Corporation of America, for his expansion of radio as a medium of popular education and entertainment, and to Kent Cooper, executive direc- tor of the Associated Press, for his 30-year-old crusade for freedom of in- ternational news exchange. School Holidays Help N. Y. Houses Get Good Grosses July 7 Deadline for 2d MGM Book Award Constance Smith, director of M-G-M's annual novel award, yes- terday announced the second annual contest for the best novel, to open June 15 and close July 7, the winning title to be announced about August 15. "Green Dolphin," by Elizabeth Goudge, was last year's winner. A partial school holiday last week and the closing of schools this week, starting today, for fuel conserva- tion measures, is more than offsetting the effect of the cold wave on grosses of New York's first-run theatres, with the result that theatres generally are reporting excellent receipts this week. The Strand, Palace, Radio City Music Hall, Roxy and Capitol, all with new films, are headed for big weeks. With an outstanding $33,000 recorded for the first three days for "Objective, Burma," and a stage show headed by. Artie Shaw and his new band, the Strand is headed for a near- record $75,000 for its first week. The theatre is opening daily at 7:15 A.M., but the show runs over three hours and 20 minues. 'Woman' Terrific "The Woman in the Window" is proving a terrific grosser at the Pal- ace, $28,600 being recorded in the first four days ; a record $41,000 is expected for the first week. A big $120,000 is expected for the first week of "A Song to Remember" and a stage show at Radio City Mu- sic Hall on the basis of $75,000 grossed in the first four days ; the film will probably remain at the Music Hall for at least four weeks. Booked for only two weeks, "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" is proving a surprise grosser at the Roxy, with $87,000 recorded for the first week. A two- week commitment had been made for the accompanying "Cafe Zanzibar Re- vue" stage show, featuring Bill Rob- inson, Louis Armstrong and band, and others. "Hangover Square" will fol- low. "The Thin Man Goes Home," with a stage show featuring Frankie Carle and his band, at the Capitol, brought $55,000 for the first four days and a neat $70,000 is expected for the first week. The Paramount, Victoria, Globe and Astor are counting profitable holdover weeks. The Paramount rolled up a big $67,000 for the fifth week of "Here Come the Waves" and a stage show featuring Woody Herman and his band; the combination is continuing for a sixth week. "The Fighting Lady" brought the Vic- toria a big $27,500 for a second week, following the first week's record-breaking $34,000 ; indications are that the film will continue for at least six weeks more. "Tomorrow the World" at the Globe will get an excellent $16,500 for its final eight days. "Three Cabal- leros" will open there Saturday. "Meet Me in St. Louis" brought a big $31,- 000 for a ninth week at the Astor and will conclude its run next Sunday night with the house remaining dark until Feb. 9, when a new policy starts with Samuel Goldwyn's "Princess and the Pirate." Others Also Score Other theatres are also doing better - than-average business : "The Keys of the Kingdom" is expected to give the Rivoli a substantial $35,000 for a fifth week; "Can't Help Singing" com- pleted a fifth and final week at the Criterion with a good $21,500 with "The Suspect" opening there to- day "To Have and Have Not" concluded a 16th and final week at the Hollywood with a neat $17,500; "Roughly Speaking" will open there today. "Mr. Emmanuel" is holding up well at the Gotham with $13,000 expected for a fourth week ; it will continue. Second and final week for "The Man in Half Moon Street" is expected to give the Rialto $6,500 and "Destiny" will open there Friday. "On Approv- al" is expected to bring a mild $5,500 in its first week at the Republic. Goldwyn Urges Raw Stock Allocations For All Producers IATSE Considering Charter for MPOE {Continued from page 1) Union. Russell Moss, MPOE ex- ecutive vice-president and business manager, has refused to commit hi? union to joining the new international in view of allegedly high per capita dues and possible jurisdictional prob- lems, it is said. Moss would like to bring his group under the jurisdiction of the IATSE. but it was not until the recent Cin- cinnati meeting of the new Office Workers International that the mat- ter of affiliation was brought to a head. Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, is understood to be favor- ably inclined to MPOE. It is known that IATSE has exercised direction in MPOE for many years and sup- ported the union in its strike at War- ner Bros, in August, 1942. Disney Here for Premiere Roy Disney, executive vice-presi- dent and general manager of Walt Disney Productions, arrived here from Hollywood, yesterday, to attend the Broadway premiere of Disney's "The Three Caballeros" at the Globe The- atre on Saturday. While here he will confer with RKO executives on plans for domestic and foreign distribution. Photoplay Winners Named Next Month Photoplay Magazine gold medal awards for the most popular picture, actor and actress of 1944 will be an- nounced during the week of Feb. 19. A new awards plan was outlined yesterday at a luncheon at the Sherry Netherlands Hotel by O. J. Elder, president of McFadden Publications ; Carroll Rheinstrom, general manager ; Herb Drake, general promotion man- ager ; Joe Wiegers, publicity manager, also of McFadden ; and Fred Sammis, editorial director ; Helen Gilmore, edi- tor, and Adele Fletcher, associate edi- tor, all of Photoplay, were also pres- ent. Film representatives present were : Howard Dietz, William Heineman, Si Seadler, Al Wilkie, Leo Katcher, Earl Wingart, Herb Crooker, Charles Reed Jones, Frank Rosenberg, Jack Goldstein, Hank Linet, Rutgers Neil- son, Larry Golob and Hortense Schorr, and trade press members. {Continued from page 1) tributors who, by holding ration cards, have in many cases possessed the power of life or death over an inde- pendent producer." "No producer complains," Gold- wyn's statement continues, "because there is not enough raw stock to go around. They all know that there is a war on. Producers do complain that during a war the vast accumulations of finished films by the producer-dis- tributor combinations is in effect a most dangerous and unsound hoard- ing. Some of these films have been stored away for a year or more. We must prevent these accumulations and recognize that, in effect, they consti- tute a hoarding that will strangle the creative efforts of the independent pro- ducer at the very time when his im- portance in this industry is greater than it has ever been." A Goldwyn's statement added that the purpose "of film rationing is the pub- lic good and for the public interest. In it, the independent producer/has a great stake, and the public has/a great stake in the independent producer." For Foreign Films "A last point," it concludes, "is that raw stock should be made available in increasing quantities for the distribu- tion in the U. S. of pictures made in England and other foreign countries. An honest realization of the place of films in international understanding and in commerce would dictate this as basic and essential." In reply to a question as to whether the independent producers might not "be crying before they were hurt," Goldwyn said he was not speaking for himself but for others whom, he said, have been making pictures for years and now may not be granted any raw stock unless a distributor agrees to give it to them out of the distributors' allocation. Goldwyn left the impression that his own raw stock needs would be taken care of. The producer, who plans to be in New York for four weeks, declined to identify his next production. "I don't want my pictures publicized," he said, smiling. Goldwyn said his and David O. Selznick's decision to acquire use of the Astor Theatre was made after they had had pictures "shelved for months in New York. We had to take care of them." Trilling Is Installed By Bookers Here Motion Picture Bookers Club, here, at its annual installation dinner at the "400" Restaurant, last night installed George Trilling, film "buyer with Fa- bian Theatres as reelected president of the club. Guest speakers included : Henry Randel, Film Board of Trade; Sam Rinzler, Randforce ; Harry Brandt, Max Cohen and Si Fabian. Jovan East Again Chicago, Jan. 30. — James Jovan of Globe Film Co., here, will leave for the East again this week to arrange for a premiere of "Behind the Enemy Lines" either in Boston or Philadel- phia. 35 Writers See 'Italy' Over 35 members of the Writer's War Board were guests of Richard de Rochemont at a special screening of March of Time's "Report on Italy," here, yesterday. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents Wednesday, January 31, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 30 BARBARA STANWYCK will star in "The Perfect Marriage" as her first in a series for Hal Wallis Pro- ductions. . . . Randolph Scott has been engaged by Benedict Bogeaus to co- star with Charles Laughton in "Cap- tain Kidd." . . . Roy Rogers' next for Republic will be "Sunset on the El- dorado." ^ • Lou Edleman has been assigned to prepare "Wallflower" as his next for Warners. . . . Bob Haymes has been set by Columbia for the male lead in "Blonde from Brooklyn." . . . Henry Koster will direct "Brighton Beach" for producer Joe Pasternak at M-G-M. . . . RKO has borrowed Ingrid Berg- man from David 0. Selznick to co- star with Bing Crosby in Leo Mc- Carey's production of "The Bells of St. Mary's." • Paramount producers Pine and Thomas have signed Regis Toomey for a lead in "Follow That Woman." . . . Mischa Auer has been engaged by Popular Pictures for an impor- tant part in "Ten Little Indians." . . . Joseph H. Lewis has been set to direct "The Falcon in San Fran- cisco," which Maurice Geraghty will produce for RKO Radio. SAG Petitions NLRB To Limit SPU Field Hollywood, Jan. 30. — The Screen Actors Guild today filed a petition in intervention with the National Labor Relations Board, making the specific request that the Screen Players Union be limited to jurisdiction over extra players only, exclusive of performers doing bits, stunts and singing. The petition sets forth the claim that the NLRB interpretation of the SPU province creates duplicate jurisdiction and presages a condition under which SAG "would naturally be compelled to use its economic strength to see that all acting jobs are given its members who do acting work exclusively." The guild's board of directors last night approved changes in by-laws, necessitated by elimination of the Class 'B' membership. Chiefly inter- nal, the modifications will be submit- ted to Class 'A' members by mail ballot. SCG Gives Up Fight For Reissue Share Hollywood, Jan. 30.— The Screen Cartoonists Guild's executive board has decided not to appeal from the War Labor Board decision of last week in the SCG-Walt Disney con- tract dispute. The studio had previ- ously indicated satisfaction with the decision, considered important trade- wise as ending, at least for the pres- ent, any attempt by the workers to obtain financial participation in reve- nue from films reissued or used for television. The WLB decision denied the SCG's demand for a 20 per cent share in rental grosses from those sources. M-G-M Luncheon on Contest Here Today A bathing "queen" will be selected today at an M-G-M luncheon in the Hotel Astor, to be known as "Miss Anniversary." She will receive $500 in war bonds. Two runners-up will be awarded $300 and $200 in war bonds, respectively. The contest was launched last June by Howard Dietz, M-G-M vice-presi- dent and director of advertising-pub- licity, and William R. Ferguson, ex- ploitation director, as part of M-G-M's 20th anniversary observance, and was sponsored in cooperation with the Swim for Health Association. M-G-M executives, trade and news press representatives will be at the luncheon. Sack Increases Series Dallas, Jan. 30. — Sack Amusement Enterprises has increased the number of releases in its Negro band and "name" act series from six to eight, Fly, Austrian to Talk at TPC Meet James L. Fly, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commis- sion, and Ralph Austrian, executive vice-president of RKO Television Corp., will be guest speakers at a luncheon of the Television Press Club of New York Feb. 6. Fly will discuss the recent FCC allocation of frequencies for television and other services, and Austrian will cover merchandising problems. New officers of the Television Press Club are : Stanley Kempner, president ; Lewis Winner, vice-president; Eliza- beth Forsling, secretary, and Clifford Denton, treasurer. T. R. Kennedy is TPC publicity head. < 3 More Mutual Outlets Mutual Broadcasting is adding three stations to its network, WHKK, Akron, joining Feb. 25, and WFIG, Sumter, S. C, and WMLT, Dublin, Ga., to join shortly. Irene Kuhn Named To NAPRC Board Irene Kuhn, assistant director of the NBC department of information, has been named to the board of directors of the National Association of Public Relations Counsel. Formerly with Motion Picture Daily, Mrs. Kuhn has been with NBC since 1940. She was on leave of absence for several months to handle publicity for the Dewey Presidential campaign. SPG Hearings Opened Hollywood, Jan. 30. — The War Labor Board today opened hearings in the Screen Publicists Guild demand upon the producers for contract re- visions creating three new classifica- tions in its senior membership and other modifications. PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD Who is the whole nation's most popular movie actress*) Who is the whole nation's most popular movie actor*) What is the nation's picture of the year*) TO FIND OUT... DR. GEORGE GALLUP'S AUDIENCE RESEARCH, INC. POLLS THE AMERICAN PURLIC FOR PH0T0PIAY! Starting in 1944, Photoplay's Gold Medal Award — the oldest annual award in the industry — will go each year to the American Public's choices. The same scientific methods will be used which have enabled Dr. Gallup to predict the winner in five presidential elections as well as scores of others. Will the Public confirm the critics' choice? Will the Public confirm the box-office records? Will the Public confirm the many individual polls of editors, special reader groups, and the industry itself? See Photoplay for March for the final results. • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD 8 MOTION PICTURE DAIL\ Wednesday, January 31, 1945 Exhibitors Entertained at Paramount Sales Meeting Proposes Closing One Day Weekly The voluntary closing of theatres one day weekly, where they operate seven days a week, is proposed for the duration of the present fuel emergency, by Jesse L. Stern, as president of the Unaffiliated Independent Ex- hibitors, here. The proposal suggests the closings regardless of the fuel supply on hand, and has been forwarded to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who is requested to call a meeting of exhibitors for the purpose. Stern com- mitted his organization to co- operate. Extend Exemptions From 'Brownout' {Continued from page 1) power plants of the cities of Monroe, La., and Lamar and Pagosa Springs, Colo. ; the Hillman Light and Power Co., Hillman, Mich. ; the Copper Dis- trict Power Co., Ontonagon, Mich., and the Meadow River Lumber Co., Rainelle, W. Va. San Diego exhibitors and other con- sumers there will have to comply with the brownout order, it was ex- plained by Edward Falck, director of the OWU, because utilities there use fuel oil regularly for generating pow- er. Catalina Island is kept under the order because its station uses diesel oil. The OWU has rejected petitions for exemption from utilities in Foston, Minn. ; Fairbuy, Hastings and Colum- bus, Neb. ; McPherson, Clay Center, St. John and Meade, Kans. ; Gillette, Wyo. ; Raton, N. Mex., and Lyon Falls, N. Y. Exempted yesterday were parts of upper New York, the Pacific North- west, and most of Texas ; they will not have to comply because fuel is suf- ficiently plentiful in those localities. State Dept. Effects Transfer of Funds (.Continued from page 1) Daily on last Nov. 17 reported that U. S. distributors had made applica- tion for transfer of the blocked funds, estimated at §3,000,000 at that time, and since greatly increased, to help finance their physical reestablishment in France. Although British film companies were able to collect their earnings in North Africa because there was plen- t« of pound exchange available, the American distributors were in a less favorable position because of the ab- sence of a dollar exchange. To meet this situation, all of the money se- cured by the OWI from distribution of American features, and monies ac- cumulated since the OWI relinquished control, was blocked in the names of the companies and transferred to Metropolitan France, where the com- panies can now draw upon it, saving them the necessity of sending money in and saving them also the loss they would have had to take in securing exchange. San Francisco, Jan. 30. — A two- day Paramount sales meeting, the first of a series of district meetings sched- uled by Charles M. Reagan, vice- president in charge of distribution, was concluded here today with a luncheon for circuit heads, indepen- dent exhibitors and circuit advertis- ing men. The home office delegation consist- ed of Robert M. Gillham, Claude Lee and George Smith. Del Goodman, Pacific Coast district manager, head- ed the delegation of branch managers and salesmen from the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland branches who attended. Among the exhibitor guests at today's luncheon were : Charles Thall, Dick Spier and Herman Kersken of Fox West Coast ; Robert McNeil, Gene Emmick, Verne Taylor and Roy Cooper of the Mc- Neil & Naify Circuit ; George Mann and William David of George Mann Circuit ; George, Al and Henry Nasser of Nasser Bros. ; Joseph and Abe Blurnenfeld of Blumenfeld Circuit ; Gerald Hardy of Westland Circuit ; Robert Lippert, Lippert Circuit ; Ben Levin, General Theatrical Circuit ; Harry P. Franklin, Goldberg Circuit, and Mike Barobic, Tacoma, Wash. Advertising directors present includ- ed : Fay Reeder, FWC, San Francisco ; War Program Need Blocks Freon Flow (Continued from page 1) inability to operate their sys- tems next Summer are daily be- ing authorized to replenish their gas supply. As a result of an extensive pro- gram for reconstruction of additional production facilities, WPB officials early this month found that output had reached a point where it was ade- quate for all needs, present and poten- tial, and sought removal of the re- strictions on the use of freon for 'comfort cooling' in order that the new supply might be distributed as promptly as possible. It is now learned, however, that claimants for some of the war pro- grams using J;he same basic mate- rials, including the aviation gasoline program, were opposed to any relaxa- tion of restrictions which might in- crease the drain on those ingredients. A spokesman for the Board said that while freon plants are not pro- ducing at capacity, they are turning sufficient gas out for all immediate purposes and it will be possible to extend relief to all exhibitors whose cooling systems are badly depleted. No theatre will have to close for lack _of refrigerant, he said, but the sched- ule of establishments to which deliv- eries without specific authorization are prohibited, including theatres, still stands. Altec Signs Three More Altec has signed service contract^ with three more circuits ; thev arp • Associated Theatres, Michigan ; Twin- Citv Theatre Corp.. St. Paul and Robert L. Lippert Circuit, San Fran- cisco. Vic Gauntlett, Seattle, and Earl Hunt, Portland, of Evergreen Circuit, and Harry Hunsaker of McNeil & Naify, Reno. The meeting included discussions of new product and sales plans for it by Reagan and Smith ; advertising and publicity plans for the new product, by Gillham, and exhibitor relations, by Lee. Para. Officials at Hotel Presentation San Frajstcisco, Jan. 30. — A 'hotel' with accommodations for 200 service- women, located in the Paramount Building here, was formally opened last night by the 12th Naval District branch of the Naval Aid Auxiliary. The two floors were made available gratis by Paramount, owners of the building. Paramount home office executives, including Charles M. Reagan, vice- president and general sales manager. Robert M. Gillham, head of advertis- ing and publicity ; Claude Lee, direc- tor of public relations, and George Smith, Western division sales man- ager, attended the opening. They were accompanied by Del Goodman, Pacific Coast district manager, and Neal East, i San Francisco branch manager. Para. Officials to Meet Partners (Continued from page 1) ward L. Hyman, director of theatres in the Northern division, and Max Fellerman and Joseph Kinsky. R. M. Weitman, managing director of the New York Paramount, will leave New York on Feb. 7, and join the others on the Coast. The executives will be guests at the installation banquet of the Variety Club of Michigan, on Feb. 5, with Earl Hudson, president of United De- troit Theatres, Paramount associate, the toastmaster. In Chicago, Feb. 6, meetings will be held with John Bal- aban and J. J. Rubens, head of Pub- lix-Great States Theatres. They will then leave for Salt Lake City, ar- riving Feb. 8, for a two-day meeting with Tracy Barham, Intermountain Theatres executive. Goldenson will then proceed to the studio for conferences with Y. Frank Freeman and Henry Ginsberg, studio and production executives, while Hy- man, Fellerman and Kinsky will go to San Francisco for meetings with the- atre associates there, arriving in Los Angeles on Feb. 13. Conferences will be held there with Marco Wolf operator of the Paramount Downtown and Hollywood. The entire group will leave Feb. 16 for New York, stopping over in Phoenix, for conferences with Harrv L. Nace. head of Publix-Rickard^ Nace. Inc.. in connection with the opening of a new theatre in Phoenix Hensler to 'Classics' Des Moines, Jan. 30. — Larry Hens- ler, former Monogram exchanoe man- aerer and more recently with the local Warner branch, has ioined Film Classics of Iowa and Nebraska. Few Houses Closed By Coal Shortage With the lifting yesterday of the 72-hour freight embargo imposed in the East by the Office of Defense Transportation in an effort to save coal, most theatres which had closed in the area had enough fuel in pros- pect with which to continue operating, although some in scattered localities were closed, at least part time, under emergency authority given mayors by the Solid Fuels Administration. A late report from Rochester, N. Y., showed five houses closed in two cities near there : the Geneva and Regent in Geneva, and the Auburn, Jefferson and Palace in Auburn, all of the Schine circuit. In Albany and Syracuse, all theatres, between 35 and 40, were ordered closed, although many of them, especially those using oil, had fuel enough to continue. Cleveland Closes Monday Cleveland houses will be closed Monday only next week after closing the first two days of this week, Mayor Thomas A. Burke said last night. In Alliance, Ohio, Tri-State's Mount Union and Columbia theatres are closed for the duration of the emer- gency, with the Strand and Morrison operating full time. In New York, where Mayor Fio- rello LaGuardia had announced that no amusement places would be asked to close but that they would get coal only after the needs of homes and es- sential industries had been met, no closings were reported, but two un- identified film theatres and three legitimate houses, the Cort, National and Broadway, were said to have sent in pleas for emergency coal rations. From Cincinnati came word that the situation there was not critical but that officials in many Ohio communi- ties were meeting to consider the need for closing public places. In Buffalo last night Mayor Joseph J. Kelly ordered heat reduced to 55 or 60 degrees in practically all public buildings, including theatres, this tem- perature being designed to keep pipes from freezing. Para. Will Release BMOVs 'Approaches' Paramount will distribute "Western Approaches," British Ministry of In- formation feature documentary, in color, dealing with the Atlantic con- voy system, according to Thomas Baird, director of the film division of the British Information Services here. The film will probably not be re- leased until after April 1, due to dif- ficulties in securing color prints. It will be sold to theatres under arrange- ments similar to other BMOI fea- ture documentaries, like "One of Our Aircraft Is Missing." Baird returned from California early this week, where he assisted in cutting 10 minutes from the original running time of 83 min- utes on "Western Approaches." ?-.*■■». ^ourth Bl"ck Reported by Reagan Paramount's fourth block and na- tional tradeshow dates, were an- nounced yesterday by Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribution. The block and showing dat<"s include : "Bring on the Girls" and "The Unseen." to be tradeshown Feb. 16. and "Saltv O'Rourke" and "High Powered," tradeshown Feb. 20. First in and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. tion Picture Industry Vol. 57. NO. 23 NEW YORK. U. S. A.. THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 1. 1945 TEN CENTS 15 Films Are ^Over Average In 16 Cities 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' Highest with $40,300 By MILTON LIVINGSTON "Meet Me in St. Louis," in fourth weeks in three theatres in Los Angeles, in a sixth week in Philadelphia, and in initial weekb in five other cities checked, leads in Motion Picture Daily's survey of weekly grosses in 16 key cities, ex- cluding New York City, for the week ending Jan. 31, on the basis of reports from correspondents. Fifteen films w ere above average at first runs dur- ing the week in the cities reported on. Xext highest ranking grosses, ac- cording to the reports, were : "Keys of the Kingdom," "Here Come the W aves," "To Have and Have Not" (Continued on page 9) Tennessee Officials Hit 'Brownout' Xashville, Jan. 31. — There is a strong probability that fire and police officials in Tennessee cities may work against the 'brownout' lighting restric- tions for theatres and other places of public assembly by declaring them both fire and safety hazards. City Commissioner Boyle of the Depart- (Continued on page 4) Report Goldwyn and Selznick 2nd House Boston, Jan. 31. — It is re- ported here that Samuel Goldwyn and David O. Selz- nick have acquired the Ma- jestic Theatre as a local showcase for their product. The Majestic is a modern, downtown house now using roadshows. The lease on it, held by E. M. Loew for sev- eral months, was relinquished this year to the Shuberts. A New York spokesman for Goldwyn and Selznick, who recently acquired the Astor Theatre as their Broadway showcase — their first — could not be reached last night for comment on the Boston re- port. Lights Go Out, So Do Conventions Effective at 12:01 this morn- ing, Government orders offi- cially 'browned-out' theatre marquee lighting in most sec- tions of the country and put the clamp on conventions requiring the attendance of more than 50 people. Harvey Day Leaves Terry-Toons' Post It became known yesterday that the 15-year relationship between Terry- Toons, Inc., and Harvey Day has been terminated. Day, one of the most widely known men in "he sales field, jecame general ales manager >f Terry-Toons hortly after the cartoon reel wa - established by ?"aul Terry. Previously he ad been sales nanager for nternational Xewsreel, Kin- Dgrams and general field representative for Edu- (Continued on page 11) Harvey Day Cancel 1944 Stock Orders Washington, Jan. 31.— The WPB today issued formal orders canceling all authorizations to use 35mm raw stock issued to both motion picture and newsreel producers and distribu- tors prior to Dec. 29. The WPB action was not unantici- pated, it having been made known early this month that 1944 authoriza- tions would not carry' over, but the order was in conformity with a ruling of the Board. All persons whose au- thorizations are now ineffective have been notified by WPB and advised to apply for new authorizations on Form WPB-2165, copies of which were sent (Continued on page 4) See Delay on Allocation of '45 Raw Stock Confirm Masters' Odeon Resignation Toronto, Jan. 31. — The resignation of Haskell Masters as general man- ager of Odeon Theatres of Canada, forecast earlier by Motion Picture Daily, was announced here today. No successor to Masters has been named yet nor has the latter announced his future plans, although he is said to be considering several offers, one of which may be a new post with United Artists, for whom he was (Continued on page 9) Wo Time for Allied and WAC to Quarrel,' Fabian "This is a helluva time to start quarreling among ourselves," Si Fa- bian, independent circuit operator, de- clared here yesterday, speaking as theatres division chairman of the War Activities Committee, in answering a resolution criticizing the WAC re- cently adopted by National Allied' s board of directors, meeting in Colum- bus, Ohio. His statement follows : "I realize that the war has reached that stage where our nerves may be frayed, but it is more important than ever, now, that we keep our ranks closed and have unity of thought and action so that we can carry on our war effort to the final victory. It would be a sad tiling if the indus- try, especially exhibitors, spoiled our splendid record by bickering in the final chapter of the story. "Up to now, I have not received a copy of the reported resolution. I cannot find that Martin Smith or any Allied official has made direct suggestions or complaints. Apparent- ly, that resolu- tion w a s just something for a press release and, judging by lack of any con- structive action, was intended as a 'monkey wrench' to gum up the war machine of WAC, rather than as an im- plement to im- prove our use- fulness. "If I did not fear that such ill- timed words might hamper the WAC in its forthcoming Red Cross cam- (Continued on page 9) Si Fabian WPB Expected to Act By Weekend, However Washington, Jan. 31. — Mem- bers of the reorganized 21-man in- dustry advisory committee will meet here tomorrow with War Pro- duction Board officials to discuss the raw stock situation and wyork out new policies to govern a permanent alloca- tion system. The actual allocations to individual companies for the current quarter are exoected to be announced before the end of the week, but a spokesman for the Board today expressed doubt that they would be reported to the com- mittee. The new allocation policy, it was learned, is to be framed in such a way (Continued on page 4) NLRB Opens Probe Of SAG-SPU Fight Hollywood, Jan. 31. — Ivar Peter- son, National Labor Relations Board representative, is here from Washing- ton to check on the facts in the Screen Actors Guild dispute with the Screen Players Union regarding jurisdiction over extra players performing bits, -tunts or singing. Possibilities that the conflict might (Continued on page 9) Rathvon Sets Meets On Red Cross Week X. Peter Rathvon, national chair- man of the industry's Red Cross 'War Fund Week,' yesterday announced a series of meetings to be held in key cities during February, to coordinate theatre Red Cross drive activities. The opening meeting, in New York, is set for Feb. 19, to be conducted by (Continued on page 4) In This Issue Motion Picture Daily's booking chart appears on page 10; Review of "Thunder- head, Son of Flicka," page 4. 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 1, 1945 'Dimes' Collection Has Biggest Day Personal Mention National committeemen of the in- dustry's March of Dimes drive pre- dicted that yesterday would be one of the biggest collection days of the cam- paign. In previous industry drives, the col- lection period usually came to an end on Jan. 30, but this year, the day fol- lowing the President's birthday was included. Hundreds of exhibitors are extending the drive over the weekend to make up for attendance losses dur- ing the first days of the drive, due to weather conditions. Theatre collections will end Feb. 4, although some houses with holdovers will continue through a second week, because there will be no duplication of audiences. Arthur Kelly New British Club Head Arthur W. Kelly, president Eagle-Lion Films, American repre sentative for J. Arthur Rank of En gland, has been named president the British Club of New York. Kelly helped sponsor the club, which has a membership of British and American nationa 1927. of of both , in Rites for Muchmore, Industry Veteran Kansas City, Jan. 31— Funeral services were held at Neodesha, Kan., for John A. Muchmore, who died late last week in Kansas University Hos pital here. Muchmore, associated with the late A. D. Flinton in distribution many years ago, was office manager for M-G-M here for several years. With R. H. Patt he formed the Holms Pro- jector Sales Co. in 1940 for distribu- tion of theatre supplies and equipment. In 1942 he and Patt became franchise holders for PRC here, and a year later they were joined by Beverly Miller, who became general manager. Surviving is his widow. Mancusco Dies Overseas Pfc Al Mancuso, formerly with Cosmo-Sileo, still photographers for many film companies here, died in ac tion covering, photographically, the war in Europe. His brother, CPO Ben Mancuso has arrived home on furlough after more than two years in the South Pacific. Bill Sharpies Dies Hollywood, Jan. 31. — Bill Sharpies, 58, radio director who is credited with aiding careers of many motion picture and radio stars, died in Queen of Angels Hospital here Monday night He is survived by his widow daughter, Joan. JACK GOLDSTEIN, Eastern di- rector of publicity and exploita- tion for Vanguard Films and the Selznick studio, was in Washington yesterday. Jim Tuffy, manager of the Ameri- can Theatre, Pittston, Pa., is the fath- er of a daughter born last week in Mercy Hospital, Scranton. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal Southern and Canadian sales manager, will return here from Dallas tomor- row or Saturday. • Sam Lefkowitz, United Artists district manager, will return here early next week from Albany and Oneida. • H. M. Doherty, supervisor of War- ner Bros, exchange auditing, will cele- brate his 25th year with the company today. • John W. Mangham, president of Film Classics, Atlanta, has returned there from the company's St. Louis sales meeting. and James Gillern Killed Scranton, Pa., Jan. 31. — Pvt James Gillern, formerly with Comer- ford Theatres, was fatally wounded on a rifle range at an Army camp in Arkansas. A. MONTAGUE, Columbia gen- eral sales manager, is in Chica- go this week for a sales meeting with his Midwest staff. Minneapolis First in RKO Depinet Drive Jack Kirby, Paramount district manager in Atlanta, has returned there from New York conferences, accompanied by Scott Lett, salesman from Charlotte, N. C. • Irving Mack, Chicago Variety Club treasurer, will attend the instal- lation of officers of the Motor City Tent, Detroit, Monday. • Harry Green, actor-producer, will undergo an operation at the French Hospital here Saturday. • Michael Powell and Emeric Pressbsurger, British production team, will arrive in New York from En- gland about March 15. • Max Felt, operator of the Blue- bird, Philadelphia, is recovering from pneumonia at Jewish Hospital there. • Dewey Bloom of Regal Films, To- ronto, is visiting in New York. RWLB Approves Salt Lake City Wage Rise The Regional War Labor Board having jurisdiction over the Salt Lake City area has approved 10 per cent retroactive wage increases for ship- pers, inspectors and poster clerks in Salt Lake City exchanges. The in- creases are retroactive to Dec. 1, 1942. Exchange operational supervisors and representatives of the IATSE will meet here tomorrow to set ap- plications for filing with the RWLB for a similar wage increase for serv- ice workers in Des Moines exchanges. Approvals have been secured from RWLB's having jurisdiction over 19 of the 31 film exchange centers. RWLB Mediating Manager Pact Fight Further discussion on salary and work week provisions were held here yesterday before the Regional War Labor Board in the contract dispute between RKO and Motion Picture Theatre Operating Managers and As- sistant Managers Guild, representing managers and assistants in the 40 RKO theatres in the Metropolitan area. The next meeting before the RWLB will be held Friday, Feb. 9. Owners Meet Today On Buying Group Independent New Jersey exhibitors will meet today at the Stacey-Trenton Hotel, Trenton, to formulate organiz- ation plans, elect officers, and set ten- tative contracts for their hew buying- booking combine. Expected to attend are exhibitors who buy both from New York and Philadelphia exchanges. About 70 in- dependent theatres are reportedly al- ready pledged for the combination. Will Hays Leaves For Coast Tomorrow Will H. Hays, MPPDA president, will leave for the Coast tomorrow by train for his regular annual Winter visit there. While in Hollywood he will attend the annual meeting of -the Association of M. P. Producers. He is' scheduled to return to New York in about a month to complete arrange- ments here for the annual meeting of the MPPDA board of directors, to be held the latter part of March. Col. Kenneth Clark Is Here from the Front Col. Kenneth Clark, until recently with a Gen. Mark Clark combat unit on the fighting front in Italy, is back here on leave. He had been visiting Army quarters in Washington for a few days, returning to New York yes- terday. Clark was, for several years, infor- mation director of the MPPDA, re- signing in 1942 to become a maior in the Army's Service of Supply, Wash- ington, from which post he was trans- ferred to Gen. Clark's press relations staff in the Mediterranean. Wallis9 1st Premieres At Rivoli in March "The Affairs of Susan," first Hal Wallis production for Paramount, will have its world premiere at the Rivoli, here, in March, it was announced yes- terday by Charles M. Reagan, Para- mount vice-president in charge of dis- tribution. The film has been booked for an indefinite run ; its premiere will be followed with openings in other key cities. A large national advertis- ing campaign in newspapers and trade publications will coincide with the na- tional release date, May 25. Wallis's second, "Love Letters," is also fin- ished. RKO's Minneapolis branch, headed by C. J. Dressell, was the winner in the first week of the company's "Ned Depinet Drive," which started Jan. 19 and which will run to May 10, it was announced here yesterday by Robert Mochrie, general sales manager. Bill- ings for the first week were the sec- ond highest in RKO's history. Following Minneapolis was the De- troit branch, headed by M. E. Cohen ; Seattle, E. A. Lamb ; Cleveland, A. Kolitz; Portland, M. E. Cory, and Sioux Falls, S. W. Fitch, in that or- der. In Canada, Montreal was first, and St. John's was second, with H. F. Taylor and H. H. McArthur running those branches, respectively. Dewey Asks $325,000 For State Censors Albany, Jan. 31. — In his budget message to the New York State Legis- lature, asking for $369,500,000, Gov. Dewey today included a request for $325,000 for the operation of the mo- tion picture division, Department of Education of the State of New York, for 1945-46. Listed in his estimated budget as a "motion picture tax," the money asked, the same as last fiscal year, is eventually financed by assessments against film distributors. Censor Board Warns Penna. Theatres Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, chairman of the Pennsyl- vania board of censors, has notified all theatres in this state to make certain that any film to be exhibited is first approved by the board. The action is the result of the board's discovery that several out-of-state distributors, serv- icing Pennsylvania accounts, have been booking films into houses with- out attending to censor procedure. House Votes Aaainst Ban on Closed Shops Washington, Jan. 31. — The House foday voted 178-142 against a national service act amendment whereby a work-or-war assignee to a closed shop - would not be permitted to go there without joining a union. It fur- ther stipulated that the pending legis- lation should not interfere with exist- ing wage, hour or collective bargain- ing laws. A rollcall vote on the amend- ment is likely tomorrow. Robb in New NBC Post Areh Robb, formerly assistant to Clarence E. Menser, NBC vice-presi- dent in charge of programs, has been promoted to night program manager in charge of company operations in New York. Show 'Roughly' Feb. 19 Warners' "Roughly Speaking" will be nationally trade shown on Mondav, Feb. 19. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor Published daily except Saturday, Sunday and holiday* by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100, Cable address, Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown. Vice-President; Red Kann. Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor , London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, hept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. RED CROSS WAR FUND MARCH 15-21 NOW IN TWO INSPIRING REELS FROM WARNERS IN TECHNICOLOR JACK L. WARNER, executive producer Produced by GORDON HOLLINGSHEAD • Directed and Photographed by DAVID GRIFFIN 4 Motion Picture daily Thursday, February 1, 1945 Review "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka" (20th Century-Fox) THE beauty and simplicity of "My Friend Flicka" are recaptured in a sequel that has even greater dramatic punch. It achieves, perhaps, less human significance than the original — but more equestrian significance. The exhibitor will find here a treat for the kiddies and, indeed, for anyone who can put himself in the place of a horse. This should include nearly everyone because Thunderhead, whose theme song might be "Don't Fence Me In," is an animal we all can take to our hearts. Roddy McDowall, still growing on that great Utah ranch which photo- graphs so wonderfully in color, is still the son of Preston Foster and Rita Johnson, who face bankruptcy when a wild albino stallion keeps charging from the hills and eloping with most of their mares. Thunderhead, grand- sired by the albino, must decide whether to settle down and recoup the family fortune on the racetracks or leap the corral and strike out for himself. He tries cooperation but, changing his mind while ahead by a length at the fair, dumps Roddy into the paddock and bolts for freedom. As recompense, though, he finds the albino, kicks him thrillingly to death and brings home the mares — before insisting on being turned loose for good. The script, by Dwight Cummings and Dorothy Yost, from Mary O'Hara's novel, sets up an acting field-day for the big handsome white horse but rather hamstrings the family with too much undistinguished talk about the obvious. Coming off better in support are James Bell as a hired hand, little Diana Hale as his kibitzing daughter and Ralph Sanford as a neighbor who owns thor- oughbreds. Robert Bassler's production, in collaboration with the lavish creator of all outdoors, is breathtaking from start to finish. Louis King has directed with skilled regard for both man and beast. Running time, 78 minutes. "G."* Release in March. , Tom Loy. See Delay on Allocation of '45 Raw Stock (Continued from page I) as to enable every person affected to figure out quickly just where he stands at any time with respect to raw stock supply. Heretofore, the companies have operated on the basis of a percentage applied against 1941 consumption, but applications for ex- ceptions have been numerous and, since the raw stock supply was not too critical, most of them were pos- sible of allowance. Under the pro- posed policy, it is planned practically to eliminate the granting of excep- tions, because there will be little or no extra film for distribution in that manner. 6 to 9 Months Contrary to the belief that the raw stock shortage will be remedied by Spring, wmch appears to prevail in some sections of tne industry, a WPB spokesman said the present critical situation may prevail for six to nine months despite efforts being made to increase domestic production. Al- though studies are being made of the possibility of constructing new facili- ties, such operations would require considerable time and will be under- taken only if it becomes evident that the currently heavy requirements will be maintained over a long period. As an immediate step, the WPB is assisting the manufacturers to secure the additional labor which will permit maximum use of existing facilities. To this end, film production has been * classified by the War Manpower Com- mission as a critical, rather than es- sential, activity and the manufacturers now are getting referrals from the United States Employment Service. It was admitted, however, that only a small increase in output can be expected from this expedient, and studies are being made of other pos- sible methods of expanding produc- tion. X-Ray Need The sole reason for the cut in allo- cations which has been imposed upon the industry is the need for types of raw stock other than 35mm for X- ray and other special films which carries the highest priority and must be filled. To meet this demand, it was explained, 35mm facilities have been diverted, with the result that cur- rent quarter production will be more than 25,000,000 and may reach 50,- 000,000 feet less than in the final quar- ter last year. Exports, while substantial, do not bulk too largely in the picture, the WPB spokesman said. While Russia is to get 30,000,000 feet this quarter, thi total export will run only about 68,000,000 feet. Russia, it was ex- plained, has been given a commitment of approximately 55,000,000 feet a year, or about one-third of what origi- nally was sought, and will get possibly 12,000,000 feet in the second quarter. While Russia needs the raw stock badly, some of it will come back to this country in the form of training films which the Soviet is producing and dubbing in English, and which will be highly valuable to our own military authorities. Little advantage to the industry is *"G" denotes general classification. WPB Cancels '44 Stock Orders (Continued from page 1) them, if they need 35mm film in the current quarter. The Board also requested informa- tion concerning the quantity of raw stock used by each company this month, explained as desired to enable WPB "to obtain more accurate in- formation concerning past usage and to balance current demand against supply more exactly." The companies have been operating under letter au- thorizations permitting consumption at the last-quarter rate pending the set- ting of specific allocations. It was said about 300 authorizations, bearing numbers 12404 and lower, have been cancelled. Laboratories and other service organizations have been informed of the cancellations and in- structed not to honor authorizations bearing numbers within that range. anticipated from plants in France and Belgium which fell into our hands when the Germans retreated. While the French plant, when it gets into operation, will produce aero and X-ray film which will be acquired by the military authorities, most of the rest of its production will be used by the French industry. The plant at Ant- werp is still in the zone of military operations. Senate Nut to Act on Raw Stock Shortage Washington, Jan. 31. — No com- plaint of a pending shortage of photo- graphic film has been received by the Senate War Investigating Committee, it was said today by Rudolph Halley, committee counsel, when asked wheth- er his group would go into the raw stock situation. Halley said the com- mittee has learned of the shortage from the press but that the matter had not been brought to its attention formally, and no acion would be taken unless some complaint was filed. Tennessee Officials Hit 'Brownout' (Continued from page 1) ment of Public Safety of Memphis declared that "It is ridiculous to think that a 60-watt bulb will provide suffi- cient lighting for a theatre." Memphis fire and police officials planned a complete survey of the ef- fect of the dimout. "The striking of matches in and near theatre entrances and other public places would certain- ly create a dangerous fire hazard," these officials contend. Attention is also being called to the fact that only about 12 per cent of the current in the TVA area is manufactured by coal, and the saving by the "dimout," would be very small. Trailers Explaining 'Brownout' Rules Chicago, Jan. 31. — Trailer firms here report a heavy business on "brownout" trailers to explain the new outdoor lighting regulations to patrons. In many cases, according to both National Screen and Filmack Trailer spokesmen here, exhibitors are taking advantage of the trailer to promote coming films. In all Balaban and Katz theatres, letter channels in sign panels have been painted white to reflect the gleam of street lights ; lobby draperies have been removed to release interior illu- mination. Legion Classifies 6 New Productions The National Legion of Decency has classified the following new films : Class A-l : "Her Lucky Night" and "Here Come the Co-eds," Universal ; Class A-2, "Hangover Square," 20th Century-Fox ; "Objective Burma," Warners, and "Pan-Americana," RKO. Columbia's "Eadie Was a Lady" was placed in the 'B' classification. Rathvon Sets Meets On Red Cross Week (Continued from page 1) Fred Schwartz and Samuel Rinzler, New York area co-chairmen, with Harry Brandt, exhibitor chairman; Charles Regan, distributor chairman, and Rathvon, among the speakers. Sales and branch managers, salesmen and local exhibitors will attend. Northeastern district meetings, with Ben Kalmenson and Major L. E. Thompson presiding, are scheduled for Boston, Feb. 23; New Haven, Feb. 24, Albany, Feb. 25 ; and Buffalo, Feb. 26. Eastern district meetings with Rathvon and William Scully, Wash- ington, Feb. 23; Philadelphia, Feb. 24; Pittsburgh, Feb. 25 and Cleve- land, Feb. 26. Eastern Central dis- trict, with Abe Montague and Si Fa- bian, Detroit, Feb. 23; Cincinnati, Feb. 24 and Indianapolis, Feb. 25. Southeastern district, with H. M. Richey and Henry Reeves, Charlotte, Feb. 23; Atlanta, Feb. 24; and New- Orleans, Feb. 25. Other Dates Also: Southwestern district, with R. H. O'Donnell and Tom Connors, Memphis, Feb. 23; Oklahoma City, Feb. 24 and Dallas, Feb. 25. Mid- western district, with Robert Moch- rie and M. A. Lightman, Chicago, Feb. 23; Minneapolis, Feb. 24 and Milwaukee, Feb. 25. Prairie district, with Francis Harmon, Carl Lesser- man and Martin Smith, St. Louis, Feb. 23; Kansas City, Feb. 24; Des Moines, Feb. 25 and Omaha, Feb. 26. Rocky Mountain district, with Rick Ricketson and Herman Wobber, Salt Lake City, Feb. 23 and Denver, Feb. 24. West Coast district with Ned ' Depinet and Charles Skouras, Los Angeles, Feb. 23 ; San Francisco, Feb. 24; Portland, Feb. 25 and Seattle, Feb. 26. Michel, Thompson in Red Cross Posts W. C. Michel, of 20th Century-Fox, and Major Leslie E. Thompson, RKO, have been named New York chairmen of the film producers' and studios' di- visions, respectively, for the 1945 Red Cross War Fund, it was reported here yesterday by Robert K. Christenberry, president of the Broadway Associa- tion and chairman of one of the fund raising sections of the Red Cross drive. Others named as divisional chair- men were : Howard Barnes, critics ; Howard Lindsay, dramatists ; John A. Sullivan, ticket agencies ; Bretaigne Windust, stage directors, and David Werblin, theatrical agencies. Shotwell Seeks More Forums on Pictures Hollywood, Jan. 31. — Participating in an open forum discussion at the Westwood Theatre here last night fol- lowing the Hollywood Writers Mo- bilization's screening of "Tomorrow the World," first premiere staged for the purpose of stimulating discussion of postwar social problems, Dr. James T. Shotwell, State Department con- sultant here to advise on the produc- tion of OWI. films, said that in his opinion this type of public discussion should be instituted in theatres throughout the country. r — CV— /J Ci /i ABBOTT 8 COSTELLO "thrillingly different" MILTON BERLE "spectacular" BRADSHAW CRANDELL JESSICA DRAGONETTE IRENE DUNNE ,ra world in itself "memorable" "thrilling JAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG BENNY GOODMAN OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN. 2nd MOSS HART "glorious" "glorious' "music skilfully interwoven with story" "memorable picture" RITA HAYWORTH "thrillingly different TED HOSING "dramatic . . . memorable' AE "different" DOROTHY KILGALLEN "eloquent" FRITZ KREiSLER u. "a neiv standard" "dramatic, exciting" GUY LOMBARDO "different" HELEN MENKEN 'dramatic achievement" ARTHUR MURRAY RUSSELL PATTERSON 'truly memorable" "exciting' BUB RIPLEY "a new standard" ilorious entertainment" GINGER ROGERS 'thrillingly different" tumorous ISIGMUND SPAETH ''memorable picture" JOHANNES STEEL EEOPOLO STOKOWSKI lortous music 'truly memorable' COLUMBIA PICTURES PRESENTS 6l lu&man .rwdudum 'amng Wl™ CORNEL WILDE NINA FOCH • GEORGE COULOURIS Screen Play by Sidney Buchman Directed by CHARLES VIDOR ENSATIONAL BUSINESS in all pre-release engagements NEWY0RK..ffaei/m • WW..Loew's State & Orpheum CINCINNATI . . RKO Capitol ■ OAKLAND . . Roxie • ST. LOUIS . . Low's state... anrf HELD OVER EVERYWHERE! To the Exhibitors of America who have seen "A Song To Remember" in its opening engagements ... our deep appreciation for their enthusiastic expressions of gratitude to Columbia for making this great picture at this time in the industry's history. Thursday, February 1, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 Hollywood 4No Time for WAC And Allied to Quarrel,' Fabian (Continued from page 1) paign, Seventh War Loan drive, and other vital activities, I would say the resolution was too irresponsible and contrary to fact to merit a reply. However, in the hope of clearing away whatever misunderstandings ex- ist, I must ask my friend Martin Smith and the others who voted for the resolution, to go a step fur- ther and investigate the record. "There are no 'inside' secrets. There are no 'inner circles.' I sug- gest that National Allied note the membership of our standing commit- tees, and check the committee mem- berships in each War Bond drive, in each Red Cross Drive, and all other WAC activities. If the men and committees heading these activi- ties do not represent the industry thoroughly — all branches of the in- dustry, including independent ex- hibitors— and do not represent all sections of the country, then I know neither my industry nor my geog- raphy. Allied officials, including Smith, have been asked to serve many times. Many of them did. Allied membership ranks high in the hard- working ranks of WAC. Lauds Independents "I agree with one thing reported as appearing in that resolution. In- dependent exhibitors have done a swell job; they are the backbone of our effort. And WAC has done everything in its power to recognize that fact. Just check the records for names of Allied officers and members. You'll find so many, you'll wonder what all the shooting is about. "There is a great deal more work to be done before the war is won. Volunteers will be needed. We in- vite the resolution-adopters to join up. It's their war, too. The war is not the property of the War Activi- ties Committee." 15 Have Over Average in Grosses in 16 Cities (Continued from page 1) and "The Woman in the Window." Cities reporting were : Boston, Kan- sas City, Providence, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Baltimore, St. Louis, Buffalo, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, Toronto, Cincinnati, Omaha and Cleveland. Reports from nine theatres in sev- en cities give "Meet Me in St. Louis" a big $40,300 above average. It was an outstanding $13,500 above in Kan- sas City ; terrific on a reduced six-day week, due to the fuel shortage, in Cleveland, where it led with $30,000, against a house average for seven days of $19,000; and was big in Kan- sas City, Providence, Indianapolis and Baltimore. It was still above the house average in a sixth week in Phil- adelphia and just below house aver- ages on fourth weeks in three Los An- geles theatres. "Keys of the Kingdom" was $21,100 over average in five theatres in four cities, for another outstanding record. Biggest business was done in Chicago with an excellent $8,000 above. It was $4,500 above in Philadelphia ; did double average business in Denver on a moveover and registered well in two theatres in Cincinnati. "Here Come the Waves" was $15,- 500 better than average in four thea- tres in four cities. Best business was done in St. Louis as part of a double bill with $9,300 above being registered. Good business was chalked up in Cin- cinnati and Omaha, and the film went just above average in Boston on a dual. "To Have and Have Not," which led in last week's reports, was $30,149 above in reports from eight theatres in five cities, second to "Meet Me in St. Louis" in amount of over average grosses reported. It was an outstand- ing $17,850 above in two Denver thea- tres ; a big $7,500 above in a second week in Philadelphia and an equally big $7,000 above in a second week in Cincinnati. It was slightly below av- erage in three theatres in Los An- geles in second weeks. "The Woman in the Window" rolled up §12,300 above in reports from four theatres in three cities on duals, and in three of the four thea- tres, on second weeks. Best business was $6,500 above on a second week in Kansas City. Good second weeks were recorded at two Los Angeles houses and business was satisfactory in Oma- ha on a first week. Ten other films drew better than average business in the 16 cities where the films are playing in at least three theatres. Listed in order of amount grossed above average they are : "A Song to Remember," "The House of Frankenstein," "Suspect," "Together Again," "Sunday Dinner for a Sol- dier," "Winged Victory," "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Can't Help Singing," "And Now Tomorrow" and "Hollywood Canteen." "A Song to Remember" was $10,600 better than average in reports from four theatres in Boston, St. Louis and Cincinnati, with best business done in Boston. "The House of Franken- stein," with stage show in Boston, as a dual in Indianapolis, and in a sixth week as a dual in Los Angeles, was $6,400 above average. "Suspect" was $6,305 above in reports from Buffalo, Denver and Toronto, as a dual in the first two cities. "Together Again" was $4,900 above in reports from Providence, St. Louis and Chicago, above average for a second week in Chicago but below on a dual for a second week in Providence with good business being done in, St. Louis on a dual. "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier," teamed with "The Fighting Lady," was $8,000 above in reports from five theatres in three cities. Best business was done in three Kansas City thea- tres ; good business was recorded in Pittsburgh with the film dipping be- low average for a second week in Bal- timore. "Winged Victory" was $7,- 400 above in reports from five thea- tres in five cities, three of which were second weeks. Universal* s Mantzke To Join Monogram Milwaukee, Jan. 31. — Frank Mantzke, Universal branch manager here for seven years, has resigned, effective today, to become Mono- gram district manager of the West Coast, at Los Angeles. Bill Parker, with .Universal in Los Angeles for more than three years, will succeed Mantzke here. Local industry members honored Mantzke at a farewell party held in the Hotel Schroeder here this week. Knode in NBC Post; Bragdon to Join RCA Capt. Tom Knode (Ret.), formerly manager of the NBC press department in Washington, has been appointed as- sistant manager of the NBC press department in New York. E. L. Bragdon, former trade news editor for NBC, will join the RCA department of information, headed by Orrin E. Dunlap, Jr., today. Alan Kalmus has replaced Bragdon as NBC trade news editor. Salamanca Theatres Ask New Clearance Phoenix Amusement Co., operating the Seneca and Andrews theatres, Salamanca, N. Y., has filed a clear- ance complaint in the Buffalo tribunal against the five consenting companies, the American Arbitration Association reported here yesterday. Complainant charges that the distributors have granted the Havens and State the- atres, Olean, clearances which are un- reasonable, and asks that they be elim- inated or adjusted. A consent award has been entered in the Philadelphia tribunal in the clearance complaint filed by William Goldman Theatres, Philadelphia, against Paramount, RKO and 20th Century-Fox. Harper M. Tobin, arbi- trator, ruled that the maximum clear- ance which may be granted in licenses entered into by the distributors to the first-run Aldine, Boyd, Capital, Earle, Fox, Mastbaum, Stanley and Stanton, over the Keith and Karlton, operated by Goldman, shall be cut to seven days from 14. NLRB Opens Probe Of SAG-SPU Fight (Continued from page 1) I result in the picketing of studios or walkouts by members of one or both of the groups appear to have les- sened, according to informed quarters. Both unions have set tomorrow as a deadline for players to declare their affiliation ; both have mentioned 'eco- nomic strength' as a measure to be resorted to, if the jurisdictional issue is not clarified in a reasonable length of time. SAG has threatened that its members, including stars, would not work for producers using SPU mem- bers for other than extra work. An SPU spokesman said the major studio labor committee had given as- surance this afternoon that it would meet tomorrow on the question of granting an "interim agreement" sought by SPU to govern extra play- er employment during the period of negotiation for a contract. On this understanding, according to the spokes- man, SPU agreed to postpone 24 hours the contemplated picketing of studios, if any, where SAG members were hired to perform work over which SPU claims jurisdiction. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Jan. 31 ANDREA KING has been se- lected for the top feminine role in "Shadow of a Woman," which William Jacobs will produce for Warners. Helmut Dantine and Craig Stevens are also set for important parts in the drama based on Virginia Perdue's "He Fell Down Dead." Jo- seph Santley will direct as his first assignment under his new contract. . . . Hal Wallis has purchased "The Crying Sisters" and plans to star Ann Richards in the film, which Byron Haskin will direct. It has finally been agreed by David O. Selznick, Sol Siegel and George Abbott that Shirley Temple ivill do the starring role in F. Hugh Her- bert's "Kiss and Tell," which Columbia will release. . . . John Loder has been assigned the male lead in RKO's jun- gle drama, "The Most Dangerous Game." . . . Ben Carter and Mantan Moreland will be reunited as a comedy team in M-G-M's "The Harvey Girls." • Phil Silvers, Vivian Blaine, Cappy Downs and Yvonne Vautrot have had their 20th Century-Fox con- tracts extended. . . . Allan Curtis and Lois Collier are set for roman- tic leads in "The Naughty Nine- ties," forthcoming Abbott and Cos- tello film for Universal. Army -Navy 'E' to Anchor Optical Rear Admiral H. L. Brinser, USN, inspector of Naval material, here, pre- sented the Army-Navy 'E' award to the Anchor Optical Corp., yesterday, in the Hotel New Yorker. Francis Carter Wood, Jr., president of An- chor, accepted the award. Wood is also executive vice-president of News- reel Theatres, Inc. Col. A. G. Rudd, chief of the per- sonal affairs branch of the Second Service Army Command and vice- president of Newsreel Theatres (on leave of absence) presented 'E' em- blems to Anchor employees. Also present were Lt. W. French Githens. USNR, president of Newsreel The- atres (on leave of absence) ; Harold E. Wondsel, president of Sound Mas- ters, and Dr. Francis Carter Wood, director of Anchor. Confirm Masters9 Odeon Resignation (Continued from page 1) Western sales manager before joining Odeon three years ago. One report was that Masters may replace David Coplan, former U. A. Canadian dis- trict manager, who recently was named U. A. managing director in Britain. Indications are, as reported earlier, Masters may be replaced in Odeon by a representative of J. Arthur Rank of London, who recently acquired a half interest in the circuit. Masters, who has resigned also as president of Empire Universal Films, will leave soon with his wife for the U. S. -for a much-desired rest. 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NBC 'Parade' Exhibit National Broadcasting's annual "Pa- rade of Stars" network promotion campaign will be exhibited at a lunch- eon at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, here, next Thursday according to an announcement here by Charles P. Hammond, NBC director of adver- tising and promotion. Trailers in over 800 theatres were used for the first time in conjunction with the "Parade of Stars," and the results of the show- ings are to be discussed at the lunch- eon-meetnig. 0/ 'a ■ste. ■ries th °ff'Cf WM/? F177V.D PFEEK MARCH 15-21 ick POWELL rougn tough terrific/ Claire TREVO Anne SHIRLEY / (Tradeshown and reviewed as "Farewell My Lovely") with OTTO KRUGER • MIKE MAZURKI • MILES MANDER jtADIO PCTJRES JUL DOUGLAS WALTON • DON DOUGLAS Produced by Adrian Scott • Directed by Edward Dmytryk Screen Play by John Paxton 6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 2, 1945 FP-C Life Passes To Canada Heroes Toronto, Feb. 1. — Ernest (Smokey) Smith, only Cana- dian enlisted man to win the Victoria Cross in this war, today at Vancouver received from J. J. Fitzgibbons, Fam- ous Players-Canadian presi- dent, a life pass to all thea- tres in that circuit. Similar privilege will be extended other winners of the cross as a tribute in connection with the company's 25th anniver- sary. The huge cake which fea- tured the recent anniversary dinner here has been given to convalescent soldiers at Chris- tie Military Hospital. Separate Republic Unit for Borzage Hollywood, Feb. 1. — H. J. Yates announced here today that Frank Bor- zage has been given a long term pro- ducer-director contract under which Republic will establish a separate Borzage unit, with the latter in com- plete charge regarding stories, stars and other factors in a series of films budgeted at $1,500,000 each. Yates said the Borzage arrangement is the first of several to be announced in connection with Republic's 10th an- niversary. Borzage, now directing "The Spanish Main" at RKO, will go to New York following its comple- tion for conferences with Yates. Richardson HasAstor Franchise, Quits 'U' New Orleans, Feb. 1. — Miller Richardson has resigned as branch manager of Universal exchange, here, and has purchased the Astor Pictures franchise for Atlanta, from Robert E. Savini. Richardson was with Consolidated, Grand National and United Artists prior to his Universal connection. 'Pilot to Benefit AAF Macon, Ga., Feb. 1. — Entire pro- ceeds of the $10 admission world pre- miere of Warners' "God Is My Co- Pilot," to be held Feb. 21 at the Grand Theatre, here, will go to the Army Air Forces Aid Society. Espy Gets Coast Site Los Angeles, Feb. 1. — Majestic Theatre Corp., owned by Reeves Espy and Saul Silverman, has acquired frontage at Sunset Blvd. and Via de La Paz, Santa Monica, for a 1,000- seat theatre. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents Fuel Order Hits Phila. (Continued from page 1) some heat with oil and some have coal on hand. If the situation con- tinues critical, however, the theatres may close one day a week or eliminate matinees. The possibility that theatres may be forced to close was viewed with alarm by Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, chairman of the state board of censors, who said the public is in need of entertainment as a means of escape from the dark realism of the war. She cited the ex- perience in London during the blitz- kreig, when the lack of films precipi- tated a national attack of nerves. Utica, Troy, Watervliet Theatres Now Closed Albany, Feb. 1. — -The shutdown of film houses has spread from Albany to Utica, Troy and Watervliet. Op- erators hope to reopen in Troy by Sat- urday, but Albany may be closed 10 days or more. Warner and Fabian circuits were hurt most by the closing in Albany, the former having four theatres and the latter three. Warner and Kalett are the chief operators in Utica. War- ners have four houses in Troy, while Fabian runs one. Boston Exhibitors Expect a Drop Boston, Feb. 1. — Local theatres, discussing the order of ODT requiring a virtual shut-down on marquee light- ing, are frank in the belief that busi- ness will be injured and that safety measures long preached for by authori- ties will go by the boards. Boston's so-called "White Way" is unusually dark because Washington Street, where most downtown theatres are located, is completely dark. AAA Budget Group Meet After Mar. 5 (Continued from page 1) hear arguments by the Department of Justice for a revised decree. It is not believed that new appro- priations will be voted to cover oper- ating expenses of the 31 arbitration tribunals until such time as the decree emerges from its present inconclusive status. However, distributors have been submitting some $25,000 month- ly, as usual, without waiting for a new formal appropriation to be voted. The budget committee consists of three members, one representative each from the appeal board, the AAA and the distributors, who are respec- tively, George Alger, Wesley Sturges and Gordon Youngman of RKO. All leases of the 31 arbitration tri- bunal quarters have been renewed. Phila. Assessments Drop Philadelphia, Feb. 1. — Assessment values of most of the center-city thea- tres have dropped. Among first-runs operated by Warners, the 1945 assess- ment at the Mastbaum dropped from $1,197,400 to $1,175,500, at the Fox, from $1,369,100 to $1,331,400, Aldine, from $471,000 to $449,800, and at the Boyd, from $492,700 to $487,700. As- sessment for William Goldman's Er- langer, still dark, was cut from $499,- I 800 to $445,000. Shurlock Submits So. American Study Hollywood, Feb. 1.— A 10-page re- port by Geoffrey Shurlock on his nine-weeks' plane tour through South America for the Motion Picture Pro- ducers and Distributors Association and the Society For The Americas was furnished to all studios here to- day. The report, elaborated upon by Shurlock in a press conference, de- tails the attitudes in various coun- tries toward the representation given them in Hollywood pictures and sub- mits suggestions for developing better Inter-American relationship through using South American cities as locales of pictures such as were formerly laid in Vienna and other continental capi- tals. The report also analyzes the South American supply of story ma- terial. Since his return a fortnight ago, Shurlock has spent a week con- veying his observations to Paramount studio officials ; he will visit M-G-M next, and will continue to other studios interested. Para. Claims 53 Firsts In Film, Talent Polls Paramount won 53 first places, out of a possible 71, in 26 annual film and talent polls and selections, re- ported to Jan. 15, the company claimed here yesterday. "Paramount's total of 'firsts' is more than six times as many as any other company, and three times as many as all other companies combined," the company said. KRS Charges Bank Would Be Monopoly (Continued from page 1) ported accusations that Americans ex- ercise a preponderance of control in British exhibition by pointing out that despite Warners buying into Associated British, this has been bal- anced by M-G-M's relinquishment of its interest in Gaumont-British and Paramount leaving Od'eon Theatres. The KRS is contemplating a resolu- tion taking to task the Government films council's "unfortunate" creation of public misapprehension, and the harm done in this regard. Quinn to Write Short Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Don Quinn, writer of the Fibber McGee and Molly radio show, has volunteered to write the screen treatment of the Canadian War Finance Committee's Eighth Vic- tory Loan film for the Hollywood Writers Mobilization. A two-reeler, it will be produced as a contribution of the U. S. industry by 20th Century- Fox ; it will have a Hollywood cast. Don Henshaw, of the Dominion's War Finaice Committee, is here working with 20th and Tom Baily, co-ordinator of the Holywood division of the War Acti dties Committee. Furst Mono. Manager Nathan Furst, special representative in Monogram's New York exchange, will become branch manager on Feb. 16, succeeding Joseph J. Felder, re- signed. Felder will announce his plans following a vacation. He was recently elected second vice-president of the New York Film Board of Trade. Mexico Labor Board Approves 160% Raise Chiapas, Mex., Feb. 1. — A wage increase of 160 per cent, highest in the industry in Mexico, has been approved here by the State Labor Board for industry workers. Board declared that the raise was justified because of high living costs. (Continued from page 1) Good To Be True". Also completed are the five Pine-Thomas productions, "High Powered", "Scared Stiff", "One Exciting Night", "Double Ex- posure" and "Dangerous Passage". Reagan Sets 'Girls' Preview on Feb. 16 Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribu- tion, has set special invitational pre- views for "Bring on the Girls" in all exchange cities. The picture will be released in the fourth block. Previews will be held in theatres on Feb. 16, except Philadelphia, where it will be shown on the 15th. District and branch managers will be hosts at the previews, which are being held for exhibitors, circuit executives, local industry representatives, press, radio and promotion contacts. Rubin Installed by Omaha Variety Club Omaha, Feb. 1. — Local Variety has installed the following officers : E. I. Rubin, chief barker ; F. J. Hannon, first assistant; H. B. Johnson, second assistant ; M. L. Stern, dough guy ; J. H. Jacobs, property man, and Wil- liam Barker, Sam Epstein, Walter Green, Don McLucas, Leon Mendel- son, H. Novitsky, J. T. McBride, Henry McGrath and Charles Lieb, canvassmen. Rubin reported that Variety netted more than $13,000 for the Children's Memorial Hospital during 1944. Other charity activities included St. James Orphanage, St. James Boy Scout Troop, Hattie B. Monro Home for Crippled Children, Children's Fresh Air Fund, Jewish Youth and the Red Cross. Variety Presents Plaque Janet Blair, Columbia star, yester- day presented a bronze plaque to the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassa- dor to the U. S., in tribute to British and American entertainers who have carried on throughout the London blitz. The presentation was made in behalf of the Variety Clubs of Amer- ica. Miss Blair was introduced to the Ambassador by Carter Barron, first assistant national chief barker. Among those who attended were Frank La Falce, John J. Payette and Samuel Galanty, Variety members. To Honor Mrs. Bogart Los Angeles, Feb. 1. — Local Variety club will honor Mrs. Betsy Bogart, retiring after 30 years with the local Warner exchange, at a testi- monial dinner on Feb. 19 at the Am- bassador Hotel. ) Para. Has Backlog Of 27 Features IS Friday, February 2, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Raw Stock Curtails 4Lab' Operations (Continued from page 1) week has delayed delivery of raw stock to Consolidated from the East- man plant in Rochester. Normally, this and other laboratories would have had a sufficient backlog of stock to -■eet a situation of this nature, but , y (Tactically all laboratories, for many months now, have been immediately processing whatever stock is received because the film companies have been hard-pressed to meet commitments for feature prints as a result of the gen- eral raw stock situation. Orders New 8-State Freight Embargo Washington, Feb. 1. — The Office of Defense Transportation today or- dered another weekend freight holiday in eight states and the District of Columbia, but excepted from its ap- plication all coal for New York, the New England Area and the West. With the exception of war goods and fuel, no civilian shipments — including raw stock and all film equipment — will be accepted in, or moved to or through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Dela- ware or the Northern counties of Virginia or West Virginia, after mid- night Friday, until midnight next Tuesday. Motion pictures prints, however, are not affected by the freight embargoes since they move by express. Ship- ments of other items required for the maintenance of theatres, are still slowed down in the 17 states which were cut off from rail freight traffic last week. Rosenfeld, Epstein Head Famous Intl Herman Rosenfeld, former Euro- pean representative for United Artists, is president, and Samuel J. Epstein, formerly of 20th Century-Fox's sales department, vice-president and treas- urer, of the newly formed Famous In- ternational Film Corp., which will dis- tribute a minimum of six foreign pic- tures here during 1945 as previously stated. The first, "Dawn Over France," starring Raimu, will have its premiere at the World Theatre here under the auspices of French Government repre- sentatives. Three other French films will also be released in addition to two Swiss features. Other French films, made during the German occupation and cleared by the French Government, will be ac- quired. Brazil Considers Quota for Stock Buenos Aires, Feb. L — The Government is considering imposing a form of 'quota' on film imports from Hollywood and all other countries which manufacture raw stock, re- quiring the importation of an undetermined amount of raw stock with each print im- ported. Newsreels' Raw Stock Cuts Washington, Feb. 1.— Raw stock allocations to newsreels for the first quarter of 1945, compared with the fourth quarter, 1944, were set here today by the War Production Board as follows: Company Current Quarter Last Quarter Movietone News 12,430,600 ft. 12,121,701 ft. News of the Day 10,801,700 " 11,685,076 " Paramount 11,566,100 " 11,627,566 " Pathe 8,590,400 " 7,865,750 " Universal 6,333,600 " 7,085,524 " March of Time 1,992,378 " 2,164,195 " Set Quarter's Raw Stock At 256,000,000 Feet (Continued from page 1) longer usable, he will be authorized to make additional prints. Under the new allocation, the news- reels as a group are permitted to in- crease the number of prints by 651 a week, in line with a Government desire to give wide distribution, but length of reels will be reduced from 750 to 700 feet per issue. An effort will be made to estab- lish future quotas of individual com- panies on a straight percentage basis. After the amount of raw stock avail- able in each quarter has been deter- mined, the companies will be advised of the total and the following per- centages will be allocated to each com- pany: Columbia, 11.135; M-G-M and Loew's, 15.513; Monogram, 3.007; Paramount, 11.308; PRC , 2.024; RKO, 10.098 ; Republic, 6.765 ; Twen- tieth Century-Fox, 11.706; United Artists, 5.921; Universal, 10.103; Warner Bros, and Vitagraph, 12.419. WPB spokesmen said that they did not believe the reduced raw stock al- location for the current quarter would result in the production of fewer films, but indicated that it might be neces- sary for producers to cut down over- length features and possibly *fo make fewer short subjects. It was empha- sized, however, that there are no re- strictions on the use which each pro- ducer-distributor makes of his film. Reissues Safe WPB said it had no intention of prohibiting re-issues. It was also stated that double-featuring was not discussed at the meeting. The special problem of United Art- ists in providing release prints for a ]arge number of independent produc- ers was recognized, and that company was granted an additional allocation of 1,000,000 feet of raw stock per quarter, which it was authorized to use when and as it sees fit. Adams emphasized that the WPB recognizes the complete autonomy of independent producers, and at their re- quest will determine an individual pro- ducer's raw stock allocation, based on his consumption of film during the pe- riod from 1941 through 1944. The method of determining the amount of film to which an individual producer may be entitled has not been finally decided. However, any independent producer will be free to transfer from one distribution organization to an- other and, after his allocation has been determined, can take it with him. For the purposes of the above, an independent producer is defined as one who qualifies under one or more of the following conditions : one who has complete financial responsibility for his production or in excess of a one- half interest in it; the ownership of all rights to a production; reposses- sion rights to a production after it has been played out; the ownership or operation of a studio; ownership of literary material and talent rights, authority over sales contracts, or a voice in sales policy. Adams said that further suggestions concerning the definition of an inde- pendent producer would be sent in by members of the Industry Advisory Committee after they have conferred with their attorneys, and added that it is likely that the first two condi- tions specified above ultimately will be the deciding ones. "We will not allow raw stock in the hands of distributors to be used as a club over producers, or vice versa " Adams said. "On complaint from either side, we will step in and settle disputes of this kind." Questionnaire Replies Adams disclosed that a question- naire sent to the 11 companies by the WPB revealed that a total of only 16 completed features had no 1945 re- lease date set as of January. The replies to the questionnaire also re- vealed that 528 release prints have been made for nine of the 16 features of the 528 prints. Approximately one half are held in vaults for release to the Army upon request. As of Dec. 31, 1944, Adams said, the total raw stock inventory of the 11 national pro- ducing and distributing companies amounted to approximately 10,000,000 feet, or about a five day supply. "The industry is in the clear on the subject of unreleased product," Adams said. "In fact, it should be complimented for the job it has done." States rights, or Class C producers, whose raw stock supplies have not been cut heretofore, were reduced by 25 per cent. This compared with a total reduction by national producer- distributors of 30 per cent since 1941. Present at today's meeting were George J. Schaefer, liaison between the industrv committee and WPB ; John T. O'Connor, Universal ; N. Pet- er Rathvon, RKO; Jack Cohn, Co- lumbia : T. L. Walker, representing Edward Small : A. W. Schwalberg. International Pictures ; James Mulvey, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; Steve Broidy. Monogram ; W. C. Michel, 20th Century-Fox ; Barnev Briskin, representing Sol Lesser ; W. L. Titus, Republic ; Sam Schneider. Warner Bros.: Len J. McCarthy. PRC: Bar-, ney Balaban. Paramount : Neil Ag- new. renresentinar David Selznick : Gradwell Sears. United Artists: L. E. Goldhammer, Film Classics ; R. M. Savini. Astor Pictures ; Roy Disney. Walt Disney Productions. British Urge U. S. Raw Stock Saving (Continued from page 1) prints. A further cut, they say, would inevitably mean the closing of troop and garrison theatres. A spokesman for the BOT told Motion Picture Daily that the board still hopes to "juggle" the de- mands of the services as to prevent a further raw stock cut. This is de- pendent, however, upon America's "playing ball." Sam Eckman, Jr., M-G-M manag- ing director for Great Britain, is pre- paring a plan whereby his company's releases will be staggered. Hopeful that the raw stock shortage may be prevented from jeopardizing the showing of British films in the U. S., BOT is considering a proposal whereby prints of "The Way Ahead," for use in America, would be processed here on stock otherwise allotted for American releases. This is seen by local observers as a further indication that both the government and J. Ar- thur Rank are determined to show British pictures in America at all costs. According to U. S. War Production Board figures made available here last week, 1,000,000 feet of raw stock are proposed for England for the first quarter of 1945, although none was allocated to that country during the last quarter of 1944. However, the British Information Services received 11,000,000 feet last year, and no allot- ment for that purpose is included in the present quarter's proposals. Cowan to Fight OWI Ban on 'Tomorrow* San Francisco, Feb. 1. — Lester Cowan, here for the opening of "To- morrow— the World" at the United Artists Theatre Feb. 7, said he would fight the Office of War Information ban against showing the picture in liberated countries. The issue, accord- ing to Cowan, is whether OWI has the right to ban the film. "Somebody is doing some master minding ; that is, taking a 'papa-knows-best' atti- tude," he said. 77% of Newsreels Devoted To War Manner in which newsreels allocated footage in 1944, is indicated by Paramount News, as follows: The European theatre received 35 per cent; Pacific, 13 per cent; home front activities, 16; Armed Forces in camps, training and other activities, four; foreign material on the war, seven, and captured German and Japanese footage, two per cent for a war footage of 77 per cent. On the domestic front, poli- tics had eight per cent; mis- cellaneous coverage, eight; sports, six; fashions, one per cent. 8 Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 2, 1945 Review "On Approval" (Sydney Box-Clive Brook-English Films) CLIVE BROOK, who produced "On Approval," independently with Sydney Box, achieves a tour de force and indulges in all sorts of cinematic trickery- Some of it is on the suggestive side. Brook, who sired this screen transcription of a drawing- room comedy, by way of Frederick Lonsdale, pro- duced, directed, did the screen adaptation, and co-starred with Beatrice Lillie, Googie Withers and Roland Culver. The Book hi jinks makes for a puzzling opening (titles and credits are reserved for the end) as an off -screen commentary, by E. V. H. Emmett, on the virtues of the Edwardian era compared to the present speed age, causes wonderment as to whether this is a clever short, or what. Eventually he exhausts his little opening tricks and the film narrows down to high comedy, with Brook, or Lonsdale, highlighting the dialogue with many a bright line. What action there is concerns Miss Lillie's wooing of Roland Culver for a husband. She decides to take him to her Scotland castle with Brook, an indigent duke, going along to protect Culver's interests. Miss Wither an American heiress, smitten with Brook, also turns up. When the servants leave the castle, the foursome is thrown upon its own resources and eventually the pairing is switched with Brook succumbing to La Lillie and Culver to Miss Withers. Others in an excellent cast are : O. B. Clarence, Lawrence Hanray, Elliot Mas, Hay Petrie, Marjorie Rhodes and Molly Munks. Sydney Box was executive producer. Running time, 80 minutes. 'A"* Released, Jan. 27. C. R. Hollywood Sets '45 War-Film Program Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Seven subjects requested by the Army and Navy, and other Government agencies, to be pro- duced in Hollywood studios, are being- prepared for distribution this year. The Hollywood division of the War Activities Committee, of which John Cromwell is chairman and Tom W. Baily, coordinator, announced details here yesterday. The scripts are being written by members of the Hollywood Writers Mobilization Committee and are the result of several meetings held in Hol- lywood and New York between WAC chiefs, Elmer Davis of the Office of War Information, Ted R. Gamble, National War Finance director, and Taylor M. Mills, chief of the domestic motion picture bureau of the OWL 'Adventure in Prosperity' With Dr. James T. Shotwell as con- sultant, Edward Eliscu is writing 'Adventure in Prosperity", detailing the dependence of all countries on one another's goods and manpower ; Allen Rivkin is writing a script on post-war jobs, outlining the efforts of manage- ment, agriculture, labor and the Gov- ernment to attain this goal ; "What Every Veteran Should Know" will explain the 'GI' Bill of Rights and other legislation affecting demobilized veterans, from a script by Tom Baily ; produced in Technicolor, Walt Disney is completing "Something You Didn't Eat", on nutrition. David O. Selznick's contribution to the program will be "When He Comes Home", to advise the public how to treat the returning soldier, which Dore Schary will produce ; "Facts About Lend-Lease" is to be made for release on the anniversary of the lend-lease program; Oscar Saul is preparing a scenario for "Skyways of Tomorrow," showing how the Air Transport Com- mand is opening pathways for future commercial and private aviation. Other films contemplated for the 1945 season are being discussed by the newly-elected Hollywood WAC divi- sion with Francis S. Harmon, national coordinator. RCA Names Hudson Raymond A. Hudson, with RCA Victor as a 16mm equipment special- ist since last July, has been promoted to sales representative in the East- ern region, it was reported here yes- terday by M. F. Blakeslee, regional manager for New York. Hudson, who was in the field of audio-visual education before joining RCA, will make his headquarters at the com- pany's New York office. *"A" denotes adult classification. Tax Increase Feared In Massachusetts Boston, Feb. 1. — Exhibitors here are concerned over the special mes- sage of Gov. Maurice J. Tobin, assert- ing that more than $32,000,000 in ex- tra taxes must be assessed in Massa- chusetts for the next year. Theatre men fear the addition of such a vast amount of taxes will result in a busi- ness slowup and bring additional amusement taxes. Elimination of horse and dog rac- ing takes more than $8,000,000 an- nually from the State, and this must be made up, Gov. Tobin stated. How- ever, Lt. Gov. Robert F. Bradford said this week that he would use his own influence and efforts to block any legislation which would prove inimical to theatres and film interests. "The latter have done more than any other one agency to keep up the morale and furnish the sinews of war, and we cer- tainly would be ungrateful not to pro- tect them against adverse legislation," he said. Aldrich Praises Film Aid in War Drives Winthrop W. Aldrich, president of the National War Fund, has termed the fund films produced by the indus- try and distributed by the War Activ- ities Committee of the industry, the "most effective single publicity instru- ment" of fund campaigns for the past two years. Aldrich had requested the industry to again make a short for the drive next Fall. Pathe News will make it, as it did last year. No Action on Rentals At a meeting here yesterday of the Independent Theatre Owners Asso- ciation, complaints of high costs of film rentals were discussed, but no decision was made on what attitude should be taken by the organization about the situation. Also discussed was theatre manpower and fuel prob- lems. Harry Brandt presided. New Clearance for East Alton Theatre Fred Armstrong, arbitrator in the St. Louis tribunal, has entered a con- sent award granting maximum clear- ance to the Grand Theatre, East Al- ton, 111., over . the Ritz theatre, also East Alton, operated by Sol and Irv- in Goldfarb, of 48 days, but not later than 76 days after availability of pic- tures to the Grand, the American Ar- bitration Association reported here yesterday. Complaint was filed against the five consenting companies. The arbitrator also provided that the maximum clearance that may be granted to the Princess, at Alton, over the Ritz, shall be 30 days and not later than 76 days after availability to the Princess. At the same time, the AAA report- ed that arbitrator Wilbur B. Jones has entered a consent award in St. Louis declaring that in all future licenses given by the decree defendants, avail- ability granted to the Gaty Theatre, East St. Louis, 111., shall be "no later than seven days after the Esquire, East St. Louis, and the same avail- ability as the Roxy in the same city." A. D. Magarian is the operator of the Gaty. Nominate Seven for Special Effects Prize Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Seven pic- tures have been nominated for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the special effects division. They are : "Secret Com- mand," Columbia ; "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," M-G-M ; "Story of Dr. Wassell," Paramount ; "Days of Glory," RKO; "Wilson," 20th Cen- tury-Fox; "Adventures of Mark Twain," Warners ; "Since You Went Away," Selznick-International. Thumpers' Headquarters Boston, Feb. 1. — The Boston tub of the Tub Thumpers of America will establish permanent headquarters in the Parker House here. Dan Hickey, clerk for the group, will be in charge of the office. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 1 DAVID O. SELZNICK has ac- ceded to Ingrid Bergman's re- quest that she be permitted to co-star with Bing Crosby in "The Bells of St. Mary's," which Leo McCarey will produce and direct for RKO. . . . Marlowe has been cast for one oV leads in "Junior Miss" at 20th Cen- tury-Fox. • Lon Chaney will star in Univer- sal^ "Strange Confession," next in the studio's Inner Sanctum mystery series. . . . Paramount producers Pine and Thomas have written an original story, titled "Over-Ex- posed," which they will produce as a follow-up to "Double Exposure." . . . "Allotment Wives" will be the second Monogram feature to star Kay Franacis. Jeffrey Bernerd will co-produce with Miss Francis. • Darryl F. Zanuck will make "Cali- fornia Here We Come", a high- budget film based on the American Rangers' rescue of prisoners from Bataan, with Carl R. Wing, rescued cameraman, as the central character.... Warner Bros, has announced "Target Japan", to be produced by Jerry Wald and directed by Raoul Walsh, who handled those assignments on "Ob- jective, Burma", and using also the same star cast. • Lex Barker has been signed to a term contract by 20th Century-Fox, and will appear in "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim," which William Le- Baron will direct. . . . Del Lord will direct "Blonde from Brooklyn" for Columbia. . . . Maria Palmer has been added to the cast of Universal' s "Lady on a Train." . . . Linda Darnell is set for the feminine lead in 20th Century- Fox's "Fallen Angel." • Burt Kelly is slated to produce "Song of Broadway" for Columbia. . . . "Tomorrow Is Another Day," by W . R. Burnett, has been purchased by Warners. . . . Sir Aubrey Smith, Eric Von Stroheim and Stephanie Bachelor will have the top roles in "Scotland Yard Investigator," which George Blair will produce and direct for Re- public. . . . 20th Century-Fox has ex- ercised its option on Jane Ball. "The Gallant Blade," based on a story by Alexander Dumas, will be produced for Columbia by Mi- chel Kraike. . . . Sig Herzig, author of "Bloomer Girl," has been signed by Universal to write a screenplay in which Deanna Durbin will be starred. . . . PRC has signed Eric Sinclair. • Joan Woodbury has been selected for the feminine lead in the Monogram Western, "Flaming Frontier." . . . Charles Ruggles will have an import- ant role in "Stolen Life," next War- ner production to star Bette Davis. . . . Republic has renewed Don Barry's contract. . . . Tom Neal has been signed by RKO for the title role in "First Man Into Tokyo." Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents First in MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry >VOL. 57. NO. 25 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1945 TEN CENTS Rank pians to WPB Freezes Stock, New Aid Rebirth of German Films Producers Cannot Qualify Formula Holds Industry to 1944 Status For This Year; Allocations Solely to Producers; They Will Supply Distributors He Also Seeks Extension In Mexico, So. America By PETER BURNUP London, Feb. 4. — J. Arthur Rank has been making overtures to non-Nazi German motion picture interests with a view to assisting in the rehabilitation of the German industry as speedily as possible after the Allied Armies conquer that land, Motion Picture Daily learned here at the weekend. Meanwhile, Barrington Gain and Dr. Alexander Galperson, Rank repre- sentatives who plan a visit to the United States to arrange "Henry V" roadshows, will proceed from there to Mexico, reportedly at the instance of the Mexican government, to ar- range theatre outlets for British prod- uct in that country, after which they will go to South America on a similar mission, again with governmental "blessing." WPB Curbs Heating Of Theatres by Gas Washington, Feb. 4. — The War Production Board on Friday sud- denly ordered a ban on the use of natural or mixed gas in theatres and other places of amusement in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Vir- ginia, Kentucky, and parts of Mary- land and Virginia. The order provided that the ban (Continued on page 7) 4 N. Y. Percentage Suits Are Filed Four suits, claiming $180,000 dam- ages, were filed Friday in New York State Supreme Court here by 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, Loew's and Warners, against Irving Renner, Louis Nelson, various corporations operating the Endicott Circuit and William Namenson, accountant for the circuit, for allegedly making fraudulent box office reports on grosses received on percentage pic- tures exhibited by the defendants (Continued on page 7) Chi. Expects Print Tieup Chicago, Feb. 4. — Last Friday's re- duction of raw stock for the industry, by the War Production Board in Washington, by 16,000,000 feet for this quarter— from the 272,000,000 of the last quarter of 1944, to 256,000,000 feet — resulting in fewer features and fewer prints, will bring hardships for subsequent runs here, but little, if any, trouble for the first runs in the Loop, according to present indications. The current cooperative trend be- (Continued on page 7) Williams Is SCTOA Successor to Law Washington, Feb. 4. — Paul Wil- liams, former assistant to the U. S. Attorney General in earlier film anti-trust suit proceedings of the Department of Justice, is resigning from Government service to become counsel of the Southern California Theatre Owners Association, it was (Continued on page 2) WLB Certification Ends SPU Strike Academy Nominations Set For March 15th Awards^ By SHERWIN KANE Washington, Feb. 4. — The War Production Board's new raw stock allocation formula, announced here on Thursday 'freezes' the industry in its 1944 status for the ensuing year, Stanley Adams, head of the WPB's consumers' durable goods division, told Motion Picture Daily. For the remainder of 1945, all available raw stock is to be allocated to companies which were active pro- ducers in the period from 1941 to Dec. 31, 1944, according to indi- vidual percentages assigned last week and published in Motio-n Picture Daily on Friday. Raw stock will not be allocated to independent producers or companies which had not completed a production prior to Jan. 1, 1945, or to companies formed there- after. Under the new allocation system, expansion of production or distribu- tion by established companies is effec- tively curbed and new companies can- not qualify for stock allocation. Moreover, where heretofore the practice has been to allocate raw stock to distributors, under the new formula distribution will be ignored and al- locations will be made solely to pro- ducers, whether companies or inde- pendents. Producers will, of course, be obliged to provide for their release prints for distribution out of their original stock allocations. However, the producer's stock quota is his own, to do with as he sees fit, to apply it exclusively to his own production and Hollywood, Feb. 4. — The Screen Players Union strike, which started Friday morning, ended that night when Departemnt of Labor conciliator Earl J. Ruddy telegraphed that the jurisdictional dispute with the Screen Actors Guild had been certified to the War Labor Board. Many members of the machinists', carpenters', set deco- rators' and other Conference of Studio Unions locals had left their posts in sympathy and several stars had re- fused to cross the picket lines around the major studios. Hollywood, Feb. 4. — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the nominations in its 17th annual awards competition, with the results of the ballotting to be disclosed on March 15 at Grau- man's Chinese Theatre here. For the first time in Academy history, one player — Barry Fitzgerald — is named in two divisions for the same perform- ance, his role in "Going My Way." The nominations follow : Best picture : "Double Indemnity," Paramount ; "Gaslight," MGM ; "Go- ing My Way," Paramount ; "Since You Went Away," Selznick ; "Wil- son," 20th Century-Fox. Best performance by an actor : Bing Crosby and Fitzgerald in "Going My Way" ; Charles Boyer, "Gaslight" ; (Continued on page 7) U. S. Files Decree Proposals Today Washington, Feb. 4. — De- tails of the Department of Justice proposals for an in- terim consent decree will be disclosed tomorrow in a brief due to be filed with Judge Henry W. Goddard in New York Federal District Court. Primary objective of the pro- posals is the dropping of clearance between theatres charging the same prices or not actively in competition. The defendants will have two weeks in which to file their answers to the brief. (Continued on page 7) N. Y. Independents Protest Stock Cut The board of directors of the Independant Theatre Owners Asso- ciation, at a special meeting here at the weekend, instructed Max ■ A. Cohen, head of its film committee, to wire Washington and 'demand' an immediate hearing on the raw stock situation, especially as regarding the number of prints to be allotted each film. Cohen sent a wire to Stanley Adams of the War Production Board, and requests to Milton Star of the War Production Board, and Si Fabian of the War Activities Committee, that (Continued on page 7) 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, February 5, 1945 Personal Mention WILL H. HAYS, president of the MPPDA, left Hollywood at the weekend for New York. • William A. Scully, Universal vice-president and general sales mana- ger, will entrain from Hollywood for New York tomorrow, accompanied by Maurice A. Bergman, Eastern ad- vertising-publicity manager. At the same time, Joseph H. Seidelman, vice-president and foreign distribution manager, will leave the Coast for Mexico City, after which he will re- turn to New York. • Herbert Crooker, M-G-M director of publicity will leave tomorrow for the Coast for a 10-day visit from New York. He will stop in Chicago, Min- neapolis, St. Paul and Milwaukee on his return. • Frank N. Phelps, Warner Thea- tres executive, will return to his desk today after a three-week absence due to an auto accident. • Rube Jackter, Columbia assistant general sales manager, left over the weekend for Detroit. He will return here Wednesday. • Robert Weitman, managing direc- tor of the Paramount Theatre, New York, will leave for the Coast Wednesday. • Harry Goldberg, Warner Theatres director of advertising-publicity, was in Philadelphia over the weekend. • Irving Mandel, Chicago exchange manager for Monogram, has returned there from a Florida vacation. • Trem Carr, Monogram executive producer, has entered a Hollywood hospital for a checkup. • Harry A. Gold, United Artists Eastern sales manager, will be in De- troit today. • Roland Reed, producer, is in New York from California. Denies Rains Given Tax Dispensation London, Feb. 4. — The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of Commons at the weekend, denied an accusation by Aneurin Bevan, left- wing critic of J. Arthur Rank, that a special income tax dispensation had been extended to Claude Rains during his stay here for the filming of "Caesar and Cleopatra." Diamond Arrives Here Jack Diamond, member of Warners' publicity staff department on the West Coast, arrived in New York over the weekend to participate in the com- pany's special campaign on "Hotel Berlin," working with the Eastern publicity department, headed by Larry Golob. Para. Kansas City Meet Starts Today Kansas City, Feb. 4. — Paramount will hold the final in its series of Western division sales meetings at the Hotel Muehlbach here starting tomorrow, to be followed by a lunch- eon for local exhibitors on Tuesday. Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribu- tion ; R. M. Gillham, advertising- publicity director, and Claude Lee, director of public relations, will be present, in addition to George Smith, Western division manager ; Ralph C. LiBeau, district manager, and branch managers from St. Louis, Des Moines and Kansas City as well as district advertising representatives, salesmen and booking managers of the three exchanges. Central district meetings will start in Dallas Wednesday, with James J. Donohue, Central division manager, who left New York, last Friday, presiding ; subsequent meetings will be held in Chicago and Cleveland. A Dallas meeting will be held at the Baker Hotel, Feb. 8-9 ; Chicago, Feb. 12-13, at the Palmer House and Cleveland, Feb. 14-15, at the Hotel Cleveland. Broidy to Preside At Chicago Meet Chicago, Feb. 4. — A Midwest dis- trict sales meeting will be held by Monogram at the Blackstone Hotel, here, Tuesday, to be addressed by Steve Broidy, general sales manager. Exchange executives who will attend include Irving Mandel, Chicago ; Carl Harthill, Indianapolis; C. W. Trampe, Milwaukee ; Thomas A. Burke, Min- neapolis, and Barney Rosenthal, St. Louis. Broidy is expected to make a report on the industry's advisory committee raw stock meeting with the War Pro- duction Board which he attended in Washington on Friday. Monogram's first-quarter raw stock allotment was reduced from the 8,170,000 feet of the last quarter of 1944 to 7,697,920 feet, a cut of 473,000 for the current three months. DeHavilland Wins in Contract Suit Appeal Hollywood, Feb. 4. — Passing on a case appealed from the lower courts, the California Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Olivia DeHavilland is not bound to work an additional 25 weeks for Warners under a contract which the actress considered expired at the end of a seven-year calendar period. The studio had maintained that 25 weeks the star was under sus- pension did not apply to the term. The case is considered precedental, but with respect to talent contracts gen- erally, the studio at weekend said, "No comment." 'Kings' Rights to ICF Latin American rights to "Kings of the Ring" have been acquired by Inter-Continental Films, from Sta- dium Pictures Corp. Williams Is SCTOA Successor to Law (Continued from page 1) learned here at the weekend. Wil- liams, who will succeed the late Albert Law, who died suddenly in New York Jan. 2, is understood to have submitted his resignation to Attorney General Francis Biddle. Law had just started negotiations with producer-distributor heads on a trade conciliation plan, designed to simplify the provisions of abritration, without in any way superceding it. He had hoped to have his plan in- corporated in the industry consent decree. Williams is expected to con- tinue Law's plan. A native of Salt Lake City, where he maintained a law practice, he joined the Department in 1933. He was in charge of the investigatorial work and the drafting of the original bill of complaint in the consent de- cree suit, and was prepared to go to trial when the decree ended the litigation, at least temporarily. Richard Tully Dies, Former Film Writer Richard Walton Tully, 67, play- wright and former film writer, died late last week at New York Presby- terian Hospital. The best known of his plays, "The Bird of Paradise," was a subject of court litigation for 18 years, before it was finally decided that Tully had not plagiarised. A film version of "The Bird of Paradise" was made in 1932, with Dolores Del Rio and Joel McCrea. Tully was a screen writer for a short time prior to his retirement in 1932. He is survived by his widow and a daughter. NBC Sets Television Sales Heads, Series Reynold R. Kraft has been appoint- ed sales manager and John H. Dodge, assistant sales manager of NBC's television department, it was diclosed by John F. Royal, vice-president in charge of television. It was announced at the same time that Pan-American World Airways has signed the first airline contract for a sponsored series of television pro- grams on NBC's New York television station, WNBT, to start March 19. Titled "Wings of Democracy," a 52- week series of 15-mi'nute shows will start with a combination "live talent" and film broadcast and will then tele- cast film only. Trammell Succeeds Dawes on RCA Board Niles Trammell, president of NBC, has been elected to the board of RCA, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Gen. Charles G. Dawes. Frank M. Folsom, RCA vice-pres- ident in charge of the RCA Victor division, was elected a director of NBC, likewise replacing Dawes. 87Y2-Cent RCA Dividend RCA announced at the weekend a dividend of 87 and a half cents per share on the $3.50 cumulative first preferred stock, payable April 2 to stockholders of record on March 5. Mercurio Will Sell Paramount in Spain Madrid, Feb. 4.— Paramount films will be distributed in Spain by Par- amount-Mercurio Films, S.A., accord- ing to an announcement made here today on the authority of John W. Hicks, Jr., president of Paramount International. A long term contract has been agreed to by Paramount Films de Espana, S. A. and Mercurio Films, effective immediately. _ Contract is based on an agreement^ signed with Paramount in New York in October, by Peter Couret of Mercurio, who returned to Spain with Robert C. Alexander of Paramount. Robert L. Graham, Paramount special representative, ' joined Couret and Alexander in Spain later, to complete final arrangements. The Couret fam- ily has handled films of United States and British companies for years, in- cluding Paramount's. Paramount Films de Espana, S. A. was incorporated in Albany, N. Y., in Oct., 1944. Officers are: John W. Hicks, Jr., president; George Welt- ner and Robert C. Alexander, vice- presidents ; Roger C. Clement, secre- tary; Milton Kirshenberg, treasurer. Alexander serves as resident executive in Spain. Combine to Elect Officers This Week Seventy independent New Jersey exhibitors will meet this week in New York to elect officers for the new buying-booking combine they are in the process of forming, it was re- vealed at the weekend by Lee W. Newbury, who has 12 theatres in New Jersey. A meeting was held last Thursday at the Stacey-Trent Hotel, Trenton, at which organization plans and tentative contracts were discussed. A continuation of this discussion will be held at this week's meeting. Exhibitor members represent those who buy both from New York and Philadelphia exchanges. Senate Passes Bill To Curb Petrillo Washington, Feb. 4. — The Senate last Friday without a dissenting vote passed the bill introduced by Senator Vandenberg to outlaw any interfer- ence or conspiracy to interfere with broadcasts of non-commercial edu- cational or. cultural programs by edu- cational institutions. The bill, aimed at the interference of James C. Petrillo, American Federation of Musicians head, with these broad- casts, now goes before the House. Lighting Show Postponed Chicago, Feb. 4. — The interna- tional lighting exposition scheduled for April 19-23, here has been post- poned until next year, it was reported by S. R. Naysmith, chairman of the industrial and commercial light equip- ment division of the National Electri- cal Manufacturers Association. The action was taken to reduce convention travel in line with Government orders. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidayi by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Bumup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. INTERNATIONAL PICTURES, INC. frozen^0 USB Produced and Directed by WILLIAM SEITER Written for the screen by JAMES EDWARD GRANT • Story by Houston Branch • Music and Lyrics by JOHNNY BURKE and JIMMY VAN HEUSEN. PRESOLD to more than 100,000,000 readers tnrougn striking full-color ads in National and Fan Magazines and Sunday Newspaper Comics totaling . . . 27,115,619 CIRCULATION LIFE, LIBERTY, PARENTS MAGAZINE, METROPOLITAN SUNDAY COMIC CROUP and the ENTIRE LIST OF FAN MAGAZINES... Also backed by national radio, record and sheet-music tieups including Dinah Shore and Bob Burns in their own radio shows and recorded numbers from picture by Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore. GOOD ENTERTAINMENT IS INTERNATIONAL RELEASED THROUGH RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. Monday, February 5, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Nominations Made By Academy for March 15th Awards {Continued from page 1) Cary Grant, "None But the Lonely Alexander Knox, WPB Freezes Stock, New Producers Cannot Qualify Heart," RKO "Wilson." Best performance by an actress : Ingrid Bergman, "Gaslight" ; Clau- LMette Colbert, "Since You Went way" ; Bette Davis, "Mr. Skeffing- vton," Warner; Greer Garson, "Mrs Parkington" MGM ; Barbara Stan- wyck, "Double Indemnity." Best performance by an actor in a supporting role: Hume Cronyn, "The Seventh Cross," MGM ; Barry Fitz gerald, "Going My Way"; Claude Rains, "Mr. Skeffington" ; Clifton Webb, "Laura," 20th-Fox; Monty Woolley, "Since You Went Away." Best performance by an actress in a supporting role: Ethel Barrymore, "None But the Lonely Heart" ; Jenni- fer Jones, "Since You Went Away" ; Angela Lansbury, "Dragon Seed," MGM ; Agnes Moorehead, "Mrs. Parkington." Best achievement in direction : Billy Wilder for "Double Indemnity" ; Leo McCarey, "Going My Way" ; Otto Preminger, "Laura" ; Alfred Hitch- cock, "Lifeboat," "20th-Fox; Henry King, "Wilson." Best written screen play : Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, "Double Indemnity" ; John Van Dru- ten, Walter Reisch and John L. Balderston, "Gaslight" ; Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, "Going My Way" ; Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein and Betty Reinhardt, "Laura" ; Irving Brecher and Fred F. Filnlehoffe, "Meet Me in St. Louis," MGM. Sturges for Two Best original screenplay : Preston Sturges, "Hail the Conquering Hero" and "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek," Paramount ; Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman, "Two Girls and a Sailor," MGM ; Lamar Trotti, "Wilson" ; Jerome Cady, "Wing and a Prayer," 20th-Fox. Best original story : Leo McCarey, "Going My Way" ; Chandler Sprague and David Boehm, "A Guy Named Joe," MGM; John Steinbeck, "Life- boat" ; Alfred Neumann and Joseph Than, "None Shall Escape," Colum- bia ; Edward Doherty and Jules Schermer, "The Sullivans," 20th-Fox. Best scoring of a musical picture : "Brazil," Republic ; "Cover Girl," Columbia; "Higher and Higher," RKO ; "Hollywood Canteen," Warner ; "Irish Eyes Are Smiling," 20th-Fox ; "Knickerbocker Holiday," Producers Corporation of America ; "Lady in the Dark," Paramount ; "Lady, Let's Dance," Monogram ; "Meet Me in St. Louis" ; "The Merry Monahans," Universal ; "Minstrel Man," PRC ; "Sensations of 1945," Andrew Stone ; "Song of the Open Road," Charles Rogers ; "Up in Arms," Gold'wyn. Best music score in a drama or comedy: "Address Unknown," Colum- bia ; "Adventures of Mark Twain," Warner ; "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," Benjamin Bogeaus; "Casanova Brown," International ; "Christmas Holiday," Universal ; "Double Indem- nity" ; "The Fighting Seabees," Re- public; "The Hairy Ape," Jules Levey ; "It Happened Tomorrow," Arnold Pressburger ; "Jack London," Samuel Bronston ; "Kismet," MGM ; "None But the Lonely. Heart" ; "The {Continued from page 1) distribution purposes or to make part of it available to a new independent producer who may become affiliated with his company. Thus the national distributing com- panies will have access to raw stock during 1945 only by virtue of their production operations. Independent producers who completed pictures prior to 1945 under qualifications which remain to be formalized by WPB, will receive individual raw stock allocations equivalent to approxi- mately 70 per cent of their 1941 stock consumption, or 95 per cent of their 1944 consumption. These allocations do not belong to the company through which the independent producer re- leases. The releasing company be- comes merely the repository for the independent producer's raw stock, and the independent producer may take that stock with him in the event he transfers to a new distributor. In this connection, United Artists, as solely a distributing company, is entitled to no raw stock of its own It acts as the repository for the raw stock allocated to the individual pro ducers who released through United 4 N. Y. Percentage Suits Are Filed Artists in 1941-'44 and who remain with the company.- Adams said that prospects of the raw stock shortage being eased during the second quarter are "not bright" and that the new regulations will be rigidly enforced as a result. Over- drawing of quotas, more or less com- mon in the past, will not be tolerated. Hereafter, he said, companies are be- ing asked to account for overdrawn stock and, to date, Adams revealed, four companies have been found to be over their quotas for the last quarter. The footage overdrawn in the last quarter will be deducted from future allocations of the offending companies, Adams said, and that practice will be adhered to in the future. He said the subject was most serious and could involve withdrawal of allocations and criminal prosecution. A meeting will be held here about March 15, at which time the com- panies will be notified of the total amount of raw stock to be available for the second quarter. Each accred- ited producer, by applying the per- centage of the total that has been as- signed to him, will know how much footage he will be entitled to receive during the second quarter. Chicago Expects a Tieup of Prints {Continued from page 1) tween distributors and first run ex- hibitors to avoid milking A' product, so that neighborhood houses can secure it with less delay, will surfer a set- back, and Loop houses will again ex- tend playing dates of 'box office' prod- uct. There always has been a backlog of product awaiting first run release, but the acute raw stock situation will swell that backlog. Independent neighborhood exhibitors will be forced to rely more than ever before on re-issues. France to Receive Tons of Films {Continued from page 1) from 1940-44. This is the third move in what is believed to be a series of such actions contemplated by the distributors. Similar suits are now pending in Pittsburgh and Boston. Complaint charged the defendants "bribed plaintiff's checkers" to make alleged fraudulent reports. Specific charges were made by 20th-Fox with respect to "Hello, Frisco, Hello", "Coney Island," "Sweet Rosie O'- Grady," and "Shores of Tripoli." Paramount's films included "Dixie," "Reap the Wild Wind," "Road To Morocco," "Holiday Inn" and "Star Spangled Rhythm." Loew's listed "Gone With the Wind," "Mrs. Mini- ver," "Human Comedy," "Random Harvest," "See Here, Private Har- grove." Warners' listed "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Casablanca," "Air Force" and "Mission to Moscow." Many other films are named, but the above mentioned were the important ones. Defendants obtained benefits in price on flat rentals due to alleged low grosses, it is alleged. Twentieth- Fox seeks $25,000; Paramount, $25,- 000; Loew's, $100,000 and Warners, $30,000 in damages. Next move will be an application to examine books and records of the defendants. Investigations of books and records of other theatre owners are being conducted it was said, later. Louis Nizer is attorney for the complainants. Freight Ban Causes Closing of 2 'Labs' The weekend freight holiday or- dered by the Office of Defense Trans- portation, combined with the critical raw stock shortage has forced the closing of both DeLuxe and Pathe processing laboratories here today. Independent neighborhood exhibitors will be forced to rely more than ever before on re-issues. Washington, Feb. 4.— Purchase of tons of motion picture films, to be exported to France for civilian use, is being worked out by the War Production Board, Foreign Economic Administration, and other Govern- ment agencies, it was disclosed at the weekend by the Office of War Infor- mation. The film is part of a many- million-dollar program of non-military purchases which is now being proc- essed, the OWI said in a review of French military and civilian needs. Princess and the Pirate," Goldwyn "Since You Went Away" ; "Summer Storm," Angelus ; "Three Russian Girls," R & F; "Up in Mabel's Room," Edward Small ; "Voice in the Wind," Ripley-Monter ; "Wilson" "The Woman of the Town," Harry Sherman. Best original song: "Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night"; "I'll Walk Alone"; "I'm Making Believe" ; "Long Ago and Far Away" ; "Now I Know" ; "Remember Me to Carolina" ; "Rio de Janeiro" ; "Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams" ; "Sweet Dreams Sweetheart" ; "Swinging on a Star" ; "Too Much in Love"; "The Trolley Song." WPB Curbs Heating Of Theatres by Gas {Continued from page 1) would apply until seven p.m. Monday, or "until further notice," with pros- pects that it would be extended should the prolonged cold weather which necessitated conservation con- tinue. The prohibition against the use of gas did not apply where manufactured gas only was used, but was directed at natural gas, whether used 'straight' or in combination with manufactured gas. WPB officials did not estimate how many theatres would be affected by the order, but said that in some sections of the area covered natural gas is used extensively, and in those places it was expected theatres would have to close. N. Y. Independents Protest Stock Cut {Continued from page 1) they 'act' on their wire to Adams, and obtain a hearing. Adams was urged "to give immedi- ate consideration to the War Produc- tion Board order cutting the present quota of raw stock. This order means cutting down the presesnt num- ber of prints now being processed. Cutting down the number will not have any effect on first run theatres, but will definitely affect subsequent run theatres, with resultant financial damage. There can be no quarrel with an order which is equitable to all parties concerned, but this order will be so discriminatory that an ir- reparable injustice will be heaped upon - subsequent run independent exhibitors of this country." Monogram to Rubinsky Hollywood, Feb. 4. — The Mark Rubinsky circuit of Pennsylvania has booked the entire Monogram pro- gram for 1944-45. Six Cincinnati Closings Cincinnati, Feb. 4. — The down- town. Royal Theatre and suburban Vogue, Ritz, Crescent, Forest and Imperial were closed over the week- end by the WPB gas embargo. • Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents fltfltuna ! Siewrten ffotel Berlin sehr bald uoninnen senen! oies war writer mct)t moglich ! U)ie3eitjemftss sinb tod) Mr. Warner f Official translation : ATTENTION' YOU ARE VERY SOON TO SEE THE INSIDE JACK L. WARNER OF THE HOTEL BERLIN j THiS HAS NOT FOR AMERICANS Executive Producer _ BEFORE BEEN POSSIBLE! ACH ! THOSE TIMELY WARNER BROS.! - First in Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry L. 57. NO. 26 NEW YORK. U.S.A., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1945 TEN CENTS Raw Stock for Producers in Service Likely WPB Weighs Exceptions To Freezing Regulations Washington, Feb. 5. — Special provision may be made by the War Production Board to allocate raw stock to qualified independent pro- ducers who. because they were with the armed services, did not complete pictures during the period from 1941 to 1945. Unless an exception is made such producers would not otherwise be entitled to a stock allocation under the WPB's new regulations. Such an exception would benefit a producer such as Hal Roach, it was pointed out here by way of example, but would not necessarily be of help to Frank Capra, who completed no productions during the determining period because of military service but would be unable to qualify as an inde- pendent producer in any event under (Continued on page 7) 5 Millions for 'Dimes 9 Drive When all reports are in, film theatre collections for the 1945 March of Dimes should top last year's $4,667.- 000 by several hundred thousand dol- lars, it was predicted here yesterday by members of the industry's drive committee, based on the percentage of increase shown in early returns from several circuits. Incomplete reports from Loew's show approximately S530.000 this (Continued on page 8) 88 Houses Without Coal May Close Approximately 88 theatres in the city's five boroughs are without coal today, and may be forced to close. With the coal shortage growing more serious, and with little, if any relief in sight,- scores of New York's 700 houses are faced with a situation which may result in an enforced clos- ing, especially neighborhood houses. Mayor LaGuardia has indicated that theatres will not be closed by (Continued on page 8) Connors Sets First Plans for 20th's 30th Anniversary Twentieth Century-Fox's 30th an- niversary in April will be marked by an international celebration of it? three decades, it was announced here yesterday by Tom Connors, vice - president in charge of sales. It was in 1915 that the William Fox Corp. went in- to production at Fort Lee. X. J. and later a second studio was started in Xew York City. Shortly after- wards films were produced in Califsrnia. The company's first (Continued on page 8) T< N. F. Salesmen at Work on Demands The temporary executive committee of the newly-formed union of salesmen of the Xew York territory is drafting proposals for a contract and salary and other demands, to be presented to film companies, it is learned here. Meanwhile, a committee represent- ing the new group is studying a pos- ( Continued on page 7) Sam Pinanski Heads Seventh War Drive Si Fabian, chairman of the theatres division of the War Activities Committee, yester- day confirmed Motion Pic- ture Daily's report of last Dec. 8, that Samuel Pinanski, president of M. and P. Thea- tres, Boston, has been ap- pointed national industry chairman of the 7th War Loan drive, accepting the in- vitation extended by the WAC. Definite dates for the drive, probably sometime this Spring, are being awaited from the Treasurv. Consolidated, Setay Merge with Republic In a New Company Hollywood. Feb. 5. — Consolidated Film Industries, Inc.. and the Setay Corporation will be merged with Re- public and a new company will be formed under the latter^name, it was learned here today. Financing, now before the Securi- ties and Exchange Commission for ap- proval, provides for a debenture issue and stock in the proposed company un- der splitups accommodating the value of securities now held under their re- (Contiuued on page 7) Loew's Has Solution to Aid Theatre' Brownout9 Hays Seeks to Get Johnston in MPPDA Hollywood. Feb. 5. — Discus- sing reports of Eric Johnston joining the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Will H. Hays said here today: "I certainly hope he will. He enriches any ef- fort or enterprise with which he is connected. I am earn- estly endeavoring to bring it about. We have had many conferences with him to that end. but nothing has been concluded." Hays, who arrived here to- day from Xew York, will re- main a month. Theatres in the Loew's circuit throughout the U: S. and some others are installing a marquee lighting sys- tem that employs the features of and gives the same brilliance as an auto- mobile headlight, to provide better marquee lighting without using more electric power than is required to light the single 60-watt bulb permitted un- der the War Production Board's new "brownout" to conserve electric power. Bulbs in automobile headlights are usually of 32 or 50-candlepower strength, and the 32-candlepower is equivalent to a 25 watt bulb. 50-can- dlepower being equivalent to 37 watts. One of each size can be used in an automobile-type unit to provide suffi- cient marquee lightine for adequate front-of-the-theatre displays without using more than the permitted 60 (Continued on page 6) IL S. Hits at Clearance in Decree Plan Will Ask for Injunction Mar. 5 Pending Outcome Washington, Feb. 5. — The De- partment of Justice today asked Judge Henry W. Goddard of the Federal District Court in New York to enjoin the five "decree com- panies" from granting "unreasonable clearance" pending the entry of a final decree, and served notice upon the de- fendants in the suit that it would make an oral plea for issuance of the in- junction March 5. A 24-page memorandum and notice of the motion was filed with the Court by attaches of the Xew York office of the anti-trust division upon instruction of Assistant Attorney General Wen- dell Berge. in which it was charged that the defendants, since the suit was filed, have imposed unreasonable clear- (Continued on page 6) New Trial of Murray Suit Chicago. Feb. 5. — Ruling that there was no evidence that proved them a part of the alleged conspiracy. Federal Judge William H. Holly this after- noon dismissed Loew's, Inc.. and 20th Century-Fox as defendants in the Thomas A. Murray case. The judge, acting on motions filed by counsel, also granted a new trial to the re- (Continued on page 6) WPB Clarifies Its Lighting Order Washixgtox, Feb. 5. — Parking lots operated in conjunction with theatres may be lighted to the extent necessary for public safety, provided no illum- ination is used for advertising or pro- motional or display purposes, it was announced here today by the War Production Board in a new series of (Continued on page 8) Reviewed Today Review of "See My Lawyer" appears on page 9. 2 Motion Picture daily Tuesday, February 6, 1945 Ruggles Sees Link Between U. S., U. K. In producing "London Town," a musical in color for J. Arthur Rank in England, as the first of two, Wes- ley Ruggles, in an interview, voices the hope that his use of an All-British cast, coupled with contributions to the score, sets and costumes by Ameri- cans, may further relations between the two industries. Ruggles has a second story selected for production in England but, since he is negotiating for the stage rights, he did not reveal its title. Wesley Ruggles Prod, has been formed as an autonomous production unit with Rank financing. United Artists will distribute in the U. S.- "Town" will start shooting at the end of July, be- cause of the shortage of studio space, either at Denham or Pinewood, Rug- gles said, and is budgeted for $1,000,- 000. Ruggles said that he may pro- duce more than two but will not direct the additional films. American talent contributing to the production include : Ruggles, who did the story; John Burke and James Van Husen, who did the score ; Ernst Fegte, who designed the sets, and Orry Kelly, the costumes. The de- signs will be taken over to England and executed there, Ruggles said. He will take four others to London, in- cluding a dance director, orchestrator and production man. Ruggles, who arrived here after a stay on the Coast, is scheduled to leave for England shortly. Caspary to England, "Bedelia" at Pinewood London, Feb. 4. — Vera Caspary, author of "Bedelia", is expected to arrive here shortly from the U. S. to aid in the production of that film for J. Arthur Rank. Production will probably be at Pinewood Studio and not at Worton Hall as was previously intended, indicating that the govern- ment has arranged to re-equip Pine- wood sooner than has been thought here. Meet Here Thursday In SOPEG Pact Fight Representatives of the Screen Of- fice and Professional Employes Guild, Local 109, CIO, and Loew's, 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, RKO and Columbia will probably meet here Thursday with Commissioner James W. Fitzpatrick of the U. S. Concilia- tion Service, for a review of negotia- tions in the wages and contract dispute involving some 2,000 'white collar' workers in home offices of the five companies. SOPEG and company representa- tives have been meeting here repeated- ly in an attempt to iron out the points in the dispute; progress has been made, it is learned. AMP A Meets Thursday Martin Starr, president of the As- sociated Motion Picture Advertisers, announced here yesterday that the or- ganization will have its closed lunch- eon-meeting on Thursday, at the Hickory House, here. Only members and the trade press are invited. Personal Mention PHIL REISMAN, RKO vice- president in charge of foreign distribution, is scheduled to leave for London in the near future. • Russell .Holman, head of Para- mount's Eastern production depart- ment, returned yesterday from Holly- wood, accompanied by John By- ram, play editor, and Meta Reis, ex- ecutive assistant to Richard Mea- land, head of the company's studio story and writing department. • Walter Gould, United Artists for- eign manager, and Emanuel Silver- stone, foreign department executive, are expected to leave for Continen- tal Europe around the first of March. E. A. Williford, vice-president of General Aniline and Film Corp., in charge of Ansco, is due in Hollywood from New York. • L. J. Schlaifer, 20th Century-Fox Central sales manager, left here yes- terday for Cleveland, Detroit and Chi- cago.- Harry Graham, Universal South- ern district manager, has returned to Atlanta from Charlotte. • F. A. McDermott, Universal audi- tor in Atlanta, has returned to that city from Dallas. • Frank Ramsey, former manager of the Lenox, Hartford, Conn., has been given a medical discharge from the Army. JOSEPH BERNHARD, general *J manager of Warner Theatres, re- turned here yesterday from the Coast. • Lt. John D. Glase, son of Paul E. Glase, manager of the Embassy and associated Fabian Theatres in Reading, Pa., and Elizabeth C. Johnson were married recently. • Steve Perakos, son of Peter Pe- rakos, co-owner of the Quittner and Perakos Theatre Circuit, Connecticut, has been promoted to captain in the U. S. Army. • Edward Schnitzer, United Artists home office executive, returned here yesterday from a brief Southern busi- ness trip. • Sam P. Gorrel, Republic branch manager in Cleveland, is en route to the West Coast to attend a branch managers' meeting. • Victor Morrelli, manager of the Bristol, Bristol, Conn., is recovering from pneumonia at the Bristol Hos- pital. • Steve Edwards, Republic publicity manager, is en route to New York from the Coast. • Ike and Harry Katz, co-franchise holders of PRC, Atlanta, are in St. Louis. • John Jenkins, president of Astor Pictures, Dallas, is visiting Atlanta. • L. J. Kaufman, Warner Theatres executive, is in Ohio on business. Lawrence to London To Talk with Rank Jock Lawrence, Hollywood writer and publicist, who was recently named by J. Arthur Rank as his American public relations representative to han- dle both publicity and exploitation, is scheduled to leave this week for Lon- don to confer with Rank. Since David Weshner is current- ly handling public relations for Rank's Eagle-Lion Films in the U. S., Lawrence, in conferences with Rank, will seek to determine the scope of his duties here and will also try to set up some arrangement to facil- itate the flow of publicity and adver- tising from England to this country. Dr. Sturges Elected Chairman of AAA Dr. Wesley A. Sturges, a member of the budget committee of the Amer- ican Arbitration Association, which administers the operation of the mo- tion picture tribunals, has been elected chairman of the AAA, according to an announcement by H. O. King, pres- ident. Dr. Sturges is Professor of Law at Yale University. Kirsch Heads Players Chicago, Feb. 5. — Jack Kirsch, president of Allied of Illinois, has been named president of the Players Club, Chicago. Goldman Appeal Is Set for Thursday Philadelphia, Feb. 5. — The appeal of William Goldman in his alti-trust case against distributors and Warner Theatres is scheduled to come up for hearing in U. S. Circuit Court here on Feb. 8. Goldman said that Wen- dell Berge, assistant attorney general, was expected to participate as the Government has intervened as 'friend of the court.' The suit involves Goldman's Er- langer Theatre here, being kept dark, and is the first case of its kind involving first-run situations in Phil- adelphia. Earlier, the lower court had ruled against Goldman, declar- ing that there was no proof of a con- spiracy on the part of the defendants. Loew Theatres' Sixth Total $35,056,434 Loew's Theatres sold $35,056,434 of bonds in the Sixth War Loan Drive, the company reveals. Of this amount, theatre sales were $21,167,719, sales to employees were $3,288,715 and cor- porate purchases were $10,600,000. This is a 15-per-cent increase over the Fifth drive. Loew's Theatres have sold $136,- 386,128 in bonds since June, 1942, and in addition, the company has purchased $57,821,500, for a grand total of $194,- 207,628. 1,450,000 Nightly See 'Gift' Films Servicemen and servicewo- men overseas are now going to free film shows at the rate of 1,450,000 a night, with some 3,500 separate performances, including regular world pre- mieres, it is disclosed by Col. E. L. Munson, Jr., Chief of the Army Pictorial Service. "The motion picture indus- / try deserves commendation * for its cooperation in making this possible," Col. Munson declared here. USO Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary United Service Organization ob- served its fourth anniversary yester- day with a luncheon at the Waldorf- Astoria, attended Tjy many officers of the Army and Navy. USO-Camp Shows, subsidiary or- ganization for which many of the in- dustry's personnel and stars have toured, did not commence functioning until Fall, 1941. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Picture In TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION 2nd WEEK • ROXY PiTvAi ATLAST..JM >rvrALED! OH**** The H0 MARCH OF TIME A 20th Century -Fox Relaoio ON SCREEN f MUSIC FOR MILLIONS' MARGARET O'BRIEN JOSE ITURBI JIMMY OURANTE IN PERSON ROCHESTER EXTRA ! BING CROSBY BETTY HUTTON SONNY TUFTS "Here Come PARAM0UN In Person Woody HERMAN and His Orchestra ALL-STAR REVUE the Waves" T Times Square B'WAY & 47th St. PALACE Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE —A RKO RELEASE MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879, Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Tuesday, February 6, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Reagan Meets in K.C., Dallas Next Kansas City, Feb. S. — Third of a a series of district sales meetings be- ing conducted by Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution, got under way at the Hotel Muehlebach here today with a luncheon for local exhibitors to be held tomorrow. Attending are : George A. Smith, Western division manager; J. J. onohue, Central division manager ; '-Lalph C. LiBeau, district manager ; branch managers, salesmen and head bookers of St. Louis, Des Moines and Kansas City, and James Castle, dis- trict advertising representative. R. M. Gillham, advertising-pub- licity director, and Claude Lee, di- rector of public relations, are in the home office group with Reagan. The home office executives will leave on Wednesday for Dallas to inaugu- rate meetings in the Central divi- sion, which will also include sessions in Chicago and Cleveland. Divi- sion Manager Donohue will accom- pany Reagan to the Central division meetings. Broadway Grosses Soar, Aided by School Holiday Exhibitors at Para.'s Meeting in Denver Denver, Feb. 5. — Exhibitors of the Denver territory and newspapermen were guests of Charles M. Keagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution, at a luncheon at the Brown Palace Hotel over the week- end in conjunction with the company's district meeting. Among those attending the luncheon were Jack Foster, publisher of the Denver Rocky Mountain Nczvs; A. De Bernardi, Jr., drama critic, Den- ver Post; S. L. Gillette, president, Intermountain Theatres Association ; Robert Garland, Harry Huffman and Harold Rice, Fox Intermountain The- atres; A. P. Archer and Joseph Dek- ker, Civic Theatres ; Fred Zekman, Black Hills Amusement Co., of South Dakota; Dave Cockrill, Denham Theatre, Denver ; Fred Knil and Rob- ert Sweeten, Gibralter Enterprises. Also attending were Hugh Braly, Paramount Denver district manager ; branch managers J. T. McBride, Omaha; F. H. Smith, Salt Lake City, and Harry H. Haas, Denver ; Robert Blair, district advertising rep- resentative, and salesmen and head bookers of Salt Lake City, Omaha and Denver. New International Division for RCA A new RCA international division has been formed by RCA to supervise foreign sales and other activities of the company and its subsidiaries out- side of the United States, according to Brigadier General David Sarnoff, RCA president. John G. MacKenty, vice-president and general manager of Radiomarine Corp., has been appointed managing director of the new international divi- sion. Raybond Acquires 17th Raybond Theatres has acquired the 17th house in its circuit of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut houses in taking over operation of the Strand in Astoria, L. I., from the Levy Brothers. David Weinstock is president of Raybond. Aided by a fuel-saving school holi- day, New York first-runs are enjoy- ing a week of excellent grosses with little discernible effect felt from the new night "brownout" of theatre mar- quees. Outstanding among new arrivals is "The Three Caballeros," which opened at the Globe last Saturday. Drawing record business of $18,000 for Saturday and Sunday, the new Walt Disney film is headed for a ter- rific $45,000 for the first week, which should top all previous marks at the Globe. "A Song to Remember" is drawing better business in its second week at Radio City Music Hall than was re- corded for the first, which was a big $120,000. With the $76,000 line al- ready crossed, an outstanding $121,000 is expected. 'Woman,' 'Burma' Score "The Woman in the Window," at the Palace, and "Objective Burma," at the Strand, the latter combined with a stage show featuring Artie Shaw and his band, are scoring splendidly for second weeks. A big $35,000 is expected for the second week of "The Woman in the Window," on the basis of $25,000 recorded for the first four days. -The first week's- gross was over $43,000 for a new Palace house record at regular admission prices and close to the record set by "North Star" at advanced prices. "Objective Burma" is expected to do a heavy $64,000 for a second week, following the initial week's $70,000. "Suspect" and "Roughly Speaking," also new arrivals, are doing satisfac- torily. "Suspect" is expected to com- plete its first week at the Criterion with a good $31,500, while "Roughly Speaking" is headed for a moderate $27,000 for its first week at the Hol- lywood. Receipts are also excellent at the Capitol, where "The Thin Man Goes Home," combined with a stage bill featuring Frankie Carle and band, registered $50,000 for the first four days of a second week and upwards of $65,000 is expected for the week. "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" will bow out of the Roxy tonight with a good $76,000 expected for the second week on the basis of $65,000 taken in lor the four days ending Sunday night. A prior booking will bring "Hang- over Square" and a stage show with Milton Berle into the Roxy tomorrow, although the present occupant could easily remain longer. _ The Paramount will conclude a sixth and final week of "Here Come the Waves" tonight, with a big $65,- 000 expected. "Ministry of Fear," combined with a stage show featuring Johnny Long and band will open at the Paramount tomorrow. 'Kingdom' Still Strong "The Keys of the Kingdom" is con- tinuing to draw well at the Rivoli, where a good $35,000 is expected for a sixth week on the basis of over $19,000 taken in during the first three days ; several additional weeks are as- sured. "Meet Me in St. Louis" drew heavily in its final six days of a 10th week at the Astor, grossing almost $35,000. "The Fighting Lady" collected a big $22,500 at the Victoria. "Mr. Emmanuel" is a steady grosser at the Gotham with $13,000 estimated for the fifth week, which is about equal to the fourth week's take. "Destiny" is expected to do a satisfactory $8,- 500 in its first week at the Rialto ; it will hold over. "On Approval" is doing poor business at the Republic with a light $2,500 expected for the second and final week ; "The Chicago Kid" will open there Saturday. "The Princess and the Pirate" will open at the Astor Friday ; "She Gets Her Man" will open at Loew's State Thursday. $8,000-$12,000 for B. & K. Stage Shows Chicago, Feb. 5. — B. & K.'s Chi- cago Theatre, leading Midwest com- bination-policy house, will not cut its talent budget this Summer despite the convention ban. Despite the fact that the house has always reached its busi- ness peak during July and August, when a combination of record out-of- town vacationists and conventions boosted its attendance mark, Nate Piatt, Chicago booker, is scheduling $8,000 to $12,000 weekly stage attrac- tions, in addition to A' films during the summer. The Loop is expecting record business, anyway, from thou- sands of individual travelers who used to avoid the city during conventions. 20th Asks Dismissal Twentieth Century-Fox has applied to New York Federal Court for a dis- missal of Maude Nugent Jerome's suit. against it, which seeks an injunc- tion and damages against the film, "Sweet Rosie O'Grady," claiming it to be a plagiarism of her title and song of the same name. Twentieth- Fox claims plaintiff is not the owner of the copyright on the song, alleg- ing it was sold to Columbia Pictures in 1925. Blue Television on B, & K. Station Soon ■ Chicago, Feb. 5. — The Blue Net- work's participation in television pro- grams of the Balaban and Katz sta- tion, WBKB, will begin late this month or early March, according to Merritt Schoenfeld, Blue executive. Among programs of local origin to be televised are "The Quiz Kids" and "The Breakfast Club." The Blue's participation in the B. and K. facili- ties is for experimental purposes and involves no contractual relationship. Blue is also participating in producing shows on DuMont's station WABD, New York, and General Electric's WRGB, Schenectady. Daily Lists Survive New L. A. Times Cut Los Angeles, Feb. 5. — The Times has reduced by one-third its space de- voted to theatre listings, due to the paper shortage. Earlier plans to limit publication of listings to three times weekly were abandoned, space econ- omy being accomplished by a reduc- tion in the size of type. Before this reduction was instituted, the Times consulted with exhibitors who 'screen Times advertising trailers. Building Code Will Double Size of New Projection Booths Projection booths in new theatres in New York State, excluding New York City, will have to be almost 50 per cent larger than those in present theatres, according to new provisions "f the building code for theatres and other constructions being promulgated by the State Labor Department's ad- visory committee. Present requirements call for booths to be not less than 48 square feet in size for one projection machine; provisions for new construction will call for at least 80 square feet. Booths will have to be at least 10 feet in depth and eight feet in height. Provision of 30 inches clearance between each machine will have to be made where more than one is used. Consideration of separate sections of the code which apply to new the- atre constructions has been completed, according to a spokesman for the ad- visory committee. The committee is said to be in complete agreement on all new provisions, but it is pointed out that public hearings will be held on the code once the advisory commit- tee completes all of its work. Meet Feb. 16 The next meeting of the advisory committee will be held here Feb. 16 with indications that it will require about three or four more meetings be- fore consideration of the code is com- pleted. As reported in Motion Pic- ture Daily, on Jan. 24, legislation is expected to be introduced shortly in the New York State Legislature, in Albany, to give the new code the full 'teeth" of law and eliminate exemp- tions of certain types of structures from its provisions. The industry side of the Labor De- partment's advisory committee in- cludes Henry Anderson, Paramount; Martin J. Tracey, Century Circuit; Theodore Junge, alternate for Harry Moskowitz, Loew's; Glen H. Hum- phrey of projectionists Local No. 337. SPU Charges Strike Provocation Goes on Hollywood, Feb. 5. — The Screen Players Union today telegraphed the War Labor Board and Department of Labor Conciliator Earl J. Ruddy charging the "employers are proceed- ing with the usual acts of violation and discrimination" to which SPU attributed last Friday's strike, and requesting the "use of the offices of the WLB to call a meeting in order to eliminate discrimination." The tele- gram set no time limit. Production continued normally, meanwhile, with no interruption ex- pected prior to the response by the National Labor Relations Board to appeals from the producers and from the Screen Actors Guild for the re- opening of hearings on their over- lapping jurisdiction. 1,100,000 Film-Song Sales Warners' "Hollywood Canteen" song hit, Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In," has set a new sheet-music sales record, reports Harms, Inc., Warner music published. Sales are over 1,100,000 sheets, claimed to be the highest sales for 16 years. 4 RED CROSS WAR FUND WEEK-MARCH 15-21 "Outstanding box-office! Greater impact than the novel!" —M. p. Daily "Sure of big grosses! Imposing box- office stature!" —Film Daily "Most popular novel since Gone With The Wind— absorbing at I the way!"— M. p. Herald "One of the fine film dramas of the year!" — Variety "A superlative job! Heart-stirring! Sure- fire! — The Independent "Top-grade drawing power!" — Showmen $ Trade Review "Certain to return tremendous grosses!" Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 6, 1945 Loew's Solution to Aid the 'Brownout' (Continued from page 1) watts of power. A transformer, re- flector and glass lens unit is contained in a unit, giving light something simi- lar to flood lighting. Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-presi- dent of Loew's, in charge of Loew theatres in New York, said here that it is not difficult to secure the neces- sary materials to make the lighting fixtures. The marquees of all Loew's theatres will soon be so equipped. Albert A. Senft, president of Sterl- ing Sign Co., which services lobbies and marquees at all Loew theatres in this area, also told Motion Picture Daily that the lighting which can be secured through this method has been proven to illuminate front-of-the- house displays without using more than the electric power required to op- erate a 60-watt bulb permitted under the WPB edict. Grants New Trial of Thomas Murray Suit (Continued from page 1) maining defendants, including Van Nomikos, Milo Theatre Corp., John L. Manta, Capitol Pictures and Henri Elman. On Jan. 24, a jury verdict awarded Murray, former operator of the Tha- lia Theatre, damages amounting to $105,000. The plaintiff originally sued for $1,000,000, claiming that the ma- jor distributors and competitive thea- tre interests have forced him out of business. Lester Murray, attorney and son of the plaintiff, said he will appeal Judge Holly's dismissal verdict on the two major distributors to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals here. Murray has not yet decided what course of action he will take on mo- tion of granting the remaining de- fendants a new trial. Parks Enters Exhibition Dallas, Feb. 5. — Hiram Parks, former Warner salesman here, has re- signed to move to Brownfield where he recently purchased the Rialto and Ritz theatres from Mrs. Earl Jones. Parks also owns the Marine Theatre in . Fort Worth, a Spanish language house in Lubbock and a theatre in Grand' Falls. Request Rebuild Permit % Cincinnati, Feb. 5. — Ernest Realty Co., operating a theatre circuit in Covington, Ky., has applied to the War Production Board for permission to rebuild the 1,000-seat Madison which was recently destroyed there by fire. EXPORT AGENT A young Latin- American motion picture executive (33), has lived in most South Amer- ican countries for many years and who has also been a resident of the U. S. A. for the past four years, will soon make an extensive tour of Latin-America on business and will consider other offers. Firms who desire local a e-c es or have something worthwhile to export or sell or research to do will receive proper representation. Excellent contacts with im- portant business and governmental officials. Extensive experience in Latin-America as an exhibitor and in exploitation of films as well as equipment needs. A letter in detail will receive prompt attention. Information will be held In strict confidence. Box 1552, Motion Picture Daily U. S. Decree Plea Hits at 'Unreasonable Clearance 9 (Continued from page 1 ) ances which violate the Sherman Act, against which the decree in its present form fails to give adequate temporary relief. In support of its application, the Department cited the cases where the Arbitration Appeal Board has found clearance granted by the defendants to be unreasonable and has ordered re- ductions. "In holding that there should be some clearance between theatres which were not in substantial competition but merely drew some patronage from the same general area," it was explained in this connection, "the Board appar- ently assumed that entering an award prohibiting a distributor from granting clearance in favor of one theatre over another in the same competitive area, was an unwarranted interference with the distributor's right to license the competing exhibitors on such runs as he may deem necessary to exploit his films properly. Whether this conclu- sion, was compelled by the language of the decree or not, the result has been that the defendants have been express- ly allowed to impose clearance be- tween theatres only slightly competi- tive even though, in such circum- stances, there is no public justifica- tion whatsoever for contractual ar- rangements of this character." 'Discriminatory Sequence' The primary evil of clearance be- tween theatres which are not sub- stantially competitive, the Department argued, "is not that it suppresses com- petition for patronage, but that it es- tablishes a discriminatory sequence of exhibition which has no relation to the legitimate needs of the distributor or the public. What it does is simply give the theatre enjoying the clearance booking control over the theatre against which it- is held. "We respectfully submit that a pro- vision prohibiting the imposition of any clearance between theatres not in substantial competition with each other should be added to the existing decree." While a theatre playing films first run at a high admission price might ordinarily be expected to require clearance over a second run charging a lower price, the Court was told, there is no legitimate purpose in grant- ing clearance between theatres which charge the same admission price, whether they draw from precisely the same area, or whether they are 20 miles apart." "The general problem of unreason- able clearance is inadequately dealt with in the existing Section VIII of the decree," the Department main- tained, contending that "an adequate temporary provision must also flatly prohibit the granting of any clearance between theatres charging substantial- ly the same admission price. "The determination of the maximum length of clearance permissible in .competitive situations where admission price differentials exist should be so adjusted that the period of clearance between any two theatres is propor- tionate to the admission price differen- tial between them if there is to be any public justification of such clear- ance," it was declared. "This may be accomplished by a prohibition of all clearance in excess of that reasonably related to the maintenance of compe- tition between two or more competing theatres charging different admission prices. "Apart from these general provi- sions, specific temporary relief ex- pressly directed against unreasonable clearance arising from distributor af- filiation is urgently required. There is no dispute that each of the distribu- tor defendants controls a large circuit of theatres ; each licenses films to its own circuit, the circuits owned by the others and theatres competing with them by license agreements which fix the minimum admission prices to be charged by all of the theatres licensed; that the maintenance of those admis- sion prices is tied to run and clear- ance provisions determining the rela- tive time at which the films licensed become available for exhibition in competing theatres. Cross-Licensing 'Illegal' "We submit that such a system of admission price fixing by cross licens- ing is prima facie illegal because it is in effect a means by which affiliated theatre operators, through their dis- tribution affiliates, agree with each other as to the admission prices that should be charged by their various theatres in the competitive areas in which each operates and as to those to be charged by independent theatre operators who compete with these af- filiated theatres." "The persistent use by the consent- ing defendants, during the pendency of this suit, of clearance provisions as a means of unreasonably restricting the terms on which the theatres may compete in licensing their films, and the inadequacy of the present decree to afford adequate relief against such violations of the Sherman Act are beyond dispute," it concluded. "We respectfully submit that the provisions suggested are the minimum which the court may properly grant if the per- sons now subjected to the illegal re- strictions in question are to be given adequate protection pending the entry of a final decree in this case." G-R Opens New Theatre Mobile, Ala., Feb. 5.— The 1,230- seat Downtown, operated by Giddens and Rester Theatres, has opened here. Ricardo Montiel, who manages the Brookley and Crichton theatres is G-R general manager ; Kenneth R. Montiel is manager of the new house. Two Back to ASN Montreal, Feb. 5. — Flying Officer Tony Hargreaves and Sgt. Howard Hamilton, are the first two Associated Screen News staff members to com- plete service in the Armed forces. Lob-Lee Theatres File Hartford, Feb. 5. — Lob-Lee The- atres, Inc., of New Haven has filed a certificate of organization with the Secretary of State here. The follow- ing officers have been named : Oscar A. Levy, president; Bernard Levy, treasurer; Lewis Ginsburg, secretary New Mobile House Opens Mobile, Feb. 5. — The Downtown Theatre, owned by Giddens and Res- ter, had its formal opening here re- cently. Ricardo Monteil will super- vise the house. Percentage Selling Is Out in Spain Percentage selling of American films in Spain has been eliminated by a rul- ing of the Spanish Government, which has decreed that all film transactions must henceforth be on a flat rental basis, it is learned here. Further, the American industry, al- ready encumbered with many onerous restrictions, special levies and taxes, i: finding it difficult to secure film im' port licenses, which are issued irregu- larly. Total yearly Spanish gross for all U. S. companies is estimated at about $3,000,000. However, this is cut by drastic import duties, the costs of dub- bing, printing and distribution, and in money lost in converting to dollars. American producers making films which receive wide acclaim in the Ar- gentine and Mexican markets will receive permanent bonuses from the Spanish Government in the form of permits for exhibition. U. S. film distribution will be based on the num- ber of films annually produced in Spain, and the total number of films allowed in the country cannot ex- ceed one-half of the total Spanish production, which is extremely lim- ited. Open Injunction Suit Of SOEG Dissidents Los Angeles, Feb. 5. — Superior Judge Harry M. Willis opened hear- ings today in the suit brought last November by dissident members of the Screen Office Employees Guild for an injunction restraining the union from levying an assessment on the membership to obtain funds for wield- ing influences in an election. SOEG asserted the funds were used solely to defeat "Proposition 12," but the dissidents claim half the money col- lected was used to advance the inter- ests of political candidates. The hear- ing will resume tomorrow. National Meeting Opens Los Angeles, Feb. 5. — The annual business meetings of National Thea- tres opened here today, with Charles Skouras presiding. Presidents of the subsidiary companies are on hand for sessions scheduled to continue through Wednesday. Resting Leaves Curtis Philadelphia, Feb. 5. — Theodore Resting, motion picture editor of The Country Gentleman, published by Curtis Publishing Co., here, has re- signed to become editor of Sports Afield, published in Minneapolis. Harry Weiss to 20th Cleveland, Feb. 5. — Harry Weiss has been appointed resident 20th-Fox exploiteer, succeeding Sid Zins wl\o has returned to free-lance publicity in New York. AVAILABLE Executive secretary (male) many years experience all branches theatrical business and in distri- bution and production of motion pictures in New York and Holly- wood. BOX 345. M. P. DAILY Tuesday, February 6, 1945 Motion Picture Daily Ceiling of 60 on Mexican Features al- b u . d Mexico City, Feb. 5. ■ — Mexico's production this year has been definitely ceilinged at 60 features because of a new, sharp raw stock shortage, by the National Committee on Cinemato- graphic Affairs, which has three mem- bers, representing the Government, in- dustry employers, and labor. The av- rage worth of each of these pictures Is estimated by the committee at $80,- 000, the entire 1945 production being calculated at about $4,800,000. The committee is composed of Fer- nando Casas Aleman, Subsecretary of the Interior, Jesus Grovas, producer and President of the National Cine- matographic Industry Chamber, and Salvador Carrillo, secretary general of the National Cinematographic Indus- try Workers Union. It spent several days making a survey of the industry, particularly with regard to the equita- ble proportioning of raw stock to pro- ducers this year, and decided to limit supplies of that material to the follow- ing producers, per number of pictures they will make this year : The Schedule Clasa Films and Filmex, six each; Films Mundiales and Producciones Grovas, five ; Producciones Hermanos Rodriguez, four ; Raul de Anda, three; Astro Films, Aristas Asociados de Mexico, Cinema, S. A., Calderon Hermanos, Miguel Contreras Torres, Pereda Films, Posa Films, two each ; and Aguila Films, Abel Salazar, As Films, Alfonso Sanchez Tello, Cine- matografica Guadalajara, Columbus Films, Caricolpr, Espana-Mexico-Ar- gentina, Francisco de P. Carrera, Juan J. Ortega, Mauricio de la Serna, Pedro A. Calderon, Rafael Arzos, Pro- ducciones Interamericana, the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union, the Banca Cinematografico (the industry's own film bank), and Vicente Saiso Piquer, one each. Competence, integrity, experience and solvency of each producer was considered in allotting the quotas, the Committee said. Only those who have scenarios actually written, approved and ready for production were allowed raw stock, and the rationing was strictly on the basis of what each pro- ducer can really do. The committee will charge each producer receiving this stock 65 cents per reel, defray its expenses for control and supervision that it must perform for the distribu- tion of the stock. Some hope is expressed in industry and official circles that eventual suc- cess will attend negotiations to obtain a large quota of stock. Should there be more stock, the committee will re- adjust its distribution plan of the ma- terial, though still on a strict ration- ing basis. 3 Buy Mono. Program Hollywood, Feb. 5. — The Pitts Circuit, operating 15 houses in Vir- ginia and West Virginia, Herman Rifkin Theatres, with seven houses ir Boston, and Royal Amusement Co. in the Hawaiian Islands have bought Monogram's 1944-45 product. Wilson Acquires 'Hall' London, Feb. 5. — Morris Wilson, formerly of Grand National Pictures, Ud., has re-acquired United States distribution rights to "Pastor Hall," originally distributed in the U. S. by United Artists. Ten Million Feet of Raw Stock in Reserve Pool (Continued from paye 1) vVPB's new definition of the latter. WPB might regard Capra's last ac- tive production status before entering service as that of a contractual em- ploye of Warners, rather than an in- dependent producer, it was said. The new WPB regulations deprive Hal Wallis Prod, of a direct raw stock allocation. While the present Wallis organization meets the quali- fications of an independent producer, it completed no production prior to 1945, when the freezing aspects of the new WPB regulations are made ap- plicable. Wallis, therefore, must look to Paramount, rather than to WPB, for raw stock and, should he wish to change to a new distribution outlet, would have to look to the new affilia- tion for his supply. By contrast, other producers who escaped the freezing period and meet the qualifications of independent producers specified by WPB, can obtain their raw stock al- locations direct and take them with them if and when they change dis- tribution affiliations. Falling within the latter category would be such or- ganizations as International Pictures, Lester Cowan Prod., Charles R. Rog- ers, Selznick's Vanguard, Samuel Goldwyn, Sol Lesser, Walt Disney and many others. Pickford, Chaplin Affected Believed to be affected by the freez- ing provisions because of production inactivity during the 1941-'45 period are Mary Pickford and Charles Chap- lin, unless an exception is made in Chaplin's case for the modernized ver- sion of "The Gold Rush," only pic- ture delivered by the producer during the base period. An exception would entitle Chaplin to approximately 95 per cent of the stock used in prepara- tion and release printing of 'Gold Rush." Since the new WPB regulations recognize producers and not distribu- tors as the claimant source for raw stock, and United Artists as an ex- clusively distributing organization re- ceives no raw stock of its own, Miss Pickford and Chaplin thus could find themselves in the unusual position of having to look to another company for stock should they wish to make a pic- ture during 1945, rather than to the company of which both are substantial owners. WPB sources disclosed that in ad- dition to the 256,000,000 feet to be allocated to the industry during the current quarter, a reserve raw stock pool has been set up in which there is approximately 10,000,000 feet of stock. This will be used for emergency and special purposes not fully defined yet. Stanley ■ Adams, head of the WPB's Consumers Durable Goods division, told Motion Picture Daily that the new procedure involving basic stock allocations to producers rather than distributors, did not result from repre- sentations made to him by Samuel Goldwyn in Washington recently, al- though that procedure was advocated by Goldwyn in part. Adams said es- tablished WPB policy for more than three years has been recognition of production rather than distribution in all industries with which it deals and that the only exception to that rule with which he was familiar was the past practice with respect to this in- dustry. The established WPB policy, he said, is now being applied to motion pictures. Three Absent Three additional members of the new 21 -man Industry Advisory Com- mittee, who were unable to attend last week's meeting with Adams here, were identified today. They are : Wil- liam F. Rodgers of Loew's-M-G-M ; John R. Wood of March of Time, and Ted Toddy of Toddy Pictures. Eigh- teen of the 21 members attended last week's meeting. No substitutes for committee members will be admitted to WPB meetings in the future ex- cept in cases of serious illness of a member. In addition, committee members have been instructed not to hold meet- ings in New York or elsewhere here- after without a WPB or other Gov- ernment representative present and have been cautioned that to do so may involve an anti-trust violation. N. Y. Salesmen at Work on Demands ( Continued from page 1 ) sible affiliation for the new organiza- tion. The IATSE is understood to be interested in taking jurisdiction over all salesmen's groups, Richard F. Walsh,- IATSE president, recently pointing out that the "IA" intends to represent any such group formed. The next meeting of the New York salesmen's formulating committee is expected to be held next week, at which time it is understood that it will report on a possible affiliation. ■ ATS Meet Feb. 15 A 'Television Information Please' meeting will be held in the Museum of Modern Art here Thursday eve- ning, Feb. 15 by the American Tele- vision Society, at which 400 mem- bers and guests are expected. Mem- bers representing a cross-section of television have been invited to lead a discussion and stimulate questions pertaining to all aspects of televi- sion. 'Teeth' in Chicago's Building Code Chicago, Feb. 5. — The City Coun- cil has amended the building code to permit the police, fire, health and building departments to close any theatre, or any other building where they find conditions which might menace life or health. Previously, the ordinance permitted summary closing of a building only when specific viola- tions of the building code were found. Hospital for 'Lab' Worke Mexico City, Feb. 5. — Studio lab- oratory workers. Section 2 of the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union, is erecting a hospital here for its members. L. and J. to Build Columbus, Ga.„ Feb. 5. — Lucas and Jenkins has received bids for the con- struction of a new theatre in this city. Roy A. Benjamin, Jacksonville, Fla., is the architect. OP A Seeks 37,000 Financial Reports Washington, Feb. 5. — Forms to report annual financial re- turns have been mailed to 37,- 000 corporations, including film companies, the Office of Price Administration dis- closes, to give the OPA a con- tinuing picture of financial conditions in the nation. 75 Mexican Houses Grossed $9,185,000 Mexico City, Feb. 6. — Seventy-five theatres here, eight of them first-run, registered a record gross of $9,185,000 last year. This income was derived in a city of nearly 2,000,000 but only 500,000 of whom are theatregoers. Exhibitors, although pleased by the revenue, explain that these figures are subject to high operating expenses. They hope to convince the municipal government, which is investigating charges that theatre admissions are too high, that they cannot afford to lower the prices because of the high 'osts. First-run houses, charging 85 cents, are special targets of the inves- tigation which has enlisted the sup- port of several influential Federal Senators and Congressmen. Mexican producers are supporting the exhibitors, contending that admis- sions are reasonable since production costs have risen more than 50 per cent in two years. ' The government is expected to issue a ruling in the case soon. Mexico City Monthly Gross Is $800,000 Mexico City, Feb. 5. ■ — Theatre business has doubled here since the start of the war, the average monthly gross being $800,000, compared with $400,000 prior to Pearl Harbor. This city has 75 theatres for its population of nearly 2,000,000. Despite the spending splurge, theatre investors are holding back on building, feeling that 75 theatres are sufficient. Consolidated, Set ay Merge with Republic (Continued from page 1) spective identities. Setay owns 40 per cent and Consolidated the remainder of the present Republic company. Merrill Lynch will underwrite the new corporation. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents 8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 6, 1945 N. Y. Neighborhood Houses Hit by Coal Shortage Derequisition More Studios in England London, Feb. 5. — Two more stu- dio stages are now available for derequisitioning, but British govern- mental film units insist on retaining accommodations such as dressing rooms and cutting rooms. A meeting to seek a remedy for this difficulty has been arranged between executives of the J. Arthur Rank organization and representatives of the Ministry of Information. One of the studio stages, used as a wartime food store and now de- requisitioned, has been found damaged by the weight of Spam, sugar, etc., but the Ministry of Works is author- izing a special priority for recondi- tioning the establishment. Korda Occupancy The wartime occupants of another studio are reluctant to surrender it, claiming that one stage housing heavy machinery cannot be evacuated and that films cannot be made because of the noise from this machinery. How- ever, sound tests conducted in col- laboration with Western Electric have demonstrated that this noise does not interfere with sound tracks, so it is likely that Sir Alexander Korda may occupy the studio as soon as equip- ment is available. The Board of Trade is understood to be willing to grant Korda an import license for American-made prototype machinery. A general census of re-equipment requirements is still uncompleted, but a meeting of the British Film Pro- ducers Association and the equipment makers is expected to be held within a few weeks. Theatres, however, must await low priorities for re-equip- ment and reconditioning, and it is un- likely that any comprehensive plan along this line will be possible for three or four years. The government insists that the repair of bomb-dam- aged homes and the building of new ones must come first. Tax Receipts Increase Philadelphia, Feb. 5. — An in- crease in the amount of amusement taxes collected by the city is indi- cated in the report of the city treas- urer showing that total receipts for 1944 amounted to $1,493,356. The amount collected exceeded the budget estimate for the year, which was $1,- 400,000. The city exacts an amuse- ment tax of a cent on each 25 cents of admission, or fraction thereof. 'E' Honor to Holmes Chicago, Feb. 5. — Holmes Projector Co., here, has been awarded the Army- Navy 'E' honor emblem. President O. J. Holmes accepted the award from Capt. F. Ceres of the Navy. 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 (Continued from page 1) direct order, adding that if houses care to operate without heat, the en- forcement of the health department laws of 65 decrees of heat would not be placed in effect. William Brandt }resterday pur- chased 30 cords of wood to heat his Times Square theatres, the Selwyn. Times Square, Liberty. Apollo, Lyric and Victory. Loew's' has been pur- chasing cord-wood since the begin- ning of the emergency. If the situation gets worse it was indicated here yesterday that a new order will be issued closing theatres and requiring the New York Steam Corporation, which furnishes heat for 50 of the largest houses, to cut off service to those theatres. Edwin Salmon, fuel commissioner of New York, stated that nine-tenths of nlaces to be denied coal deliveries in the future, would be places of amuse- ment. WPB Lifts Embargo on Gas for Theatres Washington, Feb. 5. — The War Production Board tonight lifted the three-day embargo on the use of natu- ral or mixed gas by theatres and other places of amusement, imposed in seven states and the District of Columbia last Friday. Officials said that substantial compliance to the order had been noted, and the result- ing saving of gas, plus the arrival of warmer weather, made unneces- sary any extension of the order. Buffalo Theatres Are Closed in Emei-eencv Buffalo, Feb. 5. — All theatres were closed here today under a blan- ket emergency order of Mavor To- seph J. Kelly, due to the fuel crisis. Five Millions Seen For 'Dimes' Drive (Continued from page 1) vear against $444,000 in 1944, and this total is expected to be swelled by collections made through stores and other outside sources as yet un- reported : RKO Theatres collected about $232,000. a substantial increase over 1944's $199,500; $54,000 has been collected by Warner Theatres in Northern New Jersey, against $47,201 a year ago. Century Circuit. New York, during the first seven days of the drive collected $26,118. against $18,000. Theatres in Puerto Rico have ex- tended collections an additional seven" to ten days- owing to late arrival of their trailers. Theatres are urged to return their Greer Garson appeal trailers for salvage to their nearest National Screen Service exchange, and to speed *heir collection reports. IATSE Names Kostlan Omaha. Feb. 5. — Motion Picture Operators Union local No. 343. IAT SE. has again picked Alvin Kostlan of the Brandeis Theatre to head the organization in 1945. Other officers : first vice-president, Vic Morterson : second. Ben Cuttle ; treasurer : Baird Loomis : financial secretary. Glen Jordan ; business agents. Howard Jackson and Clyde Cooley. The order meant a 24-hour cessation of about 75 per cent of the city's re- tail trade. There is a three-day sup- ply of coal on hand. Theatre box offices will reopen tomorrow, it is hoped. All last week schedules were revised to permit an 11 P.M. closing, and midnight shows were eliminated for the duration of the crisis. Cleveland Theatres Close for a Week Cleveland, Feb. 5. — Theatres shut down here today for a week, along with all places of amusement, depart- ment stores, schools, restaurants, and public buildings, to conserve heat and light. Action was taken in response to a proclamation by Mayor Thomas A. Burke, and is subject to weekly revision depending upon the coal situ- ation, transportation facilities and weather conditions. Kentucky. Indiana Houses Are Closed Columbus. Ohio, Feb. 5. — Several northern Kentucky and Indiana houses have closed, due to the heating gas shortage. A committee conferred to- dav here on a plan for closing all theatres, places of amusement, and stores one dav weekly, to conserve fuel. Some 114 local industries are closed with an estimated 13.000 work- ers idle, as a result of the gas short- age. Rochester Theatres Close for 4 Davs Rochester, Feb. 5. — All Rochester theatres and those in Monroe County coTnmunities. have been closed for four davs under an emergency fuel order, affecting all amusement places and non-essential stores, and business. WPB Clarifies Its Lighting Order (Continued frrm pane 1) interpretations of the 'Brownout' order. The board announced that the en- trance and ex't lighting may be con- tinued, but if more lighting is used than is needed for health and safety requirements such excess lighting will be construed as advertising. Light- ing is permissible for outside ticket windows so long as only the normal amount of lighting necessarv to carry on business is used. The 60-watt limi- tation on marquee lighting applies re- gardless of the size of the marquee. Local 418 Elects Camden. N. J.. Feb. 5. — At a meet- ing of Local 418, LATSE, projection- ists, the following were elected: Pres- ident, Harrv Langfeld ; vice-pres- ident. Ralph Allen ; business agent. Frank Hauss : recording secretary. Leon Cohen: financial secretary. Alex Stein : executive board. Frank Bolton, Trving Dantis. Harrv Diamond, Allen Schaffer; trustees. John Murphy, Abe ^eldman, Sam Hirsch. and sergeant- at-arms. Frank Schofield. Torres Marks 25th Year Mexico City. Feb. 5. — Miguel Con- treras Torres, producer of "Simon Rolivar." was honored at a banquet here on his 25th year in films. Connors Sets 20th Anniversary Plans (Continued from page 1) silent picture in 1915 was "Life's Shop Window," starring Stuart Holmes. Fox Newsreel came into existence in 1919 and its film li- braries have a store of newsreel footage depicting the history of the day and the years between then and now. The merger with 20th Century pro- ductions in 1935 brought Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck in to head the consolidated companies. It is also the 25th year of Movie- tone News, produced under direc- tion of Edmund Reek. Ten years ago March of Time was organized, and with 20th Century-Fox MOT is celebrating its anniversary as well as its affiliation with 20th. Final details of the birthday cele- brations are incomplete, but Connors has named Herman Wobber, Coast division manager, drive leader of the celebration. Wobber, whose temporary head- quarters will be in the home office during the next few months, is now- visiting the various exchanges to dis- cuss the occasion. Wobber's itinerary follows : Yes- terday he was in Atlanta ; today he will be in New Orleans; tomorrow, Memphis ; Feb. 8, Oklahoma City ; Feb. 9, Dallas ; Feb. 10 ; Kansas City ; Feb. 12, St. Louis; Feb. 13, Indian- apolis ; Feb. 14, Detroit ; Feb. 15, Chicago; Feb. 16, Milwaukee; Feb. 17. Minneapolis ; Feb. 19, Des Moines ; Feb. 20, Omaha ; Feb. 23, Salt Lake City; Feb. 24, Denver; Feb. 27, Portland; March 2, San Francisco ; March 5, Los Angeles. Penn.- Jersey Owners Will Aid Wac Drive Philadelphia. Feb. 5. — Theatres in Southern New Jersey and Delaware will cooperate in a special WAC re- cruiting campaign this month. A meeting was held between WAC representatives and local distribution representatives of the War Activities Committee to determine the best meth- od of disributing a WAC trailer. In- addition, the distributors are co- operating in the booking of four two- minute trailers made by the Signal Corps urging people to get war jobs. It was suggested that the best meth- od of distribution would be by tacking the subjects onto newsreels. Due to the limited number of prints available, this will be done, but by designated territories only. The first subject went to the Southern New Jersey terri- tory. Pennsylvania and Delaware will be covered later. Another 'Clean BilV Chicago, Feb. 5. — The police censor board has given the industry a clean bill of health for the sixth consecu- tive month. During January, the board reviewed 70 films, and made neither rejections or adult classifica- tions. .OWCSt .ATI, „#gOiT twice » »*t \ vmjr / M.T.C mlhiii tiivicf \. / Qtat t-OOtl-2-3-4 ftetASi I c a. mojkiion tooM km ocHANW oohbuwjh KIWI Tuesday, February 6, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 Production Is Off Slightly; 41NowinWork Review Hollywood, Feb. 5. — Production slackened slightly as 10 features went to cutting rooms, and work started on eight others. There were 41 pic- tures in work, compared to 43 in the previous week. The production scene follows : Columbia Finished: "Ten Cents a Dance," '"The Fighting Guardsman," "A Thousand and One Xights." Shooting: "Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion," "Over 21," "Kiss and Tell" (Sol Siegel). M-G-M u Shooting : "Yolanda and the Thief," "The Harvey Girls," "Her Highness and the Bellboy," "Weekend at the Waldorf." Monogram Finished : "The Radio Murder" (formerly "The Robot Murder"). Started: "The County Fair," with Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Billy Bene- dict; "Flaming Frontier," with John- ny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Joan Woodbury. Paramount Started: "The Weil-Groomed Bride," with Ray Milland, Olivia de Havilland, Sonny Tufts ; "You Came Along" (Hal Wallis), with Robert Cummings. Lizabeth Scott, Don De- fore. Shooting : "Masquerade in Mexi- co," "Too Good to Be True." PRC Shooting : "Undercover Girl," "En- chanted Forest," "Stranger in the Family" (formerly "Deadline"). RKO Radio Started: "The Most Dangerous Game," with John Loder, Edgar Bar- rier, Audrey Long and Russell Wade. Shooting: "George White's Scan- dals of 1945," "Man Alive," "Those Endearing Young Charms," "The Spanish Main," "Invisible Army." Republic Finished: "New Faces of 1945," "Desperadoes of Dakota." Started: "The Amazing Mr. M," with Joseph Schildkraut, Eugene Pal- lette and Billie Burke. Shooting : "Bells of Rosarita." 20th Century-Fox Finished: "Colonel Effingham's Raid," "A Bell for Adano." Shooting : "Caribbean Mystery," "Two-Faced Quilligan," "The Dolly Sisters," "State Fair," "Captain Eddie." United Artists Finished: "Guest Wife" (Skirball- "Paris — Underground" "Captain Kidd" (Bo- Manning) . Shooting : f Bennett) ; geaus). • Universal Finished: "Invitation to Death." Started : "Strange Confession," with Lon Chaney, Brenda Joyce and J. Carrol Naish. Shooting : "The Naughty Nineties," "Lady on a Train," "That's the Spir- it," "A Night in Paradise," Warners Started: "Too Young to Know," with Joan Leslie, Robert Hutton, Dolores Moran and Arthur Shields. "See My Lawyer ( U niversal ) Fa Mt^r-T-, • Hollywood, Feb. 5. LAAKED by vaudeville and floorshow acts given plenty of footage in which to do their stuff, Olsen and Johnson stampede through this comedv with characteristic disregard of everything but the business of getting laughs, and the}- get quite a few of them during their periods of presence in the pic- ture, which are fewer and shorter than is good for the whole of the enterprise. \\ hen they are off the screen the picture settles down into routine farce played well enough, but differently, by picture regulars whose names make quite a roster for lobby or marquee. As it stands, a medley of divertisements rather than an entity of entertainment, it gives fair account of its 67 minutes. Supporting the comedians are Grace McDonald, Alan Curtis, Xoah Beery, Jr., Franklin Pangborn, Edward S. Brophy, Richard Benedict, Lee Patrick, Gus Schilling, and others, in the story proper. Set into- the picture, much of which takes place in a night club, are the King Cole Trio, the Four Teens, Yvette, Hudson Wonders, the Christianis, Six Willys, the Rogers Adagio Trio, and Carmen Amaya and her company. These specialties make their separate appeals to interest, most of them effective enough for the time allotted them. Seven song numbers, three of them by Milton Rosen and Everett Carter, are utilized in the proceedings, with "Take It Away," sung by Miss McDonald and company, the standout. Production is by Edmund L. Hartman, from a screenplay by himself and Stanley Davis, based on the George Abbott stage production of the same name. Direction is by Eddie Cline. All of these craftsmen combine their talents to fabricate a whole that is less impressive than some of its parts. Running time, 67 minutes. "G."* Release date, not set. William R. Weaver *"G" denotes general classification. FCC Budget Cut, but Activity Unchanged Washington, Feb. 5. — The House Appropriations Committee today ap- proved the appropriation of $5,005,400 for operation of the Federal Com- munications Commission in 1945-46, a decrease of $1,306,943 from the cur- rent fund, but juggled the figures so as to provide an additional $726,000 for the FCC's regular work. This was accomplished by cutting down the appropriation for FCC na- tional Defense activities which are gradually being curtailed, and trans- ferring part of the saving to radio- control functions to take care of an anticipated increase in standard and FM applications. The same bill also carried $920,934 for operation of the national archives. cut of $150,406 from this year's ap- propriation. 2 Red Cross Pledges Sent to Theatres Legion Classifies Seven More Films The Legion" of Decency this week classified in Class A-I : Republic's "The Great Stagecoach Robbery" and Monogram's "They Shall Have Faith." In Class A-II are : Republic's "Chi- cago Kid," Universal's "Frisco Sal," PRC's "The Kid Sister," RKO's "What a Blonde" and Columbia's "Youth on Trial." TBA to Get Award The Veteran Wireless Operators Association will present the Marconi Memorial Plaque to Television Broad- casters Association, at a dinner on Feb. 17, at the Hotel Astor here, it was reported by Wrilliam J. McGon- igle, president of the YWOA. Shooting : "This Love of Ours,'1 "Mildred Pierce," "Three Strangers.' Independent Shooting : "Ten Little Indians" (Popular Pictures, Inc.). The national committee for the in- dustry's Red Cross War Fund Week, Mar. 15-21, has sent two special drive pledges to exhibitors as an added stim- ulus in enlisting their aid for the cam- paign. One pledge is a card already stamped and addressed to the theatre's exchange area exhibitor chairman which only requires the manager's signature. The second pledge is re- tained by the manager as a "reminder of the biggest job we have to do." This is the first time the War Ac- tivities Committee has supplied ex- hibitors with two pledges on a drive. Ohio Red Cross Lunch Cleveland, Feb. 5. — A local indus- try Red Cross Luncheon is scheduled to be held Monday, Feb. 26, at the Statler Hotel, with N. Peter Rathvon, industry Red Cross chairman, and William Scully as guest speakers. Joe Krenitz is making arrangements. Hollywood M Will Rebuild Trace Port Gibson, Miss., Feb. 5. — Plans have been announced for the rebuild- ing of the Trace Theatre which was destroyed by fire last December. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 5 ICHEL KRAIKE has been signed by Columbia to a seven- year contract. His next production for that studio will be "I Love a Bandleader." . . . Arthur T. Horman has been assigned by Universal to de- velop and produce his original come- dy, "The Runaround." . . . Helen Pen- der has been added to the cast of the current Warner production, "Too Young to Know." . . . 20th Century- Fox has selected Martha Stewart, nightclub dancer for one of the top roles in "Three Little Girls in Blue." • Julie Gibson has had her Para- mount contract renewed. . . . Vernon Keays has been assigned by Columbia to direct "Rhythm Roundup" third in a series of Western musicals being produced this season by Colbert Clark. . . . Richard Loo has been selected for the role of a Japanese officer in RKO's "First Man into Tokyo." . . . Robert Middlemass has replaced J. Edward Bromberg in the cast of 20th Century-Fox's "The Dolly Sisters." . . . Leigh Jason will direct "Song of Broadway", which Burt Kelly is slat- ed to produce for Columbia. • Billy De Wolfe has been cast for the comedy lead in Paramount's "Our Hearts Were Growing Up," which Danny Dare will produce. . . . Marvin Schenck, Eastern talent ex- ecutive for M-G-M, is visiting the Culver City studio. . . . Steve Fish- er is writing the screenplay for RKO's "Deadlier than the Male." . . . Don Costello has been signed for the forthcoming Pine-Thomas production, "Follow that Woman." The publicity firm of George Glass and Associates has been retained by William Cagney to line up exploita- tion angles in connection with the campaign for Cagney's "Blood on the Sun," soon to be released by United Artists. The deal also calls for the new publicity firm to devise a long range public relations program for the Cagnev company. • / irginia Grey lias been signed for the top featured role in Universal's "Men in Her Diary", which is to star Jon Hall, Louise Allbritton and Peg- gy Ryan. . . . Reinhold Schunsel has been selected for a role in 20th Cen- tury-Fox's forthcoming production, "Dragonwyck." . . . Virginia O'Brien is the latest to join the all-star cast of M-G-M's "Ziegfeld Follies." RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. ST. LOUIS TRADE SHOWING OF "THE BODY SNATCHER" FRIDAY, FEB. 9, at 1:00 P.M. S'RENCO PROJECTION ROOM, 3143 OLIVE ST., ST. LOUIS, MO. v-.v. i l' a * - Y of a triumphant boxoffice career! Selznick International's heart-touching romance sets the success pattern for the nation's boxoffices in its record-breaking openings in San Diego, Los Angeles (three theatres, simultaneously) and Minneapolis! CD** v» *VJ1 ^ t^. z9 ***** * HEN V0i nok«*s of \ \ CO. SO' SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL presents GINGER ROGERS JOSEPH COTTEN SHIRLEY TEMPLE Directed by WILLIAM DIETERLE • Produced by DORE SCHARY Screen play by Marion Parsonnet • From a story by Charles Martin RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS RUSSIANS 30 MILES TO BERLIN ALLIES 305 MILES TO BERLIN WARNERS 25 DAYS TO ii HOTEL BERLIN ii JACK L.WARNER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SIG.S THAT PLEDGE CARD: RED CROSS DRIVE— MARCH 15-21 First in and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, to the Picture Industry tion VOL. 57. NO. 27 NEW YORK, U. S. A., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1945 TEN CENTS Raw Stock for Foreign Films Being Sought WPB Seeks Solution, Avoiding Discrimination Washington, Feb. 6. — The War Production Board is endeavoring now to formulate arrangements by which British and other foreign producers may obtain raw stock here for release prints of their pictures which have been set for American dis- tribution, it was learned today. Unless special provision is made for British and other producers to obtain raw stock direct, indications are that foreign product might be effectively barred from this market throughout 1945. The drastically reduced raw stock supply expected to prevail throughout most of the year, together with the smaller allocations of stock to American companies, make it ex- tremely unlikely that the latter would (Continued on page 14) Field Grosses In January Beat All 1944 Box office receipts at some 140 first-run theatres in key cities spurted in January following the seasonal pre-Christmas recession and attained heights well in advance of January. 1944, according to a tabu- lation of Motion Picture Daily field correspondents' reports. Weekly av- erages per house, consistently better than in any month during the year preceding:, ranged from S16.826 to 520,765. The latter figure is a two- year record, nosing slightly ahead of the week ending Jan. 7-8, 1944, which had stood un- surpassed during the twelve months following. Highest (Continued on page 14) City Denies Coal to 24 Film Theatres Edwin A. Salmon. New York City fuel administrator, disclosed yesterday that 24 motion picture houses and four legitimate theatres had applied for coal, and were denied deliveries. New York is just beginning to feel the effect of the freight embargo, Salmon stated, but the Penn- sylvania Railroad disclosed that substantial supplies of anthracite were arriving. Decree Change Would Take in 8 Distributors Gov't Seeks Amendment On Clearance for All 7 th Loan, Mid-May; Commend Pinanski Stock Cut for Other Groups Washington, Feb. 6. — Cuts in raw stock comparable to those announced last week for the feature and news- reel branches of the film industry- were in sight today for producers of industrial and advertising films fol- lowing meetings between War Pro- duction Board officials and industry advisory committees representing those fields. No decision has been reached as to (.Continued on page 14) Disney's Quarterly Net Is 8391,000 Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Net income of Walt Disney Productions for 13 weeks ended Dec. 30 was 8391,000, before in- come taxes and subject to fiscal year- end adjustments, according to a report to the stockholders in their annual meet- ing here today. This compares with $139,000 for the corresponding period the year before. Net current and working assets were increased by $392,991 during the quarter, resulting from a $386,523 in- (Continued on page 18) U A Will Dub 5 to 7 Films in Spanish United Artists will dub from five to seven of its current feature pro- grams in Spanish, and has already started on David O. Selznick's "Since You Went Away", nearing completion. M-G-M's dubbing facilities here will be used for some of the films. Others scheduled are : David Loew's "Hold Autumn in Your Hand." Hunt Stromberg's "Guest in the House," (Continued on page 14) ^Washington, Feb. 6. — The Seventh War Loan will probably get under way in mid-May, with theatres and the motion picture industry again par- ticipating im- portantly, led by Samuel Pinan- ski of M. and P. Theatres, Boston, newly appointed indus- try drive chair- man. Specific dates for the drive, the total sales quota and other details will be disclosed here later this month, follow- ing a general conference b e - tween officials of the TreasmVs War (Continued on page 7) The Government's attempt to have the industry consent decree amended so as to eliminate clear- ance between theatres charging the same admission price is being ex- tended to apply as well to the non- decree companies, Universal, Co- lumbia and United Artists. This became apparent yester- day with the disclosure that the three non-decree companies, as well as the five decree signa- tory companies, have been served in the Government's new Federal court action against clearance and the control of (Continued on page 18) Samuel Pinanski Buying Rush Follows Cut High Frequency Video 5 Years After War: Fly SPU Plans to File Conspiracy Charge Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Follow- ing conferences with assis- tant U.S. Attorney James M. Carter, Screen Players Union executives said today that the organization will file charges of "criminal conspiracy" against the producers and the Screen Actors Guild. The Union also sent the National Labor Relations Board a tele- gram asserting SAG is co- ercing extra players to join that organization. The prediction that commercial tele- vision will move up to the higher fre- quencies within five years after the war was voiced here yesterday by James Lawrence Fly, former chair- man of the Federal Communications Commission, in commenting upon the new FCC frequency allocations re- leased last month, which continues regular television in lower frequen- cies for the time being. Fly and Ralph B. Austrian, executive vice- president of the RKO Television Corp., were guest speakers at a lunch- eon of the Television Press Club at the Hotel Sheraton here. Fly said tremendous achievements are ahead for television in channels (Continued on page 7) Chicago, Feb. 6. — Announcement of the new reduced raw stock alloca- tions to producers has resulted in a surge of product sales activity in all local exchanges. Exhibitors, eager to secure as much of a backlog of products as possible, are signing up not only for new pictures but,- in some cases, are also buying up pic- (Continued on page 14) Film Classics Buying TVoMoreExchanges Film Classics is negotiating for acquisition of two additional branches, at present operated by franchise holders. The company owns the branch in New York, and has 21 'outside' exchanges, L. E. Goldham- mer. vice-president and general sales manager, told Motion Pictlue Daily here yesterday. Goldhammer, who recently returned (Continued on page 15) Reviewed Today Reviews of "Crime, Inc." and "Sheriff of Cimarron" appear on page 15. 2 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, February 7, 1945 Insider's Outlook By RED KANN ^— Personal Mention J ROBERT RUBIN, general coun- . sel and vice-president of M-G-M, will leave Phoenix, Arizona, within a week for the Coast. • Wolfe Cohen, Warner sales man- ager for Oceania, South America and the Far East, will leave the Coast Friday for Mexico, Panama and Aus- tralia following studio conferences. • Lee Septembre and Vera Rich- ardson, Columbia field exploiteer and member of the Washington ex- change, respectively, have married. • Col. Melvin Gillette, Army Sig- nal Corps photographic division, has ended a furlough here and is en route to a war zone. • Ben Goetz, managing director of M-G-M's British studios, will leave Hollywood for New York on Tues- day. • Sam; Horowitz, Vanguard Mid- western sales manager, is in New York from Chicago for conferences with Neil Agnew. • Irving Wormser, Film Classics' Eastern sales manager, will return here today from the Southern and Eastern territories. • Fred Jack, United Artists South- ern division manager, has returned to Atlanta from a busines trip to Jack- sonville and Miami, Fla. • Rhoda Magid of Warner Theatres field sueprvisor's department, has mar- ried Sgt. Phil Robinson, home on leave from Iran. • E. K. O'Shea, Eastern sales man- ager of M-G-M, will be back at his desk today after a week's illness. • C. K. Stern, assistant Loew treas- urer, is vacationing with Mrs. Stern in Atlantic City. • Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio sales manager, will be in Chicago for a Red Cross Drive meeting Feb. 23. • E. L. Walton, Republic assistant general sales manager, has returned to New York from the Coast. • Marvin Schenck. Eastern talent head of M-G-M, will leave the Coast Friday for New York. • Sir Alexander Korda will leave the Coast Feb. 13 for New York and will proceed to England. • C. J. Scollard, Paramount home office executive, has returned to New York from Los Angeles. M. E. Morey, Monogram executive, has left New York for Washington. Alfred Hitchcock is in New York from the Coast. Hollywood, Feb. 6 HP HEY want further clarifica- -■• tion here in Hollywood of the new WPB directive govern- ing the allocation and disposal of raw stock. While the order goes far in establishing the four walls within which the industry must now conform, there is also a feeling afloat that all of the an- swers are not yet in. The basis for this immediate reaction, in a way, ties to the conditions bearing on the offi- cial limitation now placed on re- lease prints. WPB declares that limit is to be 285 prints per picture. But, at once, it amends its own declared ceiling by point- ing out appeals may be made if prints reach an exhaustion point before earning possibilities are realized. Out of this arises the specula- tion if appeals or modifications may prove in order under a set of conditions which might not hit daylight pending more de- tailed examination as to the facts. The speculation, hope- fully, embraces that occasionally productive piece of business known widely as the extenuating circumstance. ■ From the viewpoint of the in- dependent producer, the reaction is one of signal victory. This resides in the reversal of the earlier approach for the new ap- proach which establishes the manufacturer (producer) as the entity to whom the raw mate- rials of manufacture now are to go. As a result," there are those who feel their business future hereafter will take on an entirely new coloration. Here is why they think so : An independent producer, un- til now under the old agreement, had to draw upon the distribu- tor's quota for film with which to make the product that he (the producer) thereafter delivered to the distributor. Theoreti- cally, at least, this sort of cir- cumstance could have had its ef- fect on the business relationships between the producer, and the terms he sought in his releasing deal, and the distributor, and the terms he might have agreed to give the producer. The independent, consequently, has been proceeding under the impression he has not been as free an agent as he felt he had the right to be. ■ All of this could make a dif- ference, as perhaps this incident may point up: One important producer, hav- ing made his first deal with a national distributor who supplied the raw stock, is holding back on a renewal despite the fact a sec- ond deal had been practically signatured. He is holding back because he will now get his film on his own representations with- out the need to turn to his dis- tributor. He feels, therefore, that his trading position in re- lationship to a renewal, if he em- barks upon one, has undergone a significant change in his be- half. ■ One of the most interesting angles of the reorganized setup has to do with the industry-wide "freeze" as of 1944, which Stan- ley Adams has advised Motion Picture Daily is to prevail. As head of the Consumers' Dur- able Goods division of the WPB, he ought to know. The regulations do not take into account the fate of those producers who had not completed a picture from 1941 to the end of 1944 or to new companies formed after January 1 of this year. This can only mean an effective restraint on new enter- prise, by Government order. In turn, this can only mean a con- striction in the competitive as- pects of the industry. In normal times, this would not be possible and, it appears axiomatic to assume, would not be legal. In war times, the state of affairs is different, of course. But already there has been heard — vaguely and with no assurance as to final validity — the scattered speculation if such a sweeping move as this can hold up even as a war-period regulation. ■ For example, a current situa- tion now confronts a production enterprise which was not in exis- tence in the 1941-44 period. Concerned in this case is a prop- erty representing six handsome figures. Plans are in progress for its filming, but the producer has no raw stock upon which to draw. The distributor through whom he is contracted to release is in no position to provide it, more- over. What does this producer now do? Walk away from his releasing deal for a new one with another distributor who can sup- ply the film? Or remain on the inactive list? No one in this column's path, thus far at any rate, has an answer. Silverstein Recalled By OWI for Europe Maurice (Red) Silverstein, who re- cently was named Caribbean manager for Universal, has been recalled to active duty by the Office of War In- formation's overseas motion picture bureau. Silverstein will leave shortly for the European area, where he will receive his assignment. Still another interesting slant is the approach of one executive who knows the ways of produc- tion and also of distribution. He believes the limitation of 285 prints per attraction is an excel- lent development. On this rea- soning: When prints are splashed around liberally, it permits his sales manager to fill quick dates and thereby effect a fast playoff. For rapid liquidation, this is O.K. For volume, it is N.G., as against better terms and better grosses, distributor-wise, if the selling were more careful. This man recognizes less haste means slower return, more book- keeping and probably greater selling cost. But his conviction is these factors are relatively unimportant alongside the op- portunity for bigger returns on a less hurried selling basis. Therefore, he feels the limita- tion on prints, which will mean more care and more economy in filling the physical requirements of distribution, is a step in a de- sired direction. ■ These observations touch off quick impressions of what the raw stock changeover may mean. No doubt, there will be others as the directive is explored the further and more definite conclu- sions may be drawn. ■ ■ May 3 here: "The real reason (for Jimmy Grainger's second visit here in three weeks) was something else. ... It concerns two, and maybe three, big production deals with extremely important directors. These picture makers would be on their own. Herb Yates would finance. Republic, of course, would release." First of the steps then hinted: Republic's deal with Frank Bor- zage. It represents a large-sized step forward for that company, and the first of others on the way. While the full intention is to maintain Republic in the mass- market position which it now enjoys, Yates is after larger ob- jectives. Example: Twelve to fourteen big attractions each year. They'll cost plenty of money, each by itself. But that's precisely what Yates intends. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden S ABBOTT COSTELIO r ' I * PEGGY RYAN Martha O'Driscoll Donald Cook Lon Chaney June Vincent Charles Dingle Richard Lane s and PHIL SPITALNY HOUR OF HI ALL GIRL featuring EVELYN and her Magic ViolK Screw* Hay by Arthur T Hormon and iohf Bcnad on an original jtory by Edmund I. Hci Directed by JEAN YARBROUG+ Produced by JOHN GRANT 18 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 7, 1945 Interlochen Camp Blacklisted by AFM The National Music Camp at Inter- lochen. Mich., has been placed on the "unfair list" of the .American Fed- eration of Musicians, a move designed by the union to strip the school of the services of its faculty and to present the strongest possible barrier to a re- sumption of concerts by the National High School Orchestra, it became known yesterday. If the four national networks or an individual radio station should carry the concerts of the high school students, they are liable to lose the services of musicians on all programs. The listing of the Interlochen camp as "unfair," the climax of the union's two-year controversy with the school, was regarded as the labor group's answer to a bill of Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg of Michigan. The bill, specifically intended to make it illegal to interfere with such programs as the Interlochen radio concerts, was passed unanimously last Friday by the Senate and is now before the House. Gov't Seeks Amendment On Clearance for All French Industry in Need of Support If the new French Government sup- ports the French film industry, as ex- pected, that industry is capable of be- coming second only to Hollywood in production, according to Jack Mandel- blatt, former film buyer in pre-war Paris, who has arrived in this country. Mandelblatt said that the French turned out 130 films at their produc- tion peak in pre-war years, some of which warranted worldwide distribu- tion. Principal handicap to French pro- duction heretofore has been the reluc- tance of large French banks to finance films and consequently, most films were not big enough, production-wise, for the world market, disclosed Man- delblatt. French production is still virtually at a standstill because many studios were destroyed and much equipment was destroyed by the Germans or carted away, Mandelblatt said. American films will still be the pre- dominant force in the French market, he added, because patrons there pre- fer their tempo, compared to that of the English film. J. Arthur Rank's reported buying an interest in French Gaumont, he said, will be followed by the British film leader entering French production, and for every French pic- ture he produces he will release five British. Mandelblatt will shortly reenter tbe film industry here. (Continued from page 1) minimum or advanced admis- sion prices by distributors. Indications are, industry attorneys say, that if the Government is success- ful in its initial offers to have the clearance proposals embodied in the decree, it will immediately thereafter seek an injunction against the three non-decree companies, and possibly others, to restrain them by court order from "selling clearance" to competi- tive theatres charging the same admis- sion or to slightly competitive thea- tres. Clearance briefs were served by the Government on Schwartz and Froh- lich, counsel for Columbia ; O'Brien, Driscoll and Raitery, representing United Artists, and Charles D. Prutz- man and Adolph Schimel, Universal attorneys, as well as on decree com- panies. The Department of Justice, in the brief, attacks any and all control of admission prices by distributors, whether specification of minimum prices or advanced admission prices. It charges distributors exercise con- trol over admission prices in present methods of selling and that such a procedure is in violation of the Sher- man Act. Not So Simple Company attorneys, commenting on the brief, said the question is not as simple as the Government represents. They maintain that it is the. exhibitor who fixes his admission prices and even in cases where films are offered for sale at advanced admission prices it is still the exhibitor who has con- trol over the admission prices he is to charge by retaining the preroga- tive to refuse to buy the film if the advanced admission price provision is one of the conditions of his purchase of the film. In citing what it believes is unreas- onable clearance under the decree and under the Sherman Act, the Depart ment says in its brief : "Clearance re- strictions have traditionally been im posed by distributors in this industry on the theory that their ownership of copyright on the films distributed en titled them to impose such restrictions on the exhibition of films in theatres as are necessary and appropriate to realize the maximum revenue from the exploitation of the copyright. Upon this theory, distributors have custom arily undertaken to fix the minimum admission prices at which their films should be exhibited to the public in all of the theatres they license and maintenance of these minimum prices is made a condition of the enjoyment of such run (priority of exhibition in a particular area) and clearance privi- leges as the license grants. Such a use of run, clearance and admission price restrictions is keyed to the existing system of distribution, which involves the playing of the same film on suc- cessive runs in various theatres in the same competitive area at successively reduced admission prices." "Obviously," the Department con- tends, "the first-run exhibitors would not ordinarily be expected to pay film rentals based upon the receipt of the highest admission price in a competi- tive area unless there were some as- surance that the film they exhibited would not be exhibited elsewhere in the area at substantially lower prices until after the lapse of some reason able period of time. Nevertheless, even such price-fixing has been held to be illegal when used to protect a theatre operating monoply from inde pendent competition by destroying an existing price differential between sub sequent runs in the same city. Not Paid for Vending Continuing this reasoning, the De partment asserts : "As the minimum ad mission price fixed in the film license is not a price paid for the privilege of vending, performing or reproducing the copyrighted film, such a price re striction does not appear to be a bona fide exercise of any of the exclusive privileges granted by the copyright laws under any circumstances. The price paid for such a privilege is the sum paid by the exhibitor to the dis- tributor for the use of the film in his theatre, designated in the license as a film rental. Whether this sum is stated as a flat figure or a percentage of the gross receipts, it will vary with the ability of the film to attract pa- trons to the theatre and the distributor thus has a financial stake in the ex- hibitor's admission prices^ which de- termine the extent and value of that patronage. However, this kind of stake in the price at which the prod- uct is ultimately merchandised does not permit an interstate distributor of the product to fix the price at which others' will vend it to the public. Such price-fixing violates the Sherman Act," the Department contends. Actors Valuable As Morale Builders To Army: Harding Actors Equity spokesmen declare here that actors, directors and techni- cians of screen and stage "are more valuable as morale builders than they would be in defense plants." 'If they should be deferred from the Armed Forces because of over- age limitations, or because they can- not meet physical requirements, it is our belief that they should be allowed to continue in their profession, and not be placed in a defense plant, where their general lack of training would make them little more than absolute novices, hardly capable of doing: as much good as they might be able to do on screen, or stage, or in enter- taining troops through the USO," Alfred Harding, of Actors Equity Association told Motion Picture Daily. No Blanket Deferments "This does not mean that we will request blanket deferments for actors or technicians. If the Army needs them they should go ; we have never asked for any deferment for an actor, and we shall not do so now. Nor are we going to plan to fight any act passed by Congress which might be construed as "War-work-or-else,' but we will bring to the War Manpower Commission's attention the immense good that both films and stage do for the Armed Forces and civilian morale, and we shall ask that this be kept in mind when demanding that unskilled actors go into war plants. "Equity will take no action until Congress passes its service legislation, since it would be ridiculous to try to protect our people against something which is not even a law. After it be- comes law, and after legal interpreta- tions are placed on that law, then we can decide what course to follow. "The possibility that actors may work in plants part of the time, and on the stage or screen another part of the time, which is now being con- sidered by the League of New York Theatres, is a possibility, although on the surface it hardly seems practical," Harding concluded. < Sorrell Testifies at SOEG Fund Trial Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Testifying here today for the Screen Office Em- ployees Guild in the suit brought by dissident members charging a fund collected by assessment on the mem- bership was used for political pur- poses in the last election, Conference of Studio Unions President Herbert Worrell, to whose organization $2.f)ftfl from the SOEG fund was given, said the amount had been designated for use in fighting "Proposition 12." State Assemblyman Albert Dekker, supported by CSU in the campaign, testified he did not know whether $700 used in his campaign was SOEG money, as the complainants allege. The case is expected to continue sev- eral days. Disney's Quarterly Net: $391,000 (Continued from page 1) crease in current working assets and a $6,468 decrease in liabilities. Preferred stockholders elected George E. Jones and Harry E. Ed- ington as directors representing pre- ferred stock; common shareholders elected Walter E. Disney, Roy O. Disney, Gunther R. Lessing and Edna F. Disney. Newly elected directors elected Walter E. Disney, president: Roy O. Disney, vice president, secretary and treasurer ; Gunther E. Lessing vice president, Paul L. Pease, comptroller and assistant treasurer, and Paul C. Scanlon and Franklin Waldheim as- sistant secretaries. Theatre Architects Win Chicago, Feb. 6. — Arthur Frederick Adams and William F. Clark, theatre architects, won the $5,000 first prize in the WGN-Chicago Theatre of the Air competition for 'the most beautiful and efficient radio studio theatre of the world' which will be constructed here after the war. Adams designed the Paramount in New York and the Oriental and Southtown theatres, here. FOREIGN DISTRIBUTOR WANTS unreleased or reissue films for Spain, Cuba and Mexico. Distributors controlling exclusive rights are requested to submit offers. DO NOT submit other firms' product. Reply: Box 246 Motion Picture Daily 6305 Yucca St. ■ Hollywood, Cal. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents I\ompt redesigning of projector carbons to war- time needs became essential, after Pearl Harbor. Long years of research and manufacturing experience en- abled National Carbon Company not only to make the needed changes at once, but also to produce "National" carbons that gave virtually the same screen brilliance as before. Aiding us was the welcome technical cooperation of exhibitor, projectionist, and lamp manufacturer. Throughout the many months of war, this coopera- tion has "paid off" for all concerned. Of special importance is the "dividend" paid off to the war effort by the enormous quantities of cop- per saved through recovery of copper drippings and stripping of copper from carbon stubs. Because of all these cooperative efforts, patrons have overflowed theaters everywhere for the benefi- cial relaxation of good movies. Keep Your Eye on the Infantry . . . the Doughboy Does It! The registered trade-mark "National" distinguishes products of National Carbon Company, Inc. NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation mo General Offices: 30 East 42nd Street, New York 17, N. Y. Division Sales Offices: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Picture Industry 'OL. 57. NO. 28 NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1945 TEN CENTS Seven Films Top Average In 12 Cities Expansion to Fill Jobs for 'GY Substitutes 'Meet Me in St. Louis' Leads for Second Time By MILTON LIVINGSTON "Meet Me in St. Louis," in a big initial week in San Francisco, in strong second weeks in Baltimore and Kansas City and in an out- standing seventh week in Philadelphia, leads for the second consecutive week in Motion Picture Daily's survey of first-run theatre grosses, excluding New York City, for the week ending Feb. 7. Seven films were above av- erage during the week in the cities reported upon. Besides "Meet Me in St. Louis," they were, according to their ranking, "Here Come the Waves," "To Have and Have Not," "Keys of the Kingdom," "A Song to Remember," "Princess and the Pir- ate" and "Hollywood Canteen." Cities reporting were Boston, Chi- cago, Denver, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, (Continued on page 6) Will Map Red Cross Film Drive Feb. 15 Members of the industry's national Red Cross committee will meet with industry leaders who will address Red Cross meetings throughout the coun try at a luncheon-conference at the University Club here next Thursday ; the meeting was called by N. Peter Rathvon, national chairman of the in dustry's 1945 Red Cross 'War Fund Week.' Among those who will conduct the out-of-town meetings and who will be present at the luncheon are : Charles (Continued on page 3) 50,000 Candlepower For Astor Premiere Prevented by the current 'brownout from dressing up the Astor Theatre with flood and marquee lights for the Broadway premiere tomorrow of "The Princess and the Pirate," Samue Goldwyn yesterday received a glim- mer of hope of a solution of the light mg problem when he read this wire from Jackson Parks, Coast publicist (Continued on page 6) Expansion contemplated by most of the film companies, their execu- tives say, will absorb a sufficient number of servicemen substitutes in most office positions, to preclude any wholesale discharges, when the serv- icemen return to their jobs. The War Activities Committee, having compiled a list of the number of personnel of the film industry now in service, finds that some 45,000 men and women, em- ployed by the companies prior to Dec. 7, 1941, are now in the Armed Forces, and while doubling up on jobs has been one method of solving the problem of new employees, some additional 25,000 workers are now in (Continued on page 7) SPU May Strike Again Tomorrow Hollywood, Feb. 7. — A new strike by the Screen Players Union, on Fri- day, is possible, according to SPU president Harry Mayo, unless a com- munication from the National Labor Relations Board, expected tomorrow, opens the way for a satisfactory settle- ment of the jurisdictional dispute with the Screen Actors Guild over bit play- ers, stunt performers and singing ex- tras. Mayo said a local representative of (Continued on page 6) Weather Break Eases Fuel Problem With the weather-break, and a resumption of coal de- liveries, the situation con- fronting New York's 700 the- atres is considerably eased, and there is little likelihood of any closings. Most the- atres now have sufficient coal to meet any but an extraordi- nary emergency, and those which do not have purchased cordwood in sufficient quanti- ties to ward off shutdowns. O'Connor, Sanford Head Charity Group John J. O'Connor, vice-president of Universal Pictures, has been named chairman of the film industry division of the special gifts committee of the A r c h b i s fl- op's Committee of the Laity for the 1945 appeal of New York Catholic Char- i t i e s, it was announced here yesterday by J o h n A. Coleman, executive chair- man of the committee. Again serving with O'Connor will be Bert Sanford, of Al- tec Service, as vice-chairman. Post- (Continued on page 7) IATSE Seeks Jurisdiction In Television Will Claim Same Jobs It Controls Elsewhere Believing that at least 60 per cent of television programming in the early postwar years will be on films, the IATSE is studying all aspects of television broadcasting with an eye to seeking jurisdiction over many types of jobs performed both in television studios and in producing programs for television, Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, has dis- closed to Motion Picture Daily.. There are 100 applications on file with the Federal Communi- cations Commission for permis- sion to build commercial tele- vision stations, and there are five stations now operating in (Continued on page 3) John J. O'Connor 'IA' Orders Drives for Theatre Managers Halted The IATSE executive board has directed that all attempts to organize theatre managers and assistant mana- gers by IATSE locals be discontin- ued, warning that no authorization has been granted to any 'IA' local to or- ganize managers, it was learned here this week. IATSE projectionists' local No. 110 in Chicago would appear to be one of the locals hit. The only known active group of managers is the Motion Picture The- atre Operating Managers and Assist- ant Managers Guild, representing managers and assistants in the 40 RKO theatres in the Metropolitan New York area. The Guild, which has no affiliation with either the AFL or the CIO is presently involved in a contract dispute with RKO before the -Regional War Labor Board here. However, IATSE locals are being encouraged to concentrate upon or- ganization drives of other front-of- the-house employes, including ushers, doormen, cashiers and matrons. IATSE locals in New York and Chi- cago recently embarked upon organi- zation drives among those workers with drives in other cities expected under existing 'IA' charters. It is considered likely that the IATSE might grant a charter to cashiers in the RKO theatres here who recently organized with the RKO managers but were ordered separated from that group by the New York State Labor Relations Board. Newbury, Dollinger Head Buying Group An initial membership of 65 North- ern New Jersey theatres, preponder- antly those of officers and members of Allied Theatre Owners of New Jer- sey, are included in the ranks of In- dependent Theatre Service, Inc., new- ly formed buying combine, it was announced yesterday. Officers of the organization are: (Continued on page 7) Adams of WPB Will Meet ITOA's Cohen Max Cohen, chairman of the film committee of the Independent Theatre Owners Association, will meet tomor- row with Stanley Adams, head of War Production Board Consumers Durable Goods Division, on the recently an- nounced raw stock cut limiting the number of prints per picture. The ITOA board met Feb. 2 on the (Continued on page 3) In This Issue Review of "Let's Go Steady" appears on page 3, Motion Picture Daily's booking chart, page 11. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, February 8, 1945 1944 Net of CBS Up to $4,678,000 Personal Mention Columbia Broadcasting System had net earnings of approximately $4,678,- 000 for the fiscal year ended Dec. 30, 1944, compared with a net of $4,535,- 900 for the year preceding, according to a preliminary report to the stock- holders made here yesterday by Frank K. White, vice-president and treasur- er. The 1944 net is equivalent to $2.72 per share of stock, a rise from $2.64 per share earned in 1943. Both cal- culations are based on 1,717,076 shares of $2.50 par value stock outstanding. Prior to estimating last year's net, CBS made a provision of $8,250,000 for Federal income and excess profits taxes, an increase of $675,000 over the 1943 provision. A 10 per cent ex- cess profits postwar credit amounting to $649,000 is not included in the 1944 tax figure. The board of directors yesterday declared a cash dividend of 40 cents on the Class A and Class B $2.50 par- value stock, payable March 2 to stock- holders of record Feb. 16. The annual financial report will be distributed April 1. Nizer Wins Savoy, Jamaica, Action After a three weeks' trial, Justice Steinbrink of Supreme Court, Queens County, has ruled in favor of Jack J. Alterman, Lewis B. Alterman, and the Long Island M. P. Co., operators of the Savoy Theatre, Jamaica, L. I., in an action brought by a stockholder, William Isensee, who claimed that the Altermans, while in control of the Long Island M. P. Co., which owned the theatre building, made a lease to themselves in the name of the Coy Operating Co. and thus derived im- proper benefits for themselves in vio- lation of their trust as directors of both corporations. Louis Nizer, attorney for the de- fendants, contended that the Altermans opened the theatre themselves only when all prior tenants had failed and that they did so to save the theatre building because no other tenant could be obtained. The decision terminates a five-year contest involving the rights to the Savoy Theatre. Blanche Livingston Promoted by Mandel Blanche F. Livingston, long a member of the home office staff of Harry Mandel, RKO Theatres' direc- tor of advertising-publicity and a member of the board of directors of the Associated Motion Picture Ad- vertisers, has been assigned to the po- sition of handling publicity, promotion and exploitation for RKO out-of- town theatres, by Mandel. 'Tree Grows' in Manila Twentieth Century-Fox's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" will be shown to American G. I.'s in Manila before it is shown anywhere else in the world, according to an announcement by Col. E. L. Munson Jr., chief of the U. S. Army Pictorial Service. ABE SCHNEIDER, Columbia treasurer, will leave Hollywood for New York on Sunday. He has been vacationing with Mrs. Schneid- er at Palm Springs. • Myron Ira Mandel, son of Harry Mandel, RKO Theatres advertising- publicity director, and Mrs. Mandel, will be Bar Mitzvahed on Feb. 17 at the Forest Hills (L.I.) Jewish Center. A reception-luncheon will follow at the Hotel Ambassador here. • Ike and Harry Katz of PRC, At- lanta, have returned there from St. Louis. Ike was reelected to the exe- cutive committee of PRC franchise holders to serve with chairman George Gill of Washington, D. C. • Maury Goldstein, M-G-M New Haven branch manager, will arrive in Boston today for meetings with M. N. Wolf, district manager, and Tom Donaldson, branch manager. • Joseph Spivak, manager of the Music Box, New Britain, Conn., is the father of a boy, Burton, born in Hartford. M. J. Siegel, M-G-M production executive, will arrive in New York from the Coast today. • William Gleicher of the M-G-M sales department will leave for Boston today. • J. E. Flynn, M-G-M Western sales manager, will arrive in New York from Chicago next week. • Joel Levy, Loew out-of-town book- er, will leave New York today on a seven-city tour. • Morton Spring, Loew Internation- al vice-president, is visiting the Coast studios. Wynbergen, Belgium RKO Manager, Dies Leon Wynbergen, RKO Radio man- ager for Belgium, died Monday in London of a heart attack, according to a cable received here yesterday by Phil Reisman, RKO vice-president in charge of foreign distribution. Wynbergen was associated for many years with the United Kingdom sales organization of RKO and was in Lon- don awaiting restoration of stable con- ditions in Belgium before resuming his post there. Sam Angelini Killed Hamilton, Ontario, Feb. 7. — Sam Angelini, formerly of the Tivoli The- atre here, has been killed in action with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Herron Rejoins MPPDA Col. Frederick L. Herron, formerly foreign manager for the MPPDA, has returned to handle foreign details, after four years in the Army. Col. Herron entered service in March, 1941 ; he was stationed in Washing- ton. SAM DEMBOW, JR., president of Golden Prod., now on the Coast, will spend 10 days there before returning to New York. • Martin Jurow, talent executive for Hal Wallis Prod., has returned to Hollywood from New York, after at- tending the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Benjamin Jurow. • Howard Robinson, St. John, N. S., a member of the board of directors of Famous Players-Canadian, has been elected to the board of the Canadian Pacific Railway. • John W. Mangham, president of Film Classics, Atlanta, and Frank Harris of the same company, are in New York. ■ • G. L. Carrington, president of Al- tec Service Corp., left here yesterday for the Coast, stopping over in Wash- ington and Chicago en route. • Flight Lieut. John M. Weston, formerly of the Parkdale Theatre, To- ronto, is reported missing in air op- erations overseas. • Harold Cohen, special sales repre- sentative of Monogram Southern Ex- changes, is visiting Atlanta. • Harry N. Blair, PRC Eastern ad- vertising-publicity manager, is in Bos- ton. • George F. Dembow, vice-president of National Screen Service, is in Cali- fornia on a regular mid- Winter trip. • Robert M. Weitman, managing di- rector of the New York Paramount, left here for Hollywood yesterday. • James K. McGuinness, M-G-M producer, is in New York from the Coast. Folliard to Field For Depinet Drive Starting a 27-day tour that will again take him to every RKO branch in the United States and Canada, Rob- ert Folliard, RKO's Eastern district manager and 1945 'Ned Depinet Drive' captain, will leave Sunday for St. Louis, initial stop on the second tour in behalf of the drive. He will be accompanied by Harry Michalson, RKO short subject sales manager. From St. Louis Folliard and Mi- chalson will go to Kansas City, with the remainder of their itinerary fol- lowing in this order : Des Moines, Omaha, Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, Calgary, Winnipeg, Milwaukee, Chi- cago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Se- attle, Vancouver, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Okla- homa City, Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, Phil- adelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, In- dianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, Toronto, Montreal, St. John, Boston, New Haven, returning to New York March 21. The drive was officially launched Jan. 19. NFTC Bids Congress Legalize Cartels A resolution is being forwarded to members of Congress by the National Foreign Trade Council, outlining four specific recommendations for Congres- sional action on cartel-like interna- tional business agreements, which would define more clearly the type of agreements in which American com- panies could participate. j The council's recommendations are : that Congress require the filing with the Department of State of interna- tional business agreements ; that it specify the standards of the nation's foreign economic policy to be consid- ered in determining the reasonableness of possible restraints of trade in such agreements; that it specifically recog- nize that Americans may enter into agreements valid under foreign laws, provided they result in no- unreason- able restraint of trade in the United States ; and that Congress should au- thorize the State Department to give revocable approval to proposed agree- ments which it finds do not constitute unreasonable restraint of trade within the United States. Foreign Managers Honor F.C. de Wolf The international department of the MPPDA was host at a luncheon yes- terday at the Harvard Club in honor of Francis Colt de Wolf, chief of the telecommunications division of the Department of State, in appreciation for his cooperation on Industry prob- lems. Also attending were : J. A. McConville, J. Segal, Columbia ; Murray Silverstone, Ben Miggins, 20th Century- Fox; Major Arthur M. Loew, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; John W. Hicks, Jr., Geo. Weltner, Par- amount; Phil Reisman, RKO Radio; Walter Gould, T. P. Mulrooney, United Artists; C. A. Kirby, A. L. Daff, Universal; John J. Glynn, Jos. S. Hummel, Warner Bros. ; L. F. Samuels, Wm. Levy, Walt Disney. Representing the MPPDA wer^ : C. E. Milliken, F. L. Herron and H. L. Smith, with N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO, representing the committee on foreign relations of the MPPDA board of directors. Current distribution situations ob- taining in foreign countries were in- formally discussed at the luncheon. McCormick Sets Big 'Murder' Promotion An extensive trade paper advertis- ing campaign paralleling the national magazine campaign announced last week for RKO's "Murder, My Sweet" to be released starting with a special opening at the Fox Theatre, St. Louis, was announced here yesterday, February 7th, by S. Barret McCor- j mick, RKO director of advertising- publicity. Five two-page ads, all in color, have been prepared by advertising manager Ben Grimm and will break throughout the trade press starting this week, running into early March. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Thursday, February 8, 1945 Motion Picture daily 3 IATSE Seeks Jurisdiction In Television (Continued from page 1) the East, one in Chicago and two on the West Coast, besides several additional stations which are not operating at present. s In "moving in" on television, the IATSE is expected to meet jurisdic- tional disputes with both the National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians, an independent union, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of the American Federation of Labor. Among workers over which the "IA" will seek jurisdiction, because it has jurisdiction over them in either the film industry or legitimate theatre, or in both, are: projectionists who handle films in television stations, stage hands, set designers, cameramen, lighting and "boom"-microphone men, film processors and make-up and wardrobe help. NBC Has Some National Broadcasting is the only company in the field known to employ "IA" help for certain tasks in their present experimental television opera- tions, using them in station WMBT in New York. It is understood that IATSE stagehands are employed but that NABET members are on pro- jectors. Columbia Broadcasting, Du- Mont, Philco and General Electric are not believed to have any commitments with any union in their experimental television operations in the East. It is understood that "IA" locals are studying television operations of the Balaban and Katz television sta- tion in Chicago and the Paramount and Don Lee stations on the West Coast, also_ with an idea to claiming immediate jurisdiction. An "IA" conflict with the Interna- tion Brotherhood of Electrical Work- ers over jurisdiction of television op- erations manifested itself a year ago during negotiations between film com- j panies and the unions on new contracts for studio help, but the issue was side- tracked at that time. The IATSE executive board made no secret of its interest in both television and 16 mm film production which will eventually he tied in with television, at the recent meeting of its board in Minneapolis. Would Get Set Now Executives of some television sta- tions are understood to be anxious to t have all problems of worker jurisdic- i tion settled now so that the industry can go ahead without having to fear jurisdictional battles later between unions. Present plans call for the "TA" to move in on every contemplat- ed television station, since indications are that every station will have to use films for at least part of their air time, while a good portion of the remaining time will he devoted to the production of "live" shows. Para. Buys 'Dear Ruth* Hollywood, Feb. 7. — Paramount has bought the New York stasre plav "Dear Ruth" for a reported $450,000. Henry Ginsberg, executive producer, said Sonny Tufts would be starred in the film. Review Let's Go Steady (Columbia) Hollywood, Feb. 7 TED RICHMOND'S production depends for interest upon a succession of specialty numbers, all of which are staged with liveliness and vitality. The youngsters who make up the cast, headed by Pat Parrish, Jackie Moran, June Preisser and Arnold Stang, perform with earnestness and incredible energy. The screenplay, by Erna Lazarus, concerns a group of aspiring young song- writers, all of whom have been mulcted by a dishonest publisher. Descending upon the publisher en masse, they find that he is dead, and the business has come into the hands of his niece. The group join forces to peddle their own songs, and manage to do so with such success that one of them wins a cash prize in a nationwide contest. Del Lord directed to such effect that the production numbers, of which there are many, contribute to the general liveliness of the picture. Good use is made of the currently popular song, "I Don't Want to Love You." Running time, 61 minutes. General classification. Thalia Bell Adams of WPB Will Meet ITOA's Cohen (Continued from page 1) cut, and its members instructed Cohen to get an immediate hearing, stating that the cut would reduce the number of prints and affect independent the- atres adversely. The wire to Adams said that the War Production Board order cutting the raw stock quota means cutting down the present num- ber of prints and that cutting down the number will not have any effect on run theatres, but will definitely af- fect subsequent runs with resultant financial damage. Wires were also dispatched to Mil- ton Star of the War Production Board, and Si Fabian of the War Activities Committee, asking their aid in securing the hearing before Adams. WPB Will Not Act On Raw Stock Complaints Washington, Feb. 7. — Exhibitor protests over the limitation of release prints to a maximum of 285, are not expected to have much effect upon the War Production Board, which estab- lished that limit last week in passing on raw stock allocations for the cur- rent quarter. A resolution of protest was adopted last week by the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York, and other exhibitor groups are under- stood to have given it consideration, seeing in the limitation, a possible ad- versity to subsequent-run exhibitors. WPB officials today refused to comment on the ITOA's resolution, but it was pointed out that the ques- tion of prints was thoroughly can- vassed with the industry's advisory committee at last week's meeting, and the possible effect of a limitation upon subsequent-run theatres was among the questions considered. There was no indication that the board would be inclined to change its requirements at this time, but officials said that anv individual or organization which fears it would be unduly injured by anv order, is free at all times to make his or its views known. If actual experi- ence under the limitation develops that it is indeed creating a bad situa- tion, it was pointed out, corrective action can be taken at any time. Carrabelle House Opens Carrabelle, Fla., Feb. 7. — H. Papadopoulos has opened the Rex Theatre here, NAM Has Program To Aid in Postwar As a contribution to a high level of postwar employment, the National As- sociation of Manufacturers will make public today a report of its postwar Committee approved by its board of directors, of which J. Cheever Cowdin, Universal Pictures' board chairman, is a member. The report, which has interest to the motion picture industry because of contemplated postwar foreign ex- pansion, calls for -a fact-finding in- ternational investment organization, private insurance of foreign credits, the repeal of the Johnson Act, lend- lease settlements leading to fair world trade, export of American 'know-how,' and tests soundness of U. S. foreign investments. "For the expanding' economy at home which is being generally in- voked but still too vaguely discussed, we not only need foreign trade but we also need foreign investments ; if we depend for our expansion solely on trade, we shall run promptly into the difficulty that foreign trade is a two-way movement and that our sale of goods and services abroad will build up a return-pressure on our tariff wall and domestic producers," it is said. For Foreign Loans "We can avoid this bottleneck in our job-giving cycle of production and distribution in the early postwar period by exporting dollars in the form of private investments and loans. Thereby we will provide long- term dollars which foreign purchasers may add to their current trade re- ceipts from sales to us, and so make up the necessarv dollar balances to pay for more of our goods and ser- vices," the report adds. "Our stake in the postwar field of foreign trade investments, might be perhaps 3,000,000 jobs in the United States and some $10,000,000,000 of goods and services annually to be sold abroad." Some other recommendations made by NAM are : "An international agreement should be prepared and signed among nations setting forth rights and obligations of their na- tionals as to foreign creditors and debtors and foreign investors ; an in- ternational organization should be es- tablished as a repository of informa- tion in connection with international loans and investments, as a fact-find- ing body in case of disputes, and as a medium for conciliation. Coming Events Today — Paramount regional sales meeting, Dallas. Today — NBC 'Parade of Stars' luncheon at the Waldorf. Feb. 12 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Chicago. Feb. 13 — Meeting of Industry Ad- visory Committee for 16 mm. Film with WPB at the Social Security Building, Washington. Feb. 14 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Cleveland. Feb. 15 — Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association annual luncheon and election of officers. Feb. 17 — Presentation of Marconi Plaque to Television Broadcasters Association, at the Hotel Astor, New York. Feb. 18— 'One World' Award din- ner and presentations to Darrvl F. Zanuck, Brig. General Sarnoff, Kent Cooper, Hotel Astor, New York. Feb. 19— Industry Red Cross Drive opening meeting, New York. Feb. 20 — Paramount regional sales meeting, New York. Feb. 20— Warner Brothers' annual stockholders meeting, Wilming- ton. Feb. 21— 20th Century-Fox Fam- ily Club Dance, City Center Casino, New York. Feb. 21-27 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Philadelphia. Will Map Red Cross Film Drive Feb. 15 (Continued from page 1) Reagan, Paramount ; Ben Kalmenson, Warner Bros. ; William Scully, Uni- versal ; Abe Montague, Columbia ; Tom Connors, 20th Century-Fox ; Ned Depinet and Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio ; Carl Leserman, United Artists; S. H. Fabian and Francis Harmon, War Activities Committee; Herman Wobber, 20th Century-Fox; Martin Smith of Allied States Asso- ciation. Others who will address key city meetings and who might attend the luncheon are: Robert J. O'Don- nell, Charles Skouras, Rick Ricket- son, M. A. Lightman and Henry Reeves. Members of the natipnal committee who will attend, besides Rathvon, are : Major L. E. Thompson, Leon J. Bam- berger, S. Barret McCormick, Harry Mandel, Arthur M. Brilant, Gradwell L. Sears, Henderson M. Richey, John J. O'Connor, William C. Michel, E. M. Schnitzer, Bernard M- Kamber, Herman Robbins and John A. Cassidy. Red Cross Blood Stamp For Industry's Week Postmaster General Frank C. Walker discloses that a new com- memorative stamp will soon be issued in honor of the Red Cross blood plas- ma campaign, but no definite date has been set for its release, and an effort is being made to have the new stamp issued coincidentally with the 1945 Red Cross "War Fund Week," March 15-21, according to the industry's 1945 Red Cross drive committee. Lt. Cox Wins Navy Cross Lt. (jg) John R. Cox, Jr., USNR, who as John Howard, appeared in many Paramount pictures, has been awarded the Navy Cross. I THINK YOU'RE WONDERFUL, MR. VAN JOHNSON!" (and so do millions of other gals from eight to eighty who are packing theatres to see M-G-M's Van Johnson in "THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO" and who watch for him in "BETWEEN TWO WOMEN." The honors pour in from everywhere: Ladies Home Journal, Photoplay, Screen Guide, Variety, Film Daily, Modern Screen, Look Magazine and countless others proclaim Van, the idol of the millions.) II YOU'RE AMERICA'S NEW SWEETHEART, MARGARET O'BRIEN! is ii (that's what the fans are saying all over the nation as they watch M-G-M's little Margaret in "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS/' She repeats her triumph in "MUSIC FOR MILLIONS" as America showers her with acclaim. Cited three times in Screen Guide's Vote, cited twice in Film Daily's Famous Fives, leader in Showmen's Trade Review New Stars, hailed by press and public as the new darling of the screen.) PRESS-TIME FLASH! Another Big M-G-M Hit is off to a flying start Nationwide! NATIONAL VELVET" is terrific in its 3-theatre Miami engage ment. Watch for more! Sign That Pledge Card ! Red Cross Drive— March 1 5-2 1 MGM STAR BUILDER! 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 8, 1945 Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 7 JAMES M. CAIN's controversial novel, "Serenade," has been pur- chased by Warners and added to Jerry Wald's production schedule. . . . George Abbott, currently producing "Kiss and Tell," for Columbia, plans to follow his initial production with a series of other pictures, not yet determined. • Republic has purchased an original by Frank Wisbar, titled "Fighting Madonna," and lias signed the author to do the screen treatment. . . . Para- mount has exercised its option on the writing team of Norman Panama and Melvin Frank. . . . Michel Kraike has been assigned by Columbia to produce "The Kansan." • Joyce MacKenzie, 19-year-old un- known recently put under contract by International, will make her screen debut in "Tomorrow Is For- ever," which Irving Pichel is direct- ing. . . . Rita Corday has been awarded a new contract by RKO, and has been named for the fem- inine lead in "The Falcon in San Francisco.". . . Universal has re- newed producer Warren Wilson's contract. Columbia producer Ted Richmond has been signed to a long-term con- tract ; his next assignment will be the Judy Canova picture, "Hayfoot, Strawfoot." . . . John Qualen has been selected by Benedict Bogeaus for a featured role in "Captain Kidd." . . . Milburn Stone has had his Universal contract renewed. • Ring Lardner, Jr. has prepared the first treatment of "Earth and High Heaven," which Samuel Goldwyn will produce this Summer. . . . Dancer Marc Piatt, who scored in Columbia's "Tonight and Every Night," has had his contract extended. . . . Producer Charles R. Rogers has signed Frank Cavett, who wrote "Going My Way," to do the screenplay for "My Wild Irish Rose." Two More Theatres Suffer Fire Damage The fourth fire within a month at the Pix Theatre, 121 West 42nd St., damaged display material in a base- ment storeroom yesterday. Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 7— Fire damaged the Colonial here today, but the near capacity audience of 1,200 filed out without confusion. Five fire- men were injured, and three others overcome by smoke before the blaze was controlled. 'Berlin' Budget up 40% To exploit the timeliness of 'Hotel Berlin,' Warners has boosted the film's radio advertising budget 40 per cent above normal and will concen- trate on spot announcements follow- ing leading news commentators in key cities. 'Berlin' will open at the Strand here in three weeks and a large num- ber of key premieres will precede the national release, which is set for March 17. 7 Films Above Average In 12 Key City Reports (Continued from page 1) Kansas City, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Buffalo, Toronto, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Reports from four theatres in Phila- delphia, Kansas City, Baltimore and San Francisco gave "Meet Me in St. Louis" a terrific $33,200 above house averages. It was the top grosser in San Francisco with $41,000, a hefty $13,000 above on a second week in Kansas CityJ sturdy in Baltimore, and still ran considerably above house av- erage on a big seventh week. in Phila- delphia. "Here Come the Waves" was a big $23,800 above in reports from four theatres in Boston, Denver, St. Louis and Cincinnati. It was almost twice as good as average in an initial week in Denver ; was big for an initial week on a dual in Boston, and it scored heavily for a big second week in St. Louis on a dual and a good third week on a moveover in Cincinnati. 'To Have and Have Not' "To Have and Have Not" was $25,- 400 above in reports from seven thea- tres in Philadelphia, Denver, Pitts- burgh, Kansas City, Baltimore, San Francisco and Buffalo. Excellent business was recorded in third weeks in Philadelphia and Kansas City and on moveovers in Denver and. San Francisco. "Keys of the Kingdom" was a strong $31,350 above in reports from 10 theatres in Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Cin- cinnati, Baltimore and San Francisco. Best business was reported from three theatres in Kansas City with an out- standing first week recorded in San Francisco. It was doing sturdy busi- ness in second weeks in Philadelphia, Chicago and Cincinnati and still profitable in a moveover in Denver. "A Song to Remember" is up amongst the leaders with an im- pressive $15,100 above in reports from rive theatres in four cities. It did ter- rific business in two theatres in Bos- ton for a heavy $14,000 above and was holding up well in a good third week in San Francisco and profitable second weeks in St. Louis and Cin- cinnati. "Princess and the Pirate" was $7,- 900 above in reports from three thea- tres in three cities but this fact hard- ly tells the story. It was an outstand- ing $4,000 above house average on an 11th week in Chicago; was big in a second run in Philadelphia, and profit- able on a third week of a moveover in Pittsburgh. 'Hollywood Canteen' "Hollywood Canteen" was just above average in reports from six theatres in Philadelphia, Boston, Chi- cago, St. Louis and Toronto. It is in second run in Philadelphia, a sixth week in Chicago and a second week in St. Louis. "I'll Be Seeing You," playing in two Denver theatres on a dual, sky- rocketed box office receipts to $43,875, where the combined house averages are $19,500. "Tonight and Every Night" is do- ing good business in Cincinnati and Baltimore. "Together Again" scored well for a third week in Chicago, while doing average business in St. Louis. "Tomorrow the World" did moderate business in Cincinnati on an initial week. "Winged Victory" held up well in Philadelphia in a second week and also in Boston. 50,000 Candlepower For Astor Premiere (Continued from page 1) "Curly Twyford, small-animal and insect contractor to film industry, of- fers you 50,000 fireflies for lobby light- ing at Astor premiere. He provided trained mouse for 'Princess and Pi- rate.' Twyford claims these are Cali- fornia-bred fireflies of extra high can- dlepower as well as previous theatrical experience, having worked in 'Up in Arms' and 'North Star.' Will ship fireflies by air express at five dollars a thousand plus attendant's expense." Goldwyn is weighing the possibility of holding over the insect swarm after the premiere to warm the house and conserve the Astor's fuel supply. Judge Denies SOEG Motion to End Suit Los Angeles, Feb. 7. — Superior Court Judge Willis today denied the Screen Office Employees Guild's mo- tion for dismissal of the suit brought by dissident members seeking to en- join the union from assessing mem- bers to finance political activity. The jurist's denial followed testi- mony by Jack Williams, Conference of Studio Unions' official, who said $2,000 received from SOEG in the last election was not used for politics. Committee Favors Discrimination Law Albany, Feb. 7. — The Assembly Ways and Means Committee today will report favorably the Ives bill out- lawing discrimination in employment because of "race, creed, color or na- tional origin," and establishing a five- man State agency to enforce the law, it was revealed today. The committee vote was 11 to three for a favorable report. The measure will come up for de- bate and final action either Feb. 19 or 20, and while serious opposition is ex- pected, committee members are con- fident that the bill will pass. One minor change was made in the bill, in that the members of the five-man agency will not have to devote all of their time to commission work. SPU May Strike Again Tomorrow (Continued from page 1) the NLRB has promised action to- morrow. If this- is unfavorable, he added, an emergency membership meeting will be called immediately, and pickets will be stationed at all studios. The previous strike began last Friday morning but was discon- tinued that same night pending fur- ther negotiations. Paramount to Care For Handicapped Kansas City, Feb. 7. — Paramount will care for its former employes in the Armed Forces when they return to civilian life and will find a place in the organization for those who are handicapped as a result of the war, Claude Lee, director of public rela- tions, stated at the company's district meeting at the Hotel Muehlebach herej yesterday. Lee is accompanying" Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribution, and other home office executives, to district meetings throughout the country. St. Louis, Des Moines and Kansas City exchanges were represented here. A survey showed that those present had from 10 to 32 years company ser- vice, with Arthur Cole, Kansas City office manager, holding seniority place of honor. R. M. Gillham, advertising-publicity director, gave details of the functions of his department. Forthcoming prod- uct was discussed by Reagan, Lee, Gillham, and George A. Smith, West- ern, and J. J. Donohue, Central divi- sion managers. Smith Presides An informal luncheon for local ex- hibitors was addressed by the home office executives, with division man- ager Smith as master-of-ceremonies. The following exhibitors attended : Harry Warren, Jerry Zigmond, Ed Durvvood, R. R. Biechele, J. A. Becker, H. Harris, Ed Haas, Senn Lawler, James Long, Leon Robertson, Earl Jameson, Glen W. Dickinson and others. D. S. Hartley, motion pic- ture editor of the Kansas City Star, and representatives of trade publica- tions also were guests. Also attending were : R. C. LiBeau, Kansas City district manager, and James Castle, district advertising rep- resentative, and delegates of the three branch offices, as follows : Kansas City: R. M. Copeland, A. H. Cole, J. H. States, Joseph Stark, Robert Carnie, M. E. Anderson and Earl Ogan ; St. Louis : Maurice Schweitzer, Harold Wise, L. V. Kuttnauer, Ruben Rosenblatt, Amos Leonard, Joseph Howard ; Des Moines : H. M. Ham- burg, James Foley, P. W. Robbins, Edwin Sandblom and William Currv. Home Host to Allen At 'In Bag' Dinner William Home, Eastern represen- tative for Jack Skirball, was host to Fred Allen, Mrs. Allen, trade press and magazine representatives, United Artists home office executives and others at a dinner at the Hotel Bre- voort here last night prior to a screen- ing of the Skirball-UA release "It's in the Bag" at Loew's Sheridan The- atre. Among those present were : Edward C. Raftery, Gradwell L. Sears, Carl Leserman, John Hertz, Jr., Edward Peskay, Edward M. Schnitzer, Walter Gould, Emanuel Silverstone, Carl Mulrooney, James Dunn, Lou Gold- berg and Herb Berg. Three New Film Courses New courses in motion picture pho- tography, film writing and film editing- are being offered by the Institute of Film Techniques at City College here. Registration begins today. Thursday, February 8, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 FM Changes Would Scrap 500,000 Sets Chicago, Feb. 7.— If the changes in frequency modulation wave lengths, as advocated by the Federal Commu- nications Commission, are adopted, 500,000 radio sets, worth more than $50,000,000 will be made useless^ J. J. Nance, vice-president of the Zenith Radio Corp., said here yesterday. Reporting to the Investment An- alysts Club, Nance declared that it would be impractical to rebuild the sets if new frequencies are adopted. He asserted the change would delay Vm expansion by at least a year. O'Connor, Sanford Head Charity Group (Continued from page 1) master General Frank C. Walker is treasurer, and George J. Schaefer is assistant treasurer of the committee. The special gifts committee, compris- ing both business and professional lead- ers in New York, will function prior to the annual parish appeal of Catholic Charities, which, in turn, will begin April 22 in the 374 parishes of the New York Archdiocese. This is the 26th annual appeal of the organiza- tion which coordinates the work of institutions and agencies including hospitals, child-caring homes, settle- ment houses, day nurseries, homes for the aged, Summer camps and many other welfare agencies, including fam- ily relief. The New York Archdio- cese comprises the boroughs of Man- hattan, Bronx and Richmond and the counties of Westchester. Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Ulster, Putnam and Sullivan. Managers in Toronto Elect George Morrell Toroxto, Feb. 7. — George Morrell has been elected president of the To- ronto Suburban Managers Associa- tion, which also chose Maurice Doyle vice-president, Allan Easson treasurer and Jay Smith secretary. At the election meeting, the asso- ciation passed unanimously a vote of thanks to Charlie Querrie, retiring president, and created the title of hon- orary president to co'nfer upon him. Rivoli Is Aiding Boy Scout Week The Rivoli Theatre on Broadway is cooperating with sponsors of Boy Scout Week, which starts today, by presenting a Scouts' flag ceremony at every performance followed by brief talks. Scouts are introduced to audi- ences by Monty Salmon, managing director of the Rivoli. The theatre's ceremonies were started yesterday and will continue through tomorrow. Neville Heads Pioneers Vancouver.' B. C, Feb. 7. — "Cec" Neville, chief booker for Famous Players-Canadian theatres here, has been elected president of the Canadian Picture Pioneers,. British Columbia branch. Expansion to Fill Jobs For 'GIs' Substitutes Huston to Warners Hollywood, Feb. 7. — Ralph Huston, recently assistant publicity director for Cagney Productions, has joined Alex Evelove's publicity department at Warner Bros.' studio. (Continued from page 1) the industry as a result of the de- parture ot these veterans. motion Picture Daily has queried executive heads ot the companies, in an endeavor to ascertain the probable procedures for reemploying returning service men and women and policies to be applied to the war-time replace- ments. Executives speaking on and off tne record, disclosed three main points : b irst : Any • and all service men will receive their own jobs back, or similar or better ones, if they desire to return. Second: A policy of expansion and il necessary, stretching, will enable the companies to retain at least yo per cent of the current replacements. Third : the problem will not be serious, as the majority of the men who entered service were young, from 18-30, and did not hold top executive jobs. Many of these men with the highly special- ized training they received in the Army, will be looking for better op- portunities than their pre-war jobs afforded them, and will not care to return to the positions of ushers, clerks or errand boys. It is also felt that many women, wives of service- men, will automatically retire on the return of their respective spouses, and will leave, vacancies to be filled. Statements of the various executive heads, as given verbatim are as fol- lows : Nicholas M. Schenck • Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's : "We expect to take care oi our men as they come along. In some departments we have been short- handed. Other departments present problems, but our full intention is to solve them in order to provide em- ployment for those who have left to join the service. 1 have every con- fidence that our organization, without too much disturbance of personnel, will be able to conform to the re- quirements of the situation as it arises." Barney Balaban, president of Para- mount: "There is no problem at the moment. We do not know how it will shape up in the future and we can't make predictions of what might happen. I repeat what I said a long time ago. All those Paramount em- ployees in service will come back to the company if they want to come back." Harry M. Warner Harry M. Warner, president of Warner Bros. : "I assure all our ser- vice men that their jobs will be wait- ing for them when they return. Records show that 400 employees have been discharged from the service, and about two-thirds have wanted to come back, and in every case they have re- ceived an equivalent or better posi- tion. We have over 3,900 in service now. No one has been let out to take any serviceman back." Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox : "At home, in the post- war era. films will play a great part, not only in the rehabilitation of ou>" returning service men and women, but also in contributing to the solu- tion of our country's domestic prob- lems, such as re-employment of these returning heroes. Through television and the possible advent of the third dimension in motion picture photog- raphy, a new public interest will be stimulated, which will encompass the possibilities tor employment oi thou- sands ot returning service men ana women who are qualified in the de- velopment of these new arts within our industry.'' Joseph M. Schenck, of the 20th Century-Fox btudios : "Expansion ot theatres, exchanges and the making of more pictures, all of which we have been forced to curtail, will take care of everybody at 20th Century- Fox. No one will be fired and all soldiers will receive their jobs back. Remember, a great many of our boys in service were very young, from 18- 25. These boys served as office boys and clerks, and are now officers earn- ing a great deal of money. They art now men and not boys, and will not accept or even consider the small po- sitions they held before they entered service, now being held by women, oi other young boys." James R. Grainger James R. Grainger, president of Re- public: "While it is difficult to an- ticipate conditions at the close of the war, certainly every effort will be made to retain as many current job- holders as possible, and I believe that continued Republic expansion will ab- sorb a very definite proportion of em- ployees whose' posts will be returned to service men in our employ. An- other consideration is the fact that a certain number of Republic employ- ees now in service, will probably take advantage of specialized training re- ceived in the Armed Forces, and will take positions outside the industry. This applies particularly to those wh( held jobs in lesser categories. In ad- dition, a number of women are now working only for the duration, and will leave the industry at the end oi the war." Edward C. Raftery Edward C. Raftery, president of diked Artists : "At this time it is im- possible to state what either domestic or foreign conditions will be in the industry at the end of the war. How- ever, it is the company's intention to use all its resources to take care of not only employees in the services, but its current employees." N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO : "It is a matter which requires much thought and consideration, and I cannot say anything at this time, other than the fact that everyone will receive fair consideration, when the time comes." Nate J. Bhimberg, president of Uni- versal : "It is our fervent hope thai all our employees who are serving in the Armed Forces will return safely to their homes, families, and to us. We already have a hearty welcome for them." W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogram : "We are short of help now, and we are going to need every returning service man plus additional manpower. Our expansion policy not only will assure every service man of his job, hut will enable us to keep his replacement as well as adding new personnel." Leon Fromkess. president of PRC : "The re-hiring of men and women who formerly worked for PRC and 16 More Nominated For Academy Award Hi illy wood, Feb. 7. — Ten films in black-and-white and six in color have been nominated for cinematography awards in the 17th annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences competition ; and five have been nomi- nated for the film-editing division. Nominations in black-and-white in- clude : "Double Indemnity," "Dragon Seed," "Gaslight," "Going My WTay," "Laura," "Since You Went Away," "Lifeboat," "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "The Uninvited," "White Cliffs of Dover." Nominations in color : "Cover Girl," "Home in Indiana," "Kismet," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Lady in the Dark," "Wilson." Nominated for the film - editing award : "Going My Way," "Janie," "None But the Lonely Heart," "Since You Went Away," "Wilson." Newbury, Bollinger Head Buying Group (Continued from paije 1) Lee Newbury, president; Irving Dol- linger, vice-president; Harry H. Low- enstein, secretary; Dave Snaper, treasurer, and Joseph Siccardi, assist- ant treasurer. Members of the board of directors, in addition to the of- ficers who are also board members, are : Jack Unger, Dr. Henry Brown. Louis Gold, Maurice Miller and Ed- ward Lachman. A committee consisting of Newbury, Dollinger and Miller has been ap- pointed to interview buyers and secure office space and personnel for the new organization. Several independent New Jersey circuits booking out of New York City exchanges are in- cluded in the membership as well as some non-members of Jersey Allied. Cohen, Whelan Meet Latin Exhibitors Edward Cohen, 20th Century- Fox South American supervisor, was guest i if honor at a recent reception given by 50 Peruvian exhibitors in Lima. Peru. From that city, Cohen pro- ceeded to Santiago, Chile, and will wind up his trip in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he will make his headquarters. He has been meeting exhibitors, company branch managers and the press. Leslie Whelan, 20th-Fox foreign publicity director, is accompanying Cohen part of the way to set a cam- paign for "Wilson" in South Amer- ica. Pat he Lab Not Closed Although Motion Picture Labora- tory Technicians Local 702 of the IATSE reported here last Friday that it had received notification that Pathe Laboratories would be closing Mon- day. Pathe denied here yesterday having issued such a notification and said that the laboratory was in full operation on Monday adding that ap- proximately 75 per cent of its help worked last Fridav. who are now serving their country, will present no serious problem as far as this company is concerned. The normal expansion of the organization will necessitate the hiring of not only all of our returning veteran employ- ees, but a great many others as well." 'Co/, oss0/ n*otion 'Me//' B°st0n Hit lik, -r Hi9h VA*I£TY 5t"efj >s'*co/sl 50,1 terete of p G'Ves frient 90eS/j, ) r^e t A/ y , e • 'otz/s/' fry "off* '"^SoJ. c'eei r °* its nove.« n,"*icQil '? tht 'Qf old FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME Out Next Week! FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME FAME Edited by TERRY RAMSAYE A QUIGLEY ' PUBLICATION CO « H 2 < °2 sEd s ' zh pq S: H 53 q OBJECTIVE. BURMA Errol Flynn D— 144 mins. (41 1: (Rev. 1/26/45) ROUGHLY SPEAKING Rosalind Russell Jack Carson n— 128 mins. (412) (Rev. 1/31/45) HOTEL BERLIN Faye Emerson Helmut Dantine Raymond Massey D— (413) HERE COME THE CO-EDS Abbott and Costello Phil Spitalny and Orch. C— 88 mins. (9002) (Rev. 1/31/45) HER LUCKY NIGHT Andrews Sisters Martha O'Driscoll M — 63 mins. (Rev. 1/29/45) THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN Boris Karloff John Carradine D— 71 mins. (9013) (Rev. 12/22/44) THE MUMMY'S CURSE Lon Chaney D — 60 mins (9036) (Rev. 12/22/44) FRISCO SAL Susanna Foster Turhan Bey M — 94 mins. SUDAN (Color) Maria Montez Jon Hall Turhan Bey D SKE MY LAWYER Olsen and Johnson Grace McDonald C — 69 mins. (Rev. 2/6/45) THE HOUSE OF FEAR Basil Rathbone Nigel Bruce D I'LL REMEMBER APRIL Gloria Jean Kirby Grant M — 64 mins. 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So~t fn 53 Sets £<53Sgq &Q $ 3° S2 O 5.D Qco « w 53 co OEd r pi 53 o> §.2 HEd u « o<>u Pi r-£) IN. 1-0 ^ o TIMED THE WAY 'CASABLANCA' WAS TIMED! SENSATIONAL THE WAY NO OTHER PROPERTY EVER WAS! WARNER ACHIEVEMENT. SIGN THAT PLEDGE CARD I RED CROSS DRIVE — MARCH JS-21 rOh. 57. NO. 29 >$EOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U. S. A., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1945 TEN CENTS Canadians Ask Gov't Control Of Film Trade Blame Move on Failure To Devise Trade Code Toronto, Feb. 8. — In behalf of the Ontario Council of Independent Exhibitors of Canada, secretary H. L. Romberg announced today deci- sion of the executive board of this as- sociation to seek "full government control of our business" in view of the collapse of negotiations during the past year for adoption of a code for self regulation of the film trade in Canada. "The conciliation code is dead in Canada," Romberg said. Officially "We have been satisfied to a certain point in the regulations of the "Wartime Prices and Trade Board but we feel these regulations should be extended to full govern- ment control." Romberg asserted the (Continued on page 6) MGM Has 18 Films Dubbed in Spanish M-G-M now has 18 pictures with synchronized Spanish dialogue for re- lease in all South and Central Ameri- can countries and from now on every one of its features, shorts, newsreels and trailers will be dubbed into Span- ish ; other companies are expected to follow suit in the near future. This change in policy from the usual super- imposed titles is a result of experi- mentation with "Gaslight," now in its (.Continued on page 6) NBC Cites Results In Web Promotions National Broadcasting yesterday exhibited results in its 1944 "Parade of Stars" network promotions in which film trailers in theatres were used for the first time, at a luncheon at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, here, (Continued on page 6) No Paper Monday Motion Picture Daily will not be published on Monday, Feb. 12, Abraham Lincoln's birthday and a legal holiday. Goldman Suit AppealHeard Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — The U. S. Court of Appeals here listened today to argument on the appeal of William Goldman against Warner Bros, and eight distribution companies in his $1,350,000 suit which had been dis- missed last April by Judge William H. Kirkpatrick. The Government, intervening in the suit, was represented by R. L. Wright, special assistant to the U. S. Attorney-General. His argument was that if Judge Kirkpatrick's decision was left standing, all Government prosecution of anti-trust suits in the film industry would be crippled and all would be endangered. Robert Dechert, who represented William Goldman, claimed that the alleged Warners' "monopoly" had in its power to stifle pictures and affect (Continued on page 6) Walker Starts Third Term in Cabinet Washington, Feb. 8. — Postmaster General Frank C. Walker established a historical precedent today by be- coming the first person to begin a third term as head of the postal ser- vice. Walker, whose nomination was con- firmed by the Senate Monday, was sworn in by Frank H. Ellis, chief clerk and director of personnel. The Postmaster General succeeded (Continued on page 6) WB Pays $1,500,000 For Television Site Hollywood, Feb. 8. — A sev- enteen-acre tract in the out- post section, in the hills above Hollywood, was today acquired by Warners for the erection of a television trans- mitter and studio. It is un- derstood that the purchase price was about $1,500,000. 1st Red Cross Field Meet Here Feb. 20 First of the series of industry Red Cross "War Fund Week" area meet- ings scheduled to be held in 30 key cities will take place at a breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria, here, Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 9 o'clock, instead of Feb. 19, as originally scheduled. This gathering, under the auspices of the New York Metropolitan area committee, Fred Schwartz, Sam Rinz- ler and Harry Brandt, exhibitor chair- man, and Charles Reagan, distributor chairman, will be presided over by N. Peter Rathvon, national industry drive chairman. Major L. E. Thompson, national executive coordinator, will be toastmaster ; David Weinstock is in charge of arrangements and tickets. Theatre managers and exhibitors in the Metropolitan New York and New Jersey area, sales managers, salesmen, local exchange managers, publicists, (Continued on page 6) Lawyers 9 Approval Seen For Foreign Trade Group The lawyers' committee which is studying the legal aspects of the pro- jected foreign film trade association, under provisions of the Webb Act, has completed its work and it is un- derstood that it will make a favorable report to the MPPDA foreign rela- tions committee, headed by N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO, it was learned yesterday. Rathvon told Mo- tion Picture Daily that work on the organization was well along and that more definite news of its struc- ture would be forthcoming in several weeks. A spokesman for Warner Bros, for- eign department informed Motion Picture Daily recently that the com- pany will not participate in the new foreign trade association when it is organized. Under the Webb Act, the new as- sociation must be registered with the Federal Trade Commission in Wash- ington. It will permit the companies to act in concert in any part of the world in which problems affecting one or several of the companies may arise. The project was considered by the companies about four years ago but was dropped, largely because of world conditions at that time. The subject was revived last Sum- mer, as reported in Motion Picture Daily exclusively at the time, and after preliminary discussion and study by the MPPDA board of directors was approved by that organization. It was then referred to a lawyers' com- mittee which has been preparing a report and organization plan for the new association. This work is said to be complete now. The new trade association is de- signed to begin functioning in the near future in preparation for the post-war period, when it is expected to reach its stage of greatest usefulness. Rank to Ask Reciprocal U.S. Film Pacts Will Come Here With Davis to Initiate Talks By PETER BURNUP London, Feb. 8. — J. Arthur Rank, G. Woodham-Smith of the Rank cabinet, and John Davis, managing director of Rank's Odeon Theatres, have tentatively arranged to leave here for New York about the second week of May and on their ar- rival they will prepare the ground for roundtable discussions in both London and Washington for postwar Anglo - American film reciprocity agreements, a move known to have British Government approval. Although this will be the prime purpose of the trip, its ostensible purpose will be to make arrangements for the showing of "Henry V" in the U. S. and to conduct general (Continued on page 6) SAG, NLRB, SPU to Meet on 'Extras' Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Local repre- sentative of the National Labor Rela- tions Board stated today that Feb. 22 had been set as a date for hearings in Washington on the producer-dis- tributor's petition for reconsideration of the NLRB ruling giving the Screen Players Union jurisdiction as bargain- ing agent for extra players. The Screen Actors Guild, the SPU and producers will send representa- (Continued on page 6) Bill Asks Control Of CIAA Units Washington, Feb. 8.— Prencinra- dio, Inc., and other corporations set up by the Coordinator of Inter-Ameri- can Affairs, together with two-score other Government-owned corporations, will be brought under the direct con- (Continued on page 6) Reviewed Today Review of "It's in the Bag" appears on page 3. 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 9, 1945 Personal Mention TOM CONNORS, 20th Century- Fox vice-president and sales head, will return to New York today from visits to Midwest exchanges. • Leoxide Moguy, producer, and Mrs. Moguy are parents of a new daughter, born at Hollywood (Cal.) Presbvterian Hospital. • Lt. James O'Shea, son of E. K. O'Shea of M-G-M, arrived in Miami yesterday following a month's fur- lough in New York. • E. B. DeVry, president of DeVry Corp., Chicago, is on a tour of Army camps to inspect their visual educa- tion equipment. • Sam Burger, M-G-M special for- eign representative, has returned to New York after several months in South America. • Harry Bryman, manager in Cuba for M-G-M, has left New York for Havana following a home office visit. • Budd Rogers and Mrs. Rogers will leave for Atlantic City today to cele- brate their 25th wedding anniversary. • James R. Grainger, Republic Pic- tures Corp. president, arrived in New York from the Coast yesterday. • Andrew Stone, producer, . will leave the Coast for New York by train next Thursday. • John Sutherland, producer, left here for Hollywood last night. B'way Houses Beat '44 'Dimes9 Totals Broadway houses here broke all records for March of Dimes collec- tions during the recent campaign. Radio City Music Hall nosed out the Capitol, Washington, for first place in the nation, with collections of $25,- 500. Washington reported $24,452. In 1944, the Hall collected $16,522. Other collections reported are : Paramount, $17,170, against $5,492 in 1944; Loew's State, $14,402 ($7,134) ; Roxy, $15,659 ($14,121) ; Capitol, $13,221 ($12,733) ; Strand, $9,822 ($7,516), Rivoli, $4,490 ($3,640); Globe, $5,000 ($4,656) ; Gotham, $4,- 600 ($1,072) ; New York, $2,600 ($900). To date, the Century Circuit, oper- ating theatres in Brooklyn and Long Island, has tabulated $38,500, against $26,164 last year. The Randforce Cir- cuit is running $10,000 ahead. Charles Skouras of National Theatres reports $511,000 to date, against $415,000 last year. $2,000,000 for 'Venus' A $2,000,000 budget has been set by Mary Pickford for her first produc- tion for United Artists, "One Touch of Venus," the company reported here yesterday. Miss Pickford is in Holly- wood preparing the production. Roach Is Named WB District Manager Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Ted Schlanger, zone manager here of Warner Bros. Theaters, disclosed to- day the appointment of John Roach as district manager for Warners' West and Northwest Philadelphia Theaters. Roach has been associated with the- aters for 27 years, starting with the Stanley . Company of America in 1918. He was manager of the Ardmore and prior to that was manager of the Stanley Philadelphia for four years. He succeeds John Lexey, recently de- ceased. John Latimer transfers from the Waverly to the Ardmore, replacing Roach, and William Davison, former rotating manager, will manage the Waverly. Samuel Goldwyn Sets Another Precedent Samuel Goldwyn gave a luncheon at the Hotel Astor here yesterday for some theatre usherettes. He said it was the first one ever given for eith- er ushers or usherettes in the entire history of the industry ; but he pointed out that it was worth it — as he dis- played the blondes, brunettes, redheads and whatnots to the 30-odd members of the trade and metropolitan press assembled. Besides Goldwyn among those pres- ent were James Mulvey, Lynn Farnol, Rutgers Neilson and Robert Boehnel. The girls will act as members of the house staff at the Astor Theatre where Goldwyn's RKO Radio release "Princess and the Pirate" will open this morning. Classics Franchisers Meet Here On Feb. 14 The newly-elected executive com- mittee of Film Classics' franchise holders is scheduled to meet with Film Classics' executives here on Wednes- day, Feb. 14,' to discuss the print situ- ation and possible setting up of na- tional release dates on Samuel Gold- wyn reissues, which the company dis- tributes. Executive committee consists of Al Dezel, Detroit, chairman ; J. F. White, Jr., Charlotte, secretary-treasurer ; Bert Stearn, Pittsburgh ; Arthur Lockwood, Boston ; Joseph Wolf, In- dianapolis, and Sam Wheeler, Wash- ington. National Theatres' Meeting Continues Los Angeles, Feb. 8. — Postwar Latin American expansion is among subjects still under discussion at Na- tional Theatres meetings here. They will continue through tomorrow due to an inability to finish items up for discussion. Al Wohl to Skouras Alfred M. Wohl, formerly an officer in the U. S. Marine Corps., and previously associated with the Wometco Circuit in Miami, is now publicity manager for the Skouras circuit's Grand Theatre in Astoria, L. I. Rosenberg Resumes Pleasure Trip When U. S. Rangers freed the 513 heroes of Bataan, re- cently, they found imprisoned with them Theodore Rosen- berg, former National Thea- tre Supply salesman. Rosenberg was a salesman in the New York branch under the direction of Jimmy Frank. After three years in this post, he took a trip to Manila — 'for pleasure.' But the Nips nipped him and spoiled his pleasure. Services Tomorrow For Clair Hague Funeral services will be held at noon tomorrow in Toronto for Clair Hague, 60 years old, Universal's Canadian representative, who died of pneumonia there late Wednesday. Hague had been associated with Universal in Canada continuously for the_ past 31 years. Prior to joining Universal he was with Allen Amuse- ment Co. and Klein Optical Co. He served as chairman of the executive committee of the Canada Picture Pioneers. His wife, two daughters and a son survive. Blumenstock Names Wood and Karsch Mort Blumenstock, Eastern director of advertising-publicity for Warner Bros., has assigned George Wood and Daniel Karsch to the field public re- lations staff. Wood was formerly district manager of St. Louis Amuse- ment Co. during its operation by War- ners and now returns to the company for the St. Louis territory. After two and a half years in the Army, Karsch, an advertising-radio man, will work in the home office before a regional assignment. Cleveland Theatres Return to Full Week Cleveland, Feb. 8. — Amusement places, including theatres here, will not repeat their Monday closing next week but will return to regular op- erating schedules as a result of im- proved fuel conditions and economies effected by cautious use of fuel. Jungmeyer to PRC Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Jack Jung- meyer of the editorial staff of Daily Variety for the past several years, has been signed by Leon Fromkess as story editor of PRC. He succeeds Jack Grant, who recently was ap- pointed associate producer by From- kess. Conn. Allied to Meet New Haven, Feb. 8.— Allied The- atre Owners of Connecticut will hold its first luncheon-meeting of the year, Feb. 13, here, with Dr. J. B. Fishman presiding. Maxwell Alderman, execu- tive secretary, will report on the re- cent national Allied meeting in Col- umbus. Close All or Part Time on Monday All distributor home offices, except PRC's and Republic's, with the latter still undetermined, will close all or half-a-day on Monday. Closing all day will be: Columbia, RKO, 20th Century-Fox and United Artists; closed half-a-day will be: Loew- M-G-M, Paramount, Monogram, Uni- versal. Warners and the MPPDA. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplaee of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Pletura la TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN JOAN DAVIS WM.GARGAN 'SHE GETS HER MAN' IN PERSON EARL CARROLL'S 'VANITIES OF 1945' ^ Paramount presents Ray Milland IN "MINISTRY of FEAR" in Person Johnny Long and his Orchestra LOUIS JORDAN and his FAMOUS TYM- PANY FIVE B'WAY & 47th St. PALACE Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE —A RKO RELEASE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor Continuous ASTOR p°Pular Prices Doors open Broadway & • 9:30 A. M. 45th Street Midnight Show WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLER0S' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures NOW - - - Brandt's GLOBE n LAIRD C REG AR LINDA DARNELL GEORGE SANDERS rr HANGOVER SQUARE ROXY, 7rh AVE & 50th ST. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden S_q., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; Cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1-938, at the post office at New York, N, Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Friday, February 9, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Review "It's in the Bag" {Jack Skirball-United Artists) t* SPECIALLY for the legions of radio fans, Jack H. Skirball's "It's in the j Bag" offers top-notch comedy entertainment, provided by Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Jerry Colonna and Minerva Pious (Mrs. Nussbaumj, utilizing familiar material with which they have become identified on .the airlanes. This merry madcap farce, combining the popular elements of mystery and romance, is built around a slender story frame which serves adequately to keep the ac- tion rolling at a fast and hilarious clip, and should register big. To enhance the prestige of the picture and to augment its box office possibilities, Skirball had added William Bendix, with Don Ameche, Rudy Vallee and Victor Moore as part of a singing quartet with Allen. The cast also includes Binnie Barnes, Robert Benchley, John Carradine, William Terry and Sidney Toler in the main body of the story, which is completely dominated by Allen. It all adds up to a swell 87 minutes of rollicking, mirth-provoking film fare which should draw healthy box office returns if the reaction of a mid-week audience at a "sneak" preview at Loew's Sheridan in New York can be used as a barometer. Formality is dropped in the very first frame when Allen appears and pro- ceeds to upset the traditional presentation of screen credits by pointing out that most of the cast are relatives of the producer and could easily be dis- pensed with. The story offers Allen as Fred Floogle, proprietor of a flea cir- cus, who learns through newspapers that he has inherited $12,001), U00 from an eccentric grand-uncle who has met death suddenly under mysterious circum- stances. Without waiting to collect the money, Allen, his wife, Miss Barnes ; his daughter, Gloria Pope, and his son, Dickie Tyler, start to splurge, only to discover that the entire fortune had been dissipated by his uncle's crooked as- sociates, leaving but five antique chairs. His widely-heralded "good fortune'' has provided Allen with unlimited credit, however, and among other things he is able to put Benchley, a four-flushing insect exterminator, whose son is in love with Allen's daughter, in his place. Allen is suspected of murdering his uncle in the additional complications which ensue, with the remainder of the action dealing with the search for the five chairs which Allen's young son has disposed of through an auctioneer. Establishing the footage is the favorite Allen routine of going to the movies where there are supposed to be plenty of seats inside ; the constantly empha- sized Benny parsimoniousness and Mrs. Nussbaum's quaint conversations. Bendix's role is that of a racketeer with a mouse-like disposition. But this is a Fred Allen film from start to finish. Richard Wallace's direction succeeds in preventing the action from lapsing into the ridiculous. The screen treatment is by Lewis R. Foster and Allen ; the photoplay by Morrie Ryskind and the screenplay by Jay Dratler and Alma Reville. Skirball has provided an attractive film, production-wise ; Walter Batchelor was associate producer. "It's in the Bag" is definitely an unusual comedy and exhibitors will find plenty of promotional angles in it to attract the customers. Running time, 87 minutes. General classification. Xo release date set. Milton Livingston Mexicans Hit U. S. Firms for 30% Rise Mexico City, Feb. 8.— All American companies operat- ing in Mexico are again hav- ing periodical labor trouble, demands for a pay hike. The only new aspect about this one is that the demand is an unusually big one — 30 per cent. The employees say that their employers are making I more money because theatre admittances are at a new s high. The employees have given the companies until April 3 to answer. Little Production in So. America: Bryman Miami, Feb. 8. — "Mexico and the Argentine are the largest film produc- ing countries in South America ; otherwise little progress has been made in the industry south of the bor- der," Harry Bryman, M-G-M Ha- vana manager, stated on leaving here for his return to headquarters in Ha- vana, from New York, on the Cuba Clipper. Films made in. the United States for Spanish-speaking people should be extremely popular ; films with se- rio"us plots are most popular in Cuba, he declared. Raw Stock Complaint By Mexican Producer Mexico City, Feb. 8. — The Nation- al Committee on Cinematographic Af- fairs, representing the Government, motion picture employers and labor, which has just rationed Mexico's sup- ply of raw stock among selected pro- ducers, is now busy considering com- plaints against the apportionment by other producers. The committee is also trying to de- termine how it can supply raw stock for prints for 36 of last year's films. Siegel Returning to Para. Studio April 30 Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Sol C. Siegel will rejoin Paramount in an execu- tive administrative post under Henry Ginsberg April 30, following comple- tion of "Kiss and Tell," now in pro- duction, which Siegel is producing in k association with George Abbott and F. Hugh Herbert for Columbia. Siegel was a Paramount producer from 1941 to the middle of 1944. Dallas Red Cross Meet on Feb. 25 Dallas, Feb. 8. — A luncheon-meet- ing of distributors and exhibitors _ to plan participation in the forthcoming Red Cross Drive has been announced for Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Hotel Adolphus by Cecil House, Dallas branch manager of 20th Century-Fox, who is Texas . distributor chairman for the drive. Tom Connors, representing Grad- well Sears, national distributor chair- man of the War Activities, and R. J. O'Donnell of Interstate, Southwestern exhibitor chairman, will be the chief speakers at the luncheon. O'Donnell's co-chairmen are Don Douglas of Robb and" "Rowley, Dallas, and Henry Reeve, Menard (Tex.) exhibitor. Phil Longdon, district manager of 20th Century-Fox is district supervisor for the distributor group of WAC in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Lo- cal Red Cross officials have been asked to attend the meeting. To Screen Award Films Hollywood. Feb. 8. — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will begin screenings of the 20 pic* tures represented in the nominations for the Academy awards at the Mar- quis Theatre here starting Feb. 11 and continuing through Feb. 25 with two showings of each film. Decorators' Ruling By WLB Tomorrow Hollywood, Feb. 8. — The first War Labor Board hearing in the jurisdic- tional dispute between the Set Deco- rators Union, Local 1421, and the IATSE, responsible for the studio walkout by the decorators last fall, ended indecisively today after the IATSE took the position that it had not asked for arbitration. Arbitrator Thomas Tongue ad- journed the sessions until Saturday, when he will rule on the extent to which the WLB can act in the mat- ter. AMP A Seeks the Roxy The Associated Motion Picture Ad- vertisers held a luncheon-meeting yes- terday at the Hickory House here, at which it was disclosed that efforts are being made to secure the Roxy Theatre for a benefit for the Motion Picture Relief Fund. AMPA presi- dent Martin Starr also told the gath- ering that the organization would hold no big meetings or lunches until the war in Europe is over. Nizer Book on Air "What to do with Germany," book by Louis Nizer, industry attorney, has been selected by Council on Books in Wartime, Inc., for dramatization on the Words at War program over NBC. 11 :30 p.m., next Tuesday. 'Liberty' Available For War Promotions The New York War Activities Committee, which sponsored and erected the 'Statue of Liberty' in Times Square, here, for the Sixth War Loan, has named a special com- mittee to take charge of its mainte- nance and use. At a meeting, here, presided over by chairman Max Cohen and attended by Bob Shapiro, Zeb Epstein and Harry Mandel, it was decided that all inquiries made to any- one in the industry concerning the use of the Statue were to be referred to Cohen for action, and that nothing of any commercial nature would be considered. The city, through Edgar Nathan, Borough President of Manhattan, has given permission for the replica of the Statue to remain standing through the coming Seventh War Loan. Dur- ing March, the Red Cross War Fund drive will utilize the facilities of the Statue. M-G-M's Field Men Still Come and Go Eight more M-G-M men from the field will visit New York for a week starting Monday ; four are exploita- tion representatives, the others are office managers. Field promotion men due are: E. B.. Coleman, Dallas ; Irving Waterstreet, St. Louis ; Bernie Evens, Kansas City; Ed Gardiner, Oklahoma City. The office managers are : John Coyne, Cleveland; Walter Bennin, Milwau- kee ; Joseph Farrow, Philadelphia ; Gil Becker, Detroit. Leaving for home territories in a few days, after visiting the home office for the past week, are : Field exploiteers William Bishop, Chicago ; Louis Orlove, Milwaukee; Norman W. Pyle, Minneapolis ; and office managers Joe Markowitz, Los An- geles ; Fred Armington, Des Muines ; W. W. Spruce, Dallas. Houlihan Succeeds Dare Albany, Feb. 8. — Benny Dare, 20th Century-Fox salesman, has retired and been succeeded by Dan. R. Houli- han, until now head booker and of- fice manager. Dare had been with the company for 20 years, beginning in Denver. Houlihan joined 20th- Fox in 1934. Colony Theatre Appeals R. J. Miller, operating the Colony Theatre, McHenry, HI., has filed an appeal on the dismissal of his combi- nation clearance, some-run complaint by William A. McSwain, arbitrator in the Chicago tribunal, the American Arbitration Association reported herr yesterday. Schenck to Produce Hollywood. Feb. 8. — Aubrey Schenck, long an executive assistant to1. Spyros Skouras, 20th Century- Fox president, will become a 20th producer. His first will be "Shock," based on Albert Demond's story. Bogeaus Joins SIMPP Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Benedict Bo- geaus, independent producer releasing through United Artists, was today elected to membership in the Society of Independent M. P. Producers. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents "As good a piece of melodramatic 20- minute-egg sentimentality as the fa- mous 'Double Indemnity'. In some ways it is even more likeable, for though it is far less tidy, it is more vigorous and less slick, more resource- fully photographed and even more successfully cast. . . . "It handles Chandler's extremely cinemadaptable story so well that, if anything, it improves it in the retell- ing. It is the story of an indigent Los Angeles private detective (Dick Powell) who, for the sake of a few spare dollars, helps a gigantic imbecile named Moose Malloy (Mike Mazurki) to hunt down the girl he loved when he went to jail. In the course of the quest the detec- tive interviews a wonderful, boozy old floozy (Esther Howard) who could bring Hogarth up to date. Before long he finds himself suspected of murder and hired by several conflicting sides in a fight whose meaning and dimen- sion he only gradually finds out. It involves invaluable jade, the slaugh- ter of a gigolo, a psychoanalytic the- osophist (Otto Kruger)0 a charlatan ays: (Ralf Harolde), an aging multimil- lionaire (Miles Mander) his young wife (Claire Trevor), and her angry stepdaughter (Anne Shirley). The wife treats the shabby detective with brazen cozyness, the theosophist slams him across the chops with a pistol, the charlatan pumps him full of dope, the stepdaughter feeds him alternate Scotch and scorn, and the elderly, heartless-seeming nabob is in savagely at the climactic kill. The hyperpitui- tary ex-convict, incidentally, finds his lost lovely at last. "'Murder, My Sweet' is done to a fare- thee-well by everybody from the cos- tumer to the excellent cast. Sets that should look threadbare have seldom looked so rat-ridden. The neon sign outside a crummy dive is almost too properly defective. There is an enthu- siastic appetite for everything pos- sibly sinister about a big city and its people. The makers of the film go farther with their realism: they try to make sensations and states of mind visual. Best: the drug sequence, pre- senting through double exposure an indecipherable web of confusion and dreamlike memorv." SIGN THAT PLEDGE CARD! RED CROSS DRIVE — MARCH 15-21 r ;< o RADIO PICTURES v 6 Motion picture Daily Friday, February 9, 1945 Hollywood Rank Will Ask for Reciprocal Pacts Canadians Ask Gov't Control for Films (Continued from page 1) association had gone on record in iavor of retention of the Wartime Prices Board after the war and for the strict interpretation of the board's regulations governing rental contracts indefinitely adding, "we feel a lot of exhibitors are paying more for films than they should under the law and this practice should stop." The situation has reached a point where actual survival of independ- ents was at stake, Romberg said. He pointed out that the Ontario Council had made a sincere effort to bring about self-regulation of the film busi- ness on a satisfactory basis but said this had been fruitless. Canadian independents had called off a conference with federal officials at Ottawa more than a year ago to urge Government action when it looked like an internal solution of trade problems was possible but, he said, the trade conference had failed to bring about adoption of the con- ciliation plan. A meeting of inde- pendents was called for next week in Toronto and Romberg said a dele- gation would wait upon J. R. Croft, administrator of services of the War- time Prices and Trade Board for presentation of its plea. M-G-M Has 18 Films Dubbed In Spanish (Continued from page 1) eighth week at the Metropolitan, Mex- ico City, Sam Burger, special travel- ing representative for M-G-M, who has just returned from a four-month trip to South America, discloses. In revealing the Spanish-speaking picture decision, he pointed out that "Gas- light" is playing to a greater number of people than had ever witnessed an M-G-M feature before in that coun- try. He attributed this to a much greater entertainment value, since thousands who had never seen an American film before, or who found subtitles tedious or impossible to read, are now attend- ing the showing of "Gaslight." "Drag- on Seed" has also opened in Mexico City with the same results. Burger will leave again for South America in the near future. Aronson Leaving NSS Los Angeles, Feb. 8. — A. J. Aron- son, West Coast district manager for National Screen Service, will resign upon the expiration of his contract, on March 29. George Dembow, NSS vice-president, presently visiting here, will name a successor to Aronson later. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents Bill Asks Control Of CI A A Units (Continued from page 1) trol of Congress and the Budget Bureau if sufficient support can be mustered for legislation which has been introduced in the Senate by Sena- tors Byrd of Virginia, and Butler of Nebraska, and is to be sponsored in the House by Representative Case of South Dakota. Prencinradio (cin for cinema) is the parent of all of the CIAA's press, motion picture and ra- dio ramifications. These corporations, which now op- erate independently of all of the con- trols exercised over other branches of the Government, would be required to prepare annual budgets, as do other agencies, and justify them to the Budget Bureau before their submis- sion to Congress, showing, among other things, the borrowing which the corporation proposes to do and the amount of Government capital funds which are to be returned to the Treas- ury during the fiscal year. No corporation could transact any business not authorized by Congress or expend any funds except in the amounts authorized and made avail- able by Congress. It is also provided that no more such corporations are to be created except by direct Congres- sional action or pursuant to an act of Congress specifically authorizing them. The operation of Government cor- porations has been under fire for the past year, and last session the Byrd committee made an investigation which led to a report to the Senate showing that many of them are sub- ject to no accounting or control by the Budget Bureau of other agency. Goldman Case Appeal Is Heard by Court (Continued from page 1) the public interest. He cited the case of "Citizen Kane" which was allegedly held up by Warners and was not shown for a long time. Judge Joseph J. Proskauer, who represented Warners, denied a mon- opoly. He claimed that Goldman took the Erlanger to gamble on a lawsuit. He also denied that pictures were a public utility, saying that they were purely a public entertainment. Both sides handed in briefs and the case was taken under advisement. 1st Red Cross Field Meet Here Feb. 20 (Continued from page 1) home office executives, and members of the New York and national com- mittees will be present. Also present will be members of the nine teams of industry leaders who, after the New York breakfast, will depart for other cities where similar meetings have been arranged and at which they will be the principal speakers. Marlowe to Aid Blue Harvey Marlowe, television produc- er, has been engaged by the Blue Network as a consultant producer for the forthcoming weekly television presentation of "On Stage Every- body" over the DuMont facilities, starting Feb. 27, according to Hub- bell Robinson, Blue web official. 'Dorian Gray* Tradeshow M-G-M will hold tradeshowings of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" in Los Angeles and New York on Feb. 23. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 8 "IT-NAVE OF DIAMONDS," -IN. story of a gentleman burglar, has been purchased by Universal from Percy Marks, its author. The story has been assigned to Joan Harrison to produce. . . . Peggy Knudson, stage- radio star, has been signed to a long- term Warner contract. . . . William Beaudine has been signed to direct "Come Out Fighting," Monogram's next East Side Kids picture. • Audrey Totter has been selected for the second feminine lead in M-G-M's "Dangerous Partners." . . . Charles Drake has been signed by Hal Wallis for one of the male leads in "You Came Along," cur- rently in work at Paramount. . . . Universal has exercised its option on the services of Lois Collier and Martha O'Driscoll. (Continued from page 1) meetings with the American in- dustry. Lord Beaverbrook, leading British newspaper publisher, who is a member of the Government and a confidant of Prime Minister Churchill, has pri- vately approached Rank, it is under- stood, suggesting that they get to- gether to make a series of films put- ting the British Empire "on the map." Conversations to this end are under- stood to be proceeding "behind the scenes." Beaverbrook was at one time the principal owner of Provincial Cine- matograph Theatres and an interested theatre operator, and is understood to be desirous of returning to the film industry. The presumption that Beav- erbrook is acting with a complete "Churchillian blessing" is confirmed by the highest authoritative sources. "Payment Due," original psycho- logical drama by Bert Hodgson, has been purchased by the King brothers, Monogram producers. . . . Robert Scott has had his Columbia contract extended. . . . Ralph Huston, form- erly assistant publicity director for Cagney Productions, has joined the Warner publicity department. . . . Ed- mund Glover and Bruce Edward have been assigned parts in RKO's "First Man Into Tokyo," zvhich Gordon Douglas is directing. SAG, NLRB, SPU to Meet on 'Extras' (Continued from page 1) tives to present their views regarding the overlapping jurisdiction, which last week caused a one day strike. Execu- tive secretary Jack Dales and attor- ney William Burger will represent SAG. The fight between the unions has placed the studios in the middle; defi- nition of the term extra player and bit player is at stake. The SPU claims this means stunt performers and non-speaking parts as well, while SAG insists these players belong to its group. The producers issued .a statement calling the action of the NLRB "grat- ifying." SPU declined to comment for the present. Later in the day it filed a complaint with the local office of the NLRB, charging the producers with "unfair labor practices." Walker Starts Third Term in Cabinet (Continued from page 1) James A. Farley in September, 1-940, and was renominated by President Roosevelt for a second term in 1941. He was again named head of the De- partment following the President's fourth inauguration, spiking reports that Roosevelt planned to make major changes in his Cabinet. This is the only Cabinet post for which the term of office is fixed by law. NBC Cites Results In Web Promotions (Continued from page 1) attended by over 400 advertising exe- cutives, program sponsors, network executives and representatives of the press. A feature of the exhibit, de- scribed by Charles P. Hammond, NBC director of advertising and pro- motion, was the screening of the trail- ers in 726 theatres in 111 station cities with a population of 22,000,000. Key- note of the four trailers, which used shots of 39 NBC radio and film stars over a period of eight weeks. In a foreword to the trailers, Ed Herlihy, NBC announcer, pointed out that the film industry had heretofore turned to radio to promote its stars and per- sonalities and now, for the first time, radio had turned to the nation's thea- tres on a wide scale to promote its stars and air shows. Hammond pointed out that NBC's survey on the effectiveness of the theatre promotions disclosed that 70 per cent of the theatre audiences see- ing the trailers identified the names of the stars and NBC programs and the local station's call letters. Roy C. Witmer, NBC vice-president in charge of sales, was another speaker at the luncheon. The exhibit will be shown at the Palmer House, Chicago, Feb. 21, and at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, Cal., on April 9. More Film Companies Buy Air Time on WJZ RKO Radio, 20th Century-Fox and Samuel Goldwyn Productions are the latest purchasers of air time on WJZ, New York outlet of the Blue Net- work, for film promotions. RKO, through Foote, Cone and Belding, bought eight weekly station- break announcements for four weeks, in addition to time for "The Woman in the Window" ; 20th Century-Fox, through Kayton-Spiero, bought two station-break announcements for 41 weeks ; Goldwyn is using nine station breaks, purchased through Donohue and Coe, to promote "Princess and the Pirate." announces as winners of the 4944 Nation - Wide Musical Popularity Poll HARRY JAMES-FAVORITE SWING BAND MAJOR GLENN MILLER-FAVORITE SWEET BAND SPIKE JONES-FAVORITE CORN BAND DINAH SHORE-FAVORITE GIRL SINGER & FRANK SINATRA-FAVORITE MALE SINGER The March issue of one of America's most popular screen magazines acclaims America's most popular recording stars. From every corner of America — from large cities and small villages, wherever you find enthusiastic, young-minded people — the votes came in crowning these recording stars as the nation's top favorites. Presentations of specially designed miniature gold discs are being made currently in Hollywood, Chicago, and New York. ANOTHER IN M 0 VI ELAND >S LONG STRING OF FIRSTS" IN THE MOTION PICTURE FIELD published by HILLMAN PERIODICALS, INC. New York City 18 1476 Broadway Chicago 1 333 North Michigan Ave. Los Angeles Garfield Building San Francisco Russ Building RED CROSS DRIVE — MARCH 15-21 ) VOL. 57. NO. 30 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1945 TEN CENTS CIAA Plans To Continue Its Film Unit Abandons Transferring Activity to Hemisphere Film activities of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Af- fairs will continue under its present set-up and will not be transferred to Hemisphere Films, Wallace K. Har- rison, acting CIAA head told Motion Picture Daily in New York. It had been reported on several oc- casions that the Museum of Modern Art would take over the Central and South American non-commercial film activities of the Coordinator's office under the Hemisphere set-up but Har- rison pointed out that the idea had been abandoned due to a lack of in- terest on the part of the people, iden- tities undisclosed, whom Hemisphere was trying to interest in the project. McCormick, Mandel Name 31 Red Cross Campaign Publicists Selznick 10 Years An Independent March will mark the 10th anniver- sary of David O. Selznick as an in- dependent producer under the trade- mark of Selznick International Pic- tures, and the event will be observed with a special program of activities and the national re- lease of his "I'll Be Seeing You" and ''Spell- bound." The anniver- sary will take on the aspects of a triple event, since it will commemorate David O. Selznick the 22nd year in production of Selznick, and the 32nd anniversary of (Continued on page 10) S. Barret McCormick and Harry Mandel, national publicity directors for the industry's 1945 Red Cross 'War Fund Week,' which will be ob- served in theatres throughout the U. S., Alaska, Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, March 15-21, have appointed exchange area public relations chair- men for the drive, as follows : Albany, Charles Smakwitz; Atlan- ta, Bill Brady; Boston, Harry Brown- ing; Buffalo, Charles Taylor; Char- lotte, Roy Smart; Chicago, W. K. Hollander; Cincinnati, Nate Wise; Cleveland, E. J. Fisher; Dallas, Ray Beall ; Denver, Harold Rice ; Des Moines. Dale McFarland ; Detroit, Alice Gorham ; Indianapolis, Ken Col- lins ; Kansas City, Jerry Zigmond. Also : Los Angeles, Seymour Peiser ; (Continued on page 10) 10% Chicago Staff Cuts Chicago, Feb. 12.— Because Chi- cago is listed as a critical labor area, the Regional War Manpower Com- mission here has ordered non-essential industries, including all theatres in this area, to reduce their staffs by five per cent, starting Thursday and an- other five percent by March 15. The ruling affects employers with 10 or more employees and involves males only. Employees 'laid off' so that they may accept defense jobs will retain their seniority rights and must be given their original positions back when their services in war plants are no longer needed, the WMC ruling states. ' Product Shortage Pinches Circuits Chicago, Feb. 12. — The shortage of product in neigh- borhood houses is finally com- pelling leading theatre cir- cuits to 'plug' booking gaps with re-issues. Heretofore, independent operators have been almost exclusive buyers of the old product. Warners has let the bars down for re-issues in its neighborhoods, including the Hamilton, Oakland and Grove. Balaban and Katz is expected to adopt a similar plan. FPC-Spencer Set Expansion Plans St. John, N. B., Feb. 12. — First new postwar theatres to be erected by the F. G. Spencer circuit, in which Fa- mous Players - Canadian recently bought a substantial interest, will be located at Charlottetown, Amherst and Campbelltown, according to F. G. Spencer, president of the circuit, and J. J. Fitzgibbons, head of FP-C. The Spencer company has been oper- ating in these localities since its in- ception many years ago. Spencer, who continues to direct the circuit's activities, started his career as a concert impresario more than 30 years ago and established his first film houses at Summerside, Pictou and Charlottetown, following shortly with the establishment of the old Unique here on the site of the present Strand. Through the years the company has expanded to other centers in the Mari- time provinces and now numbers 16 theatres. Wide Spencer expansion is sched- uled for the postwar, and FP-C, in- dependently, will build a large new house here on a King Square site acquired some time ago. Display Lighting Is Banned by WPB Washington, Feb. 12. — The War Production Board has formally amended the 'brownout' order to in elude display advertising and promo tional lighting in theatre and other (Continued on page 5) Chinese Audience Riots as Sound System Breaks Down; Patron Slain That Chinese audiences demand their entertainment, especially films, without interruption and won't take no for an answer, is clearly indicated by the following cable, received by Al Daff, vice- president of Universal International, from Chungking, China: "'Arabian Nights' opened for the second-run season at the Roxy Theatre in Chengtu, China. Business was so good that the theatre was packed. Unfortunately the sound system broke down during the course of the screening and the audience rioted. During the fight, one of the operating room staff fired a pistol shot and killed one of the audience. The theatre was closed for a few days." As an afterthought, the cable observed that the projection room operator was executed by the military. No Relief on 285 Print Limit Is Seen OCR Rejects ITOA Plea; Reassures Subsequents Washington, Feb. 12. — Declar- ing that the cut in raw stock alloca- tions has been so light that its effect upon even subsequent - run ex- hibitors can be but "inconsequential," War Production Boad officials today indicated that no action will be taken on the protest of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York against the limitation of prints to a maximum of 285 for any feature. The problem of the subsequent-run houses was discussed by Max A. Cohen, chairman of the association's film committee, with Stanley B. Ad- ams, director of the Consumers' Dur- able Goods division, Friday at a (Continued on page 5) 12 Millions for 10 Planned by Lesser During the next two or three years Sol Lesser plans to make 10 pictures at a total cost of $12,000,000. The stories for all are ready, but how many actually will be made will depend on the amount of raw stock he can get, Lesser disclosed here, adding : "I un- derstand that an average will be taken on what each producer has done during the past four years, and my average has been two a year." Lesser said that the top production (Continued on page 5) Sol Lesser Buchanan Named UA Publicity Chief Barry Buchanan, for the past two years special coordinator between the industry and the U. S. Treasury, has been engaged as director of advertis- ing-publicity for United Artists, (Continued on page 5) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 13, 1945 Personal Mention w ILLIAM F. RODGERS, M- G-M vice-president and gen- eral sales manager, returned to New York yesterday from Florida. • W. A. Scully, Universal vice- president and general sales manager, and Maurice Bergman, Eastern ad- vertising and publicity director, have returned to New York from the Coast. • Tom Connors, 20th Century-Fox vice-president in charge of sales, has left New York for New Haven, Bos- ton and Albany. He will return Thursday. • Roberto D. Socas, PRC foreign sales manager, and Victor Samaan, near East distributor, have left the Coast for New York. • I. F. Dolid, supervisor of Warner exchanges, has returned to New York, from a visit to Southern and South* western branches. • Florence Mackler, secretary to Walter Gould, United Artists for.- eign manager, has left for a month's vacation in Miami. • Leon D. Netter, in charge of Southern theatres for Paramount, and M. F. Gowthorpe have returned from a Southern trip. • A. A. Higginbotham, Paramount theatre associate with E. V. Richards in Baton Rouge, La., has been visiting in New York. • Jules J. Rubens, general manager of Publix-Great States Circuit, Chi- cago, is vacationing in Florida. • William Gleicher of M-G-M's sales department returned to New York yesterday from Boston. • A. A. Schubart, RKO manager of exchange operations, has returned to New" York from the Coast. • Oscar A, Doob, Loew's Theatres advertising and publicity head, is in Miami on vacation. • Marvin Schenck, M-G-M Eastern talent head, returned to New York yesterday from the Coast. • Joe Roberts, of Vanguard's pub- licity staff, has returned to New York from Cleveland. • John E. Flynn, M-G-M Western sales manager, arrived in New York yesterday from Chicago. • Edward Hinchey of the Warner sales department is in Miami from New York. • Spyros Skouras left Hollywood by train for New York yesterday. • H. J. Yates will entrain from Hol- lywood for New York on Thursday. Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE Hp HE I. T. O. A. of New York, *■ in protesting against the War Production Board's recent order establishing the maximum number of release prints on any one feature at 285 (subject to exception), may be doing a bit of needless crying before it's hurt, just as a number of inde- pendent producers did on the subject of obtaining their indi- vidual raw stock quotas direct from WPB rather than from their distributors. It is true, if nevertheless apart from the point, that. there is no known case of an independent producer having been injured under the former method of allo- cating raw stock to distribution companies, which made stock available to independent produc- ers. Samuel Goldwyn, as a mat- ter of fact, stated that the news that his raw stock requirements were being fulfilled by RKO was a surprise to him when he first heard it. That is testimony that his needs were so well taken care of by the distribution company that Goldwyn had never had oc- casion to think of his raw stock supply as a problem or the past method of allocation as unsatis- factory. When Goldwyn learned that he was not receiving his raw stock through a WPB quota direct to him, he joined with other independent producers in a petition that they be given a clear title to their own quotas. That was the sole point in- volved in their protest and peti- tion to WPB and it is under- standable. Independents are in- dividualists. However, their protests were needless because Stanley Adams, head of WPB's Consumers Dur- able Goods Division, had per- ceived earlier that the past pro- cedure in allocating raw stock to the distribution branch of the industry, rather than to the pro- duction branch, was contrary to WPB policy established over three years ago in its dealings with other industries. That pol- icy, Adams told Motion Pic- ture Daily, he had decided to apply to this industry before he had heard of the independent producers' dissatisfaction. The question now arises, is the independent exhibitor likely to be hurt by the 285-print limi- tation any more than the inde- pendent producer was by the for- mer procedure of allocating raw stock to distribution? There was only one reason for placing a ceiling on release prints. That was the undeniably necessary one of preventing waste of stock and thereby aid- ing in increasing supplies on hand. To illustrate this, Adams cited the case of one of last year's well known feature pic- tures for which its distributor ordered 400 release prints. The picture did not prove to be the strong box-office attraction the company had anticipated it would be. In consequence, that picture (which, incidentally, Adams identified by its title) consumed only 250 prints by the time it was played out. The result was a net wastage of 150 prints of 9,000-foot length each, or a total of 1,350,000 feet of raw stock wasted on one picture. • While it is true that distribu- tors heretofore have ordered 350 to 400 prints ("Going My Way," for example, is said to have con- sumed 400, with its playing pos- sibilities still far from exhaust- ed), the bulk of such orders are said to have been few and far between, for rare, exceptional grossers, or as a result of mis- judging a picture's possibilities in advance, as in the case cited above. A reasonable average print order on better product is estimated by some to be about 300 or 325, and much less on product of secondary importance. That would be a maximum re- duction, as a result of the 285- print limit, of 40 prints on the average. With 32 distribution centers in the country, the reduc- tion means that only about one print would be taken from each. It is hard to believe that that would spell catastrophe for sub- sequent runs. Basically, because of the ex- ception to the 285-print limit which WPB will allow, the new order makes obsolescence of a picture the ruling test. If a pic- ture has played out its reason- able possibilities, no more than 285 prints will be authorized. And if its reasonable possibilities have been played out, who is to be hurt thereafter ? It is reasonable to assume that, despite protest from I. T. O. A. or any other organization, the 285-print limit is destined to re- ceive a trial. WPB officials are convinced it is worth trying. If it proves unworkable, it is our prediction that WPB will be quick to concede it and quick to correct it. NEW YORK THEATRES INSIDE THE RACKETS! Mobland's Gats Blaze Again! 1st N. Y. Showing "THE CHICAGO KID" A Republic Picture with DONALD BARRY OTTO KRUCER TOM POWERS REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Streets RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 8howplaee of the Nation . Roeksfeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Pletura la TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR 8TAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN HTJOAN DAVIS WM.GARGAN 'SHE GETS HER MAN' IN PERSON EARL CARROLL'S 'VANITIES OF 1945' Paramount presents Ray Miliaria IN "MINISTRY of FEAR" in Person Johnny Long and hit Orchestra LOUIS JORDAN and hie FAMOUS TYM- PANY FIVE PALACE! B WAY & 47th St. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE — A RKO RELEASE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor ASTOR Popular Prleee Broadway & Continuous Doors open 930 A. M. 45th Street Midnight Show WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLEROS NOW in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Picture* . . Brandt's GLOBE Sears Hospitalized Gradwell L. Sears, United Artists vice-president and distribution head, has entered New York Hospital for a check up and rest. It is expected he will be away from his office for about six weeks. 9^ 9? PIPTyR.E, DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidayB by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Umgley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News JSditor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing I «' ™ Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post omce at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. I Top honors the year from all . critics! BIGGEST LITTLE STAR-M*G*M's I MARGARET O'BRIEN Isn't it wonderful that she follows "Meet Me in St. Louis'' with another Great Film "MUSIC FOR MILLIONS"! *«» Sum r Posted Oo Co""o//y • u^y Red Cross War Fund Week — March 15-21 '«ore Tuesday, February 13, 1945 Motion Picture daily Display Lighting Is Banned by WB {Continued from page 1) arcades, transportation terminals and similar locations. It was the orig- inal intention of the board to include such lighting in its first order, but in- quiries coming into Washington indi- cate that many persons did not read the requirements that way. § J Under the amended order, a theatre M having an entrance from an arcade, building lobby or other passage used by the public, must treat that entrance ■* as though it were from the street. WMC Establishes Coal Manpower Priorities Washington, Feb. 12. — Responding to an appeal by Solid Fuels Adminis- tration, War Manpower Chairman Paul V. McNutt has authorized regional and local WMC officials to establish immediately labor priorities in sections where transportation and distribution of coal has been curtail ec3 to provide emergency manpower for the delivery of coal in storm stricken areas. The priorities will be applied in the New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, the District of Columbia, Maryland and such urban centers of Wiscon- sin and Minnesota as Milwaukee, Du- luth, Minneapolis and St. Paul. c Skouras, Silverstones To England in March Spyros Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, Murray Silverstone, vice- president in charge of foreign distri- bution, and Arthur Silverstone, home office foreign representative stationed in London, now here, are scheduled to leave for England about mid- March. Skouras is returning here from the Coast this week. While in England, Skouras and Silverstone will look into the com- pany's British production plans. 20th recentlv completed a deal with Marcel Hellman for joint production of "Wanted for Murder. The theatre situation and the company's British distribution will also be looked into. Lehr and Pickford Named by Guild Hollywood, Feb. 12. — Ann Lehr has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Guild Canteen, with other officers as follows : Mary Pickford, vice-president ; Al Lichtman, vice- president and chairman of the board ; Hugh Lee, treasurer and business manager ; Harmon Woods, secretary ; board of directors : Al Lichtman, Earl Carroll, John Chudacoff, Bette Davis, Mrs. Sig Herzig, Col. Jason Joy, Charles Koerner, Mrs. Ann Lehr, Mervyn LeRoy, Sol Lesser, David Tipp, Frank Vincent, Spike Wallace, John Wexley, Harrison Woods. Hugh Lee, Al Lichtman and Jules Stein comprise the finance committee. Lesser's $3,500,000 For Tarzan Rights Sol Lesser discloses here that he has signed a 20-year deal, with Edgar Rice Bur- roughs, author of the Tarzan stories, whereby Lesser will make one Tarzan feature yearly, with • Burroughs re- ceiving $175,000 per story, for a total of $3,500,000, report- edly the most any author has ever received for any series of pictures. Burroughs, who is 65, is now with the OWI in Hono- lulu. 12 Millions for 10 Planned by Lesser {Continued from page 1) will be "Paris Canteen," part of which will be made in .Paris, with the rest in - Hollywood and London. He has applied for a French visa and will leave for Paris as soon as he can. The film is based on a new project by the American Theatre Wing, which is installing a canteen, Cafe Tyrol on the Champs Elysees in Paris, with United Nations coop- erating. Charles Boyer, Beatrice Lillie and Edward Robinson are among the stars who will appear in the film, and Lesser is trying to get Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier for Eng- lish parts. A percentage of the profits will go to the American Theatre Wing and another percentage to a relief fund of industry personnel for- merly engaged in resistance in France. The second Lesser production will be "Crazy to Dance," based on Arthur Murray's dancing schools. The third will be "Civilian Clothes," with Cary Grant, based on the recondition- ing of a returned soldier. "Alarm and Excursion," will be- the fourth, with Robinson and Joan Bennett. Fifth film, which will go into May production, will be "Tarzan and the Intruder." The sixth will be "Silver Flame," story of the Comstock lode; others will be : "Flash ; Flood," "Show Me a Land," "Tarzan and the Leop- ard Woman," and an untitled Tarzan. Lesser, in New York lining up tal- ent, will leave for the Coast Thursday. NLRB Hits AFM on Platter-Turners Washington, Feb. 12. — James C. Petrillo's AFM lost the first round in its jurisdictional dispute over radio 'platter turners', when a Na- tional Labor Relations Board trial examiner recommended in an interim report, that National Broadcasting Co. and the Blue Network be re- quired to bargain collectively with the National Association of Broadcasting Engineers and Technicians, an inde- pendent union. Howard Myers, trial examiner, held that the two companies, by refusing to bargain with the independent union as the exculsive representative of their employees, had interfered with the workers' lawful self - organization rights. The report said the compa- nies' defense is based on the claim that to do so, would result in reprisals from Petrillo. No Relief on 285 Print Limit is Seen Buchanan Appointed UA Publicity Chief {Continued from page 1) Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in' charge of distribution announced here yesterday. The appointment, forecast in Motion Picture Daily Jan. 31, will take effect Thursday. Buchanan, resigning from the Gov- ernment to accept the UA position, recently directed national exploitation on war bond drives, concentrating for the past year from Hollywood on the participation of stars in various compaigns. A graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology, he had ex- perience for a number of years with the Shuberts, served as a director of public relations for the New York World's Fair, and was also with the Ringling Bros, circus. He recently returned to California to wind up his Government affairs. The UA advertising-publicity direc- tor post has been vacant five weeks, since the resignation of Lou Pollock. Erbb and Owen to Cleveland Meeting William, Erbb, Paramount's Eastern division manager and Hugh Owen, recently appointed New York and Southern division manager, will leave New York today for Cleveland to attend the company's final Central division sales meeting at the Cleve- land Hotel starting tomorrow and continuing Thursday. James J. Donohue, Central division manager, will preside, with Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribution ; R. M. Gillham, ad- vertising-publicity director and Claude Lee, director of public relations, at- tending. District manager H. H. Goldstein, branch managers, salesmen and head bookers from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Detroit as well as district advertising representatives, will also attend the meeting. SPU Charges NLRB Is 'Coddling9 SAG Hollywood, Feb. 12. — Withholding a decision on whether to send repre- sentatives to Washington on Feb. 22 to attend hearings on, the producers' and Screen Actors Guild's petitions for reconsideration of the National Labor Relations Board's definition of "extra player" in its certification of the Screen Players Union as bargain- ing agent for extras, the SPU tele- graphed the NLRB at the weekend charging that the agency is "coddling the losing union and the producers." The message urged NLRB to "or- der the producers to cease and desist from discrimination against SPU members." The producers and SAG previously had expressed gratifica- tion with NLRB's reopening of the case for argument. {Continued from page 1) meeting sought by Cohen after the Office of Civilian Requirements turned down his plea for aid. Before contacting Adams, the asso- ciation laid the matter before the OCR where, after discussions with WPB officials, the conclusion was reached that the cut, less than six per cent from last quarter, would have little effect on exhibitors. That phase of the question, it was disclosed, was also canvassed exhaustively at the Industry Advisory Committee meet- ing Feb. 1, and the limitation was adopted finally only after committee members expressed the belief no in- jury would be done exhibitors. Cohen was advised of the decision of the OCR by W. Y. Elliott, WPB vice-chairman for Civil Requirements, who, pointing to the small extent of the cut expressed the belief it would have no adverse effect upon any the- atres. Appeals to Patriotism At the same time, Elliott pointed out that if a larger percentage of raw stock was allotted to the industry it would mean that requirements for military and indirect military uses would have to be cut, and called upon the exhibitors patriotically to accept any inconvenience that may occur. ITOA headquarters here issued the following statement at the week- end : "Max A. Cohen, chairman of the film committee of the ITOA was assured by Stanley Adams in Wash- ington Friday that the WPB, in set- ting up the raw stock allocations would see to it that the subsequent run would be fully protected and he given an even break with the first run. Because of the 285 prints allotted for each production, the WPB feels that the subsequent run is just as important as the first run. The WPB feels there will be no penalty against the subse- quent run so that nobody will be hurt." Sammis on Coast Hollywood, Feb. 12. — Fred Sam- mis, editorial director of Photoplay magazine, and Herb Drake, promotion manager, are in Hollywood making arrangements for the 'Photoplay Gold Medal Awards' which will be given here on Feb. 16 to stars and film judged most popular by the general public, based on the survey made by Dr. George Gallup. Wayburn's Life in Films Mrs. Ned Wayburn is collaborating with Fay Pulsifer on a screen script based on the life of Ned Wayburn, who for years staged the Ziegfeld Follies and produced independently and for George M. Cohan, Charles Dil- lingham, the Shuberts, Moss of Lon- don, and others. One of the script's highlights will be written around Way- burn's school of the dance. REEVES SOUND STUDIOS, INC. 1600 BROADWAY. N. Y. 19 Circle 6-6686 Complete Film and Disc Recording Facilities GLOBE TICKET COMPANY 154 W. 14th ST. N. Y. C. Phone W Atkins 9-1486 PROMPT SERVICE AS USUAL SENSATIONAL BUSINESS at the 4,000-seat de luxe ALBEE, BROOKLYN... and for scores of other first runs like PALACE, NEW YORK - PALACE, CHICAGO - PROCTORS, NEWARK - KEITH, WASHINGTON - ORPHEUM, KANSAS CITY - KEITH, SYRACUSE - KEITH, DAYTON - ORPHEUM, NEW ORLEANS - UPTOWN, SALT LAKE CITY— BRANDEIS, OMAHA- ORPHEUM, SEATTLE -PALACE, MEMPHIS-ALBEE, PROVIDENCE- ORPHEUM, DENVER- MAJESTIC, DALLAS. ROSSER mm MM HOUSES The women just canH resist that virile, super-masculine appeal of big John Wayne — and his stormy romance with Ella Raines! Miss Wanda Hale, in her rave review in the N. Y. Daily News, sums it up for women in general with: "Hooray! 'Tall in the Saddle' adds something new to old- fashioned westerns. That something is animal magnet- ism. And I don't mean horses. It's romance appeal in the forms of John Wayne and Ella Raines. And if this devia- tion doesn't make the Palace Theatre one of the most popular places in town for the run, I miss my guess." fit did, Wanda -RK01 JOHN WAYNE ■ ELLA RAINES with WARD BONO-GEORGE "GABBY" HAYES • AUDREY LONG -ELISABETH RISDON - DON DOUGLAS Produced by ROBERT FELLOWS • Directed by EDWIN L. MARIN R ft Q Screen Play by Michael Hogan and Paul P. Fix RAC^I^^' SIGN THAT PLEDGE CARD! RED CROSS DRIVE - MARCH 15-21 Dear "Motion Picture Daily" : Thanks for your gran*1' I as "another successful Paramo; We particularly liked the parti to exhibitors as well as audiei: the tradition of Paramount 's f) every one of which, as you knovi artistic success. CLAUDETTE COLBERT FRED MacMURRAY in "PRACTICALLY YOURS" with Gil Lamb • Cecil Kellaway • Robt. Benchley Jane Frazee • Mikhail Rasumny A MITCHELL LEISEN PRODUCTION Directed by MITCHELL LEISEN SIGN THAT PLEDGE CARD ! RED CROSS DRIVE— MARCH 15-21 jview hailing "Practically Yours" aj; comedy. . .studded with laughs", lere you said — "It will bring joy m " . That means that it carries on :dus award-winning hits of 1944, was a financial as well as Paramount Pictures Inc 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 13, 1945 Massacre of 4GIV in Special War Reel Campaign Publicists Named for Drive {Continued from page 1) Memphis, Cecil Vogel ; Milwaukee, Miss H. Brunner; Minneapolis, Charles Winchell ; New Haven, Lou Brown ; New Orleans, Maurice Barr ; New York, Edward C. Dowden; Oklahoma City, Robert Busch ; Oma- ha, Ted Emerson ; Philadelphia, James Ashcraft ; Pittsburgh, James Totman ; Portland, Ore., Jack Matlack; St. Louis, Les Kaufman ; Salt Lake City, Helen Garrity ; San Francisco, Fay Reeder ; Seattle, Vic Gauntlett ; Wash- ington, Frank LaFalce. Snow Downs Marquee Hartford, Feb. 12. — The entire Dow's Theatre marquee, valued at $4,000, and owned by Al Dow and D. Ferrorie was ripped off late last week due to the weight of snow. McCarroll to Assist Bund, AMPS Chief Washington, Feb. 12. — Alan Mc- Carroll, formerly comptroller of the Army Motion Picture Service, has been appointed deputy chief of the Service, succeeding Fred Bund, Jr., who last week was promoted to chief, filling the post made vacant by the death of Raymond B. Murray* Bund, who entered the industry -in 1917 with Triangle Film Corp., served overseas in World War I and then became manager of the Community Motion Picture Bureau here. Hochstein Trial Today The trial of Harry Hochstein, for- mer morals inspector in Chicago, and the sentencing of Isadore Nevin, for- mer bookkeeper for George E. Browne, ex-president of the IATSE, both of whom were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for alleged perjury in the Bioff-Browne proceedings, are sched- uled in Federal Court here today. MGM's 10th Block Is Raised to Eight M-G-M's tenth block will have eight pictures, with the addition of "Keep Your Powder Dry" in the group, William F. Rodgers, vice- president and general sales manager has announced. The tentative release dat;e has been set for March 30; the film will be tradeshown in 'all ex- changes on Feb. 21, except Atlanta, Feb. 14, and Omaha, Feb. 19. Others in the 10th block are : "The Thin Man Goes Home," "Main Street After Dark," "Music for Millions," "Blonde Fever," "This Man's Navy," "Between Two Women," "Nothing But Trouble." Release dates run from Jan. 12 to March 16. Radio Libel Bill • Albany, Feb. 12. — A bill extending the libel law to radio was introduced in the Legislature Friday by Irwin Steingut, minority leader of the As- sembly. Pathe News will release in Broad- way theatres on Wednesday a one reel film called "Report on the West- ern Front," containing pictures of how the Allies , broke the German counter-offensive and Ve-embarked on the offensive. Compiled under the supervision of Frederic Ullman, Jr., president of 1 Pathe, from film records of newsreel cameramen on six sectors of the West- ern Front, the . report is accompanied by a series of maps outlining each the- atre of action and by informative nar- ration. Among the scenes to be shown for the first time will be the massacre of 200 American prisoners by the Nazis ; Belgian civilians murdered by the Germans in Malmedy because of their friendship to the Allies ; the meeting of the 1st and 3rd Armies outside Houffalize; the evacuation of civilians in Wingon by 'GI's' ; the return of civilians to Strasbourg, Boulogne and Calais in ruins ; Marseilles functioning again as a port; German prisoners unloading Allied ships, and General &e Gaulle's entrance into Nantes. Selznick 10 Years An Independent (Continued from page 1) the start in pictures of his father, the late Lewis J. Selznick, one of the pio- neers in the industry. With a steady expansion of com- pany plans, -four pictures are already planned by Selznick, or under his su- pervision, this year. They are: "So Little Time," based on J. P. Mar- quand's novel; "Duel in the Sun," in color, to be directed by King Vidor; "The Scarlet Lily," and Alfred Hitch- cock's "Notorious." Making his start in production in 1923 with a two-reeler about the heavyweight contender, Firpo, Selz- nick had within five years joined Paramount as executive assistant to B. P. Schulberg. Later he became ex- ecutive vice-president at RKO and an M-G-M producer, before starting his own company, as an independent pro- ducer. Army Chiefs, Others See 'I'll Be Seeing You' Washington, Feb 12.— Army offi- cials and distinguished guests attended a special preview showing, late last week, of Selznick International's "I'll Be Seeing You." Among those present were: Major General and Mrs. Norman T. Kirk; Major General and Mrs. George Lull ; Brig. General and Mrs. Raymond Bliss; Col. Augustus Thorndyke; Brig. General and Mrs. Fred Rankin; Col, William C. Menninger; Mrs. Steve Simons; Col. and Mrs. Burr N, Carter ; Major and Mrs. Harry L. Willard ; Col. and Mrs. Martin De- frenne; General and Mrs. John L. Hines ; Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers, and others. NBC to Honor Sargent National Broadcasting will honor Dr. Malcolm Sargent, conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and other British musical organiza- tions, at a luncheon at the Hotel Wal- dorf Astoria here tomorrow. PHOTOPLAY S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD . PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD Who is the whole nation's most popular movie actress*) Who is the whole nation's most popular movie actor? What is the nation's picture of the year? TO FIND OUT... DR. GEORGE GALLUP'S AUDIENCE RESEARCH, INC. POLLS THE AMERICAN PURLIC FOR PHOTOPLAY! Starting in 1944, Photoplay's Gold Medal Award — the oldest annual award in the industry— will go. each year to the American Public's choices. The same scientific methods will be used which have enabled Dr. Gallup to predict the winner in five presidential elections as well as scores of others. Will the Public confirm the critics' choice? Will the Public confirm the box-office records? Will the Public confirm the many individual polls o£ editors, special reader groups, and the industry itself? See Photoplay for March for the final results. PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY'S GOLD MEDAL AWARD • PHOTOPLAY S GOLD MEDAL AWARD N SPITE OF SNOW... HELD OVER AS THERMO! 3rd WEEK niip., EVERYWHERE! 0>y ■ ™ BUSINESS tf^" E TER H[» YORK \0> Lowing 2 weeks 8US'NESS, MOVED 0V« FOR SENSA- JIONAL 3rd WEEK' A X; *>7 ANOTHER SOCK! MOVE- OVER FOR ird WEEK FOLLOWING 2 TERRIFIC WEEKS! HUP SnilNG BONDS! . .. GREATEST GROSS IN HISTORY! GREATEST 2nd WEEK AT ROXIE TOPS GREATEST 1st WEEK! NOWird WEEK RECORDS BEING SMASHED! u » imam beauty m toy. wa « fo« urn. noma CERHED WITH MAKING OF THIS OUTSTANDINGLY DIFFERENT SCREEN TREAT . Pi Mr. Exhibitor. . . Check with any situation where the picture has opened! Learn all about the record business . . . tremendous audience enthusiasm! Learn why they're ALL saying: "THANKS TO COLUMBIA FOR MAKING THIS GREAT PICTURE AT THIS TIME IN THE INDUSTRY'S HISTORY!" :"»«!lta«;i,i;>j(i,.,,. ESSESSSSWaso* ■Stgw T/wf Pledge Card 1 Red Cross Drive — March 15-21 First in [Radio jN 1 Accural Si 1 and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 57. NO. 31 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1945 TEN CENTS Cowdin Cites $3,412,701 lUniversal Net $5,000,000 Increase in Sales Under Blumberg Net profit of Universal pictures amounted to $3,412,701 in the year ended Oct. 28, 1944, equivalent to $5.15 per share on stock outstand- ing, J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board, and N. J. Blumberg, presi- dent, will announce in a statement re- leased here by the company today. (Cowdin arrived in London from New York yesterday). The 1944 net com- pares with net earnings of $3,759,968 in the preceding year. Profits before providing for Federal income and excess profits taxes amounted to $11,260,601. This com- pares with $12,353,168 in the preced- ing year. For the eighth consecutive year, rentals and sales of Universal pic- tures and other income from opera- (Ctmtinued on page 4) Big Grosses at N. Y. Houses Ideal weekend weather conditions coupled with strong Lincoln's Birth- day holiday business, is leading most New York first-runs to heavy grosses this week. A snowstorm which set in yesterday had varying effect. Of new arrivals, "The Princess and the Pirate," at the Astor, and "Hang- over Square," at the Roxy, are really outstanding. Registering a record- breaking $32,500 from Friday to Mon- day night at the Astor, aided by an (Continued on page 8) Sue Selznick Over 'Frisco Pact Jump San Francisco, Feb. 13. — Joe Blumenfeld, independent exhibitor and owner of Blumenfeld Theatres, Inc., announced here today that he had in- structed legal counsel in Washington to file suit for damages against David O. Selznick, partner in United Artists, on charges of contract violation. Acting in behalf of himself and the corporation, Blumenfeld charges that the film, "I'll Be Seeing You," des- ( Continued on page 4) Bill Aimed at Union 'Make-Work* Rules Washington, Feb. 13. — A bill designed to eliminate 'make work' practices by labor unions and to reduce work stoppages resulting from iur- isdictional disputes has been introduced by Rep. Monroney of Oklahoma. The measure would prohibit 'stand-by' musicians and could affect employment of two or more projectionists in a booth where such employment was not directly required for safe- ty reasons. Allies9 Nazi Film Policy Mutual exchange of motion pictures by the U. S., Great Britain and Rus- sia, to be shown generally in invaded Germany following an agreed plan by the three Allies, and flowing from the broad policy laid down by the Big Three in their conference in the Cri- mea for occupation of separate Ger- man zones, is envisaged by Robert Riskin, chief of the Office of War Information overseas film bureau, in an interview with Motion Picture Daily here yesterday. Method of operation of such a plan will be determined as a result of a meeting of OWI film representatives with film representatives of the Brit- ish and Russian Governments, Riskin said. The OWI, Riskin declared, is ready to 'invade' Germany with films imme- (Continued on page 4) Allied Sees Value In Clearance Move Even If It Fails Washington, Feb. 13. — Regardless of the outcome of the Department of Justice's proposals for the elimination of clearance between non-competitive theatres or those charging the same admission prices, three ends may be accomplished, according to an Allied States discussion and analysis of the proposals now being circulated. Allied declares that the disclosure in the Department's brief and motion of the fundamentals of the Govern- ment's suit should bring about a real- ization of the seriousness of the pro- ceeding ; that, since notice of the mo- tion was filed on all eight large com- panies, rather than on just the five decree companies, it will serve to bring the non-consenting defendants, ( Continued on page 7) MPTOA Warns On Rentals and Taxes High film rentals and playing terms and admission taxes are listed in an MPTOA bulletin released yesterday as the two principal problems con- fronting exhibitors as peak wartime attendance begins to decline. The bulletin, issued over the signa- ture of Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, declares that "it is quite clear that the (attendance) peak was reached several months ago and that a definite decline already has set in." It places the blame for high rentals (Continued on page 8) Rank's Films To Be Cleared Through PC A Will Submit Scripts To MPPDA in London 44 The Enchanted Cottage 99 [RKO Radio] Hollywood, Feb. 13 ADD "The Enchanted Cottage" to the ever-growing list of fine Hollywood efforts. By its own merits, this attraction carves „ itself a splendid niche. Here is a film which rests heavily on the believability and the integ- rity of its principal performances and the steady, yet understanding, hand in its direction. It is fortunate, and thus a happy circumstance to report that this proves the case. Here, also, is a case of emotional effect depending very largely on those performances and that direction because the actual story frame- work is a slim affair upon which to fall back. Robert Young, wealthy young man, goes off to the wars. He is shot down and a year later is returned to civilian life, a wreck of a man and disfigured. He has mental hazards to hurdle, a place to find himself under sharply altered conditions. Dorothy McGuire, unattractive girl and alone, lives in a sort of dream world which allows her to be as glam- orous as she cares to imagine herself to be. They meet in a quaint and (Continued on page 8) By PETER BURNUP London, Feb. 13. — In conse- quence of an exchange of corre- spondence between J. Arthur Rank and Martin Quigley, head of Quig- ley Publications, New York, Rank today issued strict orders to all of his producers to submit their working scripts to MPPDA prior to shooting with a view to avoiding infringement of the American Production Code Ad- ministration standards. Rank's direction provoked some re- sentment among certain producers here, who claimed that the submission of scripts implied restraints upon their artistry. To this Rank replied that their livelihood is dependent not only upon their artistic reputation, but (Continued on page 4) Avoid 16mm. Stock Quotas Washington, Feb. 13.— --No restric- tions beyond the limitations created by short supplies will be imposed upon the 16mm. industry in this quarter, it was decided today at the first meeting of the newly created 16mm. Industry Advisory Committee with War Pro- duction Board officials. Although supplies currently are short, it was agreed that the difficul- ties of establishing an allocation sys- tem outweighed its advantages, and (Continued on page 8) Inactive Producers To Get Raw Stock Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Independent producers who were inactive last year but had previous production records can obtain raw stock by making spe- cial application, members of the Soci- ety of Independent M. P. Producers were told by Warren Doane, War Production Board unit chief here, at a luncheon meeting yesterday following the latter's return from Washington. The provision is said to take care (Continued on page 8) 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, February 14, 1945 Personal Mention JAMES MULVEY, vice-president of Samuel Goldwyn Prod., arrived on the Coast yesterday from New York. Ted Gamble, theatre executive and national director of the War Finance Division, of the United States Treas- ury, has been elected a director of Western Life Insurance Co., Helena, Montana. • Jerome Pickman, executive assis- tant to Hal Horne, 20th Century-Fox director of advertising, publicity and exploitation, and Sidney Blumen- stock, assistant exploitation manager, have returned from Atlanta. • Francis Alstock, director of the film section of the Office of the Coor- dinator of Inter-American Affairs, has left Hollywood for Washington. • Sam Epstein, head of the Epstein Theatre Circuit, Omaha, is recuper- ating from a back injury suffered in an automobile accident. • Willard J. O'Neill, secretary- treasurer of Paramount Film Service, Ltd., Toronto, is observing his 25th year with Paramount. • Leonard Goldenson, Paramount vice-president in charge of theatre op- erations, arrived in Hollywood yester- day from New York. • Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew's vice-president and head of the Metro- politan circuit, will leave for a Miami vacation in March. • Max Fellerman and Ed Hyman, Paramount theatre executives, arrived in Hollywood yesterday from New York. • Max Wilder, Warner Bros, man- aging director in Great Britain, left here for London over the weekend. • Robert M. Weitman, managing di- rector of the New York Paramount, arrived in Hollywood yesterday. • A. A. Schubart, RKO Radio man- ager of exchange operations, has re- turned here from Los Angeles. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Southern and Canadian sales manager for Universal, left yesterday for Canada. • H. M. Bessey, vice-president of Al- tec Service Corp., has returned here from Detroit and Chicago. Harry Goldberg, Warner Theatres advertising and publicity head, is in New Haven today. • Charles Smakwitz, Warner The- atres Albany assistant zone manager, is in New York. • Joseph Engel. Philadelphia branch manager for Republic, is en route to Hollywood. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Hollywood, Feb. 13 pHARLIE REAGAN, flanked ^ by Bob Gillham and Claude Lee, is due in Cleveland Wednes- day on one of nine key city stands which had San Francisco as opening date. The V. P. in charge of Paramount sales, is talking to his staff about matters generally but everywhere he goes he is also talking to exhibitors invited to the sessions for ■ the purpose. Behind this line of travel is an interesting development. It bears on exhibitor relationships and a full-scale intention on Para- mount's part to get closer to its customers. ■ When Reagan assumed his current post, about a year ago as the calendar flies, he inaugu- rated a territory - by - territory canvass of the accounts now on his company's books and others which might be. Current deals were scanned and then analyzed to make certain they had been created on a basis of equity, not alone from the distributor's point of view but from that of the ex- hibitor to boot. The returns are in now, with the exception of scattered sections. Next step was to make divi- sion, district and branch man- agers autonomous which, in turn, meant vesting in them authority sufficient to settle disputes within their own borders. At the pin- nacle, which is another word for New York for this purpose, is headquarters which will serve as the final clearing house if and when differences of opinion can- not be solved in the field and further appeals are taken. ■ But it is the feeling, accom- panied by the anticipation, that relatively little will develop which will not be cleared up in the area of origin. Moreover, this feeling represents a funda- mental plank in the plan for the following reason which makes a great deal of sense : In the eyes of the average ex- hibitor, Paramount, or any other distributor for that matter, actu- ally is the man — not the company — with whom he directly con- ducts business. In the structure of distribution, naturally, this means the salesman and then the branch manager after whom the relationship terminates, in many instances. Thereafter, if re- quired, stand the district and di- visional managers. Somewhere off on a hazy and nebulous hori- zon is New York, geographi- cally and mentally removed by distance and time. - In other words, to the exhibitor in Po- mona it's the manager in Los Angeles to whom he turns. "Those guys in New York" are a long 3,000 miles off. ■ - To the theatremen he is ad- dressing, Reagan is explaining the autonomy plan. Likewise, he is emphasizing Paramount's full intention to maintain and to cement further its dealings and its contacts with its exhibitor accounts. This is an idea which certainly is not new, but the wonder is that more companies have not taken to the field to espouse and to give it first-hand to the men who pay the film rentals. Bill Rodgers for Metro has been hammering away on such a pro- gram for many months and is convinced it has been an effort thoroughly worthwhile. Reagan is on it now. Next, please? P ■ Albert Dekker, actor, is also Albert Dekker, state assembly- man. When appointments were being worked out on his first trip to Sacramento, he asked for an appointment to the agricul- tural committee. "Why that one when there are others more important? And, besides, what do you know about agriculture ?" The retort which won Dekker the appointment : "I'm in a business that sells more corn and gets fancier prices for it than any other in the world." ■ ■ The long, rectangular table in the executive dining room at 20th Century-Fox finds Darryl Zanuck always seated at its head. Joe Schenck and others fanfare down the sides. Otto Premin- ger, quiet and reserved, usually finds himself in a place at the far end. The other day, however, Zan- uck kidded him with, "Otto, you're too far away. Come up here." That was the day of the Acad- emy nominations, including Pre- minger for his direction of "Laura." ■ I Jack Warner, illustrating the "You - Can't-Take-It- With-You" theory : "A fellow was' seen buying two plots in a cemetery. Some- one asked him why two. "He replied : 'One for me and the other one for my money.' " Park-Butte Sues 23 In $408,000 Action Portland, Ore., Feb. 13. — The Park-Butte Theatre Co. of Butte, Montana, has filed a civil action in District Court here asking for $408,000 in treble damages from 23 distributors and circuits. Operating two theatres, the plaintiff contends that for the past 12 years the defendants have combined to restrain trade and commerce in distribution and exhibition and also charges that he has been discriminated against. Defendants include: 20th Century- Fox's National Theatres, Fox West Coast and Fox Intermountain et al, Hall Saetz — F. H. Ricketson, Jr., Spyros Skouras, Paramount, M-G-M, RKO Radio, Columbia, Republic, United Artists, Monogram, Producers' Distributing, J. T. Sheffield, Lon T. Fidler and several Fox theatres in Montana. N. Y. Film Salesmen Set New Organization New York area film salesmen have completed organization plans and are discussing possible affiliation with either the AFL or CIO. Arrange- ments are being made to formulate a constitution, elect permanent officers and decide on action on their prob- lems. It is understood that a com- mittee will discuss a possible affilia- tion with the IATSE. Membership is understood to in- clude film salesmen from both large companies and independents, but it is learned that salesmen from two ma- jor companies, unnamed, have not yet joined. Skouras to Speak at 'One World9 Dinner Spyros Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, will be a principal speaker at the "One World" dinner at . the Hotel Astor here on Sunday, the birthday of Wendell Willkie. On that occasion Darryl F. Zanuck will be presented with an award for an ex- ceptional contribution to international understanding in motion pictures. The dinner, held under the auspices of the American Nobel Center, will also honor Kent Cooper, executive di- rector of the Associated Press, and Brigadier General David Sarnoff, president of RCA. Ben Schwalb PRC Executive Producer Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Leon From- kess, PRC president, today elevated Ben Schwalb, his executive assistant since the inception of the company, to a newly-created post of executive producer in charge of five production units. Not included under Schwalb's jurisdiction will be films personally produced by Fromkess or Sigmund Neufeld productions. Columbia 2x/i% Dividend Columbia has declared a two-and- one-half-per-cent dividend on its com- mon stock, payable May 9 to common tockholders of record on April 26. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwm Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor ; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editnr: cable address. "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year. $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 'The only way to resist temptation is to yield to it' - from DORIAN GRAY, Philosopher of Pleasure- seekers Don't Miss It! TRADE SHOW! FRIDAY FEB. 23rd WILDE PARTY! Yes, its Oscar Wilde's story of Youth s adventure in Living M-G-M's GREAT ATTRACTION THE PICTURE OF DORIAN 6RAY NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES TERRITORIES (Others will be announced later) IN NEW YORK: M-G-M SCREEN ROOM -630 NINTH AVE.-10:30 A. M also 2:30 p.m. IN LOS ANGELES: AMBASSADOR THEATRE, AMBASSADOR HOTEL- 1:30 p.m. 4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, February 14, 1945 $5,000,000 Increase in 1944 Universal Rentals Cleveland Reelects Schwartz 12th Time Cleveland, Feb. 13. — The Cleveland Motion Picture As- sociation has reelected Ernest Schwartz president for the 12th successive term, by ac- clamation. Also reelected were : Vice-president, Albert E. Ptak; secretary, George W. Erdmann ; treasurer, James E. Scoville. Eastern Penn. Allied Reelects Samuelson Philadelphia, Feb. 13. — Allied In- dependent Theatre Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania has re-elected Sidney Samuelson as general manager. In addition, the following were elected : to the board of governors, from Phil- adelphia, for three-years, Ben Fertel, Milton Rogasner, Morris Wax; to the board from upstate Pennsylvania, for three-years, Joe Conway, Jack Green- berg; to the board from Philadelphia, for two-years, George L. Ickes, Thom- as Lazarick, George Riester, Lester Stallman, Max Korr. Other officers elected by the board were : Ben Fertel, treasurer ; E. B. Gregory, secretary ; Conway, chair- man, finance ; Harry Chertcoff, na- tional director ; George Ickes and Morris Wax, alternates. Allies Formulating Policy for Nazis (.Continued from page 1) diately, having accumulated a stock- pile in London of 20 Hollywood fea- tures with German titles and OW1 documentaries dubbed in German. The OWI only awaits the 'go-ahead' sig- nal from the military to move into Germany, Riskin said. Reginald Armour, Riskin's assis- tant in the European area, working out of London, will participate in con- ferences of other U. S. Government agencies working on plans for the film 'occupation' of Germany, Riskin said. /. A, Rank's Films to Clear Through PC A (Continued from page 1) also upon acceptance of conditions which are firmly entrenched in the American market and recognized by American producers. Arrangements are now pending by which the process of submitting scripts here will be expedited through their preliminary examination by F. W. Allport, MPPDA representative here, who recently returned from New York. (Continued from page 1) tions showed an increase, aggregating $51,561,504, largest amount in the his- tory of the company, compared with $46,478,527 in the preceding year. Revenues from operations in this country totaled $32,386,000, an in- crease of $3,323,000 over the preced- ing year; revenue from foreign op- erations amounted to $19,175,000, an increase of $1,760,000. "Basic costs of producing and dis- tributing have steadily increased, in common with other industrial opera- tions, but Universal is making every effort, through its system of budg- etary control, to prevent undue in- crease in such costs," Cowdin stated. Net working capital position of the company was further strengthened during the year, increasing from $16,- 094,906 to $18,798,687. The ratio of current and working assets to current liabilities was 2.84 to 1 at the end of the year. Structure Strengthened The capital structure was strength- ened and simplified during the past year as a result of the sale of $7,- 500,000 of three and three-quarter per cent debentures due March 1, 1959, through a nationwide investment bank- ing group. The proceeds from the sale of these debentures were used to re- tire the company's outstanding bank loans and its five per cent convertible debentures, due April 1, 1950. Charge to operations for the amor- tization of films, royalties, etc., for the year amounted to $24,375,518, an in- crease of $4,101,870 over the year pre- vious, being the result of increased production schedules and higher pro- duction costs. Inventories at the end of the year stood at $19,487,592, com- pared with $19,161,801 at the end of the previous year. Last year the board of directors Sue Selznick Over 'Frisco Pact Jump (Continued from page 1) tined for the local United Artists Theatre, a Blumenfeld-operated house, was released instead to Fox West Coast Theatres, Inc., for showing here starting tomorrow at the Fox. Blumenfeld theatres here, the own- er said, have been showing United Artists pictures for the past 10 years. The complaint will charge that Selz- nick switched houses in retaliation for Blumenfeld's recent acquisition of theatre properties in Los Angeles. Blumenfeld said he would make no at- tempt to enjoin the showing of the film at the Fox. Efforts to reach Edward C. Raf- tery, United Artists president, here, yesterday, for comment on the Blum- enfeld suit were unsuccessful. WAC Trailer Spurs Drive The War Activities Committee has approved for distribution during Feb- ruary a one-minute recruiting trailer for the General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Company of the Women's Army Corps. Entitled "This Is Right . . . Let's Go !" The film is an appeal to the women of New York, New Jersey and Delaware to enlist as medical and surgical technicians. placed the payment of dividends on a quarterly basis, the company pay- ing a total of $2 per share for the year. Since the close of the fiscal year it has declared another quarterly dividend of 50 cents per share, which was payable Jan. 31, 1945. The operations of the company since last Fall to date have shewn a decline in business, reflecting in part the falling off in theatre attendance during the presidential election period and during the holidays, disclosed Cowdin, adding, "It is felt that this downtrend represents but a temporary condition." Universal's taxes aggregated $9,639,542, equivalent to 74 per cent of the company's earnings before taxes. This was also equal to $2,741 per "U" employe in the United States, to 43 cents of every dollar of Uni- versal wages, salaries and other compensation and to $14.55 per share of stock, it was disclosed. During the year, Universal con- tributed to the Army, without cost, 2,021 feature prints and 1,275 prints of short subjects for troops abroad. Cowdin in London to Seek Rank and 'U' Heads London, Feb. 13. — J. Cheever Cowdin, Universal board chairman, has arrived in London from New York for conferences with General Films Distributors' officials, the com- pany's representatives here, and with J. Arthur Rank, who is a member of the Universal board of directors. 'UV Stockholders to Meet in March 15. Universal's annual stockholders' meeting is scheduled to be held on March 14. It is expected that a proxy statement will be sent to stockholders beginning this week. Phil a. Inquirer to Raise Rates Again Philadelphia, Feb. 13. — The Phil- adelphia Inquirer announces that ef- fective March 15, advertising rates for theatres will be increased again. Display rates will jump 10 cents per line on Sundays, from $1.10 to $1.20, and daily rates will go from 70 to 75 cents per line. Neighborhood adver- tising rates will rise from 35 to 40 cents per line daily, and from 40 to 45 cents per line on Sundays. Ascap's Bob Murray Dies in Montreal Robert L. Murray, 55, director of public relations for the American So- ciety of Composers, Authors and Pub- lishers, died suddenly of a heart at- tack in Montreal, last Saturday. Murray is surviyed by a widow, Mrs. Hermine Murray, and two step- sons, Pfc Philip Welch and 1st Lt. Paul E. Welch. Harry C. Alber Dies Los Angeles, Feb. 13. — Harry C. Alber, 52, engineer, who designed and built the NBC broadcasting studio here, the NBC building in San Fran- cisco and installed the air conditioning in Radio City, New York, died here last Thursday. Permanent Status For Coast MPSA Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Mapping plans for the organization's activities to 1946, the Motion Picture Society for the Americas' Board of Directors has put a tacit end to reports that the agency would disband in June. On the contrary, it is understood that a permanent status is expected to even- tuate from discussions current in Washington. Trem Carr of Mono- gram and Allen Wilson of Republic, were elected to membership, complet- ing MPSA studio representation. Mervin Travis, manager of the MPSA, has been appointed executive secretary and treasurer. MGM, Universal Win Infringement Award Loew's and Universal were award- ed $1,200, plus $1,000 counsel fees, in New York Federal Court yesterday bv Judge Samuel Mandelbaum, against Sanfrebob Theatre Corp., and Nathan Steinberg, owner and manag- er of the Grande Theatre, New York, for the unauthorized playing of three films over and above the number of times contracted for. Films involved were "You're a Sweetheart," Universal, with the award being $400, plus $500 counsel fees, and "Tortilla Flat" and "San Francisco," M-G-M, awards on both films being $800, plus $500 counsel fees. Infringement took place in 1944. Keough in Hollywood For AMPP Meeting Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Austin C. Keough, Paramount vice-president and general counsel, arrived in Hollywood today to attend the Association of Motion Picture Producers' annual meeting, to be held there this week. Keough will remain in California un- til the end of the month. J. Robert Rubin, M-G-M vice- president and general counsel has also arrived here from Phoenix to attend the meeting; Will Hays is here for the same purpose. Freeman of Para. Is Killed in Action Poughkeepsie, Feb. 13. — William Freeman, 33, former manager of Para- mount's Bardavon Theatre here, was killed in action in Luxembourg with General Patton's Third Army on Jan. 19, according to information received here from the War Department by his wife. Freeman was with Paramount since 1930, starting at the Paramount Stapleton, Staten Island, N. Y., join- ing the Bardavon in 1934. Freeman entered the Armed Forces last March 13. He is also survived by three children. Exhibitor Hart Dies Sarasota, Fla., Feb. 13. — William (Bill) Hart, for many years a show- man hereabouts, and later connected with Sparks Organization, passed away here. D'Souza WB China Mgr. Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Eustace V. D'Souza has been appointed manager for Warner Bros, in China, succeed- ing James A. David. At present D'Souza is making his headquarters in Chungking. VAN JOHNSON BETWEEN TWO WOMEN with LIONEL BARRYMORE • GLORIA DE HAVEN i— i Z D go O v ™ c W2 «, o fc I 3 a55 0 Hg 2_ O __ w o^r H-P Set** IT bi S « W 3.S ^ ^ -j-qoSE e£j 63 b m « c 33*© ^ 0S63~M > awls KHfg ~ < u S3 J2g°s- 0*2 KJf I > x Uh t) ^ ^ - ■ B * n 2 m .c £> 063 OfSBE ?2 III? few ^ O o gO £30 re c j= S H >< O O E hj- ®*J § > >h B SoK a.so o 63 2 Wfc-. Si H pq «< o-e 1 r/i " o a H o w ^ %.a e^- o 2 o n 22 '3!2^« P wed a >« s o< o 2C'E < w "a ^ > who; 20 >.t; £ ■g « ^ - a) 10 2> r 1 W >> 2 CJ o X! E-i O Q < O M u aft GO 63 K H ^w&is oj ow „ J>< p o £Kx-5" « j hO o ^ 2 c . 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OK H63 EC CQ C 3 v 2S!S0 c °2 E "J- E "-.•3~^ E2 63 a o 63 « ' S»63* CtfO<«o Oh« t £ OS "CO -J <-J v B d3 « a s 3 S n ., o u a « « 2 5o 2< Hh .05 go §^ OS w o ^a a uO ix 0 o |q a 63 a P P?o «'« m9j T Mb WO 5 n -o O .2 ~ 5J m Thursday, February 15, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 11 Distributors Seek Arthur Dismissal (.Continued from page 1) American Arbitration Association. The distributors allege the St Louis action was brought to supersede the New York consent decree ' suit in an effort to make the St. Louis court ''a court of appeals." It is also charged the action is defective since the Government is not made a party to it, and the motion alleges that St. Louis Amusement Co. is stopped from proceeding now, since it submitted to jurisdiction in theatre actions here. The AAA also charges the action is a collateral attachment on the New York case, and is in error in not mak- ing the Government a party to the proceedings, and that the plaintiff's complaint does not set forth sufficient facts to warrant a cause of action. Motions will be heard by Federal Judge Richard M. Duncan, when he returns to Washington, where he is temporarily assigned as a district judge. He is expected back in about a month. It is reported that Seymour North, New York attorney, will come here to argue the motion for the dis- tributors. Will Sue Unions for St. Louis Strike {Continued from page 1) during which some 75 per cent of theaters in St. Louis and St. Louis county were closed. At that time the committee esti- mated damages to the closed theaters as a result of the strike would amount to approximately $200,000. The com- mittee is now collecting data on the losses of individual theaters and the suit will be filed when this information is assembled, Ansell explained. Unions which will be name defend- ants, according to present plans, are the projectionists and Film Exchange Employe's locals B-l and F-l. WPB Denies Raw Stock Lies Idle (.Continued from page 1) one easily," a WPB representative said that Russia could not have re- jected 100,000,000 feet of film because it has not been given that much. Dur- ing the current quarter the USSR is getting some 30,000,000 feet, the largest allotment yet granted that country, and so far as the Board knows the stock is moving out, it was said. It was pointed out that all export allocations during this quarter are considerably less than 100,000,000 feet, and so far as the Board knows, it was stated, there is not 1,000 feet "lying around loose." While WPB officials said that all raw stock allocated by them for out- ward shipment is being accounted for, it was suggested in other quarters that the military might have some film packed and on docks awaiting trans- port. Munson, Hubbell Report Hollywood, Feb. 14. — Col. E. L. Munson, Jr., Chief of the Army Pic- torial Service, and Major John W. Hubbell, head of the Army Overseas Motion Picture Service, will present official reports to the industry on Feb. 20 at the Carthay Circle Theatre, following conferences with trade leaders. Frozen Admission Prices Boost Grosses in Italy Freezing of admission prices in Ital- ian theatres to the normal scale pre- vailing before the war has contributed to unprecedented business being exper- ienced by Italian exhibitors, with at- tendance 10 to 15 times greater than normally, Master Sergeant William M. Levy, film adviser to the director of Psychological Warfare Branch, Allied Force Headquarters in Italy, declared here in an interview yester- day. Sgt. Levy is in New York on a 30-day furlough after two and a half years abroad. Price freezing was successfully ex- ecuted by PWB in North Africa and Northern France when those terri- tories were under its control, Sgt. Levy said. Theatres, in Italy are 'jammed' from morning to night, thereby achieving the goal of reach- ing the largest number of people in a liberated territory with films de- picting the Allied war effort and way of life, he said. Although, unlike France, PWB still retains control of film operations in Italy, the sergeant asserted, it was ready to turn it back to U. S. compa- panies as soon as it is satisfied that they are in a position to assume con- trol. Difficulties confronting distribu- tion, notably transportation, have not made it feasible for private companies to resume distribution in Italy, he said. Little physical destruction has been done to Italian theatres, Sgt. Levy added. PWB is now servicing 1,600 theatres in Italy and Sicily. In most instances, theatres were reopened 24 to 48 hours after a town had been liberated. A typical program consists of the Allied newsreel, "Mondo Libro," jointly produced by the Office of War Information and the British Ministry of Information, United Na- tions' documentaries, and a feature picture. PWB has secured the cooperation of the entire . Italian film industry, Sgt. Lew said. The 40 Hollywood features with Italian titles, secured from the industry by the OWl over- seas film bureau, may be dubbed in Italian in Rome, he disclosed. The British are now engaged in dubbing 10 of their films. Italian production is limited by the scarcity of raw stock and chemicals, but two films are now in production, Sgt. Levy said. Most studios are in good shape, excepting for Cinecitta, in Rome, which has been destroyed. "The Great Dictator" and "Random Harvest" are among the most popu- lar American films with Italian audi- ences, he said. Sgt. Levy will remain here anoth- er two weeks before returning to Italy. Reagan Honored at Chicago Luncheon (Continued from page 1) Reagan, who came to Chicago to con- tinue a series of district sales meet- ings, included: James J. Donohue, Central division manager ; R. M. Gill- ham, advertising-publicity director, and Claude Lee, director of public re- lations ; also in attendance were : Al- len Usher, district manager ; branch managers, Harold Stevens, Chicago; Harold Wirthwein, Milwaukee, and Ben Blotckv, Minneapolis, and all salesman and head bookers. Usher was toastmaster at the luncheon and introduced the visiting Paramount executives. Among the exhibitors from Chicago and else- where attending were : John Balaban, Jack Kirsch, Ben Marcus, L. F. Gran, Eddie Ruben, Edward Zorn, M. M. Rubens, Charles Trampe, William Washburn, I. Levine, Barry Grampe, and others. An outline of new Paramount prod- uct seen by the home office executives at their recent studio visit was pre- sented at the district meeting. Gill- ham discussed advertising-publicity plans for coming releases, _ and ex- plained the operations of his depart- ment.. Lee stressed the importance of public relations. Austin C. Keough, Paramount vice- president and general counsel, who was en route to the Hollywood studios from New York, visited the session and spoke briefly. Reagan, Donohue, Gillham and Lee left for Cleveland to conduct a dis- trict meeting there today and tomor- row. They were joined in Cleveland this morning by William Erbb, East- ern division manager, and Hugh Ow- en, New York and Southern division manager. 7V2% BD Dividend London, Feb. 14. — British and Do- minions Film Corp. has declared a IVz per cent dividend, its first since 1933. Connors on 3 -Month Anniversary Tour (Continued from page 1) Eastern sales manager A. W. Smith, Jr., Connors will begin the Southern- exchange phase of his tour with a meeting at Charlotte, followed by At- lanta, Feb. 20-21; Memphis, Feb. 23; Oklahoma City, Feb. 24; Dallas, Feb. 25-26,_ and New Orleans, Feb. 27-28. Smith, Schlaifer and W. C. Gehr- ing, Western sales manager, have been instructed to devote practically all of their time in the next three months in the field with their respective forces. Advance work on the 30th anniversary is being done by Herman Wobber, Coast division manager and drive leader for the celebration, whose itinerary was reported in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 6. 'Bernadette9 Regular Price Run in April "The Song of Bernadette" will be released at regular admissions in April, according to W. J. Kupper, 20th Cen- tury-Fox general sales manager, who has wired the field staffs to make every effort to have existing advanced- admission contracts played off this month. More than one-sixth of the total U. S. possibilities were sold on an advanced-admission policy basis, a new record for the companv, Kupper said. Of 2,600 such contracts, all but 28 have been fulfilled. RKO Party for 'Sweef RKO will hold a reception tomor- row at the Hotel Plaza here, for Claire Trevor and Dick Powell, co- stars of "Murder, My Sweet." Cleopatra Had The "Come On' ihe had a way with the men — in fact big, strong Marc Anthony threw away an empire just for her company. Yes, flashy fronts have been the downfall of many a big guy! Here at Altec, we've never gone in for the showy stuff. Good engineering service is our business. The only thing we have a way with is booth equipment. You'll be interested to learn about one of the Altec services tailored to your requirements. Write today. ATLANTA • BOSTON • CHICAGO ° CINCINNATI • DALLAS DETROIT • LOS ANGELES • NEW YORK • PHILADELPHIA • SEATTLE THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY First In (Radio An Accural i and Impartial MOTION PICTURE T*AII V VOL. 57. NO. 33 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1945 TEN CENTS Films Are Over Average In 16 Cities 'National Velvet' Grosses $36,200 in Five Spots By MILTON LIVINGSTON "National Velvet" in outstanding- initial weeks in three theatres in Los Angeles and one each in Phila- delphia and Indianapolis, leads in Motion Picture Daily's box office reports from 16 key cities, excluding New York City, for the week ended Feb. IS. The period saw milder weather in most sections of the coun- try and included Lincoln's Birthday, a holiday in most states. Ten films were above average in the cities reporting, based upon receipts from three or more theatres. Besides "National Velvet," they were, according to their ranking : "Here Come the Waves," "Meet Me in St. Louis," the leader (Continued on page 3) Goldwyn Will Go to England for FEA Washington, Feb. IS. — ■ Samuel Goldwyn has been appointed to under- take a special mission for the Foreign Economic Administration in England, it was annouced here today by FEA administrator Leo T. Crowley. The mission was surrounded by considerable secrecy at FEA, where officials, asked for further informa- tion, said they had no comment, but in other quarters it was suggested Gold- wyn's trip might be concerned with European film supplies and the East- man plant, near Paris, which was taken over by Allied Forces undam- aged when the Germans pulled out. It is understood also that plans are (.Continued on page 10) Film Workers Here May Have to Take Essential Jobs: WMC Reiteration that the film industry is considered non-essential, has been made here by the War Manpower Commission, in pointing out that in- dustry workers in New York City are far more likely to be told to switch to essential jobs, than work- ers in smaller cities or towns in the area. WMC spokesmen declared the crux of the matter lies in the hands and the discretion of local draft boards. Since film industry replacements in New York are considered compara- tively easy, film workers here, ex- cept technicians and cameramen, are far more subject to reclassification (Continued on page 3) Priority for Red Cross The industry's 1945 Red Cross 'War Fund Week,' March 15-21, will get a priority in the industry's ef- forts, it was resolved yesterday, at a meeting of industry drive leaders at the University Club, here, presided over by national chairman N. Peter Rathvon. Called to complete organizational plans for regional meetings which (Continued on page 10) Freeman Reelection By AMPP Is Seen Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Re- election of Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president in charge of production, as pres- ident of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, is expected to take place here Monday when the association holds its annual meeting. Although at the last annual meeting Freeman declined re- election after serving several terms, no successor was named and he presided by unanimous request of the board of directors. Justice Dep't Favors Revoking Patents Used for Monopoly Washington, Feb. IS. — Legislation providing for the revocation of patents found to be used for monopolistic pur- poses, now being pushed in Congress, has been given the support of the De- partment of Justice as. a desirable cog in machinery for the prevention of monopoly in the postwar. The department's approval of a measure introduced by Rep. Jerry Voorhis, California, was conveyed to a House judiciary sub-committee which is holding hearings on it, by Assistant Attorney General Wendell (Continued on page 10) Capital Gains Setups to Come Under US Scrutiny Reagan Asks Owners To List Complaints Cleveland, Feb. 15. — Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of Paramount distribution, invited local exhibitors to present their trade prac- tice complaints to him, during a luncheon at the Hotel Cleveland, \here, today, concluding a two-da- regional sales meeting. No announcement was made at the (Continued on page 10) Less Likelihood of Argentine Embargo Buenos Aires, Feb. 15. — Ob- servers here now believe no measures will be taken against the importation of American films despite the Argentine government's threat to require an undeter- mined amount of U. S. raw stock accompanying each print entering the country, as re- ported in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 2. American distribu- tors have explained to Rear Admiral Alberto Tesaire, home secretary, that deliverance of raw film is out of their con- trol, depending exclusively on the War Production Board. Los Angeles, Feb. 15. — Many cap- ital gains corporate setups established for the suspected purpose of reducing earning positions of parent compa- nies to spread high-bracket taxes, are about to fall under a 'rigorous scru- tiny' of Treasury tax officials, in a general checkup in this and other in- dustries, shortly to be intensified by the Government. Harry C. Westover, Collector of (Internal Revenue of the Southern California area, told Motion Picture Daily that the Treasury is becoming increasingly concerned over the many corporations organized and thereafter disbanded in all businesses and intends to investigate. No specific barrage is aimed at the film industry, it was said, but it is clearly embraced in the pend- ing probing of new capital gains set- ups. 85% of Taxes On Admissions From Theatres $205,289,025 Collected By U. S. in Fiscal Year Washington, Feb. 15. — Ap- proximately 85 per cent of all ad- mission taxes collected by the Gov- ernment are paid in at the box of- fices of the nation's theatres, it was disclosed here today by Commissioner of Internal Revenue Joseph D. Nunan. Total collections during the Gov- ernment's fiscal ,y(ear, which ended June 30 last, were reported by Nunan as $205,289,025, of which $177,993,- 776 represented box office admissions. Other collections included in the total were $381,647 from ticket brokers' sales for amounts in excess of box office prices ; $50,174 from leases of boxes and seats ; $137,096 from ad- (Continued on page 10) Williams Counsel For SCTOA Mar. 1 Los Angeles, Feb. 15. — Paul Wil- liams, former assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, who is resigning from the Department of Justice to succeed the late Albert J. Law as gen- eral counsel of the Southern Cali- fornia Theatre Owners Association, will arrive here March 1 to take over his new post. The SCTOA board of (Continued on page 10) Threaten Weekend Decorators' Strike Hollywood, Feb. 15.— The Screen Set Decorators Union today wired War Labor Board arbitrator Thomas Tongue uring him to wire an outline of his decision in the hearings con- ducted last week in the jurisdictional dispute between the union and IATSE. A spokesman for the Decorators (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Reviews of "Frisco Sal," "Having Wonderful Crime" and "The Body Snatcher" ap- pear on page 6. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 16, 1945 Personal Mention NATE J. BLUMBERG, Universal president, will be in New York from Hollywood about mid-March. • Don Alexander, president of Alex- ander Film, and chairman of the board of General Screen Advertising, has re- turned to his home office in Colorado Springs, after a few weeks in New York. • T/Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, former S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp. em- ployee, has been awarded the Silver Star, DFC, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. • Edward G. Farrow, assistant gen- eral manager of Eastman Kodak Co., has been appointed chairman of the Rochester Civic Music Association's annual fund drive. • Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of sales of 20th Century-Fox, will return to New York today from a sales trip to New Haven," Boston and Albany. Herbert J. Yates, Republic's chair- man of the board and William Saal, producer and studio assistant to Yates, left the Coast for New 'York vesterday. e Pvt. Raymond Fisher, former as- sistant manager of the Regal, Hart- ford, is at England Hospital, Atlantic City, after being wounded in action in Luxembourg. • Norman H. Moray, Warner short subject sales manager, will leave New York for the Coast today for confer- ences with Jack L. Warner. • Cpl. Harold Heller, formerly of the RKO Dyker, Brooklyn, and Mrs. Heller are the parents of a girl, born in South Bend, Ind. • Samuel J. Briskin, Columbia studio chief, will leave Hollywood for New York on the Superchief today. • Paul Thomas, Altec treasurer, has returned to New York from a tour of Mid- West offices. • Stanley Hand, Altec staff repre- sentative, has returned to New York from Florida. • Martin Quigley will leave Holly- wood for New York today. • Harold Young, director, is in New York from the Coast. • James Mulvey, Eastern represen- tative for Samuel Goldwyn, will leave Hollywood for New York today on the Superchief. Monogram Dividend Hollywood, Feb. IS. — ■ Monogram today declared a 13^4 cent dividend on its 5 1/2 per cent cumulative convert- ible preferred stock, payable March IS to stockholders of record March 1. Up to Million from 4Wuthering Heights' Based on the business done up to now by 'Wuthering Heights," the Samuel Goldwyn film which Film Classics is reissuing, L. H. Goldham- mer, Film Classics vice-president and general sales manager, yesterday told a franchise holders' committee meet- ing here that the film will gross be- tween $750,000 and $1,000,000 during its reissue playing. Yesterday's meet- ing concluded a two day conference between Classics' executives and fran- chise holders. Goldhammer told the committee that "Arrowsmith," which will be released in April, will be given a national cam- paign, while other Goldwyn films which Film Classics is reissuing, "The Hurricane," "Stella Dallas" and "The Westerner," will first be made avail- able only to "A" theatres on a pre- release basis. As a result of the meetings, "better understanding between Film Classics and the franchise holders has been achieved," Goldhammer said. "Any picture that we take on now will have to be a top "A" reissue," he said. Film Classics has also acquired "The Stars Look Down," from M-G-M, and a new film, independent- ly produced, "I Was a Criminal." Franchisers on the executive com- mittee who attended the conference include : Albert Dezel, Detroit, chair- man ; Sam Wheeler, Washington ; Francis White, Charlotte ; Bert Stearn, Pittsburgh ; Jack Engel, Phil- adelphia, and Arthur Lockwood and Al Swerlov, Boston. Majority of Zanuck's Stock to Trust Fund Hollywood, Feb. IS. — Sale of 42,- 000 shares of Darryl F. Zanuck's 20th Century-Fox common stock on Jan. 23, as reported currently by the New York Stock Exchange, leaving the 20th-Fox vice-president and director with only 129^ common shares held directly in his name, carries no sig- nificance insofar as his association with the company is concerned, Za- nuck stated here today, explaining that he maintains an irrevocable trust fund in the name of his children, to whom the large block mentioned in the report now belongs under trust co- dicils. Declare 3 20th-Fox Stock Dividends Quarterly cash dividends of $1.12)4 a share on prior preferred stock, pay- able March IS ; 37J/2 cents per share on convertible preferred stock payable March 30, and 5Q cents per share on common stock, also payable March 30, all three to stockholders of record on Feb. 28, were declared by the board of directors of 20th Century-Fox here yesterday. 50-Cent Para. Dividend Paramount yesterday declared a reg- ular quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share on common stock, payable March 30, to stockholders of record on March 9. Say Police Go Too Far in 'Brownout* "Numerous exhibitor complaints" that New York City police are "going too far" in their enforcement of the "brownout" of theatre marquee light- ing here were discussed yesterday at a meeting of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York, at the Hotel Astor. An ITOA spokes- man, although unwilling to disclose the specific nature of the complaints, said the police were not following the War Production Board order on out- door illumination, which went into ef- fect Feb. 1, and that efforts are now being made to adjust the matter. The order provides that marquee lighting shall be restricted to one 60- watt bulb per theatre but that the WPB will consider appeals based on unusual hardship or danger to public health and safety. Enforcement re- mains in the hands of the Federal agency, with the local police instructed to report violations and with discon- tinuance of all electricity provided as a penalty. Also at yesterday's ' meeting, the ITOA passed a resolution unanimous- ly endorsing the Iyes-Quinn anti-dis- crimination bill now before the State legislature and appointed Leo Brecher to head a committee which will visit Albany to urge speedy enactment of the measure, which would forbid em- ployers to refuse to hire persons for reasons of race, color or creed. Harry Brandt, president, presided. Warners Set Monthly Series of War Films Hollywood, Feb. 15. — "Overseas Roundup," a new series of one-reelers to be issued monthly by Warner Bros, from film footage supplied by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, to bring to the public a pictorial report of how service men overseas live, work and play, is announced by Jack L. Warner, executive producer. The new series is a result of dis- cussions between Warners and repre- sentatives of the military services. Subject to be featured in first issues include "Tarawa as It Is Today" ; a G.I. rodeo staged in Burma for Cana- dian troops ; how G.I.'s improvised gar- bage cans to build automatic washing machines ; as well as entertainment and humor staged by and for G.I.'s at the fronts. Resume SOPEG Pact Mediation Meetings •Another mediation session in the wage, job classification and contract dispute between Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild and rep- resentatives of Loew's, 20th Century- Fox, Paramount, Columbia and RKO, will be held here. this morning before Commissioner James W. Fitzpatrick of the U. S. Conciliation Service. Over 2,000 'white collar' workers in home offices of the five companies are involved. SOPEG and Paramount have con- cluded arbitration hearings on a wage and job classification dispute with the arbitration panel expected to render a decision shortly. NEW YORK THEATRES SECOND WEEK INSIDE THE RACKETS ! Mobland's Gats Blaze Again! 1st N. Y. Showing "THE CHICAGO KID" A Republic Picture with DONALD BARRY OTTO KRUGER TOM POWERS REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Streets RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Picture In TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN M-G-M's 'NATIONAL VELVET' Mickey Elizabeth . RODNEY TAYLOR IN PERSON CLIFF NAZARRO MOLLY PICON MARIO & FLORIA Paramount presents Ray Milland IN "MINISTRY of FEAR" in Person Johnny Long and his Orchestra LOUIS JORDAN and his FAMOUS TYM- PANY FIVE PALACE™ B'WAY & 47th St. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey 'Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE — A RKO RELEASE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor Continuous ASTOR PoDU'ar Prices Broadway & • 45th Street Midnight Show Doors open 9:30 A. M. WALT DISNEY'S The THREE CABALLER0S' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures NOW - - - Brandt's GLOBE 1 LAIRD CREGAR LINDA DARNELL GEORGE SANDERS | HANGOVER SQUARE i R0XY 7th AVE. & 50th ST. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. I \ Essential Jobs for Film Workers Here F riday, February 16, 1945 Motion Picture daily ( Continued from page 1 ) than those working in smaller cities. It was pointed out that in small cities an entire theatre might be affected by the _ war-job drafting of a projec- tionist or other needed worker, pos- sibly imperiling war workers' enter- tainment, and so draft boards will go slow in reclassifications for war ^iobs, it was s^aid. j No ceiling has been placed on the « iidustry here as to the number or percentage of men to be taken. The Regional War Manpower Commis- sion recently ordered non-essential industries, including all theatres in 'f this area, to reduce their staffs .by five per cent, for war work ; and an- other five percent by March 15. The ruling affects employers with 10 or more ernployees and involves males only. The WMC here points out that the- atre and other workers presently in 4F, and men who served in the Army and were discharged because of over- age, and who took essential jobs and left them, will be in the same category as a 2A worker. Only those who served in the Army or Navy more than three months and were medically discharged are likely not to be touched. Industry Committee To Aid Boy Scouts » An industry committee will aid the Boy Scouts of America in commemor- ating the 35th anniversary of the or- ganization, and help raise $750,000 tc carry on their war work. Amusement co-chairmen include : Leonard Goldenson and Arthur Israel, Jr., Paramount; Silas Seadler and Harold Cleary, Loew's ; Stewart Mc- Donald, Warners ; A. W. Dawson. RKO; Harry Buckley, United Art- ists ; L. J. Barbono, Columbia ; Walter Titus, Republic; Fredric March, act- ors and actresses. Others are : Deems Taylor, music publishers and composers ; Ralph Ed- wards, radio artists; Emil Friedlander and George Feinberg, theatre equip- ment ; Nat Lefkowitz and Lee Kell- man, artists' representatives ; Charier Alicoate, publications ; Sammy Kaye bandleaders ; Allan Friedman, labora- tories ; Marcus Heiman and James Reilly, League of New York Theatres. Freston, Philbrick, Wright to Hearing Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Arthur Fres- ton, Howard Philbrick and Alfred Wright will entrain Sunday for Washington to represent the major producers at the National Labor Re- lations Board hearing next Thurs- day on the producers' appeal for re- consideration of the NLRB definition of an extra player in its certification of the Screen Players Union as the bargaining agency for extras. The Screen Actors Guild claims that bit, stunt and singing performers are not extras and should continue under SAG jurisdiction. Two Russian Films Here "Marriage" and "Jubilee," two So- viet films based on comedies by An- ton Chekov, and produced at Mosfilm Studios, Moscow, Uave arrived here and are being prepared for release in the near future by Artkino Pictures. 10 Films Score Above Average in 16 Cities {Continued from page 1) in two previous weeks ; "Sunday Din- ner for a Soldier," "The Princess and the Pirate," "Tonight and Every Night," "A Song to" Remember," "Suspect," "Belle of the Yukon," and "The Keys of the Kingdom." Cities reporting were Milwaukee, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Denver, St. Louis, Boston, Indiana- polis, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cin- cinnati, Chicago, Buffalo, Toronto, San Francisco and Omaha. "National Velvet" was a heavy $36,- 200 better than house averages with a standout $20,000 above being record- ed in a three-theatre day and date run in Los Angeles ; an excellent $12,000 above being rolled up in Philadelphia, and was the leader in Indianapolis. "Here Come the Waves" grossed a big $53,000 above in reports from eight theatres in Kansas City, Los Angeles, Denver, St. Lo.uis, Boston and Cin- cinnati. It was also three times better than house averages in a two-theatre run in Los Angeles ; was outstanding in Kansas City; was big in a second week in Denver and continued to draw excellently in a fourth week on a moveover in Cincinnati. It was well above average in duals in St. Louis and in two Boston houses. 'St. Louis' Big "Meet Me in St. Louis" continues to be one of the biggest grossers dur- ing the past few weeks. It scored a terrific $25,000 above house averages in reports from six theatres in Mil- waukee, Kansas City, Philadelphia. Baltimore, San Francisco and Cincin- nati, but with' the exception of the last named city, where it led in a big open- ing week with $10,500 above, all dates are extended holdovers. It was a tre- mendous $12,000 above in a third week in Kansas City ; was still well above average in an eighth week in Phila- delphia ; and was big in second weeks on a dual in Milwaukee and San Fran- cisco. "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" brought $4,500 above in a good initial week in Omaha combined with a stage show; a sturdy third week on a move- over as a dual in Pittsburgh and on a second week as a dual in Buffalo. "The Princess and the Pirate" was a' good $3,900 above in reports from Milwaukee on a second week as a dual ; on an initial week in Indianapo- lis; and an outstanding 12th week in Chicago. "A Song to Remember" brought $4,000 above in five theatres in St. Louis, Boston, Cincinnati, Buffalo and San Francisco, with best business be- ing done in Boston on a third week. It was a Buffalo leader and did well in an initial St. Louis week. "Suspect" was $2,700 above house average in four theatres in Los An- geles, Baltimore and Chicago, with best business being done on a dual in two Los Angeles theatres. It was good in an initial week in Baltimore. 'Belle' Draws Well "Belle of the Yukon" drew $3,300 above in reports from three Los An- geles theatres in second weeks as a dual ; a strong first week in Kansas City as a dual ; and a good initial week in Boston with a stage show. "The Keys of the Kingdom" was $5,900 above in reports from 12 thea- tres in 10 of the key cities, many of the dates being extended holdovers. Best business was registered in Bos- ton, with other cities reporting being Kansas City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, Buf- falo, Omaha and San Francisco. "To Have and Have Not" in ex- tended holdovers throughout the coun- try brought a gross of $183,500 in reports from 12 theatres in 10 of the cities with good business being done in an initial week in Cincinnati and moderate business being recorded in an initial St. Louis week. "Objective Burma" opened to good business in Chicago. "Tomorrow the World" was a good $6,500 better than average in an initial San Francisco week and continued to draw well in a second week in Cincinnati. 30 WB Exploiteers On 'Hotel Berlin' Biggest field staff utilized by War- ners on a motion picture in recent years will be assigned on "Hotel Ber- lin," with 30 exploiteers assigned. In addition to the regular field force under Mort Blumenstock, head of ad- vertising-publicity in the East, sev- eral from both home office and studio will handle premieres in key cities. Special press book for campaigns in key situations is now being prepared. U. S. Schine Briefs Delayed to Monday Buffalo, Feb. 15. — Federal Judge John C. Knight was notified by letter today that the Department of Justice hopes to be able to file its overdue briefs in the Schine anti-trust case by Feb. 19. The Government's brief orig- inally was due Feb. 7 but the Depart- ment said it had been unable to meet that date because so many members of its motion picture unit were en- gaged in preparation of its proposals for an interim consent decree in 'lie New York case, Buchanan Starts As UA Publicity Head Barry Buchanan started yesterday as director of advertising-publicity for United Artists, here. He had been special coordinator between the Treas- ury and the film industry. Buchanan has been with the Shuberts and was a director of public relations for the New York World's Fair. Republic at Ten-Year Peak, Yates Declares Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Republic is in a stronger position than at any time in its 10-year history and will "shoot the works" this year to prove that "we can do anything any other studio can do," H. J. Yates declared here today prior to his departure for the East. "Pan-Amer." Opening "Pan-Americana," RKO musical, will have its world premiere at the Capitol Theatre, Trenton, today. The campaign was arranged by John C. Hearn. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 15 CLARENCE BROWN will direct "The Yearling" for M-G-M, and will also produce for that studio "The Guardian Angel," from an original by Helen Deutsch. . . . William A. Seiter will direct Sonja Heme's next film for International, "Countess of Monte Cristo." . . . Ray Collins, character actor, has been signed by Universal for an important part in "A Night in Paradise." • Mona Freeman has been bor- rowed by 20th Century-Fox from Paramount for a top role in "Junior Miss" . . . Universal has exercised its options on Turhan Bey and Ella Raines . . . RKO has signed Minna Gombell for a role in "Man Alive" . . . M-G-M has given Frances Raf- ferty a new contract. Patricia Morison has been signed by Universal for the role of Deanna Durbin's rival in "Lady on a Train" . . . Dick Erdman has been assigned an important role in "Danger Signal," at Warners . . . Jerome Courtland, who scored in "Together Again," has been selected to play the male lead opposite Shirley Temple in "Kiss and Tell," which Sol Siegel is producing for Columbia. • Helen Mack has been signed for a top role in "Divorce," first of the Monogram films to star Kay Fran- cis, which William Nigh will direct . . . Glenn Tryon, comedy star of the silent days, will face the cameras for the first time in 12 years to por- tray the title role in RKO's "George White's Scandals of 1945" . . . Clau- dia Drake has been signed by PRC for a featured singing role in "Un- dercover Girl." Boston Would Raise Ticket Broker Fees Boston, Feb. 15.— A bill has been introduced in the Massachusetts Sen- ate to increase the annual license fee for theatre ticket agencies from $100 i year to $10,000. Also, the bill states that "The commissioner shall not is- sue a license unless the applicant posts a bond of $10,000 with surety satisfactory to the commissioner con- ditioned that the tickets are at the exact location and have the exact face value stated to the purchaser at the time of sale." Ernst Made SIMPP Eastern Counsel Hollywood, Feb. 15. — The Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers has engaged Morris Ernst as Eastern counsel. He met the mem- bers of the society at a meeting here today and will entrain for New York tomorrow. Furst N. Y. Mono. Mgr. Monogram has appointed Nate Furst, formerly special representative, to manage the New York exchange. Jack Safer, former salesman, has been made acting manager of the Washing- ton exchange. — Dick POWELL OTTO KRUGER • MIKE MAZURKI • Ml Produced hv Adrian Scott • Direct* 1 An amazingly NEW Pick Powell- tough.... rough..., terrific!', daunted by a lovely face, hunted for another's crime...in 4 lEW kind of murder m0mf 1EV0R • Anne SHIRLEY (Tradeshown and reviewed as "Farewell My Lovely") 1ANDER • DOUGLAS WALTON • DON DOUGLAS R K o RADIO PICTURES V 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 16, 1945 Iowa Allied Fights House Booth Bill Eldora, la., Feb. 15.— Leo F. Wol- cott, president of Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa-Nebraska, has issued a protest for members of his organization, on a pending theatre construction bill in the State House of Representatives, and asks that every theatre in the State immediately op- pose the measure requiring consider- able changes in projection booth con- struction. The bill was introduced by organized labor and is being pushed by the pro- jectionists union, according to Wol- cott, who says it would force the clos- ing of more than half of all theatres in Iowa, because it is "utterly impos- sible to get the materials or workmen to make the changes the bill makes mandatory." The bill follows plans outlined for new theatres in the post-war, when materials will be available, but de- mands that all present theatres im- prove their facilities immediately to the same decree as a new house in order to secure a license. It covers booth size, ventilation, electrical equip- ment and wiring and prohibits anyone under 18 from operating projection machines. Another complaint is that it exempts traveling exhibitors, churches, schools, clubs, and halls. Wolcott also points out that thea- tres in Iowa and Nebraska are being taxed 22 per cent, and warns that "every effort must be made to prevent further legislation against theatres from being introduced or, if intro- duced, from being passed." He men- tions the possibility of a new law pro- posing to license distributors at the rate of $1,000 yearly and tax them $1 per reel for all film. Ga. Is Seen Headed For Sunday Shows Atlanta, Feb. 15. — The State Sen- ate has voted, 35 to 8, to make Sun- day shows legal in Georgia provided a majority of voters in any city or county vote for them in referendum elections. Chief argument advanced for the measure was that it gave the people home rule. Senator Homer L. Causey, of Alma, sponsored the Sunday motion picture bill. He pointed out that the measure provides for Sunday films only be- tween the hours of two p.m. and 11:30 p.m., and would not interfere with church attendance. Ten per cent of the registered voters can petition for a referendum. Both Senators Causey and Spence Grayson said Sunday films are more wholesome than roadhouses and dance halls. Reviews "Frisco Sal" (Universal) SAN FRANCISCO'S lusty Barbary Coast in the 90's provides the back- ground for this melodrama film centering around a New England choir girl's determined search for information concerning the whereabouts of her long-lost brother. Produced and directed by George Waggner, it features Susanna Foster, Turhan Bey and Alan Curtis. With a sprinkling of music and cabaret entertainment coupled with the usual lawlessness, "Frisco Sal" is a satisfactory film. Others in the cast include Andy Devine, Thomas Gomez, Collette Lyons, Samuel S. Hinds, Fuzzy Knight and Billy Green. Curt Siodmak and Gerald Geraghty are credited with the original screen play, which brings Miss Foster as "Frisco Sal" to the Coast. Having failed to enlist the support of the law in her search for her long-missing brother, she risks her reputation to invade the 'Coast' herself. Although Bey as the proprietor of "The First Dollar" saloon tries to dissuade her, Miss Foster manages to get a job in his cafe. She quickly finds herself in the midst of a feud between Bey and Curtis of a local 'mission' who has been exacting tribute from all cafe proprietors. Bey falls in love with Miss Foster and when Curtis discovers this, the feud is further aggravated. It is only after Curtis tries to pin a murder 'rap' on Bey — the supposed victim being Miss Foster's brother- — that Curtis' himself is revealed as the long-lost brother. By this time, Bey and Miss Foster have been married and peace is restored to the 'Coast' Of the songs sung by Miss Foster, "Beloved," written by Waggner and Edward Ward is about the best. On the lustier side is "I Just Got In," sung by Miss Lyons, as written by Jack Brooks and Norman Berens. A couple of lively and amusing fights serve to speed up the action in some portions of the film. Running time, 94 minutes. General classification. No release date set. Milton Livingston Having Wonderful Crime (RKO Radio) Hollywood, Feb. 15 PAT O'BRIEN and George Murphy draw a change of pace in this offering — the former wearing no uniform and the latter doing no dancing — and Carole Landis has a go at the flighty-dame type of thing Rosalind Russell used to do, all of which may be good for them and gratifying to their fol- lowers, but the material provided them discounts its billing. A murder-comedy derived from the stage success of the same name, the film fails to deliver whatever it was that accounted for the Broadway run of the original, creating only sporadic mirth and no suspense as.it unravels. The names lift it above the average of supporting product, but it rates top spot only where the stars are locally favored. Possibly the script, by Howard J. Green and Stewart Sterling, is primarily responsible for what goes wrong with the enterprise. It presents the three stars as amateur sleuths who find themselves in the center of a murder mys- tery, as possible suspects, and forced to solve the case to clear themselv.es. It's worked out for laughs, some of which jell and others which don't, but with- out arranging for the audience to suspect anybody in particular of the murder. Upshot of this oversight is that the ending seems tacked on and without point. Direction by Eddie Sutherland keeps the players on the run but does not over- come the handicap imposed by the script. Robert Fellows produced. Others in the cast are: Lenore Aubert, George Zucco, Anje Berens, Richard Martin, Charles D. Brown, Wee Willie Davis, Blanche Ring and Josephine Whittel. Running time, 70 minutes. General classification. Released in block No. 3. William R. Weaver "The Body Snatcher" (RKO Radio) Hollywood, Feb. 15 ADDICTS of the gruesome will find Val Lewton's production to their taste. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's well-known story, it has Boris Kar- loff as a grave-robber in Scotland in 1831. Bela Lugosi contributes a macabre bit, and Henry Daniell, as the surgeon who requires half-a-dozen fresh bodies daily for his anatomy classes, turns in a matchless performance, sensitively shaded and completely convincing. Robert Wise's direction creates an un- broken mood of sombreness and suspense, and the music, by Roy Webb, directed by C. Bakaleinikoff, makes good use of Scotch folk-songs to enhance the picture's eeriness. Philip MacDonald and Carlos Keith collaborated on the screenplay, in which Russell Wade portrays a somewhat simple-minded young medical stu- dent who, upon becoming assistant to a famed surgeon, soon finds himself a party to grave-robbing and, eventually, to murder. Instead of taking to his heels at once, he stays on in the doctor's household in order to try to persuade him to operate on a little girl, daughter of a chance acquaintance. The doctor operates, but apparently without success. Plagued by the memory of his failure, and by the ubiquitous grave-robber whose blackmailing hold he cannot break, the doctor at last resorts to violence. In a dramatic scene he murders the grave-robber. But death cannot free him of fear, and, crazed by his own conscience, the doctor drives his horse and gig over a cliff to his doom. Altogether, "The Body Snatcher" is far superior to the general run of hor- ror films. Running time, 78 minutes. Release date, not set. General classification. Thalia Bell Ohio Bill to Control Females and Minors Columbus, O., Feb. 15. — Ohio the- atre and exchange operators may find it necessary to revise their schedules affecting female and minor employees, as a result of state legislation intro- duced into both branches. A measure offered in the House by Rep. Mary Sotak, Cleveland, seeks to modify pro- visions of the present law by establish- ing an eight-hour day and 48-hour week, and fixing 18 years as the age limit for employing minors. It wouldj' also require securing a permit to work\ longer than the prescribed hours. Simultaneously, a bill was intro- duced in the upper House by Sen. Fred Reiners, Cincinnati, seeking a two-year extension of the existing law enacted at the last session of the Gen- eral Assembly — despite opposition of organized labor — which fixed a 10- hour day and 50-hour week for wo- men, with 18 years as the minimum age for minors. Employers are re- quired to inform the State Director of Industrial Relations where it is necessary to work longer hours. Four En Route to MGM Home Office Four more M-G-M exploitation representatives from the field will visit the home office for a week start- ing Monday. They are: James M. Ashcraft, Philadelphia; Tom Bald- ridge, Washington ; Al Burks, Char- lotte; Ken Prickett, New Orleans. Leaving for their respective terri- tories in a few days after conferring with home office department heads during the past week are: Field ex- ploiteers E. B. Coleman, Dallas ; Irv- ing Waterstreet, St. Louis; Bernie Evens, Kansas City; Ed Gardiner, Oklahoma City; and office managers John Coyne, Cleveland; Walter Ben- nin, Milwaukee ; Gil Becker, Detroit. Theatres Cooperate, Escape Pa. Curfew Reading, Pa., Feb. 15. — As a result of theatre managers closely cooperat- ing with city police and Berks Coun- ty probation court agents, a curfew regulation imposed by city and county authorities on those under 18 has not been applied to theatres. In ad- dition, most night picture runs are completed before the police begin rounding up late roamers under 18. The curfew order, which was not ac- companied by formal councilmanic leg- islation or using sirens or bells, is part of the authorities' program .for curbing of delinquency. Para. Buys Radio Time Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Paramount has inaugurated two 15-minute radio programs over local stations. "Para- mount Parade" will be heard three times weekly over WHJ on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and "Make Believe Ballroom" will be heard over KFWB six times weekly. Skouras on Broadcast New York radio station WEVD will broadcast an hour of the "One World Dinner" to be held at the Hotel AstQr here Sunday, at which Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century-Fox presi- dent, Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, RCA head, and others will speak. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents On Behalf of the American Movie Public Polled in 1944 By Dr. George Gallup's Radio Research, Inc. The Editors of Photoplay, Present The Photoplay Gold Medal Awards to the nation's favorite ACTRESS ACTOR PICTURE in MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 16, 1945 85% of Taxes On Admissions From Theatres (Continued from page 1) missions sold by proprietors in excess of established prices, and $26,726,331 from roof gardens and cabarets. Well over a third of the total col- lections came from New York, Cali- fornia and Illinois. Receipts ranged from . slightly over $44,000,000 from New York, to less than $250,000 from Wyoming. Collections throughout the greater part of the fiscal year were at the former rate of one cent on every 10 cents, increasing to the present rate of one cent on five cents on April 1, 1944. Total receipts for 1943-1944 were $50,838,303 above the $154,450,722 re- corded for the preceding year, but be- cause of changes in rates in both years no comparison of returns by in- dividual states would show trends. Collection by States Box office collections in the fiscal year, by states, were reported by Nu- nan as follows : Alabama, $1,435,942 ; Arizona, $587,964; Arkansas, $1,244,- 191; California, $18,446,340; Colo- rado, $1,776,931 ; Connecticut, $1,- 876,641; Delaware, $231,410; Florida, $3,225,158; Georgia, $2,820,628; Ida- ho, $425,391; Illinois, $11,868,052; Indiana, $3,761,219; Iowa, $2,268,985. Also: Kansas, $930,297; Kentucky, $1,741,196; Louisiana, $2,868,614; Maine, $533,357; Maryland, $3,022,- 804 ; Massachusetts, $7,000,472 ; Mich- igan, $7,436,046; Minnesota, $3,072,- 935 ; Mississippi, $448,717 ; Missouri, S5,050,615; Montana, $407,383; Ne- braska, $1,202,941; Nevada, $214,181; New Hampshire, $502,617; New Jer- sey, $3,995,034; New Mexico, $205.- 770; New York, $39,088,173; North Carolina, $2,646,421. Also : North Dakota, $33,744 ; Ohio, $7,420,678; Oklahoma, $1,993,646; Oregon, $1,602,210; Pennsylvania, $9,- 118,457; Rhode Island, $829,415; South Carolina, $1,205,336; South Dakota. $332,989; Tennessee, $2,356,- 885; Texas, $8,327,466; Utah, $964,- 235: Vermont, $249,454; Virginia, $2,937,301; Washington, $3,345,865; 'West Virginia, $1,252,059; Wisconsin, $2,762,757 ; Wyoming, $175,879 ; Alas- ka, $131,735; District of Columbia, $1,120,604; Hawaii, $1,215,722. Selznick-Saphier Expand Hollywood, Feb. 15. — A new music department for the industry, under di- rection of Nat Finston has been set up by the Selznick-Saphier agency. Reagan Asks Owners To List Complaints (Continued from page 1) luncheon of any new national plan to handle these complaints, but Cleve- land exhibitors report that Paramount's district manager Harry Goldstein will make final disposition of local com- plaints and will make adjustments in this territory. About 80 were present and also heard Hugh Owen, Paramount New York and Southern division sales manager ; Robert M. Gillham, adver- tising-publicity head, and Claude Lee, who spoke of furthering goodwill by more frequent get-together of dis- tributors and exhibitors. In addition to exhibitors and Par- amount representatives, among those 'who attended the luncheon were Cleve- land newspaper film editors, including Ward Marsh, Omar Ranney and Peter Bellamy. Goldstein was in charge of yester- day's sales meeting, which was also attended by branch managers, sales- men, head bookers and advertising representatives from Cincinnati, De- troit, Cleveland and Indianapolis in addition to home office executives J. J. Donohue and W. H. Erbb. Williams Takes Over For SCTOA Mar. 1 (Continued from page 1) directors will meet tomorrow to ' sign a contract for Williams' services. As reported in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 5, Williams is expect- ed to work toward adoption of Laws' trade conciliation plan designed to simplify the provisions of arbitration under the industry's consent decree. Law was negotiating to this end with distributor heads when he died of a heart attack in New York Jan. 2. Williams represented the Govern- ment in early anti-trust suit proceed- ings. Threaten Weekend Decorators9 Strike (Continued from page 1) said that, unless a favorable decision is received tomorrow, the members may be instructed to walk out on Sat- urday or Monday and that constituent organizations in the Conference of Studio Unions would follow. To Trade Show 'Pleasure* National trade screenings of Inter- national's "It's a Pleasure", will be held Feb. 26-27. The New York- and Coast screenings will be held Feb. 26 at the Normandie, here, and the Am- bassador Hotel Theatre in Los An- geles, respectively. 'Berlin' Showing Mar. 12 "Hotel Berlin" will be nationally tradeshown by Warner Bros, on March 12. The film will follow "Ob- jective Burma" into the New York Strand, in March. 'Speaking' Shown Feb. 28 National tradeshowing of "Roughly Speaking," originally scheduled by Warners for Feb. 19, has been changed to Feb. 28. Justice Dep't Favors Revoking Patents (Continued from page 1) Berge, chief of the anti-trust division. Berge told the sub-committee that he is in favor of the patent system, but that a "series of abusive practices and persistent misuse" has arisen in certain fields which have created an "acute and urgent" problem particu- larly since the outbreak of the war. The department has been studying patent-supported monopolies for a period of years, and now is engaged in a number of investigations in that field, including a survey of electrical equipment and other companies serv- ing the motion picture industry. Berge told the sub-committee that major abuses of patents include their use to suppress new processes and new products, to impose arbitrary and unreasonable price levels upon con- sumers and businessmen, to restrict capacity and production and to elim- inate competition and prevent the de- velopment of new enterprises. "The evidence which has been ac- cumulated over the years, in a series of cases brought by the Department of Justice, offers abundant testimony of patent abuses from many indus- tries," he said. "In fact, there is hardly an area of monopoly activity or a branch of production investigated by the anti-trust division which has not disclosed at some point the mis- use of patents by powerful monopoly groups." Goldwyn Will Go to England for FEA (Continued from page 1) under consideration to get the French film industry rolling again, probably with a newsreel and some feature pro- duction, using some of the raw stock from the Paris plant which the Army will not require. It was also disclosed recently that the purchase of tons of raw stock tc be exported to France for civilian use is being worked out by the FEA with- out other Government agencies. The Army is reported to have already con- tracted for $10,000,000 worth of X-ray film to be produced in French plant this year. $6,287 for 'SYWA' The Vanguard offices here an- nounced yesterday that David O. Selz- nick's "Since You Went Away" grossed $6,287 in its opening day, Wednesday, at the Fox Theatre, San Francisco. Previous house record. $6,188, was made by Paramount's "Going My Way." Cpl. McDonnell Cited Scranton, Feb. 15. — Posthumous awards of the Purple Heart and Presidential Citation for Cpl. Jerome J. McDonnell, formerly with the Com- erford Circuit, have been received here by his mother. Cpl. McDonnell, attached to Patton's Army, was killed in action last September in France. Digest-Size 'Fan' Book C. D. Publishing Co., here, has an- nounced Moines in Review, a new "fan" magazine, said to be the first in digest size. Paul Myers is editor. One feature will be news of English studios. Priority for Red Cross (Continued from page 1) ' will be held throughout the country starting Feb. 23, the conference was attended by all general sales mana- gers and others. Basis of the discussion was a 'speaker's manual' which detailed all phases and procedure to be followed at the area meetings, subject to flex- ibilities which may be found neces- « sary because of local conditions. It was also announced at the meet- ing that a new campaign idea will be inaugurated this year whereby a number of Hollywood stars who have been on entertainment tours in the war areas will write letters to every pledged exhibitor in the country de- tailing what they have seen of the Red Cross in action in the field. Among those who attended yester- day's luncheon were, besides national committee chairman Rathvon, na- 'tiional executive coordinator L. E. Thompson, campaign director Leon J. Bamberger, publicity directors S. Bar- ret McCormick and Harry Mandel, publicity coordinator Arthur M. Bri- lant, and committeemen Herman Rob- bins, Henderson M. Richey, John J. O'Connor, E. M. Schnitzer, and Ber- nard Kamber. Also present were : Ned E. Depinet, Robert Mochrie, William J. Scully, Si Fabian, Carl Lesserman, Walter Brooks, John Cassidy, Martin Smith, Abe Montague, Tom Connors, and Arthur Mayer. Cincinnati Red Cross Meeting on Feb. 24 Cincinnati, Feb. 15. — More than 125 exhibitors, exchangemen and others are expected to attend a luncheon meeting here to formulate final arrangements for the March 15- 21 Red Cross drive. The meeting, to be held at the Variety Club, Feb. 24, was announced by Arthur Fruden- feld, RKO divisional manager, and Allan S. Moritz, Columbia branch manager, exhibitor and distributor chairman, respectively, for the War Activities Committee. Also scheduled to attend are Si Fabian, WAC theatres division head; Abe Montague, Columbia general sales manager, and P. J. Wood, Co- lumbus, co-state chairman. Dana and Silver Head Pittsburgh Red Cross Pittsburgh, Feb. 15. — P. T. Dana, Universal, and M. A. Silver, Warners, have been named chairmen of the dis- tributors' and exhibitors' committees, respectively, for the Red Cross 'War Fund Week.' A sum of $3,604,000 is being sought for Pittsburgh. A luncheon has been set for Feb. 25 at the William Penn Hotel, to be attended by N. Peter Rathvon, na- tional chairman of the industry Drive, and William Scully of Universal. Other officers of the Pittsburgh War Activities Committee which will con- duct the appeal, are Morris Finkel, Western Pennsylvania chairman ; John H. Harris, national board member; Joseph Feldman, co-ordinator ; B. W. Steerman, treasurer. Filipinos help PT boat pick up Jap survivors after the action in Surigao Strait. Official U. S. Navy Photograph. °ne O' a series of advertisements by KODAK testifying to the achievements of the movies at war In the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea — the superb reconnaissance work of our photographers was one of the decisive elements of victory. SO it has been all through this war. Again and again, our compre- hensive use of photography — in mapping terrain, scouting enemy movements, locating targets — has given our forces up-to-the-minute information essential to victory. The movies have had a lot to do with this. From the industry have come many of our finest photographers. And movie men have done invaluable work turning "green" youngsters into expert combat photographers, supervising the production of thousands of training films for our armed forces, and making news films for the folks at home. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., Distributors FORT LEE CHICAGO HOLLYWOOD You can get only one other picture timed like Casablanca. If s HOTEL BERLIN. Pa FRCE OFP TTRACTIONS QTION PICTURE »AILY IVOL. 57. NO. 34 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1945 TEN CENTS Skouras Sees Film Shift to Vital Themes Accepts Willkie Award On Behalf of Zanuck Declaring that the industry has "come of age" since the war, Spy- ros P. Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, speaking last night at the first annual "One World" dinner in memory of the late Wendell L. Will- kie, at the Hotel Astor, here, predicted that, from now on, the emphasis in films will shift from mere entertain- ment to an increasing degree of in- struction and enlightenment. "The techniques for this ap- proach are ready for our use," Skouras said. "To apply them effectively, however, we must have the enlightened support of the people. We cannot do a proper job if the industry is to be pulled in all directions by opposing forces from the out- side." Skouras spoke on behalf of both himself and Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th- Fox production vice-president, for (Continued on page 6) Five Branches at Today's Para. Meet Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice- president in charge of distribution, will convene a sales meeting of New York and Boston districts at the Ho- tel Pierre, here, today. The meeting will continue through Tuesday. Delegations from New York, Bos- ton, Buffalo, Albany and New Haven branch offices will meet with home of- fice executives in a discussion of product and sales plans. William H. Erbb, Eastern division manager, will (Continued on page 8) Labor Dispute Shuts Mexican Industry Mexico City, Feb. 18. — Mexican production has been completely sus- pended because producers consider it extremely hazardous to continue working under conditions caused by the latest labor dispute in the in- dustry, provoked by a raid on the headquarters of the Cinematographic (Continued on page 6) Police Not to Ease Brownout Here The New York Police Com- missioner's office has told Motion Picture Daily that, despite exhibitor complaints about the 'brownout,' the De- partment will not recommend any additional lighting. In- vestigations of all complaints have been made, but not in any instance, has the Depart- ment found any which create undue hardship or endanger public health or safety, it was said. The ITOA here, has "pro- tested publicly against 'strin- gent' enforcement by the Police of the 'brownout' order. U. S. Setting Foreign Aid Washington, Feb. 18. — State and Commerce Department officials are working out plans for joint repre- sentation abroad of the American mo- tion picture and other industries after the war, it was disclosed tonight by Wayne C. Taylor, Acting Secretary of Commerce. Out of these plans, Taylor said, will come a unified foreign service geared to the needs of American ex- porters and businessmen. Commer- cial and economic staffs abroad are being substantially expanded to in- sure adequate personnel capable of rendering the services required to pro- tect and encourage American film and other interests in foreign trade. Senate Group Plans Film Monopoly Quiz Washington, Feb. 18. — An in- vestigation of the motion picture industry is expected to be initiated in the near future by the special Senate Small Business Committee, the first objective of which will be the determination whether independ- ents are being forced out of the busi- ness by monopolies, it was learned here today. The committee is headed by Senator James E. Murray of Montana. Initial work on the investigation is said already to have started, under the direction of Dewey Anderson, for- merly with the Temporary National Economic Committee which investi- gated the film industry before the war, who is counsel for the committee. Rank's Visit Here At Least 2 Months London, Feb. 18. — J. Arthur Rank's American visit will run at least two months, starting with his planned ar- rival in the United States in mid- May, but it is deemed likely here, that his Washington conversations will ex- tend for four months. It is impera- tive, however, that Rank be back in England Sept. 1. Rank will be accompanied on his visit by G. Woodham-Smith and John Davis. They will proceed to Wash- ington for discussions on post-war Anglo-American film reciprocity agree- ments, a move which has British Gov- ernmental approval. B. & K. Finds Single Bills Gross More Than Duals By SAM HONIGBERG Chicago, Feb. 18. — Comparative grosses for the past six months at the Balaban and Katz Garrick and Apollo theatres, Loop houses which have been playing both single and twin-bill pro- grams, indicate that single features are leading at the box office. The com- parison will not only result in fewer double bills in those theatres, but may also have their influence in B. and K. neighborhood houses which, of late, have been singling better product. "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" did some 20 per cent better than "Sweet and Lowdown" paired with "The Big Noise" at the Garrick, and "Some- thing for the Boys," alone, is running ahead of "Hail the Conquering Hero" plus "Dark Mountain" in the same house. The Apollo has been doing so well with single films that only two pro- grams within the past six months had twin bills. Films set for showings in March and April in those houses will be singled in every case, among them "Guest in the House," "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "The Sign of the Cross." B. and K. last week singled "Ar- senic and Old Lace"> in the Crystal, Biltmore, and Belpark houses and re- ported better than average returns on dual program showings. 'Little 3' May Ignore D of J Decree Brief Other Five Expected to Send Views by Letter Indications are that the three non-decree companies, Columbia, United Artists and Universal, will make no formal reply to the Gov- ernment's current proposal for an ad interim amendment to the clearance provisions of the industry consent de- cree, despite the fact that notice of the proposals was served on the three by the Government. A legal spokesman for Universal said on Friday that the company would make no response to the Gov- ernment's proposal on the ground that it is not a party to the« decree and, therefore, the court has no jurisdic- tion over it where purely consent de- cree matters are concerned. Legal representatives of Columbia (Continued on page 8) OCR's Recreation Work Is 90% Films Washington, Feb. 18. — Activities of the recreation section of the Office of Civilian Requirements in the field of motion pictures' represents 90 per cent of the work which is being done to insure the provision of adequate recreation for war workers, OCR offi- cials disclose. Not only is the section responsible for the provision of new theatres where required, but it also is active (Continued on page 6) Photoplay Awards Will Go to 13 Bing Crosby, Greer Garson and the producers (Leo McCarey and B. G. De Sylva) of Paramount's "Going My Way" will receive the Photoplay Magazine "Gold Medal Award" for the most popular actor, actress and (Continued on page 8) Reviewed Today Reviews of "Betrayal From the East" and "Bring on the Girls" appear on page 9. 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 19, 1945 Tradewise . . . By SHERWIN KANE Personal Mention BEN KALMENSON, Warner general sales manager, will re- turn to New York today from the Coast. e •Don Sardinas, Jr., assistant to C. C. Ryan, Warner distribution pur- chasing agent, will be . inducted into the Army Feb. 27. He is the fifth and last son of Don Sardinas, Sr., of the Warner foreign title depart- ment to enter service. • Leonard Golden son, Edward L. Hyman, Robert Weitman, Joe Kin- sky and Max Fellerman of Para- mount left the Coast Friday for Phoe- nix, Arizona, and will arrive in New York tomorrow by plane from Phoe- nix. • Tom Connors, 20th Century-Fox vice-president in charge of sales, left over the weekend for Charlotte, At- lanta, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Dal- las and New Orleans. He will return to New York March 3. • Leonard Palumbo, assistant to G. R. Keyser, foreign advertising and publicity manager of Warners, has been made a village trustee of Tucka- hoe, New York, for a two-year term. • William C. Gehring, 20th Cen- tury-Fox Western sales manager, has returned to New York from Los An- geles. • Henri Elman, Chicago PRC fran- chise holder, has returned to Chicago from the Coast. • Phil Williams, March of Time advertising director, left yesterday for Atlanta. • Ralph Clark, Warner Canadian manager, will return to Toronto today from New York. No Salesmen's Union For Minneapolis Minneapolis, Feb. 18. — Proposed unionization of film salesmen in this territory has been killed by the Reel- Fellows, local salesmen's club, which claims 100 per cent membership in the zone, according to a spokesman for the group. Silver Joins Republic Advertising Staff Milton Silver has joined the Re- public home office advertising depart- ment as assistant to director of adver- tising, Charles Reed Jones. Silver had been with National Screen Service and Univeral. Sears Out Until April 2 Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of United Artists distribu- tion, who entered New York Hospital on Feb. 7 because of a minor heart ailment, will be able to return to his office April 2. Sears' condition is reported as "highly satisfactory." THE trade press was given a briefing in present and post- war foreign film markets and their problems by Carl E. Milli- ken of the MPPDA at a luncheon at the Harvard Club last week. While the specific topics discussed and information revealed are regarded as confi- dential in the interests of indus- try security and the successful prosecution of economic warfare, this observer feels free to report that his net impression of the conference was that the answer to most or all foreign market problems resides in the product sent to those markets. If it's our product the peoples of the world want most to see the customers are very apt to take care of any intervening ob- stacles in their own effective way. But if it's the other fel- low's product they prefer, then, brother, you've got troubles. This may not be a new slant on the foreign market and its at- tendant worries to those on whom such worries descend, but to us it is fascinating for its simplicity and logic. Impressed, as we often are, with great gov- ernments lending support to their film producers and distrib- utors at home and interceding actively on their behalf abroad, as does Great Britain, for ex- ample, and by the welter of taxes, quotas and special legis- lation of many other kinds con- stantly enacted by nations which would handicap the importation of American films while nur- turing the development of their own, it is refreshing to think that despite all such machina- tions by powerful governments the ultimate decision still rests with the people who march to the box offices. In that way international commerce in motion pictures is reduced to as simple a matter as that involved in a subway pa- tron's decision as to which vend- ing machine will get his penny for chewing gum. • • Before we take our leave of the foreign market we'd like to relay this one : A foreign de- partment executive recently re- turned from London was asked his opinion of a British picture currently being touted by its owner as a new departure in production. "Well," he replied, "an American executive whom you all know was seated next to me at the premiere. About midway through the picture he turned to me and observed: 'They ought to have English subtitles'." • • Paramount's Charlie Reagan graduated from Notre Dame in 1916 and has been an active alumnus since, including honor- ary membership on the Univer- sity's football committee. It must have been highly gratify- ing to him, therefore, to have the Rev. John Cavanaugh, C.S.C., vice-president of Notre Dame, as a speaker at the testi- monial luncheon to Reagan last week in Chicago, where he was a Paramount district manager a number of years ago. Said Father Cavanaugh : "Notre Dame is noted not only for its football headlines but also for such outstanding persons as the president of the Southern Paci- fic Railroad, the inventor of syn- thetic rubber, and a highly re- spected member of the Presi- dent's Cabinet. The honor of at- tending this testimonial luncheon to Charles Reagan is especially pleasing to me, as it is with great satisfaction that we number him among our alumni." The Cabinet member referred to is Postmaster General Frank C. Walker, former president of Comerford Circuit. _ Every M-G-M field exploita- tion man and branch office man- ager either has been or will be given an opportunity to visit the home office for one week. Dur- ing their visits the men are initiated into the mysteries of every possible phase of opera- tions that affects their work in the field or interests them as members of the Loew organiza- tion. They are given the oppor- tunity to meet all department heads, air their problems and have their questions answered. They are briefed in Federal wartime regulations so that they know, for example, why they are permitted to pay only a spe- cific amount for a specific job, regardless of the scarcity of manpower in their localities, or why their exchange can be al- lowed only so many release prints, or the answer to essen- sentially anything that may be bothering them. They meet trade press staff members and exchange views with them. The value of this procedure would seem to be apparent. It is no surprise to learn that other home offices plan to fol- low suit. Decorators' Strike Decision Tomorrow Hollywood, Feb. 18. — The Set Decorators Union has postponed its possible strike action, originally planned for the weekend, until Tuesday. Unless a favorable decision from War Labor Board ar- bitrator Thomas Tongue in the jurisdictional dispute with IATSE is received by then, an SDU spokesman said, the members will walk out. Selznick Seeks to Enjoin Leigh Role London, Feb. 18. — David O. Selz- nick is seeking, through counsel, an injunction in British High Court re- straining Vivian Leigh from appear- ing in the stage play, "Skin of Your Teeth," alleging that her reputation will be damaged by playing in a role described as being unsuitable to her and thereby, Selznick's worldwide property in Miss Leigh's 'personal capabilities.' Selznick has Miss Leigh under a seven-year contract, founded on her work in "Gone with the Wind." Miss Leigh has been here for the past two years, mainly working on Gabriel Pascal's "Caesar." Her husband, Lawrence Olivier, who is financing the play, opposed her appearance in Selz- nick films and is now insisting that she appear in the stage play. Army Assigns Nizer To Talk on Germany Louis Nizer, film attorney and author of "What To Do with Germany," will leave New York to- day on a bomber to visit Army bases and address soldiers and officers on the subject of his book, on an assign- ment from the Orientation Division of the Army. Columbia Signs Fier To Seven-Year Pact Hollywood, Feb. 18. — Jack Fier has been signed by Columbia to a new seven-year contract, after serving for seven years as a production executive at the studio. Fier will continue as production manager of all pictures made at Sun- set Studio, and will also continue supervision over the eight Westerns and four Western musicals made an- nually by Colbert Clark. Lunch for Exploiteers William R. Ferguson, M-G-M di- rector of exploitation, held a luncheon for 15 members of his exploitation staff and the trade press at the Astor Hotel, Friday. Marjorie Rambeau Hurt Hollywood, Feb. 18. — Marjorie Rambeau, actress, suffered a possible skull fracture, broken leg and other injuries in an automobile accident here Friday. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, New» Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 600D ENTERTAINMENT IS INTERNATIONAL ! International Pictures, Inc. presents SONJA HEME IN TECHNICOLOR with MICHAEL O'SHEA IC GUS SCHILLING Directed by WILLIAM A. SEITER M » -j^/*" Produced by L Screen Play by Lynn Starling and Elliot Paul WATCH FOR THE PRESS BOOKl USE IT! RED CROSS DRIVE — MARCH 15-21 I with r^y*',fn/... /fejp^>with romanc| Sensa\»on r< ;< o RADIO TlCTURES ?HILL1PTEW*BWL0] mmm • tost tmx • mm WATCH FOR THE PRESS BOOK! USE IT! RED CROSS DRIVE — MARCH 15-21 Produced and Directed by JOHN H. A WAU ' een Play by rence Kimble Motion Picture Daily Monday, February 19, 1945 Skouras Predicts Shift of Film Emphasis in Postwar Hollywood 6 Navy to Show Fifty Top Film Revivals Washington, Feb. 18. — The Navy this year will run 'return engage- ments' for 50 top pictures of former years, in this way meeting desires of enlisted personnel evidenced in a re- cent survey conducted by Capt. T. J. O'Brien, welfare director, and Capt. Gene Markey, director of Navy Pho- tographic Services. The survey was made to determine what the men at sea or at foreign stations would like, and as a result of the study the Navy, in coopera- tion with the industry, has arranged for new prints of a number of pic- tures, including : "Lives of a Bengal Lancer," "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Holiday Inn," "Ruggles of Red Gap," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Roberta," "San Francisco," "The Awful Truth," "Old Chicago," "Union Pacific," "Barbary Coast," "You Can't Take It With You," "Alexan- der's Rag Time Band," "Road to Singapore," "One Night," "Top Hat," "Sally, Irene and Mary," "Boom Town," "Hundred Men and a Girl," "Stage Coach," "Gunga Din," "Wai- kiki Wedding," "Destry Rides Again" and "Hurricane." Against False Heroics The inquiry showed that while the men voted against war films with false heroics they gave a high rating to films with authentic war themes such as "Wing and a Prayer" and "Memphis Belle." A call for the most liked stars brought top billing to Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Abbott and Costello, Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis. The former hits will be in addition to the Navy's regular film menu, which is supplied through 25 prints of 300 films for which the Depart- ment has contracted and the 106 prints of three films in 16mm. given monthly by the industry through the War Activities Committee to supply what Department officials rate as the No. 1 recreation and morale builder of the service. Labor Dispute Shuts Mexican Industry {Continued from page 1) and Allied Workers Union, allegedly by Enrique Solis, ex-union secretary general. Producers have appealed to Presi- dent Manuel Avila Camacho to end the row. Solis has been arrested but released on bail. Jorge Negrete, sec- retary-general of the players' section of the union, has publicly called for an accounting of the union's funds. Solis was ousted last Summer because of alleged manoeuvering to split the union. Solis asserted that his raid on the union's headquarters, during which the union's books were seized and loaded on trucks, is justified because numerous unionists still consider him their head. The complete production suspension was preceded by some studio and laboratory workers refusing to work, except to handle the most urgent mat- ters, because union rules demand that they check in and out daily, which can only be done through the union's books» which the police are holding until the dispute is settled; {Continued from page 1) whom he accepted a "One World" award, given in recognition of Zan- uck's production of "Wilson." Zan- uck was unable to attend because he is editing "A Bell for Adano" in Hollywood. Other awards went to Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, RCA pres- 300,000 chairs to meet urgent needs. "The press, radio and the motion picture are mighty forces, and the three men who are being honored to- night have demonstrated how effect- ively these forces can be used for the greatest good," Skouras said. "Mr. Zanuck has devoted many years to the production of films dealing with the betterment of humanity. Yet, great as the production of 'Wilson' is, j think all good pictures have con- tributed in considerable measure to in- ternational understanding." Developing this theme as a fac- tor toward reaching the "One World" goal of Willkie, who was chairman of the 20th-Fox board of directors, Skouras called for the "free flow of motion pictures into and out of our country." Thus, he added, "We will get to know each other and soon learn that men, women and children are the same the world over. The screens of die world are dissolving ignorance and Ezel, theatre consultant. OCR's Recreation Work Is 90% Films {Continued from page 1) in the field of theatre booth and house equipment, currently working on pro- posals to provide from 200,000 to 300,000 chairs to meet urgent needs. Currently, because of the manpow- er and materials situation, theatre construction is practically at a stand- still in the war -production areas where it is most needed, it was said, but a considerable number of houses were completed before new war pres- sures temporarily halted the effort. The Department of Justice, it was disclosed, still is interested in war- time theatre construction and is kept informed of all applications filed with the OCR, so thai it may make a de- termination whether any, and. which, of the defendants in various anti-trust suits were attempting to increase their holdings. Because of the fact that theatres have been on short rations of equip- ment for the past three years, the OCR is being called upon for assist- ance in securing many types of re- placement goods, including air-condi- tioning equipment, carpets and other ■supplies for the front-of-the-house. A number of such programs are being developed, to be put into effect when supply and labor conditions ease off. Less publicized than its construc- tion program, other work of the sec- tion, headed by Maurice M. Green, who was engaged in exhibition for 20 years before joining the War Pro- duction Board, includes investigations of complaints and inequities received by other Government agencies, which relate to film exhibition and theatre problems. Everything involving mo- tion picture theatres is handled per- sonally by Green and Claude C. Ezel, theatre consultant. prejudice, widening horizons of thought, opening the eyes of millions to better ways of living." General Sarnoff, accepting his award, likewise dwelt upon better un- derstanding between nations and sees in television, improved by wartime re- search, an additional means of achiev- ing it. He urged that a study be made of this medium as an aid in helping preserve peace. Referring also to radio, he said, "America must have more powerful and effective in- ternational broadcast programs. We must have sufficient world-wide cir- cuits to carry news and pictures free- ly and directly to and from all cor- ners of the earth," he added. Rev. Robert I. Grannon, S. J., pres- ident of Fordham University, presided at the dinner, at which other speakers and honored guests included : Mrs. Hjordis Swenson, chairman of the One World Committee; Leonard Brockington, K.C., former chairman of the board of governors of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. ; Dr. Carlos Davila, former president of Chile; Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin of Connecticut; Russell Davenport, au- thor; Charles E. Hughes, Jr., and Lloyd Stratton, secretary of the As- sociated Press. Armand Tokatyan I sang the new song "One World." WLB Rules Strike At Winnipeg Illegal Toronto, Feb. 18. — On the third day of the strike of IATSE projec- tionists which has closed 18 theatres in Winnipeg, Judge S. E. Richards, chairman of the Regional War Labor Board of Manitoba, ruled Friday that the strike is illegal. A mass meeting of Winnipeg projectionists will be held by the union to decide upon a course of action. Several theatres operated by J. Miles, an associate of Famous Play- ers-Canadian, employ members of One Big Union, and IATSE officials have been attempting to organize these men. When negotiations broke down, they called out all IATSE projection- ists employed by FP-C. Services for Price Funeral services for Ben Price, 54, film salesman, were held here Friday in Park West Memorial Chapel. Price had died of a heart attack last Tues- day in Miami. With Monogram at the time of his death, Price had been with the New York branch of Universal for many years. He is survived by his widow, and a daughter, Helen, who is in the 20th-Fox exchange booking department here. Mexican Soundman Dies Mexico City, Feb. 18. — Rogelie Mingo, 47, pioneer Mexican film sound expert, died at his home here after a brief illness. H. S. Morris Promoted H. S. Morris has been named East- ern representative of the Altec Lans- ing Corp., in addition to his present duties with Altec Service Corp. Morris was an engineer with Elec- trical Research Products until 1937. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 18 PRODUCER - DIRECTOR AN- 1 DREW STONE has completed the reorganization of his producing company with the signing of C. Simp- son as comptroller. . . . Joseph Schild- kraut, currently in Republic's "Amaz- ing Mr. M," has been given a new , contract by the studio under the terms of which he will make three, rather than two, pictures a year. • S. Sylvan Simon has been named to direct "Abbott and Costello in Holly- wood," for M-G-M. . . . Paramount has purchased a short story by An- thony Gibbs, titled "A Tale of Two Cafes." . . . Ernest Truex has been signed by Universal for a role in "Men in Her Diary." . . . Acquanetta has returned to Hollywood from Mex- ico City preparatory to making "Temptation' for Monogram. • Katharine Hepburn is to be starred in "The Damask Cheek," M-G-M's forthcoming production of John Van Druten's play. Lawrence Weingarten will produce and-Harold . S. Bucquet ^will direct . . . Samuel Goldwyn plans to cast Danny Kaye as Hans Chris- tian Andersen in a version of the life of the famous Danish story-teller ... Tom McKnight will produce "Musical Madness" as his first assignment for Universal. HVC Cites 37,979 Player Appearances Hollywood, Feb. 18. — The Holly- wood Victory Committee's third an- nual report reveals that 3,564 Holly- wood personalities have made 37,979 free appearances in 5,680 service events since the inception of HVC, an average of 35 per day. During the past year the average was 50 a day. On the 'hospital circuit,' 90 per- sonalities have made 1,545 appearances on 68 hospital tours in recent months. Postpone AMPP Meeting Hollywood. Feb. 18. — Annual meeting of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, originally sched- uled for tomorrow, has been postponed for one or two weeks, owing to the in- ability of some members to attend. At the forthcoming meeting it is expected that Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president in charge of produc- tion, will be re-elected president of the AMPP. Butler Leaving Para. Hollywood, Feb. 18.— Frank Butler, 'dean' of Paramount's writing staff, will leave his recently appointed post of production associate to Henry Ginsberg, and will take an extended leave of absence on th° advice of his physician. On his return, Butler will resume work as a Paramount contract writer. KSTP Yields to Petrillo Minneapolis, Feb. 18. — Stanley E. Hubbard, president of radio station KSTP here, has yielded to James C. Petrillo and his American Federa- tion of "Musicians, agreeing to em- ploy musicians he had previously des- cribed as not needed. ANOTHER LAUREL FOR "THE SUSPECT and Universal is quite happy about it ! "One of h,,s best roles ■•• TimeM°s«"» MAGAZINE SELECTS THE SUSPECT" AS THE MOVIE OF THE WEEK, ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 19th rcPs,ych°iog. *■ If, 9t on* Charles Dla RMUES us**** Onecteiby ROB1"' IVAN UNIVERSAL PICTURE 8 Motion Picture Daily Monday, February 19, 1945 Photoplay Awards Will Go to 13 (.Continued from page 1) picture of 1944, respectively as a result or the poll conducted by Dr. George Gallup'sAudience Research organiza- tion, it has been annouced. A copyrighted story by Gallup in the current Photoplay also lists the 10 most popular pictures of 1944 in the order of the nation's patrons' prefer- ences. Using scientific polling meth- ods as the basis for an award for the first time, the poll was conducted dur- ing separate periods of 1944 in order that all pictures and players would have a chance in the final rating. The ten top pictures of 1944, ac- cording to the poll results, were: "Going My Way," starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald, Para- mount; "The Story of Dr. Wassell," Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Para- mount ; "A Guy Named Joe," Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, M-G-M ; "Mrs. Parkington," Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, M-G-M ; "Laura," Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, 20th Cen- tury-Fox ; "See Here, Private Har- grove," Robert Walker, Donna Reed, M-G-M ; "Destination Tokyo," Cary Grant, John Garfield, Warners ; "Two Girls and a Sailor," Van Johnson, June Allyson, Gloria de Haven, M-G-M; "Since You Went Away," Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple, Joseph Cotten, Selz- nick-United Artists ; "The Sulli- vans," Anne Baxter, Thomas Mitchell, Selena Royle, 20th Century-Fox. Johnson, Jones Gain Polling of the public also reveals that Van Johnson 'and Jennifer Jones were the male star and actress who gained most in the public's favor dur- ing 1944. Several pictures well rated by those who had seen them but which had not played to a sufficiently large proportion of the total audience at the time of the poll's closing in Decem- ber will be included in 1945 ratings. The Photoplay medals will be pre- sented in the studios of the winners during the week of Feb. 19. The magazine's awards, cited as the old- est in the industry, were made every year from 1919 through 1939, then discontinued. Renewal of the award will be continued annually on the basis of the Gallup findings. 1,300 to Hold Red Cross Rally Here Tomorrow N. Peter Rathvon, national chair- man for the industry's Red Cross 'War Fund Week,' to be observed in theatres on March 15-21, will preside at the breakfast-meeting of over 1,- 300 showmen, and others, ' at the Waldorf-Astoria, here, tomorrow morning. Presidents or other execu- tives of all film companies and theatre circuits, as well as all independent ex- hibitors in the area will also be pres- ent. Arthur Mayer, deputy commis- sioner for the American Red Cross in the Pacific Ocean area, will be one of the speakers at the meeting which will be the first of 32 similar Red Cross 'War Fund' gatherings sched- uled in as many key cities by the in- dustry. Mayer, who has been in the Pacific area since Oct., 1944; returned to the U. S. to participate in the drive. Tomorrow's breakfast was arranged under the chairmanship of Dave Weinstock. Red Cross Drive Pledges Will Exceed Last Year's Reports received to date, nearly a month before the start of the indus- try's Red Cross 'War Fund Week,' March 15-21, show that over half of all theatres that collected last year have signed pledges for participation in the 1945 drive. This, according to Leon J. Bamberger, national cam- paign director, covers all but two areas in Continental United States. Progress at this rate, it was said, in- dicates that the number of theatres in the drive will exceed 1944. Rathvon, Scully to Head Phila. Rally Philadelphia, Feb. 18. — Prepara- tions for the industry's Red Cross "War Fund Week" for 1945 will get underway at a luncheon meeting on Feb. 24, with N. Peter Rathvon, na- tional chairman, and William A. Scul- ly, attending. ^ In charge locally will be Earle W. Sweigert, Paramount district manager, as exhibitor chairman, and George E. Schwartz, Universal branch manager, as WAC distributor chairman. It is also expected that Arthur Mayer, who has been serving with the Red Cross in the Southwest Pacific, will also be on hand. Kirsch, Balaban and Coston Call Drive Meet Chicago, Feb. 18. — Local distribu- tors and exhibitors serviced out of the Chicago area will attend a luncheon- meeting for the forthcoming Red Cross drive at the Blackstone Hotel, here, on Feb. 23. The committee in charge of the local industry drive comprises Jack Kirsch, John Balaban and James Coston. ' Western Pa. Allied In Red Cross Drive Pittsburgh, Feb. 18. — Allied Mo- tion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania's board of di- rectors has unanimously endorsed the Red Cross Drive and will enlist the cooperation of its membership in the drive, reports Fred J. Harrington, secretary. Omaha Red Cross Rally On Feb. 26 Omaha, Feb. 18. — Don McLucas, new War Activity Committee chair- man, here, announces that Omaha will hold its Red Cross campaign rally at the Fontenelle Hotel on Feb. 26.- William Miskell, Tri-States Theatres manager, heads exhibitors' drive ef- forts in this state. L.A. Collection March 15-21 L^s Angeles, Feb. 18. — The the- atre committee for the Red Cross War Fund drive has set March 15- 21 for collections in houses here, with dates for outlying communities to be determined later. A distributor-exhib- itor luncheon at the Ambassador Hotel this Friday will precede final preparations for the campaign. Photoplay Awards to Para., Crosby Today Hollywood, Feb. 18. — Presentation of the Photoplay Magazine 'Gold Medal Awards' will be made tomor- row at a luncheon at Paramount's Studios here. Presentation will be made by Carroll Rheinstrom, vice- president of MacFadden Publications. The award for "Going My Way" as the most popular picture of 1944, will be accepted on behalf of Paramount by B. G. De Sylva, the film's executive producer. Bing Crosby, star of the film, will be awarded a medal as the most popular film actor of the year. New Treasury Film "Mr. and Mrs. America," a 16mm. short subject release of the 'Treasur> Department, is now available to all 16mm. distributors. The film com- bines new combat footage with appear- ances of President Roosevelt, Secre- tary Morgenthau, Phillip Murray. William Green, Eric Tohnston, Eddie Albert, and others. 'Little 3' May Not Reply on Clearance (Continued from page 1) and United Artists said that the ques- tion of acknowledging the. Govern- ment's decree proposal service on the two companies had not even been con- sidered up to Friday. The answers are due tomorrow. The five decree companies, Loew's, Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox and Warners, it is learned, may con- fine their response to the Govern- ment's proposals to a communication setting forth their views on the sub- ject of elimination of clearance be- tween theatres charging substantially the same admission price. These would be sent to the Department of Justice by mail and copies would be sent to Federal Judge Henry W. God- dard, in which case no formal reply briefs or answers would be filed with the court, and no further action would be taken until the March 5 hearing. Galax Theatre Burned Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 18. — The Galax Theatre was burned here last week. House is managed by Frank V. Merritt. SPG to Poll Members On UOPWA Combine Members of the Screen Publicists Guild of New York will be polled by mail starting March 1 on an amalga- mation of SPG with the United Office and Professional Workers of Amer- ica-, Local 1, CIO. SPG members voted to put the amalgamation to a referendum. UOPWA is one of the largest 'white collar' groups in the country numbering almost 55,000 members in the insurance, magazine, book publish- ing and other industries. Screen Of- fice and Professional Employes Guild, representing film company office workers, recently amalgamated with UOPWA. Five Branches at Today's Para. Meet (Continued from page 1) preside at this meeting, the seventh of a series being held by Reagan throughout the country. In addition to Reagan and Erbb home office executives will include- G. A. Smith, Western division man- ager; J. J. Donohue, Central divis ion; Hugh Owen, New York anl Southern division; R. M. Gillham,*l advertising-publicity director; Oscar A Morgan, general sales manager of short subjects and Paramount News • Claude Lee, director of public rela- tions; Al Wilkie, publicity manager; Alec Moss, exploitation manager; Stanley Shuford, advertising manager Also present will be C. J. Scollard H. J. Lorber, A. J. Dunne, Lester Coleman, F. A.. Leroy, J. A. Walsh Joseph Phillipson, G. Knox Haddow' Jack Roper, Stanley Chase,. Sam Palmer and Al Finestone. Field Representatives Field representatives will include- New York, Milton Kusell, district manager; Henry Randel, Myron Sat- tler, Nathan Beier, Max Mendel, Al Gebhardt, Edward Bell, Jack Perley • Boston, A. M. Kane, district man- ager; Ed W. Ruff, John Gubbins, Kenneth Robinson, Edward Bradley W. L. Hughes, H. O. Lewis, Edward Maloney, John Kane; Buffalo, M. A. Brown, Maurice Simon, George Suss- man, Marvin Kempner, S. R. Etkin; Albany, C. G. Eastman, Richard Hayes, Schuyler Beattie, Harold Wyckoff; New Haven, John Moore Henry Germaine, G. C. Walsh, Rich- ard Carroll. Also attending will be Arnold Van Leer, district advertising representa- tive for Boston and New Haven ; Ed- ward J. Wall, district advertising rep- resentative for Buffalo and Albany, and James Harris, Boston district short subjects supervisor. Reception for Two NBC Air Shows Here National Broadcasting was host to Dick Powell and press representa- tives at a dinner and reception at the Cafe Francaise here last night follow- ing the broadcast of Powell's 'Fitch Band Wagon' air show. Cities Service held a reception in the Rainbow Room here Friday night to mark the beginning of its 19th year on the air. Its present "Highways in Melody" NBC air show is conducted by Paul Lavalle. Navy Cross to Kennedy The late Navy Lieutenant Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr., has been post- humously awarded the Navy Cross for 'extraordinary heroism' on the mis- sion on which he met his death, when his Navy bomber exploded in the air Kennedy, who was 29 at the time of his death, last Aug. 12, was the son of Joseph P. Kennedy, former Amer- ican Ambassador to Britain, and for- mer film executive. Lanterns Banned As Theatre Fire Hazard Council Bluffs, la., Feb. 18.— Fire Chief Waldo Merrill here has banned the use of lanterns by theatres, con- tending they constitute a fire hazard. _ Council ' Bluffs, like many other cities in the Omaha area, had been supplementing the 60 watt lighting allowed theatres, with old fashioned lanterns burning candles. Young Raises Stahl Hollywood, Feb. 18. — Kenneth Y. Young, chairman of Pathe Industries. Inc., has appointed Marvin Stahl as his assistant. Stahl had been repre- senting the company locally for the past two years. Monday, February 19, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 9 i 'i i I e. Morgan, Hale, Paige To 'Co-Pilot' Opener Macon, Ga., Feb. 18. — At the invi- tation of the Army Air Forces Relief Society, to which Lucas and Jenkins Theatres and Warners will donate the proceeds of the $10-admission world premiere of "God Is My Co-Pilot," at the Grand Theatre, here, on Wednesday night, three Warner stars will arrive Tuesday to take part in the ceremonies as well as to participate in special war bond activities tied in with the premiere. The stars will include Dennis Morgan, who plays the lead in the picture based on Col. Robert Lee Seott's biography, Alan Hale and Janis Paige. The visitors will be met at the sta- tion by a welcoming committee, which will lead a "Gas-Less" parade to City Hall for a reception by Mayor Charles Bowden as the first of a two-day schedule of events honoring native son Col. Scott, the "one-man army" of the famous Flying Tigers. Decorating of the line of march with flags of all nations, pennants and other colorful trimmings has been completed. Blumenstock, Golob and Don Gillette to Macon Mort Blumenstock, eastern head of Warner Bros.' advertising-publicity, left New York Saturday for Macon, Ga., to participate in the world pre- miere of "God Is My Co-Pilot" on Wednesday night. He was accompa- nied by Larry Golob, Eastern public- ity manager, and Don Gillette, who bandies trade press relations. Geneseo Clearance Set by Arbitrator Leo T. Norville, arbitrator in the Chicago tribunal, in ruling on a clear- ance complaint filed by Marches) Bros. Theatres, operating the Geneseo, at Geneseo, 111., against Loew's, Para- mount and RKO, has ruled that maxi- mum clearance of the LeClaire and Illini theatres, Moline, over the Gene- seo, shall be seven days, the Ameri- can Arbitration Association reports. Further, the award continued, no clear- ance shall be imposed upon the Geneseo in favor of the Majestic and Strand theatres, East Moline. Tri-States Theatres Corp., operat- ing the LeClaire and Illini, intervened. Chi. 'Sun* Fetes Owners Chicago, Feb. 18. — The advertising department of the Chicago Sun will be host at a luncheon for exhibitors Tuesday at the Palmer House, here. Whereas, showmen have often honored newsmen, this event is in reverse ap- parently in appreciation of the success of the amusement section of the Chi- cago paper. $6,287 for 'Seeing You' "I'll Be Seeing You" grossed $6,287 in its opening in San Francisco at the Fox Theatre last Wednesday, and not "Since You Went Away" as was in- advertently reported last Friday. Reviews "Bring on the Girls" (Paramount) TTO the list of hilariously woeful characters created by Eddie Bracken, add ■l a man worth $200,000,000 who has jilted 12 fiancees in a search for one to love him for his inept, ugly self alone. Since this is a lavish, color musi- cal, he is fool enough to search mostly in night clubs, and whenever the joke wears thin, director Sidney Lanfield can turn the cameras on floor shows, which are tops. A sneak preview audience at New York's Paramount Thea- tre responded encouragingly. For that, credit almost equalling Bracken's goes to Veronica Lake, who plays Gold Digger No. 13, and to Sonny Tufts as a lawyer who follows Ed- die everywhere to keep him out of harm's way. Their trail leads into the Navy, where, it would seem, a couple of hundred million dollars should be no handicap; and, again since this is a musical, they get stationed in a swank Miami hotel, where Sonny can sit at the piano and turn even a floor-scrubbing scene into a gay, singing, tapping production number. At the club, Marjorie Reynolds is chief vocalist and. being an escaped heiress herself, ultimately proves the answer to the young man's prayer. Meanwhile, under Danny- Dare's dance direction, some gorgeous girls in Raul Pene de Bois costumes are displayed, and Spike Jones' orchestra gives forth some catching new Jim- my McHugh-Harold Adamson tunes, in the best of which the sailors sing : "I'm Gonna Hate Myself in the Morning — for Doin' What I'm Doin' To- night." As cigarette girl, Miss Lake figures into this locale and later into the nearby mansion which Bracken rents. It has a swimming pool, where the beauties parade to even better advantage and where Eddie figures how to learn what people really think of him : by pretending to go deaf after a high dive. What he hears in this condition brings the film to a climax of satiric fun. The screenplay, by Karl Tunberg and Darrell Ware, from a story by Pierre Wolff, is awfully good to Bracken, but less inspired in a rocky-road romance it whips up for Tufts and Miss Lake. Fred Kohlmar as associate producer has made nice use of a plentiful purse, especially in Ray Mover's set decora- tions. Running time, 92 minutes. General classification. Release date, March 30. Tom Loy "Betrayal From the East" (RKO Radio) A POWERFUL, well-paced drama of Japanese treachery prior to Pearl t\ Harbor, "Betrayal from the East" will hold its own with the better low- budget war films, despite its lack of marquee names. The romantic interest is shelved for reality, and while audience sympathy is directed toward two struggling American lovers, caught in the mesh of Nippon intrigue, that angle is eliminated with the eventual death of both. The story deals with an American, Lee Tracy, formerly in the Army, who, when broke and disgusted, is staked to several thousand dollars by a Japan- ese friend. The Jap "friend" then seeks to secure plans for the defense of the Panama Canal. Tracy goes to Army Intelligence, and is told to string along with the Jap in an endeavor to trap the ringleaders. Meanwhile, Tracy meets Nancy Kelly, with whom he falls in love. The Japanese discover she is an FBI agent and are about to try Tracy's "loyalty" to them by ordering her murdered. At Panama, Tracy secures fake plans, submits them to the Japs, and his escape is secured only through the actual death of Nancy Kelly, who turned up to warn him, and is then scalded to death bv a Nazi, working with the Japan- ese. Tracy finallv traps the Tan leaders, but is shot to death before aid ar- rives. The beginning and end of the film have a narration by Drew Pearson, who emphasizes the factual portion of the story, stressing the necessity of continual prenaredness against possible sabotage now. Director William Berke keeps the action moving-, aided by a good script by Kenneth Garnet and Aubrev Wisberg. 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NO. 35 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1945 TKN CENTS Theatres Fare Well Under NY Building Code Any Drastic Changes to Be Fought by Exhibition No seriously adverse decisions have been made by the New York State Labor Department's advisory committee which is promulgating a new building code for theatres in the State, except New York City, which can be considered adverse to the in- dustry. It was emphasized that pres- ent decisions being made by the committee as they affect new theatre constructions are tentative, with final determina- tion to be made when the com- mittee visits actual theatres upon completion of considera- tion of the code. Thus far the committee has re- viewed provisions as they apply to (Continued on page 12) Foreign Printing May Be Staggered Cuts sustained by the industry in raw stock allocations for the first quarter of this year may signify a commensurate cut in prints for foreign distribution, it is generally agreed by distributor spokesmen here, with some territories being forced to set back release by several months. Companies are faced with several (Continued on page 12) Grosses Hold Up at N.Y. First-Runs; Two Holidays a Help Business continues to hold up well at New York's first-run theatres, with several houses expected to benefit sub- stantially in current week's receipts from Washington's Birthday business and an extra school holiday on Friday, the latter as a fuel conservation meas- ure. Of new arrivals, the Capitol's "The Guest in the House," teamed with a show featuring Ralph Edwards, Gloria Jean and Sonny Dunham's orchestra, is headed for a big $74,000 for a first week. The Criterion expects a sturdy $33,000 for its initial week of "Here Come the Co-Eds. " "The Princess and the Pirate" at the Astor, "The Woman in the Win- dow," at the Palace, and "The Three Caballeros" at the Globe, are expected to bring heavy grosses on holdover (Continued on page 10) Reagan Sees 'RelF Best Para. Grosser U. S. Bans Midnight Shows Feb. 26 Washington, Feb. 19.— A cur- few of midnight shows in all parts of the country starting Feb. 26 was ordered here to- day by War Mobilization Di- rector James F. Byrnes as a measure designed to save fuel supplies. In addition to the- atres, night clubs, arenas and other places of entertainment are affected. The curfew will eliminate midnight and post-midnight shows commonly given on week- ends and holidays in Broadway houses and other first-runs throughout the country. Pre- sumably, there will be slight effect on neighborhood and sub- sequent-run houses, which for the most part end their pro- grams prior to midnight. Mediation Ended on SOPEG Contract WPB Halts All By-Passing Of 'Brownout' on Sees Curbs Continued Thru Summer Strike Ends at 18 Winnipeg Theatres Toronto, Feb. 19.— Eleven Western Theatres, Ltd., houses in Winnipeg and seven of Fa- mous Players -Canadian re- opened today as the projec- tionists' strike which had kept them closed since last Wed- nesday ended with submis- sion to the Regional War Labor Board of the jurisdic- tional dispute between IATSE and On* Big Union. Paramount anticipates that "For Whom the Bell Tolls" will achieve the highest gross in the company's his- tory, Charles M. Reagan, vice-pres- ident in charge of distribution told a (Continued on page 12) Negotiations between the Screen Of- fice and Professional Employes Guild and representatives of Loew's, 20th Century-Fox, RKO, Paramount and Columbia, aided by Commissioner James W. Fitzpatrick of the U. S. Conciliation Service, has ended here without agreement on any points in (Continued on page 10) Industry 'Kick-Off for Red Cross Drive Today This morning 1,300 industry repre- sentatives from the Metropolitan New York and New Jersey area are gath- ered at a breakfast-meeting in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to "kick-off" the first of 32 key city meetings sched- uled to precede the start of the 1945 Red Cross "War Fund Week," March 15-21, in the nation's 16,000 theatres. The meetings, organized for the purpose of integrating and initiating plans for theatre activities, are being held under the auspices of the Red Cross drive national committee of the industry's War Activities Committee. Members of the national film com- mittee for the campaign include : N. Peter Rathvon, national chairman ; Major L. E. Thompson, executive co- ordinator ; Leon J. Bamberger, cam- paign director, and his associate, Leon Brecher ; S. Barret McCormick and Harry Mandel, publicity directors ; Arthur M. Brilant, publicity coordina- tor ; Gradwell L. Sears, distributor chairman ; H. M. Schnitzer and Ber- (Continued on page 7) Washington, Feb. 19. — The War Production Board today clamped down on the use of any and all expedients to by-pass the prohibitions of the "Brownout" order upon the lighting of theatre and other advertising signs, all marquee lighting in excess of 60 watts and all show windows. u neld that the prohibitions apply to the use of electricity f^r lighting both in and out of pucj! tresis. To this end, WPB officials said, it is not permissible to increase interior lighting to throw more illumination into show windows or under mar- quees, nor is it permissible to install spotlights or other devices to light outside signs from the interior of any establishment. Unofficial indications are that the "Brownout" may be continued right through the summer, chiefly as a means of permitting the building up of depleted coal stocks as a. safeguard against new fuel shortages next Win- ter. Curb Gas Heating Use in East Again Washington, Feb. 19. — A two-day ban on the consumption of natural or mixed fuel gas by all film theatres and other amusement enterprises in the Appalachian area was imposed to- day by the Office of War Utilities, ef- fective at nightfall tonight, as a new siege of cold weather slowed down the (Continued on page 10) 5 Reviews Today Reviews of "Eadie Was a Lady," "The Jade Mask" ap- pear on page 12; "The Un- seen," "A Song for Miss Julie," "The Chicago Kid," page 15. Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 20, 1945 Propose $8,130,375 Mass. Theatre Levy Boston-, Feb. 19. — Louis T. Capelle, Dorchester, has petitioned for taxation of exhibitors at the rate of one dollar per reel, before a joint state legisla- tive committee on taxation. Proceeds are estimated to average about $8,130,- 375 yearly and would be used for financing care of ill, wounded and disabled veterans of all wars, to pay for old age assistance and to finance the care of widows and orphans of deceased veterans. If the new bill does not meet with the approval of the legislators, Capelle said a graduated scale of taxation based on seating capacity might be substituted. Also introduced, by Leo J. Sullivan, was a petition setting forth that "no ticket to any amusement house or licensed theatre shall be sold for more than the price set forth on the ticket." This met with strenuous opposition at once from ticket agencies and a bitter fight is anticipated. Sullivan has also introduced a bill requiring the raising of annual license fees for ticket agen- cies to $1,000 and requiring such agen- cies to post a $10,000 bond. Both the Capelle and Sullivan bills have drawn the fire of all theatres, motion picture or otherwise, and of the agencies. United Artists Will Release 'The Outlaw' United Artists announced here yes- terday that "The Outlaw," Howard Hughes' much discussed picture, will be released late this Summer or early in the Fall. The film is part of the deal recently announced whereby Pres- ton Sturges and Hughes joined the ranks of independent producers re- leasing through United . Artists. It had been, held from major com- pany distribution because of an ab- sence of a Production Code seal, for which Hughes had originally refused to make some deletions, even con- sidering, for a time, independent road showing after a single premiere per- formance in San Francisco, about two years ago. Ed McNamee, NSS Ad Manager, Quits Edward McNamee, advertising manager of National Screen Service, here, since May, 1942, yesterday re- signed his position with that com- pany McNamee, an industry veteran, was a newspaperman, actor and theatre manager before he entered distribu- tion. Prior to joining NSS, he had been with Fox and First National doing publicity and exploitation. Para. Promotes Harris Hollywood, Feb. 19. — Paramount has promoted short subjects producer Louis Harris to feature production. He will be succeeded by George Tem- pleton as featurette producer. Personal Mention SAMUEL GOLDWYN left New York for England over the week- end. • William Garring, 20th Century- Fox Western division manager, and his assistant, E. H. Collins, are vis- iting the Salt Lake City exchange, after which Garring will leave for Los Angeles and Collins for the East. • Morris Fitzer of the New York office of Hollywood Reporter and Mrs. Fitzer are parents of a baby girl, Saundra, born last weekend at Beth Israel Hospital. • Ted Tuttle, manager of the Astor, East Hartford, has been discharged from St. Francis Hospital there, where he was treated for a broken arm. • Lynn Farnol, Samuel Goldwyn Prod, publicity head, is scheduled to leave for the Coast today following a New York visit of several weeks. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal Southern and Canadian sales mana- ger, returned to New York from Can- ada over the weekend. • Fred A. Rohrs, PRC district man- ager, is in Cleveland and vicinity on two weeks of business with circuit and independent film buyers. • Malcolm Kingsberg, RKO The- atres vice-president and treasurer, is expected back from vacation at the end of this week. • T. E. Laird, assistant to Fred Jack, United Artists Southern divi- sion manager, has been visiting in Atlanta. • Roy E. Brauer, Universal Atlanta branch manager, is in Birmingham on business. Houston Duval, Columbia New Orleans branch manager, is visiting in Atlanta. • Harry Paul of the Wil-Kin Sup- ply Co., Atlanta, is on a 10-day busi- ness trip to Florida. • B. B. Garner of Florida State, The- atres, Jacksonville, has been in At- lanta for a visit. . • Joe Farrow, M-G-M Philadelphia office manager, is in a hospital there for an operation. /GEORGE DEMBOW is expected ^-J in New York from the Coast to- Roy Robbins, manager of Warner's Boyd, Philadelphia, has left for the New Cumberland, Pa., Army induc- tion center. Maurice Connor re- places him. • - J. J. Unger, United Artists West- ern district sales manager, returned to New York yesterday from a trip through his territory. • G. A. Nicholson, booker at the Hollywood exchange, Philadelphia, is in Jefferson Hospital there following an emergency appendectomy. • J. Robert Rubin, vice-president and general counsel of M-G-M, will re- turn to New York from the Coast Feb. 27. • H. C. Fuller, manager of Shef- field Republic, Salt Lake City, has returned there from Hollywood. • Don Tibbs, Monogram exchange manager at Salt Lake City, has re- turned there from Nevada. • Herbert Crooker, M-G-M director of publicity, will leave Hollywood today for New York. • Abe Schneider, Columbia vice- president and treasurer, returned here yesterday from the Coast. • Frank N. Phelps, Warner Circuit executive, left here yesterday for Bos- ton and will return Thursday. • Ray Myers, manager of William Goldman's Karlton, Philadelphia, has left to join the Army. • Martha Clark, RKO Philadelphia booker, has returned to her desk after a serious illness. * Sam Pearlman, manager of Loew's Kameo, Brooklyn, is the father of a girl, Grace Margaret. • - Charles Stern, Loew assistant treasurer, has returned from a two- week Atlantic City vacation. • "Buck" Wade, Universal Salt Lake City manager, is in Montana on busi- ness. • Rose Lescher, M-G-M cashier, is on vacation. Acme's 'Galax' Damaged Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 19. — The Galax Theatre has been badly dam- aged and its equipment completely de- stroyed by fire, reports Frank Merritt, president of the Acme Theatre Co. Two Ohio Houses Burn Cleveland, Feb. 19. — Two theatres in this area are closed on account of fires, the Lyceum at Findlay, and the Spicer, Akron. Both will reopen as soon as damage is repaired. - NEW YORK THEATRES SECOND WEEK INSIDE THE RACKETS! Mobland's Gats Blaze Again! Isf N. Y. Showing "THE CHICAGO KID" A Republic Picture with A DONALD BARRY % OTTO KRUCER TOM POWERS REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Streets RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Picture In TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN M-G-M's 'NATIONAL VELVET* Mickey Elizabeth RODNEY TAYLOR IN PERSON CUFF NAZARRO mollyPICON MARIO & FLORIA ^ Paramount presents Ray Milland IN "MINISTRY of FEAR" in Person Johnny Long and his Orchestra LOUIS JORDAN and his FAMOUS TYM- PANY FIVE PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE —A RKO RELEASE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor ASTOR Popular Prleet Continuous Doors open Broadway & 930 A. M. 45th Street Midnight Shot WALT DISNEY'S The THREE CA8ALLER0S in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures NOW • - • Brandt's GLOBE SMPE Meets Tomorrow Lt. Howard T. Souther, of the Army Signal Corps Photograohic Center, Astoria, L. I., and John Maurer, of J. A. Maurer, Inc., will speak at a dinner of the Society of Motion Pic- ture Engineers here tomorrow. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York.'* Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, Newi Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.. Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. "A '4.1 gain the Red Cross has calL)( N. PETER R national committees have been o to take collections in your theatre. But . . . than ever before. No matter what the fortu the Red Cross in 1945 will be vastly expat the 1944 Red Cross collection must be topj wThe great responsibility I feel as National exchange area Chairman. We are confident 1 respons • i • i • in your community NATIONAL CHAIRMAN. MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 1945 RED CROSS WAR FUND WE 1 I: ! pon our industry. Again ized. Again you are asked year the need is greater )f war may be, the job of | The splendid results of |by a substantial margin. irman is shared by every II you, too, will share this A COLLECTION ITION PICTURE INDUSTRY ■ AT EVERY SHOW mm. YOUR PRESS BOOK has been sent to you by first class mail. In its pages you'll find everything you need for a great campaign — excepting your own steam! If you haven't received your copy, check with National Screen Service. m YOUR TRAILER is a terrific heart punch. It stars INGRID BERGMAN and was directed by Jac- ques Tourneur. You get it free. Run it at every performance. YOUR FREE POSTERS ^and other display material ... all wrapped up in a kit ready to go to work for you. YOUR ACCESSORIES streamer, valance, badges, slide, etc., available at low cost from National Screen. MARCH 15 THRU MARCH 21 This advertisement contributed by Columbia Pictures 1945 RED GROSS FUND WEEK Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer • Monogram Pictures • Paramount Pictures • Republic Pictures • RKO Radio Pictures • 20th Century-Fox • United Artists • Universal Pictures • Warner Bros. MOOfC-up) One of the most exciting pictures I have ever seen. It shows the FBI, and how the FBI, with secret movie cameras, kept focused on Nazi spies working right under our noses in the United States. Don't miss it! SENSATIONAL TWO-REELER FROM THIS IS AMERICA Produced by Frederic Ullman, Jr. • Distributed by RKO RADIO WATCH FOR THE PRESS BOOK! USE IT! RED CROSS DRIVE - MARCH 15-21 Motion Picture daily Industry 'Kick-Off for Red Cross Drive Today Tuesday, February 20, 1945 'Co-Pilot' Bows in Macon Tomorrow Atlanta, Feb. 19. — The Mayors of Atlanta and Macon, Ga., an Army es- cort, an exhibitor group led by Wil- liam K. Jenkins, head of Lucas and Jenkins circuit and civic leaders ac- corded Dennis Morgan, Alan Hale and Janis Paige, Warner players, an !ffflk^ithusiastic welcome here today. They ll-jLre en route on a war bond and Army , hospital tour, to Macon for the world "* premiere of "God Is My Co-Pilot," Wednesday. Mayor Hartsfield, of Atlanta, com- mended the film industry for its con- ■ tributions to the entertainment and morale of our troops abroad and our workers on the home front. The entire proceeds of the 10 dollar premiere of "Co-Pilot" will go to Army Air Forces Aid Society. At- lanta newspapers have featured daily stories of the premiere in Macon. Warner representatives present in- cluded Mort Blumenstock of the home office, Southern district manager Ralph McCoy and branch manager Henry G. Krumm. In Macon, there will be a two-day celebration that will start with a gas- less parade to the City Hall and after visits by the Warner players to Army camps and hospital, the premiere will be capped by a Junior League grand ball in the civic auditorium and two Coast-to-Coast broadcasts. Scott in Macon for 'Co-Pilot' Opening Macon, Ga., Feb. 19.— Col. Robert L. Scott, author of "God Is My Co- Pilot," which will have its world pre- miere at the Grand Theatre Wednes- day night, will arrive here tomorrow with his wife and daughter to take part in premiere activities. Col. Scott will appear as honor guest at a Junior League ball, along with Mrs. Sidney McNair, League president, and Major General Thomas G. Hearn, commanding officer of near- by Camp Wheeler and Scott's for- mer commander in the CBI theatre of war. Also in Macon for the pre- miere is Major 'Dallas' Clinger, who flew with Scott in China. Loew's has completed arrangements with Equitable Life Assurance Soci- ety for that company to underwrite and carry its employee pension and retirement plan which was instituted last year. Arrangements are now being worked out to compute the premium for the second year, due sometime in March. Royal Setting NBC Plans John F. Royal, National Broad- casting vice-president in charge of television, left New York for Holly- wood yesterday for a three-week trip to develop the network's future tele- vision plans on the West Coast. He will address the Advertising Club of San Francisco on television March 7. {Continued from page 1) nard M. Kamber, assistants to the dis- tributor chairman; Henderson M. Richey, meeting arrangements ; Wil- liam C. Michel, corporate gifts ; Her- man Robbins, trailers and accessories. With industry leaders, theatre man- agers, exhibitors, sales managers, company executives, Red Cross and press representatives present, today's meeting will open with the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by Lucy Monroe, followed by an invoca- tion delivered by Capt. Edward T. Sandrow, USA. Included on the program will be the screening of the special Red Cross trailer. Mayer Address High point of the breakfast-meeting will be the principal address by Ar- thur L. Mayer, deputy commissioner of the Red Cross in the Pacific Area, who was recently recalled to the United States from a tour of the Pacific War areas at the request of Rathvon, so that he might aid the industry in its drive. Mayer flew 10,000 miles from Saipan to bring an eye-witness account of the job the Red Cross is doing in the South Pacific. Sharing the speaker's platform will be members of the national commit- tee, Colby M. Chester, chairman of the national Red Cross War Fund, and Walter L. (Red) Barber, Greater New York chairman. Immediately following the breakfast, the nine teams of industry leaders who will highlight the series of meet- ings to be held in the key cities of the nine exchange areas will leave on their individual itineraries. Scheduled to be present at today's meeting, on the dais, are: Rathvon, George J. Schaefer, Martin Smith, Chester, Barber, James Sauter, Miss Monroe, Sam Rinzler, Charles Rea- gan, Major Thompson, Bamberger, Govt . Files Rebuttal Schine Suit Briefs Buffalo, Feb. 19. — The Govern- ment today filed its overdue briefs in the Schine case here. Briefs were originally due Feb. 7, but prepara- tion of the consent decree New York case occupied so much of the Depart- ment of Justice's time, that it was de- layed. The briefs are a rebuttal to the Schine briefs, which declared that the Government had not proved its charges of monopoly against the cir- cuit. Next move will be the setting of a date for a hearing before Federal Judge John Knight, trial jurist here, who will listen to oral argument on both sides. The court will then make its decision, based on the trial evi- dence, briefs, counter-briefs and oral arguments. The hearing will in all probability come up before the end of the month, so that a final decision in March is likely. 'Velvet During Easter M-G-M will release "National Vel- vet" nationally as its Easter week at- traction. "Meet Me in St. Louis" will be the release for the Metropolitan cir- cuit during Easter. Mandel, McCormick, Spyros Skouras, Joseph Bernhard, Paul Moss, Harry Ross, Robbins, John J. O'Connor, Harry Lowenstein, Milton Russell, Henry Randell, Fred Schwartz, Ed- ward Bell, Harry Brandt, S. H. Fa- bian, Mayer, David Weinstock, Rich- ey, W. F. Rodgers, Brilant, Schnitz- er, Carl Leserman, William Scully, Abe Montague, Robert Mochrie, Charles C. Moskowitz, Barney Bala- ban, Adolf Zukor, Michel, William White, Brecher, Frank Damis, Max Cohen, Herman Gluckman, Ben Kal- menson, Kamber and Neil Agnew. Arrangements for today's breakfast were made by David Weinstock. Rod- gers will be master of ceremonies. Connors, O'Donnell in Okla. Red Cross Talk Oklahoma City, Feb. 19. — Tom Connors, vice-president and general sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, and R. J. O'Donnell, National Variety Club chief barker, will share a meet- ing of distributor representatives and local exhibitors, preparatory to the Red Cross campaign, on Saturday. The two will be principal speakers at a luncheon called by Marion Os- borne, distributor chairman, and L. C. Griffith, exhibitor chairman of the Oklahoma War Activities committee. C. B. Akers, exhibitor co-chairman, will preside. Slater and Dunphy at WE Red Cross Rally Sports announcers Bill Slater and Don Dunphy will be guest speakers at a Red Cross rally of Western Elec- tric employees, sponsored by the labor- management war production commit- tee's special Red Cross committee at the company's tube shop, here, today. Tugend Is Named Ginsberg Associate - Hollywood, Feb. 19. — Harry Tug- end, Paramount producer-writer, has been appointed to succeed Frank But- ler as production associate to Henry Ginsberg, general manager in charge of studio operations. Butler, as re- ported in Motion Picture Daily to- day, is taking an extended leave of absence on the advice of his physician. Tugend has written many screen plays beginning with "The Littlest Rebel" and "Thanks a Million" in 1935 and including "Star Spangled Rhythm" and "Let's Face It" in re- cent years. Among his productions have been "True to Life" and "Practi- cally Yours." Loew's Stockholders To Vote Share Split Stockholders of Loew's, Inc., will be asked to vote on a split of the com- mon stock whereby they would re- ceive three new shares of common for each one presently held, at their an- nual meeting here on March 29. Other business on the agenda, be- sides routine matters, is expected to be approval of new service contracts for top Loew executives. 7 'Look' 1944 Award to Crosby, Hayworth Look Magazine's 1944 motion pic- ture achievement awards will be made tonight by Bob Hope over his na- tional radio program, heard locally on WEAF from. 10 to 10:30 p.m. The awards, for outstanding performances in the fields of film acting, writing, di- recting, producing and photography, go to Bing Crosby, for "Going My Way;" Hita Hayworth, for "Cover Girl;" Leo McCarey, for writing and directing "Going My Way;" Darryl F. Zanuck, for producing "Wilson;" Walt Disney, for his pioneering in the industry; Shirley Temple, for being the 'most promising newcomer,' and for her work in "Since You Went Away;" Margaret O'Brien, a child actress award, for her 10 films over the past two years; and Leon Sham- roy, for his photography in "Wilson." Look's selections of the year's five best pictures were : "Going My Way," for comedy-drama; "Cover Girl," for music and entertainment ; "Thirty Sec- onds Over Tokyo," action; "Wilson," biography; "Since You Went Away," drama. Films Now Coordinate Scattered Commands Hollywood, Feb. 19.— Films made by combat cameramen under fire and rushed to commanding generals in all theatres of war as "staff film reports" enable scattered commands to see what's happening elsewhere, Colonel E. L. Munson, chief of the Army Pic- torial Service, revealed in the first report on this type of service at a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel today, sponsored by the Public In- formation Committee. "Sensational shots of German buzz- bombs in newsreels were clips from these official pictures," Munson said, adding that cameramen often par- achute into battle areas to obtain pic- tures for use in plotting further oper- ations. Major John W. Hubbell, in charge of the Army Overseas Motion Picture Service and co-guest at the luncheon said, "The morale and therapeutic value of Hollywood movies can hardly be over-estimated." Hubbell said, the soldiers now seeing 125 to 150 pictures yearly, or twice the average seen at home, will account for increased the- atere attendance after the war. Misrepresent Air Systems An Offense Albany, N. Y., Feb. 19. — Misrep- resentation in the sale or installation of air conditioning systems or equip- ment would be made a misdemeanor under a bill introduced by Senator John V. Downey, Democrat, Jackson Heights. It would affect sales or installations in theatres as well as other types of buildings. Philco Gets 18th 'E' The Philadelphia plants of Philco Corp., and the Simplex Radio Division of Philco in Sandusky, Ohio, have just received the 17th and 18th Army- Navy 'E' Awards, made to the com- pany, in recognition of war production records. Equitable Life Gets Loew's Pension Plan ^ s ^ , WATCH FOR THE PRESS BOOK! USE IT! RED CROSS DRIVE - MARCH 15-21 10 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 20, 1941 Mediation Ended on SOPEG Contract Two Holidays Help Grosses At New York First Runs (.Continued from page 1) the long contract, wage and job classi- fication dispute involving over 2,000 'white collar' workers in home offices. At a meeting of the SOPEG at the Fraternal Clubhouse here last night the membership authorized its nego- tiating committee to act to 'freeze' any merit wage increases which the companies might seek to grant during continuation of the dispute which is now expected to go to the War Labor Board. The action was taken to pre- clude unilaterial action on the part of the companies which would pos- sibly lead to discriminatory practices, a Guild spokesman pointed out. Actual 'freezing,' which involves the Guild's withdrawing its consent to the companies' use of their merit fund plans set up under WLB general or- der No. 31, will not be taken until Lewis Merrill,- president of United Office and Professional Workers of America, Local No. 1 of which SOPEG is a unit, has had an oppor- tunity to hold discussions with indus- try representatives. The membership at the meeting last night approved this procedure. Should the dispute now go to the War Labor Board it is indicated that the companies involved will find them- selves unable to make any further merit wage increases for an indefinite period. Minn. Royalty Case Is Won by Ascap Minneapolis, Feb. 19. — Federal Judge Gunner Nordbye has signed de- crees here directing Amusement Asso- ciation Co. to pay $2,000 in license fees to ASCAP, and ordered Harry Dickerman Theatres to pay $500 fees after finding that defendants in the action brought by ASCAP had failed to show that the society is a monop- oly. ASCAP had sued for performing license fees on compositions of its members used in theatres operated by the two and by the Berger Circuit. Defendants contended that in assign- ing rights to their compositions to motion picture producers, ASCAP members did not have the right to collect another fee from theatres. Louis D. Frohlich of Schwartz & Frohlich, ASCAP counsel in New York, represented the society. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.CF. Presents (Continued from page 1) weeks, while the Roxy, with "Hang- over Square" and a stage show fea- turing Milton Berle, and Radio City Music Hall, with "A Song to Re- member" are all drawing excellently. An outstanding $40,000 . is expected for the second week of "The Princess" at the Astor, following an initial record-breaking week of more than $45,000. The theatre is getting a quick turnover, with $1.40 admission prices prevailing on Saturdays, Sun- days and holidays, instead of the usual $1.20 top. A heavy $31,000 is ex- pected for the fourth week of "The Woman in the Window" at the Pal- ace and a big $32,000 is indicated for a third week of "Caballeros" at the Globe. All three films will con- tinue indefinitely. "A Song to Remember" will bring a strong $111,000 for its fourth week at the Music Hall ; it will continue, with the theatre opening at 8 :30 A.M. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. "Hangover Square" will draw a big $83,000 for a second week at the Roxy but will hold for only one more week due to prior commitments ; "A Tree Grows in Booklyn" will follow. "Ministry of Fear," with a stage bill De Mille 'Suggests' House Probe AFRA Washington, Feb. 19. — Cecil B. DeMille has suggested to the House Committee on Un-American Activities that it might want to investigate the labor union which barred him from a $98,200-a-year radio job because he refused to pay a $1 union assessment, in a letter to Representative Karl E. Mundt, Republican, South Dakota, a member of the committee. DeMille termed the union's action "Un-Ameri- can and unendurable." DeMille's controversy with the union dates back to the last political campaign. The American Federation of Radio Artists had assessed mem- bers $1 each to fight a proposed amendment to the California constitu- tion which it considered 'anti-union.' DeMille, a member of AFRA, charged that the assessment was political and refused to pay it. Coast Guilds Move To Aid Servicemen Hollywood, Feb. 19. — Making si- multaneous moves in behalf of return- ing veterans, the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Players Union has announced provisions for assuring their members a chance for employ- ment after their service discharge. SAG will waive for 90 days in each case its rule requiring actors to pay the Guild entrance fee or dues. Albert DeSilvey Dies Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 19. — Albert Hess DeSilvey, 54, of Wilmer and Vincent's State Theatre for 15 years, died of a heart attack at his home, Mechanicsburg, Saturday. featuring Johnny Long and his band, at the Paramount, is expected to bring a profitable $60,000 for its sec- ond week ; it will go for a third and final week before making way for "Bring on the Girls." "Objective Burma" and a stage show featuring Artie Shaw and his band are continu- ing to do sturdy business at the Strand, with $55,000 expected for a fourth week; the combination will continue. Because of a prior commit- ment, Artie Shaw and his band will bow out March 1. "The Keys of the Kingdom" is continuing to draw at the Rivoli, with $30,000 expected for the eighth week. "Roughly Speaking" is doing moder- ate business at the Hollywood," $19,- 000 is expected for the third week. The Rialto expects a big $14,000 for the first week of "Frisco Sal" ; the film will hold; the fifth week of "The Fighting Lady" at the Victoria will bring a handsome $18,500. "Mr. Em- manuel" is holding up splendidly at the Gotham and $12,000 is expected for its seventh week. "The Chicago Kid" is leading the Republic to a fair $5,000 for its second and final week ; "The Big Bonanza" will open there Saturday. Eiges Makes Changes In NBC Press Staff Several changes and additions to the NBC press department staff were an- nounced here by Sydney H. Eiges, manager of the department. Allan KaL mus was named television editor ; his duties as trade news editor have been taken over by Richard Connelly, pre- viously in charge of publicity for sta- tion WEAF. Marian Chapman, currently writing publicity for network shows will as- sume Connelly's WEAF duties. Ger- ald Quisenberry has been named mag- azine editor, succeeding Walter Schneider, resigned, and Mrs. Fred- rica Montgomery has been named as- sistant to Quisenberry. New addi- tions include: Leo Herschdorfer, news editor, and Marney Glavin, Milton Marshall, George Wolf and Helen Leaf as additions to the writing staff. McCormick Renews IS Air Promotions RKO has renewed its contract with commentator Lyle Van for 13 weekly broadcasts over WEAF of RKO's regular news program, it was an- nounced here yesterday by S. Barret McCormick, RKO Radio director of advertising-publicity. Renewal is for the period from March 3-May 26. This will mark the start of the third year of this 15-minute weekly pro- gram, broadcast Saturdays at IIP. M. Michael Martone Passes Springfield, Mass., Feb. 19. — Mich- ael Martone, 56, manager of the Palmer theater, Palmer, Mass., for the past eight years, died at the Wesson Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. 'Brownouf Neither Helps Nor Hurts St. Louis, Feb. 19. — Ten day's trial of the 'brownout' has shown theatre operators that the public does not re- sent the new regulation, and the operators' fears of pos- sible pickpockets and holdups have not materialized. Also, "There has been no detrimental effect on the box#|| office," Martin Burnett, man\* ager of Loew's State and Loew's Orpheum, reported. Curb Gas Heating Use in East Again (Continued from page 1) flow of gas and caused important war | plants to close down. The two-day period was set in the hope that by Wednesday night tem- peratures will have risen sufficiently to bring about a return of normal conditions, but if U. S. Weather Bureau predictions to that effect prove inaccurate the ban may be ordered continued. As in the case of the three-day ban imposed earlier this month the OWI has notified gas companies in the area of its action and instructed them to. contact all consumers who would be affected. In most instances, this was done by telephone, but in some areas the message was broadcast. The order applies to Ohio, West- ern New York, Western Pennsyl- vania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Vir- ginia and the District of Columbia. Officials said exhibitors in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Rochesetr will not be affected since those cities are supplied with artificial gas, but affected are Washington, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Syra- cuse, Utica, Binghamton and other communities where theatres heating with gas will have to close or go cold. Adhere to 'Brownout/ Or Face Shutdown Philadelphia, Feb. 19. — Theatre men were warned that strict adher- ence to the WPB "brownout" restric- tions should be maintained not only as a patriotic duty or gesture, but for their own protection, because a strict enforcement program is about to be started by the Philadelphia Electric Co. and the WPB. Over 7,500 violations of the "brown- out" by business establishments throughout the city have already been noted, and if voluntary compliance to the order is not forthcoming, the elec- tric company will be authorized to turn off power to offending places, ac- cording to the WPB. James Higgins Dies Milwaukee, Feb. 19. — James W. Higgins, 49, former assistant mana- ger of the Palace, and manager of the Rialto, St. Louis, has died at Vet- erans' Hospital here. Higgins served as assemblyman here in 1932, and during the first World War was in the Navy. He is survived by his wife, his parents, four brothers and two sisters. DR. GALLUP HAS GONE INTO THIS QUESTION OF . LEADERSHIP CLAIMS! M-G-M DOMINATES FEATURE I POPULARITY Leo has twice as many hits as any other company! V_ 4 OUT OF FIRST 10 ('A Guy Named Joe'; 'Mrs. Partington'; 'See Here, Private Hargrove'; Two Girls And A Sailor') Next Companies 2, 2, 1, 1. 10 OUT OF FIRST 22 Next Companies 5, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1. AND ACCLAIMED BY THE NATION! GREER GARSON WINS PHOTOPLAY MEDAL FOR MOST POPULAR FILM ACTRESS Watch For Press Bookl Use It I C r>i-iw York Red Cross campaign chair- man. Al=o Barnev Balaban. F/hvard Bell Tospnn Bprnhard. T-farrv Brandt Col- hir M. fVipqter. Max Cohen. "EYanV Damos Si Fabian. Herman C]\\rlr- man. Tampc T? Grainsrer. Bernie Kamher Milton TG-kspI. Havrv T.ow- "n stein T?ohpt*t Morhrip. 4fiP l\/Ton- ^crup. Charlpc TVf ncVowit? Paul Mosc u°nrv Panrlal TTqrrv "P^sq Tampc ^^ntpr npnrn-o S'mapmr fTrl S^hn/tT!- — William Smllv Smn-os Skonrac Mit-rin Smith DaviJ Wpinctork, Wil- 'ism White and Adolph Zukor. J. O'Connor Heads Special Drive Unit John J. O'Connor, vice-president of Universal Pictures, has been appointed chairman of the motion picture divi- sion of a new committee of the enter- tainment industry which will conduct a joint management-labor campaign for the Red Cross 1945 War Fund of Greater New York. Mark Woods, president of the Blue Network, is chairman of the new committee whose objective will be to secure larger contributions for the Red Cross in the New York entertain- ment field. William Feinberg, secre- tary of Local No. 802 of the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians, is vice- chairman under the appointments made by Walter (Red) Barber, city- wide chairman. Alternating Chairmanship In pointing out that the work of the committee will not be limited to this year's campaign, but will func- tion in future Red Cross campaigns, Woods said that it is planned that the chairmanship will alternate each year between management and labor. The overall committee is divided in- to five other units headed by the fol- lowing chairmen : legitimate theatres division, Gertrude Lawrence and Lee Shubert, co-chairmen ; radio division. Robert Swezey, vice-president of Mu- tual Broadcasting, chairman with five sub-chairmen who represent networks and independent stations ; Metropoli- tan Opera division, Mrs. Blanche Witherspoon, chairman ; concert divi- sion, Arthur Judson and Sol Hurak co-chairmen ; cabaret division, Leon Enken, chairman ; Jewish theatre di- vision, Irving Grossman, chairman. Film, radio, and other unions in the entertainment field are participating. Seek to Raise WPB 285 Print Limit (Continued from page 1) tee, to call a meeting of the theatre in- dustry advisory committee to consider the matter. OCR officials, however, maintained the position that the cut in alloca- tions was of so small an extent as to offer "no threat to the operations of subsequent houses and, with the as- surance of Stanley B. Adams, direc- tor of the WPB's Consumer Durable Goods Division, that the interests of such exhibitors would be protected, denied Fabian's request. At the same time, they told Fabian that if exhibitors had information and data to support their contention, fur- ther consideration would be given the desirability of an industry committee meeting.' The attitude of Washington officials generally is that it is too early to de- termine just what the effects of the re- striction may be and it should be given an opportunity to operate so that defi- nite information might be secured. In the event experience shows that it actually is detrimental to the interests of any exhibitors, they said, action will be taken to correct this situation. Mono. Renews with Empire of Australia Monogram has closed a long' term contract with British Empire Films, Ltd., Australia, for the distribution of its product in that territory, Nor- ton V. Ritchey, Monogram vice-pres- ident in charge of foreign operations, disclosed here yesterday. The deal actually represents a renewal of an existing .arrangement between Mono- gram and BEF, which has been Mon- ogram's distributor in Australia for a number of years. First production to be released under the new agreement will be "Forever Yours." Other films in- cluded are the "Charlie Chan" series, of which Monogram already has five ready. WLB to Resume RKO Hearing Tuesday Hearings will be resumed before the Regional War Labor Board here next Tuesday in the contract dispute between RKO Theatres and Motion Picture Theatre Operating Managers and Assistant Managers Guild, repre- senting managers and assistants in the 40 RKO theatres in Metropolitan New York. It is expected that the RWLB will require still another meeting before it takes the case under advisement. Eastman Declares 2 $1.50 Dividends Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 20.— Direc- tors of Eastman Kodak today boosted the regular annual dividend payment on common stock to $6 by declaring a regular quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share. Last year the company was on a regular $5 annual basis, augmented by an extra dividend of 75 cents in December. The regular quarterly dividend of $1.50 was also declared on six per cent preferred. Dividends are pay- able April 2 to stockholders of rec- ord March 5. IN MACON, GEORGIA TODAY... * In Macon, Georgia today there will be celebrated, with the ceremony it so richly warrants, the advance World Premiere of the new Warner Bros. Achievement This at last brings to Motion Pictures the work called by the N.Y. Times The most fascinating personal story of the war" — the leading best- seller by that Flying Tiger who flew head-on into the Rising Sun Col. ROBERT L. SCOTT, Jr. Starring DENNIS MORGAN as Col. Scott DANETLARK as Ed "Reckless" Rector RAYMOND MASSEY as General Claire L. Ch ennaul ALAN HALE as the Flying Padre Directed by MDREA KING -JOHN RIDGELY- Screen Play hy Peter Milne and Atem Finkel • Music Ly Franz Waxman • ROBERT FLORE Y i ux \ w^mm mm 14 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, February 21, 1945 Reviews "God Is My Co-Pilot" {Warner Brothers') Hollywood, Feb. 20 FROM Col. Robert Lee Scott's book of the same title, Warners has welded in "God Is My Co-Pilot" an adventure story of the war in China's skies. When it is in the air, this attraction is at its exciting peak. When on the ground, the juxtaposition of dramatic events compels its tempo to become quieter. Films dealing with dog fights and magnificent air-scrapes do not seem able to escape this, but, in overall terms, this show ought to register. The popularity of the book, moreover, should serve its celluloid counterpart in very good stead. Scott's story is widely known. The title which covers his career in the Army, with Chennault's Flying Tigers and, finally, with the regular Army Air Forces in the Chinese theatre is arresting. The screen- play by Peter Milne and Abem Finkel, and direction, by Robert Florey, sought to incorporate spiritual connotations and meanings which this title offered. While there is strong suggestion of this purpose in the finished job, the ob- jective is never wholly attained. The result, consequently, is more on the side of thrilling adventure and great hazards against overwhelming and dis- couraging odds than on the side of spiritual content. The film is autobiographical. It unfolds the life of Scott, played standard- size by Dennis Morgan, from boyhood days through the years, to his career in China. While his personal exploits are maintained in the foreground, the courageous history of General Chennault and his famed Flying Tigers, in large measure, becomes the story which is dramatized. That story could be viewed as one of epic proportions, supported by contemporary reportage of the war in the Far East. The extensive footage devoted to the air passages is packed with excitement and is a tribute to the expertness of Charles Marshall's aerial photography. He figures as importantly in the credit ledger as any other individual identified with the attraction. Raymond Massey makes a strong arid effective Chennault. Alan Hale, as the priest, is not entirely believable. But representative performances are contributed by Dane Clark, Andrea King, John Ridgely, Stanley Ridges and Craig Stevens, in a lengthy cast. Robert Buckner produced. Running time, 89 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. Red Kann "High Powered" {Paramount) Hollywood, Feb. 20 PRODUCERS William Pine and William Thomas continue here their staple service, utilizing Robert Lowery this time as hero and a high oc- tane plant as the setting for his heroics. The picture is about par for the Pine- Thomas category. Lowery portrays a "high man" (construction crew parlance) who has lost his nerve, due to a fall, but overcomes fear in a crisis and rescues his long- time friend and romantic rival when the latter is caught in a cable atop a lofty boom. Roger Pryor plays the friendly rival (there are no villains) and Phyl- lis Brooks is the object of their affections, with Mary Treen, Joe Sawyer and Ralph Sanford furnishing comedy support. William Berke directed, from a script by Milton Raison and Maxwell Shane, based on an original by Raison, all these craftsmen emphasizing the humorous side of the enterprise most of the way. Running time, 62 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver 28 Releases from Paramount This Year: C. M. Reagan Paramount will release 28 pictures during 1944-45, Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of distribu- tion, informed the regional sales meet- ing of New York, Boston and Buffalo districts sales forces which concluded at the Hotel Pierre here yesterday. Previous indications were that the company would release 30 or more. The total, he added, will include the 'modernized' "The Sign of the Cross." Besides the four blocks of films already announced, the program will probably include the following : the first two Hal Wallis productions, "The Affairs of Susan" and "You Came Along;" "Incendiary Blonde," "A Medal For Benny," "Out of This World," "Murder, He Says" "Scared Stiff" and "One Exciting Night." Reagan paid tribute at the meeting to the work and importance of ad- vertising, publicity and exploitation, declaring that these functions are as important as production, distribution and exhibition, and in his opinion rep- resent Ihe fourth branch of the in- dustry. Faith in Radio R. M. Gillham, advertising-pub- licity director, discussed advertising and promotion plans for forthcoming pictures. He pointed out that Par- amount strongly believes in the effi- cacy of radio exploitation of films. Oscar A. Morgan, general sales manager of short subjects and Par- amount News, said that despite the difficulties of raw stock and color print problems confronting short subject producers, the studio is far ahead on this phase of production and the 1944- 45 program of 64 subjects, including 38 in color, will be delivered as scheduled. Morgan said that sales of his de- partment reached a new high level last season and are continuing the pace, ascribing this wider distribution in part to the company's "Musical Par- ades" series. He also cited unprece- dented public interest in ne.wsreels. The field forces concluded the two- day meeting by attending a 'sneak' preview of "Out of This World" at the New York Paramount Theatre. Kusell and Smith To Join Vanguard (.Continued from page 1) with headquarters in Los Angeles. Sam Horowitz will continue Middle- West and Southern supervision of sales, with headquarters in Chicago. The setup marks the formation of divisional sales control for Vanguard and will eliminate the former post of domestic general sales manager, which had been held by Hugh Owen prior to his recent return to Paramount. All sales will be supervised by Ag- new. The new appointments will be effective on March 1. Korda, Goetz to London Alexander Korda and Ben Goetz will leave New York for England sometime next week. Korda's first job will be to finish the dubbing and scoring of "Perfect Strangers" ; a print is scheduled for delivery to M-G-M here by April 1. Penna. Gets a Race Discrimination Bill Philadelphia, Feb. 20. — One of the few bills introduced by the state legislature of interest to the industry is the proposal in the House by Rep. Homer S. Brown, D., Allegheny, to establish a state fair employment prac- tice commission. Its broad powers would be to prevent job discrimina- tion because of race, creed, or color, and the measure would give the gov- ernor authority to appoint _ a five- member enforcement commission. "Discrimination" is defined in the bill as refusal to employ any person for any job for which his skill or technical knowledge may qualify him, or to deny any promotion or increase in wages or salary to any employe because of race, color or creed. Party for Buchanan United Artists will be host at a reception at the Stork Club today to Barry Buchanan, newly appointed ad- vertising-publicity director of the com- pany. Representatives of the industry and Metropolitan press and company executives will attend. Penn. Allied Supports National Resolutions Pittsburgh, Feb. 20. — Allied of Western Pennsylvania has given unanimous endorsement to the two resolutions adopted by National Allied in Columbus, it is reported by Morris M. Finkel, president. The first resolution approves Gov- ernment proposals for modification of the consent decree, and urges dis- tributors to give favorable considera- tion to the proposals. The second resolution praises the War Activities Committee, but expresses the opinion that too much authority has been designated to a few members of the committee, and asks for a clearer defi- nition of the organizations' respon- sibilities and functions. First Italian Film The first Italian film to be pro- duced since the liberation of Rome will be shown in Italy soon under the title of "Open City," press dispatches to New York reveal. Film describes life in Rome during the Nazi-Fascist regime. Kulick Heads PRC Sales (Continued from page 1) with the company in its production department at the studio. Kulick, who will make his head- quarters in New York, also will act as sales manager. Safier will have charge of sales from Chicago West and will make his headquarters at PRC's studio in Hollywood. Ex- changes over which he will have jur- isdiction include Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha, Des Moines, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Fran- cisco, Los Angeles and Portland. Prior to the new appointments in the PRC distribution setup Jack Ad- ams, Jr., was named as Southern di- vision manager. Fromkess, who on his previous visit to New York, signed commit- ments whereby PRC acquired eight key city exchanges, comprising nearly 40 per cent of its own domestic dis- tribution, will announce the purchase of additional exchanges before he re- turns to the studio. It is the com- pany's intention, according to From- kess, to control its own distribution entirely as soon as local conditions make such a move possible. Eight Exchanges The eight exchanges now owned and operated by the company include Los Angeles, with Harry Stern as manager ; Dallas, John Mitchell, man- ager ; Cleveland, Mark Goldman ; Cin- cinnati, Harry Bugie; Detroit, Bill Flemion ; Pittsburgh, Lew Lefton ; Omaha, Harry Rogers, and Des Moines, also managed by Rogers. Kulick, with Fromkess, was one of the original organizers of PRC, own- ing the New York franchise. WB Nets $2,350,000; Directors Reelected (Continued from page 1) reduction of $2,853,000 in consolidated funded debt since Sept. 1, 1944, bring- ing the total funded and other long term debt of the company and sub- sidiaries to approximately $46,800,000. In answer to inquiries about the company's dividend policy, officials stated that it was the intention of the management to continue to apply avail- able cash receipts to reducing the company's outstanding debt. Officials pointed out that the program of debt reduction is directed towards the ul- timate goal of placing the common stock on a sound dividend basis. The following were re-elected direc- tors of the company : Samuel Carlisle, Stanleigh P. Friedman, Charles S. Guggenheimer, Samuel Schneider, Morris Wolf.. Announcement that an offer of $2,- 000,000 for old Warner films was made at the meeting. The offer, twice the sum offered in 1944 by Jacques Kopf- stein, New York, was rejected when it was shown that some $2,000,000 had been grossed by the films last year. In answer to inquiries about the company's dividend policy, officials stated that it was the intention of the management to continue to apply available cash receipts to reducing the company's outstanding debt. Officials pointed out that the program of debt reduction is directed toward the ulti- mate goal of placing the common stock on a sound dividend basis. • 1 \960 SO. VERWOWt KMtHUE. UOS M*Gt\-ES. CM- Dear Editor-. • it PIC-TOBE la tne finest fan ^^^VjJ^*? ^Uerial . ^te&rity -A ^ purposed in 1*. 8^^tra . l\ neitber "caters" to tbe Van 3°^* jM* some ,ice not system prevents tbe unfair P~c\\ue a^er issue - coUSistent playing-up one Pe"on^V^^ *o tbe star becomes U'y unfair to ^^^e personality eventual^ publication of material o stagnant. .berefore. 1 ^^r^^^^^^ sincere appreciation , to W q£ excellence^ ^ dis- montb an exceptional! V ™£ess ot *eeping mov^e » understanding in tbe ^s£ied. criminative individuals Sincerely yours. Aj/ 3 General classification. Release date, not set. T. B. "Great Stagecoach Robbery" (Republic) Hollywood, Feb. 20 < 4b NoWT * ^ to £ *C ' An, • * "** 4e if Same fcaslc s°'v,ng .^O" Ptobl^^m are 1 ^ 3 SD J .T**0" ^as a ■** Vmj; ^ve J ' \ « ^ fa/4 to % ^ tA. T Sanie fc. ^^<:0r:ra^ - and ^o^ t Ve Earned * or d'V'dua' an/"d^Pon. fir c-p4rd * * * t f? a&- sz? to ^ Not bog ao * sODie aCt 4at it u ,n ^a/y * °ne *«. C 0,6 « a «ed • . r' a°d tf.« n »a Gci^. c°atted f " ^^era/ n , Was ' •^n,er/ca. 27 -T^W^A^g 2*7/ PAGE 27 is a highlight from the February issue of one of the most influential magazines in America. It is part of a series appearing each month. Last month, Fannie Hurst pictured her America for the almost two million women who buy this magazine regularly at newsstands. In March, Maurice Maeterlinck is going to tell what his America means. Read Mrs. Roosevelt's message. Like the whole series, it says proud things that should spur Americans on today. We reprint it all here, so you will see it. Otherwise, you might not . . . because it is an example of the bigness that features a most surprising and famous magazine, one you probably do not read regularly. . . . The magazine is true confessions. 10 Motion Picture daily Friday, February 23, 1945 Loew Details Stock Split, New Personnel Contracts Hollywood Five Films Are Outstanding In Ten Cities {Continued from page 1) standing $32,500 above house averages in initial weeks in San Francisco, Cin- cinnati and Philadelphia. Breaking the opening day house record at the Fox Theatre in San Francisco it con- tinued to draw terrific business com- pleting a first week with an estimated $44,000 or $16,000 better than house average. It was $4,500 above in a big first week in Cincinnati despite heavy snow and cold weather over the week- end and was one of the Philadelphia leaders with $8,000 above. "Here Come the Waves," a heavy $15,500 above in a lusty initial week in Philadelphia and big in a fourth week in St. Louis and a fifth week in Cincinnati, is proving, to be a strong contender for box office honors. "Meet Me in St. Louis" continues to be a box office champion through- out the country rolling uo $20,400 above in five theatres in five cities. It is a leader in initial weeks in Buf- falo and Toronto, outstanding in a third week in San Francisco and ter- rific in a ninth week in Philadelphia. It held up we'll in a second week in Cincinnati in the face of adverse weather conditions. 'Waters' Satisfactory "Dark Waters" in initial weeks in three theatres in Cincinnati, Baltimore and Boston scored a satisfactory $5,500 above, being one of the leaders in Baltimore. "The Keys of the King- dom" was $2,800 above in reports from six theatres in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Balti- more and Chicago. It was big in initial weeks in Toronto and Balti- more and profitable on holdovers and second runs in Philadelphia, Buf- falo, Chicago and Pittsburgh. "To Have and Have Not" brought a heavy $85,200 in reports from ex- tended holdover runs in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, St. Louis and San Francisco, holdovers being second, third and fifth weeks. "A Song to Remember" continued to draw good business in a fourth week in Cincinnati and a fifth week in San Francisco, with $2,500 better than average being recorded for a second week in Buffalo on a dual. "Hangover Square" was a leader in Boston with $4,000 above being grossed in two theatres. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was a big $8,000 above in San Francisco for a first week at regular admission prices. "The Princess and the Pirate" was a heavy grosser in a 13th week in Chicago. "The Woman in the Window" was a leader in Pittsburgh with $22,000 at the Stanley. "Objective, Burma" was profitable in a second week in Chicago. "The House of Franken- stein" scored neatly in Baltimore and Chicago and "Sunday Dinner For a Soldier" showed strength in Philadel- phia. Karloff in Pacific Stage-screen star Boris Karloff has arrived in the Central Pacific to begin an entertainment tour under the aus- pices of USO-Camp Shows; while in the area, Karloff will work in con- junction with Capt. Maurice Evans of the Army's special services division. (Continued from page 1) to officers and directors, exclusive of Louis B. Mayer, was $2,749,852, of which $2,707,352 was paid to officers, and the balance to directors who were not officers. The company had 318 employees who received in excess of $20,000 in 1944, with 202 receiving in excess of $20,000 but not more than $50,000 65 receiving in excess of $50,000, but not more than $100,000 ; and 51 receiving in excess of $100,000. Personal service contracts to be vot- ed on include those of Nicholas M. Schenck, presently under contract to Dec. 31, 1946, at a weekly salary of $2,500, plus two-and-one-half per cent of net profits of the company, with a limit of $200,000 total annual- ly under the retirement plan. His proposed new contract calls for a con- tinuation of his services to Dec. 31, 1949, at the same salary. The con- tract would then be extended for five years on written notice of the com- pany before July 1, 1949, and accept- ance by Schenck before July 10, 1949. Edgar J. Mannix Edgar J. Mannix's contract at $3,- 000 weekly, plus one-and-four-tenths per cent of profits, expires Dec. 31, 1945. The proposed new contracts would keep him with the company at the same pay, not to exceed $200,000 annually until March 1, 1954. Alexander Lichtman's contract calls for $3,000 weekly, plus one-and-one- twentieth per cent of the profits, not to exceed $200,000 annually until Dec. 31, 1944. The new contract would hold him till March 1, 1954. Benjamin Thau receives $1,750 weekly, plus seven-tenths of one per cent of the profits, also not to exceed $200,000, and his contract expires Dec. 31, 1944. The new contract would 'hold him until March 1, 1954, but would raise his salary to $3,000 week- ly, a sum said to have been already approved by the Salary Stabilization Unit of the Treasury Department. The report said that the board of di- rectors believes the stock split-up "will broaden the market for the stock." Elimination of authorized preferred, none of which is presently outstanding, is also on the March 19 agenda. Specifically, the board seeks to in- crease the present authorized 4,000,000 shares of common, of which 1,685,109 shares, with a par value of $44,609, 050, are outstanding, to 6,000,000 shares, of which 5,055,327 would be outstanding, with the same par value. Ten board members recommended to serve until the next annual meeting Goldwyn Plans Visit To France, Germany London, Feb. 22. — Samuel Gold- wyn, wearing a colonel's uniform, has begun work at the U. S. Embassy here. He reiterated that he is repre- senting the U. S. Foreign Economic Administration only but admitted he wishes to visit France and, "if de- velopments are favorable," Germany. Del Rio's 'Buyambillct Mextco City, Feb. 22. — Dolores del Rio has just completed her most ex- pensive picture in Mexico, "Buyam- billa," which cost $300,000. are : David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer ; Leopold Friedman, sec- retary and counsel ; Eugene W. Leake, attorney ; Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-president; William A. Park- er, president of Incorporated Inves- tors, Inc.; J. Robert Rubin, vice- president and counsel ; Nicholas M. Schenck, president; Joseph R. Vogel, vice-president; David Warfield and Henry Rogers Winthrop. Loew's report also listed 1944 sal- aries of each director, each nominee and company officer, with increases or decreases over 1943 salaries, as fol- lows : David Bernstein, $285,906, decrease of $47,528; Howard Dietz, $78,000, same; Leopold Friedman, $98,640, in- crease of $15,440; Sam Katz, $298,- 125, decrease of $72,013; Eugene W. Leake, $30,200, increase of $25,833; Alexander Lichtman, $268,094, de- crease of $48,509; Edgar J. Mannix, $300,725, decrease of $72,013; Louis B. Mayer, $908,069, decrease of $230,- 922; Jesse T. Mills, $26,000, same; Charles C. Moskowitz, $115,700, in- crease of $11,700; William A. Parker, $6,400, increase of $400. Also William F. Rodgers, $114,400, decrease of $1,000; J. Robert Rubin, $279,755, decrease of $38,172; Nicho- las M. Schenck, $391,860, decrease of $120,530; Edward A. Schiller, $26,- 000, same; Louis K. Sidney, $78,000, increase of $1,250; Benjamin Thau, $200,114, increase of $2,074; Joseph R. Vogel, $97,500, increase of $19,500; David Warfield, $1,400, increase 0~f $100; Henry Rogers Winthrop, $4,- 500, increase of $300. Retirement Plan On the retirement plan, it was ex- plained, the normal retirement date for any employee is the March 1 near- est the 65th birthday (women, 60th), or the tenth anniversary of becoming a member of the plan, whichever is later. In order to help defray the cost of the plan, Loew personnel presently under written contracts, whose com- pensation is based in part upon net profits of the company, have agreed to limit, effective as of last March 1, the amount which might otherwise ac- crue to them under the contracts, so that in each case, the fixed salary, plus the compensation based on profits earned subsequent to that date, will not exceed the rate of $200,000 a year, except in the case of Louis B. Mayer, whose compensation will not exceed $500,000 annually. It was also disclosed that during the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 1944, Schenck purchased 9,896 shares of stock at $60 a share. Chaplin Deportation Move Called Political Hollywood, Feb. 22. — In a state- ment to the press, Charles Chaplin said here yesterday that the recent move by Senator Langer to have him deported is part of a political persecu- tion which, he claims, has been going on since "The Great Dictator." 'St. Louis* Record Philadelphia, Feb. 22. — "Meet Me in St. Louis" will start a. 10th week at the Aldine, here, on Saturday, set- ting a new record for any M-G-M film to play this house. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Feb. 22 PARAMOUNT has purchased "Lady Seventeen," original by Ladislaus Fodor, and has assigned it to Karlji Tunberg for production. . . . Jeffrey Bernerd has signed Jerome Coyy*Xr- Reed Kilpatrick, Ruth Lee and ginia Wave for featured roles "Divorce," which he will co-produce with Kay Francis for Monogram. • Screen rights to the radio show, \ ■ "The Callahans," have been purchased by Columbia from Fritz Blocki, the author. . . . Paramount producers Bill Pine and Bill Thomas have bought \ rights to "Nightmare," a psycholog- ical mystery by Cornell Woolrich. . . . • Wallace Fox has been signed to- direct the next Inner Sanctum mys- tery for Universal. Its title is "Pil- low of Death," and it will star Lon Chaney. • Remo Rufano has been engaged by M-G-M to manufacture a puppet cast for an important sequence in "Yolanda and the Thief," which Arthur Freed is producing. . . . Linda Darnell will have the top feminine lead in "Fallenj Angel," which Otto Preminger is to produce and direct for 20th-Fox. • Joseph Cotten will have a starring role in David O. Selsnick's Tech- nicolor production, "Duel in the Sun." . . . Leon Fromkess, president of PRC, j has made a deal with Sam Sax to produce "Why Girls Leave Home," musical starring Lola Lane and Rich- i ard Cromwell. . . Nina Foch will have the top feminine role opposite Ches- ter Morris in "Surprise in the Night," next in Columbia's "Boston Blackie" series. • Director Walter Lang has been given a three-year contract by 20th Century-Fox. . . . Walter Tetley has been selected for a featured role in Constance Bennett's "Paris — Un- derground." . . . Stephen Longstreet has been signed by Universal to do a polishing job on the script of "Uncle Harry," which Jean Har- rison is to produce. • Producer Carey Wilson is searching for a girl to be introduced in the key role in the next qf M-G-M's "Hardy Family" series. . . . Gregory Ratoff will direct "Kitten on the Keys" for 20th Century-Fox. . . . Jack Carson is to be co-starred with Jane Wyman and Dennis Morgan in the forthcom- ing Warner film, "Time, Place and the Girl." . . . Cameron Mitchell has been given a new contract by M-G-M. and assigned a featured role in "They Were Expendable." • Herman Millakowsky, associate producer at Republic, will work on\ high-budget product hereafter. His first assignment under the new deal is \ "Strange Obsession," starring Vera \ Hruba Ralston. . . . Thomas Mitchell has been selected for an important role \ in the 20th Century-Fox picturization i of "Leave Here to Heaven." RKO Names Bender Hollywood, Feb. 22. — B~ D. Bender has been appointed comptroller of the RKO Studios, succeeding G. B- Howe, recently resigned. All tW *• ^ implies • • • Supreme N E G A T I V E "■ ^ • "| rilm A nsco A DIVISION OF GENERAL ANILINE & FILM CORPORATION BINGHAMTON • HOLLYWOOD • NEW YORK KEEP YOUR EYE ON ANSCO-FIRST WITH THE FINEST 12 Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 23, 1945 Curfew Compliance Arrangements Set Byrnes' Edict May Continue Till V-E Day (Continued from page 1) may be aimed at absenteeism and in- flationary spending as well as the specifically mentioned objectives of conservation of fuel, transportation and manpower. All Areas Ready to Comply with Curfew As it became apparent that the Of- fice of War Mobilization "request" for midnight closings of all places of amusement, beginning next Monday, contemplated no exceptions, the sev- eral hundred theatres throughout the country affected, along with all other places of amusement, completed plans for a rearrangement of operating schedules which would permit them to comply with the request. No protests were heard from any exhibition source up to yesterday. Cir- cuit operators for the most part, re- conciled to compliance with the cur- few, were philosophical about it. Some New York circuit spokesmen point out that late weekly showings do not ordinarily draw too well. In many cases, New York first-runs which have combined film and stage show policies, only the film is shown at the late shows and capacity business is rarely achieved. It is pointed out that war workers usually attend midnight and after- midnight shows with regular patrons invariably coming to the earlier shows. As one New York first-run manager pointed out, the public generally has always shown a willingness to cooper- ate with the curbs ordered by the Government. In view of the public goodwill which the industry has gained through its whole-hearted cooperation in the war effort, he pointed out that the public is bound to cooperate with the industry to make compliance with the new order easy, rather than a hardship. Many New York houses outside Times Square ran midnight shows on Saturday nights. The late shows will be eliminated altogether and the schedule of others fixed so that the house will be empty by 11.50 p.m. In some cases it is planned to eliminate double features and fill in with shorts, only showing the important feature at the last show, and in other cases shorts will be eliminated completely and both features will run. Plans of independent New York cir- cuits for compliance, in addition to those reported in Motion Picture Daily on Wednesday, follow : Leo Brecher Theatrical Enterprises has only one, the Apollo in Harlem, running a midnight show on Satur- days which will be dropped. Century Circuit has about eight houses which have extra shows on Saturday nights which will be eliminated. No early showing will be given to make up the lost shows, since it is felt it would not be patriotic to do so, for it would mean an earlier opening and thus de- feat the purpose of the measure. Cin- ema Circuit has three Times Square theatres which play a daily extra show to 2 a.m. These are the Anco, Harris and New Amsterdam. Their late shows will be eliminated. Cocalis Not Hit Cocalis Enterprises have no the- atres affected by the ban, nor has Consolidated Theatres of New Jersey. Fabian Enterprises' Fox and Para- mount in Brooklyn, which play mid- night shows Saturday and Sunday, and the Paramount which also has a late show Monday, will be affected. Schedules will be reshuffled to take care of the Monday show, and the late shows dropped on the other nights. The Gramby, Norfolk, is another Fa- bian house which will drop its cus- tomary midnight show, Saturday nights. The Five Boro Theatre Circuit now has some 15 theatres which are run- ning somewhat over midnight in their daily presentations. These will have reshuffled schedules to enable an 11 :40 closing. About 10 others have been having midnight Saturday shows which will be dropped. Prudential and Playhouses Operating Co. will re- shuffle schedules to permit some 15 theatres to close before midnight. Randforce Amusement Corp. has no houses on weekdays which operate after midnight, but the circuit does have about 10 theatres which had mid- night Saturday shows, which will be eliminated. Walter Reade Circuit has about six theatres with Saturday midnight shows, or Saturday previews, which will have to be eliminated. Atlanta Little Affected By Curfew Order Atlanta, Feb. 22. — The midnight curfew will have no serious effect on theatres in this territory, although a few- theatres sometimes have midnight shows, but these will be curtailed to conform with the regulation. Milwaukee Single Bills Milwaukee, Feb. 22.*— All down- town theatres here, and probably neighborhood houses, will run single features over the weekends only in order to meet the midnight curfew. H. J. Fitzgerald, president of Fox Wisconsin Corp. and state chairman of the War Activities Committee, said the order_ would eliminate midnight shows which downtown theatres have been running and would compel the first showing on ordinary double fea- ture bills to be moved back to 6:30 P.M. instead of 7 P.M. starting hours. The plight of late shift war work- ers who will have no recreational facilities after working hours was a matter of concern to Alfred Kvool, district manager of the Warner Thea- tre circuit. The "sandwich" bill, in which one feature runs between two showings of the main feature, may be used to shorten the program, he said. L. F. Gran, general manager of Standard Theatres, including the Riv- erside, said the stage show, usually beginning at 11 :10, would be moved back to 9:30 P.M. Few Cleveland Houses Hurt by Curfew Cleveland, Feb. 22. — The midnight curfew will be strictly complied with in this area, where several houses run regluar Saturday midnight shows. Only one, thp Knickerbocker, plays midweek war workers' late perform- ances. Twin City Area Houses Readying Compliance Minneapolis, Feb. 22. — Following issuance of the government's mid- night curfew request, John J. Friedl, Minnesota Amusement Co. president, notified his theatres to arrange their schedules so that their shows' final breaks will be not later than 11 :45 p. m. The order will require the circuit to eliminate special Saturday mid- night shows at a considerable number of houses. Such shows are advance pre-vues and, especially at the Lyric here, have been highly profitable. Twin City independent neighbor- hood houses and many other theatres in the territory show double bills for "special late shows" Fridays and Sat- urdays and these always run well past midnight. . Schedules will be re-ar- ranged to bring them in "under the wire," making it unnecessary to drop them, it is announced. Newsreel Theatre here, now open all night Friday and Saturday, will cease such operation. Harry Hirsch's Alvin, playing stock burlesque, will drop its Saturday midnight shows. Frequent stage shows-film combina- tions at the Orpheum here invariably have a running time extending past midnight, necessitating revision of schedules which will mean fewer per- formances and decreased grosses on week-ends, it is believed. Memphis Accustomed To Curfew Measure Memphis, Feb. 22. • — The midnight curfew will not cause any readjust- ment in theatre operations in the Memphis area. By city regulation all Memphis shows are expected to be. over by midnight and have been since the beginning of the war. Neighbor- hood houses have at times run past midnight with double features, but only rarely. None of the first run houses has a double feature policy so schedules are more easily handled. Shubert Is Only House Affected in St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 22. — One St. Louis first run theatre, the Shubert, will be affected by the midnight curfew, as well as several second run and neigh- borhood theatres, including the Em- press, Varsity and Norside. All an- nounced they will cooperate by dis- continuing weekly midnight shows for war workers. Theatre owners generally here agree the curfew will not work a serious hardship. A No Protest on Curfew from U. S. Theatre©* Great States Circuit Ready to Comply Chicago, Feb. 22. — M. M. Rubens, division manager of the Great States Circuit, stated that the curfew will force out all Saturday midnight shows in the Northern Illinois towns where they have been held for years. In small towns, he says, theatres close before midnight on weekday nights to permit patrons to catch last buses and street cars. Suggestions that late shows be re- placed with morning performances re- ceive only lukewarm receptions, as early-in-the-war campaigns to train more people to go to morning shows have met with little success. Combination policy houses will benefit by the new curfew edict, it is indicated by vaudeville bookers here, as dozens of well known and costly acts and name bands will be released by night clubs no longer in a position to offer expensive floor shows. The talent surplus on the market will not only relieve the shortage in the the- atre field but is expected to revert inflated salaries to prewar standards. Most acts and bands have been work- ing eight months of the year in cafes and hotels. Only War Workers' Shows Hit in K. C. Kansas City, Feb. 22. — Many the- atres in this area, possibly half, have had late Saturday night "owl" shows for years, even before the war. These will simply omit the last show Sat- urday night. The Regent and Down- town, Kansas City, operate to 2 a.m. two nights and to 4 a.m. most nights, chiefly for war workers. Two theatres in Wichita, Kansas, alternate to pro- vide all-night shows for defense plant workers there. These and other theatres having all- night shows one or more nights a week, as well as those having owl shows Saturday only, or Friday and Saturday, will comply strictly and promptly with the orders, without any effort on their part to obtain modi- fications, it now appears. An adjust- ment generally necessary will be of schedules when an extra long attrac- tion would under normal operation extend the closing time past midnight. Four Buffalo Houses Will Change Schedules Buffalo, Feb. 22. — The Wednes- day night performance at Shea's Buf- falo for second shift workers, the last show starting at 2 a. m. Thurs- day, and midnight shows at the Great Lakes, 20th Century, Mercury and Palace here will be cancelled. Other schedules will not be affected, how- ever, because shows are over by mid- night anyway. Meanwhile, the new 48-hour ban on gas for heating in amusement places was bein~ obeyed by theatres with gas heating plants. They included Mercury, Downtown, (Continued on page 13, column 1) Watch U. A. releases bearing G.GF. Presents Friday, February 23, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 13 "Salty O'Rourke" (Continued from page 1) beyond his killings to share a clinch fadeout with Gail Russell. Any- body know how that can miss ? Leaving Ladd out of the conversation for a moment, Milton Holmes' story (he also wrote the screenplay) is the best piece of fiction about horse racing in America the screen has had in years. It concerns, with dozens of curves and switches not attempted here, a track-follower who owes a gang- ster $20,000, due in 30 days on penalty of death, and nires a crooked jockey to ride, under an assumed name, a horse he can buy cheap because nobody else can ride it. The pay-offs — there are three of them — are not the ones anybody expects, but they should pay off in box-car figures as to grosses. Ladd is terrific in the picture, and has to be, because Stanley Clements, as the crooked jockey, writes a chapter in the history of histrionics all by him- self. Alongside these,, neck and neck, go William Demarest as a horse trainer, Miss Russell as. a demure young thing, Spring Byington as her mother and Bruce Cabot as the gangster who'd a little rather bump off Ladd than not. Acting-wise, the picture is tight as a photo-finish. With a swell story to tell and a snug cast to tell it with, Director Raoul Walsh added to his long string of successes a hit in more respects than need be particularized. His film flows like a handicap champion runs, staying com- fortably off the pace until it rounds the far turn and then pouring it on — in this case the exact handling of the race is a thing to be witnessed, not reported — from there to the wire. The picture finishes lengths in front of the next best of its kind ever made. Running time, 98 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver Schedules on Weekends Are Revised (Continued from previous pageQ Basil's Apollo, Varsity and Clinton 'r^trand and Dipsons Star and Am- (Oerst. George H. MacKenna of the ^asil group said his houses are still observing orders under the first gas ^conservation measure of Feb. 3. San Francisco Sees No Benefits Resulting San Francisco, Feb. 22. — Theatre operators here predicted that War Mobilization Director Byrnes's order to close at midnight would have lit- tle effect on the local fuel, transporta- tion, or manpower situation. Joseph Blumenfeld, president of the California Theatres Association and co-owner of the Blumenfeld Circuit which includes all-night show houses, said he did not expect the order to aid the local manpower situation "enough to matter" but admitted it may release a few theatre workers. Denver Operators See Curfew Hitting Grosses Denver, Feb. 22. ■ — In compliance with the midnight curfew, Denver theatre men today anticipated a reduc- tion in revenue through elimination of the midnight show and the necessity of reducing and rearranging schedules to close their doors at twelve. Hr.rry Huffman of Fox Intermountain The- atres and others agree "It will mean considerable reduction in revenue and the setting up of new schedules." Dave Cockrill of the Denham says : "It will mean a reduction in receipts of $350 a week." Mark Ailing of the Orpheum estimated a reduction of $200 to $400 weekly. Indianapolis Expects Public Cooperation Indianapolis, Feb. 22. — The mid- night curfew ordered by War Mobil- izer James F. Byrnes will eliminate four midnight shows catering to war workers here. The Indiana has had a Wednesday midnight show and Loew's Circle and Keith's have had Saturday night shows. Managers said that long bills frequently have gone over the midnight hour and this will have to be remedied by a slight revision in showing times. It will be up to the public to accustom itself to these changes, managers said. Few Houses in D. C. To Be Affected Washington, Feb. 22. — A few houses in Washington and vicinity will be affected by the curfew order, exhibitors here said today. Of the downtown, houses the "Pix" and Earle theatres were the only feature houses with regular Saturday midnight shows, although the Capitol ran them whenever it had a picture it thought worth while. Downtown exhibitors, however, said the order would necessitate a rear- rangement of schedules to make sure that shows will be over by 12 o'clock. Orpheum, Omaha, May Run Stage Show Last Omaha, Feb. 22. — The new curfew on entertainment will affect theatres here only slightly. Probably the big- gest adjustment will be at the Or- (Continued in column 4) SOEG Victorious In Politics Case Hollywood, Feb. 22. — Upholding the right of unions to use funds for political activity, Superior Judge Henry M. Willis yesterday dissolved a temporary injunction obtained last November by dissident members of the Screen Office Employees Guild to restrain the union from using funds collected by assessment of member- ship to defeat Proposition 12. The decision held the dissident members not entitled to recover the amount of the assessment levied on them. Going beyond the main point in- volved, the jurist said the California constitution contains no provision con- struable as preventing unions from campaigning for or against either leg- islative measures or political candi- dates., Referring specifically to a sim- ilar case concerning Cecil B. DeMille and the American Federation of Radio Artists, Willis said these cases make it clear that such matters are not properly the concern of courts but be- long in the province of legislatures. Curfew Order Had WMR Approval (Continued from page 1) cut employment ceilings to zero for piaces violating the curfew, but stud- ies are being made of the possibility of changes in War Production Board procedures to permit the denial to such places of controlled equipment and repair and replacement parts. The most vocal opposition to the order so far expressed has come from operators of restaurants which serve liquor and which are included among the establishments affected since night clubs are classified as restaurants. Storm Hits Omaha Omaha, Feb. 22. — Whipped by severe wind, a tremendous snow drove down on Omaha yesterday, tying up traffic, closing schools and some busi- nesses #and slicing theatre grosses to record lows. Film deliveries probably will be delayed several days. Allied Hits Linking Theatres With Bars Washington, Feb. 22. — Allied States in a bulletin made public here yesterday protested, in connection with War Mobilizer James Byrnes'" midnight closing request to all places of amusement, "the growing tendency in official quarters to classify motion picture theatres along with drinking places, dance halls and sports arenas." While not protesting the curfew it- self, Allied said : "The implications of such classifications are grossly unfair, whether intended or not. Coupling motion picture theatres with booze joints, taxi dance halls and grunt and groan arenas would be unfair even if they were engaged merely in their peacetime business of supplying whole- some entertainment' to the family trade. "Considering the large amount of screen time devoted to Government- sponsored reels and the splendid work done by the theatres in selling war bonds and raising funds for the Red Cross and other relief agencies, such classifications show a woeful lack of appreciation," the bulletin declared. Allied pointed out that the only after-midnight shows it knew of in member theatres are those conducted for service men and swingshift work- ers in war plants and one all-night operation undertaken at the request of the authorities. Troops Abroad Will See Six MGM Films Six new M-G-M pictures will be seen by 'GI Joes' in combat areas overseas, shortly, in most cases prob- ably in advance of showings to audi- ences at home, according to the Army Pictorial Service. The six are : "The Valley of De- cision," "Without Love," "The Clock," "The Picture of Dorian Gray," "Alter Ego," and "Keep Your Powder Dry." Pvt. Henderson Killed Albany, N. Y., Feb. 22.— Pvt. Lawrence Henderson, formerly of the Paramount exchange here, has died as the result of wounds sustained in action with the First Army. Rural Houses See Little Interruption (Continued from column 1) pheum, which features stage shows as well as pictures. Manager Ted Emer- son said that on the longer bills, films will be started early. Another idea is to open and close with the stage show. William Miskell, Tri States The- atres district manager for the Or- pheum, Omaha and Paramount, and Pinky Mcllvaine, Brandeis manager, agreed that about the only difference would be in minor schedule changes. In the event of outstanding attrac- tions, they will be started in the morn- ing on Saturdays and Sundays. Dallas Foresees No Curfew Difficulties Dallas, Feb. 22. — Midnight cur- few order will have no effect on Dal- las theatres. James Owen Cherry, city manager for Interstate houses here, says their theatres normally close before midnight, and in case of a film of extreme length which would run past midnight earlier openings are scheduled to conclude the evening's final showing well within the curfew, with time allowed for emptying the house. This procedure has been in ef- fect for some time in Dallas theatres, including the independents. No Serious Revisions Required in Cincinnati Cincinnati, Feb. 22. — The mid- night curfew will not affect theatres in this area sufficiently to necessitate any radical readjustments of operat- ing schedules. The RKO Albee, Pal- ace and Grand, and occasionally the Capitol here, have run Saturday mid- night shows and these will, of course, be discontinued. A half-dozen subse- quent runs which have offered Satur- day midnight shows will follow the same procedure. The RKO Grand, Columbus, and a few other houses which have been giving post-midnight shows on week- ends for war workers will discontinue them. Little Effect Seen on Oklahoma City Houses . Oklahoma City, Feb. 22. — Only Saturday night previews and swing shift shows will be affected in Okla- homa. After-midnight swing shift offerings have, not proven profitable except in the metropolitan area. Griffith Amusement Company officials said the order would cancel the heav- iest single turnout on Saturday nights. Otherwise theatres here have been locked up at 11 :45. Plan Ending Show On Stroke of 12 Los Angeles, Feb. 22. — One plan of meeting the midnight curfew order, under consid- eration by a prominent circuit head here, contemplates start- ing the first show at whatever point in the film may be necessary to make the last show end on the stroke of 12. 14 Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 23, 1945 Short Subject Review "On Guard" (RKO Radio) One of the most powerful, exciting and gripping short dramas to come out of this war, made in cooperation with the Army Pictorial Service, "On Guard," one of RKO's "This Is America" series, shows the intrigue and attempts at espionage in America in 1940 and early 1941 by both. German and Japanese agents. The film is a strong indictment against complacency even today, as it shows, in terse action, Nazi rallies throughout this nation and in South America, and the attempts to start a fifth column here long before we entered the war. Perhaps the most exciting portion of the film shows Nazi agents meet- ing in New York. They were trapped by hidden cameras. J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI, in an address, points out the dangers which besieged this land prior to the war. Running time 18^ minutes. NBC Adopts a New Program Policy National Broadcasting has adopted a new four -point procedure for all of its commercial network programs, ac- cording to an announcement by Niles Trammell, NBC president. First as- pect of the new procedure is the dis- continuance of the network's 'abey- ance list' with time periods which become onen and available to be filled by programs which the network con- siders most likely to meet the needs and wishes of the radio audience, re- gardless of seniority of date of appli- cation for time by the sponsor. Replacement programs will here- after be subject to acceptability. When an advertiser discontinues one pro- gram and wishes to replace it with another in the same period, the new program shall be subject to the ap- proval of NBC : in the absence of such approval, the network will con- tinue to reserve the right to make the period available for a more ac- ceptable program submitted by anoth- er advertiser. Third part of the new program is the denial of control to any artist or commercial program of a specific time period. Fourth aspect provides that effective May 1, no reference shall be made on any NB^C network pro- gram to a program broadcast over another network. Companies 9 Answer to U. S* Plan Defends Clearance (.Continued from page 1) that "some of the relief required would work havoc in the industry." The three non-decree companies, Universal, Columbia and United Art- ists, made no reply to the Depart- ment's move for injunctive action to halt the granting of clearance between threatres charging substantially the same admission price and, instead, will present their views orally at the hearing scheduled for March 5 before Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard in U. S. District Court, New York, if called upon to do so. In their letter to the Department, the five decree companies also re- vealed their intention to offer at the March 5 hearing affidavits or testi- mony by representatives of the indus- try "familiar with the facts" which will show, if necessary, the history, nature and character of clearance and the "inappropriateness and impracti- cability of the proposals for specific relief" made by the Department. No counter-proposals were advanced by the companies in their letter, a copy of which was sent to Judge Goddard. The relief which the Government asks cannot be considered or granted off hand as a mere matter of law, it was asserted in the companies' letter. Fundamental Issue "Our fundamental issue is with re- spect to the granting of injunctive re- lief in dealing with clearance," the Department was told. We believe that on the whole arbitration is the most satisfactory method of solving clearance disputes which in their very nature are complex and depend upon a number of factors involving business judgment. Very often the rights of exhibitors who are not parties to the decree are vitally affected. It was an appreciation of these circumstances which formed the basis for those pro- visions of the consent decree which made clearance disputes subject to arbitration in the manner provided." The defendants will not contest the authenticity of the decisions of the appeal board or object to a considera- tion of them by the court with respect to the question of the adequacy of the arbitration provisions of Section VIII," it was stated, "but will contest the Government's claim that these decisions are evidence with respect to a determination of the question of violation of any of the provisions of the anti-trust laws." "We were surprised to find in the Government's memorandum the asser- tion that the arbitration provisions of the consent decree expired three years after its date and are now in effect only by agreement of the parties," the company counsel commented. "There is no doubt in our minds but that Section VIII of the decree is still in full effect. "Substantively," they continued, "we disagree with the position taken in the memorandum regarding arbitra- tion of clearance as provided for by Section VIII. We believe it has been successful from the point of view of all parties concerned, including the public, and that under Section VIII the appeal board has been able to and has dealt effectively with the various clearance problems presented to it and we believe that this section pro- vides adequate relief with respect to clearance disputes." Problems Vary "As we have said, the problems are complex and vary according to local situations. By its very nature clear- ance cannot be measured with precis- ion but must rest on the business judg- ment of exhibitor and distributor. The arbitrators by the decree have been permitted to review the business judg- ment of distributors and exhibitors and to determine whether or not the clearance granted in particular cases was too long in point of time or too extensive in area after weighing the several factors set forth in Section VIII. We will contend that it is ap- parent from the decisions that the members of the appeal board and the arbitrators have been assiduous in per- forming their duties and have provided adequate relief wherever this judgment differed from the business judgment of the distributors and exhibitors which they reviewed," the letter con- cluded. Predicts Television Will Double Sales "In television lies the principal hope that advertising can do twice the sell- ing job in 1945 that it did in 1939," Milton J. Alexander, advertising man- ager of Allen B. DuMont Labora- tories, told the Passaic County Elec- trical League at the Public Service Auditorium, Paterson, on Wednesday. Alexander pointed out that present national production is at approximately twice peak peacetime business volume of eighty billion dollars. He predicted that most of the burden of holding postwar economy at this level would fall on advertising and therefore "some wholly new and potent adver- tising medium" is needed. "That ad- vertising medium is television," he added. Astor Atlanta Branch Atlanta, Feb. 22. — Astor Pictures, Dallas, has opened a branch here under the name of. 'Jee and Bee.' John Jenkins is Astor president. FCC to Hold Hearing On Radio Channels Washington, Feb. 22. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission will check policies affecting the nation's 50,000 watt stations, beginning with hearings on May 9, to determine if there should be a change in methods whereby clear channels are allocated the biggest stations. Reason for the hearing, is the dis- closure that there are still large areas which receive no radio service during the day, and no adequate interference- free night service. It may authorize other stations to operate on more than the present 50,000 watt maximum. Theatre Declared Hazard Memphis, Feb. 22.— M. A. Light- man, head of Malco Theatres and president of Memphis Little Theatres, is in search of a new home for his Little Theatres, here, since the Mem- phis Park Commission forbade the use of the 'Pink Palace,' classing* it as/a 'fire hazard.' V-Day Film Is Set For Rank Houses London, Feb. 22. — An eight and one-half minute film di- rected by Norman Walker has been completed for showing on V-Day in all Odeon and Gaumont-British theatres, by special order of J. Arthur Rank. It symbolizes the every- d a y Briton's reactions , through the war's diverse L perils and triumphs and in- W corporates a hymn and a prayer in the spirit of Rank's doctrine that humanity should not indulge in "wild crazi- ness" on victory day. Rank hopes all theatres in the world will follow a similar plan. IBEW Aiding CBS to Train Video Help Columbia Broadcasting System, the International Brotherhood of Electri- cal Workers, AFL, and New York University have developed a three- part, special 60 week course in the operation of television studio and transmitter equipment, open to tech- nical employes of CBS. The course is being given at CBS headquarters in New York by the Di- vision of General Education and Col- lege of Engineering of NYU, under direction of Dr. Peter Goldmark, CBS director of engineering research and development department and Robert Serrell, member of CBS engineering operations, assisted by Mason Escher, technical staff member representing the IBEW. The IATSE, also AFL, is planning a drive to organize television workers with a jurisdictional battle with the IBEW as well as the National Asso- ciation of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians, an independent, as- re- ported in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 8. CBS will alter its weekly television schedule, effective Feb. 28, switching to Wednesday and Thursday nights instead of Thursdays and Fridays, with boxing exhibitions being made a feature of the Thursday evening sched- ules. Chaplin Will Start 'Bluebeard' in April Hollywood, Feb. 22. — Charles Chaplin will produce, direct and star in "Monsieur Bluebeard," according to Alfred Reeves, Chaplin's general manager, who said that production will start late in April. Will Study Television Pierre Garigues, head of technical information for Radiodiffusion, Paris and Pierre Schaeffer, Radiodiffusion engineer, are expected to arrive here shortly under the auspices of the Of- fice of War Information to study vari- ous aspects of television and radio broadcasting and to confer with NBC officials. They will be here for about two months. Mantzke to Seattle Seattle, Feb. 22. — Frank Mantzke, Milwaukee film man, has been ap- pointed manager of the Monogram of- fice here, succeeding Ralph Abbott. Watch U. A. releases bearing G.C.F. Presents C/3 H 2 OS < < « H > »— i TO RAVE AND HAVE NOT Humphrey Bogart Lauren Bacall D— 100 mins. (410) (Rev. 10/11/44) • OBJECTIVE, BURMA Errol Flynn D— 144 mins. (411) (Rev. 1/26/45) ROUGHLY SPEAKING Rosalind Russell Jack Carson D — 128 mins. (412) (Rev. 1/31/45) HOTEL BERLIN Faye Emerson Helmut Dantine Raymond Massey D— (413) THE SUSPECT Charles Laughton Ella Raines • Dean Harens D— 85 mins. (9010) (Rev. 12/22/44) HERE COME THE CO-EDS Abbott and Costello Phil Spitalny and Orch. C— 88 mins. (9002) (Rev. 1/31/45) HER LUCKY NIGHT Andrews Sisters Martha O'JDriscoll M — 63 mins. (Rev. 1/29/45) THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN Boris Karloff John Carradine D— 71 mins. (9013) (Rev. 12/22/44) THE MUMMY'S CURSE Lon Chaney D^fiO mins (9036) (Rev. 12/22/44) FRISCO SAL Susanna Foster Turhan Bey M — 9'4 mins. (Rev. 2/16/45) SUDAN (Color) Maria Montez Jon Hall Turhan Bey D THE HOUSE OF FEAR Basil Rathbone Nigel Bruce D MR. EMMANUEL (British) Felix Aylmer Greta Gynt D — 92 mins. (Rev. 1/4/45) (To be released during the period covered by this chart, but definite dates not set) BREWSTER'S MILLIONS Edward Small Prod. DELIGHTFULLY DANGEROUS Charles R. Rogers Prod. 93 mins. IT'S IN THE BAG Jack Skirball Prod. 87 mins. (Rev. 2/9/45) HOLD AUTUMN IN YOUR HAND Loew-Hakim Prod. < X O X H o 3 E Q 2: c . OS B -a a- ~> w o> hj c • - £ ea 0..2 " h] 0 SO B SO OO' .J . 8U si 22 '3=1:5" ^« iv o ™ fNi el 5K °b o>-> I » >« o< op £^ p £5= w WO S £2.c Kf " ' i LEI'S1" 3 ^ 'u l. r^r* O 0£, Q O 09 CO OB b< s — * /V > | S u «j so o g EJP ») c 3 N s u i-i o-j > riOJ3 « <3 > m2o Efa g SP.J o c >>2 *s! . W.-3-o J, Q >how 'J i' si -O u SI1 2 ° •3 E o. ft,w oi~o OT So g 04 2^ < i t> uU Sc oc< c 3«t r [i] o aa = c \ 0°0 -o > o z w r >> >• o; 0|§: Ut K a. =J ■*■ ~ W OS co "~ W _ v J2 CU>< c ■ W 4) C5; I": OK < Z 3 > Ojok OH OZ.2* ►JO u"o •JS! 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NO. 38 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1945 TEN CENTS 50 Bills, Yet Industry Does Well in States Unscathed So Far in 33 State Legislatures By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 25. — Several measures which would have ad- versely affected exhibitors have been defeated in the State legisla- tures and none have been enacted so far this year, it is disclosed in a survey made by Motion Picture Daily of the activities of 33 state legislatures which met this year. The survey revealed that a large number of bills have been introduced in state capitols which would affect the film in- dustry in common with all others, but that the toll of measures directly affecting ex- hibitors numbors something less than 50. On the credit side of the ledger, the Colorado legislature passed, and (Continued on page 10) M. J. Mullin Is First Pinanski Appointee Boston, Feb. 25. — Samuel Pinanski, national chairman for the industry in the forthcoming Seventh War Loan drive, announces that his first appoint- ment to be made for the drive is that of Martin J. Mullin, his circuit part- ner, as state chairman for the indus- try in Massachusetts. Mullin will fill this post in addition to his war- service task as chairman of the War Activities Committee, New England theatres division, involving some 1,000 theatres. As state chairman, Mullin will head (Continued on page 7) Red Cross Pledges At 96% of 1944's Ninety-six per cent of all theatres that participated in Red Cross War Fund Week last year have already pledged their support to the 1945 cam- paign, March 15-21, according to re- ports received here at national in- dustry headquarters. Current pledges, from 32 cities, total 10,718. With this start, and as a result of NLRB Weighs Extras ' Case Washington, Feb. 25. — Represen- tatives of the Motion Picture Pro- ducers Association and the Screen Actors Guild, here from Hollywood, have asked the National Labor Rela- tions Board to draw a definite line of demarkation between an extra and an actor and to clarify the collective bargaining authority of the Screen Players Union, also Hollywood. The request was made at a hearing called by the NLRB in response to three petitions filed by the MPPA and the SAG calling for a reconsider- ation of its action in certifying the SPU as the bargaining agency for extras, and those playing bits and parts. Alfred Wright, representing the (Continued on page 7) Eyssell QP Guest At Awards Lunch Gus Eyssell, managing director of Radio City Music Hall, will be guest of honor at the 11th annual Quigley Showmanship Awards judging today, at the Astor Hotel. Martin Quigley will be host at a luncheon to 55 ex- ecutives from exhibition, distribution and advertising, following the judg- ing. Among out-of-town judges who have indicated they will attend, are Louis W. Schine, Schine Circuit, Gloversville, N. Y. ; Ed Fay, Fay's Theatres, Providence ; John Harris, (Continued on page 7) Allied Says Theatre Public Saves Fuel Washington, Feb. 25— Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors has recom- mended to its regional lead- ers that a survey be made in a representative number of theatres to ascertain how many patrons turn down their furnace and turn off their lights in their homes, before leaving for the theatre. It is Allied's contention that the tangible evidence of such savings would be so vast, as to preclude any further Gov- ernment attempt to close the- atres to save fuel and elec- tricity. 'Lab 'Workers Ask 3% Fund Proposals of IATSE Motion Pic- ture Laboratory Technicians Local No. 702 for a new contract for some 1,800 laboratory workers in about 20 film processing companies in this area, presently being discussed with repre- sentatives of the laboratories by the union's negotiating committee, include demands that the companies set aside a sum equivalent to five per cent of their payrolls weekly to provide re- tirement benefits and other benefits for the workers. Contracts between Local 702 and the laboratories expire March 10. Negotiations for a new contract start- ed here Feb. 15 with the next meeting to be held at the -Paramount home office this morning. WPB Classifying Essential Users of Coal; Theatres' Position Uncertain Washington, Feb. 25. — The War Production -Board is classifying consumers of coal according to their essentiality to the war effort but officials of that agency and of the Solid Fuels Administration on Friday expressed doubt that any action toward instituting a prority system would be taken this winter, barring a critical emergency. The studies preliminary to the drafting of a classification list, which is not yet completed, were initiated by WPB at the request of Fuel Administrator Ickes, who pointed out that there would be a net deficit of 30,000,000 tons in this year's coal supply. At the Solid Fuels Administration it was indicated that the list may be used next winter, when the situation is expected to be worse than it has been this season. But there is nothing in the present situa- ation to necessitate its immediate use over any large area. WPB officials, pointing out that the work of compiling the list is far from completed, said they had no idea where theatres would stand, but in other quarters it was said top priorities would go to war plants and householders and all other consumers would be relegated to secondary positior-s. May Liberalize Curfew Order In War Cities WMC Is Ready to Act if Theatres Press Issue Washington, Feb. 25.— An inter- pretation of the amusement curfew order which may permit the continued operation of "night-shift" theatres in war centers may come out of current considerations of the War Manpower Commission as to the exceptions to be made to the order of War Mo- bilization Director, James F. Byrnes, which has been turned over to it for enforcement. The problem of these theatres is one of the most difficult confronting the WMC, in vi^w of the fact that early in the war it appealed to exhibitors and proprietors of bowling alleys and other places of recreation to remain open for the benefit of late-shift war workers. It was learned that while the Office of Civilian Requirements is ready to support any move for con- (Continued on page 10) Weekend Singles to Meet Curfew Edict Chicago, Feb. 25. — The possibility of neighborhood theatres switching from double to single features Satur- days and Sundays to meet the mid- night curfew was seen here at the weekend, as heads of the three lead- ing local theatre circuits — Balaban and Katz, Warner Bros., and Essaness Theatres — scheduled a meeting to dis- cuss the matter. It is understood that (Continued on page 10) Doyle of 20th-Fox Is Freed in Manila Arthur Doyle, Far Eastern repre- sentative of 20th Century-Fox, who was taken prisoner by the Japs in the Philippines shortly after Pearl Har- bor, was among the Americans recently released from Santo Tomas Prison in (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Review of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" appears on page 6; "Delightfully Dangerous," page 7. Motion Picture Daily Monday, February 26, 1945 Personal Mention BARNEY BALABAN, Paramount president, Edwin Weisl, Para- mount board member, their wives, and Balaban's daughter, Judith, left New York Friday for a three-week Coast trip. Jack H. Harris, former manager of the Mayfair and Pennypack the- atres, Philadelphia, has been made a first lieutenant in the AUS. His father is Ben Harris, manager of the Amer- ican Film Co. • Thomas E. Rodgers, youngest son of William F. Rodgers, Loew vice- president and general sales manager, has been inducted into the Marines. The other son, William F., Jr., is in the Army. • Larry Stein, Warner Theatres' Midwest advertising-publicity director, has been appointed to the executive committee of the B'Nai B'rith, Adolph Krause Lodge, in Chicago. • Charles Newbery, 20th Century Fox India and Free China managing director, will arrive in New York to- day from the Coast. • Jack Cohn, Columbia vice-presi dent, will leave the Coast for Phoenix today for a 10 day stay and then pro- ceed to New York. • Malcohm Kingsberg, RKO The atres vice-president and treasurer, re- turned to New York from a vacation Friday. Gertrude Bunchez, publicity direc tor of Loew's Baltimore, was a New York visitor over the weekend. • Leo Samuels, Disney foreign man- ager, will leave New York March 13 for a 10-week tour of Latin America • E. K. O'Shea, M-G-M Eastern sales manager, will leave New York March 4 for a Florida vacation. • Jack P. Byrne, M-G-M Detroit manager, will be at his home there for two weeks due to illness. • Captain Volney Phifer of M-G M's exploitation staff is the father of a girl. • Fred Meyers, Universal Eastern sales manager, will be in Buffalo to day. • . Andrew Stone, United Artists pro ducer, will arrive in New York from Hollywood today. • David L. Lewis, M-G-M Brazilian manager, has returned to Rio from New York. • Joel Levy, Loew Theatres out-of town booker, is about to become a grand-pappy. Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE r\AVID O. SELZNICK is making a modest claim in currently observing the 10th an- niversary of the Selznick Inter- national trade mark. True, it is Selznick's 22nd year in motion picture production — 22 years since the time, when still an un- dergraduate at Columbia, he hired Luis Angel Firpo, a con- tender at the time for the world's heavyweight crown, for $1,000 for a day's work which, when photographed became a two-reeler entitled "Will He Beat Dempsey?" and later was sold for $3,500. That was the start of Selznick's pro- duction career. Subsequently he went to Hollywood and be- came a reading assistant to the MGM studio story head, and successively became assistant story editor, story editor, head of the writers' department, pro- ducer's assistant, then a pro- ducer of Tim McCoy West- erns at MGM. In 1928, he went to Paramount as assistant to B. P. Schulberg and later be- came an associate producer. In 1931, when 29 years old, Selz- nick went to RKO as vice-presi- dent in charge of production. While there he inaugurated the unit production system and pro- gram of star development. • Returning to Metro in 1933 as vice-president in charge of his own production unit, Selz- nick had a two-year record of outstanding pictures to his credit when he established Selznick In- ternational in 1935. He pro- duced seven top flight pictures before starting "Gone with the Wind" in 1939, and produced "Intermezzo" and "Rebecca" while "GWTW"" was in prepa- ration. "GWTW," of course, won the Academy Award for 1939 and "Rebecca" in 1940. The Irving Thalberg Memo- rial Award for "the most consis- tent high quality of production" was given to Selznick every year from 1939 to this one with the exception of 1942 when he was inactive. In 10 different years the nation's -exhibitors voted Selznick the number one producer of box office hits in Fame's annual poll. Other awards too numerous to mention here have gone to him or to pic- tures of his. Late in 1942 Selznick acquired an ownership interest in United Artists and has released his "Since You Went Away" and the new "I'll Be Seeing' You" since. "Spellbound," his next, is scheduled for March release as an anniversary picture. Four others are slated for the coming season. They are: "So Little Time," "Duel in the Sun," "The Scarlet Lily" and "Notorious." • Contributing much to Selz- nick's success as a producer have been his recognition of story values, his discernment and good judgment in grooming and cast- ing players, his own writing con- tributions to his screen plays and his judgment in cutting. Selznick makes no pretensions of being a veteran in observing now. the 10th anniversary of the Selznick International trade mark. That may be due to the fact that a man in his early for- ties is disinclined to regard him- self as a business patriarch even in an industry as youthful as this, where the past, however successful, is dimmed by the rosier promises of its future. In any event, in Selznick's case, it cannot be due to any wish of his to disregard the accomplish- ments of his first 12 production years which were sufficient in themselves to sustain for long a distinguished reputation. In the last 10 years, however, Selznick surpassed that record, with "GWTW" and "Rebecca" as high spots of his decade as an independent. Any producer might well have rested on his laurels after those, certain of a permanent place in production annals. But Selznick has gone on from there, delivering his currently outstanding product and shaping plans for more of the same calibre to come. He has blazed new paths in production in the past and in so doing has contributed much to the stature of the whole indus- try. At present he is reported to be examining into distribution methods which, according to re- ports, he views as being dated in many vital respects. He is in a position to test his views and, should they be sustained, his may be a contribution to the dis- tribution end of the industry which may rank in stature with his production achievements. Selznick is to be congratulated not only on his present anniver- sary observance but as well for his questioning and appraising of the industry status quo. It is from such as he .that milestones are encountered and left behind, new ones approached. Service for Thomas, Former WB Counsel Funeral services for Abel Cary Thomas, former secretary and general counsel of Warners, were held at the weekend. Thomas died at his home in New York last Wednesday. A graduate of Yale, and of the Har- vard Law School, Thomas started as a reported on the New York Herald/£\ Tribune and later was associated witffl^ the late Sam Warner in the commer- cial development of talking pictures and the establishment of Warner the- atres. He had also been legal adviser to the late Henry W. Savage, theatri- cal producer, and was an author as well. He is survived by three sisters. Davis, Judge in Fox Bankruptcy, Dies Norfolk, Va., Feb. 25.— John War- ren Davis, Sr., retired judge of the Third United States Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, died at the Norfolk Hospital here at the age of 77 late last week. Davis, in March, 1939, was named in a Federal grand jury indictment with William Fox, film executive and Morgan S. Kaufman on charges of criminal conspiracy to obstruct jus- tice and defraud the United States on a charge of growing out of an action in bankruptcy by Fox in his court. Cody D. Stout, Sixth Metro-ite to Be Killed Lt. Cody D. Stout, formerly in M-G-M's Charlotte branch, has been reported killed, according to a War Department communication to his family. This brings to six the number of M-G-M exchange employes killed in action, the others being Pvt. Ar- thur T. Goldsmith, Los Angeles ; Drew L. King, Charlotte ; Lt. Law- rence Schmitt, Cincinnati ; Lt. Leslie Zubri ; Lt. Dan Bruce, Atlanta. Services for Tess Slessinger Are Held Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Funeral services were held at Forest Lawn Friday for Tess Slessinger, 39, screen writer, who died here last Wednesday. Her last script was "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" for Darryl Zanuck. Born in New York, she gained recognition in the short story field before coming to the Coast a decade ago. Her husband, Frank Davis, and two children survive. Hirschhorn Dies Funeral services were held at Jew- ish Memorial Chapel in Brooklyn yesterday for William Hirschhorn, 24, formerly an associate publicist in the Universal home office publicity de- partment. Hirschhorn died of a heart attack at his home last Friday. Reginald Barker Dies Los Angeles, Feb. 25. — Reginald Barker, 58, retired director, died of a heart attack at his home here Friday. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, New* Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.. Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, ''Quigpubco, London." AH contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co^ Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Monday, February 26, 1945 Motion Picture Daily Blue Web Launches Television Shows Schenectady, Feb. 25.— The Blue Network launched its regular tele- vision broadcasting schedule on the facilities of General Electric's station WRGB here tonight with its radio program "Ladies, Be Seated." Seventeen members of the trade and daily newspaper press accompanied Network executives and the cast vjfLadies Be Seated" here from New Xork. With Mark Woods, Blue net- work president, and Adrian Samish, '"national director of programs and production, the group were guests of General Electric at dinner and wit- nessed the rehearsal of the show in the television studio at WRGB, and the telecast. By agreement with GE, "Ladies Be Seated" will be presented to television audiences every Sunday night and an- other Blue web radio show, "On Stage, Everybody," will originate weekly from the DuMont television studio in New York on Tuesday nights. Among press representatives who accompanied the group were : Ben Kaplan, Providence Journal; Eliza- beth Forstling, Newsweek ; Tom Ken nedy, New York Times; Arnold Blum, PM; William Formby, Motion Picture Herald; Milton Livingston, Motion Picture Daily ; Thor Krogh, Television Magazine; Bruce Robert- son, Broadcasting ; Marty Shrader, Billboard; Fred Stengel, Variety; M. H. Shapiro, Radio Daily; Ben Kauf- man, Hollywood Reporter. 1st Wartime Video Show in England London, Feb. 25. — The first British wartime television show was held here Friday from Alexandra Palace, peace- time television headquarters, and was on a closed circuit for security reas- ons in view of the da.nger of a short- wave beam's guiding enemy bombers. The show was put on exclusively for the benefit of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference in session here ; many members from the colon- ies have never seen television before. J. Arthur Rank's preeminence here was again emphasized by virtue of the principal items being a Gaumont British newsreel and a pictorial in- terview with Phyllis Claver, Gains- borough star. The conference's delegates were impressed at the evidence of Britain's prewar television lead and adopted resolutions on the urgency for the British Commonwealth to attain a similar lead in the postwar with empirewide cabled televised diffusions from a London headquarters. It is significant that the conference leans to the view that films are momentarily the most satisfactory television med- D. A. Doran to Leave Columbia on April 1 Hollywood, Feb. 25. — D. A. Doran, Jr., executive assistant to Harry Cohn, has resigned effective April 1. Doran had been story editor of Pathe, Col- umbia, Paramount and Fox. His first production was with the Group The- atre entitled, "Gold Eagle Guy." No successor has been named for Doran. Red Cross Pledges Reach 96% of Last Year's Total (.^Continued from page 1) key-city meetings at which nine teams of industry leaders are speaking, N Peter Rathvon, national industry chairman, believes that the 1945 cam- paign will surpass all preceding Red Cross drives, it was said. Meanwhile, Edward Dowden, New York City public relations chairman, has called a meeting of the drive pub- licity committee for 2 p. m. today at WAC headquarters. Harry Mandel, national publicity co-chairman, will be present to familiarize the group with the national committee's plans. Chicago Reaches 97%, Aims at 100% Chicago, Feb. 25. — John Balaban, industry drive chairman for the Red Cross War Fund Week in this area, told some 350 distributors and ex- hibitors at a luncheon in the Black- stone Hotel here Friday that 97 per- cent of theatres have already mailed their pledges — or 688 out of a pos- sible 702 houses in the Chicago region. Robert Mochrie, distributor chair- man of the Midwest district, urged all groups not to be satisfied with any- thing less than 100 percent. M. A. Lightman, exhibitor chairman, asked showmen to extend the drive from seven to ten days and contact civic or- ganizations for collectors. Other speakers included Arthur Mayer, deputy commissioner of the Red Cross in the Pacific area, and Dick Powell, who is visiting here. Jack Kirsch is exhibitor co-chairman of the drive, while the distributors are represented here by Allen Usher, Harold Stevens and Sam Gorelick. Southern California Seeks Industry Lead Los Angeles, Feb. 25.— With 400 in attendance at an exhibitor-distributor luncheon meeting at the Ambassador Hotel Friday, plans for the Red Cross campaign in Southern Cali- fornia moved forward, with Charles Skouras declaring, "We theatre men of this area are determined to lead the industry in results." Willard Keith represented Ned E. Depinet. Among the speakers were Robert H. Poole, Walter Wanger, Red Cross chairman Gurney Newlin and Army and Navv guests. Buffalo Launches 'Drive' at Lunch Buffalo, Feb. 25.— Plans for the industry's participation in Red Cross War Fund Week will be made at a luncheon meeting in the Hotel Stat- ler, here, tomorrow. The gathering will be one of 32 key city meetings scheduled to precede the drive in the nation's 16,000 theatres. Organized to coordinate and initiate plans for theatre activities, the meetings are the auspices of the industry's War Ac- tivities Committee. Rohert T. Murphy, Buffalo area ex- hibitor chairman, will preside, assisted by George A. Mason and George H. Mackenna, co-chairmen. In charge of the distribution committee for this area will be Al Herman, assisted by Ralph W. Maw and Elmer Lux, co- chairmen. Charles B. Taylor is pub- licity chairman. Industry leaders, theatre managers, sales managers, Red Cross and press representatives will be present to greet the national industry representatives, Ben Kalmenson and Maj. L. E. Thompson, who will be the principal speakers. Industry Red Cross Drive Honor Roll Latest among territories and exchange and exhibitor chairmen whose areas are pledged 100 per cent for participation in the Red Cross War Fund Week drive, March 15-21: Albany— Ray Smith, distributor chairman ; C. J. Latta, exhibitor- chairman ; Charles Smakwitz, public relations chairman. — 200 theatres. Delaware — John Allen, Washing- ton, and George Schwartz, Philadelphia, distributor co- chairmen; Earle W. Sweigert and A. Joseph De Fiore, ex- hibitor co-chairmen — 33 thea- tres. Rhode Island — G. William Horan, • Boston, distributor chairman; Ed Fay, exhibitor chairman — 56 theatres. San Francisco — Newton Jacobs, distributor chairman; B. V. Sturdivant and Roy Cooper, exhibitor co-chairman ; Fay Reeder, public relations chair- man— 500 theatres. 150 Attend St. Louis Red Cross Luncheon St. Louis, Feb. 25.— One hundred and fifty theatre owners and man- agers in the St. Louis area attended a luncheon at the Coronado Hotel here, Friday, to complete plans for participation in the Red Cross War Fund drive. Louis K. Ansell, chairman of the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors Committee, presided and speakers were Edward Schnitzer, distributor chair- man of the War Activities Commit- tee ; Francis Harmon of the national WAC, and Martin Smith, Toledo. Arrangements for the luncheon were made by B. J. McCarthy, in charge of United Artists' office here. Atlanta Film Men Hold 'Drive' Lunch Atlanta, Feb. 25.- — Preparation for the industry's Red Cross Fund for 1945 got under way at a luncheon meeting yesterday, attended by book- ers, managers and film salesmen. Testimonial Here For Miss Merriam Industry friends, here, of Gertrude Merriam, associate editor of Man- agers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald, will give a testimonial party Wednesday evening, March 21, honor- ing her forthcoming marriage, on March 25, to Howard Ernestthal. The party will be held at the New Amsterdam Theatre Roof, and is be- ing arranged by a committee of Miss Merriam's friends. The New Amsterdam Roof was of- fered for the occasion by Max Cohen, president of Cinema Circuit. Tickets are available from the ticket chair- man, Herb Berg, at United Artists. Columbia Intl. Files Albany, N. Y., Feb. 25. — Colum- bia International Corp., a Delaware corporation, has filed a certificate with the Secretary of State signifying that it will do business in New York State. Williams Is President Of Miss. Exhibitors Jackson, Miss., Feb. 25.— The Mis- sissippi Exhibitors Association, new organization here replacing the Mo- tion Picture Theatre Owners, has elected R. X. Williams, independent theatre operator of Oxford, Miss., president. Vice-presidents elected were Grady Cook, Lloyd Royal and E. W. Clinton. Max Connett has been named secre- tarv-treasurer. Mono. Studio Club Formed on Coast Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Monogram Studio Club is in process of organiza- tion by Harry Bourne, head of the wardrobe department, and first board meeting, to elect chairman, secretary and treasurer for the year, will be held here tomorrow. Harris to Advise on Rank Film Reediting Jack Harris, film editor for J. Ar- thur Rank's independent producers' group at Denham studio, is here from England to advise on possible reedit- ing of British pictures which will be released in the U. S., principally by United Artists and 20th Century-Fox. Harris is accompanied by John Den- nis and Desmond Dew, recording en- gineers at D. and P. studios, Denham, who will survey new American equip- ment with a view to future equipment purchases by Rank studios when it be- comes available. Dennis and Dew are en route to the Coast to inspect Hollywood studios. Harris, who will be here for a four months' stay, told Motion Pio» ture Daily that, after consultation with sales officials, he might authorize reediting of certain pictures to con- form to requirements of the U. S. market. Additionally, Harris, as the result of his studies here, will advise British producers on accent and dia- logue to bring their films in line with what is wanted by American audi- ences. E.Markham Succeeds Gibson at TEA Emerson Markham, recently ap- pointed manager of television at Gen- eral Electric in Schenectady, has been named a member of the board of di- rectors of Television Broadcasters Association. Markham will fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert L. Gibson as director last month. Gib- son is now advertising and sales pro- motion manager of the GE chemical department, his new activities taking him out of television. J. R. Poppele, president of TBA, also announced that Ralph B. Austrian, executive vice-president of RKO Television Corp., has been appointed chairman of the TBA program com- mittee for 1945. 1 ^ J I r Easter dates are pouring in! For the booking event of events! Be one of the first to show this sensational hit- AT POPULAR PRICES! CELEBRATE WITH US IN APRIL THREE DECADES OF ENTERTAINMENT SUPREMACY! CENTURY-FOX 6 Motion Picture daily Monday, February 26, 1945 Review "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Feb. 25 PROGRAM notes on "The Picture of Dorian Gray" read: "Occasionally, Hollywood produces a motion picture that is a decided departure from the general run of screen entertainment. Such a production is 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. It is unusual, intriguing, novel and a little shocking. It is a story from the masterful pen of Oscar Wilde, told with rare charm and sophistication, and interpreted with superlative artistry." A decided departure, beyond any doubt! Unusual, intriguing and novel it is acknowledged to be. The Wilde work, it is quite correct, has been inter- preted with superlative artistry. But that is not all, for "The Picture of Dorian Gray" also may well be underestimated in the degree of its impact and to assert, merely, that it is sophisticated is not nearly enough. This attraction, surrounded by magnificence and all of the outward evi- dences of a polite and genteel society, actually is a corroding drama of a cor- rupt and malevolent phase of London's Mayfair toward the close of the 19th century. It is a fantasy-drama of a cultured young man, and handsome, who succumbs to a pleasure-seeking philosophy of life and sells his soul so that his youth may be perpetuated. It is true that, at the meagre outset and scatteringly thereafter, Dorian Gray resists the temptations so invidiously held out for him by Lord Henry Wotton. But not for long. Gray ruins Sibyl Vane, unsophisticated barroom singer, and comfortably falls back on shattered illusions, which he reads into this situation, as a starting point for a ruthlessly decadent career. The girl commits suicide. Gray murders Basil Hallward, artist who had painted him; then holds the breath of scandal over anoother friend, Allen Campbell, as a device whereby Campbell disposes of Hallward's body. When Campbell takes his own life sub- sequently, clearly it is Gray who is morally, if not physically, responsible. The semblance of one decent act in this roue's whole life is his refusal to marry Gladys Hallward, the murdered artist's niece. THROUGHOUT his flauntings of the accepted tenets of the social code, Gray remains refined, calm, externally gentle, perpetually young and handsome. He becomes the center of whispered, and then open, criticism in the high circle in which he lives. Dark stories are murmured about his mode of living, his unaccountable disappearances from the city, his constant visits to the dregs of London and what ugly acts and deeds, by suggestion on the screen, are indulged. Internally, he turns rotten and decayed, the rot and the decay reflecting themselves in Hallward's portrait which Gray keeps under rigorous lock and key. When conscience overwhelms in one of its rare moments, Gray's warped thinking persuades him to destroy the accusing painting in the hope its de- struction will free him from the sort of life he has led. As he plunges a knife into the heart of the horrible person looking down from the canvass, Gray himself dies. The portrait returns to its original — Gray as a young man — and the lechery, the disease and the bloody crime of which his life was com- posed transfer to the face of the dead man. The philosophy, and also the keynote, upon which this film is constructed, is sounded by Wotton in his epigrams, "The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties," he observes. "Every temptation that we suppress broods in the mind and poisons us. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. As we grow older, our memories are haunted by the exquisite temptations we had not the courage to yield to," he adds. "Pleasure is the only thing worth having a theory about. It is Nature's sign of approval," is a third. In a limited-audience medium, a vehicle built upon such advocacy may have its proponents. In a motion picture, attracting incalculable numbers many of whom will not know what they are in for until they find themselves in their seats, this becomes another matter entirely. The unadorned fact is "The Pic- ture of Dorian Gray" is shocking to an extent which sets it apart from any film of recent years. WITHIN the boundaries of those craftsman-like assets which mark a production with distinction, this film falls with undeniable ease. Al- bert Levin, who wrote the script and directed for producer Pandro S. Ber- man, reflects brilliance. Hurd Hatfield, as Dorian Gray, is superb. George Sanders, as Lord Wotton, is excellent. So, too, are the supporting players among whom the principals are Angela Lansbury, as Sibyl Vane ; Lowell Gilmore, as Basil Hallward ; Peter Lawford, as David Stone ; Richard Fraser, as James Vane ; Douglas Walton, as Allen Campbell, and Donna Reed, as Gadys Hallward. But the high calibre of these professional services is in the nature of contributions to a film and a cause which are unsavory, unwhole- some and repellent. Obviously not for young people, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is mer- chandise which the exhibitor should see for himself. He will have to decide. Running time, 111 mins. Adult classification. No release date set. Red Kann Dipson Overruled On $110,000 Suit Buffalo, Feb. 25. — Petition of the Dipson Realty Co. to make an ar- rangement with creditors whereby payment of $110,000 worth of promis- sory notes would be deferred ten years was dismissed today by Referee James W. Persons of U. S. Bankruptcy Court. Persons had been designated by Judge John Knight to hear the evidence. Dipson owns two theatre buildings in the Buffalo area, the Bailey in this city and the Star in suburban Tona- wanda, and has an interest in other theatrical operations. Holders of the promissory notes are Nikitas D. Dip- son, president, $58,154; Andy Gibson, secretary-treasurer, $25,922, and Sam- uel L. Yellen, former officer, $25,922. Filed Aug. 14 Later modified to include the ten- year deferment, the petition for the ar- rangement was filed last August 14 after Yellen brought suit in the state courts to collect on the notes. Dipson and Gibson contended that there had been an agreement when they, with Yellen, advanced the money on a pro- rata basis that the notes were not to be paid "until it was possible to do so out of earning some profit." Yellen charged no such agreement existed. "It appears from the statements pre- pared from the books of the corpora- tion," said Persons, "that at all times these notes were carried as current liabilities and interest on them was accrued ; that the interest constituted a deduction from income-tax reports under the title 'bonds, notes and mort- gages' payable with original maturity less than one year. "These notes were negotiable in- struments and there is no testimony that there was any restriction upon their transfer. Therefore, it must be found that no understanding or agree- ment, as alleged in the petition, as to the time of demand of payment of said notes was made." Yellen's attorney, Adrian Block, said that under the decision his client will be permitted to continue his suit, stayed temporarily by the Federal Court order. Levin Heads Cinema Meeting Committee Jack C. Levin is in charge of pro- gram arrangements for the Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith meeting to be held at the Pythian Temple here to- morrow night at which Harry Brandt, independent Exhibitor and chairman of the industry's participation in the re- cent Sixth War Loan drive, will be presented with the Cinema 'Honor Scroll' by S. H. Fabian, War Activi- ties Committee theatres division chair- man. About 500 from the industry are ex- pected to attend the joint open meet- ing with the Cinema Ladies' Auxiliary of B'nai B'rith, at which the Auxil- iary will be formally instituted into Cinema Lodge and its officers installed. Theatre Wing Meeting The American Theatre Wing's en- tertainment committee, headed by James Sauter, and including Brock Pemberton and George Heller, will discuss its present activities and future plans with representatives of the press and others at a luncheon at Sardi's here today. 'Gray* Premiere Mar. 1 "The Picture of Dorian Gray" will have its world premiere at the Cap- itol, here, on March 1. Appearing on the stage in conjunction with the first showing of the picture, will be Robert Walker, Lena Home, and Xavier Cugat. Wilson Joins NBC Jack C. Wilson, formerly script writer with station WLW, National Broadcasting affiliate in Cincinnati, has joined the staff here of NBC's script-writing department, according to Richard McDonagh, script division manager. Johnston Predicts Veterans' Influence Hollywood, Feb. 25.— W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogram, said that "In planning our future, we mo- tion picture producers are being in- fluenced by the employees who are re- turning to us after service in the wars. They are mightily concerned about peace. They intended to see that thfijr sacrifices in this war do not repre^B the end of their interest in bringl^l about permanent freedom from wars. "Those returning servicemen," added Johnston, "are aware of the basic world-wide importance of the motion picture. They have seen the way it influences foreign audiences in their conception of America. They want to join in making films which will carry the advanges of education to all men. This does not mean that they think any less of the entertain- ment values in motion pictures. Quite the contrary. "They want laughs and hope — and it is when they work on such pictures that they feel their efforts are most rewarded," he concluded. 'Peace' Publication Edited by Matsoukas "Towards A Permanent Peace" a symposium, is the first publication is- sued by the American Nobel Center, an organization established for the purpose of stimulating and encourag- ing the promotion of peace in the post- war world through intercultural ed- ucation and through the development of better understanding among peo- ple of all nations and backgrounds. Edited by Nick John Matsoukas, of Skouras Theatres here, "Towards A Permanent Peace" is a computation of addresses and comments occasioned by the American observance of the 48th anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel at the Fourth Annual American Nobel Anniversary dinner held at the Astor Hotel on Sunday, December 10, 1944, staged under the auspices of the American Nobel An- niversary Committee. $1,000,000 Suit Vs. 'U', Loew on 'Life9 Billy K. Wells, script writer and playwright, filed suit Friday for $1> 000,000 damages, in New York Fed- eral Court, against Universal, Loew's, and Abbott and Costello, charging plagiarism of his 25-year-old skit, "Flugel Street" in Universal's "This Is the Life." Plaintiff claims that Joey Faye, allegedly plagiarised it in a skit entitled, "Floogel Street," which was used in the film. Faye copyrighted the skit, but Wells, who wrote his in 1918 for "Maids of America," a burlesque, never copyrighted his, it is said. He claims ownership under common law rights, and seeks the dismissal of Faye's copyright. Hoins Moves to WABC John W. (Jack) Hoins, member of the CBS press information depart- ment, here, has been appointed script editor of radio station WABC and will also produce that station's "Mar- garet Arlen" program. Prior to his joining CBS in 1939,' Hoins was a press book editor for 20th Century- Fox and earlier did publicity and ex- ploitation for RKO. il Monday, February 26, 1945 Motion Picture daily 7 NLRB Weighs Extras ' Case i (Continued from page 1) producers, told the NLRB that in cer tifying the union it had left produc- ers 'in the middle' since the inclu sion of bit players and those doing parts raised a question as to whether they should be in the SAG or the SPU. Referring to the NLRB's certifica- , tion of the new SPU union as ar- bitrary, impractical and contrary to the intent and spirit of the Wagner Act, Wright said that the initial er ror had been made in describing the new unit as a group of individuals rather than basing jurisdictional au thority on the type of work performed. Under the present circumstances, he said, employers are called upon to de termine who is in the group and not what they do. 'Carved Membership' The SAG, Wright said, has had a union shop contract with the pro ducers for years, and in certifying the new union the NLRB had for all practical purposes "carved out a large portion of the Guild's membership." Both actors and extras, he said, perform work before a camera, but it should be a simple matter to deter- mine the difference between the two. The witness said he was opposed to the certification because it will soon become difficult to perform under it. William Berger, attorney for the SAG, told the NLRB that before its certification of the new union, all people who performed before a camera were members of the Guild. He said that while the great majority of extras knew acting work, there were very few who were interested in it. Berger told the board that the pres- ent contracts drawn up by the SAG covered extras as well as actors, thereby making it possible for extras to advance into acting if they so de- sired. Schullman Asks Dismissal In defense of the Board's certifica- tion, Alexander Schullman, attorney for the SPU, urgently requested that the Board immediately dismiss the petitions, on the ground that complete testimony had been given at previous hearings. Declaring that "there is more be- hind this than an honest desire to reconsider," Schullman said that ex- tras had engaged in bit parts prac- tically since motion picture produc- tion had begun. He contended that the Board's decision had defined the work unit, and that the jurisdiction given the SPU was not by any means limited to extras. Also appearing for the SPU was Michael Jeffers, who told the Board that he bitterly opposed any change in the present certification of his union. Any change now, he said, would force hundreds of people into the SAG, an organization not of their own choos- ing. He charged that Guild policy was dominated for the most part by the higher salaried talent which could hardly be expected to understand the problems of extras. Reconsideration of the present cer- tification, he said, will place every other certified union in a state of con- fusion, wondering whether or not the same treatment might be accorded them. Review "Delightfully Dangerous {Charles R. Rogers-United Artists) MIXING the strains of the popular Strauss classical music with the modern impressionistic music of Morton Gould and adding a story about a burlesque queen who winds up as the star of a show presenting a jive version of Strauss, Charles R. Rogers' tuneful film, "Delightfully Dangerous," is diverting light musical entertainment. Featured are the appealing voices of young Jane Powell and Constance Moore, who hold up the principal roles with Ralph Bellamy. Others in the cast incude Gould and his orchestra, Arthur Treacher, Louise Beavers and Ruth Tobey. The story centers around Miss Powell, a student in a secluded music semi- nary, who lives by the myth that her older sister, Miss Moore, is a popular musical comedy star when in reality she is a reigning queen of burlesque. Bellamy, a musical comedy producer, unwittingly helps perpetuate this myth but young Jane accidentally discovers the truth. By this time, Bellamy has been smitten by Miss Moore. He is seeking a star for his latest production, but Miss Moore is too proud to angle for the spot. With Miss Powell trying to further her own career as a singer, Bellamy finds himself in a difficult posi- tion for a while, but everything works out well in the end with both Miss Moore and Miss Powell being starred in Bellamy's jive version of Strauss featuring Morton Gould and his orchestra. Of the four musical numbers composed by Gould, "Through Your Eyes . . . To Your Heart," sung by Miss Powell is the best. Several of the Strauss favorites are featured in the footage. Arthur Lubin directed from a screen play by Walter DeLeon and Arthur Phillips based on a story by Irving Phil- lips, Edward Verdier and Frank Tashlin. Joseph S. Tushinsky was associ- ate producer and Ernst Matray has staged some sparkling musical numbers in the handsome production with which Rogers has surrounded the, action. Miss Moore and Miss Powell are charming and appealing in the featured roles, and Bellamy is a likeable producer, all combining to make this a satisfying musical a little off the beaten path. Running time, 93 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. Milton Livingston More Field Men to Visit Home Office Four more M-G-M field promotion men will arrive today to spend a week here visiting the home office, includ ing Ernest Van Pelt, handling Salt Lake City territory; William Prass, Denver ; Austin McGough, Des Moines ; Price Shoemaker, Jr., Chi- cago. J. O'Connor of Omaha, orig- inally scheduled to make the trip, has postponed it until he recovers from illness. Leaving over the weekend for their respective territorial headquarters, after a week here, are Ken Prickett, New Orleans ; Al Burks, Charlotte ; Tom Baldridge, Washington ; James Ashcraft, Philadelphia. Laudy Lawrence Is Here from France Laudy Lawrence, M-G-M Continen- tal European manager before the war, and subsequently with the Office of War Information and Psychological Warfare branch, is in this country from France conferring with military officials and New York, it is learned here. Lawrence is currently civilian con- sultant to the Army communications zone for the French area which is attached to the Services of Supply. He is expected to return to the French theatre. Eyssell QP Guest At Awards Lunch {Continued from page 1 ) Harris Amusement Co., Pittsburgh ; Harry Shaw of Loew's, New Haven. Showmanship efforts of theatremen across the country, which have been sent to the Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald for the past year, for consideration in the Annual Quigley Awards, will be judged together with material sub- mitted for the War Showmanship Award. Blue Network Shifts 3 in Program Dept. Stuart Buchanan, John Coburn Turner and Juliet Glen have been given new assignments in the Blue Network's program department, ac- cording to an announcement by Hub- bell Robinson, Jr., vice-president in charge of programs and production. Buchanan, who has been manager of the script division, has been made a program supervisor. Turner, for- merly manager of the program pro- motion division, has been made man- ager of the script division, replacing Buchanan. Miss Glen replaces Turner as manager of program promotion. M. /. Mullin Is First Pinanski Appointee (Continued from page 1) some 400 theatres in Massachusetts, the entire personnel of which will again be marshalled for action in boosting Seventh War Loan sales. About 90 per cent of the theatres in this state are official 'issuing agents' for the Treasury, selling war bonds direct from box offices. In addition, the theatres plan to conduct 'War Bond Premieres,' 'Kiddie Shows,' 'Free Movie Days,' bond rallies and other special activities to an even greater degree than in previous drives. Reagan, Erbb Hold Philadelphia Meet Philadelhia, Feb. 25. — Branch managers, salesmen and head bookers of Paramount's Philadelphia, Wash- ington and Pittsburgh branch offices and district advertising representa- tives will meet with Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution, and other home office executives in a two-day meeting at the Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia, starting tomorrow and Tuesday. This meeting will continue the series of nationwide district meetings which Reagan has been holding. William H. Erbb, Eastern division manager, will preside at the sessions here, and Earle W. Sweigert, Phila- delphia district manager, will be host at an informal luncheon on Tuesday for exhibitors and delegates. Others Attending Also attending from the home office will be Hugh Owen, New York and Southern division manager ; Oscar A. Morgan, general sales manager of short subjects and Paramount News; Robert M. Gillham, advertising-pub- licity director, and Claude Lee, direc- tor of public relations. Those attending from the field, com- prising branches in Sweigert's district will include : Philadelphia, Ulrik F. Smith, George T. Beattie, Herman Rubin, John Schaefer, John Bergin, George Elmo, Ralph Garman ; Wash- ington, J. E. Fontaine, A. C. Benson, Harley Davidson, W. V. Dougherty, John Bryan, Herbert Thompson, Ben- jamin Harp, R. M. Grace; Pittsburgh, David Kimelman, Edward Stuve, Robert Caskey, Guy H. Peterson, Charles Mergen, Edwin Averbach, William Brooks. Also attending will be William Brooker, district advertising repre- sentative for Philadelphia and Wash- ington, and James Levine, Pittsburgh advertising representative. Producers Meet Mar. 5 Hollywood, Feb. 25. — March 5 has been selected by the Association of Motion Picture Producers as the new date for its recently postponed annual directors' meeting and election of offi- Skouras to Mexico Los Angeles, Feb. 25. — Charles Skouras, president of Fox West Coast Theatres, flew to Mexico City yes- terday, reputedly to explore the pos- sibility of FWC's entering Mexican exhibition. De Luxe Laboratories Pays $31,942 Wages De Luxe Laboratories, Manhattan, has agreed to comply with the Federal Wage-Hour Law by paying back wages and overtime amounting to | $31,942 to 176 employees, the New York office of the U. S. Department of Labor reports. Arthur J. White, regional director of the wage and hour and public con- tracts divisions of the Department, said that De Luxe was among sev- eral-hundred making payments within the past five weeks ; there was no court action. Dual Soviet Opener The Stanley Theatre, here, Russian U. S. film 'show case' has opened a double American premiere of two new Soviet films, "Marriage" and "Jubilee," released as part of the 40th anniversary observance of Anton Chekhov's death. Purple Heart for Bess Nashville, Feb. 25. — Mrs. Patricia Lampley Bess has received the Pur- ple Heart awarded posthumously to her husband, Pvt. Charles N. Bess, former manager of Crescent's Wood- bine Theatre, here, who was killed in action in France, July, 1944. L YRIC-Today-Sun. Mon.Tue. THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO M-G-M HIT! — VAN I0KNS0N • ROBERT WALKER PHYLLIS T H A )?T E R ■ TIM MURDOCK |""*%SCOTT McKAY • GORDON McDONALD ( • DON DoFORE • ROBERT M1TCKUM '' .. JOHN R. SEILIY • HORACE McNALLY iPENCER TRACY at UEUTINANT COLONEL JAMES H. OOOLITTli Sat. -Sun Feature At 1:00 3:30-6:00 & 8:30 We Are Open! La die* and C< We complied with the War Labor Board induc- tions and have turned off We were open last eve- ning and everyone enjoy- ed "Thirty Second* Over Tokyo." at- tending this picture. We a I I know that large ke heal. This body heat with the insula- tion of the theatre, will make this theatre reason- ably comfortable. Tell your friends that Thirty .ds Over Tokyo will hown at this theatre inuously Saturd a y ajid Sunday at 1 iOQ, 3:30, 6.00 and 3:30 p. m. r'c Th eatr, e, L AO A* e •adi VV, es and Q *ntl ar Lab d tion our Kith th, Seta. ave tur tied off Kere and okyi every, ast irty s one econd. eve- e**joy. Over tendi a I i nS th kn is are *»afc( ably your °dyh th e /, re. a* 1 at- of th eaf th, '« th Kith th e*t. th, *rge satr, maul is a. comf. eatre S b ec°nd end °rtabL tens Kill on. e sh a O th ver T at Th at 9ly th and 8 Satu oby, th ia Tell irty Kill so '00. rd eafr< a 3:30. **** Watch For Press Book! Use Iti Red Cross Drive — March 15-21! SPECIALS: THEY BRING THE CROWDS THAT HEAT YOUR THEATRE! HEAT UP WITH 10 Motion Picture daily Monday, February 26, 1945 May Relax Curfew For War Centers 50 Bills, Yet Industry- Does Well in 33 States (Continued from page 1) tinued operation of the night shows it has been unable to take any action as yet because it has received no com- plaints from exhibitors. The OCR recreation section was responsible for the length and hours of service of many theatres and other amusement places in war centers at a time when factories were encounter- ing great difficulty in getting workers for the night shifts and officials be- lieve a definite lowering of morale will follow application of the curfew. At Director Byrnes' office it was said the entire matter has been turned over to the WMC with authority to enforce the order in such way as to secure the most efficient results. Con- siderable confusion still prevails as to just what "other" savings than in coal, manpower and transportation the or- der is intended to effect. In view of the fact that many of the places to which it applies are so located that they re- quire no coal and no power produced from fuel and fill their labor needs from excess manpower not otherwise required. Iowa Not Worried Over Midnight Halt Des Moines, Feb. 25. — Theatres here are little affected by the Byrnes edict. Nearly all have weekday clos- ings well before midnight. Saturday midnight shows in the larger cities, including Des Moines, will feel the ban most, a survey shows. Only weekday effect will be in the case of long features for which schedules will have to be re-arranged. Tri- States Theatre Corp. here is "just as glad' to halt weekly midnight show- ings held for "audience reaction," it was stated. Salt Lake Cooperates Enforcing Curfew Salt Lake City, Feb. 25.— Theatre managers said they would be little af- fected by the midnight-curfew order and that it will mean only an advance of five or 10 minutes in closing time. Joseph S. Mayer, Utah director of the War Manpower Commission, said that provision would be set up imme- diately to enforce the ruling in Utah by lowering of manpower ceilings of violators. "Enforcement will be en- tirely upon a sanction basis with all Government agencies cooperating," he said. Overtime Expense Cut Welcome in Cleveland Cleveland, Feb. 25.— The curfew will be no theatre problem here, with programs being cut to required length. The elimination of overtime operating expenses is welcomed in many in- stances. Mayor Thomas A. Burke will issue a curfew proclamation Monday. Cleve- land operates under Eastern Standard Time, or one hour slower than Fed- eral Wartime. Some interpret this to set closing time at 11 P.M. Cleveland Time. Warners and Loew's announce the curfew cuts abolished Saturday late shows in all Ohio zone theatres, in- cluding Akron, Canton, Youngstown. Toledo, Chillicothe, Findlay, Lorain, Mansfield and Massilon. (Continued from page 1) the governor signed a bill to repeal the two per cent service tax applied to all admissions above five cents, and in Utah legislation was passed and ap- proved permitting the employment of girls under 18 as ushers in theatres. Four state measures have been defi- nitely defeated so far and two others have been re-committed to committees, which in the state legislatures usually means their death. Those defeated include an Iowa bill requiring the fire marshal to license all theatres under rigid inspection of seats, aisles, entrances, exits, etc. ; a Montana measure to license circuit theatres at rates ranging from $5 a year for one theatre to $1,000 each for ten or more, and repealing the present tax on gross income ; a North Caro- lina effort to change the license tax based on seating capacity to the form- er three per cent gross admission tax, and an Oregon anti-discrimination bill to apply to all places of amusement. An Indiana bill prohibiting the sale or rental of pictures on a percentage basis and prohibiting stipulations on the period of showing was recommit- ted to a Senate committee after pass- ing the House, and in Oklahoma a bill was recommitted which would abolish mill tokens and provide for the col- lection of sales taxes in multiples of one cent, with children's admission ex- emption raised from ten to 12 cents. Major subjects of concern to state legislators appear to have been taxes, fire protection and racial discrimina- tion, the Motion Picture Daily sur- vey showed. Tax Legislation In the field of taxes, two Arkansas bills, amended and expected to be de- feated, would impose a two per cent use tax to supplement a sales tax to he levied on tangible personal prop- ty either purchased, rented or leased from outside the state ; Connecticut has a bill for 'a three per cent gross tax on monthly business, the receipts to go for aid to incapacitated persons ; in Georgia, pending legislation would change the percentage of income taxes levied against outside corporations. Two bills are pending in Illinois to reduce the sales tax from two to one per cent ; in Massachusetts, the loss of revenue from the ban on racing would be compensated by a ten per cent ad- mission tax and a tax of SI oer reel on all motion pictures, the latter ac- companied by a stipulation that nn in- crease may be made in admission prices ; in Nebraska a two per cent tax on gross receipts from retail sales of tangible personal propertv is pro- posed. In North Dakota two bills are pend- ing for the reenactment of the "resent two per cent sales tax : Ohf Ozone Theatre Cir- cuit, Adelaide. Lt. McBride, who is visiting in New York after four years' service in England and elsewhere, will meet with Ewen and Clyde Waterman, chairman and managing director, re- spectively, of Ozone and S-A The- atres, Australia, who are expected in New York during March. Producers Protest SDU Jurisdiction (Continued from page 1) findings be verified so that bargaining negotiations hereafter may be con- ducted by the producers with the Set Decorators' Union. His 48-hour ulti- matum to the producers to comply ex- pires at six p. m. tomorrow. After the ultimatum expires, Sorrell may buy newspaper space, thereby carrying the issue to the public before taking final action on a walkout. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holiday! by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane. Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.. Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor: cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and 412 foreign; single copies, 10c. BOX-OFFICE BY BOX-OFFICE THE MOST REMARKABLE HIT IN YEARS! Bp TOPS THEM ALL EVERYWHERE DETROIT Beats "Random Harvest/' "Bathing Beauty" WASHINGTON Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Thousands Cheer" SAN FRANCISCO . . . Beats "White Cliffs of Dover/' "Random Harvest" MILWAUKEE Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo/' "Thousands Cheer" NEW ORLEANS .... Beats "Random Harvest/' "Two Girls and a Sailor" MINNEAPOLIS ..... Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo/' "A Guy Named Joe" HOUSTON Beats "Thousands Cheer/' "Mrs. Parkington' PORTLAND Beats Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo/' "Thousands Cheer OAKLAND Beats "Random Harvest/' "A Guy Named Joe" COLUMBUS Beats "White Cliffs of Dover/' "Random Harvest" ATLANTA Beats Th ousands Cheer, White Cliffs of Dover MEMPHIS Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo/' "Bathing Beauty" ROCHESTER Beats Thousands Cheer/ A Guy Named Joe AKRON Beats "Thousands Cheer/' "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" RICHMOND Beats Random Harvest, Thousands Cheer SYRACUSE Beats "A Guy Named Joe/' "White Cliffs of Dover" WORCESTER Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo/' "Thousands Cheer" NORFOLK Beats Two Girls and a Sailor, Mrs. Parkington NEW HAVEN Beats "White Cliffs of Dover/' "Random Harvest" NASHVILLE Beats "Thousands Cheer," "A Guy Named Joe" SPRINGFIELD, MASS.. . . Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" "Random Harvest" CANTON Beats Two Girls and a Sailor, Mrs. Parkington ' READING Beats Th ousands Cheer. Two Girls and a Sailor CHARLESTON, W.VA. . . Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "White Cliffs of Dover" (RIVERSIDE, CAL Beats Two Girls and a Sailor, ' Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo WILLIAMSPORT, PA. . . . Beats "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Random Harvest" JAMESTOWN, PA Beats "A Guy Named Joe," "White Cliffs of Dover" EASTON, PA Beats Thirty S econds Over Tokyo, Bathing Beauty BANGOR, MAINE Beats "White Cliffs of Dover/' "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" MEADVILLE, PA Beats Random Harvest, Thousands Cheer KANSAS CITY Beats "White Cliffs of Dover," "Bathing Beauty" LOUISVILLE Beats "Random Harvest," "A Guy Named Joe" HARTFORD Beats "Thousands Cheer," "Random Harvest" HARRISBURG Beats "Random Harvest," "White Cliffs of Dover" GENEVA Beats "Thousands Cheer," "Random Harvest" PLAY SAFE! KEEP YOUR DATE BOOK WIDE-OPEN! THE HOLD-OVER ATTRACTION THAT BUILDS FROM COLOSSAL TO GIGANTIC ! (and still another from M-G-M! Turn!} The new M-G-M challenger to follow "Meet Me In St. Louis" is "National Velvet/' also in Technicolor! Another giant at the Box-Office, it set the biggest week's gross in Music Hall history during its long run there. And now in all its first dates across America it is doing truly CHAMPION business! Watch For Press Book! Use it Red Cross Drive — March 15-3! Wednesday, February 28, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Theatres in Full Curfew Compliance (Continued from page 1) streets to buy them. Gasoline also will be saved as taxi drivers find no business after midnight. W M C officials in Washington watched closely the acceptance of the order throughout the country. Typi- cally, the San Francisco Regional of- reported outstanding cooperation <3T management, labor and communi- ties in its area, while approximately | 60 all-night theatres in Southern Cali- fornia were darkened by midnight, and "night-shift" houses in Detroit and other areas complied with the ban. In New York, Washington and other Eastern cities, bad weather which reduced night club, theatre and other audiences was seen as a pos- sible factor in the smoothness with which the new regime went into effect but communities which enjoyed com- fortable weather appeared equally re- signed to the curtailment of pleasure hours. N. Y. City Council Aids Enforcement with Law The New York City Council voted 14-to-2 yesterday at a special meeting for an amendment to force all theatres, bars, cabarets and dance halls to re- main closed every night from mid- night to 8 A.M., in line with the na- tionwide curfew order. The vote of the Council came after Mayor F. H. LaGuardia's move to back the curfew order by local law. More Demands Made By Laboratory Help (Continued from page 1) between Local 702 and the laboratories expire on March 10 ; negotiations on a hew pact started here Feb. 15. A further meeting will be held today. Other demands by the union, whose members have been hit in employment hy the raw stock shortage, include de- mands for a guarantee of a five day- 40 hour week of work. Replacements employed by the companies for Local 702 members who have gone into the Armed Forces would be discharged to make more work for regular union workers. Local 702 did not grant union membership to the replacements. Severance pay demands are for one and one-half weeks for each year of service ; two-week vacations are also sought. The union wants a one-year agreement and would continue its present maintenance of membership nrovisions in all contracts. Schiffrin to Paris On Film Problems (Continued from page 1) lems pertaining to French films made during the German occoupation and cleared for distribution for the U. S. ; and how many U. S. films dubbed in French by distributors here will be admitted to France. Schiffrin revealed that French weekly newsreel material is arriving here weekly and is distributed to the five newsreels, and, in turn, U. S. companies make domestic material available for incorporation in French reels, according to a temporary agree- ment, as reported in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 7. U. S. to Seek Trial Date On New Decree Monday (Continued from page 1) cree, which may require several years to dispose of. At the hearing last Dec. 20 on the Government's petition for a new de- cree Judge Goddard indicated that he would be unable to preside at a trial of the issues before next Fall and urged the Government and the decree companies to try to reach a compro- mise outside of court. The move to have a date set for trial of the main Government decree petition, originally filed last Aug. 7 in Federal District court here, fol- lowed upon the five decree companies' reply last week to the Department's proposals for elimination of clearance. In the reply the companies contended that some of the Government's criti- cism of the decree's clearance provi- sions was unjustified and that "some of the relief required would work havoc in the industry." Meanwhile, in Washington yester- day it was stated that the Department is fully prepared to present its case against clearance at the hearing before Judge Goddard next Monday, and has applied for postponement until next May of the start of trial of its anti- trust suit against the Griffith Circuit in Oklahoma City Federal Court, now scheduled for March 12, in order to concentrate upon the decree case here. In addition to the theatre divorce- ment phase of the main decree action, for which the Government now seeks the setting of a trial date, separate licensing of films and decentralized film buying by circuits is proposed. Consenting companies would be pro- hibited from acquiring further theatre interests upon entry of the order and divestiture of theatres constituting a local "monopoly" would be required. Local arbitration boards would be au- thorized to eliminate clearance where circumstances warranted. The Govern- ment proposes that theatre divorce- ment would have to be completed within three years after entry of the order. Selznick Will Press Action vs. Leigh Hollywood, Feb. 27. — Daniel T. O'Shea, executive director of David Selznick studios, said today that, de- spite the adverse decision of the Brit- ish High Court in denying an interim injunction restraining Vivien Leigh from appearing in a stage play in London, Selznick's London counsel, Joynson-Hicks and Sir Walter Monckton, will proceed to ask for a permanent injunction. O'Shea said that since Miss Leigh appeared in "Gone With the Wind" Selznick "has not had the opportunity to present" her in other films, because the producer had granted her request to appear in plays in England. Citing the cooperation manifested by Selznick towards Miss Leigh when her husband, Lawrence Olivier, was in service, O'Shea said it was ex- pected, now that he has been released, for her to return to America and make additional films for Selznick. He pointed out that she has not ap- peared in a Selznick film since Nov., 1940, and she had been granted leaves of absence only up to last April. Lt. Hobart, Formerly Of Technicolor, Killed Lieut. Morgan Linder Hobart, USNR, formerly manager of Techni- color's New York office, was killed in an air liner crash in Southern Vir- ginia last Friday. After beginning with Technicolor in Hollywood, Hobart was trans- ferred here in 1938. He left to take a position with the War Production Board in 1941 and entered the Navy the following year. Surviving are his father, Henry Morgan Hobart, former director-pro- ducer, and now executive assistant to the chairman of the board of Reeves Sound Laboratories here ; his moth- er, Mrs. F. C. Wright, also of New York, and a sister, Mrs. Russell Glea- son, daughter-in-law of actor James Gleason. Interment will be in Arling- ton National Cemetery. FCC Starts Hearing Channel Arguments Washington, Feb. 27. — Oral argu- ment on its recently announced fre- quency allocations for various types of television and radio service will open here tomorrow before the Fed- eral Communications Commission, which has scheduled three days for the hearings but foresees the likeli- hood that they will run twice as long. Provision has been made in the schedule for discussion of theatre tele- vision, but so far the Commission has received no applications for time from theatre interests. Approximately 30 organizations have requested permission to submit arguments on various services covered by the proposed allocations, including the National Association of Broad- casters, Television Broadcasters As- sociation, CBS, NBC, Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories, RCA and Zenith Radio. Lester Is Named WB Memphis Supervisor R. P. »Hagen, manager of Warner Bros.' film checking service, has left New York for a two-week tour of Midwest branches, including Memphis where he will install a new field super- visor, W. C. Lester, for Memphis and New Orleans territories. Lester suc- ceeds B. T. Burnside, who joins War- ners' sales staff. H. E. Shepherd also has been added to the staff, as assistant field super visor for Memphis-New Orleans. Warners Drops 'Janie' Hollywood, Feb. 27. — As a conse- quence of Joyce Reynolds' decision t<- retire from the screen, Warners ha' abandoned its intention to produce j series of "Janie" pictures. Ellison to Ideal William M. Cotton's Ideal Movie Group has appointed Philip L. Ellison, top cameraman, to its Hollywood staff. 60 Exhibitors at Paramount Lunch Philadelphia, Feb. 27. — Some 60 circuit executives and exhibitors, representing 90 per cent of the thea- tres of this territory, and from Pitts- burgh, Washington and Baltimore, were guests at a luncheon in the War- wick Hotel here today, on the second day of a Paramount district sales meeting. Host at the luncheon was Earle W. Sweigert, Philadelphia dis- trict manager, who was toastmaster. Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice- president in charge of distribution, was also present. Officials of exhibi- tor organizations of this area were present. Speakers included : J. Law- rence Schanberger, Keith's Theatre, Baltimore ; Reagan, William Erbb, Eastern division manager ; Hugh Ow- en, New York and Southern division manager ; Oscar A. Morgan, general sales manager of short subjects; R. M. Gillham, advertising-publicity di- rector, and Claude Lee, director of public relations. Also attending were Paramount branch managers, salesmen and head bookers of Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadelphia branch offices, and William Brooker and James Levine, district advertising representatives. Cinema Lodge Cites Harry Brandt Here (Continued from page 1) sented the scroll to Brandt after Jack H. Levin had cited Brandt's contribu- tions on behalf of the industry's war effort. Albert A. Senft, Cinema presi- dent, presided. Another highlight of the evening was the institution of the Cinema Auxiliary into the lodge and the in- stallation of its officers, including Mrs. Ann G. Blackman, president ; Mrs. Bessie Lefkowitz, first vice-president ; Mrs. Bea Fellman, second vice-presi- dent; Mrs. Bess Rosenthal, treasur- er ; Mrs. Ethel Greenfield, recording secretary; Mrs. Betty Isaacs, financial secretary ; Irma Flanders, monitress. Mrs. Joseph Berenson of the Wom- an's Grand Lodge of B'nai B'rith pre- sented the Auxiliary charter to Mrs. Blackman. Membership roster of the Auxiliary already includes women in all film companies and in other groups allied with the industry with a membership drive now in full swing. $5,000,000 Is Seen For March of Dimes (Continued from page 1) 996, 42 per cent increase over 1944 ; South Carolina (Warren Irwin, chair- man) $32,055, a 47 per cent jump over last year; Arizona (Harry Nace, chairman) $20,859, 92 per cent above 1944. The four states turned in over $90,000 more than they did in 1944. "At this rate, the national total will run far above $5,000,000," predicted C. C. Moskowitz, Q~f the drive's execu- tive committee. , Lt was sa4d that "terrific g-ains" are being' shown by small circuits. Rex O'Malley Killed Hollywood, Feb. 27. — The body of Rex O'Malley, actor, killed when his auto went over a 50-foot cliff, was found in the surf near Santa Monica today. He leaves a wife and two chil- dren in North Hollywood. OL. 5/. NO. 41 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1945 TEN CENTS 10 Films Are Over Average In 14 Cities 'Meet Me in St. Louis' Is Outstanding This Month By MILTON LIVINGSTON "Meet Me in St. Louis," in out- standing initial weeks in Pitts- burgh, Chicago and two theatres in Boston, and in strong second weeks in Buffalo and Toronto, a third week in Cincinnati and a big 10th in Phila- delphia, leads for the third time in Motion Picture Daily's reports of estimated box office receipts from 14 key cities, excluding New York City, for the week ending Feb. 28. The reports indicate that it is still too early to judge the possible effect of the nationwide midnight curfew on theatres which have been giving post- midnight performances. Reports in (Continued on page 8) U. S. - Britain Talk Tax Ban Washington, Feb. 28. — Drafts of conventions between the United States and the United Kingdom, designed to eliminate double taxation, have been submitted to the governments of the two countries for final negotiation, it was learned today. The conventions were worked out in meetings between tax experts of the English government and officials (.Continued on page 6) 13,008 Red Cross Pledges Received With two weeks to go be- fore the start of the motion picture industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, Leon J. Bamberger, national cam- paign director, announced yesterday that 13,008 pledges out of a possible total of 16,- 497, have already been re- ceived. This compares to last year's total of 13,434. Pledges already received, Bamberger said, do not in- clude Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the state of Kentucky. David Loew Predicts New Major Company For Independents After the war, when manpower is more abundant, there will be other distribution companies formed as the result of the demand by independent producers for outside distribution, ac- cording to David Loew, independent producer releasing through United Artists. Loew, in an interview with Motion Picture Daily here yester- day, pointed out that there are only three companies which nominally han- dle independent product : United Art- ists, Columbia and RKO. If a new major distributing com- pany should come into existence, and this development is foreseen by Loew, there will be a wholesale exodus of major studio directors, producers and stars to the new company in order (Continued on page 6) Red Cross Meet Reports Pouring in Reports of enthusiastic exhibitor- distributor rallies this week on behalf of the industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15-21, poured in- to national headquarters here yester- day from Dallas, Boston, Kansas City, New Orleans, Cleveland, St. Louis, Seattle and San Francisco. Maximum collections were pledged (Continued on page 6) Ask Single Bills As Bar 'Lifesaver' Cafe owners here, faced with heavy losses as the Gov- ernment's midnight curfew cut their receipts 10 to 50 per cent below normal, were re- ported yesterday to have found that the biggest defec- tion was in the theatre trade, which had time for only one quick drink after the show. Consequently, a movement was on foot to petition cir- cuits and individual operators to eliminate double features, so that a quicker turnover of patrons would be available for early bar patronage. WPB to Clear Deferments Washington, Feb. 28. — Plans are being completed by the War Produc- tion Board to act as the central agency for the certification of defer- ment requests for irreplaceable and indispensable men under 30 years of age who are engaged in war work and essential civilian activities. An information bulletin outlining how employers are to submit lists of men who were reclassified as 2-A or 2-B January 1 will be issued before the end of the week. Requests for deferment of employes filed with local (Continued on page 6) FCC to Hear On Television TBA Plea Channels Washington, Feb. 28. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission is expected to start to hear oral argu- ments on its proposed frequency allo- cations for television tomorrow after hearing frequency modulation repre- sentatives today. Stressing that the prompt adoption by the Commission of a nationwide television frequency assignment plan is essential, the Television Broadcast- ers Association, one of the petitioners to be heard, points out in its prepared brief that channel sharing by televi- sion with other services may be pos- sible in some sections of the country but must be closely controlled and subordinate to all television use. The TBA also wants the FCC to allocate the channel from 102 to 108 megacy- cles to television at once and desires, if possible, to have the FCC allocate a 14th channel to television for a tem- porary period of five years, immedi- ately below 102 megacycles. While reiterating its appreciation of the Commission's recognition of the importance of the television industry to the nation's economy, TBA asks for security in the use of the channels. It is pointed out by TBA that if the FCC proceeds promptly with a nation-wide plan of assignment of television channels, rather than its present plan of having television share channels with other services, the 12 channels can serve more than ,400 television stations ; the first 140 mar- ket areas in the country ; and that 98,000,000 people will have at least one satisfactory monochrome televi- sion station ; approximately 90,000,000 people at least two such stations ; three such stations could be available for 85,000,000 people and 75,000,000 could hear four competitive stations. British Gov't Asks WPB For Raw Stock ' Way Ahead,' 20th Release, Sent to UK for Printing The British Government Board of Trade, London, concerned over the possibility that British product may be frozen out of the American market because of the raw stock short- age, has asked the British Embassy in Washington to take the matter up with the War Production Board, it was learned here. No special stock allocations have been made to foreign producers for release prints of pictures for Ameri- can distribution. The WPB is under- stood to be cognizant of the problem and has stated that it is seeking a (Continued on page 6) WPB Limits New Houses Washington, Feb. 28.— The War Production Board is scanning all out- standing building authorizations and may shortly revoke all authorizations for projects in Group No. 1 labor areas on which construction has not started or has not progressed beyond the initial stages, it was learned here today. All of the theatre projects author- (Continued on page 8) Trade 'Blacklists' Seen for Postwar _ Washington, Feb. 28. — "Black- lists" of South American and other concerns with Axis connections and prohibitions against dealings by Amer- ican nationals and companies with such establishments are expected to be maintained in force by the United (Continued on page 6) In This Issue Review of "G. I. Honey- moon" and "Sudan" on page 3; Motion Picture Daily's booking chart, page 11. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 1, 1945 Personal Mention EDMUND C. GRAINGER, presi- dent of Shea Enterprises, yester- day spotted one of 'his boys', 'Andy' McDonald, now a Marine, with his buddies in a news picture, beneath the American flag they had just raised atop Iwo's volcano, Mount Suribachi. McDonald was on the Shea auditing staff, here, of Bill Barry. • . Wolfe Cohen, Warner Interna- tional Corp vice-president, arrived in Panama City yesterday. He is on a tour of Central and Latin America, and thereafter Australia and the Far East. • Jack Schlaifer, 20th-Fox Central division manager, and E. X. Calla- han, Eastern district manager, were in Albany this week, from New York, conferring with branch manager Harry Alexander. • Walter Titus, Republic's super- visor of branch operations is in At- lanta from New York, and will return here tomorrow. • Herb Gordon of the Forum The- atre, Philadelphia, and Mrs. Gordon, have become the parents of a girl, Donna. • Phil Williams, March of Time advertising director, returned here yesterday from a Southern business trip. • Harry Graham, Universal's South- ern division manager, is vacationing in Florida. • Spencer Pierce, 20th Century-Fox Southeastern publicity representative, Atlanta, is in Nashville on business. Harry Ballance, 20th Century- Fox Southern division manager, is visiting Southwest branches. • Herman Silverman, Wometco Theatres, Miami, is visiting Atlanta's Film Row. • Max Westebbe, RKO Radio ex- change manager at Albany, has been visiting here. • H. M. Richey, M-G-M exhibitor relations head, will return today from a Southern trip. • Maurice N. Wolff, M-G-M New England district manager, arrived here yesterday from Boston. • Alexander Korda, who planned to leave for England this week, Jias de- layed his departure due to a cold. • Gordon Lightstone, Paramount's general manager in Canada, is in New York from Toronto. • J. Robert Rubin, M-G-M general counsel, has returned from the Coast, o Paul Wilson, 20th-Fox Atlanta manager, is visiting in New Orleans. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Hollywood, Feb. 28 FDR a pivotal production figure like Darryl F. Zan- uck to expound his approach on services to be rendered by the industry is important enough. When Spyros Skouras, presi- dent of a major company en- gaged in international opera- tions, follows in the identical channel in the same place at the same time, the event could be even the more significant. Thus, the possibilities of the future to which both gave public utterance at the "One World" dinner in New York, where the memory of Wendell L. Willkie was honored, have captured the interest of part of Hollywood. There is no unanimity of opinion, but plenty of opinion. ■ Briefing Zanuck in the cause of fast reading, his pivot was this : "The motion picture indus- try can play a vital part in' shap- ing our future destinies. A start has been made, but it is only a start. . . . Resources and the potentialities . . . have yet to be brought fully into play. . . . Movies . . . have advanced to the point where they can be one of the decisive factors in educat- ing the people of the world to peace and understanding." Skouras said, in part: "You will continue to see films whose sole purpose is to entertain and divert. Also you will see many more films which not only en- tertain but, at the same time, enlighten and instruct. They will be pictures which are not di- vorced from reality. They will have both a point of view and a point to make. They will have something to say in a world struggling for better things. . . . I don't mean ... we are ready to forget the primary purpose of entertainment. That is the mainspring which makes all else possible." ■ The dissident opinion is well established, of course. It acknowledges no other function for this induustry beyond its ob- ligation to make motion pictures which provide the escapisms which push the realisms aside and thereby entertain. This, correctly, is the industry's pri- mary purpose, and it is an es- sential purpose by many ap- proaches. To endeavor to reduce it to complete rubble is ridicu- lous and uneconomic. Yet in these decisive and in- cisive times, and in the difficult times ahead, thei opposite ap- proach, which we have shared for many years, has its merits as well. ■ Not alone is it possible, but it is also feasible within the framework of that which com- prises entertainment, to have something to say. A point of view and a point to make, which are Skouras's words, we are convinced, will play their part in the normal course of production because the stringencies of the times will find — and must find — reflection on the screen. Dream worlds and ivory towers are not very marketable these days. To assume, in turn, this means Betty Grable will not dance or Carmen Miranda will not sing or Roy Rogers will not roam the range would be to assume a state of affairs that will not be. Nor should it be. As long as audiences pay, they'll get the merchandise on order. ■ Moreover, attractions with a point to register need not be stuffy, ponderous or weighty. Additionally, they need not fly in the face of public acceptance. A serious objective has its best chance of success if the produc- er is astute enough to develop it dramatically and, therefore, entertainingly. If he does not and embarks on straight argu- ment or preachment, his chances of coming through will be nil. Such a fate will be deserved be- cause his effort will be spuri- ous. And it will be spurious since what he offers as enter- tainment, is not. If the reasoning is valid and in the general interest, the films of purpose which Zanuck and Skouras declare they see on their inevitable way can add to the industry's stature and hasten its maturity and responsibility. Like man's estate, an industry must reach its majority, too. ■ U Irving Cummings, taking note of his 36th year in the in- dustry, is busy directing "The _Dolly Sisters." How does it look to him after three decades, plus ? Like this : "There's nothing wrong, except, perhaps, we're a bit spoiled. We are apt to forget those terrific early struggles to gain recognition, to survive financially and to be ac- cepted as uplifting entertain- ment. Hollywood has nothing to fear except itself. Therefore, as long as nobody rocks the boat too hard, the industry should continue to scale unprecedented heights." Coming Events Today — Start of Producers Releas- ing Corp. fifth anniversary cele- bration, to run five weeks. Today — Independent Theatre Own- ers Association meeting with Spyros Skouras, Hotel Astor. New York. £ Mar. 2 — War Activities Commitrv_ meeting with Theodore R. Gam- ble on Seventh War Loan plans. Mar. 5 — Association of Motion Pic- ture Producers annual directors' meeting and election of officers. Mar. 6 — Allied Theatres of Illinois 15th annual convention, Black- stone Hotel, Chicago. Mar. 8-9 — Paramount regional sales meeting, Atlanta. Mar. 13-15 — Pacific Coast Confer- ence of Independent Theatre Owners' annual meeting of trus- tees, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. Mar. 14 — Universal's annual stock- holders' meeting, Wilmington. Mar. 15 — Academy of Motion Pic- ture Arts and Sciences' annual awards, Hollywood. Mar. 15-21 — Industry Red Cross 'War Fund' week. Mar. 17 — RKO 'Depinet Drive' meetings in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Indianapolis. Mar. 29 — Loew's annual stockhold- ers' meeting, New York. A. /. Silverstein Joins U. S. Treasury Here J. Edward Shrugue, director of the motion picture and special events sec- tion of the War Finance Division, Treasury Department, announces the addition to his staff, here, of Adolph J. Silverstein. Silverstein is a former member of the Hal Home publicity staff of 20th Century Fox, and was recently hon- orably discharged from the Army. He will serve as assistant to Max Young- stein in publicizing the activities and promotions of the department in con- nection with forthcoming War Loan Drives. • Reagan Names Roper Owens' Assistant Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribu- tion, yesterday announced the promo- tion of Jack Roper, statistician in the distribution department, to the post of assistant to Hugh Owen, New York and Southern division manager. A native of London, Roper came to this country following World War service in the British army, and shortly thereafter joined Paramount. He lias been with the company 24 years. 20th Promotes Wingart Earl Wingart has been made assis- tant to Jules Fields, 20th Century Fox's publicity manager. Wingart was formerly in charge of the service division of the home office exploitation department. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone CTrcle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York " Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane. Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign: single copies, 10c. Thursday, March 1, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 :eic- Zanuck, Schenck, Hines and Others In Stock Tradings Philadelphia, Feb. 28. — Transac- tions involving over 400,000 shares of film stocks were disclosed today by the Securities and Exchange Commis- sion in its January summary of activi- ves of officers and directors of regis- ed corporations in the securities of eir own companies. The bulk of the volume was ac- counted for by the sale by Rockefeller - Center of its 359,800-share common stock interest in Radio-Keith-Orph- eum, as previously reported. Largest individual transaction re- ported by the SEC was the sale of 42,000 shares of 20th Century-Fox common stock by Darryl F. Zanuck, whicr? left him with 130 shares at the close of the month, also previously reported. Transactions in the stocks of other companies reported by the SEC in- cluded the following : General Precision Equipment : Pur- chase of 9,000 shares of capital stock by Earle G. Hines, increasing his in- terest to 9,500 shares, and the purchase of 100 shares by Robert T. Rineer, representing his entire holdings at the time of the report. Loew's, Inc. Loew's, Inc. : Sale of 9,000 shares of common by Nicholas M. Schenck, re- ducing his holdings to 1,913 shares; and purchase of 100 shares by Eugene W. Leake, his entire interest. Monogram Pictures : Purchase of 1,533 shares of common and sale of 1,000 shares by Arthur C. Bromberg, Atlanta, through Monogram South- ern Exchanges, Inc., giving him 19,- 072 shares so held; purchase of 433 shares of common by George D. Bur- rows, Los Angeles, increasing his holdings to 833 shares ; purchase of 1,867 shares of common by Herman Rifkin, Boston, through Monogram Pictures, Inc., and transfer of 6,667 shares from the corporation to his own name, giving him 16,685 shares held direct and 12,825 shares through the company ; acquisition, by gift, of 262 shares of common and purchase of 100 shares by Norton V. Ritchey, increasing his interest to 5,029 shares; purchase of 633 shares of common by Charles W. Trampe, Milwaukee, through Monogram Midwest Film Co., giving that account 3,333 shares ; purchase of 633 shares of common by Sam Wolf, Los Angeles, who pur- chased 1,000 shares, making his hold- ings 3,333 shares ; purchase of 145 shares of preferred by W. Ray John- ston, representing his entire holdings. Paramount Paramount Pictures : Purchase of 100 shares of common by Stephen Callaghan, New York, giving him a total of 300 shares. Universal Pictures : Sale of 800 shares of common by Preston Davie, director, reducing his interest to 3, 689 shares ; sale of 400 shares by Cliff Work, who also bought 4,600 shares, leaving him with 10,000 shares; also the purchase by Work of 3,000 common warrants, giving him a total of 6,000 ; disposition, bv gift, of 300 warrants by Charles D. Prutz- man, leaving him with 15,000. The SEC also disclosed that when Carlton B. Wikoff. New York, be- came a Columbia Pictures officer he held none of that company's securi- Reviews "Sudan" ( U niversal) Hollywood, Feb. 28 THIS sixth in Universal' s succession of Maria Montez-Jon Hall Techni- color adventures is the best since "Arabian Nights" started the studio upon this profitable vein of product. It surpasses the other five in subject matter, plausibility and performance, and has the additional box-office value which stems from the fact that Turhan Bey, now riding the crest of his popu- larity, gets the girl this time instead of running second. It promises to expand and fortify the vogue which Universal has established for these pictures." Egypt is the scene of Edmund L. Hartman's script and there is no magic or mystery about the adventuring which takes place. Miss Montez is a prin- cess who becomes queen when her father is killed and sets out to track down the desert marauder who is his murderer. She is captured, sold into slavery, escapes, meets and falls in love with the man she has sworn to kill, but learns of his innocence in time to balance things off satisfactorily after an extra- ordinarily thrilling mountainside battle in which the right people defeat the wrong people by sending an avalanche down upon them. It is straight adven- ture stuff, similar in outline to the best western action films but prettier and with more surprises. The production by Paul Malvern is tip-top, and direction by John Rawlins makes the most of it. Andy Devine, George Zucco and Robert Warwick head a large, proficient supporting cast. Running time, 76 minutes. General classification. Release March 2. William R. Weaver G.I. Honeymoon' {Monogram) Hollywood, Feb. 28 FAR better on points than most merchandise in its category, this comedy, based on the Army's disregard for the marital prerogatives of its soldiers, takes a pair of eager newlyweds through 70 minutes of frustration that a Hollywood preview audience found plentifully amusing. Gale Storm and Peter Cookson are the newlyweds, convincing in their assignments, and Arline Judge, Frank Jenks and Jerome Cowan head a supporting cast that does right by a script which contains many a laugh line — some of them open to dual inter- pretation— and no deadwood. Richard Weil's screenplay opens with a fast wedding, the groom being whisked away by Army assignment and the bride catching the same train. Assignments keep him from being alone with her aboard train more than a minute or two, and when they arrive in the Nevada town where he is sta- tioned the same thing, for a variety of reasons, happens regularly. The peak situation finds her entertaining his officers' friends in an apartment stuffed with hidden soldiers who arrived earlier under the impression that the place is a gambling joint. The manner in which the film uses uniformed service- men for comedy purposes suggests that the War Department has relaxed its rules about such matters considerably. Lindsley Parsons produced the picture, under executive producer Trem Carr, and Phil Karlstein directed, with a keen sense of timing. Runnino- time 70 minutes. General classification. Release date. March 9. a . W. R. W. Taylor Named Head Of DuMont Sales Leonard F. Cramer, vice-president of DuMont Laboratories, Inc., an- nounces the appointment of Herbert E, Taylor, Jr., to the post of director of transmitter equipment sales. Tay- lor was formerly assistant director of sales. Taylor has been with DuMont for several years, in the posts of priority supervisor, manager of the war service department and assistant director of cyclograph sales. He has also served as sound and video technician in tele- vision crews at DuMont television sta- tion WABD. Five-City Rogers Tour Republic's Roy Rogers is slated to make personal appearances in four cities in the U. S. and one in Canada during April and May, opening at the Uline Arena, Washington, for a week beginning April 12, then at the Arena, Cleveland, April 21-28; Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, April 30-May 5 ; Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, May 7-12; and the Auditorium, Providence, May 15-20. ties, and when Donald K. Woodard, Boston, became a 20th Century-Fox officer he held 10 shares of the com- pany's common stock. Coast Writers Pick Knox and Bergman Hollywood, Feb. 28. — The Holly- wood Foreign Correspondents Asso- ciation, basing balloting on results of individual canvasses conducted by its members in periodicals they service in 26 countries, has voted the fol- lowing annual awards : Best picture, "Going My Way" ; male star, Alex- ander Knox, for "Wilson" ; feminine star, Ingrid Bergman, for "Gaslight" ; best male support, Barry Fitzgerald, for "Going My Way" ; best feminine support, Agnes Moorehead, for "Mrs. Parkington" ; best director, Leo Mc- Carey, for "Going My Way." An awards ceremony will be held at some unfixed date subsequent to the annual Academy Awards function on March 15. Services for Mrs. Phifer Funeral services were held yester- day for Mrs. Eloise Phifer, wife of Capt. Volney Phifer, M-G-M exploit- ation representative, at Millington, N. J. Mrs. Phifer died Monday at Plainfield Hospital, a few days after giving birth to an eight and a half pound daughter. A number of M-G-M home office executives attended the services at her home in Millington. Also surviving is a son, Ellis. Present New N. Y. Code Bill Albany, Feb. 28.— The New York State Labor Department asked the Legislature yesterday for broader su- pervisory powers over places of pub- lic assembly, including theatres in all parts of the state with the possible exception of New York City, to re- duce the possibility of disastrous fires such as those at the Cocoanut Grove in Boston and the circus in Hart- ford. The Department's request was in- cluded in a bill introduced by Sena- tor William Condon of Westchester and Assemblyman Frederick A. Washburn of Colurhbia, which would enlarge the definition of a place of public assembly, now applying in a loose way only to amusement and recreation halls. The bill would in- clude dining rooms, dance halls, places of religious observance and schools. The measure also proposed to elim- inate some of the qualifying language of the original law, enacted in the Twenties, and thus strengthen the ef- fectiveness of Department regulation. It is proposed under the bill that en- forcement of the law be concentrated in the Industrial Commission and that all cities of 100,000 population or more have an agency charged with the enforcement of building laws. Fleming to Supervise Theatre Installations Chicago, Feb. 28. — Appointment of Ira L. Fleming to the newly created post of chief field engineer of DeVry Corp., inventors and developers of motion picture sound equipment, is announced by William C. DeVry, president. For the past five years Fleming has been in charge of sound engineering in DeVry's amplifier and speaker divi- fion. In his new position he will work with Government agencies in the in- stallation and maintenance of sound equipment and panoramic gunnery trainers for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. His postwar activities will cover the installation, operation and maintenance of theatre projection equipment and the development of an international field engineering service department for DeVry. Theatre Damaged by Fire Gallastin, Tenn., Feb. 28. — The Palace Theatre was almost com- pletely destroyed by fire in the projection room. Projection equip- ment and all film was destroyed. Man- ager J. G. Bradley states that re- opening of the theatre is indefinite. WB, Army in Tieup With cooperation of the Army Parachute School at Fort Benning, Ga., Warner Bros.' educational bureau has issued a 16-page brochure on "Objective, Burma" under the head- ing of "The Story of the Paratroop- ers." Jarrett Dies from Fight Indianapolis, Feb. 28. — Robert L. Jarrett, 77, of the Cozy Theatre died following a fight at the theatre when he awakened two men when the show was over and asked them to leave. The assailants are being sought. JACK f«'#*At-L #e awe #t£A were** "The laughingesf Or) ■ *" everywhere fi^f'^'s sure-fire s heard!" wmsore seen or radio ~M- * HCRAID mrtf A rLor-A"* LOOK A80(/r 'T/ J ij P. Hera tery°»d romance to ll C°mbln'">9 mys- at o fast and Mnf- ,P acfion rollina isfer big!" h'lanous ^p! Should regf xrewbal, comedy as hn Pr°ducfion of the screen. Should X 1 ^ thereTa ^WS- F°r f «■ ^Pk^jgr'^P of guesV :™* * p^ed withia rDA,lY¥AR,m »* situations, aZs^Z^0^' ^urns at the boxohtl U'dLsho» high Coifed to the hilt°< Th'S co» *>e "Fred All ~m sxhibito* 9o9s andyaT^^^^ofn* S»ovs along af a "*> a story that be easy to roll up a Z±P.' » "V* to ation!" , prof,t m any situ- This week's m««/ # c°""« tossed i„ lhaT;. There ™» more -'OUIUA fAlaOMS I 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 1, 1945 David Loew Predicts New Major Company For Independents (Continued from page 1) that they may share in distribution as well as in production, he believes. Major companies such as Para- mount and Warners are already an- ticipating the day when outside dis- tribution may become more important and, consequently, have attempted to protect themselves by setting a num- ber of outside producing deals, Loew said. The demand by exhibitors after the war will be for more product, and production will have to be increased to meet this demand, Loew declared. As personnel departs from major stu- dios, the production gap will be filled by outside production and distribution, he said. Loew, who will return to the Coast March 16 after several months here, said that "Hold Autumn in Your Hand" will be released for him by UA in April or May, having been held up by a title change. He re- vealed that Audience Research is con- ducting a survey to determine wheth- er its present title should be changed. Two Per Year Loew said that he expects to pro- duce two pictures per year and said he has a deal on with Al Lewin, di- rector and writer. A new company is being formed by himself and Lew- in, with distribution not set as yet, but possibly through UA which has assured him that it will distribute his product, Loew said. The other pic- ture may be made in conjunction with Jean Renoir and Dudley Nichols arid depends upon whether they can se- cure the rights to a novel, from which a French film version has been made. This film, if made, will go into pro- duction in August at General Service Studios. The other, to be made with Lewin, will not start shooting before . December or next January, Loew said. Loew revealed that the firm of Pro- ducing Artists, in which Arthur Ly- ons was interested and which had a three-year distribution contract with UA, will be permitted to lapse. Budd Rogers has been appointed as his Eastern representative, Loew said. U. S.- Britain Talk Ban on Dual Taxes (Continued from page 1) of the Internal Revenue Bureau and Treasury. The most important agreement from the standpoint of the industry is the elimination of double taxation on in- come, under which English royalties of American copyright owners are ex- pected to be protected. A similar agreement with France was ratified by the Senate some weeks ago. Sparks on 'U' Board, Coordinates Writers Hollywood, Feb. 28. — Universal today added Robert S. Sparks to its newly created studio advisory board as coordinator of all writing activi- ties. Just back after two and a half years in the Army, Sparks was for- merly with Paramount, RKO and Columbia. Red Cross Meet Reports Pouring in (Continued from page 1) by 900 Texas theatres; 520 in New England, where additional pledges may bring the total up to 715 ; 360 in Missouri, compared with 309 last year and 408 out of a possible 536 in the New Orleans area. Representing the national distribu- tors' committee, Tom Connors and R. J. O'Donnell spoke in Dallas, Ben Kalmenson and Major L. E. Thomp- son at Boston, Henderson M. Richey at New Orleans, national drive chair- man N. Peter Rathvon, William Scully and Arthur Mayer at Cleve- land, and Edward Schnitzer at St. Louis. Basil O'Connor, chairman of the American Red Cross, made ap- pearances in St. Louis and Kansas City. Those In Charge Don Douglas and Cecil House, lo- cal exhibitor and distributor chair- man, respectively, were in charge of the Dallas gathering; Nate Yamins and Bill Horan, at Boston; William Truog and Elmer C. Rhoden, Kan- sas City; E. V. Richards and Lucas O'Connor, New Orleans; Meyer Fine and Joe Krenitz, Cleveland; Martin Smith and Bernie McCarthy, St. Louis ; Maury Saffle and L. O. Lukan, Seattle; and B. V. Sturdivant, San Francisco. Williams Takes Over SCTOA inL.A.Today Los Angeles, Feb. 28.— Paul Wil- liams, former assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, who resigned from the Department of Justice to succeed the late Albert J. Law as general counsel of the Southern California Theatre Owners Association, is due to assume his new post today. Wil- liams is expected to work toward adoption of Law's contemplated con- ciliation designed to simplify the provisions of arbitration under the industry Consent Decree. Law was negotiating to this end with distributor heads when he died of a heart attack Jan. 2 in New York. Williams repre- sented the Government in early anti- trust suit proceedings. Anti-Bias Bill in Illinois Senate Chicago, Feb. 28. — A bill intro- duced in the State senate in Spring- field by Senator Mills prohibits dis- crimination in employment because of race, religion, color, national origin or ancestry. The bill establishes a board for fair employment practice consisting of five members to be appointed by the Gov- ernor to administer the act. Trade 'Blacklists' Seen for Postwar (Continued from page 1) States and British Governments for a long period after the war. Carried on the proscribed list are a number of companies which were interested in motion pictures and equipment. Many of the blacklisted individuals and concerns were discov- ered to have contracts with their Axis governments through which informa- tion of military value was transmitted. WPB to Clear Deferments (Continued from page 1) draft boards will not generally be granted unless supported by a certifi- cation from one of the several agen- cies authorized under the procedure developed last week by the War Manpower Commission and Selective Service. Production of technical and voca- tional films for the military and war production industries, film processing, development of sensitized film and newsreels are carried in the WMC list as essential but not critical. It has not been disclosed whether any film operations will be considered _ as essential in the list which is being prepared by the OCR. Academy Will Screen Scenes at Ceremony Hollywood, Feb. 28. — The Acad- emy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will screen scenes from all pictures represented in nominations for the annual award March 15 at the Chinese Theatre, with an off-screen commentator naming the candidates in each division as the footage flashes on the screen. At the close of each divi- sion, the lights will go up and the presentation of awards will follow. Representatives of all crafts arid guilds are now working with pro- gram director Mark Sandrich on the preparation of special films for film- editing nominations and others not readily represented by footage from pictures on which nominations are based. Stage entertainment, used last year,, will be dispensed with in favor of a strictly screen type ceremony. RWLB Sessions Near End in RKO Dispute A further hearing before the Re- gional War Labor Board here in the contract dispute between RKO and Motion Picture Theatre Operating Managers and Assistant Managers Guild will be held next Tuesday. The Guild represents managers and assist- ant managers in the 40 RKO theatres in the Metropolitan New York area. Progress was made at a hearing before the RWLB last Tuesday and it is possible that the hearings will be concluded with next Tuesday's meet- ing. The RWLB will then take the case under advisement with both the company and the Guild expected to be given an opportunity to file briefs. Cowen Heads Fabian Publicity in Albany Larry Cowen, recently appointed manager of Proctor's Troy, has been named publicity director of Fabian Theatres in the Albany area in addi- tion. Cowen, prior to his four years' service as a Lt. Commander in the Navy, handled publicity for RKO Theatres in New York and Century Circuit, New York. Resigns RCA Post T. F. Joyce, general manager of the radio, phonograph and television de- partment of the Radio Corporation of America, has announced his resigna- tion from the company after 23 years of service. British Ask WPB for Raw Stock Quota (Continued from page 1) solution and has no intention of dis- criminating against foreign producers. United Artists, for one, which is scheduled to release a number of J. Arthur Rank films here, having al- ready released "Mr. Emmanuel," as the first, and 20th Century-Fox, which will also release some British films/' are understood to have stated tha^ since they have only sufficient stock for domestic releases, they would be hard put to undertake distribution of foreign films with their limited stock supply. Two Cities' "The Way Ahead," which 20th-Fox will release, has been sent back to England for printing, it is understood, and if a solution is not forthcoming from the WPB, possibil- ity exists that the British industry may attempt to secure its raw stock for pictures for the American market from stock which American distribu- tors are using for releases in the Unit- ed Kingdom, possibly creating a dif- ficult situation there for American companies. Stanley Adams, head of WPB's Consumers Durable Goods division, in Washington, has said, however, that the agency has "no intention of dis- criminating against foreign produc- ers." Set Decorators May Appeal to Roosevelt Hollywood, Feb. 28. — Set Decora- tors Local 1421, which yesterday stood ready to strike unless the pro- ducers acted on their plea for recog- nition ordered by the War Labor Board, tonight deferred action pending receipt of a reply from the WLB to a wire opposing the telegraphed request of the producers that WLB set aside arbitrator Thomas Tongue's decision awarding the union jurisdiction. Decorators' business manager Ed Mussa said, "We are confident the WLB will support the arbitrator's de- cision. If not, we are prepared to appeal to President Roosevelt for an order instructing the WLB to do so." Cinema Lodge to Be Cited by Treasury CJnema Lodge is among the 60 B'nai B'rith lodges and auxiliaries in the Metropolitan Council of B'nai B'rith which will receive citations from the War Finance Committee of the U. S. Treasury Department here tonight for its participation in the re- cent Sixth War Loan. The B'nai B'rith War Service Com- mittee of the Council accounted for the sale of $29,077,540 in bonds in the drive to lead all the special groups section of the WFC for New York, according to S. Arthur Glixon and Helen Colin, co-chairmen of the B'nai B'rith committee. Rites for Dr. Smith Services for Dr. Joseph Smith, father of Edward Smith, Motion Pic- ture Daily staff member, were held in New York yesterday morning. Dr. Smith is also survived by his sister, Sophia. He was a member of the New York Psychoanalytic Society and the Doctors Club of Brooklyn, and was a retired brigadier general of the U. S. Army. BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE PRINTS THIS BOXOFFICE NEWS! Leo Planning to Make Cartoon Sequel For Popular "Red Hot Riding Hood" NEW YORK— Exhibitors who booked and rebooked Metro's most popular cartoon t< date, "Red Hot Riding Hood," will be gl£ to learn that a sequel is soon to be releasee The original had the greatest number of bookings of any M-G-M short subject in its 18-year history — over 15,000. It is expect- ed that it will garner 3,000 more bookings before its popularity wanes. In addition to setting a new record for bookings, this cartoon, produced under the direction of Fred Quimby and released in May 1943, created a new cartoon character "Red." Since the release of "Red Hot Riding Hood" the M-G-M studios have been swamped with requests. iimijEW'iii i ni "Red" and the wol will be irrwletro's forthcoming Technicolor, cartoon, "The Shooting of Dan McGoo," jn which the former will be seen as [-stage voice reciteT'TE'e" famous Robert W. Service poem, a travesty in which "Red" figures is enacted. The voice of Imogene Lynn, featured solo- ist with Artie Shaw's new orchestra is heard singing "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey." The studio plans to present "Red" in modernized versions of story book charac- ters. In "Swingshift Cindy" she will be a modern Cinderella, who is a rug-cutter, while in "Uncle Tom's Cabana" she will play Little Eva, a swingster from the bayous. "Get ready boys for THE SHOOTING OF DAN McGOO! M-G-M's "THE SHOOTING OF DAN McGOO," Ihe Technicolor sequel to "Red Hot Riding Hood" started off Washington's Birthday with 18 ter- rific test bookings! Get it now while it's Red Hot! VMGM> RedCToss Drive — March 15-21.' Watch For Press Book! Use ItJ s Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 1, 1945 WPB Limits Houses, May Cut Permits (.Continued from page 1) ized by the recreation section of the Office of Civilian Requirements are in Group 1 areas. About 75 authoriza- tions are understood to be outstand- ing. The Board's concern over the con- struction situation is due to the dif- ficult manpower problem which pre- vails in the Group 1 areas. Many of the projects for which authorizations are outstanding have been held up by the inability to secure labor, al- though there have also been delays due to slow deliveries of material, particularly steel structural shapes, orders for which have been laid aside by the mills under the pressure of military requirements. The "difficult labor situation has been recognized by the OCR recreation section in the handling of building applications over a period of many months, and authorizations have been issued only for projects most urgent- ly needed. Since the military setback experienced in Europe in December, practically no new theatres have been authorized, although a few grants have been made for the reconstruc- tion of burned-out houses and for con- versions for theatre use where only small amounts of material and labor were required. In view of the manpower problem, it is believed that no further construc- tion beyond that for which a most urgent need can be shown will be au- thorized until the end of the war in Europe. Al Rosen Associated With B'way Producer Al Rosen, former manager of Loew's State, here, and more recently of Michael Todd's office, has become associated w7ith James Elliott, who will produce the Broadway comedy, "Too Hot for Maneuvers." Richard Arlen, Republic player, has been signed for a leading role, and Helen Parrish, Universal starlet, is also slated for a part in the show, which is expected to open on Broad- way about April 15, after a Boston tryout. Columbia is reported to have manifested interest in film rights. Legion Classifies Seven More Films The Legion of Decency has classi- fied seven more pictures as follows : Class A-l, RKO's "The Enchanted Cottage" and Columbia's "Leave It to Blondie"; Class A-II, RKO's "Be- trayal from the East" and 20th Cen- tury-Fox's "Circumstantial Evidence" ; Class B, "I Was Faithful" (Cynara), Samuel Goldwyn film which Film Classics is reissuing. Republic's "The Phantom Speaks," and Columbia's "Tonight and Every Night." Singer to Coast Confab Sumer Singer, account executive for the Buchanan Agency, here, will leave for Hollywood tomorrow to confer with U. A. Coast producers on advertising programs for new prod- uct. During his several weeks' stay in Hollywood, Singer will confer with Benedict Bogeaus, Edward Small, Constance Bennett. Samuel Goldwyn and executives of International Pic- tures. 10 Films Are Above House Averages in 14 Cities (Continued from page 1) many instances include Washington's Birthday business, with mild weather prevailing in most sections of the country Xine other films are above house averages in the 14 key cities. The cities covered are: Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Denver, Boston, Buffalo, Chi- cago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis. Toronto, Los Angeles, Cincin- nati, Indianapolis and Cleveland. The leading films are : "The Three Cabal- leros." "I'll Be Seeing You," "A Song to Remember," "Music for Millions," "Here Come the Waves," "To Have and Have Not," "Objective Burma," "The Fighting Lady" and "Hangover Square." In extended holdovers, "Keys of the Kingdom" and "Tonight and Every Night" are also drawing heavy receipts. 'St, Louis' Outstanding "Meet Me in St. Louis," which is easily the outstanding grosser nation- all}' for the month of February, was a strong §49,000 better than house averages in reports from eight thea- tres in seven of the key cities cov- ered. It was a record breaker in Pittsburgh with $16,300 above ; a lead- er in Boston, scoring $13,700 above in two theatres, and wras very strong in an initial week in Chicago with $16,- 500 above. It continued strong in all holdover situations. "The Three Caballeros," in initial weeks in Buffalo, Boston, Baltimore and Cincinnati : brought outstanding business. It was $6,000 above in Bos- ton ; $7,800 above on a dual in Buffa- lo ; more than twice as much as aver- age in Cincinnati, and good in Balti- more combined with a stage show. "I'll Be Seeing You" went $9,200 above in a big initial week in Phila- delphia, continued strong in a second week in Cincinnati, and held up splen- didly in a third week in Cleveland. "A Song to Remember" brought a record-breaking $64,000 in two thea- tres in Los Angeles, where the house averages are a total of $35,300, and continued to draw well in a third week in Buffalo. "Music for Millions" was a big $17,100 above in reports from four theatres in Baltimore, St. Louis, In- dianapolis and Cleveland, being a leader in all four cities. "Here Come the Waves" was a sturdy $18,700 above in reports from six theatres in five cities with holdovers predominat- ing. It was big in third weeks in two Los Angeles theatres and in Kansas City, and in a second week in Phila- delphia. It was the leader in Buffalo on an initial week with moderate busi- ness being done in Denver. "Objective Burma" w-as $26,900 above in reports from nine theatres in Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, Balti- more, Cincinnati and Los Angeles. It was a big $12,500 above in Philadel- phia on an initial week almost $9,- 000 above in initial weeks in two theatres in Denver. It was also strong in first weeks in Boston, Baltimore and Cincinnati, and continued to hold up well in a third wreek in Chicago and in second weeks in three Los An- geles theatres. 'To Have' Strong "To Have and Have Not" was al- most 510,000 above in extended hold- over runs in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati and St. Louis and was a leader in an initial week in Boston. "The Fighting Lady" drew big busi- ness in an initial week in Philadelphia, playing alone as it is in New York ; was profitable in Toronto, Indiana- polis and Cleveland, teamed with "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier." It was further supported by a stage show, in an initial week in Cleveland. "Hangover Square" brought $5,200 above in reports from five theatres in three cities with a good business being recorded in a first week in Baltimore, as a dual on a moveover in Denver, and in three theatres in Kansas City in an initial week. "The Keys of the Kingdom" scored impressively in a first week in two theatres in Boston and continued to hold up well in Pittsburgh in a fourth week, in a fifth week in Chicago and in a second week in Toronto. It was a slow starter in Cleveland. "Tonight and Every Night" brought $45,750 in holdover dates in four Los Angeles theatres and in one house in Denver. "Guest in the House" drew good business in Chicago and Phila- delphia in initial weeks, being $6,200 above in Philadelphia, and $4,600 above in Chicago. "For Whom the Bell Tolls," in first weeks at popular prices in Baltimore and St. Louis, proved to be a sturdy grosser with almost $5,400 above. "Hollywood Canteen" was big in a first week in Kansas City, and "Here Come the Co-Eds" was strong in ini- tial weeks in Pittsburgh and Cincin- nati, with $4,100 above being recorded. Extend War Damage Policies 12 Months Washington, Feb. 28. — The War Damage Corp. announced tonight that all war damage policies will be ex- tended automatically for a period of 12 months from the date of expira- tion without the payment of addition- al premium or other charge. A simi- lar extension was granted last year because no claims had been incurred from enemy damage to property with- in the United States. 'Powder' Opens March 10 "Keep Your Powder Dry," M-G-M picture about the Wacs, has been set to open at the Criterion Theatre, here, on Saturday. March 10. Five More M-G-M Exploiteers Here Five more M-G-M field promotion men will arrive here Monday to spend a week at the home office visiting de- partment executives. Arriving will be Floyd Fitzsimmons, Albany ; Ed Gall- ner, Philadelphia ; Jack Gilmore, Buf- falo ; Burt McKenzie, Boston ; and Warren Slee, Chicago. Smith to Tell Plans Fred Smith, Blue Network adver- tising - publicity director, recently elected a vice-president, will discuss the company's advertising and pro- motion plans with representatives of the press at a luncheon at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, here, today. Genesee's Clearance Reduction Sustained Award of the Buffalo tribunal ar- bitrator in reducing clearance of the Bailey Theatre, Buffalo, operated by Dipson Theatres, over the Genesee, Buffalo, operated by Basil Bros., to . seven days from 14 has been affirmed by the arbitration appeal board, the American Arbitration Association re- ports here. ^ ~~\ Complainant, in original demand f^ , f arbitration, said that the 14 days ~ clearance granted the Bailey by Para- mount, Loew's, RKO, Warners and 20th Century-Fox was unreasonable and that the Genesee be permitted to exhibit its films "immediately after said films have been exhibited at the Bailey." Dipson Theatres, intervenor, appealed the award asking that the original clearance be restored. At the same time, the AAA re- ported that Frank Higgins, operating the Lake City Theatre, Lake City, Wash., has withdrawn his some-run complaint filed in the Seattle tribunal against 20th Century-Fox, Warners and Loew's. Temple Theatre Asks Clearance Abolition Affiliated Theatres, operating the Temple, Philadelphia, has filed a clearance complaint against RKO and Warners in the Philadelphia tribunal, the American Arbitration Association reported here yesterday. Complainant claims that for a con- siderable time, one-half of the feature pictures have been licensed clear of the Century Theatre, Philadelphia, by the defendants and the other half fol- lowing seven days after the Century. On those films played after the Cen- tury, complainant continues, there has been an undue delay encountered in booking Warners and RKO product because the Century has been dilatory in booking pictures licensed by those distributors. Complainant believes that neither theatre should have clearance over the other, and asks that all ex- isting clearances between the two be abolished. Blumenstock Maps 'Co-Pilot' Splurge Buffalo, Feb. 28. — With the co- operation of the Curtiss-Wright plant, maker of the fighting planes used by Col. Robert Lee Scott, author of "God is My Co-Pilot," an opening along the same promotional lines as the world premiere held last week in Macon, Ga., will be put on here for Warners' film version. Among the inducements offered, in addition to various advertising, pub- licity and promotion activities which Curtiss-Wright will put behind the picture, is a potential audience of 100,000 from the plant's employees and families alone. Campaign plans are being mapped out with Mort Blumen- stock, head of Warners' advertising- publicity in the East. The picture probably will go into Shea's Buffalo sometime in April. To Promote 'Speaking' Hollywood, Feb. 28. — Louise Ran- dall Pierson. author of "Roughly Speaking," will shortly begin a cross- country lecture tour in connection with key city play dates of Warners' film version of her book. ? tte first sensational <. tte about oZ of f fr0m T-v 3Ses ■» years from Paramount WARNERS OBJECTIVE, BURMA Errol Flynn D— 144 mins. (411) (Rev. 1/26/45) ROUGHLY SPEAKING Rosalind Russell Jack Carson D — 128 mins. (412) (Rev. 1/31/45) HOTEL BERLIN Faye Emerson Helmut Dantine Raymond Massey D — (413) UNIVERSAL HERE COMB THE CO-EDS Abbott and Costello Phil Spitalny and Orch. C— 88 mins. (9002) (Rev. 1/31/45) HER LUCKY NIGHT Andrews Sisters Marsha O'DriscoU M — 63 mins. (Rev. 1/29/45) THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN 1 Boris Karloff John Carradine D— 71 mins. (9013) (Rev. 12/22/44) THE MUMMY'S CURSE Lon Chaney (Rev. 12/22/44) FRISCO SAL Susanna Foster Turhan Bey M — 94 mins. (Rev. 2/16/45) SUDAN (Color) Maria Montez Jon Hall Turhan Bey THE HOUSE OF FEAR Basil Rathbone Nigel Bruce D — 69 mins. I'LL REMEMBER APRIL Gloria Jean Kirby Grant M — 64 mins. < X o X H o ^•2 J5 » ;S c Jg. tS- 5 3 * "O c M » . _ -5 « u y o j. a o ^ Co 3 ^ ■« hi "J ^> ^ , K J- § 5 2* fal~ to « .5 o> En" 00 » fee 1 0. I* 0> 3 >< o H, g 5" -J .2 fa) c a, .3 CO w 0 fa] 1* 2 <5tJ a. Q CO C — . 0 SQO e < . * 8W rfiiO ■£ Ceo > ^ K OS O »N O b — >0S S S3 °< °Q £:? o THUNDERHEAD SON OF FLICKA Roddy McDowall Preston Foster 0—78 mins. (518) (Rev. 2/1/45) CIRCUMSTAN- TIAL EVIDENCE Lloyd Nolan Michael O'Shea D— 67 mins. (519) (Rev. 2/15/45) o I— I Q < O « CO un I » ut- Ed ; 4J hH W 1 = HO o o S 5f §•§ 00 lJ-1 (U i-l a a. rt JS co . C O u - M W - o - h4 n o fe« to.: S3 s « ' a. 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NO. 42 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1945 TEN CENTS I Brien, King, Matlack Are Top Showmen Win Quigley Awards for Year's Best Campaigns Lige Brien, James King and Jack Matlack have been adjudged the nation's top showmen, the win- ners of the 11th annual Quigley Awards compe- tition for thea- tre showman- ship conducted by the Man- agers Round- Table of Mo- tion Picture Herald. The results of the judg- ing by some 50 experts in the fields of adver- tising, publicity, s h o w m anship and motion pic- ture merchan- dising were made known here yester- (Continued on page 8) Lige Brien Companies Using Up Funds in Spain Considerable amounts of blocked money, which U. S. companies have accumulated in Spain, are being used up in expenses incurred to maintain employes there, because virtually no new product is being admitted, it is learned here. Although Spain is continuing to is- sue required import permits, which on the surface would seem to indicate that the Spanish Government has no desire to restrain imports, practice has been to curb these imports through the Ministry of Commerce, which has asked that the companies proceed slowly in using up the licenses. Effect of this practice on Spanish theatres will not be felt for some time, it is understood, because a tremend- ous backlog of films has been accu- (Continued on page 8) ApprovesFCC Video Plans Washington, March 1. — There is no fundamental conflict between the immediate post-war television service and the long-range development of the new medium insofar as the public is concerned, the Philco Corp. said to- day. In a statement for presentation to the Federal Communications Com- mission, now holding hearings on pro- posed television, FM and other fre- quency allocations, David B. Smith, director of research for Philco, said- that by continuing commercial tele- vision on present frequencies, the FCC will be stimulating the fullest possible development of postwar television, and will give the public benefit of the new service as soon as war conditions per- mit. "We believe that the 12 channels proposed by the FCC for immediate commercial television, plus those (Continued on page 8) Jack Levin Resigns As CPB Director Jack H. Levin yesterday announced his resignation as director of the Copyright Protection Bureau with which he had been associated for the past 17 years. Levin's new plans are scheduled to be announced today. Deny LaGuardia's 1 AM. Curfew Plea Washington, Mar. 1. — War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes today refused a re- quest from Mayor LaGuardia of New York for an exten- sion of the midnight curfew to 1 a. m. LaGuardia's request is be- lieved to have been made as a result of expressions by members of the City Council favoring a 1 a. m. curfew. Loew's Seeks Sites In South America Selection of possible sites for addi- tional theatres in Central and South America by Arthur M. Loew, presi- dent of Loew's International, in those territories where the company is not adequately represented, may be accom- plished as the result of his current trip there. Loew's presently operates one each in San Juan, Puerto Rico ; Sao Paulo, Brazil ; Montevideo, Uru- guay ; Santiago, Chile ; and one in Lima, Peru, and three in Rio de Ja- neiro. Loew, who is making his first for- eign trip since rejoining Loew's, is accompanied by Sam Burger, special (Continued oil page 8) Rathvon Appeals for Final Red Cross Pledge Push With the sky the limit and with $6,793,060 collected last year set up as a figure to be surpassed during the industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15-21, N. Peter Rath- von, national industry chairman of the drive, is urging the few remaining theatremen who have not yet mailed in pledge cards to area chairmen to do so immediately. Meanwhile, in advance of the thea- tre collection week, the nationwide canvass by volunteer workers began yesterday, with $200,000,000 sought throughout the country— $21,187,000 of it in New York City. The pro- gram here was inaugurated at noon in Rockefeller Center, with Red Bar- ber, city drive chairman, presiding. The New York Metropolitan area theatre collection campaign will be launched on Wednesday, March 15, with a demonstration at the Statue of Liberty replica in Times Square, pre- ceded by a parade. On this occasion, a group of nurses' aids will be gradu- ated with the traditional capping cere- monies instituted by Florence Night- ingale, and it is hoped that one of the nurses who served at Bataan will be present to administer the oath. Reports pouring in to Leon J. Bam- berger, national campaign director, show that 13,071 theatres have already been pledged. This is 98 per cent of (Continued on page 6) WMC Surveys Industry, May Requisition Board Probing Theatres, Exchanges on Manpower Regional War Manpower Com- mission directors in the many criti- cal labor areas are understood to be contacting film exchanges and theatre circuits to obtain information concerning the present numerical strength and other details about their staffs, a move which is viewed in some industry quarters as a prelude to a general requisitioning of a percentage of the workers. Thus far, a specific requisi- tioning of industry workers for jobs considered more essential by the WMC has only taken place in a few isolated critical labor areas, including Omaha, Chicago and Indianapolis. In- dustry spokesmen believe the (Continued on page 8) Hearing Wednesday In Studio Dispute Hollywood, Mar. 1. — Acting on the producers' request, the National La- bor Relations Board today, set March 7 for a hearing to decide whether conflicting claims of Set Decorators Local 1421 and IATSE Local 44 war- rant holding an election to determine the appropriate bargaining unit. Although agreeing to allow its members to participate in such an election, if held, Set Decorators offi- cials described this as a "separate mat- ter" and continued firm in their de- mand that the War Labor Board en- force its arbitrator's order directing the producers to deal with 1421 with- out further delay. A union spokes- (Continued on page 8) Reviewed Today Review of "Hotel Berlin" appears on page 3. 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 2, 1945 Amateur Contests Return to Chicago Chicago, March 1. — Weekly ama- teur shows as business stimulants, are making a eomeback in film houses here. The feature is used to supple- ment weak film programs. The Down- town, Loop theatre, offers amateur shows on Fridays, the Oriental, on Mondays. Outlying theatres are stag- ing amateur contests both to bolster business and to keep people away from the downtown area on Saturdays. The neighborhood theatres include : Logan, with shows Tuesday and Saturday, and the Oak, Fox, East, and Park-, way, on Saturdays. Personal Mention Kernan in New Job, Given a Luncheon William E. Kernan, who on Mon- day will become affiliated with Dona- hue and Coe, here, was tendered _ a luncheon yesterday at the Hotel Bris- tol by his RKO associates. RKO ex- ecutives attending included Malcolm Kingsberg, James M. Brennan. Har- old Mirisch, Al Dawson, H. Russell Emde, Charles B. McDonald, William J. Kernan (father of the guest of honor), John Hearns, Lou Goudereau and Joseph di Lorenzo (master of ceremonies). Kernan was presented with a watch and scroll, on behalf of the group, by Harry Mandel. James A. Procaccini, member of RKO's statistical department, has been promoted to the post vacated by Kernan. Elect Shapiro SOPEG Chairman in Merger Sam Shapiro of 20th Century-Fox has been elected chairman ; Herman Liveright, Paramount, vice-chair- man ; Grace Walsh, RKO was re- elected secretary and Otto Langer, Loew's, was elected treasurer of the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, Local No. 1, United Office and Professional Workers of America. Sidney Young, who headed SOPEG before it merged with UOPWA Local No. 1. was elected secretary-treasurer of UOPWA, and Ellen Davidson was elected Guild representative of the SOPEG. ' Vet s* 9 Citizenship Award to Shore Dinah Shore, radio-screen star, be- comes the first entertainer in America to receive the 'Citizenship Medal' award of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Commander-in-Chief Jean A. Brunner announces. Formal presenta- tion of the medal, which is awarded to citizens with the highest records of service to the country, will be made by Brunner during one of Miss Shore's "Open House" broadcasts this Spring. The honor is being accorded the singer in tribute to her morale-build- ing services to our fighting men and women. TOM CONNORS, 20th Century- Fox vice-president in charge of distribution, will return to New York today from a Southern business trip. • Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio Pic- tures president, is resting comfortably at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles, where he expects to remain for two or three weeks. • Lt. James O'Shea, son of M-G-M's Eastern sales manager, has been assigned to the Louisville Air Base after 18 months overseas. • Colonel Robert L. Scott, author of "God Is My Co-Pilot," will arrive in New York today for a series of radio appearances. • William F. Rodgers, Loew's vice- president in charge of distribution, arrived on the Coast yesterday for a 10-day stay. • Edward M. Schnitzer, United Artists Western sales manager, has returned to New York from a Mid- western trip. • Sgt. Tom Evans, U. S. Army, for- merly of the Penn Theatre, Wilkes- Barre, Pa., and Jeanne Linzay have married. • Norman H. Moray, general sales manager of Warners Vitaphone shorts, will leave the Coast today for New York. • Joseph Deitch, film buyer for Tri- States Theatres, Des Moines, is in New York. • Sam Shirley, M-G-M Chicago dis- trict manager, will leave here today for Chicago. Carl Floyd of Stein and Floyd Theatres, Atlanta, is the father of a 7^2 -pound boy. • Jack Bowen, M-G-M New York manager will leave here today for a Miami vacation. GEORGE L. BAGNALL, United Artists vice-president, will leave the Coast today for a two-week New York visit. • E. C. Grainger, president of the Shea Circuit, will leave March 10 for a vacation at Boca Raton, Florida. Jack Shea, booker and buyer for the circuit, will return to New York Mon- day from Boston. • Lt. John Scully, Jr., son of John Scully, Universal New England dis- trict manager, has been freed by the Russians from a German prison camp in Poland, his family has been notified. • Nicholas Goggin, Cazenovia, N. Y., exhibitor, is in a Syracuse hospi- tal with serious injuries sustained when he fell from his roof while shoveling snow. • Ruth Gillis, assistant to Mike Simons, editor of The Distributor and Lo, M-G-M publications, will leave New York today for a Miami vaca- tion. • E. K. O'Shea, M-G-M Eastern sales manager, and Mrs. O'Shea, will leave New York today for Boca Raton, Florida, for a vacation. • Edgar B. Hatrick, M-G-M News of the Day executive, is vacationing at Colorado Springs. • John Murphy, assistant to Joseph R. Vogel, Loew vice-president in charge of out-of-town theatres, is in Miami on vacation. • Tom Walsh, general manager of the Comerford upstate New York the- atres, is the father of a boy, his third. He has one daughter. • Jacob Wilk, Warner Eastern story and talent head, returned to New York yesterday from the Coast. • Herb Elisburg, operator of the Studio, Chicago, is in Miami recuper- ating from an illness. Briskin on Navy Film Assignment Washington, March 1. — Samuel Briskin, lieutenant-colonel in the Army and formerly executive produc- er for Columbia and RKO, has begun a three-week assignment on Navy mo- tion picture production at the request of Secretary of the Navy Forrestal. Briskin's duties will be in connection with the operations of the Navy Pho- tographic Science Laboratory and al- lied phases of Navy film production. Navy Photographic Services is headed by Capt. Gene Markey, USNR. To Honor Magill Philadelphia, March 1. — Mort Magill, United Artists branch man- ager, will be feted at a luncheon to be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on March 5. The affair, in recognition of his recent promotion as branch head, will be sponsored by Motion Picture Associates. Monogram and PRC Making OWI Film Hollywood, March 1. — Phil Karl- stein, Monogram director, will film an untitled short subject for the Of- fice of War Information and the War Activities Committee, on lend-lease. The film, which will be produced by Monogram, is the joint effort of the latter and PRC and was arranged for by I. E. Chadwick, president of the Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers. Ryan Starts First For New Company Hollywood, March 1. — Phil Ryan's first picture for his recently-formed company will be "Perilous Holiday," current Collier's serial by Major Rob- ert Carson. The film is scheduled to go into production in the Spring and will be made, in part, in Mexico City. Major release is anticipated. NEW YORK THEATRES 2ND WEEK The Greatest Lode of Thrills in Town! "THE BIG BONANZA" starring RICHARD ARLEN ROBERT LIVINGSTON JANE FRAZEE wiih George "Gabby" Hayes A Republic Picture First N. Y. Showing REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Streets i RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 8howplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Picture la TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS' Judy GARLAND Margaret O'BRIEN IN PERSON VINCENT LOPEZ and ORCH. r Paramount presents Veronica Sonny LAKE TUFTS Eddie Marjorie Bracken Reynolds "BRING on the GIRLS" In Person The Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald Buck & Bubbles Cootie Williams and his Orchestra . PA*AMO£t#r s i r j PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE — A RKO RELEASE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor ASTOR Continuous Doors open Broadway & 930 A.M. 45th Street Popular Prlees WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLEROS' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radlt Picture* NOW - - - Brandt's GLOBE r BETTY SMITH'S A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN PlCTUR $V$7?I&££ ft GAY, SPRINGTIME REVUE ROXY 20, 7lh Ave. & 50Hi St. i MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York.'* Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, tt the post office at New York, N. Y„ under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Friday, March 2, 1945 Motion Picture daily 3 Story of Manila In All Newsreels First newsreel pictures of the battle of Manila were re- leased to local theatres yes- terday. The pictures show the general advance on the city through the shattered and riddled suburbs, the perilous crossings of the city's rivers, the arrival of General Mac- Arthur on the battle scene and, the burning of large areas by the enemy. There are also scenes of the release of prisoners from Japanese con- centration camps. The five major newsreels are all devoted entirely to the subject. Proposes Study of N. Y. Films, Arts Albany, N. Y., Mar. 1. — Sen. Frederick Coudert, Manhattan, Re- publican, has introduced a bill cre- ating a temporary commission to study the cultural resources of the state, and to devise ways and means for the ad- vancement and promotion of the thea- tre, music, drama and the fine arts in the post-war era. The commission ,would consist of seven members, five appointed by the Governor and one each by the president pro tem of the Senate and speaker of the Assembly. Its inventory of public and private institutions engaged in New York State in artistic and cultural activities would also include grand opera, sym- phony orchestras, operetta, drama, choral societies, ballet, painting, sculp- ture and allied arts and crafts. The bill, which has been strongly endorsed by leaders in the respective fields, is designed to put New York in the forefront of states encouraging native American culture. Mexico City Houses Adopt Uniform Wage Mexico City, Mar. 1— Exhibitors' operating costs have risen with accept- ance of employee demands for a 'standardized wage' for the 75 houses in the city. The new daily wage scale, highest for workers to date, is Chief of employes, $5.40 ; two pro- jectionists, $5.40 each; one box office girl, $3.75; two doormen, $3.30 each; one guard, $2.75; four porters, $2.10 each, and one bellhop, $1.80. To Broadcast Awards Hollywood, Mar. L — All presen- tations in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 17th An- nual awards ceremony on March 15 will be broadcast coast-to-coast by the Blue Network over 196 stations. The program will run 9:30-10:30 p.m., PWT. 'Bernadette* Returns As part of the company's 30th an- niversary, 20th Century-Fox has ar- ranged for a return engagement, at popular prices, of "The Song of Bernadette," at the Rivoli Theatre, New York, on March 14, following "Keys of the Kingdom." Altec Renews Homan Chicago, March 1. — Altec Service, announces that Homan Photoplay Co., Chicago, has renewed agreements with Altec to service sound equipment Review "Hotel Berlin" (Warners) THE timeliness of this picture of the final, numbered days before the over- throw of Nazism and the collapse of Germany is its greatest asset and the item of most interest to exhibitors. The time of the action of the widely read Vicki Baum novel has been advanced in the screenplay from 1943, when the defeat of Germany was just beginning to become apparent to Germans, to the present time, when defeat is accepted as inevitable. The result is a picture which, if it is not quite out of today's newspapers, is not enough unlike them for the difference to be important. Added to its significant timeliness is action, suspense, romance and other tried and proven ingredients that make this exploitation picture a "natural" for the box office. Exhibitors should find it as easy to sell as the current newspapers whose headlines sell themselves. The Nazi capital's Hotel Berlin is the show window in this production for the assorted types that have made Germany what it is. There are Nazi party officials, Gestapo men,- the military class, the civilians favored by either or both. And there are members of the Underground. One of the latter is played by Helmut Dantine, who finds himself trapped in the hotel by the Gestapo. Given refuge in her suite by a German actress, played by Andrea King, Dantine manages to elude his pursuers for 24 hours despite an ever tightening net and, once, only by killing a Gestapo leader who learned of Dantine's whereabouts through an informer, played by Faye Emerson. Even tually, by duping Kurt Kreuger, in the role of a Luftwaffe major, Dantine makes good his getaway and rejoins the Underground. Learning that the infatuated Nazi actress has betrayed him in order to save herself, Dantine shoots and kills her when she comes to Underground headquarters to plead her love for him. The two instances of cold-blooded, however desperate kill- ings, make the picture unsuitable for children. Upon this framework of the hunted and the hunters is superimposed a mini- ature of the last hours of Nazism, replete with military plots against Hitler, Gestapo vengeance and cruelty, the attempted flight of doomed party officials, excoriations of the German people and suggestions of groundwork being laid for the next Germanic war. The Louis Edelman production, directed by Peter Godfrey, keeps the sidelights in perspective while concentrating on the adventures of the Underground fugitive. Supporting roles are ably handled by a cast which includes Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Alan Hale, George Coulouris, Henry Daniell and Helene Thimig. Running time, 98 minutes. Adult classification. Release, March 17. Sheewin Kane Missouri Legislature Opposes Petrillo St. Louis, Mar. L — The Missouri Legislature has joined with Congress in attempting to legislate against James Petrillo and the AFM. A bill in- troduced by State Senator H. R. Wil- liams, of Cassville, would make it "nlawful for any person or group to interfere with the presentation, trans- mission or broadcast of any non-com- -nercial, cultural or other program by a tax-exempt school or civic organiza- tion. Film, Radio Included In New N.Y. Libel Law Albany, N. Y., Mar. 1. — Repre- sentative Steingut has introduced a bill in the Assembly here, which has been referred to the committee on codes, seeking to amend the state penal law with respect to libel. A new phase of the law states that it is libelous to expose any person or persons to hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy, through press, radio or motion pictures. To Vote on Sunday Films Lebanon, Tenn., Mar. 1. — Sunday films in Lebanon, started at the re- quest of military officials during the war _ maneuvers in this area, may be continued, but not until after the ques- tion is settled by an election. Push Sunday Shows Knoxville, Tenn., Mar. 1. — De- feated in its efforts to obtain Sunday films by election of the people, those who favor them plan to have a bill introduced in the Tennessee legislature, now in session. 1st Open- Air House in Maritime Provinces Halifax, N. S., Mar. 1. — First open-air theatre in the Maritime Provinces is being established in Fleming Park, suburban Halifax, by Mrs. Margaret Martin, who has been park concessionaire. City council has approved her ap- plication but will, however, retain su- pervision and control through the Park Commission. Mrs. Martin is now buying seats and equipment and expects to start operations about Mid- May and continue through September. Friedman Volunteers To Aid Burma Films London, Mar. 1. — Joseph Fried- man, Columbia's British managing director, and chairman of the Kine- matograph Renters Society services committee, has volunteered to visit Burma in order to straighten out the muddled film supply to Britain's "for- gotten 14th Army" but, as a conse- quence of speedy improvisation of a film supply here, the Army now feels that it can handle the situation. Theatre Competition Philadelphia, Mar. 1. — A bill which would permit churches, fire companies and servicemen's organiza- tions to conduct bingo games, provid- ing they meet certain State require- ments, is before the Senate's Law and Order Committee. Hollywood New NSS Machine Star Manufacturing Co., St. Louis, will manufacture a special 'theatre model' popcorn machine for distribu- tion by National Theatre Supply. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, March 1 COLUMBIA has borrowed Mar- jorie Reynolds from Paramount to star in a musical, "Song of Broad- way." She will play the role orig- inally announced for Marguerite Chap- man. . . . Leon Errol and Edgar Kennedy have been signed to new contracts by RKO Radio calling for each to star in six comedy shorts during the coming year. • Phil Ford, nephew of director John Ford, has been promoted to full directorship. He will handle the reins on "The Tiger Lady" for Universal. . . . Walter Colmes has acquired screen rights to "The Web" from Phillip Yordan, and will produce and direct it. . . . George Macready, who scored in Columbia's "A Song to Remember," has been signed by that studio to a long-term contract. • Phil Karlstein's first directorial as- signment under his new jour-picture contract with Monogram will be "Swing Parade," which Lindsley Par- sons is set to produce. . . . Universal 'has signed designer Travis Banton to a long-term deal. . . . William Girard will produce, and Robert Webb will direct "The Black Mart" for 20th Century-Fox. • "Powder Room," story by Barry Shipman, has been purchased by Col- umbia as a vehicle for Charles Star- rett and Smiley Burnette. Colbert Clark is set to produce under supervi- sion of Jack Fier. . . . Universal has exercised its option on Peggy Ryan and Lon Chaney. . . . Barre Lyndon has been signed to write the screen- play for "The Verdict," which Wil- liam Jacobs will produce for Warners, o Directors Frank MacDbnald and Lesley Selander have had' their con- tracts renewed by Republic. . . . Louis King has been named to di- rect "Command to Embezzle" for 20th Century-Fox. . . . Louise All- britton and Rod Cameron will co- star with Susannah Foster and Robert Paige in Universal's "Once Upon a Dream." • Beverly Johnson has been signed to a term deal by Paramount. She will make h^r first screen appearance in the Mitchell Leisen production, "Mas- querade in Mexico." . . . Ruth Don- nelly has been selected for a featured role in the initial Rainbow Production, "The Bells of St. Mary's,'1, to be re- leased by RKO ivith Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman as' co-stars. • David O. Selznick has given Scott McKay an important part in "Duel in the Sun," which King Vidor is direct- ing. . . . Dennis Morgan is set for one of the leading roles in "The Hasty Heart," recently acquired by Warners. . . . Brenda Joyce will play the femi- nine lead in Universal's "Pillow of Death." . . . Lindsley Parsons and James S. Burkett are leaving soon for Mexico City to secure background shots for future Monogram produc- tions. . . . Fred Kohlmar, producer, will join 20th Century-Fox upon the conclusion of his present commitment. f Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 2, 1945 Approves Minimum 55-Cents an Hour Washington, Mar. 1. — The War Labor Board has opened the way for the establishment of a minimum wage of 55 cents an hour in all American industries, provided it will not push prices up. The increase does not go into effect automatically, but the Board has au- thorized its regional boards to approve hourly wage rates up to 55 cents where employers voluntarily seek the increase or a union and employer join in the request. The authority now being granted the regional boards, according to the Board's statement "is in effect an ex- tension up to 55 cents of the authority given two years ago when the regional boards were authorized to fix rates up to 50 cents for the purpose of de- termining adjustments to correct sub- standards of living." In dispute cases, however, the Board authorized its 10 regional units to "take into consideration appropriate prevailing rates in making determina- tions." War Forces Milwauke House to Drop Acts Milwaukee, Mar. 1. — Unable to get sufficient vaudeville acts because of transportation difficulties, because so many players are with USO-Camp Shows, plus a shortage of name bands due to draft losses, officials of Standard Theatres, operating the Riverside, sole remaining vaudeville house here, will shift on March 30 to a continuous film policy at that the- atre. The Riverside, now showing a single 'A' film along with vaudeville, will resort to double billing, adding a 'B' picture to each program. Hooper Surveys to Cover 75,000,000 C. E. Hooper, radio audience meas- urer, has announced a plan involving 'sampling' of audiences in population areas between 2,500 and 25,000 which will enable it to determine the radio program choice of a 74,432,702 seg- ment of the nation's population. This is an extension of the cur- rent Hooper '89-City Report" which samples a cross-section of all different types of radio service cities ranging from the largest down to 25,000 pop- ulation. NYU Film Conference Production needs and uses of films in education will be the subject of a two-day conference of teachers, and producers and distributors of educa- tional films at New York University, here, March 23-24. New films in eight special fields will be shown, and dis- cussions on techniques of presentation will be held. "The Film in the Future of Education," will also be a topic of discussion. WANTED THEATER Private party wants theatre in town of 1700 or over, Northwestern N. Y. State near Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo or Rochester. Write, L. BRANIGAN 1234 32nd St. Des Moines, Iowa Photo- by Staff Photographer The national committee of the motion picture industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15-21, are pictured above, read- ing from left to right: Bernard M. Kamber, assistant to distribu- tor chairman Gradwell L. Sears; L. E. Thompson, national ex- ecutive coordinator; John J. O'Connor, home office contributions; Harry Mandel, national publicity co-director; N. Peter Rathvon, national chairman; Leon J. Bamberger, national campaign direc- tor; Herman Robbins, trailers and accessories; Henderson M. Richey, meeting arrangements; E. M. Schnitzer, assistant to dis- tributor chairman Sears; S. Barret McCormick, national publicity co-director; Arthur M. Brilant, national publicity coordinator. Rathvon Appeals for Final Red Cross Pledge Push (Continued from page 1) the 13,434 that were pledged last year. Total number of houses in the country is 16,480. Five exchange territories, so far, are pledged 100 per cent; 200 theatres in Albany, 292 in Buffalo, 500 in San Francisco, 56 in Rhode Island and 33 in Delaware. Other pledges stand as follows: Atlanta, 526 of 978 houses; Boston, 485 of 682; Charlotte, 402 of 555; Chicago, 695 of 710; Cincinnati, 371 of 544; Cleveland, 450 of 480; Dallas 780 of 1,030; Denver, 139 of 318; Des Moines, 320 of 381; Detroit, 357 of 582; Indianapolis, 260 of 360; Kansas City, 424 of 540; Los Angeles, 421 of 619; Memphis, 430 of 434; Milwaukee, 343 of 355; Minneapolis, 710 of 826; New Haven, 181 of 185; Northern New Jersey, 247 of 262; New Orleans, 408 of 531; New York, 724 of 728; Oklahoma City, 348 of 434; Omaha, 295 of 356; Philadelphia, 623 of 629r Pittsburgh, 601 of 606; Portland, 201 of 219; St. Louis, 464 of 550; Salt Lake City, 178 of 378; Seattle, 135 of 281; Wash- ington, D. C, 60 of 63; Kentucky, 118 of 254; Virginia, 140 of 307; Maryland, 154 of 222. Set of Reminders With two weeks left before the start of the collections, S. Barret McCor- mick and Harry Mandel, national publicity directors, have prepared the following check-list of reminders to all theatremen participating, with the suggestion that they contact their area public relations directors for addition- al help or information: Have you arranged for theatre dec- orations, valances, banners, flags, burgees, etc.? Did you get your gratis Red Cross Kit with a 40x60, 30x40, and midget cards? Are you all set for collections, including your volun- teer workers, a trained staff, Red Cross slide and special events? Are you using the ad slug? Did you re- ceive the Red Cross trailer and did you arrange for an opening day par- ade? Are your war heroes lined up to make appeals and did you get an official proclamation from the mayor, borough president or the governor? Have you secured radio cooperation and will your newspaper run a special editorial? Have you contacted your local Red Cross chapter? Are you holding a children's matinee and do you have a container at the box office? Are you living up to your pledge and has your staff contributed 100 per cent? Have you any school tie-ups, such as poster contests? Have you shown the Red Cross short and are you doing everything in your power to make this Red Cross drive the best ever held in your theatre? Ten commandments for Red Cross Week, prepared by national chairman Rathvon, are : (1) Collections every day for all seven days ; (2) Show the trailer and take collections at every performance; (3) Where possible, show "The Ene- my Strikes" just before the Red Cross trailer; (4) Be sure to have right kind of containers — glass jars where they can see money, preferable ; (5) Be sure house lights are up; (6) Use material sent by National Screen Service, and also the pressbook; (7) Have ample people to take the collec- tion; (8) Keep records and reports straight and send in promptly; (9) If possible, have appropriate music or transparency on screen; (10) Don't be afraid to take collections. WE Sales up 30% To $926,851,000 31 Stars Plead for Red Cross Campaign Thirty-one screen stars who have been overseas entertaining Armed Forces have joined in the campaign to enlist more theatres in the industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week by writing personal letters on behalf of the Red Cross to exhibitors, relating some of the war incidents seen abroad. Stars participating include: Fred Astaire, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Blondell, Hum- phrey Bogart, Mary Brian, Joe E. Brown, James Cagney, Jerry Colonna, Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Olivia de Havilland, Marlene Dietrich, Jinx Falkenberg, Kay Francis, Clark Gable, John Garfield, Paulette God- dard, Bob Hope, Al Jolson, Carole Landis, Francis Langford, Mitzi May- fair, George Raft, Martha Raye, Ed- ward G. Robinson, Ann Sheridan, Dinah Shore, Spencer Tracy and Vera Vague. Brooklyn Volunteers To Meet on Monday Red Cross volunteer workers who will £aptain the various Brooklyn theatres will meet Monday evening with Edward C. Dowden, chairman of the Brooklyn chapter theatre commit- tee, presiding. Addresses will be made bv Walter "Red" Barber, general chairman, New York City 1945 War Fund; Surrogate Francis D. Mc- Garey, chairman, community appeals ; Col. J. H. Bigley, executive director of the Brooklyn chapter, and several representatives of Brooklvn theatres. Mrs. Ruth Nathan, co-chairman of the Brooklyn chapter committee, and Mrs. Frances Gordon, chairman of displays, will also be present, and arrangements have been made for the appearance of a film star. Charles Skouras Opens San Francisco Meeting San Francisco, March 1. — Charles P. Skouras, president of Fox West Coast Theatres, presided at a lunch- eon in the St. Francis Hotel, here, opening Northern California's indus- try participation in the national Red Cross campaign. Earnings of Western Electric Co. and subsidiares were $13,858,000 in 1944, substantially the same as in the preceding year, nothwithstanding the fact that total sales amounted to $926,851,000, largely exceeding any previous year and running 30 per cent ahead of 1943, according to the an- nual reoort of the American Tele- | phone and Telegraph Co., released % here. Some 85 per cent of the sales were to the Government, com- pared with 83 per cent the year be- fore, and are subject to renegotia- tion, it was pointed out. Television Plans The statement reiterated that the Bell System expects to play an active role in bringing television to the pub- lic after the war by providing facili- ties over which programs can be transmitted throughout the entire country. "Standard telephone wires are now used for transmitting televi- sion pictures over short distances," the report said, adding: "Coaxial cables are also suitable for television networks, and the System is planning to construct several hundred thousand miles of such cables." Also predicted for the future were "new and increased fields for use of radio in the telephone business." It will probably be used increasingly for bridging water barriers and reaching isolated communities, the report ex- plained, pointing out also that micro- wave radio may be employed for long- distance transmission of sound pro- grams and television. Bell Telephone Laboratories, ac- cording: to the statement, continued last year to devote its efforts almost wholly to the needs of the fighting forces. As soon as possible, however, an experimental radio relay system between New York and Boston will be built and tested. Vou * need £XTR a ^ H W~ RA TIME 7 ^^^^^^WBBBW Alined fOP h t ""*). Just be*inf ' ^ W«*k ™ Three Th 8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 2, 1945 WMC Surveys Industry, May Requisition {Continued from page 1) WMC is awaiting action on the war-work - or - fight legislation now pending before the Senate before moving in generally on the industry to take some of its help. No industry-wide action is contem- plated either by the theatre division of the War Activities Committee or exchange operational heads of the film companies to contest the WMC at present, it is learned. The feeling is that the demand by the WMC that film workers' quotas be reduced by 10 per cent in some areas is not un- reasonable, if it is necessary, and the situation can be coped with provided key personnel is not demanded. Ac- tion will probably be taken where the demand for 10 per cent of personnel would really seriously interfere with normal operations. Elsewhere it is felt that the demand for a certain percentage of theatre personnel can be met if the WMC will step in and adjust contracts _ af- fecting union help, such as projection- ists and stagehands, where several are employed. Companies Using Up Funds in Spain (Continued from page 1) mulated in Spain in the past two years, with upwards of 350 films hav- ing been imported into that country in that period. RKO is understood to have sold some 60 films in two years, with most other companies selling at least 40 each. Recently, percentage selling of U. S. exports was eliminated and a flat rental basis substituted, by Government rul- ing, because Spanish authorities felt that percentage deals cost too much Total yearly Spanish grosses for all U. S. companies is estimated at about $3,000,000. Promote Four on Air Four new Paramount pictures will receive publicity on a single Lux Radio Theatre program Monday, over CBS. Alan Ladd, Ann Richards and Akim Tamiroff will appear in an adaptation of "Disputed Passage," and credit will be given "Salty O'Rourke" as Ladd's forthcoming picture; "Love Letters," as Miss Richards' next; "For Whom the Bell Tolls," as TamirofFs current pic- ture, and "Bring On the Girls," as an early release. E. M. Martin a V-P The appointment of Edwin M. Mar- tin as vice-president and secretary of Farnsworth Television and Radio Corp. is announced here by E. A. Nicholas, president. Martin has been with the company as secretary and counsel since 1939, when the pres- ent organization was formed. In ad- dition to his new duties, he will con- tinue in charge of the company's legal department. Brien, King, Matlack Win Top QP Showmen Awards James King (Continued from page 1) day, following balloting, at a special luncheon at the Hotel Astor, here, last Monday, on campaigns submitted by scores of showmen all over the country. The annual winners for the past year were cited as follows : Lige Brien, the Silver Grand Award, for his exploitation accom- plishments as manager of Warners' Enright Theatre in Pittsburgh. Brien also won the Silver Grand Award in 1941 for his efforts in behalf of the same circuit; James King, the Bronze Grand Award, for showmanship in Boston. "Red" King is public- ity director of RKO Theatres in Boston; Jack Matlack, the War Show- manship Award for the third year. Matlack, advertis- ing - publicity director of J. J. Parker Thea- tres in Port- land, Ore., now has four top Quigley hon- ors, having won the Silver Grand Award last year in addition to the War Showmanship Award. G. S. Eyssell, managing director of Radio City Music Hall, here, speak- ing at the luncheon, praised the Round Table department of Motion Picture Herald as a forum for ideas and as an institution which "gives a pat on the back" to exhibitors for their show- manship efforts. "The Managers Round Table is not only a clearing house for ideas on exploitation, publicity and promotion and a meeting place for personnel con- cerned with these things," said Mar- tin Quigley in introducing Eyssell, "but it also, in these upset times, provides an invaluable point of con- tact for men on the battle fronts of the world." Emphasizing the importance of keeping faith with the public, Eyssell praised the Round Table as a forum of discussion and suggestion provid- ing a valuable interchange of ideas. He urged exhibitors to make full use of the department's facilities, and de- clared that the industry was indebted to Quigley Publications for the incen- tive to good showmanship inherent in Jack Matlack the annual Quigley Showmanship Awards. "The basic principles of showman- ship are the same," Eyssell said, "whether you are an exhibitor in Ver- mont, in California. The results should be the same if the job is done well." Leading contenders for the Awards honors in the consideration of the judges were: Gertrude Bunchez, Loew's Century, Baltimore ; Arnold J. Coffey, Carolina Theatre, Hickory, N. C. ; Sid Dickler, Warners' Bel- mar, Pittsburgh ; Jack Foxe, Loew's Columbia, Washington ; Edgar Goth, Fabian, Staple- ton, S. I. ; Mar- garet Goyette, Denham Thea- tre, Denver; Phil Katz, Cen- tre, Pittsburgh ; Frank LaBar, Imperial, Ashe- ville, N. C; Lou Mayer, RKO Palace, Chicago ; Rita Morton, RKO Albee, Provi- dence; Jack Matlack, Broad- w ay Thea- tre, Portland, Ore. ; George Peters, Loew's, Richmond, Va. ; Joseph Sa- martano, Loew's State, Providence; Chuck Shannon, Columbia Theatre, Sharon, Pa. ; Michael Stranger, Col- lege Theatre, New Haven ; Charles B. Taylor, Shea's, Buffalo. The judges at the annual luncheon were : Leon Bamberger, James Bren- nan, Barry Buchanan, Rodney Bush, Wing Commander J. W. Davies, Al- bert Deane, George Dembow, Oscar A. Doob, Steve Edwards, H. R. Em- de, G. S. Eyssell, Edward M. Fay, William R. Ferguson, Erwin Gold, Harry Goldberg, Jack Goldstein, William J. Heineman, Hal Home, Charles Reed Jones, Malcolm Kings- berg, Howard Le Sieur, Irving Les- ser, Fred Lynch, George Lynch, Hen- ry Linet, Lawrence H. Lipskin. Also : F. J. A. McCarthy, S. Barret McCormick, Charles B. McDonald, Harry McWilliams, Harry Mandel, Seymour Morris, Alec Moss, John J. O'Connor, Lew Preston, Herman Robbiris, Sam Rosen, Frank P. Ros- enberg, Louis W. Schine, Charles Schlaifer, S. A. Schwartz, S. F. Sead- ler, Arnold Stoltz, Sam Shain, Stan- ley Shuford, Spyros Skouras, William White. Lunch for Exploiteers William R. Ferguson, M-G-M . di- rector of exploitation, was host yester- day to four field exploiteers and mem- bers of the trade press at a luncheon at the Astor Hotel, here. The ex- ploiteers were William Prass, Den- ver ; Austin McGough, Des Moines ; Ernest Van Pelt, Salt Lake City; Price A. Shoemaker, Chicago. 'Tree' Heads for $15,000 Twentieth Century-Fox's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" at the Roxy had an opening day take of around $15,000, the theatre reported yesterday. Record house figure of $14,900 was established by "Heaven Can Wait." Markham, TEA Director Emerson Markham, associated with General Electric for the past 20 years, has been named a director of Tele- vision Broadcasters Association, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert L. Gibson, also of GE. 'Pilot Showing Mar. 19 "God is My Co-Pilot," Warner Bros., has been set for national trade- showing Monday, March 19. 'Pilot* Release April 7 National release of "God Is My Co- Pilot" has been set for April 7. Pic- ture goes into the New York Strand following "Hotel Berlin." Philco Approves FCC Video Plans (Continued from page 1) which may later be added, will enable several hundred stations to go on the air after the war, and give a large part of the public a regular television pro- gram service on at least one channel," Smith said. "Many sections of the country will have the benefit of pro- grams from several stations." 4 By taking such action, the Com-^ mission would be laying the ground- work for a larger postwar industry and provide employment and job op- portunities for a great many people. He agreed with the Commission that years will be required to de- velop television in the experimental band from 480 to 920 megacycles to a point of commercial usefulness. He added, however, that in Philco's opin- ion, television in these experimental frequencies, if and when developed, will supplement the television service which is now being established by the FCC, in that part of the spectrum where most of the presently available engineering and operating experience lies. "Undoubtedly receivers will be de- veloped which will receive both ser- vices just as joint AM and FM re- ceivers are now available," he said. "The Federal Communications Com- mission's decisions regarding television point the way to the fullest develop- ment of the medium, both for the years ahead and the longer future." Loew's Seeks Sites In South America (Continued from page 1) home office representative. In Buenos Aires, they will direct the opening in one week of three M-G-M pictures dubbed in Spanish: "The White Cliffs of Dover," at the Ideal Theatre, March 20; "Gaslight," at the Opera, March 22, and "The Canterville Ghost," at the Normandie, March 28. Both are expected to return about April 15. Hearing Wednesday In Studio Dispute (Continued from page 1) man said the probability is that 1421 will wait through Friday for a favor- able WLB action but may order a "walkout on an hour's notice" at any time if convinced enforcement is not forthcoming. Walter T. Melvin Dies Walter T. Melvin, 49, manager of the Riviera Theatre, here, died sud- denly yesterday of a stroke. Melvin had been associated with Skouras Theatres for 10 years, and previously was with Fox Metropolitan and, for a short while, with the Music Hall. Services will be held Monday at the Church of the Good Shepard, 207tb St. and Broadway. Paul Gibbons Killed Scranton, Pa., March 1. — Staff Sgt. Paul Gibbons, formerly of Com- erford Theatres, was killed in action over Germany while serving as an aerial gunner with the Eighth Air Force. First in MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Picture Industry OL. 57. NO. 43 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1945 TEN CENTS New Checking Organization Opens April 2 Five Companies Join Confidential Reports Completion of organization of Confidential Reports, Inc., new na- tional theatre-checking organiza- tion, scheduled to begin operations April 2, was announced on Friday at a luncheon at the Hotel Astor here, attended by representatives of mem- ber companies, the trade press and of- ficers of the new organization, headed by John J. O'Connor, president pro tern, and Jack H. Levin, vice-president and general manager. Initial members of the new organi- zation are : Columbia, Paramount, RKO, United Artists and Universal. Organized on a non-profit basis, its services will be available to all pro- (Continued on page 7) W. B. Quarter Net Up to $2,368,565 Net operating profit of $2,368,565 for the quarter ended Nov. 25, 1944, was reported by Warner Bros, on Friday. Result compares with profit of $1,981,730 for the corresponding quarter of the preceding year. Gross income for the period last (Continued on page 6) May 14-June 30 Is . Set for 7th Loan Washington, March 4. — Sec- retary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., has an- nounced that the Seventh War Loan Drive will be held from May 14 to June 30, with an overall goal of $14,000,000,- 000. Of this amount, $7,000,000,- 000 worth will be available for individuals and other non- banking investors. The "E" bond goal, highest since the campaigns began, is $4,000,- 000 000. All sales of "E," "F" and "G" bonds and Series "C" savings notes presented to the Federal Reserve Banks between April 9 and July 7 will be credited to the drive. Morgenthau said there is every evidence that Federal expenditures will continue at a high level for some time. Gov't Chances for Early Decree Trial Seen Here as Slim Possibilities of an early trial date being set today for the Gov- ernment's action to obtain a new consent decree embodying provi- sions for affiliated theatre divorce- ment and other revolutionary trade practice revisions are regarded in Federal court circles here as very slim. When the Department of Justice, last Dec. 20, asked for a June trial date for its new decree hearing, Fed- eral Judge "Henry W. Goddard made it plain that, even should his trial cal- endar permit, he was unsympathetic to (.Continued on page 6) McConville Heads Col. International Columbia International Corp., in- corporated last July 1, has announced officers, as follows : Joseph A. Mc- Conville, president ; Louis J. Barbano, vice-president ; Jack Segal, treasurer ; David Fogelson, secretary ; Bernard E. Zeeman, assistant treasurer ; Ber- nard Birnbaum, controller. The board of directors consists of (Continued on page 7) KEY CITIES BOOM, DESPITE CURFEW Navy Sets a Record With Iwo Pictures Washington, March 4. — Swift ex- ecution of carefully worked out plans enabled the Navy to bring newsreel footage of the Iwo Jima invasion to the American public in record time, according to Lt. Comdr. John W. Mc- Clain, USNR, officer in charge of the Navy picture coverage of that opera- tion. He was the first person to re- turn to the States since the invasion started. Comdr. McClain brought the foot- age to the Navy Photographic Ser- vices in Washington five days after he left the beachhead of Iwo Jima on a Navy seaplane. Describing the motion picture cov- erage of the operation, Comdr. Mc- Clain said : "Several weeks before the actual operation, we were given ac- cess to the Iwo Jima operation plan. After studying it, we wrote a script of the operation, blue-printing our photographic mission. We assigned approximately 60 cameramen to the job, including several to the fast car- rier force that bombed Tokyo." AFM 'Stand-By' Fees Hit Recorded Film Promotions Film industry procedure of taking instrumental music and songs off the sound tracks of musical films and placing them on waxed transcriptions for radio paid-ad promotions, has been dealt what is described as a severe blow by the American Federation of Musicians' demand for 'stand-by' or- chestra fees from producers wherever this procedure is utilized. And, rather than organize any widespread protest against the AFM demand, film com- panies are generally abandoning the procedure and are using small or- chestras for recording music for spot announcements for radio advertising. _ The move against these transcrip- tions has been gradual, according to film company advertising - promotion representatives. It started when James Petrillo's AFM curbed the taking off of instrumental music and songs from sound tracks for transcriptions which were sent to radio stations gratis in the hope that they would be featured, free, along with the stations' regularly - played transcriptions. As many as 350 to 400 stations at one time gave free 'plugs' to films by using the promotional recordings be- sides the spot announcements sent to stations as part of an advertising campaign. Paramount is the latest to feel the brunt of the new AFM procedure. Seeking to record portions of the sound track to promote "Bring on the Girls," the studio discovered that it would have to re-record the musical sequences desired, with an AFM or- chestra, or pay stand-by charges of the equivalent of 42 musicians. This would have doubled the cost of the 'platter'. Other companies making spot an- nouncement discs for film promotions have been recording the music they desire in New York rathe*- than at- tempt to use sections of the sound track and be forced to pay the stand- by fees. $18,373 Average Per Theatre for Week After Midnight Closing First actual dollars-and-cents re- port on results of the Government's midnight curfew on film theatres, and all other places of amusement, discloses that not only was box office business unaffected adversely, as an- ticipated by many, but business during the first week of the midnight closing was among the heaviest in years. Motion Picture Daily field correspondents report a week- ly average gross of $18,373 for the first curfew week, at 134 downtown first runs in widely scattered cities, nearly $1,000 above per theatre average in the previous week and about $2,000 per theatre over the same week one year ago. While relatively few theatres were obliged to restrict performances be- (Continued on page 3) Hays Marks 23rd Year with MPPDA Today is the 23rd anniversary of Will H. Hays as president of the Motion Picture Producers and Dis- tributors of America. He resigned as Postmaster General in 1922 to join the MPPDA at the invitation of in- dustry leaders. At the organ- ization's fi r s t meeting, on the occasion of the public introduc- tion of Hays to the industry, were : William E. A t k inson, Robert H. Cochrane, Win h. Hays R u f u s Cole, William Fox, Samuel Goldwyn, Earle (Continued on page 7) Reviewed Today Reviews of "Earl Carroll Vanities" and "I Love a Mys- tery" appear on page 7. 2 Motion Picture daily Monday, March 5, 1945 Personal Mention SIR ALEXANDER KORDA has left New York for London. • M/Sgt. William M. Levy, film ad- visor to the Director of Psychological Warfare Branch, Allied Force Head- quarters in Italy, has arrived in New York after 30 months overseas. • William Prass, Denver; Austin McGough, Des Moines ; Ernest Van Pelt, Salt Lake City; and Price A. Shoemarker, Jr., Chicago, M-G-M exploiteers, left here Saturday • Pvt. Richard J. Connors, Motion Picture Daily's Albany correspond- ent prior to entering the Army, is in the Pacific war theatre on active ser- J. S. Jossey, producer and distribu- tor, Charles Deckman and Perc E. Esseck, circuit operators, all of Cleve- land, are vacationing in Miami. • Joseph Seidelman, president of Universal International, is scheduled to return to New York from a vaca tion in Mexico on Thursday. • Harry Crawford, manager of the St. Louis Missouri Theatre, has filed for the Republican nomination for alderman in that city. • Charles E. Kessnich, M-G-M Southern manager, will leave today from Atlanta for Boca Raton, Flor- ida, for a vacation. • Phil Chakeres, Springfield, Ohio circuit operator, and George Settos, Indianapolis circuit operator, are va cationing in Miami. • Dave Bader, trade press home office staff representative of 20th Century Fox, observed his 54th birthday over the weekend. • Harry Link of Leo Feist, Inc., M-G-M music subsidiary, will return this week from a Miami vacation. • John M. Whitaker, assistant to RKO president N. Peter Rathvon, has left Washington for the Coast. • Maurice N. Wolff, New England manager for M-G-M, has returned to Boston from New York. • Harold Zeltner, M-G-M Buffalo salesman, has married Denora Dolin of that city. • Jack Sheehan of Walt Disney Productions is in New York from the Coast. • Leon Fromkess, PRC president, returned to the Coast over the week- end. Largo to Paris-Peart Ray Largo has resigned from RKO Radio's home office, advertising-pub- licity department, to become produc- tion manager for the Paris-Peart Advertising Agency, here. Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE TOURING the week of March 15 to 21 the industry once again will make its organized appeal to the public on behalf of the American Red Cross. At this writing, and 10 days prior to the theatres' collection week, approximately the same number of theatres have been enrolled as participated in last year's drive, in round numbers about 13,500, as compared with the more than 16,000 theatres pledged to ex- hibit films sponsored by the War Activities Committee. What's wrong with those missing 3,000 theatres? By what line of reasoning did they arrive at the conclusion that they are not needed in an industry Red Cross drive or that such a drive is not deserving of their support ? In this drive, more than in any other, the Red Cross needs all the help that can be given it. First, the end of the war in Europe is widely anticipated by this Spring or early Summer. Some who gave liberally before will give less because of that, and some who gave a little, now may not give at all, mistakenly assuming that the need will not be as great in the com- ing year. Secondly, the Red Cross has set for itself the diffi- cult goal of $200,000,000. Lastly, the theatres' collection week opens on the final day for pay- ment of Federal income taxes, the unforgiven portion of 1943 taxes and balance of '44 and '45 after withholding taxes. It is a date not perfectly suited to a public expression of generosity in contributions to even so worthy an agency as the Red Cross. • The need for funds with which to carry on the Red Cross work for American service men throughout the world will not be lessened by the end of the war in Europe. Entirely apart from the continuation of Red Cross work in the Pacific, the end of the European war may well in- crease the organization's finan- cial requirements. Millions of American soldiers will be de- tained in Europe for months after victory has been won sim- ply because there will not be enough ships on which to evacu- ate them as rapidly as might be desired. Their need for all the facilities the Red Cross provides will be increased during their weeks and months of idle wait- ing. Time will hang heavily, as it does not during combat periods and at other times on active ser- vice. Then thousands of men who, perhaps, never before had need of the Red Cross, will look to it for comforts and diversion during the periods of their en- forced idleness. In addition, after the end of the war in Europe it is reason- able to assume that there will be large movements of men from Eastern war theatres to the West. At ports of embarkation and in transit they will have need of the Red Cros, as will the men remaining in hospitals and convalescent centers and civilians returning to devastated homes and towns. To those 3,000 theatres which have not yet signed up to do their share in the industry effort for the Red Cross, these consid- erations are addressed. A week of collections at 3,000 theatres is an item not to be ignored in a cause such as this. It is not only that their participa- tion may mean the difference be- tween attaining or not attain- ing a given financial goal, nor whether or not some numbers of American service men, who may need them most, are deprived of Red Cross ministrations. It is, rather, a question of each do- ing his share, not leaving the task to the other fellow. And it is also a question of interest to the industry, whose war re- cord can be marred by the defec- tions of the indifferent few. Permit us to propose a War Activities Committee citation, struck from brass especially for all theatres missing from the roles of this Red Cross drive's participants, bearing the slogan, "We let the other fellow do it." Crystal ball department: Sam E. Morris of Warners will transfer to the Coast soon on a permanent assignment. . . . Lou Pollock, former United Artists advertising - publicity director, will head a new motion picture advertising department to be es- tablished in Hollywood by a large New York agency already among the tops in the radio field. . . . Confidential Reports, Inc., new industry checking service designed to begin opera- tions April 2, is looking for a "big name" to head the organi- zation when it is completely es- tablished. A prominent Fed- eral judge, a high FBI official are examples of the type sought. M-G-M to Distribute For All in Greece All companies, with the possible ex- ception of 20th Century-Fox, have agreed to have Films Hellas, Ltd., M-G-M subsidiary in Greece, distrib- ute their product in that country, it was learned here at the weekend. Office of War Information over- seas film bureau and Psychologica Warfare Branch nominally distribute overseas in war z^nes, but, possibly nanpower scarcity considerations 1 and the fact that there are no American troops in Greece, have impelled the OWI to suggest that one company distribute for all. Twentieth-Fox may not be included in the agreement because it has Skouras Films Corp. in Greece. Chicago Loses One Run, Gets Another Chicago, March 4.— While the first- run Downtown Theatre has closed to turn, soon, into a stage theatre, the Loop's total of 11 first-runs may re- main unchanged with the acquisition of the Monroe by James Jovan, to- morrow. He says that he will an- nounce the policy after moving in, but will temporarily continue with second- run double features, current house policy. But he has booked "Behind Enemy Lines," exploitation film dis- tributed by Globe Film, owned by Jovan, for a first-run date starting mid-March. The Downtown was an outlet for Universal's 'B' product and some PRC pictures. Due to its limited seating capacity, the combination stage-screen bills proved a losing policy despite heavy business. N. S. Barger will continue as operator. Extras Name Choices Ahead of Academy Hollywood, March 4. — The Screen Players Union's extra-players, ex- cluded from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting this year, name "Going My Way" as the best picture of the year; "San Fer- nando" as the best Western ; "Bomb- alera," best short subject; Bing Crosby, best actor, and Barry Fitz- gerald, best supporting actor, both for "Going My Way" ; Aline MacMahon as best supporting actress, for "Drag*on Seed" ; Leo McCarey, best director ; Oscar Rudolph, best assist- ant director. Warner Brothers Studio was cited as "the most cooperative toward ex- tra and bit players." Hollywood Council Elects M.C.McCall Hollywood, March 4. — The Holly- wood Council of Guilds and Unions has elected Mary C. McCall, Jr., chairman; Paul Harvey, vice-chair- man ; Ted Ellsworth, secretary treas- urer. Also appointed was a committee to draft plans for assuring re-employ- ment of ex-servicemen. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, Newt Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.. Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Monday, March 5, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 National Salesmen's Fraternal Group Chicago, Mar. 4.— Reel Fel- lows Club of Illinois, film salesmen's group here, has started a campaign to form a national association of film salesmen, secretary Saul Goldman announces. Efforts will be made to first line up all other existing Reel Fel- lows organizations and then form similar branches in ex- change centers where such groups do not exist. The pro- posed organization is contem- plated only along inter-fra- ternal lines; no union affilia- tion with IATSE is sought. Key City Receipts Boom, Despite Midnight Curfew Nebr. Fights Over Return of Ascap Lincoln, Neb., March 4. — Bill No. LB252, which would permit the re- turn of ASCAP to Nebraska, came up for a warm hearing before the Legis- lature's Public Health-Miscellaneous Subjects' Committee, causing a post- ponement of action. Speaking against the measure were Will J. Hotz, representing radio sta- tion WOW and several Omaha hotels and ballrooms ; and Ex-Senator Frank Brady, introducer of the original anti- ASCAP bill, who said "ASCAP never has complied with the Nebraska law and if the act now is repealed, the Legislature should then repeal the code on monopolies." Speaking for it were Melvin Drake, Lincoln, and Lloyd Thomas, Kearney, representing radio stations; Robert Livingston, Lincoln theatre owner ; Sam Josephson, Omaha Hotel Asso- ciation; Pat Miller, Nebraska Hotel Association; and Senator Labb Hubka, introducer of the new bill. They told the committee they desire the return of ASCAP because of fear of infringe- ment suits. John G. Paine, New York, general manager of ASCAP, said ASCAP withdrew from Nebraska when it could not operate in the state and protect the copyrights of its members under the Nebraska anti-ASCAP law. Senator Hubka said ASCAP would file with the Secretary of State a schedule of charges and pay a three per cent tax on gross receipts under terms of the new bill. Hotz said $400,000 had been saved Nebraska citizens by ASCAP by pull ing out of the state. (Continued from page 1) cause of the curfew, many first-run operators had feared that the early closing of night clubs might result in fewer people going down town. The high grosses would seem to prove, however, that night film patronage is not from the night club crowd. The advent of milder weather than has prevailed is seen as a factor in last week's business, with many po- tential patrons who had been 'holed up' variously during the Winter, tak- ing advantage of the opportunity to go to town. February as a whole averaged al- most as high in weekly receipts as did January — $17,643, compared with $17,962— and January's reports includ- ed the terrific business on New Year's Eve. February, moreover, gained substantially over the same Appeal Court Frees 18 in Gem Suit Albany, N. Y., March 4. — Eighteen defendants have been ruled free from liability in a unanimous decision by the Court of Appeals in an account- ing suit involving the American So- ciety of Composers, Authors and Pub- lishers brought by Gem Music Co. and other members of the Society against Deems Taylor, president and certain directors. Those eliminated as defendants were Leo Feist, Miller Music, Rob- bins Music, ABC Music, Irving Ber lin, Bregmann, Vocco & Cann, Carl Fisher, G. Schirmer, Famous Music Corp., Mills Music, Broadway Music Corp., Chappell and Co., Shapiro Bernstein, Words and Music, Harms Remick Music Corp. and M. Witmark and Sons. month in 1944, when the average per week was $16,381. "Meet Me in St. Louis" was the box office champion of the month, al- though it received varying competition from "National Velvet," "I'll Be See- ing You," "Here Come the Waves," "To Have and Have Not," "Keys of the Kingdom," "A Song to Remem- ber," "The Princess and the Pirate," "Hollywood Canteen," "Sunday Din- ner for a Soldier," "Tonight and Every Night," "A Song to Remem- ber," "The Suspect," "Belle of the Yukon," "The Three Caballeros," "Music for Millions," "Objective Burma," "The Fighting Lady," "Hangover Square," "Dark Waters," "The Woman in the Window" and "The House of Frankenstein." Composite key box-office reports for 1945, to date, compared with the corresponding weeks of 1944, follow : 1945 Week Ending Average No. of Total Per Theatres Gross Theatre Jan. 5-6 136 2,828,300 20,796 Jan. 12-13 133 2,393,400 17,995 Jan. 19-20 136 2,289,400 16,826 Jan. 26-27 149 2,543,400 17,069 Feb. 2-3 148 2,534,300 17,123 Feb. 9-10 144 2,506,700 17,407 Feb. 16-17 141 2,491,800 17,672 Feb. 23-24 143 . 2,448,000 17,118 March 2-3 134 2,462,100 18,373 1944 Week Ending No. of Total Theatres Gross Average Per Theatre Jan. 7-8 117 Jan. 14-15 134 Jan. 21-22 149 Jan. 28-29 147 Feb. 4-5 153 Feb. 11-12 ..." 137 Feb. 18-19 155 Feb. 25-26 161 March 3-4 147 2,417,700 2,040,700 2,311,400 2,365,200 2,512,200 2,220,000 2,459,800 2,760,100 2,397,100 20,664 15,229 15,513 16,090 16,419 16,204 15,870 17,144 16,307 (Copyright, 1945, Quigley Publishing Co.) Quigley Presents NCCJ Scroll to NBC A citation of merit for the "They Call Me Joe" series, was presented to National Broadcasting recently by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. The presentation was made by Martin Quigley on behalf of the Conference and was accepted by Dr. James Rowland Angell, NBC's pub- lic service counselor, under whose di- rection the series was conceived and broadcast. The scroll, which stressed the sig- nificance of the programs and their contributions in breaking down the barriers of racial prejudices, was signed by Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, Conference president ; Ambassador Carlton J. H. Hayes, Arthur W. Comp.ton and Roger W. Strauss, chairman of the Conference. The series was broadcast in cooper- ation with the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service. > Para., WAC Receive Awards from Press The Foreign Language Press Film Critics Circle gave awards here Friday night to Paramount and the War Activities Committee for "Going My Way," and aid to the Armed Forces, respectively. Arthur Israel accepted for Paramount and Francis Harmon for WAC. Specifically, the film was voted the outstanding feature of 1944, and the WAC was cited for providing, gratis, 16 films for servicemen overseas. Presentations were made over the municipal radio station, WNYC, with Newbold Morris, president of the City Council, delivering an address. Report 'Lab' Worker Pact Talks Snagged The negotiating committee of Mo- tion Picture Laboratory Technicians IASTE Local No. 702 told the union membership at a meeting at the Frat ernal Clubhouse here Friday night that negotiations for a new contract with some 20 processing laboratories and covering about 1,800 workers were proceeding "most unsatisfactor- ily and that no progress has been made." John A . Francavilla, Local 702 president and other members of the committee reported that the com panies had only offered to make a few minor concessions on vacation and severance pay, after five meetings. The committee reported it would continue negotiations with the compa- nies today, but if no further progress is made by next Friday, it will ask the union's executive board to call an immediate special membership meeting to take 'appropriate action.' SMPE Asks Parity Between Home And Theatre Video Sheehan to Resume Work in Fortnight Hollywood, March 4. — Winfield Sheehan, who has been under hospital treatment, will be discharged this week and plans to return to the 20th Century-Fox studio in a fortnight to supervise the editing of "Captain Eddie," film based on the life of Rickenbacker. 'Berlin* Sequel Set Hollywood, March 4. — Warners has announced "The Ghost of Berch- tesgaden," to be produced by the staff that made "Hotel Berlin" and to feature the same players. Washington, March 4. — Modifica- tion of its television allocations to provide a "parity of opportunity" be- tween television broadcasting and the- atre television was urged upon the Federal Communications Commission Friday by Paul J. Larsen, radio en- gineer assoicated with Johns Hopkins University, on behalf of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. Testifying before the Commission during oral argument on its recent al- location report, Larsen explained that the SMPE has never contended that theatre television is broadcasting. Can Equal Record "The motion picture industry is ca- pable, based upon its past public record, of presenting visual and oral presentations in theatres, to carry out its obligation to present through this companion medium, television, equal presentations," he asserted. The witness said that the proposed operation of theatre television would not be carried on by wire lines in the same manner as Muzak is today. The wire lines utilized for Muzak are high quality program telephone lines hav- ing a band width limit of approxi- mately 7,500 cycles, he explained, while for television and theatre tele- vision utilization of coaxial cables will be experimented with. Attacking a contention of CBS that only a limited number of people would benefit, Larsen said the SMPE doubted whether television broadcast- ing will have a greater public accept- ability than theatre television or make greater use of the service in the public interest. "We question the sincerity of the statement as it is so wholly unfound- ed," he said. "It is doubtful that any- one can question that the motion pic- ture industry has at any time limited its service to a select few. The week- ly attendance in motion picture the- atres exceeds 85,000,000 persons and the industry is certain that this does not represent the 'upper income levels." To Permit Competition The witness told the Commission that the Society's purpose in request- ing frequencies for theatre television was based upon obtaining adequate frequency allocations to permit com- petitive national theatre television service. For the immediate post war period, he said, it was recommended that frequency allocations be made to perimt competition by 15 produc- ing or exhibiting agencies in an area such as New York City. This is cer- tainly far remote from the contention implied by the Columbia Broadcasting System, that theatre television may set up a monopolistic franchise, he said. Larsen said that the Society urged the Commission to reaffirm its allo- cation of frequencies between 480 and 920 megacycles for television, but modify its allocation of these fre- quencies to a "parity of opportunity basis" allocation between television and theatre television," as both of these services have an equal interest and an equal responsibility to the public in the visual and oral entertain- ment field. PAT O'BRIEN GEORGE MURPHY CAROLE LANDIS COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK — MARCH 15-21 WITH LENORE AUBER1 The funny side of homicide, on a honeymoon for three— bride groom and "wolf P\ • A super- laugh scramble of super-sleuthed clues and super-chased beauties! 1 educed by Robert Fellows *ecfed by Eddie Sutherland* Stewart Sterling and Parke Levy CHILI WILLIAMS . . . No. 1 polka-dotted • pin-up! # • 6 Motion Picture daily Monday, March 5, 1945 Gov't Chances for Early Decree Trial Seen Here as Slim Red Cross Press Book Is Mine of Campaign Ideas {Continued from page 1) setting a trial date which would carry proceedings through the Summer months. Should the Department again ask for a June trial date, the court, it is believed, would make the same response it did last December. Federal court attaches predict that the earliest trial date would be some- time during October. In addition to pressing its motion for the setting of the earliest possible trial date on the decree action the Department, at today's hearing before Judge Goddard, is scheduled to argue its petition for a temporary injunc- tion restraining defendant companies from granting clearance to theatres charging substantially the same ad- mission prices. In order to win its injunction, the Department will have to show that the companies have vio- lated the law. Failure to do, will mean that the petition will be sum- marily disposed of. Violation Hearing However, should the Department succeed in showing violations of the law, the court will have to set a hear- ing date for submission of evidence and testimony by both sides on speci- fic instances of violations. The Gov- ernment has indicated that, in such a case, it will rely upon 54 Arbitra- tion Appeal Board decisions in clear- ance cases during the past several years. Company counsel will reply in gen- eral terms at today's hearing to the Departments' arguments on violations of law under clearance procedures. Specific evidence or testimony will not be undertaken on the subject except in the event the court holds that vio- lations of law may have been shown or indicated by the Government's ar- guments and thereafter sets a date for hearings on specific cases. Pennsylvania Bill Hits Ticket Brokers Philadelphia, March 4. — A bill in- troduced in the State House by Repre- sentatives Joseph A. Scanlon, Phila- delphia, and Harry P. O'Neill, Lacka- wanna, would permit State Police to license persons and concerns reselling theatre and amusement tickets. Referred to the committee on state government, the bill would regulate the resale by brokers, and would pro- hibit the 'scalping' of tickets by cer- tain dealers. Tillie Jasie Dies Mrs. Tillie Leblang Jasie, 63, man- ager for 13 years of the theatre tick- et agencies here, founded by her first husband, the late Joe Leblang, died at her home here. Besides her man- agerial business, Mrs. Jasie backed several productions, and was known for her philanthropic activities. Funeral services were held yesterday at Temple Israel. Schaefer to Coast George Schaefer will leave here for the Coast Wednesday to close his deal with Lester Cowan. Schaefer will be gone about 10 days. Correlated into a manual of ideas, information and promotions, the press book now in the hands of exhibitors participating in the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15-21, covers many angles of showmanship designed to put this campaign ahead of any previous drive. Wrapped around the folded book is a die-cut cardboard jacket which folds up into a Red Cross collection con- tainer when the book is withdrawn. A three-color cover leads into a page of messages by industry leaders of the drive, and Basil O'Connor, chairman of the American National Red Cross, and Colby M. Chester, national chair- man of the 1945 Red Cross War Fund. A page of praise for the Red Cross by the military and naval leaders, with portraits and quotes, and a second page of pictures illustrating the work of the organization may be taken di- rectly out of the book and utilized as part of the theatre's lobby display. Activities Suggested Continuing its coverage of selling angles, the book details ways to get the money rolling in with suggestions for activities before collections and during collections. The book then highlights two pages of advertising material and theatre decorations, including the free Nation- al Screen mat of Red Cross adver- tising slugs, four display posters con- tained in the special Red Cross kit, and the burgee streamers, valances and ushers' badges which may be ordered from National Screen. For newspapers and radio, publicity stories, spot announcements and edi- torials are provided, and before the last page is turned theatre men will find a complete list of national com- mittee members, exchange area exhibi- tor and publicity chairmen, and dis- trict members of the distributors' di- vision. The book was prepared under the supervision of Arthur M. Brilant, na- tional publicity coordinator, with the assistance of the art and publicity de- partments of RKO Radio and RKO Theatres. Red Cross Times Sq. Show Delayed a Day For the Times Square, New York, demonstration to be staged at the Statue of Liberty replica, in behalf of the Red Cross War Fund, on Thursday, March 15, efforts are being made to have the United Nations represented by children in native costumes. This is being arranged by Pearce Takes Over Austlet Franchises New Orleans, March 4. — Jack Austlet, recently owner of the Astor Pictures, as well as Film Classics franchises, has disposed of his office and these will be handled in the future by Everett Pearce, it is understood here. Austlet, it is said, will open a 16mm distribution business. 'Gray' Record Claimed "The Picture of Dorian Gray", broke all previous M-G-M records for openings at the New York Capi- tol, with a gross of $15,000 last Thursday, the company claims. Janice Rentchler of the WAC pub- licity committee, with the cooperation of editors of foreign language news- papers here. Although the Times Square ob- servance was originally slated for Wednesday, the 14th, Harry Mandel, national drive co-chairman of pub- licity, and Edward C. Dowden, New York City public relations chairman, changed the date so as not to detract from a parade of the Brooklyn Chap- ter of the Red Cross, scheduled for Wednesday. A rallying song has been composed for the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week. Collaborators on the as yet untitled number are PFC Frank Loesser, who wrote "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," and Hal Block, radio comedy writer, now writing for Milton Berle and Phil Baker. Red Cross Tribute Is On Paramount Screen A "Salute to the American Red Cross," is currently being shown on the screen of the New York Para- mount Theatre, as a prelude to the industry's Red Cross War Fund Drive starting March 15. The presentation was conceived by R. M. Weitman, manager of the theatre, and arranged by Harry Rubin, projection super- visor. _ It opens with "God Bless America", which is followed by Army, Navy, Marine and Air Corps songs, and concludes with the - Red Cross song, "Angels of Mercy," sung from the stage against a background of the rescue work of the Red Cross. Showings will continue through the drive, at which time the regular Red Cross trailer will follow, while audi- ence collections are being made. Intermountain Theatres Back Red Cross Drive Salt Lake City, March A — Theatres throughout the Intermoun- tain territory will cooperate 100 per cent in the American Red Cross campaign, according to Herman Wob- ber, Western manager for 20th Cen- tury-Fox, who is representing the National Film War Activities Com- mittee. At a meeting held at the Hotel Utah, Lt. Ralph T. Ballard was the principal speaker, and he has been assigned to speak nationally at thea- tre Red Cross meetings to aid the drive. Jacob A. Kahn and Verne B. Thorpe, field representatives of Utah, also represented the local Red Cross at the meeting. First Commercial Video "Talk Fast, Mister," 10 minute-film produced by RKO Television Corp. for Liberty Mutual Insurance, Boston, will be televised tonight over NBC, New York station WNBT and will be beamed to WRGB, Schenectady, and WPTZ, Philadelphia, marking what it is claimed to be the first time that a film made and sponsored for tele- vision is to receive such a network telecasting. 'Outlaw' for Labor Day "The Outlaw" will not be nationally released until Labor Day, by United Artists. Name Dr. Jolliffe RCA 'Lab' Head Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, chief engineer of RCA Victor, has been elected vice- president of RCA in charge of RCA Laboratories, Brigadier General David Sarnoff, RCA president, announced last Friday following a meeting of the board of directors. Dr. Jolliffe will succeed Otto S. Schairer who was elected staff vic&_ president and consultant and advisiij on matters pertaining to research, de' velopment,* patents, trademarks and' licenses. Before joining RCA, Dr. Jolliffe was chief engineer of the Federal Radio Commission and its successor, the Federal Communications Com- mission. Schairer joined RCA in 1929 as director of patent develop- ment, following 27 years with West- inghouse. W. B. Quarter Net Up to $2,368,565 (Continued from page 1) year was $33,093,321, compared with $34,413,961 the preceding year. Con- solidated balance sheet, as of Nov. 25, 1944, showed current assets of $59,- 683,296 and current liabilities amount- ing to $29,325, 631, leaving working capital of $30,357,665. Current liabili- ties of subsidiaries operating in for- eign territories amounted to $6,409,509, including bank loans of $2,125,804 guaranteed by the parent company. Rieger Closes for 3 Brown Reissues Jack Rieger of Trinity Pictures has closed a deal with David L. Loew, for the reissue rights to three Joe E. Brown pictures, originally distributed by RKO, and which reverted back to Loew. The pictures are "When's Your Birthday?" "Riding on Air" and "Fit for a King." Domestic rights are for five-and-a-half years and foreign for six-and-a-half. (Dillingerf Rejected By Chicago Censors Chicago, March 4. — The Chicago Censor Board has rejected Mono- gram's "Dillinger," and classified Columbia's "I Love a Mystery" for adults only. 20th Century Fox's "Hangover Square", originally given an adult rating, has had that raised by Police Commissioner James All- man. Laemmle Buys Script Hollywood, March 4. — Return of Carl Laemmle, Jr., to the ranks of the producers was indicated here at the weekend by his purchase of "The Life Story of Julian Eltinge," which deals with a famous female impersonator. Loew Engages Fizdale David L. Loew, independent pro- ducer distributing through United Artists, has engaged the Tom Fizdale office here to handle public relations? Goldfarb Rejoins UA Bob Goldfarb, who received his medical discharge from the Army re- cently, has returned to his former post at United Artists as accessory sales manager. Goldfarb had been in that post for five years. Monday, March 5, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Blue's Video Plans Outlined by Smith Policies of the Blue Network in television, programming, public ser- vice and promotion were outlined by Fred Smith, vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and promo- tion, at a luncheon for press repre- sentatives at the Hotel Waldorf As- ria here Friday. Representatives of patten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn were also present, with Smith an- nouncing that the advertising agency has been engaged to handle the Blue's advertising, replacing Geyer, Cornell and Newell, who recently resigned. Smith pointed out that the Blue will soon be operating on borrowed tele- vision facilities in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, becoming the first company to have the semblance of a network. He reiterated that the Blue has made no commitments for any television equipment but is providing its staffs with an opportunity to learn about all present types of equipment on the market. As a new network, the Blue has no fixed policies regarding the film industry or new business, Smith emphasized. India, China Need Pictures: Newbery "American films have been the back- bone of all entertainment in India and China since the outbreak of the war. and have contributed to the welfare of hundreds of thousands of tioops and war workers ; and the results of this exploitation of the American way of life will be shown in the post-war period, when we confidently expect a tremendous boom in our films and rentals, even though they are high now." Charles Newbery". 20th Cen- tury-Fox managing director for In- dia and supervisor of Free China, told the trade press in an interview Fri- day at the company's home offices. Newbery. an Australian, has been in New York with his wife and child and is waiting for passage back to his Bombay headquarters. He said that India has some 1,500 theatres. Of these, about 380 played American films before the war ; 550 show them Hays Marks 23rd Year with MPPDA (Continued from page 1) W. Hammons, the late Marcus Loew, the late Carl Laemmle, the late Lewis J. Selznick, Winfield R. Sheehan. Courtland Smith, the late J. D. Wil- iams and Adolph Zukor. $34,212 for 'Dimes* Cincinnati, March 4. — A total of $34,212 was collected by Hamilton County theatres in the March of Dimes drive, it was announced by Arthur Frudenfeld, RKO divisional manager and local drive chairman. Of this amount, $22,594 was collected by RKO theatres, and the balance by independent houses. Darcy Joins NBC Video Don Darcy, stage manager and actor, has been added to the produc- tion staff of NBC's television depart- ment here. Darcy has made several films in addition to his theatre activi- ties. Reviews 93 "Earl Carroll Vanities {Republic) AUDIENCES anticipating a lavish musical extravaganza or a cinematic tribute to one of America's well-known glorifiers of feminine pulchritude in Republic's "Earl Carroll Yanities," are going to be disappointed. This is an appealing, tuneful and diverting musical, starring Dennis O'Keefe, Con- stance Moore, and featuring Eve Arden, Otto Kruger, Alan Mowbray. Ste- phanie Bachelor and Woody Herman and his orchestra. It is not a revue of either past or present Earl Carroll glories. It is built around a simply told story with a musical-comedy background and deals with the experiences of a lovely princess of one of those obscure mythical kingdoms who breaks into show business while her family is floating a loan among American bankers to save their country. Joseph Santley directed ; Albert C. Cohen produced. The pace is leisurely and the music, composed by Walter Kent and Kim Gannon and others, for Miss Moore to sing, provides some of the most entertaining moments in this 91 minutes of footage. Miss Moore is the Princess Drina with more of a "yen" for "boogie-woogie" than for the state affairs of Turania. Alan Mow- bray as the Grand Duke Paul is similarly interested in enjoying life and cham- pagne. Through Miss Arden, proprietress of a night club, they both secretly take a fling at New York night life while the Queen is arranging a loan for their country. Also through Miss Arden, they meet O'Keefe. a promising young producer who is seeking to interest Earl Carroll, played by Kruger, in his show. Miss Moore becomes entangled in his affairs and. after many complications, the way is finally cleared for their romance. Among the songs are "I've Been So Good for So Long." "Endlessly" and "Last Man in Town." "Rock-a-Bye-Boogie" provides the background for a spirited production sequence. Herman and his musical aggregation should prove a big box office click in this film ; they have plenty to do. Frank Gill. Jr., did the screenplay, from an original by Cortland Fitzsimmons. Others in the cast include Pinky Lee. Parkyakarkus. Leon Belasco. Beverly Lord and Edward Gargan. Running time, 91 minutes. General classification. No release date set MlLTOX LlVIXGSTOX I Love a Mystery (Columbia) Hollywood, March 4 CARLTON E. MORSE'S radio show has been successfully translated to the screen by producer Wallace MacDonald. The first of what is planned by the studio as a series of mystery-dramas is subtitled "The Decapitation of Jefferson Monk," and the tale is as sinister as the title. Jim Bannon takes the part of the detective, Jack Packard, and Barton Yar- borough that of his friend, Doc Long. A wealthy young man, ably depicted by George Macready, appeals to the pair for help. He is being persecuted — so he believes — by members of an Oriental secret society who want, of all things, his head. Having foretold the date and hour of his death, the Orien- tals are bargaining with him for possession of his head, subsequent to his demise. As the two detectives discover in the course of Charles O'Neal's screen- play, none of this far-fetched tale is founded in fact. It is all part of a plot devised by his wife to drive the man to suicide, in order that she and her accomplices may inherit his fortune. Her plans miscarry: instead of driving him to kill himself she drives him to kill two of her associates. She herself is exposed and brought to justice. Her husband, by a freak of fate, is de- capitated in an auto accident, and his head is never found. Henry Levin's di- rection, and fine performances by the cast combine to make this topnotch filler fare. Running time. 68 minutes. General classification. Thalia Bell 'Weapon of War' Ready 'Weapon of War," the Army Pic- torial Service's cartoon on Nazi di- vide-and-conquer propaganda methods, will soon be released in Boston, New- Haven and Philadelphia areas, the War Activities Committee, announces. The film is being distributed on a regional basis, the New York and Los An?eles areas having been cov- ered to date. It runs five and one half minutes. 'Showbuilder' in Okla. The M-G-M "Showbuilder" promo- tional unit, in charge of Mark Jenkins, under supervision of William R. Fer- guson, M-G-M exploitation director, will visit 41 towns in Oklahoma dur- ing this month, starting todav. 'Caballeros' Benefit Chicago, March 4. — Hearst's Her- ald-American here is sponsoring a re- served-seat premiere of "The Three Caballeros" at the RKO Palace on Wednesday for the benefit of the War Yeterans Fund. Hildegarde. Phil Regan, Zero Mostel. Bert Wheeler and Benny Fields will be featured on an accompanying stage bill. Now 'Atlantic Adventure' Chicago, March 4. — The British- made "Western Approaches." will be released by Paramount in this countn as "Atlantic Adventure." the British Information Services advises. Chanee was made on the suspicion that this story of the Atlantic might be mis- taken for a Western. Collins Stays With Pathe Frederic Ullman, Jr., president of Pathe News, has announced that Ted Collins has been retained as narrator for Pathe's "Sportscopes." Carol Irwin Joins Blue Carol Irwin has joined the Bine Network's talent and program de- velopment. Miss Irwin was previous- lv in charge of daytime radio for Young and Rubicam. New Checking Organization Opens April 2 {Continued from page 1) ducers and distributors desiring them. Branch offices will be opened in 31 key cities and leases have been signed already for quarters in most of the keys. A personnel of approximately 5,000 will be employed. Ghev-k^rs will be paid from $5 to $7 per day, indi- cating a daily operating cost for checkers alone of approximately S30,- 000. Personnel, including branch man- agers, supervisors and five district managers, are being selected from out- side the industry for the most part. Operation Under Levin Physical operation of Confidential Reports will be under the direction of Levin, who resigned last week the post of director of Copyright Pro- tection Bureau, with which he had been associated for the past 17 years. O'Connor, however, will continue as vice-president of Universal. Other Confidential Reports executives in- clude : Harold L. Groves, field direc- tor operating out of the home office in the RKO Building; Jules Willing, director of personnel, and Harold Saxe, comptroller. Levin issued the following statement at the luncheon on behalf of the new organization : "Millions of dollars of business transactions each year depend upon the accurate and impartial re- porting of theatre receipts. It is the aim of Confidential Reports. Inc., to render, confidentially, checking re- ports so as to provide the distributor and exhibitor alike with a sound and objective basis for the conduct of their business with each other. We antici- pate the good will of the entire in- dustry in achieving this purpose." Levin said that aims of the new or- ganization would be discussed with exhibitor organization leaders during the next few weeks. McConville Heads Col. International (Continued from page 1) Harry Cohn, Jack Cohn, McConville, A. Schneider and Barbano. _ The corporation's actual distribu- tion staff follows : McConville, presi- dent-general manager ; Segal, treas- urer-assistant general manager; Zee- man, assistant treasurer-manager of branch operations; David O'Malley. director of advertising-publicity, and Joseph Levy, manager of the traffic department. At the same time Columbia dis- closed the appointment of Sigwan. Kusiel to the post of supervisor of Latin America and Trinidad, an- nounced from Buenos Aires by Mc- Conville, now visiting there. Kusiel will make his headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and continue tem- porarily as managing director of Brazil. Van Straten to M-G-M Jacques Yan Straten, comptroller cf radio station WHN. here, has been elected assistant treasurer of M-G-M International Films Corporation, subsidiary of Loew's. advertisements by KODAK testifying to the achievements of the movies at war The Movies... Community Rallying Point WHEN the town meets at the movies, War Bonds sell faster, blood donors hurry to the Red Cross, WAC and WAVE recruiting steps up the pace, the town blossoms out in new Victory Gardens, house- wives and merchants band together to fight inflation . . . Since the beginning of the war, thousands of exhibitors have con- tributed hundreds of hours of showing time. They and their staffs have worked day and night to make neighborhood and community movie audiences a vital factor in winning the war. Yes, throughout the nation, one of the most effective rallying points has proved to be "the movies." Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., Distributors FORT LEE CHICAGO HOLLYWOOD L. 57. NO. 44 MOTION PICTURE DAI LY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1945 TEN CENTS Rank to Build 50 Postwar Canada Houses To Cost Up to $150,000 Each; British Equipped By PETER J3URNUP London, March 5. — Plans to build new theatres on 50 sites throughout Canada which were obtained by Odeon Theatres of Canada have been finalized here by J. Arthur Rank, who recently entered into association with the . Dominion circuit. Construction plans, to be pushed to completion within two years after wartime build- ing restrictions are lifted, call for each of the houses to cost between $80,000 and $150,000, and to seat from 800 to 1,500. Jay English, architect for Canadian Odeon, has just finished a month's in- (Continued on page 10) File March 10 OnDeferment Washington, March 5. — Members of the motion picture industry who plan to seek deferment from military service for key workers here were warned today by the War Production Board that lists of such employees and applications for deferment must be filed with WPB regional offices by March 10. Since copies of the new Selective Service form No. 42-A are not expect- ed to become available for some time, applications should be filed on forms {Continued on page 10) American Industry Seen in Italy Soon Recent action of the Allied Commis- sion in Italy, which has been the dominating influence in that country's life since the occupation, in relin- quishing some of its power, with, con- sequently, accretion of influence to the civilian Government, is seen bring- ing appreciably closer the day when the Office of War Information and the Psychological Warfare Branch will return film operations to the American companies, a spokesman for (Continued on page 10) I Curfew Cuts 10-15% from N. Y. Grosses Broadway theatres, which ex- pected to be hard hit by the mid- night curfew since most operated past midnight on weekdays and two and three hours past on Saturday nights, felt the full impact of the cur- few last Saturday night, first under the new closing rules. The situation is different here from in other parts of the country where, as reported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday, there was no falling off in revenue for the first week. Estimates of the loss in rev- enue for the week range from (Continued on page 10) E. J. Mannix Made AMPP President Hollywood, March 5. — The Asso- ciation of Motion Picture Producers tonight elected E. J. Mannix president, succeeding Y. Frank Freeman. B. B. Kahane was named first vice-presi- dent and Cliff Work second vice- president. Reelected were Fred W. Beetson, executive vice-president ; and James S. Howie, secretary-treasurer. Joseph M. Schenck replaced Jason Joy as 20th Cent,ury-Fox representative on the board of directors. Following the meeting, the directors of the Central Casting Corp., AMPP subsidiary, reelected Beetson president, Howard Philbrick vice-president, and Howie secretary-treasurer. Esmond Resigns as Censor Director Albany, March 5. — Irwin Esmond, director of the mo- tion picture division, State Education Department, for the last 14 years, has retired, having reached the statutory age of 70. Assistant Commis- sioner Irwin Conroe was named acting director. The division reviews and licenses all films, except news reels, exhibited in New York State. Esmond succeeded the first director, James Wingate, in 1932 when Wingate resigned to affiliate with the Hays or- ganization. With the Educa- tion Department 30 years, Es- mond was chief of the law division prior to his appoint- ment as film division head. Industry in OWI Set-up Hollywood, March 5. — Robert Ris- kin, chief of the Office of War In- formation overseas film bureau, today revealed plans for an industry financed non-profit company to take over pro- duction and distribution of documen- tary and informational films under State Department guidance in order to carry forward and expand present OWI-type activity after the agency itself disbands. Riskin, here for two weeks to en- list studio heads' support for the pro- ject, said the plan contemplates a million dollar investment to finance first year's operations based on pro- (Continued on page 7) Ohio, North Kentucky Theatres Are Closed by Great Floodwaters Cincinnati, March 5. — The Ohio river floor, inundating some 30 square miles of the Greater Cincinnati area, including northern Kentucky, and causing evacuation of hundreds of families and scores of business establishments by Red Cross disaster units, has closed the Riverside Theatre, with a number of feet of water in the auditorium. The house is operated by James Wilson. Many highways throughout are blocked, and truck film deliveries have been suspended, it is reported by H. J. Wessel, owner of the Film Service Co., largest film carrier in this territory. Equally serious flood conditions prevail in a number of Ohio and out-of-state situations traversed by the Ohio river and its tribu- taries. Other theatres closed in Ohio include the Dodge, New Richmond ; Lyric, New Boston; Ripley, Ripley; Lyric, Manchester, and Bendzue, Pomeroy. Closed in Kentucky are the Halls, Catletts- burg; Odeon, Augusta; Russell, Russell; Strand and Kentucky, Vanceburg, and Ren Roy, Greenup, as well as several houses at Ashland. In West Virginia, the Alpine at Point Pleasant and the Palace at Parkersburg have been victims of the flood. Set Oct. 8th as Trial Date On New Decree Court Reserves Decision On Clearance Injunction Trial of the Government's action for a new consent decree calling for theatre divorcement will start in Federal District court here be- fore Judge Henry W. Goddard on Oct. 8. Robert L. Wright, special as- sistant to the attorney general, told Judge Goddard at a hearing yesterday that trial of the issues would be neces- sary and the trial may take from one to two years. A pre-trial conference, the first of several expected to be held, was set for March 26, at which time Govern- ment and industry counsel will meet informally in Judge Goddard's cham- bers to determine issues which may be agreed upon prior to trial. The Government's application for an in- junction on clearance practices pre- (Continued on page 7) Byrnes ' Order Is Attacked Washington, March S. — A Con- gressional investigation of the Byrnes' curfew, which he denounced as an in- vasion of the Constitution, was de- manded today by Rep. Berkeley L. Bunker of Nevada. "I have watched with increasing alarm as some of our 'power-drunk' officials have paraphrased and applied line by line, paragraph by paragraph, and chapter by chapter, many of the orders that have been promulgated by loathsome dictators against whom our (Continued on page 6) Exhibitors Again Mainstay in 7th As in the past, exhibitors partici- pating in the forthcoming Seventh War Bond drive. May 14- June 30, will carry the primary - responsibility, passed on by the Treasury, of selling series "E" bonds, for which a quota has been set at $4,000,000,000, much more than individuals have ever been (Continued on page 6) 2 Motion Picture daily Tuesday, March 6, 1945 Heavier Taxes Are Proposed for Ohio Columbus, O., March 5. — A bill to produce approximately $10,000,000 ad- ditional annual revenue in retail sales tax collections, without increasing the present impost, has been introduced into the upper Legislative branch by Senator James Matzenbaum, of Cleve- land. The measure, which, if adopted, would be in the form of an amendment, would require vendors to maintain separate records of all sales and the tax collections thereon, and pay the actual amounts to the State Treasurer. The current tax is more than three per cent, Senator Matzenbaum pointed out, citing that a one-cent tax on a 10-cent purchase amounts to 10 per cent tax, with larger amounts in pro- portion, whereas the vendor is re- quired to file semi-annual reports and remit only on the equivalent of a straight three per cent, based on gross sales. Theatres, likewise, pay a three per cent excise admission tax on gross receipts. No Ontario 10% Tax On Tickets After All Toronto, March 5.— It appears that all of the talk about the restoration of the 10 per cent amusement tax by the Ontario Government was a mis- take. At least that is what a deputa- tion of the Ontario Federation of Labor was told when it waited on Premier George Drew and the Pro- vincial Cabinet at the Parliament Building. When the subject of reviving the amusement levy was brought up by the labor men with accompanying ob- jections, the reply from the Govern- ment was there had been no intention of reviving the tax this year "to help pay for the new education subsidy." At first thought this declaration was taken to mean there would be no amusement tax but the qualifying part of the statement regarding the $20,000,000 subsidy for schools in On- tario still has the theatre men guess- ing. 'Stars & Stripes' Book May Be Made a Film Hollywood, March 5. — Steve Sles- inger is en route to New York fol- lowing preliminary negotiations for the sale of screen rights to "Stars and Stripes," book based on the official Army publication, which was launched first in World War I as a weekly and now appears as a daily with 11 editions ranging from London to Al- giers. Staff members, all of them Afmy. men, are due in New York this week from overseas to do further work on the book. Nebraska Tax Killed Omaha, March 5. — Nebraska will have no sales tax at least for anoth- er two years. The measure, LB 336, which would have provided a two per cent sales tax effective July 1, was killed in the Legislature's revenue committee at Lincoln. Personal Mention j. J. FITZGIBBONS, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp., is a grandfather, his daughter having given birth to a girl in Memphis. • Harold L. Groves, field director of the new Confidential Reports, Inc., who recently resigned from Copyright Protection Bureau after 16 years, will leave New York this week for a countrywide tour for the new organi- zation. • Harry Stevens, of Life Magazine's advertising staff, has left New York for Hollywood. • Joan Roggen, formerly with RKO, has joined the advertising denartment of Paramount. • Fred Meyers, Universal Eastern sales manager, is in Washington this week. • Edward M. Schnitzer, United Artists home office executive, will leave New York today for Toronto. • Sam Lefkowitz, United Artists New York manager, left yesterday for Philadelphia and Washington. George Bagnall, United Artists vice-president, arrived here yesterday from the Coast. • Roy L. Brauer, Universal branch manager at Atlanta, is visiting in Tennessee. • Charles P. Lester, National Screen Service Southern manager, is in Atlanta after a trip to Florida. GS. EYSSELL, president and • managing director of Radio City Music Hall, will leave for the Coast Saturday to see new product. • Leon Fromkess, PRC president, who left New York Sunday for the Coast, stopped off in Chicago for two days en route. He is expected back in New York next month. • Harry R. Lubcke, director of tele- vision for the Don Lee Broadcasting System, is in Washington and will visit New York before returning to the Coast. Robert Knepton, Warner contract manager in New England, has left Hartford for a two-week vacation in Augusta, Ga. • • Lt. Louis C. Ingram, Jr., son of the Memphis M-G-M branch mana- ger, has been awarded the Air Medal after eight missions over Japan. • Austin C. Keough, Paramount vice-president and general counsel, has returned to New York from Cali- fornia. • Eric Van Dyck, Loew 83rd Street manager, celebrated his 15th anniver- sary at that house March 4. • Ted Markoff, manager of the Col- chester Theatre, Colchester, Conn., is the father of a daughter. • Harry Shaw, Loew's Poli New England manager, celebrated his 21st wedding anniversary this week. Reisman Is 1st U. S. Film Man in Paris Phil Reisman, RKO vice-president in charge of world distribution, has arrived in Paris from London, it was learned here yesterday, being the first ranking American commercial film executive to reach that city since 'D-Day'. For many months, U. S. foreign department executives have waited for French visas. Reisman is expected to confer in Paris with Marcel Gentel, RKO's French man- ager, and will inspect other branches and agencies there and in Belgium. Since E. T. Carr of the J. Arthur Rank organization was permitted to cross the Channel in order to carry on commercial activity there, some industry quarters here felt that the American industry was being discrim- inated against, but, with the granting of a French visa to Reisman, letting down the bars to the Continent is expected, with only limiting factors those of transportation. Name J. J. Chisholm ASN Ontario Head Toronto, March 5. — Appointment of J. J. Chisholm as district manager of Associated Screen News for On- tario is announced by B. E. Norrish, president and managing director. Chisholm is one of the company's senior producers. Kalmenson to Hold Home Office Meet Ben Kalmenson, general sales man- ager for Warners, will conduct a sales conference at the home office on Fri- day to outline distribution plans and policies for the remainder of the season. Home office executives and district managers who will participate : Mort Blumenstock, Roy Haines, Jules Lapi- dus, Norman H. Moray, I. F. Dolid, Ed Hinchy, Stanley Hatch, Norman Ayers, Robert Smeltzer, Charles Rich, Harry A. Sneed, Hall Walsh, R. L. McCoy, Doak Roberts, Henry Herbel and Ralph Clark. HaysReturnSfA nnual MPPDA Meet Mar. 26 Will H. Hays returned to New York yesterday from his regular Win- ter visit to Hollywood, and will con- tinue with MPPDA executive staff members on the writing of his annual report to the board of directors and company members. The annual board meeting is sched- uled for March 26. Astor Cinemas Dissolves Albany, N. Y, March 5. — Astor Cinemas, Inc., of New York, has been dissolved. Attorney Harry G. Kosch, New York, recorded the notice. NEW YORK THEATRES 2ND WEEK The Greatest Lode of Thrills in Town! "THE BIG BONANZA" starring RICHARD ARLEN ROBERT LIVINGSTON A JANE FRAZEE ( wifn * George "Gabby" Hayes A Republic Picture First N. Y. Showing REPUBLIC THEATRE B'way, Bet. 51st & 52nd Streets RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Shswplace of the Nation . Rockefeller Center "A SONG TO REMEMBER" PAUL MUNI • MERLE OBERON Introducing CORNEL WILDE A Columbia Pleture la TECHNICOLOR 8PECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS' Judy GARLAND Margaret O'BRIEN IN PERSON VINCENT LOPEZ and 0RCH. ^ Paramount presents Veronica Sonny LAKE TUFTS Eddie Marjorie Bracken Reynolds "BRING on the GIRLS" In Person The Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald Buck & Bubbles Cootie Williams and his Orchestra PAIACE B WAY & 47th St. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett Raymond Massey "Woman in the Window" AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE — A RKO RELEASE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in TechnJco/or ASTOR Continuous Doors open 8:30 A.M. Broadway & 45th Street Popular Prices WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLER0S' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures NOW - - - Brandt's GLOBE 'Dillinger* Shown Friday Monogram will give its first trade screening here of "John Dillinger" on Friday morning at the Normandie Theatre, following with a buffet lunch- eon at the Warwick Hotel, for exhibitors and the press. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday* by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor- Herbert V Feeke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bnrcan 4 Golden So . London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing tx:.*..._ a i — t? t?_* 1 — second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the Co Inc. Other Qui (ley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as s< post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1S79. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. J 1 \ 1 r;c; to NDING ON YOU! NDUSTRY * 1945 * RED CROSS WAR FUND WEEK -MARCH 15 thru 21 Our industry, too, has campaign ribbons it can proudly wear on its chest . . . Bond Drives . . . War Funds . . . March of Dimes . . . United Nations . . . Red Cross . . . yes, dozens of important missions on the home front — and more to come before this show is over. But we can look any G.I. Joe in the eye and say "we didn't let you down!" . . . and we'll be in there pitching 'til it's over, over there! That's show business . . . the business we're all proud of . . . the business that organized itself for national defense before the first shot was fired . . . the business that knows how to do things and how to get things done. Yes, it's our job to pass the ammunition! To get the dollars that help fight battles ... to get the dollars that help bandage the wounds of war! We all know that the true measure of showmanship is at the box office. We love records like we love the sound of laughter and applause in our theatres. We love record grosses! . . . and that goes for bond sales, collections ... or anything else we're asked to do for our country, We are now called upon to bring, into the RED CROSS WAR FUND BOX OFFICE, more money in a single week than ever before. It's going to test our showmanship. . . our ability to think of new ways to make the public dig deep and come across when we put up the house lights and pass the helmet. The Red Cross needs your help . . . just as the boys in the foxholes and the whole suffering world need the Red Cross! "The Red Cross is great because it reflects and is sustained by an idea that is lodged in the emo- tions and consciousness of all the people. That idea is the dignity of man, and the responsibility of all society toward its individual members." CHAIRMAN. THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS "It is gratifying to learn that the Theatre Divi- sion, War Activities of the Motion Picture Indus- try, again plans to organize collections in the na- tion's motion picture theatres from March 15th through March 21st, 1945, for the benefit of the Red Cross War Fund. "I am confident that the enthusiastic co-opera- tion of the nation's exhibitors will materially help their local communities in attaining or exceeding their chapter goals." NATION!! CHAIRMAN 1QA5 PFD CRASS WAR FUND YOUR TRAILER is a terrific heart punch. It stars INGRID BERGMAN and was directed by Jacques Tourneur. You get it free. Run it at every performance. AT EVERY SHOW "This is the eve of battle. For months your na- tional and local committees have labored with the vast detail of organization and preparation for this drive. March 1 5th is D-Day and H-Hour for us. We have a great task to perform. As in every battle, success will depend on the initiative and fighting qualities of every man and woman in our industry. The RED CROSS is depend- ing on YOU ... I know you will not fail the RED CROSS." (Last minute checkup) J THEATRE DECORATIONS v/sPECIAL TRAILER yHOUSE LIGHTS UP J COLLECTION CONTAINERS v/ USE OF AD SLUGS J OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION J RADIO COOPERATION ^NEWSPAPER COOPERATION J SPECIAL EVENTS J CHILDREN'S MATINEE J CONTAINER AT BOX OFFICE y SCHOOL TIEUPS J THEATRE READY . . Staff, Musk, Slide, Speakers, Etc. This advertisement contributed by Columbia Pictures MetrO-Goldwyn-Mayer • Monogram Pictures • Paramount Pictures • Republic Pictures • RKO Radio Pictures • 20th 6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 6, 1945 Byrnes 5 Order Is Attacked (Continued from page 1) American boys and girls are fighting," Bunker declared. "The latest innovation in the way of dictator-decrees is the so-called Byrnes curfew order, which to me plainly violates the very thing that our Constitution guaranteed to our people in the way of liberty." Suggesting the possibility that the order was part of a "dry" drive, the Congressman asserted that if such was the case, after-midnight sales of liquor could have been prohibited without such broad interference, while if it was to save coal, it "is peculiar that it comes after Winter is virtually over." "I, for one, am at a total loss to understand why the midnight closing order was postponed until Feb. 26, 1945— until now when victory is in sight, and when many of our fac- tories have passed the peak of produc- tion demands," he commented. "The operation of theatres, bowling alleys, restaurants and other amuse- ment places has nothing to do with Army and Navy manpower. Most of the employers and employees of the (amusement) industry restricted by the Byrnes decree can make little other contribution to the war effort than to help maintain the morale of such people as war plant swing-shift- ers who seek such services, and to pay the income taxes that the Gov- ernment imposes upon them. "The American public is entitled to the facts behind such decrees as the Byrnes curfew." Blue Overhauls In a reorganization and expansion of the Blue Network's cooperative program department, Stanley Flor- sheim has been made director of the department, Ludwig Simmel, adminis- trative assistant to Florsheim, George Scheier, publicity manager and Miss Lyndall Wilson, business development manager. Exhibitors Again Mainstay in 7th (Continued from page 1) asked to buy of that class of war- securities. At the request of Ted R. Gamble, director of the War Finance Division of the Treasury, a meeting was held at the weekend in Washington with representatives of the industry to dis- cussing preliminary plans for the drive. Present were: Si Fabian, chairman of the theatres division of the War Activities Committee ; Sam Pinanski, chairman of the Seventh War Loan for the industry, and Harry Brandt, chairman of the Sixth War Loan drive. The Seventh War Loan will have a goal of $14,000,000,000. In order to sell the unprecedented amount of bonds to individuals, the Treasury has set the longest period yet. The formal drive will extend seven weeks, compared with four weeks in the Sixth. In addition to Gamble, the prelimi- nary discussions were participated in by Edward Shugrue, director of mo- tion pictures and special events for the War Finance Division, and Cornwall Jackson, deputy chief of the Office of War Information radio division, in charge of the West Coast. $175,000 Theatre Fire in Nebraska Omaha, March 5. — Fire today de- stroyed the Egyptian Theatre at Scotts Bluff, with a loss estimated in excess of $175,000. The blaze, of un- known origin, started in the stage section and swept through the build- ing, gutting it before the firemen could bring the fire into control. To protect firemen from electrocution as they played streams of water on the fire, power was shut off in the down- town section for 30 minutes. The theatre, largest in Western Nebraska, is owned and operated by Midwest Gibraltar Enterprises, Inc. No Standees Allowed In Mexican Theatres Mexico City, March 5.— Ex- hibitors here have been warned by the municipal gov- ernment that they must not, under penalty of severe fines, admit any patron when all seats are occupied. Exhibitors here, it is under- stood, pay an average of $20,000 annually to the city government in fines for in- fractions. Ralph Kohn, Former Para. Treasurer, 54 Ralph A. Kohn, former treasurer and a director of Paramount, who for some years was a leading figure in the industry, died after a long illness, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Beulah K. Goetz. He was 54 years old. A graduate of the New York Uni- versity Law School, Kohn joined Famous Players in 1913 as an assist- ant counsel and, assistant secretary, and three years later became assistant secretary and assistant treasurer of the newly formed Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. In 1927 he became treas- urer and in May, 1934, a director of Paramount Publix and its subsidi- aries, remaining until his retirement from the organization. Since then he had been associated with the insur- ance firm of Keith, Cosgrave and Co. Besides his sister, he leaves a son, Ensign Ralph Kohn Jr., and a daugh- ter Marjorie Kohn. Kohn had been a member of the Army and Navy Club, City Athletic Club, and Fair- view Country Club. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 :45 P.M., today, at Riverside Memorial Chapel, with burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery, N. Y. U. S. Asks Help for Manpower Picture Stressing that the manpower situ- ation is still serious and requires fur- ther emphasis on the nation's screens, Under Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson has called on the industry, through the War Activities Commit- tee, to give wide distribution to the latest War Department short, "The Enemy Strikes," one reel film pro- duced by the Army Pictorial Service and scheduled for release on March 15. It highlights war production needs by scenes of our losses in the 'Battle of the Bulge'. Producers and Actor Unions Meet Today Hollywood, March 5. — Represen- tatives of the Screen Actors Guild, the Screen Players Union and the pro- ducers will meet tomorrow at Na- tional Labor Relations Board head- quarters with a view toward an agree- ment eliminating the jurisdictional dispute between the player organiza- tions. Mrs. McCullough Dies Mrs. Isabell Perissi McCullough, mother of Mrs. Roger Di Pasca, sec- retary to Jack Cohn at Columbia Pic- tures, died Sunday at St. Clare's Hos- pital here. Services will be held to- morrow. Mark Sandrich, 44, Dies in Hollywood Hollywood, March 5.— Mark Rex Sandrich, 44, Paramount producer-di- rector, died of a heart attack this morning at his home. Sandrich was born in New York and educated at Columbia University. He started as a short story writer and playwright, going to the Coast in- 1923. He became a property man af the old Century Studios, then becom- ing an assistant director of comedies, and, in 1926, a director, making two reelers for RKO, Century, Sunshine, Fox and Educational. In 1932 he made a three-reel band picture which won an Academy Award. Sandrich's first feature was "Mel- ody Cruise," for RKO. His first big feature was "The Gay Divorcee," with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, fol- lowed by "Top Hat." When he joined Paramount he directed "Man About Town," with Jack Benny and Doro- thy Lamour, and was then made a producer-director. His last produc- tion was "Here Come the Waves," and for several months he had been preparing "Blue Skies," which will star Bing Crosby. Sandrich was program chairman of the forthcoming Academy Awards ceremonies, and was working with tal- ent organizations on the preparation of a "Cinemontage" presentation, which he had devised as an innovation. He is survived by his widow, Freda, his mother and his sons, Mark, Jr., 17, and Henry, 13. Services will be held at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple at three o'clock to- morrow afternoon, with Dr. Edgar F. Magnin officiating. The annual awards program of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, planned by Sandrich, will be executed at the Chinese Theatre March 15 as he outlined it, with Charles Brackett carrying on the work Sandrich started. Hal Halperin Dies In Miami Hospital Miami, Fla., March 5— Hal Hal- perin, for many years head of the Chi- cago office of Variety, died here yes- terday in a Miami hospital. He was 48 years old. Halperin started 25 years ago as an advertising solicitor. He soon became an assistant to Jack Lait, then Mid-West representative of Variety, now editor of the New York Mirror, and succeeded him when he went to New York. Halperin was Mid-West representative of United Service Or- ganizations Camp Shows. His wife and two daughters survive. Funeral services will be held in Chicago Thursday at the Piser Fu- neral Parlor following the expected arrival of the remains from Miami tomorrow. Set Raw Stock Meet Washington, March 5. — Members of the Industry's WPB advisory com- mittee will meet here with War Pro- duction Board officials, March 16, to discuss second quarter raw stock allocations. Onie's Son Missing Cincinnati, March 5. — Milton Onie, 19-year old son of Bill Onie, Monogram franchise owner, here, is reported missing over Germany. M-G-M TRADE SHOW NEW YORK • NEW JERSEY TERRITORIES ONLY "WITHOUT LOVE" SPENCER TRACY • KATHARINE HEPBURN THURSDAY MARCH 8, 1945 - 10 A.M. RKO SCREEN ROOM 630 NINTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY Tuesday, March 6, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 Distributors Hit for Percentage Buildups Cincinnati, Mar. 5. — Decry- ing the distributors' alleged practice of 'usurping profits' of independent exhibitors through high percentages and "inflated" flat rentals, Willis Vance, chairman of the Indig- nant Exhibitors Forum com- mittee of the Greater Cincin- nati Independent Exhibitors Association, charges that the independent exhibitor "shud- ders and cringes" every time a new picture is built up, "for he knows that it will be a per- centage designation, which means that it must be played at a loss, or have nothing to run." "The independent ex- hibitor," Vance says, "makes no profit, or sustains a loss on every percentage picture he plays." Para. Atlanta Sales Meeting Thursday Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribu- tion, will head a group of Paramount home office executives, including Hugh Owen, New York and Southern division manager; Robert M. Gillham, advertising-publicity director, and Claude Lee, director of public rela- tions, who will attend the company's regional sales meeting in Atlanta's Biltmore Hotel on Thursday and Fri- day. The group will leave New York tomorrow. The Atlanta meeting will be the ninth and final one in a series of dis- trict sessions which Reagan has been conducting throughout the country. Exhibitor Luncheon Highlight of the second day will be a luncheon at which exhibitors will be the guests and at which John F. Kirby, Atlanta district manager, will be official host. Representatives from the Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte branch offices will attend the meeting, includ- ing: from Atlanta, Grover C. Par- sons, Clyde C. Goodson, Bert Tur- geon, Harry Dashiell, Robert Tar- water, E. V. Atkinson. Gordon Brad- ley, Nelson Towler, Paul Cockrill ; from New Orleans, E. B. , Price, Ed- gar E. Shinn, Sidney Otis, Maurice Artigues, Irrria Rogers ; from Char- lotte, Scott Lett, Bert Adams, Wil- liam Holliday, W. W. Sharpe, Car- lotta Porter. Vernon Gray, district advertising representative, will also at- tend. Following the meeting, Owen will remain in Atlanta until Tuesday, March 13, to hold individual meetings with branch managers, salesmen and boookers. Rathvon on the Air For Red Cross Drive Tomorrow night at 11 :30 E.W.T., X. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO, will appear on the "On Stage Every- body" Blue Network show on behalf of the Red Cross, in his capacity as national chairman for the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week, to be observed, March 15-21, in theatres. The broadcast will emanate from WJZ in New York. New Decree Proposals To Trial Here Oct 8 {Continued from page 1) ceding trial was argued for several hours and Judge Goddard reserved decision, but indicated that he was not greatly impressed with the neces- sity for an immediate injunction. Briefs and counter-briefs on the sub- ject also will be submitted by March 26. Wright told the court that he would like trial to start in September, but since Judge Goddard would still be on vacation at v that time, the date of Oct. 8 was agreed upon. Wright then stated he wanted interim relief in the form of a temporary injunction against "unreasonable clearance." Asked by the court what was meant by "unreasonable clearance," Wright replied : "clearance which is not reas- onable." Wright relied on 104 decisions of the Arbitration Appeal Board in making his application, stating that most of the complaints dealt with un- reasonable clearance and that the de- cree provisions were not sufficiently broad to enable the board to give proper relief. Former Judge Joseph Proskauer, counsel for Warners, told the court: "Mr. Wright is now seeking the most drastic relief known to the law, a temporary injunction. I shall show the court where in the name of fair- ness, decency and justice, such relief cannot be granted." He pointed out that the court was not being asked to decide if the decree worked well, but rather to toss it aside as of no consequence and to say that, after recognizing clearance as important for five years, .that it is no longer. No AAA Criticism Whitney North Seymour, of coun- sel for Paramount, and John Caskey, of counsel for 20th Century-Fox, de- fended the decree in its present form, and pointed out that no change in the economic structure of the nation had occurred since the decree was entered to warrant a temporary injunction now. Caskey declared that in the more than 250,000 words in AAA de- cisions, not one containing a bit of criticism of clearance had been made. Judge Goddard then asked Wright what he hoped to accomplish. The Government attorney said that the in- junction, would aid in broadening the powers of the AAA and enable it to deal out penalties. John W. Davis, Loew's counsel, said he knew less of the Government's position at that point than before he came to court. He said the decree stipulates that clearance is necessary and that the Government was asking the defendants to accuse and prose- cute themselves. He was joined again by Proskauer, who stated that if the AAA exhibits were accepted as evi- dence they could be used against the defendants at the trial and in each case the defendants wanted to take court testimony, if that procedure was to be followed. Columbia Objects Louis Frohlich, counsel for Colum- bia, stated that his company never had been a party to the proceedings or to arbitration and he saw no reason to accept the AAA material as evi- dence where Columbia was concerned. Edward C. Raftery, United Artists president and counsel, interposed the same objection, saying that his com- pany had over 200,000 contracts in- volving clearance. Raftery also is counsel for Universal. Judge Goddard observed that "My impression is that a deci- sion of the Appeals Board is not proof of a violation of the Sherman Act. Clearance must exist. It cannot be applied like a yardstick in all cases but each case must be decided upon its individual merits. I think that perhaps some of the AAA pro- visions might be improved. I'm not ready to rule now, however, for if I do, I will rule against you, Mr. Wright." Wright then stated that if the ruling went against the Gov- ernment it would move to have all the arbitration decisions since the decree went into ef- fect set aside. Affidavits will be submitted by the companies today, and the Government will reply on March 24. Applications of Morris Ernst, of counsel for the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers, and of Abram F. My- ers and Jesse L. Stern, for the Confer- ence of Independent Exhibitors, to file briefs as amici curiae were granted. At the hearing, in addition to those named, were : J. Robert Rubin, J. Noble Braden, Earle Beatty, Ben Melniker, Richard Dwight, Fred Pride, Austin Keough, Gordon Youngman, David Palfreyman, Adolph Schimel, R. W. Perkins, Louis Phillips, Leopold Friedman and Sidney Schreiber. Powell, Pressburger Due Here March 17 Michael Powell and Emeric Press- burger, English writing-producing team who are due in New York the week end of March 17, are coming not only to attend the premiere at the Gotham Theatre of "Colonel Blimp," but also to begin work on their next picture, "A Matter of Life and Death," it was disclosed here yester- day by Arthur W. Kelly, president of Eagle-Lion Films, Inc. Powell and Pressburger expect to complete the film treatment of "Life and Death" while in the U. S. but first they will make a pre-shooting re- search tour through Washington, Bos- ton and Philadelphia for material. The picture is laid in the United Drumm with Folliard On Ned Depinet Drive Memphis, March 5. — Frank L. Drumm, assistant to RKO Eastern division sales manager Nat Levy, has joined the RKO 'Ned Depinet Drive' squad here as the tour rounds into the home stretch. Teaming up with drive captain Robert Folliard and short subject sales manager Harry Michalson, the squad today conferred with the sales staff at the local ex- change. Following today's meeting here, Folliard, Michalson and Drumm, will leave for New Orleans for meet- ings with Southeastern district man- ager Dave Prince and branch man- ager J. R. Lamantia. The group will reach New York on March 21. Independents File In Arthur Action St. Louis, March 5. — The Apollo and Princess here have filed an intervening motion in the case of Harry Arthur, Jr., and his St. Louis Amusement Co. against the Government's consent decree, in which the theatres charge that a con- spiracy exists between the Government and the distribu- tors to give Fanchon and Marco a monopoly on first-run pictures. This motion is expected to be heard with the others pending when Federal Judge Richard M. Duncan returns from Washington about March 15. Industry in OWI Set-up {Continued from page 1) duction and distribution of 24 shorts for worldwide exhibition in 27 lan- guages. Funds would come primarily from the industry but some financing might be advanced by Governmental agencies which have appropriations for such uses. Riskin said he had discussed the set- up privately with several New York company heads. It provides that pro- ducers, directors and writers would contribute their services and work under a leading documentary produc- er not yet selected, plus a staff of men who have learned documentary technique during the war, some of whom are still in the armed services. Over these would be a policy board including a State Department repre- sentative who would outline the Gov- ernment's views with respect to sub- jects undertaken. Distribution Plans On the distribution side films would be handled in the same manner as the present OWI output with key ex- changes in various countries in charge of the physical handling and all com- pany staffs collaborating. Both 16mm and 35mm prints would be provided as presently with non-theatrical ex- hibition predominant, but with the- atrical channelling of those subjects considered suitable for commercial purposes. Riskin expressed confidence the company could become self-sus- taining ultimately. Principal objective, Riskin said, is to soread knowledge of the American way of life and promote better under- standing between nations. Under the directive which created OWI,. that agency will be dismantled six months after war ends. Riskin said the non-profit company would begin oner- ations at anv time without conflicting with the OWI. Wilder Offer Queried on reports William Wilder has been offered a post in charge of American films in Germany after vic- tory, Riskin said negotiations are in progress but not vet discussable. He indicated, however, that such 3 post would cover only that portion of Ger- manv occupied by Americans. Riskin said the State Department fully approves the plan three Three cheers for those happy chappies!" . . . now hitting sensational box-office success all over the nation - new york - u(jlq^ BOSTON - WASHINGTON - ROCHESTER - CINCINNATI - DENVER - NEW ORLEANS - — HARRISBURG - BALTIMORE - RICHMOND - NORFOLK - BUFFALO - OMAHA - MILWAUKEE - BIRMINGHAM - SALT LAKE CITY - HARTFORD - NEWARK - OKLAHOMA CITY - with dozens more important first runs readying for the big box-office doings week by week! 10 Motion Picture daily Tuesday, March 6, 1945 American Industry Seen in Italy Soon (Continued from page 1) the OWI overseas film bureau told Motion Picture Daily. "There is no doubt that the act of the Commission brings closer liquida- tion of the military operation of films in Italy," he said. For some time now, it is understood, the OWI has been anxious to return Italian film operations as done in France, to the companies. But the fact that Italy has continued to be a military front, although a subsidiary one, and with transportation remaining an acute problem, OWI has had to control A company spokesman said it is hoped that by the Summer commercial operations will be resumed in Italy. It is all contingent, he pointed out, on when the Germans pull out of Italy, as they have long been expected to do. Italy has been experiencing un- precedented theatre business, with the OWI holding in escrow considerable sums amassed by the exhibition of the 40 Hollywood features which the in- dustry had handed over to the OWI. How much money will be forthcom- ing to the companies cannot be de- termined until the lira is permanently stabilized. Curfew Effect Slight In Los Angeles Area Los Angeles, Feb. 5. — After a week's compliance with the midnight curfew, the consensus of Los Angeles showmen is that the effect on grosses is slight. Maximum loss from the elimination of the Saturday owl show was $200. Fox West Coast's 17 all-night theatres on the Coast were affected in an undetermined degree, but earlier openings partially offset the loss. The Paramount management foresaw a complication in the forthcoming "For Whom the Bell Tolls" engagement, which will have to move forward its starting hour. Sherrill Corwin, operating the Los Angeles and Orpheum Theatres, was an exception to the rule, estimating that his first week's total was off $5000. All are confident the public will adjust its attendance habits to the curfew quickly. 'Dry' Sets New Record Chattanooga, Tenn., March 5. — "Keep Your Powder Dry," played four days at the Tivoli here, and then moved over to the State for the next three, the first time in five years an M-G-M film has played both theatres. Film's combined gross was in excess of $10,000, M-G-M asserts, a record for this city. 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 Curfew Cuts 10-15% from Grosses at N. Y. Theatres (Continued from page 1) 10 to 15 per cent with Saturday business being off as much as 20 per cent in the evening. While some theatres were forced to forego only midnight shows Sat- urday night and trim a few minutes from daily schedules, other houses had to drop between seven and ten showings of films throughout the week. However, despite the curfew and its attendant loss of revenue, receipts drawn by new arrivals are of out- standing proportions. New films in- clude "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," at the Roxy; "The Picture of Dorian Gray," at the Capitol; "Hotel Ber- lin," Strand, and "Bring on the Girls," Paramount. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," com- bined with a stage show featuring Victor Borge and Joan Edwards, has been drawing well at the Roxy since it opened last Wednesday with an out- standing $80,000 recorded for its first five days and a heavy $107,000 ex- pected for the week. The loss of revenue from the curfew at the Roxy will not be too great since the theatre previously closed a few minutes past midnight on weekdays and only lost a midnight show on Saturday night and part of a performance on Sunday. 'Picture' Is Smash A smash $82,000 is expected for the first week of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and a stage bill featuring Lena Home, Xavier Cugat and Robert Walker, at the Capitol. Estimates place the loss in Saturday revenue at $4,000 at the Capitol and over 10 per cent on the week since final shows are now starting at 9 P. M. here and eight showings of the film weekly have been cut to conform with the new regulations. The Paramount expects a good $80,000 for the first week of "Bring on the Girls" and a stage show featuring The Ink Spots, Ella Fitz- gerald, Buck and Bubbles and 'Cootie' Williams and his orchestra. During the week, the Paramount has been forced to cut seven showings of its film and two stage shows ; it is esti- mated that the theatre could have done an additional $10,000 on the week were it not for the curfew. The Strand, where "Hotel Berlin," combined with a show featuring Car- men Cavallero and band opened strong, last Friday, is meeting with conditions similar to those at the Paramount. However, a shorter show brought only a 10 per cent drop in Saturday business and with $29,- 600 recorded for the first three days, a smart $60,000 is expected for the first week. Estimates place the loss of revenue here due to the curfew at 12 to 15 per cent. Radio City Music Hall lost at least 20 per cent of its customary revenue on Saturday between the rain in the early part of the day and the failure of customers to appear after 9 P. M A spokesman pointed out that cus- tomarily, business is very heavy be- tween 9 and 10 P.M. Saturdays but with the curfew, few customers ar- rived for the final show. The the- atre has cut its customary Saturday midnight show as well as one show- ing of the feature on Sundays, open- ing with its stage show Sunday mornings. "A Song to Remember" is expected to conclude a sixth and final week tomorrow with a satisfac- tory $97,000 on the basis of $61,000 recorded in the first four days. About $5,000 was lost on the week. "To- night and Every Night" will open at the Music Hall Thursday. Of the holdovers, "The Princess and the Pirate," at the Astor, was hit hardest with an estimated 20 per cent of the week's revenue lost by the necessity of dropping about eight showings of the film. Fourth week's gross is expected to reach $28,000 on the basis of $18,000 recorded for the first three days. Estimated loss due to the Saturday night curfew here is placed at $2,500, with two complete showings dropped. Theatres like the Globe, Gotham, Victoria and Criterion which were ex- pected to be hit hardest because of their grind operations, report about a 10 per cent drop in revenue with about 10 shows a week each being cut. "The Three Caballeros" is headed for a sturdy $22,000 for its fifth week at the Globe. A strong $8,800 is expected for the ninth week of "Mr. Emmanuel" at the Gotham. "The Fighting Lady" will draw about $15,700 for a seventh week at the Victoria, which is still big. Third and final week of "Here Come the Co-Eds," at the Criterion, will gross a satisfactory $23,000 following a second week's $26,500; "Keep Your Powder Dry" will open at the Crit- erion on Saturday. 'Woman' Still Profitable "The Woman in the Window" will complete a sixth and final week at the Palace tomorrow night with a profit- able $21,000 and "Murder, My Sweet" will open there Thursday. The film could probably have remained longer but RKO has it set to open Thurs day at its New York theatres. "The Keys of the Kindom" will bring over $30,000 for a tenth and final week plus an extra day, at the Rivoli, con- cluding a profitable run. "The Song of Bernadette" will return to Broad- way at the Rivoli for a two-week engagement at popular prices starting Saturday. "Roughly Speaking" is ex- pected to bring $17,500 in a fifth week at the Hollywood, which is satisfac- tory. "The Corn Is Green" is ex- pected to follow, but no date has been set. A mild $6,000 is expected for "Crime Doctor's Courage" at the Rialto which has dropped almost 18 shows weekly under curfew regula tions. "Nothing but Trouble" wil open at the Rialto Friday. A poor $2,500 is expected for the second and final week of "The Big Bonanza" at the Republic ; and "Utah" will open there Saturday. Advance 'Bernadette" The Rivoli, here, has advanced the date of the return engagement, at popular prices, of "The Song of Bernadette" to March 10 from March 14. Opera to Compete Cincinnati, March 5.' — Another season of Summer opera, which has, heretofore, provided considerable the- atre competition, is planned for Zoolo- gical Gardens here. WMC Delays Survey Of Industry Labor Chicago, March 5. — The War Manpower Commission in this re- gion will not survey the numerical strength of film exchange and theatre circuit staffs until the results of the 10 per cent staff reduction of non-es- sential industries becomes known, William H. Spencer, regional WMC director, reports. The reduction order, in effect in full by March 15, not only takes in Chicago, but most labor areas in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Most film exchanges here are meet- ing the order by dismissing one or two shipping room employees. The- atre circuits are not greatly affected, since many employees now are women and they are eliminated from this edict. 'Discharged' employees are required to report to the U. S. Em- ployment Service for defense jobs and, when placed, the USES notifies the non-essential employer. As soon as this region is no longer a critical labor area, the original employers are required to re-hire the dismissed employees. Must File March 10 For 'Key' Workers (Continued from page 1) now in the hands of local draft boards. Since the certification of essential employees for deferment is in the hands of regional offices, WPB offi- cials here said today they did not know what, if any, theatre employees would be considered key men, but sug- gested the possibility that projection- ists might be so classified, but there appeared to be little probability that house managers, assistant managers or "front" employees would be given preferential status. Rank to Construct 50 Theatres in Canada (Continued from page 1) spection tour of British theatres and a series of detailed conferences with Rank. He will now return to Canada to supervise drawing up contracts for the new houses. Everywhere possible, the buildings will conform to the de- sign standardized here. All equipment, furnishings and draperies will be made in England by GB.-Kalee, Ltd., Rank's equipment organization. This is the most ad- vanced step to date in the direction of British postwar exports and indicates that there is a governmental plan be- hind Rank's sending emissaries on worldwide tours to acquire theatre sites. Rohrs to Cleveland Cleveland, March 5. — Fred Rohrs, PRC Central district manager, will move his headquarters from St. Louis to here. The district includes St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Cleveland. tOWtST SATES BR»f&M twtft » »»r \ / M.T.C. ouivlif MtviCI V y oku 6-OOtl-l-3-4 HOtAGtt I A. AOJICnONtOOMAMnCHANGI OBI1UUHON SUVIQ YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS MORE COPPER FOR AMMUNITION. In the photograph are drops of copper from pro- jector carbons, collected from the bottom of a lamp housing. Such collections help make possible .50 caliber machine gun cartridges . . . which can down a Jap Zero, or save a Superfortress for another bomb run across Tokyo. When you think of it this way you realize the importance of collecting the copper from your pro- jector lamps and stripping copper from old carbon stubs . . . and turning it all back into war produc- tion channels. This you can do, through your local salvage com- mittees or through your distributor. Meanwhile, conserve still more copper by oper- ating your "National" projector carbons under the recommended conditions for maximum efficiency. NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation E33 General Offices: 30 East 42nd Street, New York 17, N. Y. Division Sales Offices: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco Keep your eye on the Infantry . . . the Doughboy does it! The word "National" is a registered trade-mark of National Carbon Company, Inc. THAT HAS BEEN MOST NATIONALLY PUBLICIZED OF ANY MOTION PICTURE... WILL BE RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS! COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK MAR. 15-21 First in Fttm-ar* (Radio )N Accural fi and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 57. NO. 45 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1945 TEN CENTS N. Y. Building Code 95% Set On New Houses Committee Sets Drive-In, Open-Air Theatre Rules Ninety-five per cent of the pro- visions of the new building code for new theatres and other public structures in New York State, ex- cluding New York City, have now been set by the State Labor Depart- ment's advisory committee, a spokes- man for the group told Motion Pic- ture Daily here yesterday. The city is also setting re- quirements for open-air places of entertainment including drive-in theatres and open-air houses. Additional require- (Continued on page 8) Consolidated Nets $561,719 Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., had sales totaling $11,137,124, on which a net profit of $561,719 was realized, in its last fiscal year, ended on Dec. 31, 1944, Herbert J. Yates, presi- dent, reported yesterday ; this compares with sales of $9,465,- 3 3 8 in 1943, when the com- pany netted $578,339. Con- solidated owns two - thirds of S e t a y Co., which, in turn, owns Republic Pictures, and this interest fig- ures into Consolidated earnings. Costs of operations last year totaled {Continued on page 8) Herbert J. Yates Pollock Heads Blow Film Department Louis Pollock, formerly director of advertising and publicity for United Artists, has been named head of the new motion picture department of Blow Co., it was announced here yes- terday by Milton Biow, president of the agency. While Pollock will have (Continued on page 8) Curfew Cuts ChVs 'Sneak' Previews Chicago, March 6. — Pre- views here have been elim- inated for the duration of the midnight curfew in local thea- tres where they were shown in addition to regular pro- grams. B. and K.'s Chicago Theatre has employed the preview feature frequently, not only to test audience re- action, but also' to boost the final night's receipts of a pic- ture which has been on view for two to four weeks. The circuit of neighborhood houses operated by Jack Kirsch, Al- lied of Illinois president, also used previews. Kirsch Asks Better Distributor Deals For Independents By SAM HONIGBERG Chicago, March 6. — Jack Kirsch, president of Allied of Illinois, told members of his organization in con- vention at the Blackstone Hotel, here, today, that "The independent exhibitor must secure more cooperation from some of the major distributors if he is to remain in business." He pointed out that the independent has not 'cashed-in' on the war-prosperity wave, placed as he is on the end of the line when a picture has lost most of its drawing power." Kirsch said, "The bright first-run (Continued on page 8) Britain Short 100 Million Feet of Stock London, March 6. — Britain's commercial and governmental de- mands for raw stock exceeds the available supply by 100,000,000 feet, Hugh Dalton, president of the Board of Trade, told the House of Com- mons today, explaining that the board is, nevertheless, still undecided on whether a further cut in the distribu- tors' quotas will be necessary. Mentioning the increased de- mands of the armed services and other government depart- ments, as well as "essential ex- ports," Dalton said board offi- cials are anxious that the flow of entertainment films to the forces shall not be reduced. Unofficially, however, it was said that the BOT has been cutting the (Continued on page 3) See Some Delay on Clearance Ruling Washington, March 6. — Rulings by the New York Federal District court on the admissability of Arbitra- tion Appeal Board decisions as evi- dence in the Department of Justice action to eliminate clearance between theatres charging the same admission price, and on the Department's appli- cation for an injunction against such (Continued on page 3) Flood Worse, More Close, Spreads to Indiana Areas Cincinnati, March 6. — The Great- er Cincinnati area and other sections hereabouts and in Northern Kentucky, already dangerously flooded, face fur- ther floodwater damage with the Ohio River rising about half-a-foot an hour due to incessant rains. At Louisville, the Ohio was more than 14 feet above flood stage and was rising steadily. Many more theatres have been closed, adding to the several already shut down, and in all probability' the number will increase. Typical of sev- eral are the Americus, a unit of Asso- ciated Theatres, and the Broadway, into each of which several feet of water have poured. Crews worked all i night removing seats and furnishings. Scores of theatres closed are scat- tered through Southern Ohio and parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana, a few of them including — besides those mentioned — Riverside, here, Dodge, New Richmond ; Lyric, New Boston ; Ripley, Ripley ; Lyric, Manchester, and Bendzue, Pomeroy, all in Ohio ; in Kentucky, the Halls, Cat- lettsburg ; Odeon, Augusta ; Russell, Strand and Kentucky, Vanceburg, and Ren Roy, Greenup, as well as several houses at Ashland ; in West Virginia, the Alpine at Point Pleasant and the Palace at Parkersburg are among those which have been victims of the flood. WPB to Hear Independents' Film Demands Distributors Need More Stock to Release Films Problems of raw stock quotas for independent producers releasing through national distributors are increasing the already numerous complications involving the latters' raw stock supplies, it is learned here. A thorough airing of the problem and Hollywood, March 6. — Mary Pickford today received tele- graphed assurance from Stan- ley B. Adams of the WPB that she would receive the necessary raw stock for production and release prints for "One Touch of Venus." Her application was based on her long production record. The case is the first of its kind. and a possible solution is expected to develop at the March 16 meeting in Washington between the industry's advisory committee and representa- tives of the War Production Boards' Consumers' Durable Goods Division. Illustrative of these problems are (Continued on page 3) Tom Connors In Bond Post Samuel Pinanski, national chairman of the Seventh War Loan for the film industry, yesterday disclosed here that Tom J. Connors, vice-president of 20th Century- Fox in charge of world-wide sales, has of- fered to assume the duties of national d i s - tributor chair- m a n of the Seventh drive during the ill- ness of Grad- well L. Sears, vice - president of United Art- ists in charge of distribution. Spyros Skou- president of 20th Century-Fox, (Continued on page 3) Tom Connors ras, 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 7, 1945 Personal Mention WILLIAM F. RODGERS, Loew's vice-president and gen- eral sales manager, will return to New York from the Coast March IS. • Jay Eisenberg and Mike Simons, Loew attorney and editor of the com- pany house organ, respectively, re- turned to New York yesterday from New Haven. • John Flinn, Jr., of Warners pub- licity staff for five years, will be in- ducted into the Army on the Coast next Tuesday. • Don McElwaine, PRC director of advertising-publicity, will entrain from Hollywood March 14 for Boston and New York on business. • Joe Farrow, M-G-M Philadelphia office manager, is recuperating from an operation at the Presbyterian Hos- pital there. • Irving Blumberg, Warner Phila- delphia circuit advertising and pro- motion director, is back at work after an operation. • Duke Hickey, MPPDA public re- lations committee field representative, will arrive in Miami today from Pittsburgh. John R. Wood, Jr., March of Time sales manager, will return to New York today from Washington. • Albert Sindlinger, Audience Re- search executive vice-president, is en route to the Coast from New York. • Allen Benn, operator of the Bel- mont, Philadelphia, has gone to Mt. Clements, Michigan, for a vacation. • Bill Bethel, Republic Philadelphia salesman, underwent an operation in Philadelphia last week. • Samuel Marx, M-G-M producer, will arrive in New York today from the Coast. • Edgar Moss, 20th-Fox Philadel- phia manager, has returned there from Arizona. De Rochemont on Air March of Time producer Richard de Rochemont will appear on the Town Hall program, here, tomorrow night, over the Blue Network, on the subject: "Can France Regain Her Place As a World Power?" Mak- ing up the discussion group with de Rochemont will be Lewis Gannett, Louis Fischer, and Leon Henderson. Du Mont to Talk Dr. Allen B. Du Mont, head of the Du Mont Laboratories and former president of the Television Broad- casters Association, will address a joint meeting of the Institute of Radio Engineers and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in Buffalo to- morrow. Low Coal Priority For Film Houses Washington, March 6. — The War Production Board here tonight issued a priority list to be employed next Winter, in case of need, to spread available coal supplies among essential war and civilian consumers. No specific mention of theatres was made in the list, but a spokesman for the WPB said they would go into the very lowest of seven categories. While theatres using coal were to- night faced with the possibility of an enforced shutdown in the event of an emergency such as was twice experi- enced last month by houses in seven states which heated with natural gas, gas consumers of the Middle West now are expected to be protected against a recurrence of that situation next Winter by three new large gas pipe line. Deitch Back at Para. As Theatre Official Joseph Deitch, film buyer and booker for Tri-States Theatres, Des Moines, has joined Paramount as an executive in the theatre department, Leonard H. Goldenson, vice-president in charge of theatre operations, dis- closed here yesterday. He will start his new duties on April 1. This marks Deitch's return to the Paramount home office after many years. He became associated with Paramount-Publix in New York some 20 years ago, the last eight years of which he was film buyer. In 1932 he was named film buyer for Tri-States. Mahoney Succeeds Fain at Interstate Boston, March 6. — Interstate Thea- tre Corp. announces the resignation of M. Edgar Fain as general manager, effective April 1. Fain is leaving the business to become president of Tower Iron Works, Providence. Interstate's new general manager will be James F. Mahoney, for the past 17 years district manager for Interstate's Connecticut and Western Massachusetts houses. Dewey Will Sign Ives Bill Next Monday Albany, March 6. — The Ives-Quinn Anti-Discrimination Bill, passed 49-6 in the State Senate last night, will be signed by Governor Thomas E. Dew- ey next Monday in the presence of the 23 members of the temporary commis- sion that recommended the measure's enactment, it was announced here to- day. By the terms of the bill, a five-man commission will be appointed to elim- inate discrimination in employment be- cause of race, creed, color or national origin. Soldiers to Visit WE Seven American soldiers from Bastogne will visit local plants of the Western Electric Co. today to tell employes of the Army's need for more equipment. All Academy Awards On Air Nationally Hollywood, March 6. — Marking the first time that any network has broad- cast the presentation of every award, WJZ, here, and the Blue network on Friday, March 16, will air the entire proceedings attending the an- nual awards given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The program, which will originate in Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Holly- wood, will be heard from 12 :30 a.m., to 1:30 a.m., EWT. The program is being arranged so that the presentation of every award will be made within the one-hour broadcast; previously, only that por- tion of the program in which the major awards were presented was brought to radio listeners. Another innovation will be the inclusion on the program of outstanding sequences in the pictures from which nominations have been made. These excerpts will be shown on the Grauman screen with sound tracks being heard on the broad- cast. New PRC Exchanges Announced in April Chicago, March 6. — Leon From- kess, PRC president, here today on his way to Hollywood, disclosed to Motion Picture Daily that addi- tional purchases of exchanges will be announced at the next PRC board meeting in New York, early in April, if new purchases will have been made by that time. The company now owns eight exchanges. Fromkess said that no plans for the acquisition of additional British films will be made until the raw stock quota for a second quarter is made known. Warner Continues As AMPP Director Hollywood, March 6. — Reelection of Harry M. Warner to the board of directors of the Association of M. P. Producers at the annual meeting of the organization here on Monday was explained today as "a matter of course," without special significance. Warner did not attend the meeting. Warner Bros, served notice of in- tention to resign from the AMPP last December, immediately following its notice of resignation from the MPPDA in New York. The resig- nation is scheduled to become effec- tive May 30. Walker Here Monday Thomas L. Walker, secretary of Edward Small Productions, is sched- uled to arrive in New York from the Coast on Monday. He will attend meetings with the film industry's WPB Advisory Committee which will meet in Washington on the 16th on raw stock allocations. Blue Web Video Show The Blue Network was host to representatives of the press and others here last night at a reception at the Park Lane Hotel prior to the telecasting of the Blue's 'Quiz Kids' program over DuMont's station WABD telecaster. 'Battle of Iwo' in Theatres Tomorrow "The Battle of Iwo," new full news- reel release by all five companies which the nation's theatres will start showing tomorrow, and which was screened here yesterday for the press, contains some of the most powerful and dramatic footage to come out of this war. The film runs 10 minutes, and shows both landing preparations and actual battles. Death through rifle and machine gun fire, mortar and artillery bombardment, hand grenades and liquid fire, run riot through the tempestuous landing and establishment of beachheads. Rushed by Plane So important did the Navy consider this footage in the fight against com- placency in this country, that a special plane rushed the film to the U. S. from an embattled carrier, and the Navy authorized an additional 250 feet of film per print for its showings, do- nating the extra film to the five news- reel companies, which are limited to 700 feet on ordinary releases. Wide cooperation between the Navy and the newsreel companies made possible the simultaneous booking of the earlier fighting on the island, while the entire Iwo issue is not yet settled. Photographers of the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard made the battle scenes, and several paid for it with their lives. The entire filming was done under the supervision of Lt. Commander William Park, former newsreel editor of Pathe and Par- amount. The film shows the horrors of war to the greatest extent yet of any re- leased, and it should more than fulfill its purpose of arousing fighting spirits of those back home. — E. S. U. S. Forces Combine Pacific Footage First film produced jointly by the Armed Forces for public showings will be released on March 22 by the War Activities Committee. Titled "Fury in the Pacific," the 20-minute subject is the record of an amphibious assault, typifying the fury of war in the Pacific. Army Pictorial Service, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Army Air Forces combined their material to reproduce the problems of a typical combined action in the Pacific. The film contains new footage, in- cluding closeups of Japs in combat, and closeups of U. S. troops photo- graphed so close to the enemy that nine combat cameramen were hit taking the film. "Fury in the Pacific" is an Office of War Information release, to be distributed by Warner Brothers for the WAC. John Scully, Jr. Freed Lt. John Scully, Jr., son of John Scully, Universal's New England dis- trict manager, and nephew of William Scully, was recently released from a German prison camp following a Rus- sian drive. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Wednesday, March 7, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3 WPB Will Hear Raw Stock Demands of Independents U. S. Revises Fees For Outdoor Sites British Raw Stock Off 100 Million Ft. {Continued from page 1) service demands heavily, pointing out that, with commercial users economiz- ing in every way possible, it is im- perative that the government do like- wise. The situation has grown worse lately because of a breakdown of the Gavaert raw stock plant at Antwerp, Belgium. Should BOT's present stern econo- my warnings fail to solve the problem, it is likely that the distributors' allo- cations will be "revolutionized" by retaining the 1944 quotas instead of going back to the more liberal 1942 quotas, as has been planned. In addi- tion, last year's allocations would be further cut by five per cent, and a 10 per cent cut is even possible, though officials hope the latter extreme will not be necessary. BOT also envisions an order ex- tending the life of each film print by restricting the number of daily show- ings. It is hoped, nevertheless, that this order can be obviated by a joint distributor-exhibitor arrangement to achieve the same end. The proposed orders, if issued, would be for a three-month period, officials believing that the end of war in Europe will considerably reduce aero and X-ray raw stock demands. WPB Awaits Formal Eagle-Lion Request Washington, March 6.— War Pro- duction Board officials as yet have received no formal request for an allocation of raw stock for Eagle-Lion Films, .but admitted that they were aware that moves were being made in that direction, although it had not de- veloped whether the J. Arthur Rank organization would make its applica- tion direct or through United Artists. It was also reported that Arthur Kelly, Rank's American representa- tive, had petitioned the British Em- bassy in Washington to intercede with the board, but this was not cor- roborated. No information was avail- able as to the footage of raw stock which Eagle-Lion would feel it re- quired. Producers, Unions in Conference Deadlock Hollywood, March 6. — Although a conference here today before the Na- tional Labor Relations Board resulted in "some progress toward a settle- ment" of the Screen Actors Guild- Screen Players Union jurisdictional dispute, according to an NLRB spokesman, the SPU telegraphed the NLRB in Washington claiming the SAG had declined to compromise and asking immediate action on the pro- ducers' petition for clarification of SPU's certification as the bargaining agent for extras. An SAG spokesman told Motion Picture Daily his union had offered to work out an agreement conditional upon the modification of the certifica- tion. Marion Stone Dies Marion Stone, 68, died late last week following an illness of several years. Services were conducted at Riverside Chapel and interment was at Beth Judea Cemetery. From 1922 until 1935, Mrs. Stone had carried on the work of the Stone Film Library. {Continued from page 1) those of RKO and United Artists. RKO is understood to require addi- tional raw stock to complete its re- leasing commitments with Internation- al Pictures for four pictures and to undertake a continuation of this re- leasing deal for additional pictures. Three of the pictures in the original deal have been released with the fourth, "It's a Pleasure," now being lined up. International has already completed films beyond the original four but has not yet set any releasing deal for them. United Artists' problems are equally acute and have been highlighted by t^e demands of J. Arthur Rank for raw stock to enable UA to release his films in this country. Other UA pro- ducers are similarly affected since under the present allocation system U. A., itself, as a distributor, has no raw stock quota of its own from which it could supplement the quotas of its producers. Both UA and RKO are understood to be seeking additional stock to meet emergency demands. However, the amount of stock available to the in- dustry is said to be fixed and were the WPB to meet these demands, it might have to make more stock avail- able to the industry. George J. Schaefer, chairman of the Violators of Midnight Curfew May Be Jailed Mayor LaGuardia has signed an amendment to the local law requiring closings at midnight in all places of amusement and other specified busi- nesses, which subjects violators to a $50 fine and 30 days in jail. The local law, working in conjunction with the National order, was passed last week by the City Council and Board of Es- timate. The precedent of holding patrons of places illegally open after midnight as disorderly, and subjecting them to fines up to $50, may be applied throughout the nation. Wolcott Plans Iowa Rental Tax Fight Eldora, Iowa, March 6. — Leo F. Wolcott, president of the Associated Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa- Nebraska, has issued a warning to urge members to oppose a bill for a two per cent tax on film rentals, now pending in the State Legislature. Albert Brown, Once Head of Lambs, Dies Albert Oldfield Brown, 73, Shep- herd of the Lambs Club from 1922 to 1933, husband of Edna Wallace Hop- per, died Monday in New York. He had been a stock broker by profession. Lucille La Verne Dies Hollywood, March 6. — Lucille La Verne, 72, retired character actress, died Sunday at Culver Citv hospital after an illness of several months. She ended her career in 1937, when her voice was heard as both the witch and the queen in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." War Activities Committee and indus- try liaison with the WPB on raw stock, who was scheduled to leave for California tonight on matters pertain- ing to his pending deal with Lester Cowan, yesterday decided to delay his departure until after the March 16 meeting. Schaefer will go to Wash- ington tonight for further conferences with WPB representatives in an at- tempt to seek a solution to industry stock problems. Schaefer said here yesterday that he is only concerned with the problem of securing as much raw stock as possible for the industry and pointed out that he will not un- dertake to effect a solution of prob- lems of individual companies or in- dependent producers. Bagnall, Raftery May Join Stock Talks George Bagnall, United Artists vice-president, here from Hollywood, may participate in the meetings of the industry's War Production Board advisory committee with WPB offi- cials on March 16, in Washington, when discussions will be held on second quarter raw stock allocations. Bagnall, along with Edward C. Raft- ery, UA president, would be acting in place of Gradwell Sears, hospital- ized sales vice-president, who has participated in past raw stock talks. Black, Comptroller of Rank Circuit, Dies London, March 6. — George Black, 54, former leading exhibitor in Eng- land's North counties and lately comp- troller of General Theatres Corp., J. Arthur Rank's music hall circuit, died yesterday at his home here fol- lowing a long illness. Best known for reviving vaudeville after the general theatrical slump here in the early 1930's, Black had been a figure in the entertainment world since the age of 11, when he and his father established the first permanent motion picture operation in Britain. He came to London in 1929 as manager of GTC. Black is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter. Coast Services Held For Mark Sandrich Hollywood, March 6. — Funeral services for Mark Sandrich, Par- amount producer-director who died suddenly Sunday night, were held here this afternoon at Wilshire Boule- vard Temple, B'nai B'rith, with Rabbi Edgar Magnin conducting. Interment was private. Pall bearers were Allan Scott, Charles Walton, Zion Myers, Dr. Louis A. Eschman, Ralph H. Blum, Arthur Wirtschafter and Y. Frank Freeman. Beginning at three o'clock, all employes in Paramount's studio observed a five-minute period of silence in accordance with_ a memorandum issued by Henry Gins- berg, studio head. Jack Arnold Passes Memphis, March 6. — Funeral serv- ices were conducted at DeWitt, Ark., for Jack Arnold, Columbia Pictures salesman out of Memphis, who died in Little Rock. Washington, March 6. — New fees and regulations for making motion pictures on lands under its jurisdiction were announced here today by the U. S. Interior Department in a revision of the order covering such activities which has been in effect since April 20, 1940. On lands under the jurisdiction of Interior agencies, other than the Na- tional Park Service, for which here- tofore a fee was imposed of $100 for each motion or sound picture for which a cast of more than 25 persons was required, without regard to the equipment used or the time or extent to which the area was utilized, a new schedule of fees on a per-day basis was announced, as follows : $10 for a cast of one to five persons, $25 for casts of 6 to 25, $50 for casts of 26 to 75, $75 for casts of 76 to 150, and $100 for casts in excess of 150. For areas under the National Park Service the former schedule of fees, running up to $500 per day for casts of more than 25 persons, has been revised and now calls for daily charges of $50 for casts of one to five, $125 for casts of six to 25, $175 for casts of 26 to 75 and $250 for casts of 76 to 150, with charges for larger casts to be worked out by negotiation. See Some Delay on Clearance Ruling (Continued from page 1) clearance, are not expected until shortly after the March 26 pre-trial conference in New York, Robert L. Wright, Assistant U. S. Attorney General, said on his return to Wash- ington today. Wright said that no decision has been made whether, in the event of a ruling against the Department, a motion would be made immediately to have the decree set aside. Such a motion could be made at any time, he pointed out, even at the time of the start of trial of the Government's anti-trust suit next October. Wright said that Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard's ruling on the admissability of the apneal board de- cisions as evidence will be merely pre- liminary and not a final decision as to their use as evidence in support of the allegations of the Government as to defendants' acts for the purpose of determining whether there have been violations of law. The' October 8 trial, he said, will be a trial of the original Government anti-trust suit "on its merits." Tom Connors in 7th W ar Bond W AC Post (Continued from page 1) advised the War Activities Commit- tee that Connors could assume the additional duties on such short notice. Skouras stated that the entire 20th Century-Fox organization will be available to cooperate with Connors and "back him up in this patriotic work." In announcing Connors' appoint- ment, Pinanski expressed regret at Sears' illness and appreciation of Connors' willingness to "pinch-hit" in this position. "THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY" with George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford,LowellGilmore, Richard Fraser • Screen Play by Albert Lewin Based Upon the Novel by Oscar Wilde • Directed by Albert Lewin • Pro- duced by Pandro S. Ber- man • An M-G-M Picture LEO HAS PRODUCED A MASTERPIECE! \ IN THE NATIONAL MAGAZINES AND SYNDICATED COLUMNS! "People are talking about the movie 'THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY - so amazing!" —VOGUE MAGAZINE "Orchids for 'THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY'!' —WALTER WINCHELL "M-G-M has given us a picture with a daring theme. Never did I dream it could be done so beautifully.' — ELSA MAXWELL in her syndicated column "See it and let it speak for itself!" —SIDNEY SKOLSKY \ FROM HOLLYWOOD'S CORRESPONDENTS! "Unusual! Exciting! 'THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY' will be the most talked about movie of 1945!" > — ERSKINE JOHNSON, Hollywood correspondent, Newspaper Enterprise Association "No one should miss it! Breathless . . . from starts to finish!" — JOHN\TODD, International News Service "One of the most daring and revealing films ever produced! Truly remarkable!" —FRED STANLEY, Hollywood correspondent, N. Y. Times "One of the best to come out of Hollywood in years!" — PHILIP K. SCHEUER, Los Angeles Times and Family Circle Magazine "A daring story to film and M-G-M has filmed it daringly! Marks a milestone!" —HAROLD SWISHER, United Press FROM THE TRADE! "Rugged box-office stuff. Swell entertainment. A thriller!" \ —FILM DAILY "Magnificently produced. Excellently acted. Will hold tense, fascinated interest. Outstanding performances." \ —SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW "Unusual, intriguing and novel. Interpreted with superlative artistry. Hurd Hatfield superfy." —MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Oscar Wilde's daring story exceptionally good film. Hatfield gives brilliant performance. \Sends shivers up and down the spine." \ — BOXOFFICE "Its magnificence can hardly be\ approached by any picture that has ever been made." V —HOLLYWOOD REPORTER FLASH! 2 YEAR RECORD! Capitol, N. Y. World Premiere! Red Cross Week — March 15-21 Collect At Every Show I "WE'VE JUST OPENED TO TOP FIGURES AT THE N. Y. PARAMOUNT. . . For (faster. "AND WE'RE GONNA ADVERTISE IT IN FULL COLOR IN KEY CITIES COAST-TO-COAST x^r"""" "IT'S GOT LOADS OF LUSCIOUS GIRLS... Biggest and Most Glamorous Star- And-Girl Show Since "Star Spangled Rhythm," from ^Paramount "AND GORGEOUS BIG-PRODUCTION SONG NUMBERS. "AND DOZENS OF EXCITING NOVELTIES... "LIKE SPIKE JONES' 'CHLOE' SEQUENCE —ONE OF THE GREATEST COMEDY BAND ACTS EVER! In Technicolor, starring Veronica Lake Sonny Tufts Eddie Bracken Marjorie Reynolds mth JOHNNY COY, PETER WHITNEY, ALAN MOWBRAY, PORTER HALL, SPIKE JONES AND HIS ORCHESTRA Directed by SIDNEY LANFIELD Screen Play by Karl Tunberg and Darrell Ware MARJORIE TOPS HER 'HOLIDAY INN' DANCING TRIUMPH AND SONGS LIKE 'YOU MOVED f IN' WILL MOVE IN ON THE HIT SONNY SINGS— AND PLAYS- AND GOOD!... EDDIE'S A BIGGER DRAW THAN EVER NOW THAT HE'S GOT HIS OWN AIR SHOW.., VERONICA'S A PROMOTION NATURAL AS A SUPER -CIGARETTE GIRL... AND OUR NEW TAP DANCER — WHAT-A-BOY JOHNNY COY. HE'LL HAVE ALL THE FOLKS A-STARING! 8 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 7, 1945 N. Y. Building Code 95% Set On New Houses (Continued from page 1) ments for projection booths in new theatres including provi- sions for special-effect ma- chines and stereopticon equip- ment has also been set. It was emphasized that require- ments set by the committee are mini- mum ones and should not be confused with the standards according to the size of a theatre. Minimum require- ments for projection booths in new theatres do not provide space for the installation of equipment which pre- sumably will be needed to make pro- jection of television programs onto screens possible, it was explained. Upon completion 01 consideration of the code provisions on new theatres, the committee will then turn to con- sideration of provisions for existing theatres. Progress is reported on the latter, but several more meetings will be required before the committee completes that job. The next meeting will be held March 16. Full Enforcement Enforcement of the code, when adopted, "will probably be with the full force of law," it was explained. The Department's plan for strict en- forcement is embodied in a bill intro- duced last week in the State Legisla- ture by Senator William Condon of Westchester and Assemblyman Fred- erick A. Washburn of Columbia, as reported in Motion Picture Daily on March 1. The Labor Department's advisory committee includes film members Hen- ry Anderson, Paramount; Martin J. Tracey, Century Circuit ; Theodore June, alternate for Harry Moskowitz, of Loew's, and Glen H. Humphrey, of IATSE projectionists Local No. 337. Goldenson Heading South for Meeting Leonard H. Goldenson, Paramount vice-president in charge of theatre operations, has left New York for Jacksonville where he will meet Leon Netter, theatre department executive in charge of Southern theatres, and Frank Rogers, president of Florida State Theatres, for conferences and a visit to theatres in the circuit. Following his Florida visit, Golden- son will go to Cuba for conferences with R. Ramos Cobian, Paramount theatre partner in Havana and Camaguey. Taylor Will Head Para, Coast Office Alfred R. Taylor, for the past two years manager of the Paramount In- dianapolis exchange, has been pro- moted to Los Angeles manager. Ches- ter J. Bell, formerly L. A. manager, is on vacation, and announcement of his new assignment wiM be made upon his return. Taylor will be succeeded in Indi- anapolis by G. Richard Frank, who has been special representative in that exchange. Argentine Stops Spanish Films Buenos Aires, March 6. — The Argentine Government has ordered the holdup of all Spanish spoken films of for- eign origin, pending the issu- ance of an official decree restricting their exhibition. The action is the result of pressure by Argentine pro- ducers, who aim to eliminate competition. Dual-TaxExemption Listed by Treasury Washington, March 6. — New regulations designed to accommodate the income tax laws to the "Double- Taxation Convention," ratified by the Senate in January, and proclaimed by President Roosevelt on Jan. 5 were issued by the Internal Revenue Bureau here today. The regulations exempt from with- holding and income taxes in this coun- try all royalties derived here by a na- tional of France as consideration for the right to use copyrights (films), patents, trade marks, etc., provided the French resident, corporation or other entity organized under the laws of France does not have a permanent establishment within the United States. TBA Designates an Engineering Group Formation of an engineering com- mittee by Television Broadcasters As- sociation, was announced by F. J. Bingley, committee chairman. Bingley is chief television engineer of Philco Radio and Television. Serving on the engineering; commit- tee will be W. J. Purcell, General Electric ; Dr. T. T. Goldsmith, Jr., Du Mont Laboratories ; David B. Smith, Philco ; O. B. Hanson and Robert Shelby, National Broadcasting ; George Lewis, Federal Telephone and Radio ; E. A. Hayes, Hughes Produc- tions ; Harry Lubcke, Don Lee Broad- casting System, and H. L. Blatterman, Earle C. Anthony, Inc. Italians Draft Law To Revive Films The Italian Government has an- nounced that it is formulating a law which will serve to rehabilitate the Italian film industry and aid in re- employing some 100,000 persons, ac- cording to press dispatches yesterday from Rome. The law will facilitate the use of property and materials partially saved from Nazi and Fascist pillaging. Italian actors, technicians and other film workers are now mostly unem- ployed. Renew McGee and Molly Fibber McGee and Molly, voted radio's best comedy team in the re- cent Motion Picture Daily-Fame radio poll, and who recently appeared in RKO's "Heavenly Days" have had their air-show contract renewed for another 52 weeks over a full NBC network, effective April 3. The pair have been sponsored by S. C. Johnson & Son on NBC since 1935. Kirsch Asks Better Distributor Deals (Continued from page 1) situation is not reflected in neighbor- hoods, yet the independent exhibitor has fixed expenses he must meet re- gardless of receipts. If we are to give the distributors our preferred playing time, we must have more attractive deals to assure us a profit, or we can- not survive." Following a check among members, Kirsch revealed that the combination of the midnight curfew and brownout edicts resulted in earlier trade in neighborhood houses, with little busi- ness coming in after eight p. m. Ad- vanced admission pictures for neigh- borhood houses are not encouraged by Allied here, Kirsch said. Seventh Term Kirsch was re-elected president for a seventh term. Others re-elected in- clude : Van Nomikos, vice-president ; Richard B. Salkin, secretary; Harry Nepo, sergeant-at-arms. All directors, with the exception of John Semidatos, who was succeeded by John Mitchell, were re-elected. They are: Arthur Davidson, Ben Banowitz, Bill Charu- has, Edward Trinz, S. Roberts, Charles Nelson, Jack Rose, Ludwig Sussman, Ben Bertelstein, Joseph Stern, Verne Langdon, Benjamin Las- ker, Abe Goldstein and Lou H. Har- rison. 20th to Make Film On Allies' Confab Twentieth Century-Fox Newsreel is making a feature for the OWI and the Coordinator's Office of the Inter- American Conference now taking place in Mexico City. Film will be distributed in all of South America by the OWL The picture, a documentary of the conferences, is in Spanish and Portu- guese. It is being directed by Tony Muto, assisted by Al Brick. Paul Heise is handling sound, and Eduardo Fernandez is cameraman. Saudek Rejoins Blue Robert Saudek, returning to the Blue Network after a leave of absence for overseas duty with the Office of War Information, has been appointed manager of the network's sales service department, according to an announce- ment by Charles E. Rynd, vice-presi- dent and co-ordinator of operations. Saudek, prior to his OWI assign- ment, was Eastern sales manager of the Blue. Kosiner Reception Harry Kosiner, Eastern representa- tive for Edward Small, will be host to representatives of the trade press and others at a dinner and reception at Toots Shor's tomorrow evening. A 'sneak preview' of "Brewster's Mil- lions," new Small-United Artists re- lease will be held at a local theatre following the dinner. E. K's Seaman Retires Rochester, N. Y., March 6— Har- ry T. Seaman, head of the chemical sales division of Eastman Kodak, has retired after 45 years with the com- pany. He was recently feted at dinner by 200 associates. Consolidated Nets $561,719 (Continued from page 1) $9,732,029, leaving an operating profit of $1,405,094, against $8,109,202 and an operating net of $1,256,136 in 1943, Yates reported. At the end of 1944 Consolidated had current assets of $9,588,507, ^ against current liabilities of $1,660,/ 078, and total assets of $12,979,070. The 1944 net was equivalent to $1.40^ per share on the 400,000 shares of CFI preferred stock out- standing, against earnings of $1.44^4 per share in 1943, both after all charges and Federal taxes, added Yates in his annual report to stock- holders. Income Rises Sharply The company's president pointed out that, "Income from distribution of Republic Pictures for the year ending Oct. 27, 1944, was $14,555,925, which is substantially in excess of such in- come for the preceding fiscal year. In connection with net earnings for 1944, in the sum of $569,409, there should be noted deduction of $875,000 for Federal income and excess profit taxes, and advertising and publicity expenses of $1,319,623," he said. "Due to financing of increased in- ventories and expansion of studio and distribution facilities, the loan indebt- edness of Republic Pictures to Con- solidated increased from $3,728,535 as of Oct. 31, 1943, to $5,206,640 as of Oct. 27, 1944." Taxes Increase Yates added that in comparing Con- solidated Film Industries' net earnings of 1944 with 1943, "it should be noted that provision for Federal taxes and renegotiation of war contracts is $943,000 for 1944, compared with $585,000 for 1943, an increase of $358,- 000. Renegotiation of war contracts for 1943 has not yet been clQsed, but it is contemplated that it will result in a refund by the corporation and its subsidiary, Consolidated Molded Prod- ucts Corp. of approximately $300,000 before adjustment for taxes. Rene- gotiation for 1944 has not yet com- menced." Consolidated's stockholders today also will receive a copy of the Setay- Republic annual statement, which dis- closes a $1,444,409 net profit for the year ended Oct. 27, 1944, realized on a $14,555,925 gross income from film rentals and royalties. Pollock Heads Biow Film Department (Continued from page 1) headquarters at the company's Holly- wood office, much of his time will also be spent in New York on final cam- paign conferences and promotion plans. Before his United Artists associa- tion, Pollock was advertising manager for Universal, a post he held for six vears. His earlier experience in thel industry includes some ten years ofj field work as advance man and theatre circuit publicist with Publix, RKO, and other circuits, He entered show business in Chicago after several years as a newspaper reporter and feature writer on Metropolitan dailies. First in MOTION PICTURE DAILY 'J VOL. 57. NO. 46 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1945 TEN CENTS Army and Navy Release Grim Tales of War Films Reaching Public Were Previously Curbed An unannounced shift in policy by the Office of Censorship and representatives of the Armed Serv- ices is making available to the in- dustry and the newsreels some of the grim and highly realistic war footage heretofore restricted to use for show- ings only to military personnel and privately in war plants as incentive films. Industry spokesmen point out that the change was devised shortly after the German break-through in Belgi- um and the "battle for the bulge" last December. While newsreel heads indicate that the footage which they have been receiving is more gruesome now since it echoes the stepped-up tempo of the ac- (Continued on page 10) 13,937 Signed For R. C. Drive To-date, 13,937 theatres, out of a possible 16,478, have pledged to parti- cipate in the industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, which starts next Thursday, and runs through the 21st. Leon J. Bamberger, na- tional campaign director, said yester- day that this breaks all previous records for theatre participation, and pointed out that with one more week still t© go the total is already more (Continued on page 10 J Set New Exemptions From 'Brownout' Washington, March 7. — The War Production Board today expanded the list of areas in which the 'brownouf order will not be imposed because its application would not result in the saving of critical fuels, but limited all exemptions, with the exception of those in Alaska, to June 30 and dis- closed that by that date it would have completed a study to determine whether fuel can be saved by applying (Continued on page 10) $248,000,000 to US From UK in 5 Years London, March 7. — Ques- tioned here today in the House of Commons, Sir John Anderson, Chancellor of the Exchequer, disclosed that in five years, 1940 through 1944. 62,000,000 pounds — approxi- mately §248,000,000— have been transferred to the United States with respect to Ameri- can films shown in England. He admitted that there are no comparable figures avail- able on receipts reaching here on British films shown in the U. S. Companies Contend Decree Is 'Final' The contention that the consent de- cree is a "final decree," and that its arbitration provisions have continued beyond a three-year trial period "by agreement of the parties," as suggested by the Department of Justice, high- lights the memorandum filed in U. S. District court here by the consenting companies in opposition to the Gov- ernment application for an injunction relating to clearance. A reply memorandum from the De- partment is scheduled to be filed prior to March J26. The companies' brief declares that the three-year limitation provisions of (Continued on page 10) Embargo in Flood Zone Cincinnati, March 7. — With trans- portation virtually at a standstill be- cause of flood conditions in the area traversed by the Ohio River and its tributaries, the Railway Express Co. here has placed an embargo on film shipments, and the postoffice is accept- ing film only subject to indefinite de- lay. Although practically all thea- tres in the territory are closed at pres- ent, some companies are ordering film shipped to Lexington, planning redis- tribution from there to the few situa- tions still open. Pictures now here are being sent to Lexington over a long series of detours. Managers of the few theatres still operating here report that business is poor because people are busy either (Continued on page 11) OCR on Alert for New Cut in Prints Washington, March 7. — As a re- sult of protests from subsequent-run exhibitors over the 285-print ceiling established by the War Production Board in allocating raw stock for the current quarter, a representative of the Office of Civilian Requirements will sit in as an observer at the In- dustry Advisory Committee meeting (Continued on page 11) Kupper Selects 37 Aides For Anniversary Drive W. J. Kupper, 20th Century-Fox general sales manager, has named 37 '30th Anniversary' drive representa- tives in company exchanges, as fol- lows : Dan Houlihan, Al- bany ; Marvin W. Doris, At- lanta; John Fe- loney, Boston ; William Gra- ham, Buffalo ; H. L. Schles- i n g e r, Char- lotte ; M. A. Van Dyke, Chi- cago ; Gilbert Sheppard, Cin- cinnati ; Frank Hunt, Cleve- land; W. S. Miller, Dallas. Also : Carl Larson, Denver ; Evan W. J. Kupper Jacobs, Des Moines ; Al Levy, De- troit ; Kenneth Dotterer, Indian- apolis ; William J. Kubitzki, Kansas City ; Morris Sudmin, Los Angeles ; John Carter, Memphis; George Edgerton, Milwaukee ; Irving Mills, Minneapolis ; Sam Germain, Xew Haven ; G. J. Broggi, New Orleans ; Seymour Florin, Xew York; Feme Marker, Oklahoma City ; Dorothy Weaver, Omaha. Also : William Cohen, Philadelphia ; Martin Seed, Pittsburgh ; W. M. Pat- terson, Portland; Joseph Feld, St. Louis ; Frank P. Larson, Salt Lake City ; Floyd Bernard, San Francisco ; J. W. Brooks, Seattle ; Jerry Mur- phy, Washington ; Frank Scott, Cal- gary ; Mrs. W. Phelan, Montreal ; Leslie Kerr, St. John ; James Powis, Toronto ; A. Cringan, Vancouver ; Charles Krupp, Winnipeg. Seek Company Raw Stock for Reserve Pool 10 Million Feet to Be Held for 'Independents' By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 7. — Mem- bers of the Industry Advisory Com- mittee coming to Washington March 16 to discuss second quarter raw stock allocations with War Pro- duction Board officials may -be told that the over-all allocation for the industry will remain practically at its present level but that the various com- panies will be required to contribute to a reserve pool from which the film needs of independents will be met, it was learned tonight. How large the pool will be will depend upon the definition (Continued on page 11) Mexico Wants 5 MOO MOO Ft. The government of Mexico within the next 10 days, will ask the U. S. State Department for 5,000,000 feet of raw stock, over and aboye the al- lotment Mexico expects to receive from the U. S. this year. The request will be based primarily on the 'good (Continued on page 11) Local Independents Name Al Suchman Al Suchman was selected as buyer for the Independent Theatre Service, Inc.. at a meeting of officers, directors and members held here this week. For the past three years, Suchman was on (Continued on page 6) In This Issue Reviews of "Molly and Me," "The Crime Doctor's Cour- age," "Gangster's Den" ap- pear on page 9; "Hollywood and Vine," "There Goes Kelly," "Navajo Trails," page 11. Motion Picture Daily's booking chart is on page 12. 2 Motion Picture daily Thursday, March 8, 1945 Personal Mention LOUIS B. MAYER, M-G-M vice-president in charge of pro- duction, is scheduled to arrive in New- York from the Coast at the end of the month. • Lt. Thomas Patrick Comerford, USNR, and Lt. (J.G.) Ruth Joan Barry, USNR, were married Tues- day in Waterbury, Conn. Lt. Com- erford is a son of the late M. B. Comerford and Mrs. Michael B. Comerford. • H. J. Yates, Sr., Republic Produc- tions president ; James R. Grainger, Republic Pictures president and gen- eral sales manager, and William Saal, executive assistant to Yates, will leave here today for the Coast. • William F. Rodgers, Loew's vice- president and general sales manager, will stop off in Washington March 16 for the raw stock conference, en route to New York from the Coast. • Bert Kulick, PRC general sales manager, and Sidney S. Kulick, Eastern sales manager, are visiting Gloversville and Buffalo. • R. K. Hawkinson, RKO Radio as- sistant export manager, will return to New York today from a tour of the Caribbean territory. • Tom Connors, 20th Century-Fox vice-president in charge of distribu- tion, has left New York for a Florida vacation. • A. W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox East- ern sales manager, is on a trip to Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadel- phia. • Neil F. Agnew, Vanguard vice- president and general sales manager, is en route to the Coast from here. • Lester Krieger, assistant to Ted Schlanger, Warner Philadelphia manager, is visiting in New York. • Red Kann, vice-president of Quig- ley Publications, will arrive in New York from Hollywood tomorrow. • George A. Smith, Paramount Western Manager, has arrived in Los Angeles from New York. • Jack Shea, Shea Circuit booker and buyer, became the father of a third son yesterday. • Howard Levinson, Warner attor- ney, will return to New York tomor- row from Chicago. • Walter E. Branson, RKO Radio Western sales manager, is in Chicago from New York. • Sir Alexander Korda has arrived in London from New York and Hol- lywood. • Louis Phillips, Paramount home office attorney, will be in Chicago for a week. Insider's Outlook Bv RED KANN Ned Depinet's Bedside, Los Angeles, March 7 NED E. DEPINET, president of RKO Radio Pictures, is recuperating — and nicely — from exhaustion. He is expected to leave the Cedars, of Lebanon Hospital in about two weeks. Whether he will return to New York immediately after hospi- talization is not yet determined. It is likely his doctor will order him to remain in Southern Cali- fornia in search of sunshine. This is not as easy as it sounds. The Sierra Madre range is blanketed with snow. The wind of these mountains is chilly. Delayed rains are now on the way. Residents are com- plaining; evidently, they have not been reading wdiat has been going on elsewhere in the na- tion. Depinet is cheery and so is his room. It has a view which does not encompass the RKO studio. Along the walls, and practically a menace to naviga- tion, are baskets of flowers in profusion. Report has it hospi- tal routine is upset and vases are at a premium. In one corner are the sizeable beginnings of what the patient insists is not an office, but merely a rapidly growing series of folders. . In them, tabbed down, are tele- grams from all over the country. Friends are solicitous in their inquiries and some of them, in- evitably, had to be funny. Neil Agnew, vice-president of Vanguard, wired from New York : "Come on, pop, get your clothes on. Everybody is wise to the absentee racket." Carl Leserman, general sales manager of United Artists, wired: "If you are trying to run a race with Sears, will lay six, two and even you will beat him to the wire." Sam Dembow, illustrious in- dependent producer, who recent- ly was named president of Ed- ward A. Golden Productions, telegraphed : "Thought you would be interested in knowing Grad Sears' application for membership in the Heartmen of the World has been approved. Don't know what your exact condition is, but if you think you could qualify will be glad to present your application to this honorable organization." William A. Scully, vice-presi- dent in charge of domestic dis- tribution for Universal, de- clared he was off to Miami to inspect his real estate holdings, but put his authority on display by advising, "Don't call any meetings while I am away." Abe Montague, general sales manager of Columbia, sent this communique : "I never would have believed it — you old 'Iron Horse'." Depinet had no com- ment to make on the slur. On the second evening of the incarceration, the telephone rang. The nurse said, "Ned Depinet's room." WLiat neither patient nor nurse heard was the caller's re- action. Muttering in his heart, he remarked, "Look ! A produc- tion already." ■ ■ Hollywood npHOSE bold Warner Broth- ers step out once again with a hard-hitting film in "Hotel Berlin." Fictional, of course, and melodramatic well nigh to the point of the lurid, neverthe- less this is one which has time- liness and headlines vastly in its favor, backed by one of the most unusual and most effective trade paper and billboard campaigns within latter day memory. The purpose was to cash in on day-by-day events as the East-West pincers close on the Nazis and their capital city. And, while the attraction is built in due deference to the accepted formula of hero and villain and love and hate, "Hotel Berlin" actually goes beyond. It reiterates those many stories, true or otherwise, deal- ing with plans to desert Hitler because the war is lost to Ger- many and to prepare for another day when the ignominy of crashing defeat may be retrieved. Consequently, the melodrama is coupled with a warning. Likewise, does it take the po- litical position to which the "Big Three" leaders subscribed at the Yalta conference and, in fact, closes with the text of the state- ment issued there. "Our purpose is not to destroy the German people . . . but ... to wipe out the Nazi party and Nazi laws from the life of the German peo- ple. . . ." ■ Of course, there will be some, and in all probability many, who will not go along on this premise. Thus, there opens up the possibility "Hotel Berlin" may run headlong into differ- ences of opinion on the contest- ed issue of soft peace versus hard peace. Insofar as box-office power is concerned, however, this can U. S. Is Studying Population Shifts sincf- * Washington, March 7. — A new survey of war-time shifts in popula- tion, results of which may develop in- formation of value to exhibitors, has been initiated by the U. S. Census Bu- reau, it was announced here today. The study is being made at the re- quest of many Government agenci^ which, it was said, are concerned the effects of population shifts sin' the attack on Pearl Harbor. The canvass will be made in the regular monthly survey of some 30,000 urban and rural households in 68 sample areas, through which a con- stant check is kept on the labor situa- tion. It will develop information on the number and type of people who have moved from one part of the country to another since Dec. 7, 1941. the extent and character of migration from farms to cities, and the type of industries at which migrants worked. 20th-Fox in Victoria On 'Showcase' Deal Twentieth Century-Fox will use the Victoria Theatre, here, in addition to the Roxy, as a Broadway 'showcase' for its pictures, under a new booking arrangement announced yesterday by Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of sales. Long runs at the Roxy have made this move necessary, said Con- nors. The Victoria already has shown key 20th Century-Fox pictures, including "Wilson" as well as the current "The Fighting Lady." First to go into the Victoria under the new arrangement will be "Thunderhead — Son of Flicka," following "The Fighting Lady." Pedrueza Is Named Top Mexican Censor Dr. Antonio Ramos Pedrueza, for- mer chief of the Mexican government tourist office in New York, now heads the censorship department of the Mexican motion picture industry. He is also secretary of the committee in charge of distributing raw film stock to the film companies there. Dr. Pedrueza has arrived in New York from Mexico to wind up his affairs here and will then leave for Mexico City. Browning Pinanski Aide Appointment of Harry Browning, advertising - publicity director for Mullin and Pinanski Theatres Corp., Boston, as executive assistant to Sam- uel Pinanski, national chairman of the industry's Seventh War Loan drive, for the forthcoming campaign, was announced here yesterday by Pinan- ski. only help the picture. If an attraction is provocative, it fol- lows it will be talked about. If it is talked about, it stays alive in the stream of public con- sciousness. When that happens, the re- sults are apt to take on added vigor and added power. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor, Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Executive Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co, Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. (AND Trig ACK BENNY • ALEXIS SMITH ."THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT" ith DOLORES MORAN • ALLYN JOSLYN • REGINALD GARDINER • GUY KIBBEE • JOHN ALEXANDER Produced by A n L/ I in I Ul/Nrr. Screen Ploy by SAM HELLMAN & JAMES V. KERN • Bosed on on Ideo by AUBREY WISBERG Directed by (V to d teVe^ id*v dl<^ AW ^Vds to be *5 < It is pointed out that while, in effect, the setting up of a pool on the basis of allocations continuing at. their present level means that the com- panies will be cut to the extent of their contributions, actually the film will flow back as it is drawn for use by independents, although it is ad- mitted that it will not go back to the companies in the same proportion as they contributed. Brief Difficulties The difficulties which a pool would raise for the contributing companies is seen in Washington as extending over a matter of only a few months, and by the third quarter it is hoped that supply conditions will be consider- ably improved. This improvement will be due in part to possible downward trends in military and export require- ments and in part to the coming into , operation of the plants in France and Holland. Another beneficial factor is the downward trend in British and Rus- sian requirements. Both those coun- tries came in with requests for con- siderable film for shipment this quarter, Russian requirements being in the neighborhood of 30,000,000 feet, but explained that they would need less in the second quarter. It is under- stood that Russian allocations for the coming quarter will be 15,000,000 feet or less and those for England will be negligible. OCR on Alert for New Cut in Prints (Continued from page 1) here on March 16, it was learned to- < day. An OCR spokesman said that the representative will be an experienced theatre man thoroughly conversant with the needs of exhibitors and of subsequent run houses. It was explained that it is the re- sponsibility of the OCR to protect the interests of exhibitors and that fears have been expressed that the formation of a raw-stock pool which has been discussed by WPB officials might invoke a further curtailment of the number of prints permitted for a feature. While there has not yet been suf- ficient experience under the 285-print limitation to demonstrate whether, as contended by some exhibitors, it will adversely affect subsequent-run houses, it is believed that any further cut in number undoubtedly would do so. Reports in New York indicat- ed that proposals had been made to cut the limit to 250, but so far as could be ascertained no such sugges- tion has yet reached the WPB. It was indicated that if any further cuts are made by the WPB which will burden exhibitors, a meeting of the OCR Theatre Industry Advisory Committee will be called, Kraska Promoted Boston, March 7. — George Kraska, former manager of Loew's Orpheum, here, has been promoted to advertising- publicity director of all of Loew's Boston theatres, succeeding Joe Longo, who will join Terry Turner on the road for RKO Radio. NLRB Hearing On Hollywood, March 7. — National Labor Relations Board hearings on the jurisdictional dispute between the Set Decorators Union and IATSE adjourned here today after the taking of preliminary testimony and will be resumed tomorrow. Form Chinese Prod. Hollywood, March 7. — Richard Loo and Keye Luke, actors, have formed Chinese Productions, Ltd., to make a Chinese version of RKO's "First Man into Tokyo" for distribu- tion in China's 800 theatres when practicable. Loo, president, and Luke, treasurer, now working :in the picture, will employ an all-Chinese cast in their version. Powell in Albany Albany, March 7. — Dick Powell, star of "Murder, My Sweet," and Mike Mazurka, wrestler in the cast, will appear at all showings of the film in the Palace Theatre here Friday. Mexico Wants 5,000,000 Ft. (Continued from page 1) will' policy of this Government, and will be used in the making of six full length operas which will be filmed during the Summer with U. S. stars, in principal roles. In order to attract tourists, the' Mexican government is financing the National Opera of Mexico to the ex- tent of over $1,000,000 for the longest opera season in Mexico's history,, from May to September. Stars of the Metropolitan Opera are being offered! large fees to appear, but many who are foreign born, and not U. S. citi- zens, are wary of leaving this coun- try. As a further inducement, Mex- ico plans a series of six operatic features,, at an average cost of over $200,000: each, all in their original languages, to star Metropolitan per- sonnel. Among the singers whom Mex- ico hopes to obtain are Lily Pons, Rise Stevens, Florence George (wife of? Everett Crosby), Salvatore Bacca- loni, Joephine Tuminia and others who" have made films here. With the raw stock shortage, the whole proj- ect has been on the verge of col- lapsing. De Quesada Here i Ernesto de Quesada, president of the National Opera of Mexico, is in New York negotiating' with the sing- ers. He has phoned Mexican govern- ment representatives to warn them of a possible falling through of the entire deal if some help is not forth- coming on raw stock. Edward Stet- tinius, Secretary of State, will be no- tified shortly of the Mexican request. The films would be financed partly by the Mexican government and1 partly by an American oil comgany, , presumably Standard Oil. It is also understood that negotia- tions are under way with National Broadcasting, here, to carry sponsored; broadcasts of the oneras and individ- ual performances of the singers dur- ing the Summer. Morris Silkind will be in charge of all production. Clamp Film Embargo On Flood Territories (Continued from page 1) fighting the flood or making "sight- seeing tours" of the waterbound areas. The Ohio, from its headwaters at Pittsburgh all the way to the Mis- sissippi, rose today toward levels reached only twice before in history. The crest is expected to pass the 70- foot mark, 18 feet above flood stage, and the 45-foot flood stage at Louis- ville is fast being approached. Thou- sands have been made homeless and at least seven lives lost along 1,000^ miles of Midwest lowknds. The Red1 Cross reported 5,000 to 6,000 families evacuated from their homes along both; sides of the river here. Little danger, however, was seen frt Pittsburgh, where the U. S. Weather Bureau predicted a high level of 33.5 feet, and tributary streams over West- ern Pennsylvania were ebbing slowly. Reports from Albany indicated that below freezing temperatures had ap- parently ended, at least temporarily,. Western New York flood threats. H < X o 2 o o CO < w P H O E o H O u l-H S3 P Ph w 05 IB o . r*^- £H, s ■ MSwo"£ taOS s H«~jf"-= |Sf 5 » OS o Ht~ v 1 O J, Z'jJ M: O rn y ' H u geLe if W H ST > tog 0« z*! s »5 3 Oj<3QpS o 33 „ ^ R H "C 2 .5 * 2gz«Se$ h55 eJwoS 33 H wz oo * co «3 Hj c«« e a - \n Si I ZS-a ; OS J o H OS to o JS ? £H£ 33 m os CO < a CcQnco^rt ^3 Q «cu | S *O^S g ?5 ,r"? . a** hoss I" 5fC0 Jt oi S g°1s «. PS S3 1- o"ci t ^5 — z^«S«Ji Pn *0 W \ Q o 2 O a COW u a I o Z ^ o= 1 5 ■°o 5?? g -8P , Z o , Ma ft1" u ?^ O i 65 O ctiiS I Eh $Q o ss3^ w5 c \ « J2 ^ a 6 ■ a. n 5 w C £Q ^ w ^ I E & ^ CS fiO <« »« CO - „ •0 OS '2 5'S- ■g zw S S • 5 £u fe— > D cojJ 5 S CO x cr z <>. « S S> .,5- S on = P o zw 85 « gas's > z jr S"3 > oH Eq C< Q n S • Us C Urr, > I-H n a D ►4 o o eo >-i ~ o*S> CilO -O O til OH HZ o |5 zSTflls i| « o> S ►hS«j u a "£> og< HO. O05 Bg-S E7 £WOO E >, SoQgp°°^| 53 ■J c , §.w Hh o« s .OSg u^o o° °H I o<>° OS £o », j= Oa'S ,«SS3 Wfe-fc ^O 2 OK S.S w^o* Ow 53H B co S SAi3> K< g g0S§-2 Oh OS OH 232 H« go OS 3 »> fiZ hhS"^ HH Sos H& OS" • secretary for the Motion Picture Society for the Americas, entrained Friday from Hollywood for San Fran- cisco en route to New York and Washington on business conferences that will last several weeks. • B. V. Sturdivant, Fox West Coast executive, and Joseph Blumenfeld, co-owner of Blumenfeld Theatres, Inc., have been elected directors of the Market Street Association of San Francisco. • Mrs. John W. Mangham, wife of John Mangham, Film Classics Southeast president, has returned to Atlanta from a trip to Tampa and Miami. • Iris Barry, curator of the Museum of Modern Arts Film Library, re- turned to New York Friday from Hollywood. • Marie Louise Van Slyke of In- ternational Pictures publicity staff, re- turned to New York Friday from New England. • Lt. (j.g. ) Charles Louis Casa- nave, Jr., USN, has married Bernice Elaine Brewster, of Woodbridge, New Jersey. • Lt. Gerald J. Schnitzer, son of Edward Schnitzer, United Artists Western sales manager, arrived in New York yesterday from Texas. • Joe Roberts of Vanguard Films publicity staff is on a tour of Eastern cities. Charles Levy, Wralt Disney Pro- ductions Eastern publicity head, is on a Midwestern tour. • Eugene Sichelman, Columbia home office representative, is visiting Atlanta. • R. L. McCoy, Warner Southern manager, is visiting New York from Atlanta. • Emory Austin, M-G-M press representative, is vacationing in Okla- homa. • Carl Nedley, M-G-M Salt Lake City manager, has returned there from from a trip to Montana. • Giff Davison, RKO Salt Lake City manager, has returned there from Butte. • Joe Solo.man, United Artists sales- man in Salt Lake City, has returned to his home following hospitalization. • Paul Shields, Cinema Artists Corp. executive, has arrived in Holly- wood from New York. • William Gleicheh, of the M-G-M sales department, will leave New York for the Coast today. Tradewise . . . By SHERWIN KANE "T HE assertion by Robert L. *■ Wright, Assistant U. S. Attorney General, at the con- sent decree hearing before Fed- eral Judge Henry W. Goddard in New York last week, that he would move to have the con- sent decree set aside in the event the court rules against the Government on the technical point of admitting arbitration decisions as evidence of alleged violations of law by the con- senting companies, had the effect of raising a lot of eyebrows in and out of court. The effect of such an action, should the Government prove successful Cand that would ap- pear to be extremely unlikely at this point), would be to elimi- nate the industry's arbitration machinery, for the arbitration provisions of the decree are es- sentially the only provisions which remained operative after the expiration of the decree's three-year trial period about a year and a half ago. Thus, the inference _ might be drawn that the Government, in giving its approval to industry arbitration, could have done so with the hope or intent that ar- bitration awards and appeal board decisions which would en- sue, eventually would comprise an accumulation of evidence to be used against the consenting companies to prove violations of law. Else why should the Gov- ernment now demonstrate its de- sire to make such use of arbi- tration decisions? e The inference might also be drawn that, because of its pres- ently demonstrated views on arbitration within the industry, the Government has been far less interested in exhibitor griev- ances and in providing the means for resolving such griev- ances than it has been in pursu- ing a test of some pet economic theory, such *as making little ones out of big ones. The fact that the Government is relying entirely upon appeal board decisions to obtain an in- junction against the granting of clearance to theatres charging substantially the same admission price raises the suspicion that such was the Government's pur- pose from the outset. The fact that it has stated in court that it intends to scrap arbitration if it cannot be used for that pur- pose, strengthens the suspicion. Little wonder that exhibitors all over the country are losing or have lost interest in the Gov- ernme! t's proceedings either for an amended consent decree or a trial of the original anti-trust suit. The Government, appar- ently pursuing an economic will- o'-the-wisp through the legal underbrush, quite obviously has left the exhibitor who hoped to feast on red meat from the hunt in his characteristic position of providing his own fare. • • The brief of the Conference of Independent Exhibitors as ami- cus curia in support of the Gov- ernment action for the elimina- tion of clearance is quite an amazing document and should be read either out of curiosity or for the extension of one's knowledge of human nature by all who have the time to devote to it. The document reviews the history of the Government case, excoriates the defendants and, in much that it says and charges, outraces the Government in sup- port of the latter's arguments for elimination of clearance. Then, in conclusion, it argues for the retention of clearance. Clearance, it declaims, is good for independent exhibitors. Only the largest circuits should be deprived of it. • • The subject of amicus curia, incidentally, provided the best laugh of the entire hearing in Judge Goddard's court. Morris Ernst, the dynamo of literate law, was petitioning the court's permission to file a brief for the Society of Independent M. P. Producers as amicus curia. That reminded John W. Davis, attorney for Loew's, of a story. It seems in law school a puzzled student wanted to know what an amicus curia was. It is a form of animal life one step above the amoeba, he was told. An industry traveler just re- turned from Florida's sunny ex- panses reports the presence of the greatest number of exhibi- tors there this Winter within the memory of the oldest settlers. Dotting the golf courses, the beaches, the promenades and fishing grounds, their gleaming lobster red or moroccan tan ex- teriors are to be glimpsed at every turning. "Looks like they're doing their worrying in Technicolor this season," the traveler ob- served. New England Owners Elect W. E. Mitchell Boston, March 11. — At the annual meeting of Independent Exhibitors of New England, the following officers and directors were elected : Walter E. Mitchell, president; E. Harold Stone- man, first vice-president; Warren Nichols, second vice-president; Ken- neth Forkay, secretary; W. L. Bends- lev, treasurer. Mitchell appointed the following to the executive committee : Nathan Yamins, chairman ; Frank Boscketti, J. E. Charbonneau, Richard Flora, Allard M. Graves, Fred J. Greene, Francis C. Lydon, Joseph Mathieu, Daniel Murphy, Francis M. Perry. Marris Pouzzner, George Ramsdell, Samuel Resnik, Philip Smith, Meyer Stanzler, William A. Viano. Republic Field Men To Studio Confabs New Orleans, March 11. — Leo V. Seicshnaydre, local branch manager for Republic Pictures, has left here for Chicago to join a party enroute to the West Coast. Herbert J. Yates heads the party which includes five other company representatives : Mer- ritt Davis, Southern division manager ; Max Gillis, Eastern division ; Will Baker, Midwestern division : Sam Seplowin, Central division ; George Kirby. Cincinnati branch manager. The trip was planned to give the six a survey of • Republic's studio and pro- duction, and to consult on plans for Republic's coming 10th anniversary. Seicshnaydre expects to return to New Orleans March 22 and to com- plete plans at that time for a press luncheon and preview of Republic's anniversary feature. "Flame of the Barbarv Coast." Selznick Has Astor, Capitol His Film "I'll Be Seeing You," David O. Selznick's first production to reach Broadway since the closing of the deal by which he and Samuel Gold- wyn obtained first call on the Astor Theatre's screen time, which formerly went to M-G-M, is scheduled to open at Loew's Capitol following the cur- rent run of "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Selznick's "Spellbound," now near- ing completion, will be his first entry at the Astor under his and Goldwyn's deal with the theatre's owners. Gold- wyn's "The Princess and the Pirate," which inaugurated the Astor deal, is in its fifth week at the house. John Smith, Pioneer Owner, Dead at 70 Philadelphia, March 11. — Services were held here yesterday for John Smith, 70, pioneer, exhibitor in the Northeast section of the city, and the father of Ulrick F. Smith, local Para- mount branch manager, who died Tuesday in Episcopal Hospital after an illness of ten days. In 1910, Smith opened his first house here, and he retired in 1929. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley. President, Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. that heralded the beginning of a great boxoflice career! Now the prophesy is a FACT, with reports from all over the country . . . from every type of situation . . . backing up the claim that Selznick International's "I'll Be Seeing You" will establish itself as a top -grosser in the nation's theatres! The Beginning . . . ( (In Four of the Major Theatre Circuits) 1st LOEW SMASH ENGAGEMENT! STATE THEATRE, CLEVELAND . . . 2 Top-Grossing Weeks and Then a Moveover! 1st RKO TOPPER ! . . . AND ON THE NEXT PAGE . Record-smashing reports from the first indiv theatres now playing this great hit . . Springfield, Mass^j^V . . . Poli Palace Worcester, Mass^Ak . . . Poli Palace Dayton, ^^^K/ * * Loew's Miami, Fla. . . . Capitol, Miami and Lincoln Theatres Akron, O. \ • . . Loew's Denver, Colo.^jA . . . Denver and Esquire Theatres Detroit, Mich. )f\ . . . Michigan Theatre Louisville, Ky. . . . Loew's U. A. St. Paul, Minn. ... Paramount Theatre Waterbury, Conn. . . . Poli Palace Theatre Philadelphia, Pa.f . . . Fox Theatre Seattle, Wash. . . . Liberty Theatre SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL presents GINGER ROGERS JOSEPH COTTEN SHIRLEY TEMPLE i Directed by WILLIAM DIETERLE • Produced by DORE SCHARY Screen play by Marion Paisonnet • From a story by Charles Martin RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS And all this is only|| mi. n ..The Beginning! Monday, March 12, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Television's Revival Under BBC Asked (Continued from page 1 ) paying an extra four-dollar annual license fee. Also called for is the immediate creation of a technical advisory com- mittee to coordinate research, encour- age patent pooling and ensure Brit- tain's postwar export market. Lord Hankey's group considers that the film industry will not be inter- ested in television, except' for occa- sion broadcasts of outstanding na- tional events, until the definition is improved to the 1, 000-line standard. Intensive government-sponsored ex- periments along these lines is urged, as well as experiments on color. Film Collaboration The committee, further, is statisfied that film interests realize the poten- tialities of the new medium, as well as the beneficial results to be ob- tained from working in collaboration, rather than in competition, with BBC. Another recommendation calls for early consultation with the film in- dustry to fix license fees as a con- tribution to the cost of the needed ex- periments. Some $4,000,000 annually is estimated as required for reopen- ing the London service, with $3,000,- 000 more for provincial operations. Motion picture industry leaders are said to be withholding their complete approval of the report until they can discuss their special problems with the government departments. NBC Setting Postwar European News Plan American networks are now lining up news staffs in Europe with an eye to interpreting developments on the European scene in the postwar, par- ticularly in Germany, for the Amer- ican people, William F. Brooks, NBC director of news and special events, indicated at a luncheon in his honor at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, here, Friday. Brooks returned last week from a five-week tour of the Western Front, Paris and London. Brooks recounted some of his expe- riences on the Western Front for the audience which included press repre- sentatives and NBC executives, among them Clarence E. Menser, O. B. Han- son, Judge A. L. Ashby, Roy C. Witmer, Dr. James Rowland Angell, William S. Hedges, Clay Morgan, Mrs. Brooks and Sydney Eiges. Loew 50c Dividend Directors of Loew's have declared a dividend of 50 cents per share on the company's common stock, payable March 31 to stockholders of record March 23. Raw Stock Curbs Hit Release of Many Films Kalmenson Calls All Field Staff to Meet At Branch Sessions Plans for a series of district sales meetings, in which branch managers will participate, to be followed by local meetings for the entire sales personnel in the respective exchanges, to avoid the travel involved in hold- ing the former single sales conven- tion, were outlined by Ben Kalmen- son, general sales manager for War- ner Bros., at a conference of district managers and home office executives held in New York on Saturday. This year's sales drive, designated as Warner's Heap Big Powwow of 1945,' will run from April 1 to July 28, with the Indian motif employed in promotional accessories. Separate Campaigns Mort Blumenstock, head of Warner advertising-publicity in the East, in outlining special campaigns on "Hotel Berlin," "Roughlv Speaking," "God Is My Co-Pilot," "The Corn Is Green," "The Horn Blows at Midnight" and other films, said that separate cam- paigns applying particularly to both large and small cities are being mapped. The campaigns will embrace newspaper, radio and special promo- tional activities. Samuel Schneider, vice-president, discussed some of the current problems relating to prints, as well as increased film costs. Norman H. Moray, short subject sales mana- ger and appointed by Kalmenson to again serve as captain of the annual sales drive, presented details of the drive to the sales gathering. First of the meetings, for the East- ern group, took place Saturday, with Jules Lapidus, Eastern division sales manager, presiding. Others participat- ing included Norman Ayers, Robert Smeltzer, George W. Horan, Fred Beiersdorf, Al Herman, Ray Smith, Carl Goe, W. G. Mansell, Clarence Eiseman, Art Moger, George Fish- man, Franklin Fisher and others. The next meeting will be held in Pitts- burgh, tomorrow, with Chicago, Mem- phis, West Coast and Canada to fol- low. M-G-M Acquires Two Spanish Pictures Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer will dis- tribute two Mexican pictures, "Maria Candelaria" and "El Penon De Las Animas." The contract was arranged by Arthur Loew, head of Loew's In- ternational Corp., whereby M-G-M ac- quired distribution rights for all non- Spanish-speaking territories. "Maria Candelaria" was produced by Film Mundiales and stars Dolores del Rio ; "El Penon De Las Animas" stars Maria Felix and Jorge Negete and was produced by Clasa Films. Up to now Latin American produc- tions have received little or no cir- culation in non-Spanish speaking coun- tries. M-G-M says its new policy will he to synchronize these pictures into l< cal languages and thus aid .in the interchange of film productions. (Continued from page 1) February because, as George Bag- nall, vice-president, points out, there is no stock available although the company has nine completed films ; Paramount may have to reshuffle some of the releases in its fourth block to provide for sufficient prints to trade- show some of the films in its fifth block ; and other companies are simi- larly hit. A more serious aspect of the tight raw stock situation is the mounting backlog of films all companies appear to have due to both extended runs and raw stock shortage. RKO has been forced to delay gen- eral release of "What a Blonde," "Pan Americana," "Betrayal from the East" and "Enchanted Cottage," all orig- inally included in the company's third block for 1944-45 and planned for general release in the first quarter. The company has approximately 20 films completed (or in work), but not released. Universal has been obliged to post- pone the release of three films orig- inally scheduled for the first quarter. These include "Song of the Sarong," "Penthouse Rhythm" and "I'll Re- member April." The company has only been able to release two films in March whereas it released five in February and four in January. Uni- versal has 12 films completed and awaiting printing before they can be scheduled for release. Several at Monogram Ed Morey, Monogram supervisor of exchanges, said that "several pic- tures have been held up which were set for release in the first quarter." Monogram has a backlog of 11 pic- tures. Bert Kulick, PRC general sales manager, reported that three features scheduled to be released in this quar- ter have been held up because of the lack of stock and, consequently, others have been set back on the re- lease schedule. Kulick disclosed that PRC is in a "bad spot" because the base year for which allocations have been set, 1941, saw the company in its infancy, making fewer and smaller pictures compared with other years. PRC, he said, has eight in its back- log. Edward H. Seifert, Republic vice- president, said that "we only announce a release date when prints are shipped and accessories are out. We don't have a schedule on what we're going to release." Republic has accumu- lated a backlog of some 15 features, Seifert said. Since September, Seifert disclosed, the company has released 13 out of 32 features scheduled for this year. One Roy Rogers' picture has been re- leased out of eight promised, and 13 Westerns out of 20 scheduled have already been released, he said. A 20th Century-Fox home office sales spokesman said that the com- pany has not completed printing for the first quarter ; one picture has not been started and printing for four or rive others has not been competed. "Instead of scheduling our releases ahead, we will release them according to our ability to print them," he said. He could not estimate how many films the studio has completed which would have been released in this quarter if the company had the stock. M-G-M has been releasing three pictures a month during January, Feb- ruary and March as against four pic- tures monthly last year. So far, the company has released nine films against the 12 released in 1944. It has a backlog of 15 pictures which have been completed but not released. Four at Columbia. Columbia officials would not com- ment on the story at all. However, it was learned elsewhere, that because of the raw stock shortage the com- pany has been unable to release four pictures. Up to and including April 30, Columbia will have released 19 of 28 pictures scheduled. The com- pany salesmen and bookers are being warned to watch their selective con- tracts and not to accept a rejection on a film unless they are positive that the contractual commitment will be completed. < Paramount is meeting commitments during the current quarter because of the curtailed rate of releases as com- pared with the company's rate during the 1941 base allocation period. How- ever, Paramount has not been able to have release prints made of "The Af- fairs of Susan," initial Hal Wallis production, which will open in New York at the Rivoli Theatre in a few weeks. Printing has been scheduled to avoid any dislocation in releasing but some reshuffling is necessary to make needed prints for trade screen- ings planned for early in April. The company is understood to have over 20 films completed and in work. Warners has been able to main- tain its schedule of printing since the company has confined itself to one or two films a month. There has been no delay in Warner releases because of the raw stock situation. The com- pany lias about IS films completed. EXPERIENCED MAN Theater or distribution experience. Ex- cellent starting salary and per diem. Will be required to cover limited number of branch cities as District Manager for a national inspection company. Give full experience, back- ground, and complete references. Must be available immediately. Box 247 MOTION PICTURE DAILY New York Pictorial Closes Deals Milton J. Salzburg, president of Pictorial Films, Inc., has returned to New York from a Midwestern sales tour on which he signed con- tracts with Pell and TTrm'pll Tdpal 11 AVIS WILll UL1 1 J.JLWWV.1I, J. VJV.CX I Pictures and Central Camera of Chi- cago, all of which will feature Pic- torial's 1945 features and shorts in 16mm prints. Contract for Madison Hollywood, March 11. — B. G. De Sylva has given Noel Madison, form- er short subjects director, a seven- year directorial contract and assigned him to "Stork Club." McGuire's Birthday P. A. McGuire, advertising direc- tor of International Projector Corp., here, is observing his birthday today, stating Saturday that he is definitely over 30 (He had a theatre in 1912") McGuire became advertising manager of Nicholas Power Co. in 1919, and of International Projector in 1926. Goldman Coming Home Hollywood. March 11. — Edmund Goldman, Columbia manager in the Philippines, has been released from the Los Banos prison camp and will be returned home immediately, ac- cording to a cable received by his wife. 'Blimp' Benefit The premiere of "Colonel Blimp," British, at the Gotham Theatre, here, will be sponsored by the Society of Illustrators on behalf of their fund for the rehabilitation of wounded servicemen. "Gives one the feeling of having discovered some rare jeweL" — Hollywood Reporter "Will play a merry tune at the box-office." —Variely "One of the month's most noteworthy screen events." — Boxoffice "In the lop bracket/' — Hollywood Variety "Beats a path of its own . . . an attraction of some size." —Motion Picture Daily "Deeply moving ... has tre- mendous appeal for women." —Film Doily "Timely . . . should prove beneficial to box-office." —Showmen's Trade Review "Unusual love story, will get the women's vote." —The Exhibitor NATIONAL "Escapism is the theme and essence of this superlative picture into which its off- screen and on-screen crea- tors have poured not only all the ingredients of real- istic romance, but also the prerequisites of commercial success. It is a natural, both as box-office merchandise 1 and as entertainment, for I all types of theatres and 1 audiences." 1 — Motion Picture Herald PRESENTATION IN MID APRIL! COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK— MARCH 15*21 HP >Se* hi5 rotn 5crate fly Wether a ' r°u/j , a°»/iefi, "sad it ' "«rr/-, RKO ADS SCHEDULED FOR 29,007,375 CIRCULATION A top-brocket national campaign for a fop-brocket attraction. Running to sell seats for you in publications like WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION— McCALL'S— RED BOOK-COLUER'S-LOOK-LIBERTV-TRUE STORY -WOMAN'S DAY— FAMILY CIRCtE and the ENTIRE FAN LIST. The ad reproduced herewith runs in McCall'*, Red Book, Family Circle and rwo fan magatinos. 10 Motion Picture Daily Monday, March 12, 1945 First Video Tie-up In Red Cross Drive Television will be utilized by the motion picture industry to help launch its 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, marking the first time such a tie-up has been effected. The industry's drive publicity committee reports that arrangements have been made through Ralph B. Austrian, RKO Television Corp. vice-president and television chairman of the drive, for a telecast over CBS station WCBW (channel 2) Wednesday night, on the eve of the opening of the drive. Austrian is programmed to appear before the television cameras in an ap- peal in behalf of the Red Cross drive in motion picture theatres. He will be followed by a telecast of the ten-minute short, "Seeing Them Through," made by March of Time for the Red Cross. Catholic Charities Committee Named (Continued from page 1 ) Alicoate, Martin F. Bennett, Major Edward Bowes, Steve Broidy, Harry Buckley, Patrick Casey, T. J. Con- nors, H. M. Doherty, G. S. Eyssell, Si Fabian, E. C. Grainger, J. R. Grain- ger, Al Hovell, John Kane, Austin C. Keough, Leo J. McCarthy, Joseph McConville, Charles B. McDonald, Joseph P. McLoughlin, Joseph E. McMahon, James A. Mulvey, John Murphy, William P. Murphy, William J. Murray, Leon Netter, John Nolan, Dennis F. O'Brien, Thomas F. O'Con- nor, Charles L. O'Reilly, P. A. Pow- ers. Also: Martin Quigley, Charles Rea- gan, Phil Reisman, Herman Robbins, W. F. Rodgers, George J. Schaefer, William A. Scully, E. H. Seifert, George Skouras, Spyros Skouras and William White. Senft Will Again Head Cinema Lodge (Continued from page 1) Confidential Reports, Inc. ; Martin Levine, Brandt Theatres, and Milton Livingston, Motion Picture Daily Vice-Presidents nominated for re- election are : S. Arthur Glixon, Bernard Goodman, Leo Jaffe, Samuel Lefkowitz, William Melnicker, Al- vin T. Sapinsley, Norman Steinberg, Louis Weber, Robert M. Weitman, Robert Wile and William Zimmer- man. Max B. Blackmail has been nomi- nated for reelection as treasurer ; Jul- ius M. Collins, recording secretary and Herman Levine, corresponding secretary. Naomi Fine Joins WMCA Naomi Fine has joined radio sta- tion WMCA, New York, as sales pro- motion manager, replacing Howard Klarman who resigned to become an account executive for the station. Fine was previously with CBS as radio sales promotion supervisor. Mutual Adds Outlets Radio stations WKST, New Castle, Fa., WJPA, Washington, Pa., WAJR, Morgantown, West Va., and KFXD, Nampa-Boise, Idaho have joined the Mutual Broadcasting network. Station WCBM will join Mutual June IS. Reviews » Brewster's Millions (United Artists-Edward Small) A NOTHER generation of film patrons has joined the ranks of theatregoers •ti- since the previous filming of "Brewster's Millions," by Herbert Willcox, in England, and its release in the U. S. by United Artists, in 1935; it was originally made by Paramount, in 1921, and the book and play has been a popular standby for almost half a century. Also, radio adaptations have served to acquaint an ever-increasing number with the timeless story of the frantic attempts of J. Mortimer Brewster to spend a million dollars in 60 days without squandering it. In its 1945 unfolding, here, Edward Small has de rived a hilarious, rollicking and riotous farce, featuring Dennis O'Keefe as the helpless Brewster, supported by Helen Walker, June Havoc, Eddie (Roches- ter) Anderson, Gail Patrick and Mischa Auer In selling this film, exhibitors can safely ignore the fact that their patrons might have seen it before. The, story is brought right up to the present and the devices employed by Brewster to dispose of the initial million dollars in 60 days, before his 30th birthday, so that he can inherit an additional seven million left by his uncle, are definitely keyed to the future. 'O'Keefe and his two buddies, Joe Sawyer and Herbert Rudley, have just been honorably discharged after two years in the Army, and O'Keefe is about to get married to his childhood sweetheart, played by Miss Walker, as this version gets underway. O'Keefe finances one venture after another ranging from buying taxis and race horses to underwriting a yacht tour for a troupe of a musical comedy to entertain servicemen. Since he must keep his activities secret, even from his fiancee, he really has tough sledding, made all the more complicated by his well-meaning buddies who try to curb his extravagances Alan Dwan's direction is fast, moving quickly from one complication to an- other. Siegfried Herzig, Charles Rogers and Wilkie Mahoney have crammed many timely gags into their screen play, which represents a considerable de parture from the original George Barr McCutcheon book and the Winchell Smith and Byron Ongley stage play. Televising of a horse race ; War Labor Board salary ceilings, and the gasoline shortage are involved in some of the timely situations. Others in the cast include Nana Bryant, John Litel, Thurston Hall and Neil Hamilton. Small has surrounded it all in an attractive production and has come up with another film to make many customers laugh ; that is just what an audience at the Loew's Mayfair, on Broadway, here, did when the film was given a 'sneak' preview. Running time, 78 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. Milton Livingston ff "Utah (Republic) ROY ROGERS' musical Western "Utah" follows the usual pattern of Rogers' vehicles, and has sufficient action and a diverting enough twist in story, plus excellent supporting cast performances, to more than satisfy the many Rogers' fans. Dale Evans, heroine of the story, enacts the part of a musical comedy star who owns a ranch in Utah, which she decides to sell to promote capital for a contemplated show in Chicago. Rogers, manager of the ranch, is determined to prevent the sale, and on Dale's arrival, deceives her into believing that a run-down neighboring ranch, operated by George (Gabby) Hayes, belongs to her. Rogers' plan to prevent the sale backfires, when the girl, instead of giv- ing up because the ranch appears to be worthless, sells out to the villain, Grant Withers. Rogers is arrested for attempting to prevent the sale, but manages to get free in time to get to Chicago's stockyards and in a knock-down-drag-out fight, conquers Withers, and proves the downpayment for the ranch to be worthless. Rogers and his boys, the Sons of the Pioneers, then assist in mak- ing the musical comedy a success. The film has eight songs, of which "Five Little Miles," sung and acted ex- ceedingly well by the Pioneers, and "Utah Trail," are the best. The support is headed by Hayes, who almost steals the picture with his gags ; Grant With- ers, who is a suave villain, and Trigger, who aids his master in the various gun battles and fist fights, of which there are plenty. Dale Evans' singing and acting are inclined to be somewhat stilted. She and Rogers divide six of the films' eight songs, the other two being sung by the Pioneers. Photography, by William Bradford is very good ; the direction of John English tends to be somewhat slow. Associate producer was Donald H. Brown. The screenplay, by Jack Townley and John K. Butler, from a story by Gilbert Wright and Betty Burbridge, is thoroughly realistic. Larry Ceballos was the dance director. Running time, 78 minutes. General classification. Release date, March 21. Edward Smith Soviet Film in English "Wait For Me," Soviet film, in English, will open at the Stanley Theatre, here, on March 17. The pic- ture was produced in Russia under the direction of Boris Inanov and Alexander Stolper, and the English version was dubbed here. It is the second Soviet film to be dubbed in the United States, the first being "No Greater Love." Both are released by Artkino Pictures. $31,680 More for 'Dimes* Scranton, Pa., March 11. — J. J. O'Leary, president of- Comerford Theatres, and chairman of the March of Dimes 1945 campaign here an- nounces receipts of the drive here total $31,680, half of which will be retained by the Lackawanna County Chapter of National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis, and the remaining half to be sent to the national organi- zation. 3,227 Campaigns in Drive Competition Patriotic and showmanship efforts of exhibitors throughout the U. S. who arranged outstanding exploitation campaigns during the Sixth War Loan drive, will be rewarded this week when winners in the $5,000 screen magazine exploitation contest will be announced, John Hertz, Jr., publicity director, discloses. "The enthusiasm demonstrated by exhibitors from all parts of the coun- try was outstanding," said Hertz, who reported 3,227 entries were received, "covering every conceivable channel of theatre merchandising for the sale of war bonds. These results have accounted for the committee split- ting the $5,000 prize money into 10 major prizes and five consolation awards — all in war bonds." The j udges who will select the win- ners will be Harry Brandt, national Sixth War Loan chairman, S. H. Fabian, Jack Alicoate, Hertz, Fran- cis Harmon and Stuart Little. Committee selected to organize the awards consisted of Stuart Little, chairman, Screen Stars; Ken Joy, Modern Screen; Richard Hoffman, Movieland; Al Stearn, Fawcett Pub- lications. Eight Shorts to Help Seventh War Loan Washington, March 11. — Merri- man H. Holtz, special 16mm. consul- tant to the War Finance Division of the Treasury Department, has returned to Washington, from New York, for the Seventh War Loan drive. It is indicated that there will be eight to 10 short subjects of from 15 to 20 minutes each and at least six lj4-minute 'impact' trailers available during the Seventh War Loan. First prints on these subjects will start go- ing forward early in April. WPB Film Allocation Hits Lab Operations (Continued from page 1) , panies from starting to make prints now of films they will release be- tween April 1 and June 30 and which use second quarter raw stock alloca- tions. Previously, the companies made advance prints durino- the final weeks of the previous quarter. While the laboratories have quanti- ties of raw stock on hand to maintain a steady pace of operations, they are being forced to confine their process- ing to prints for the Armed Services, newsreels and to complete the small quantity of prints which a few compa- nies are able to order within first quarter stock allocations. 350,000 See 'Henry' London, March 11. — Seen by 350,- 000 in its 17-week run at the Carlton Theatre, here, "Henry V" is moving to the Marble Arch Pavilion, where J. Arthur Rank anticipates continuing its engagement until general release in September. 'Blimp' Set for Gotham 'Colonel Blimp," the J. Arthur Rank-Eagle-Lion production in Tech- nicolor, is scheduled for a Broadway opening on March 29 at the Gotham. Monday, March 12, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 ) House Ponders Bill On Manpower Today (Continued from page 1) affect the film industry through its provisions empowering draft boards to assign men between 18 and 45, who are not taken for military service, to war plants where labor shortages ex- ist, making failure to respond punish- able by fine or imprisonment. The Senate bill gives the War Man- power Commission authority to im- pose employment ceilings on establish- ments, but gives workers forced out of non-essential jobs the choice of accepting essential work or remaining idle without penalty. Sinclair-Hill, British Producer, Is Killed London, March 11. — General Sin- clair-Hill, 48, Wing Commander of the Royal Air Force, and for 20 years prior to the war a leading film pro- ducer, has been killed in action. His son, Pilot Officer Nigel Sin- clair-Hill, was killed last year. Hill's first London stage production, "Ten Minute Alibi," ran two years. 'Frisco House Drops Acts San Francisco, March 11. — War- field, Fox West Coast house, is drop- ping vaudeville, it was announced following a conference between com pany executives here from Holly wood. The theatre will revert to a straight picture policy, starting with the showing of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Reason for the move, it was an- nounced, is to p^-'p the house a strong er picture policy. Michigan Bill for Municipal Taxation (Continued from page \) chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, is sponsored by eight members of the Legislature, and has the backing of Michigan mayors through the League of Municipalities. Many of the members of the League are mayors of cities having war-swoll- en populations, necessitating increased sources of revenue. Experience elsewhere has shown that municipalities which have been enabled by state legislation to impose excise taxes have uniformly resorted to taxes on amusements. Exhibitor concern also is centered upon the diffi- culty of having such municipal tax legislation eliminated after the emer- gency which occasioned it has passed. Sims Sues Popkin in Theatre Sale Dispute Los Angeles, March 11. — Herman Sims, realty dealer, filed suit in Su- perior Court here Friday asking $10,- 000 damages from Harry M. Popkin, alleging that the latter failed to consummate the sale of the local Vogue and Pan-Pacific Theatres to Joseph Blumenfield, San Francisco ex- hibitor, for "reasons known to Pop- kin." The complaint says Popkin had authorized the transaction under terms giving Sims a 25-month salary con- tract at $400 monthly. Altec in Two Deals Altec has signed the Walter Brack- in circuit of Alabama theatres for sound service, repairs and projector parts. The Hamberfeld and Flexer circuits in Mississippi and Tennessee have also been contracted. Barron Steers Lana On 'Powder* Mission Washington, March 11. — "Keep Your Powder Dry," M-G-M's story of the Wacs, had its Washington pre- miere at the weekend at Loew's Capi- tol before an audience of military and Governmental officialdom. The pre- miere culminated five days of activity for Lana Turner, star of the film, who has been touring Washington on be- half of the Woman's Army Corps, .inder the supervision of Carter Bar- ron, Loew's Washington Representa- tive. Highlight of Miss Turner's visit were a luncheon in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, Leslie Biffle, at which were present Vice-President Jr., and ten Senators. Franchise Suit Trial Is Off to March 30 Trial of the Leader Theatre Corp., against Randforce Circuit and 20th Century-Fox, to test the validity of the transfer of a film franchise, has been postponed to March 30 in New York Supreme Court. Action was scheduled for trial today, but 15 other cases preceded it on the court calen- dar. Plaintiff, Leonard Storch, purchased the Leader last Summer from Rand- force and claims 20th-Fox transferred its franchise from the Leader to an- other theatre in the Randforce Cir- cuit. Plaintiff states the transfer is illegal, and is seeking 20th-Fox product for its theatre. Cinelandia Starts Mexico City, March 11. — Cinelandia Films, newest producer, has started work on its first production, which will be released at Eastertime. Southern Exhibitors At Reagan Luncheon Atlanta, March 11. — Southern showmen turned out here on Friday to honor Charles M. Reagan, Para- mount vice-president in charge of dis- tribution, on his first official visit to the South since being appointed to his present post. Exhibitors and cir- cuit executives representing several states attended a luncheon in his hon- or in the Biltmore Hotel. Mayor William B. Hartsgeld was a guest. Hugh Owen, New York and South- ern division manager, was master of ceremonies. Also present from the home office were R. M. Gillham, ad- vertising-publicity director , and Claude Lee, director of public rela- tions. The Paramount executives came to Atlanta for a regional sales meeting of New Orleans, Atlanta and Charlotte branch managers, salesmen and head bookers. Among exhibitors present were : R. M. Wilby, J. H. Harrison, James Howell, Roy Avey, Willis. Davis, H. P. Rhodes, Tom Jones, H. Reed, Glen Gryder, Richard Johnson, Hugh Maslin, Charles Karr, John Harrell, Lionel Keene, J. H. Carter, Mel Turner, State Senator, of Decatur, Ga., and also of the Martin Circuit ; Howard Schuessler, Oscar C. Lam, J. B. Hardy, Dudley J. Collins, John Thompson, Fred Coleman, State Sena- tor Mark Jackson, Luke Stein, Fore- man Rogers and B. Brannon. Also present were : John F. Kirby, Atlanta district manager ; Grover Par- sons, Atlanta branch manager ; E. B. Price, New Orleans ; Scott Lett, Charlotte ; Vernon Gray, district ad- vertising representatives, and branch office representatives. Vivacious Constance Moore delights her audience with a hit tune from Republic's super-musical, "Earl Carroll Vanities." featuring Woody Herman and his band of the year and co-starring Dennis O'Keefe. ADVT. THEY NEVER MISS A PERFORMANCE! Please collect for them at every performance during the week of March 15-2!st MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. tion Picture Industry JVOL. 57. NO. 49 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1945 TEN CENTS Films Included In New Byrnes ExportControl 'Almost Everything' to Be Checked by Committee Washington, March 12. — Ex- ports of motion picture film "and practically everything" will come under the jurisdiction of the new Export Control Committee set up yesterday by War Mobilization Di- rector James F. Byrnes, it was dis- closed here today by a spokesman for the office of war mobilization. While most of the publicity given the creation of the new organization was from the angle of safeguarding U. S. food supplies, the OWM official pointed out that the subject of food was not touched upon in the official announcement and was only one of several matters referred to in Byrnes' letter to FEA Administrator Leo T. Crowley. In both the announcement and the letter it was specified that the purpose (Continued on page 9) B 'wayGrosses Still Steady Broadway first-run theatres are headed for another week of profitable receipts but no attempt is being made to minimize the effect of the Byrnes midnight curfew on business. Genera', estimates place the average loss to Broadway theatres at 10 per cent, but several report that many customers who formerly attended late shows are (Continued on page 3) $5,000,000 Profit Is Seen for RKO RKO profits for 1944 will be slightly under $5,000,000, after deduc- tions for all taxes, it is learned here. The company's net for 1943 was $6,965,005. Net for the first nine months of 1944, as already reported by the company was $3,634,863, com- pared with $5,008,074 for the first 39 weeks of 1943. Gross for the first {Continued on page 6) Studio Strike Halts 75% Of Production on 1st Day U.K. Stock Shortage More than Expected; Cut Seen Hitting 1 5% By PETER BURNUP London, March 12. — British Gov- ernment Board of Trade sources dis- close here that the industry's raw stock shortage is much severer than was at first feared, exceeding earlier figures for which a five or 10 per cent reduction was contemplated ; conse- quentely, a 15 per cent cut is in pros- pect for the remainder of the year. The Board, the Kinematograph (Continued on page 6) Hertz Again Heads Bond Promotions John Hertz, Jr., chairman of the board of Buchanan and Co., Inc., ad- vertising agency, has been appointed chairman of publicity and advertising for the industry's Seventh War Loan Drive, Samuel Pinanski, national drive chairman, announced yesterday. "Mr. Hertz served with distinction in a similar capacity during the in- (Continued on page 9) Raw Stock Delays British Releases Scarcity of Materials Will Hamper Midwest Theatre Flood Repairs Cincinnati, March 12. — War-born scarcities and restrictions pose a definite problem for exhibitors whose theatres have been affected by the floodwaters of the Ohio river and its tributaries, rated as the third worst disaster of its kind in- local river history. At best, start of rehabilitation work cannot be safely undertaken until buildings have dried out sufficiently to justify. Although authorities estimate property and kindred damage at $4,750,000, aside from $3,000,000 industrial damage here alone, and $1,750,000 residential and industrial damage in northern Kentucky, with 60 plants being compelled to suspend operations, overall physi- cal damage to theatre structures, equipment, accessories and fur- nishings cannot be estimated; nor is it possible to venture a guess rn losses due to closings. It is believed safe to report, however, that the total amount will run comparatively high. Unfortunately, flr.od insurance cannot be obtained on theatres in locations rated as flood hazards, actual or potential. However, Federal and State authorities are agitating legislation for conservancy or flood con- trol projects designed to prevent, or, at least, minimize future floods. Warners, 20th-Fox and RKO Suspend All Production; Shutdown of Others Today Expected; Sympathy Walkouts Growing By WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood, March 12. — Following a special meeting on the strike called today by the Conference of Studio Unions in behalf of Set Decorators Local 1421, which reduced production an estimated 75 per cent and threatened a complete shutdown tomorrow, the pro- ducers issued a statement declaring, "We were caught helplessly in a jurisdictional dispute." To have observed the War Labor Board award affecting the Set Dec- orators would have precipitated an immediate serious work stoppage because the producers were notified by Richard Walsh, IATSE president, that in event of such recognition he would instruct his membership not to report for work, the statement con- tinued, adding : "We have no recourse in the present situation and can only await officiaL action." Sorrell Confident . CSU president Herbert Sorrell is- sued a statement saying, "The first day of the strike was very successful. Warners, 20th Century-Fox and RKO have given up all effort to make pic- tures for the time being, and the other studios are severely handicapped. Gen- eral Service, California Studios and Popular Productions gave us a letter saying they were willing to go along with the WLB order. We will remain on strike until the producers abide by the WLB order." The Warner studio stopped produc- tion on the appearance of the picket line, with an announced intention to "stay shut down until the strike is over." Two features were interrupted. Twentieth Century-Fox, with five features in production ; RKO, with three ; Republic, with two, and Uni- versal, with four, were prevented from continuing shooting when members of the International Brotherhood of Elec- trical Workers, refusing to cross the picket lines, were not available to service plant generators. Universal later got started. MGM, with three features shooting, (Continued on page 6) Chicago, March 12. — Release of British pictures has been held up in- definitely in this area, primarily due to the critical raw stock situation. Tom Gilliam, 20th-Fox manager here, says nothing has been set yet for "The Way Ahead," even though it has had a January national release date. Leon Fromkess, PRC president, reported that the company's concentration on its own product under its reduced raw stock quota will delay the local show- ing of "The Spirit of Amy Nugent." No deal has yet been made for "Mr. Emmanual" in this region, according to Frank Yank, United Artists sales manager. The exchange has only one print of the picture on hand. Reviewed Today Review of "John Dillinger" appears on page 9. Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 13, 1945 incrimination Lu v Enacted Here Albany, N. Y., March 12. — Gov- ernor Thomas E. Dewey today signed the nation's first anti-discrimination law, making religious or racial dis- crimination in hiring employees, a misdemeanor in the State. The law, known as the Ives-Quinn bill, will apply to all fields of employment, in- cluding the film industry. The law sets up a commission empowered to hear charges of discrimination and to render judgment for or against an employer. A Senate sub-committee in Wash- ington, also began the study of wheth- er the post-war problem of racial and religious job discrimination in the United States should be approached through education or enforced by law. Open hearings on the proposals were held, with two bills, by Senator Chavez and Senator Taft, under dis- cussion. Chavez told Senators and witnesses that it was his opinion that voluntary methods of removing dis- crimination had failed, and that "ef- fective regulation requires sanction." The Taft bill was attacked as being "nothing more than a pious expres- sion against discrimination" and "a crippling substitute." R o xy Losing $2,000 Nightly from Curfew The New York Roxy is losing be- tween $2,000 and $3,000 in receipts every night as the result of the mid- night curfew, according to a 20th Century-Fox home office spokesman. The theatre has been forced to elimi- nate one show a night, which would normally be held for a picture of the importance of "A Tree Grows in Brooklvn," it was said. Cowdin, 'U' Chairman Back from London J. Cheever Cowdin, Universal board chairman, arrived in New York from London on Sunday following a four weeks business visit there, during which he conferred with J. Arthur Rank and officials of the latter's Gen- eral Film Distributors, through which Universal product is distributed in Great Britain. Breen-Ameche Nuptials Hollywood, March 12. — Plans to be married soon have been announced by Catherine Ameche, sister of Don Ameche, and James Breen, member of the famed Carlson's Raiders, who was invalided home recently after three years in the Pacific. Breen is the son of Joseph I. Breen, production code administrator. Miss Ameche is on the public relations staff at the Army Birmingham General Hospital, Van Nuys, Cal. Cagney Pays $250,000 Hollywood, March 12. — William Cagney has purchased Adria Locke Langley's new book, recently serial- ized by the Saturday Evening Post, "Lion in the Streets," for S250.000, according to Untied Artists. Personal Mention I OHN W. HICKS, JR., Paramount «-l International president, returned to New York from the Coast yesterday. • Warrant Officer Paul White, formerly of Paramount's publicity de- partment, was the first man to return to the United States from Iwo Jima with films of the battle. He is on temporary duty in Washington. • Hilda Uebelhoer, of the Universal Buffalo exchange, has resigned to join here husband at Battle Creek, Mich., where he is recovering from wounds. • Sam Horwitz, Loew's Poli assist- ant manager, Springfield, Mass., and Esther Caleschman, Bijou, New Haven, assistant manager, are en- Louis Pollock, head of the new film advertising department of the Biow Agency, will leave New York for the' Coast on Friday to establish headquarters there. • Thomas L. Walker. Edward Small Productions secretary, arrived in New York yesterday from the Coast. Irving Maas, 20th Century-Fox In- ternational vice-president, is recover- ing from an operation at St. Vincent's Hospital 'here. • Arthur Silverstone, 20th-Fox special home office foreign representa- tive, will return to London within three weeks. • Wlliam D. Kelly, head of the M- G-M print department, will leave here for Washington tomorrow. • William Seib, Columbia Salt Lake City manager, has returned there from Denver. • Carl Nedley, M-G-M exchange manager at Salt Lake City, is in Ne- vada. • A. G. Edwards, PRC Salt Lake City manager, will be in Idaho for another week. • Giff Davison, RKO Salt Lake City exchange manager, left there for Boise, Idaho, this week. e Francis A. Bateman. Republic Western manager, will return to the Coast from Salt Lake City soon. • John Strauss, former Buffalo Warner salesman, has left there for the Coast. • Marion Ryan, M-G-M Buffalo of- fice manager, is expected back there soon from the Coast. • Ira H. Cohn, 20th-Fox Buffalo branch manager, has returned there from Cleveland. • Victor Morrelli, manager of the Bristol, Bristol, Conn., is home after six weeks in the hospital. • George Kirby, Republic Cincinnati manager, is in Hollywood. R OY DISNEY will arriye in New York today from the Coast. Charles Rich, Warner district manager in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Rich, will leave Thursday ior Miami Beach. • Mitchell Franklin, secretary of Franklin and Herschorn Circuit, St. John, N. B., is visiting New York with his wife. • William Pierce, Jr., Lester Cowan advertising and publicity head, arrived in New York yesterday from the Coast. E. L. McEvoy, Universal short sub- jects sales manager, will be in San Francisco, Seattle and Portland this week. • Steve Broidy, Monogram vice-pres- ident and general sales manager, left Hollywood on the Chief yesterday for Washington. • Robert L. Long, Film Classics au- ditor from New York, is visiting the Cleveland exchange. Ted Toddy, Toddy Pictures presi- dent, has returned to Atlanta from a trip to New York and California. • H. A. Ross, Ross Federal Service president, is in Los Angeles from New York. • Clarence Eiseman, Warner New York branch manager, has returned to New York from Florida. • H. B. Engel, DeVry Corp. sales manager, is touring the Southern states. • Leo Samuels, Walt Disney foreign manager, will leave New York today for a 10-week tour of Latin America. • Vincent Trotta, National Screen Service art director, will make a USO tour of Army and Navy hospitals. • George Dindas, New York Strand manager, became the father of a son, Mark, late last week. • Hugh Owen and Robert Gillham of Paramount will return to New York today from a trip to Atlanta. • Allen Abeel, of the Guarantee Trust Co., New York, left for the Coast Monday. • Carl Floyd and Luke Stein of the Stein and Floyd Circuit, Georgia and Florida, are visiting in Atlanta. • Norman Elson, Trans-Lux The- atres vice-president, will leave for Philadelphia and Washington today. • Sam Galanty, Columbia district manager, has been in Cleveland the past week. • Arthur Greenblatt, Monogram district manager, is in Cleveland. • R. L. Brauer, Universal Atlanta manager, is visiting in Miami. PCCITO Trustees in Annual Meet Today Los Angeles, March 12.— The Pa- cific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners' annual meeting of trustees, will open here tomorrow at the Ambassador Hotel. Meetings will continue through Thursday. Martin Smith, Allied president, will attend. NEW YORK THEATRES Thrills, Songs and Romance Come Out of the West! " U T A H ! starring ROY ROGERS featuring GEORGE "GABBY" HAYES DALE EVANS BOB NOLAN and the SONS OF THE PIONEERS A Republic Picture 1st N. Y. Showing REPUBLIC B'way, bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50th St. & 6th Ave. RITA HAYWORTH "TONIGHT AND EVERY NIGHT" JANET BLAIR ★ LEE BOWMAN A Columbia Picture In TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS' Judy GARLAND Margaret O'BRIEN IN PERSON VINCENT LOPEZ and 0RCH. T Paramount presents Veronica Sonny LAKE TUFTS Eddie Marlorie ■raeken Reynolds ■"BRING on the GIRLS" In Person The Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald Buck & Bubbles Cootie Williams and his Orchestra L pAKA/uoc//vr sTqr,; J PALACE B'WAY & 47th St. Dick Powell Claire Trevor - Anne Shirley "Murder, My SweeF AN RKO RADIO PICTURE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor ASTOR Continuous Door, open Broadway 4 8:30 A.M. 45th Street Popular Prices WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLER0S' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radle Pictures NOW • - - Brandt's GLOBE C MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley. President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave.. Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. m Tuesday, March 13, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 'Lab' Worker Pact Talks to Continue Grosses Steady on B'way; Curfew Loss Put at 10% IATSE Motion Picture Technicians' Local No. 702, represent- ing about 1,800 laboratory workers in the 20 film processing laboratories here, will resume negotiations for a new contract for those workers with representatives of the companies to- day, following a decision by the union's executive board to delay any action upsetting the continuance of negotiations until the union's nego- tiating committee reports on progress next Friday. Contracts expired March 10. Negotiations began Feb. 15 but al- though several meetings have been held, Local 702's representatives are understood to be dissatisfied with progress made. The union has pre- sented numerous demands and to date, discussion has been confined to ex- planations of those demands, it is said, rather than actual negotiations on them. As reported in Motion Pic- ture Daily Feb. 26 and 28, these de- mands include a bid to double the present number of job classifications, to provide for upgrading of work- ers, wage increases and the setting up of a fund equal to five per cent of weekly payrolls to provide retire- ment and other benefits. Murray Files New Action in Chicago Chicago, March 12. — Thomas A. Murray, independent exhibitor, and plaintiff in an anti-trust suit against distributors, has filed a motion before Federal Judge William H. Holly to vacate the orders issued by the Judge early last month. These orders include the dismissal of the remaining dis- tributors, Loew's and 20th Century- Fox, and the granting of a new trial for the other defendants. A hearing, set for today, was postponed to March 19 due to the illness of Miles Seeley, attorney for the defense. On Jan. 24 a jury found eight of the defendants guilty and ordered pay- ment of damages totalling $105,000. Another Hochstein Delay The trial of Harry Hochstein, for- mer morals inspector in Chicago, and the sentencing of Isadore Nevin, for- mer bookeeper for George E. Browne, ex-president of the IATSE, both of whom were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for alleged perjury, were again postponed yesterday to Sept. 12 in the New York Federal Court by Judge Alfred C. Coxe. (Continued from page 1) coming at other times during the day and the loss of revenue is purely spec- ulatory. Of the new arrivals, "Tonight and Every Night," plus a stage show, is drawing moderately at Radio City Music Hall, with $65,500 registered for the first four days and a satisfac- tory $100,000 expected for the week; the film is set for three weeks, with "Without Love" to follow. Standout business is being recorded for "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," and a stage show featuring Victor Borge and Joan Edwards, at the Roxy, where an outstanding $101,000 is expected for the second week on the basis of $76,100 counted for the first five days. "The Picture of Dorian Gray," com- bined with a strong stage bill featur- ing Lena Home, Robert Walker and Xavier Cugat and his band, is another outstanding combination with a big second week of $75,000 expected, foL lowing an initial near-record week of almost $85,000. Second week of "Hotel Berlin," and a stage presentation headlining Car- men Cavallaro and his band, plus Peter Lorre, at the Strand will bring close to $55,000, following a big initial week which exceeded early expecta- tions, to bring over $63,000. "Bring on the Girls," and a stage bill presenting the Ink Spots, Ella Fitzgerald and others, is continuing to do good busi- ness at the Paramount, with $65,000 expected for the second week. "Murder, My Sweet," at the Palace, H. M. Rickey's Son Missing in Crash Lt. David Henderson Richey, son of H. M. Richey, assistant to William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager of Loew's, and Mrs. Naomi Munn Richey, was one of 10 crew members still missing yesterday following the crash of a B-24 Bomber late Saturday off Montauk Point, Long Island. Bodies of an officer and one of the enlisted personnel aboard the plane were recovered shortly after the crash. Lt. Richey's life jacket was found floating nearby. Young Richey attended Iona Prep School at New Rochelle and was graduated from New York Military Academy at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson. He was a student at Cornell Univer- sity when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Nov. 11, 1942. Lt. Richey, a navigator, was stationed at Westover Field, Mass. He is 22 years old. and "Keep Your Powder Dry," at the Criterion are getting sturdy receipts. "Murder, My Sweet" is expected to bring a good $30,000 for its first week and "Keep Your Powder Dry" ap- pears to be headed for a first week of better than $30,000. "The Song of Bernadette," return- ing to the Rivoli at 'regular' admission prices following a run at the same the- atre a year ago at scales, is expected to get about $24,000 for the first week of a special engagement ; "The Affairs of Susan" is set to follow on March "The Princess and the Pirate" is continuing to draw nicely at the Astor with $27,000 expected for the fifth week. "The Three Caballeros" is hold- ing well at the Globe, with indications of a $17,000 gross for a sixth week. "The Fighting Lady" will conclude an engagement of eight weeks and a day at the Victoria, tomorrow night, with about $12,500 expected for the final eight days ; "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka" will open there Thursday. "Roughly Speaking" is continuing to do moderate business at the Hol- lywood, with $15,000 expected for a sixth week. "Mr. Emmanuel" will bring about $7,900 for its 10th week at the Gotham ; "Colonel Blimp" will take over on March 29. "Utah" ap- pears to be headed for a quiet $6,000 for its first week at the Republic. An equally quiet $6,000 is expected for "Nothing but Trouble," at the Rialto, with "House of Fear" to take over Friday. Writers Defend OWI Postwar Proposal Hollywood, March 12. — The Holly- wood Writers Mobilization today ad- dressed a letter to Lester Cowan, who last week criticized Robert Riskin's plan for a non-profit company to carry on the Office of War Information's film work after the war, which as- serts : "You make this intelligent pro- posal sound like a bureaucratic plot against the industry. To us it seems like a real opportunity that should be welcomed and used." Larry Steers, extra player, an- nounced the formation of a screen extras' OWI's guild and said a wire had been dispatched to the Four A's seeking a charter. Armour Is Back from Trip Abroad for OWI Reginald Armour, Office of War Information overseas film bureau rep- resentative, in charge of the European theatre, has arrived in New York after a trip to England, France, North Africa and Italy, it was an- nounced by the OWI here yesterday Armour is here for conferences and a special mission for the OWI. He will return overseas shortly. 'Berlin' Apr. 6 in London London, March 12. — Because of its timeliness, Warner's "Hotel Berlin" is being rushed here for its British premiere at the Warner Theatre on April 6, six months earlier than is customary for an English showing. Philippine Film Industry in Ruins Wolfe Cohen, vice-president of Warner Bros. Interna- tional Corp., now enroute to Australia, has added the Phil- ippines to his itinerary, because Cliff Almy, Warner's Manila manager recently re- leased from Santo Tomas prison camp, reports that the Japs practically destroyed film plants, offices and thea- ters there. Cohen will survey the damage and check on re- building of properties as well as methods of expediting film shipments to the islands. Lapidus Presides at Warners Meeting Pittsburgh, March 12. — A two-day meeting of Warner branch managers for the Central District will get under way here tomorrow morning, with Jules Lapidus, Eastern division sales manager, presiding. Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager and captain of the com- pany's 1945 sales drive, will outline the coming campaign; Bill Brumberg, representing Mort Blumenstock, East- ern advertising-publicity head, will speak on special merchandising plans worked out for Spring and Summer releases ; Charles Rich, Central dis- trict manager, also will speak. Branch managers attending will in- clude : F. D. Moore, Pittsburgh ; Joe Kaliski, Cleveland ; James S. Abrose, Cincinnati, and Claude W. McKean, Indianapolis ; Richard Stevens, field exploitation man, also will attend. OWI to Propagandize The U. S. in Italy In an effort to give liberated Italy a better understanding of the United States, an outpost of the Office of War Information will begin functioning in Rome today, press dispatches from the Italian capital, received .here yester- day, disclosed. Thus, while military authorities are being withdrawn as quickly as possible under the Allied program to turn the country back to the Italians, a new civilian agency is moving in with the hope of becoming more and more influential in creating a correct picture of America and Americans, it was said. - Although the office opens today, under the OWI label, this will be changed to USIS (United States In- formation Service) as soon as the official go-ahead has been received from Allied Field Headquarters. This, it was learned should be forthcoming within a week or so. 20% Soft Coal Cut Washington, March 12. — The sup- ply outlook for the new coal year, which begins April 1, is so bad that even users of bituminous for heating will be cut to a maximum of 80 per cent of normal annual supply, the Solid Fuels Administration reports. McKendrick With UA Salt Lake City, March 12. — W. W. McKendrick, formerly manager for Monogram, is now connected with United Artists here. RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. NEW YORK TRADE SHOWING "TARZAN and the AMAZONS" FRIDAY, March 16, at 2:30 P.M. RKO Projection Room, 630 Ninth Ave., New York, N. Y. COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK — MARCH 15-21 Produced by Robert Felloe RKO's racy eye-and-earful of murder and mirth — with bride, groom and best-man "wolf" super- sleuthing the clues and the cuties at a swank resort where such things should never happen! R K O irected by Eddie Sutherland Screen Play by Howard J. Green, Stewart Sterling and Parke levy 6 Motion Picture daily Tuesday, March 13, 1945 Studio Strike Halts 73% Of Production on 1st Day Production Is Down to 37; Only 4 Start Hollywood, March 12. — Production continues its downward trend as 11 pictures were completed and only four went before cameras. As of the week- end, before the studio strike, there were 37 features in work. The pro- duction scene follows : Columbia Shootings "Rhythm Roundup," "Over 21," "Kiss and Tell" (Siegel). M-G-M Shooting : "They Were Expend- able," "Dangerous Partners," "Early to Wed," "Yolanda and the Thief," "The Harvey Girls." Monogram Started: "Here Comes Trouble," with Billy Gilbert, Shemp Howard, Maxie Rosenbloom. Shooting : "Divorce." Paramount Started: "The Blue Dahlia," with Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, Billy DeWolfe, Doris Dowl- ing; "Our Hearts Were Growing Up," with Gail Russell, Diana Lynn, Bill Edwards, Brian Donlevy, James Brown, William Demarest, Billy DeWolfe. Shooting: "The Well Groomed Bride," "Masquerade in Mexico," "You Came Along" (Hal Wallis). PRC Finished: "Highway to Hell." Shooting : "Why Girls Leave Home" (Sam Sax). RKO Radio Finished: "Falcon in San Francis- co," "First Man Into Tokyo," "The Most Dangerous Game," "Invisible Army." Shooting : "George White's Scan- dals of 1945," "Man Alive," "The Bells of St. Mary's" (Rainbow Pro- ductions). Republic Finished : "Girls of the Big House." Shooting : "Trail of Kit Carson," "The Amazing Mr. M." 20th Century-Fox Finished: "Captain Eddie." Shooting : "Within These Walls," "Dragonwyck," "Junior Miss," "The Dolly Sisters," "State Fair," "Ten Little Indians" (Popular Pictures). United Artists Finished : "Paris — Underground" (Bennett). Shooting: "Captain Kidd" (Bo- geaus) ; "Young Widow" (Strom- berg) ; "Duel in the Sun" (Van- guard). Universal Finished: "The Naughty Nineties." Started: "Serenade for Murder," with Jess Barker, Lois Collier, Fuz- zy Knight, George Dolenz. Shooting: "Pillow of Death," "Men in Her Diary," "Lady on a Train," "A Night in Paradise." Warners Finished: "Too Young to Know," "Mildred Pierce." Shooting : "Stolen Life," "Shadow of a Woman." (Continued from page 1) continued production after IATSE Lamp Operators Local 728 replaced an IBEW staff in charge of the gen- erators. Columbia, meeting the situa- tion similarly, continued shooting on three. Paramount, where IBEW electri- cians serviced the generators because an Army training film was in produc- tion, continued production on four fea- tures. Meanwhile, National Labor Rela- tions Board hearings, started last week, continued in progress, with rep- resentatives of the producers, Set Decorators and IATSE giving testi- mony on the basis of which NLRB will determine whether an election to determine the appropriate bargaining agency is warranted. Painters Local 421 joined the Set Decorators on the picket lines follow- ing a special membership meeting this morning. SAG Meeting The Screen Actors Guild board was meeting tonight to set a date, within two or three days, for a membership meeting to vote on whether to support the strike. Meanwhile, SAG advised its members to consult their own wishes regarding crossing the picket lines. The Screen Directors Guild board also was meeting tonight to determine its position and procedure. Directors worked where possible today. The Screen Publicists Guild, a con- ference of Studio Unions affiliate, was in session tonight, with a complete walkout a certainty. SPG units at Paramount, Columbia, Universal and 20th Century-Fox walked out at noon following individual meetings at Vetluguin Tops MGM Studio Writer Board Culver City, Cal., March 12. — Voldemar Vetluguin, formerly an edi- tor of Redbook Magazine, and a well- known writer before joining Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer here in an editorial capacity, two years ago, has been made chairman of the studio's editorial board. Others on the board include William Fadiman, Nat Wolff, Frances Marion, Adela Rogers St. Johns and Harriett Fran. Vetluguin's new appointment does not affect the status of Fadiman, who continues as head of the M-G-M sce- nario department, a position which he assumed three years ago after a long association with the company in New York. Yardstick for Television The average home audience for tele- vision programs is 5.6 persons, com- prising 4.3 adults and 1.3 children under 18, according to a survey made by Ross Federal Research Corp. In public places there is an average of 37.3 viewers, 36 adults, 1.3 children. Henn, Miller to Open Buffalo, March 12. — Fred Henn and Ken Miller will open their Little Seneca Theatre in a few days. which it was decided to respect the picket lines. The Screen Office Employees Guild was in session tonight, with indication of a complete walkout tomorrow. Like the publicists, about half the SOEG members stayed out today. The statement of the producers said that they were "powerless to prevent" the strike. "We have taken and are taking every possible step to secure a decision by the War Labor Board and the National Labor Relations Board which will settle the dispute," the statement said, adding: "We have urged and are urging our employes to await this legal determination." Mass Meet Sunday Today's strike action followed Sor- rell's announcement to a mass meeting of all unions here last night, when he said Local 1421 would picket the studios, with the machinists', carpen- ters', painters', office employees', car- toonists and players' unions pledged to give support. The action was taken for the declared purpose of forcing the producers to obey a War Labor Board order to deal with the set decorators' local, pending the outcome of hearings in progress before the National Labor Relations Board, but Sorrell asserted the strike would be maintained until the issues pending between the pro- ducers and other CSU locals were also settled. The strike was called in disregard of a telegram from the WLB on Sat- urday urging against it, Sorrell de- claring, "We must use the language the producers understand." Monogram, PRC, Walt Disney and Technicolor were specifically exempted from the picketing because they had agreed to "go along" with CSU. S. B. Warner Named Copyright Head Washington, March 12. — The ap- pointment of Sam Bass Warner, for- merly head attorney for compliance, of the War Production Board, and pro- fessor of law in Harvard Law School, as register of copyrights of the U. S. is announced by Luther H. Evans, Acting Librarian of Congress. Warner replaces the late Col. Clement L. Bouve, who died on Jan. 14, 1944, two weeks after retiring as register of copyrights. Since Col. Bouve's retirement, Richard C. De- Wolf has served as acting register. DeWolf, who returned from retire- ment to assist the Library, will remain in the copyright office in an advisory capacity. Mrs. Buckley Continues Albany, N. Y., March 1-2. Word has been received by film exchanges here that Mrs. Christopher Buckley will continue to operate the theatres which her husband owned in Bennington, Vt., until his death. Buckley had a long career as an exhibitor in Albany and Glens Falls before he sold out and moved to Bennington, where he operated the General Stark and the Community. Mrs. Imogene Provencal, former secretary to Buckley, is acting buyer and manager under tile present setup. U.K. Stock Shortage More than Expected; Cut Seen Hitting 15% (Continued from page 1) Renters' Society and the Cinemato- graph Exhibitors' Association will meet here tomorrow in the forlorn hope of arriving at some means of accommodating both fields with the available supply ; otherwise, playing time will be reduced, as appears in- evitable. Distributors already have I been advised to adjust their print orders immediately. Motion Picture Daily, on March 7, reported that Britain's commercial and governmental demands for raw stock exceed the available supply by 100,000,000 feet. NSS Operations Are Changed by Bobbins Cincinnati, March 12. — Changes in the local National Screen branch, announced jointly by Herman Rob- bins, president, and Arthur L. Man- heimer, local manager, include in- auguration of a preview service for theatres in this area, heretofore served by New York and Washington. Also, effective March 26, the local branch will service these theatres, previously booked by Chicago and Cleveland. Bill Filger, salesman for the Salt Lake branch before serving in the Army, has been appointed Ohio sales- man, succeeding Eddie Sonz, trans- ferred to Chicago. Filger recently was discharged from military service. Two CBS Affiliates Get DuPont Awards Radio stations WJR, Detroit, and WTAG, Worcester, Mass., Columbia Broadcasting affiliates, and H. V. Kaltenborn, National Broadcasting commentator, were awarded the Al- fred I. DuPont radio awards at a din- ner at the Hotel St. Regis here Sat- urday night. WJR won the 'large-station' award, and WTAG the "small-sta- tion' award. Both were for outstand- ing public service in encouraging, pro- moting and developing American ideals of freedom and for service to the nation and the communities they serve. $5,000,000 Profit Is Seen for RKO (Continued from page 1) 39 weeks of 1944 was $10,293,035, compared with $11,914,106 for the same period in 1943. While the 1944 gross is running only slightly under 1943, higher ex- cess profits taxes have cut into net profits. Skouras Giving Red Cross War Benefit Spyros Skouras, president of 20th- Century-Fox, and national president of the Greek War Fund Relief, will spon- sor a program of entertainment ar- ranged by the Greek division of the Red Cross 1945 War Fund at the Academy of Music, New York, on March 28. Stars of the screen, stage and radio will participate. EDWARD SMALL presents if DENNIS O'KEEFE • HELEN WALKER • JUNE HAVOC EDDIE "ROCHESTER" ANDERSON • GAIL PATRICK • MISCHA AOER in BREWSTER'S MILLIONS with NANA BRYANT • JOHN LITEL • JOE SAWYER • NEIL HAMILTON • HERB. RODLEY • THURSTON HALL From the novel by George Barr McCutcheon and Stage Play by Winchell Smith and Bryon Ongley Screenplay by Siegfried Herzig, Charles Rogers and Wilkie Mahoney Directed by ALLAN DWAN • RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS Tuesday, March 13, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 Review "John Dillinger" i Monogram}? A LTHOUGH, in "John Dillinger," Monogram lias a picture that will naturally lend itself to much exploitation, full potentialities of the highly dramatic material at hand have not been realized in Phil Yordan's script. The suspense and tautness that should be present ; the buildup to a crashing climax that one expects, is lacking. Nevertheless, this will undoubtedly prove to be one of the company's better offerings for it has been given a strong cast and good production by the King Brothers. Yordan's script sticks faithfully to Dillinger's real-life story and it is a rather sordid tale of a 'deadpan' killer with a primitive regard for the existence of others, who is launched on his career of crime by a bungling attempt at robbery for a frowsy blonde. The phoney romanticism with which gangsters have been invested in the past is completely lacking in Lawrence Tierney, who, although physically filling the part to perfection, fails to communicate any feeling of this sort. Tierney becomes leader of a gang of bank robbers, after he 'springs' them from prison, by deposing Edmund Lowe. A series of daring raids on banks in several states is followed by Dillinger's capture and sub- sequent breakout from his cell. Eventually he is trapped emerging from a theatre, betrayed by his 'moll,' and he is quickly cut down by the FBI. Max Nosseck has directed many sequences in the rapid tempo of this type ; Lowe is excellent as the intellectual crook who has nothing but contempt for Dillinger's crude resort to violence ; Anne Jeffreys is an attractive blonde who is Dillinger's consort, and Eduardo Ciannelli, Marc Lawrence, Elisha Cook, Jr., and Ralph Lewis offer standard performances as mobsters. Running time, 70 minutes. General classification. Release date, Feb. 23. Charles Ryweck Stars with Troops In Germany, Luzon Hollywood personalities entertained American troops all the way from Germany to the Philippines in the past month, with IS volunteer performers on USO Camp shows overseas tours, according to a Hollywood Victory Committee report received here by the WAC, yesterday. First entertainer to reach the Phil- ippines was Don Barclay, screen comedian and caricaturist on a six- month, one-man tour. Barclay was on Luzon, working among troops storm- ing Manila. Marlene Dietrich con- tinued her battle line trouping on the German front, and the Frank Mc- Hugh-Mary Brian group returned from a four-month tour which took them into Holland and Germany. Boris Karloff joined a company of "Arsenic and Old Lace" in Hawaii, Martha O'Driscoll was reported in New Caledonia, starting point for the Australia-New Guinea circuit, and Charles Butterworth left New York with a company bound for overseas. Others playing the war fronts were Sam Levene, heading a Hollywood company of "Three Men on a Horse," Herb Locke, actor-cartoonist, Leone Maricle and pianist Amparo Iturbi. Making GI hospital tours in Febru- ary were Cary Grant, Kay Kyser, Alan Ladd, Wally Brown and Alan Carney with Evelyn Bell, and Akim Tamiroff and Leonid Kinskey. Total Victory Committee record for the past month listed 1,264 artists' ap- pearances, bringing the total since the war began to 42,727. American Conference For a Free Screen Mexico City, March 12.— A state- ment on "the necessary freedom of motion pictures" has been incorporat- ed into the Inter-American Confer- ence, which reads as follows : "Inter- American Conference recommends that the American Republics recog- nize their essential obligation to guar- antee to their people free and impar- tial access to sources of information. "That, having this guarantee in view, they undertake, upon the con- clusion of the war, the earliest pos- sible abandonment of those measures of censorship and of control over the services of motion pictures, press and radio, which have been necessary in war time, to combat subversive politi- cal tactics and espionage activities of the Axis States." Monogram InternaVl Corporation Formed Monogram International Pictures Corp. has been incorporated in Albany, N. Y., to handle Monogram's export business. No officers have been selected as yet, but Norton Ritchey, Monogram's foreign sales vice-president, is ex- pected to head the new set-up. REEVES SOUND STUDIOS, INC. 1600 BROADWAY, N. Y. 19 Circle 6-6686 Complete Film and Disc Recording Facilities Hertz Again Heads Bond Promotions (Continued from page 1) dustry's Sixth War Loan drive, and we are delighted that he can arrange his business affairs to devote the con- siderable time that the Seventh War Loan will require," Pinanski said. "The Seventh War Loan will be the longest and most important campaign in the history of the industry. I am grateful that Hertz and other execu- tives of experience and standing in the industry will be able to serve as my associates on the national com- mitee." Browning Stricken With Appendicitis Boston, March 12. — Harry Brown- ing, executive assistant to Samuel Pi- nanski, national chairman of the Sev- enth War Loan for the industry, un- derwent an operation for appendicitis Friday night, here. He suffered an attack shortly after arriving from New York for a visit. Browning's condition is good and he is expected to resume his duties at Seventh War Loan headquarters in New York in about three weeks. He is at the Corey Hill Hospital, Brigh- ton. Smith, Head of Akron Exhibitor Assn., Dies Akron, March 12. — W. A. Smith, owner of the Majestic Theatre, here, and president of the Akron Indepen- dent Exhibitors' Association, died suddenly Friday of a heart attack. He is survived by his widow and two children. Edward Durst Dies Hollywood, Calif., March 12. — Edward Durst, screen and stage direc- tor, died last night of pneumonia and complications, hospital attendants said, after he had been found seriously ill in his apartment by John Carradine, actor. His age was 28. He had ap- peared in "Day of Glory." Disney Plea Awaits Supreme Court Rule Washington, March 12. — The U. S. Supreme Court today failed to announce whether it would accept the petition of Walt Disney Productions, filed last week, for a review of a de- cision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming an order of the Na- tional Labor Relations Board for rein- statement of an animator allegedly dis- charged for engaging in union activi- ties. In its petition, the company con- tended that while the animator, Ar- thur Babbitt, had engaged in union activities, he was not discharged for that reason and, in fact, had been re- instated following a strike in 1941, when the studio was reorganized, and was laid off only when the volume of production dropped to a point where curtailment of the staff was necessary. Babbitt is now in the Army, and in view of that circumstance, the NLRB order called for his reinstatement upon discharge from military service. Wallis' ' Susan* in Paramount 5th Block "The Affairs of Susan," first Hal B. Wallis production for Paramount, will be in the fifth block, Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution, announces. Other pictures in the block will in- clude : "A Medal for Benny," "Mur- der, He Says," and "One Exciting Night." A heavy magazine campaign has been set to coincide with the pre- miere of "The Affairs of Susan," R. M. Gillham, advertising-publicity di- rector, announces. The picture will be given its world premiere at the Rivoli, New York, March 28, with national day-and-date key theatre openings set for Decoration Day. Video Co. Changes Name Albany, N. Y., March 12. — Cine- Television, Inc., incorporated in Dela- ware, has changed its name to Cine- Television Studios, Prentice-Hall, re- cording the change. Films Included In New Byrnes ExportControl (.Continued from page 1) of the committee is to examine all of the related factors which pertain to the capabilities of the United States "to export items for the support of the war, other than direct military lease- lend commitments." While the committee is not made responsible for the allocation of mate- rials now vested in the WPB require- ments committee, or the WFA food requirements committee, Byrnes said in his letter, "The recommendations from these sources will come before the committee for evaluation and con- sideration in relation to transporta- tion, our own civilian economy and such other factors as warrant con- sideration." Primarily, he said, "our foreign commitments must not be allowed to disrupt our own economy to such an extent that its capabilities to meet its own needs, as well as the needs of others, will be reduced. This must include consideration of our own re- conversion needs after the defeat of Germany." Order Binding Byrnes emphasized that under his order, "no agency of the Government may enter into formal or informal commitments for the export of sup- plies other than for essential military purposes such as direct military lease- lend and supplies in the wake of bat- tle, to foreign countries, without first receiving the approval of this com- mittee." Crowley is named chairman of the committee, other members of which will be Assistant Secretary of State Will L. Clayton, Capt. Granville Con- way of the War Shipping Administra- tion, Lt. Gen. Brehon Somervell of the War Department, War Foods Ad- ministrator Marvin Jones, and Capt. L. H. Strauss of the Navy. Correction Motion Picture Daily has been advised by Edwin Silverman of Essan- ess Theatres Corp., Chicago, that a story published in the issue of Feb. 26 concerning a projected meeting of B. and K., Warner and Essaness thea- tres' officials there to discuss elimina- tion of double bills from weekend pro- grams as a result of the midnight cur- few, was incorrect. No meeting of the three circuits has been held or sched- uled, Silverman said. GLOBE TICKET COMPANY 154 W. 14th ST. N. Y. C. Phone W Atkins 9-1486 PROMPT SERVICE AS USUAL OUR MAIL REACHES NEW Recently through the trade press, we informed our friends of the difficulties in maintaining our reputa- tion for service under wartime conditions. We explained that 504 out of 1600 employees (It is at this date 51 1 out of 1600 employees) ... or practically one out of every three . . . are away or military duty . . . and that we are trying hard to carry on until they come back ... In short we said . . . "Mister, have a heart!" We never doubted the nature of your response... but the "heart" shown since in your avalanche of letters . . . has positively overwhelmed us. Very soon, let us hope, the dawn of Peace will arrive, with our old employees coming back to us once again. Then better conditions, coupled with the effects of your cooperation, will quickly bring our service back to its old high standard. We are naturally grateful to you— our old friends —for your understanding and cooperation. It is this fine, generous spirit on your part, that has enabled us to carry on thus far. We most sincerely thank you. SIGN THAT PLEDGE CARD ! 3 CROSS DRIVE • MARCH 15-21 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Theatres' Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1945 TEN CENTS OPA ASKS THEATRE ADMISSION POWER Theatres' Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 )V0L. 57. NO. 50 Studios Limp Through 2d Day of Strike Tri-Guild Meeting Seeks Plan to End Deadlock By WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood, March 13. — Main- taining some production headway without extra players, carpenters, painters, machinists, film techni- cians and other worker groups affili- ated with or sympathetic toward the striking Set Decorators Local 1421, the studios here ended their second day behind the picket lines with a prospect the situation's tightening to- morrow. Still in progress at a late hour was a meeting in which committees from the Screen Directors Guild, Screen Actors Guild and Screen Writers Guild were striving to find a for- mula which would restore nor- mal production pending out- come of the jurisdictional con- (Continued on page 8) Bu tiding Code Act Approved Albany, March 13. — The Condon building code bill, introduced at the request of the State Labor Depart- ment and prepared in cooperation with an advisory committee including mo- tion picture business representatives, was reported favorably today in amended form by the Senate labor committee, of which Senator William Condon, Yonkers, is chairman. The amendment to the definition of "place of public assembly" eliminates struc- (Continued on page 8) Postwar Gains for British Due: Cowdin The attitude of British industry figures toward acceptance of their product in this and other world mar- kets is a reasonable one, J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board of Universal, who returned from London early this week, said yesterday. British producers, he said, expect (Continued on page 8) Walsh Strike Threat Faces All Theatres A general strike of projectionists and stage hands throughout the country, to be called, presumably, if the Conference of Studio Unions should win out in its current Holly- wood strike, was threatened last night by Richard F. Walsh, IATSE presi- dent, who, en route to the Coast, tele- graphed Local 306 here to "stand by for an order to stop handling or ex- hibiting any motion pictures made by any West Coast producers." Declar- ing that such an order would be obey- ed as soon as received, officials of 306 prepared to stay in their office all night. Prior to leaving here yesterday, Walsh told Motion Pictltre Daily that members of Studio Set Decora- tors Local 1421, affiliated with the - (Continued on page 8) Schaefer to Cowan As Board Chairman George J. Schaefer has joined Lester Cowan Productions as chair- man of the board of directors in charge of world-wide sales. Schaefer has also acquired an interest in two of Cowan's films, "Tomorrow the World" and "Story of G. I. Joe." Schaefer will continue as chairman of the War Activities Committee of the industry. He was formerly RKO president, and before that, head of Paramount and United Artists sales. Schaefer stated that he felt the two films in which he has acquired an in- terest were definite contributions both to the war effort and to entertain- (Continued on page 5) IATSE Enters Home Office Field with Chartering of MPOE The IATSE has decided to issue a charter to Motion Picture Office Em- ployes Union Local No. 23169, AFL, representing over 800 'white collar' workers in the home offices of War- ners, Universal and Paramount Sound News, marking the IATSE's en- trance into the home office 'white col- lar' field. The move is understood to be a forerunner of attempts by the 'I A' to secure jurisdiction over office workers in other home offices, now represented by the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild of the United Office and Professional Work- ers of America, CIO. SOPEG has jurisdiction at RKO Radio, Para- mount, L,oew's, Columbia, 20th Cen- (Continued on page 9) Rank Boosts MOTs British Competitor London, March 13. — J. . Arthur Rank has completed plans for world- wide distribution of "Progress Par- ade," Britain's rival to America's "March of Time." No expense will be spared on these weekly, two-reel features picturing the Empire's glories, with first release set for early this autumn, and they will receive pri- ority over even large-scale features (Continued on page 8) Bowles Tells Senator of 'Extraordinary' Rise in Motion Picture Prices Washington, Mar. 13. — Charg- ing that an "extraordinary" in- crease in motion picture theatre ad- mission prices has occurred during the war and that there is no assur- ance they will not increase further, Price Administrator Chester A. Bowles today told Senator Robert F. Wagner of New York that if Congress decided upon admission price control, the OPA could han- dle the problem readily. Wagner is chairman of the Senate banking and currency committee, which is considering legislation extending the life of the Price Control Act, now scheduled to expire by limita- tion on June 30. In a letter to the Senator, Bowles called attention to the fact that admis- sions and certain other "elements in the cost of living," including barber shop and beauty parlor services, are exempt from control under the Emer- gency Price Control Act. "Public amusements constitute an important item in the average family's (Continued on page 8) VE-DayNoAid To Manpower Washington, March 13. — The de- feat of Germany will not bring about any material easing of the manpower situation of the film industry, chair- man Paul V. McNutt of the War Manpower Commission warned today. Testifying before a joint Congression- al Economy Committee, McNutt de- (Continued on page 8) Harry Novak Named 4U' European Mgr. Harry Novak has been appointed Universal's Continental European manager by Joseph Seidelman, Uni- versal International president, it was learned here yesterday. Novak recently resigned as War- (Continued on page 5) War Labor Board Calls Studio Union Action a 'Pressure Move9 Washington, March 13. — War Labor Board officials today char- acterized the Hollywood strike as a "pressure move" on the part of a union favored by an arbitrator's decision to force the studios to put his ruling into operation without awaiting the outcome of a WLB appeal filed by the producers. That appeal, it was disclosed, had been scheduled to come up before the Board this week. A spokesman for the Board said no response had been received to the telegram sent last night calling upon the strikers to return to work before it would take any further action. It was explained that the Board very rarely accepted an appeal from an arbitrator's decision. While no effort was made to forecast the Board's action, there were no indications that it would break its rule of upholding its arbitrator's findings. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 14, 1945 Personal Mention JAMES MULVEY, Samuel Gold- wyn, Inc., vice-president, will leave New York for Hollywood on March 23. Alan Courtney, of Principal The- atres, Inc., Los Angeles, is in New York, en route back to the Coast from a Baltimore business trip. • Maurice Bergman, Universal's Eastern advertising-publicity director, will leave New York for Montreal today. • Herman Robbins, National Screen Service president, has delayed his scheduled Coast trip indefinitely be- cause of Mrs. Robbins' illness. • Mrs. Ned E. Depinet, will leave New York for Los Angeles Monday, to join her husband who is at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital there. • Neil Agnew left Hollywood by plane yesterday for Washington to at- tend the War Production Board raw stock conference. • William H. Saxton, Loew The^- atres Baltimore manager, is recover- ing from the grippe. • George Resnick, operator of the Cayuga and Grant, Philadelphia, is en route to Florida. • Stanley Goldberg, National Screen Service Philadelphia branch manager, is the father of twins. Harry J. Schad, head of the Schad Theatres, Reading, has left for Florida with Mrs. Schad. • Maxwell Gillis, Monogram Phil- adelphia manager, has left for the Coast. • Harry E. Weiner, Columbia Phil- adelphia branch manager, has left for the South. • Jack Forscher, 20th Century-Fox Philadelphia booker, has returned there from a Florida vacation. • Stanley Shuford, Paramount ad- vertising manager, will leave for Florida today on a brief vacation. Arthur Jeffrey, International Pic- tures Eastern publicity director, is in Chicago from New York. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Philadelphia Leads Country in Dimes' Philadelphia, March 13. — Film theatres here led the nation in col- lections for the 1945 infantile paraly- sis campaign. A total of $139,020 was collected in the city's 220 film houses, according to Sidney Samuel- son, head of Eastern Pennsylvania Al- lied, who was co-chairman of the theatre phase of the drive with Ted Schlanger, Warner Circuit zone head, here. ARGUING for independent ex- hibitors on print shortages under the WPB limitation of 285 copies per release, Abram F. Myers has furnished Stanley Adams, head of the Consumer Durable Goods Division, as- sorted reasons why trouble may loom ahead. Among the sugges- tions advanced in the cause of saving precious raw stock for conversion into additional prints was this : "Elimination of use- less film credits — only the title, cast and names of the producer and director are of possible in- terest." General Counsel Myers thereby tossed a live firebrand into a waiting cauldron. Outside Hollywood, film credits mean little ; but the ques- tion here is if any contrary pur- pose ever existed. Inside Hol- lywood, it is a vastly different matter, provided one who has just departed the scene for a while may be accepted as know- ing what he is commenting upon. Outside the center of produc- tion, it must appear a strange piece of business to argue over, and insist upon, credits on that screen. Inside the place where they make them, sufficient is the cause to fight to the last ditch. After all these years, the credo in Hollywood continues stalwart and undimmed. You are still as good as your last picture and, if your last one had an odor surrounding it, at least you had a last picture. Writers who start a script and then fin- ish with the aid of another have been known to seek adjudication from a Screen Writer's Guild committee which exists for such a purpose. Players in actual demand or in inflated demand because there is no one else available, make certain about billings on the screen, in adver- tising and in billboards by writ- ing the mandate into contracts. It is old practice to mark credit sheets with percentages in order to establish what name is larger than which and whose ap- pears ahead of what. It is part and parcel of the system, in- grained and established. Studio heads will not add to the head- aches of production by walking openly or otherwise into the proposal Myers now advances. They know better. ■ Some brave companies have tried running credits at the fin- ish. This has been a device fabri- cated to placate genius on the snort and to allow an escape route for the audience. But the point is that, fore or aft, those credits remain immutable, un- challenged and beyond recall. Furthermore, the total saving on all pictures from all sources would not make a dent of any size and would contribute only infinitesimally to the situation Myers seeks to relieve. How- ever, when he goes beyond and suggests : "Reduction in the number of overlength features; greater care at the studios," he hugs much closer to the trail. ■ If and when producers cease regarding every film they under- take in the roseate light of a potential epic, and if and when they allow the length of their handiwork to be governed by the distance their stories normally require to be entertainingly told, the overlength attraction will pass into the desirable limbo of the forgotten. Another phase in the current cycle of production then will have run its course. This will not come about over night. It will not come about easily, either. Metro, as reported, is trying to fix 100 minutes as its maximum per film. But no rifles will be oiled for the convenience of the firing squad if some of its producers vigorously insist it cannot al- ways be done. Other studios are thinking along identical lines, but oil (art) and water (com- merce) are difficult to separate. ■ It is well to bear in mind, as well, that Hollywood is a decid- edly mercurial place jn the com- munal barometer. A trend is simple to establish and not al- ways simple to disestablish. One enormously successful film can do it. Should that film also hap- pen to be unorthodox as to its length, the rest of the boys are off to the races. Figuratively in these days, of course. Remember "Gone With the Wind" ? Hollywood does. ■ ■ All - the - Way Department : "Producer Jules Levey will play a bit in his next production, 'The Homesteader' " — Holly- wood news item. However, Randy Scott stars. ■ ■ Warner readaptation of "Don't Fence Me In": "Qrry Kelly is bedded with flu. Seam- stresses are sewing around him in 'Stolen Life'." Louella O. Parsons used it straight in her column. $23,031,310 Kodak Net Profit for '44 Rochester, N. Y., March 13.— Eastman Kodak today reported its net profit for the year ended Dec. 30, 1944, was $23,031,310, or $9.15 per share of common stock ; in 1943, the net was $22,270,403, or $8.85 per share of com- mon stock. The company uses a 13- period calendar under which every sixth year contains 53 weeks ; 1944 was a 53-week year. A charge of $2,500,000 has been made against the profits of 1944 to increase the reserve for possible in- ventory losses and other adjustments due to wartime operations. Similar provisions were made from the profits of each of the three years from 1941 to 1943. This reserve now totals $12,- 500,000. None of these provisions was deducted from yearly taxable in- come in determining the liability for Federal income and excess-profits taxes. Dividends declared in 1944 were the regular six per cent dividend on the preferred, and $5.75 per share on the common, amounting in total to $14,- 607,017. The balance of 1944 earn- ings, after deduction of the dividends, amounted to $8,424,293, and has been added to earned surplus. EK's gross sales in 1944 were $304,752,063, _ against $277,892,394 in 1943. Salaries, wages and employee benefits last year cost $120,482,815. Taxes paid last year totaled $58,699,- 286, compared with $51,767,391 in 1943. Goldwyn Back From FEA Mission Abroad Samuel Goldwyn has returned to New York from London where he performed an assignment for the Fed- eral Economic Administration. Gold- wyn is preparing a report on his mis- sion for Leo Crowley, FEA head. The nature of the mission, on which Goldwyn was abroad about three weeks, has not been disclosed, but it has been denied that it was related to the film industry. 'Tarzan' Shown Friday "Tarzan and the Amazons," RKO Radio, will be given a special trade screening in New York and Los An- geles on Friday, both at RKO ex- changes. Lowdown and Inside : It is reported Henry J. Kaiser has developed a pre-fabricated thea- tre for post-war launching. On a very big scale, too. ■ ■ It was foggy. It was damp. It was also bright and sun- shiny. Not possible? But pos- sible, indeed, after 13 uninter- rupted months in Hollywood. To this one newly arrived, New York has lost none of its tingle, excitement and exhilaration. Hollywood papers, please ig- MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. ixsiAxh, flats A very good way to repeat the business you did on "Salute To The Marines is to play this one! 'Our World Premiere at Akron, Ohio, equals 'Salute To The Marines' and we're doing top business everywhere ! M*G*M SHOWMANSHIP brings you LLACE BEERY in THIS MAN'S NAVY TOM DRAKE • JAMES GLEASON JAN CLAYTON • SELENA ROYLE NOAH BEERY, Sr. • HENRY O'NEILL Story and Screen Play by Borden Chase Based on an Idea by Commander Herman E. Holland, U. S. Navy (Ret.) A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Directed by WILLIAM A. WELLMAN • Produced by SAMUEL MARX Red Cross Week—March 13-21 Wednesday, March 14, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 5 Red Cross Drive Opens Here Today At noon today, New York theatres will officially launch, one day ahead, the industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, March 15-21, with a pa- rade and rally highlighting stars of screen and stage, plus 1,000 uni- formed Red Cross volunteers, 60 pieces of Red Cross motorized equip- ment, including ambulances and mo- bile canteens, and five service bands. Stars participating in both parade and rally include : Frank Fay, Jane Wyatt, Franchot Tone, Miriam Hopkins, Robert Benchley, Florence Rice, Wendy Barrie, Mady Christians, Os- car Homolka, Hugh Herbert, 'Skeets' Gallagher, James Ellison, Roscoe Karns, Harvey Stevens, Victor Moore and Michael O'Shea. Arranged with the cooperation of the Brooklyn Chapter of the Red Cross, the parade will assemble at Schermerhorn Street and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at 11. Grand marshals will be: Walter (Red) Bar- ber, chairman of the Greater New York Red Cross War Fund; Col. J. EL Bigley, executive director of the Brooklyn Red Cross ; Frank D. Schroth, publisher of the Brooklyn Eagle and chairman of the Brooklyn Red Cross ; and Edward C. Dowden, New York public relations chairman. The parade will be reviewed by Borough President John Cashmore, representing the city, and members of the War Activities Committee of the industry, headed by N. Peter Rath- von, national chairman of Red Cross week in theatres. Increases Urged for Gov't Departments Washington, March 13. — An in- crease in funds for the State Depart- ment to permit the employment of an assistant to Francis C. DeWolf, chief of the telecommunications di- vision, and additional money for the Commerce Department [which may permit an increase in the staff of Nathan D. Golden's motion picture unit, were recommended today by the House Appropriations Committee. The Committee reported a four-de- partment supply bill for the fiscal year beginning next July 1, in which the State Department will be given a to- tal of $71,878,400, an increase of ap- proximately $24,800,000 over the cur- rent appropriation, and the Com- merce Department's $79,372,000, an increase of $6,800,000. Also carried in the measure was a fund of $1,700,000, an increase of $320,000, for operation of the anti- trust division of the Department of Justice which will permit the prose- cution of 22 cases which have been held up during the war and provide a staff to deal with the sale of surplus Government war plants. Schaefer to Cowan As Board Chairman (Continued from page 1) ment. For the past two days he has been conferring with Bill Pierce, Cowan Productions' studio advertis- ing director, with respect to the na- tional exploitation and advertising campaign on "Story of G. I. Joe," with campaign details due to be re- leased soon. 15,250 Sign In Campaign With one more day to go before the start of the Industry's 1945 Red Cross drive, March 15-21. incomplete returns show a total of 15,250 theatres pledged to participate. This figure, reported yesterday by Leon J. Bam- berger, national campaign director for the industry, is more than 1,800 ahead of the 1944 total of 13,434. All territories have shown gains. Ten have hit 100 per cent so far. New additions are: Cincinnati, New Haven, Pittsburgh!, and Portland, previous toppers being Albany, Buffalo, San Francisco, Northern New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware. Esmond Is Honored By State, Workers Irwin Esmond, who recently re- tired as director of the motion pic- ture division in the State Education Department, after 14 years, was honor guest of division personnel at a din- ner, here, recently. Mrs. Henrietta Plath, chief stenographer, presented him with a $100 war bond, on behalf of the staff. Assistant Commissioner Irwin Conroe, named acting chief ©f the division when Esmond reached the statutory retirement age of 70, was a speaker. Education Commis- sioner George D. Stoddard sent a message praising Esmond for his judgment in administering the censor- ship law. Appeals from Esmond's decisions, either to the Board of Re- gents or to the courts, were very few, and hardly ever by a major company, it was said. Speculation as to. the identity of Es- mond's permanent successor is rife both in New York and Albany. Dr. Conroe is unlikely to hold the post indefinitely, since as assistant commis- sioner, he outranks division chiefs. Esmond, head of the Education De- partment's law division prior to Oct. 12, 1932, when he took over as mo- tion picture division chief, was origi- nally a provisional appointee. The position could be filled either by a promotion examination within the Education Department or an open test. Maximum salary is $8,200. Warners and Army Help Manpower Chicago, March 13. — War-plant manpower quotas in several Midwest cities have been filled chiefly as a re- sult of film tieups arranged between Warners and Col. John Niehaus of the regional labor office here, in con- nection with "Objective, Burma." Tieups not only aroused home-front interest and brought quick response from needed workers, but resulted in the purchase of nearly 20,000 regular admissions to "Burma" by war plants in Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Lexington, Ky. 50-Cent WE Dividend At a meeting of the directors of Western Electric held here yester- day, a dividend of 50 cents per share on common stock was declared. The dividend is payable on March 30, to stock of record at the close of busi- ness on March 23. Haines to Hold 3 Warner Meetings Roy Haines, Western- Southern di- vision sales manager for Warners, will leave here to night for Chicago, where he will conduct to the first of three regional meetings in connection with the company's 1945 sales drive. The two-day session for the Midwest and Prairie districts will take place tomorrow and Friday at the Hotel Blackstone. Haines will be joined in Chicago by Norman H. Moray and Bill Brum- berg, arriving from Pittsburgh, where a similar district meeting winds up to- day. Also participating in the Chicago sessions will be : Harry A. Seed, Midwest district manager ; Hall Walsh, Prairie district manager, and the following branch managers : A. J. Shumow, Chicago ; R. H. Dunbar, Detroit; Don Woods, Milwaukee; A. W. Anderson, Minneapolis ; E. J. Til- ton, Des Moines ; R. C. Borg, Kan- sas City; F. J. Hannon, Omaha, and Lester Bona, St. Louis. Others attending will include George Lefko, Chicago sales man- ager ; Ted Tod, head of Midwest field exploitation, and field representatives Lucia Perrigo and Stanton Kramer, Chicago ; Don Walker, Kansas City ; George Wood, St. Louis, and Ed Johnson, Minneapolis. Following the Chicago meeting, Haines will conduct two-day sessions in Memphis, March 18-19, and Los Angeles, March 24-25. Kalmenson to Canada For Sales Conference Ben Kalmenson, general sales man- ager for Warner Bros., will leave here today for Toronto, where he will con- duct a meeting of the company's Can- adian sales executives. Kalmenson will be accompanied by Ed Hinchy, head of the playdate department. In addition to Ralph H. Clark, Can- adian district manager, the following branch managers will participate in the sessions : Joseph Plottel, Toronto ; Samuel Pearlman, Calgary ; Grattan Kiely, Montreal; L. McKenzie, St. John ; G. A. Matthews, Winnipeg ; E. H. Dalgleish, Vancouver. Glenn Ire- ton, W. B. field representative for the Dominion, also will attend. Gates on Eight-Month Latin Tour for Mono. Bernard Gates, Monogram's special representative in Latin America, will leave here today for a tour of his territory, to visit all leading film mar- kets below the Rio Grande. Gates ex- pects to be away eight months. One purpose of the trip is to co- operate with Monogram's distributors in launching the company's Spanish dubbed-in productions, of which six are now ready. $500,000 for Building J. R. Poppele, of WOR, here, is chairman of the broadcast division of a gifts Committee for the Institute of Radio Engineers' building fund, for $500,000 for the erection of a new building. Stations under 750 watts are asked to donate 10 cents for each watt, while those over 750 watts are asked for five cents, making the range $25 to $2,500. Dr. W. R. G. Baker of General Electric is chairman of the drive. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, March 13 PANDRO BERMAN will produce M-G-M's version of Conrad Richter's novel, "The Sea of Grass." . . . Alexis Thurn-Taxis will produce "The Lady of Mystery," next in Col- umbia's 'Boston Blackie' series. . . . Jules Levy is in Tucson, lining up exteriors for "The Homesteaders," his next picture for United Artists release. Randolph Scott has been signed for the lead. • Universal has exercised its option on the services of George Dolem. . . . Jane Batl has been selected for the feminine lead in "Command to Em- bezzle" at 20th Century-Fox. . . . Victor Francen has been assigned an important role in the Warner pro- duction, "The Adventures of Don Juan." • Elaine Riley has been given a featured part in Hal Wallis' Para- mount production, "You Came Along." . . . 20th Century-Fox has purchased "Johnny Comes Flying Home," original by Jack Andrews, and assigned it to Aubrey Schenck to produce. . . . M-G-M has signed Gloria Alvord to a long-term con- tract. She will make her screen debut in "Yolanda and the Thief." • Harry Barris has been added to the cast of Universal's "Men in Her Diary." . . . Lou Borzage has been promoted to an associate producership, and will work with his brother, direc- tor Frank Borzage, on all the latter's Republic pictures. . . . Mary Pickford has signed Mainbocher to design the costumes for her forthcoming produc- tion, "One Touch of Venus." Harry Novak Named 'U' European Mgr. (.Continued from page 1) ners' managing director for Argentina and Chile, a post held for eight years. Prior to that he was associated with Paramount in the Far East Before George Canty went to the U. S. State Department, Novak was Universal's Continental European manager. Ernest Koenig performed the nominal duties of this post before his death, from his Paris headquar- ters. Since then, and the occupation of France by the Germans, the post has been vacant Novak is expected to leave for Lon- don shortly, and will then proceed to Paris as soon as possible. 'U' Stockholders Will Elect Directors Today Wilmington, Del., March 13. — Universal stockholders will hold their annual meeting here tomorrow to elect a board of directors. All present mem- bers of the board have been proposed for reelection, including J. Arthur Rank, Nate J. Blumberg, Paul G. Brown, Daniel C. Collins, J. Cheever Cowdin, Preston Davie, William J. German, John J. O'Connor, Ottavio Prochet, Charles D. Prutzman, Budd Rogers, Daniel M. Sheaffer, W. H. Taylor, Jr. and Cliff Work. TRADE CRITICS AGREE! "Powerful, well-paced drama of Jap treachery ... Will hold its own ... Forceful, suspenseful and believable/' — Motion Picture Daily "This potent melodrama of Jap espionage in U. S. will jar fans out of complacency. Authenticity is imparted by Drew Pearson." — Film Daily "A rugged and hard-hitting espionage picture. Easily takes rank as a topline production in its field." — Hollywood Reporter "Swift, turbulent and exciting melodrama of Jap espionage. Calculated to fire audiences against the race which planned war against the U. S." —Hollywood Variety "Drew Pearson's introduction . . . gives a sobering air of authenticity. Good melodrama with Satisfactory Suspense." — Motion Picture Herald "Moving at a neat pace, and with good performances, it is a good entry for the top half or as a single where exploitation can pull it through." —The Exhibitor "Exploitable . . . timely and intensely melodramatic . . . Should do good business generally and clean up in action spots!" —Film Bulletin COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK — MARCH 15-21 8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 14, 1945 OPA Seeks Control of Hollywood Limps Through 2nd Day of Studio Strike Admissions (Continued from page 1) budget," Bowles wrote. "From the standpoint of the cost of living, the largest item in this group is motion picture admissions, which have a weight of 1.7 per cent in the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) cost of living index. "Prices for motion picture admis- sions have increased to an extraordi- nary degree above prewar levels. Dur- ing the period from June, 1941, to December, 1944, the increase amounted to approximately 38.5 per cent, or an increase of approximately six-tenths of one per cent in the cost of living index for the same period. In the absence of control, there is no reason to believe that these inflated prices will return to more reasonable levels or that they will not increase further. "In the event that Congress decides that the prices charged for admissions to motion picture theatres and other public amusements should be con- trolled, the task will probably not in- volve a substantial increase in the workload of the OPA. In administer- ing the tax law, the Bureau of Inter- nal Revenue keeps complete informa- tion as to the prices charged for such admissions. This information is ob- tained from monthly reports filed with the bureau by every motion picture theatre or other like amusement enter- prise in the country, and if made avail- able to the OPA, would make com- paratively simple the issuance and en- forcement of regulations." Laboratory Workers Organize in Chicago Chicago, March 13. — Jack Grable of Wilding Studios was elected busi- ness agent of the newly-organized Chicago Motion Picture Laboratory Technicians (IATSE) here last night. Other officers are : Frank Olson, sec- retary of the Local Stagehands Union, president; Walter Tinkham of Bur- ton Holmes, vice-president; Hazel Buddenmeyer of Holmes, recording secretary; Bill Stafford, Atlas Film, financial secretary ; Herb Beeman, business agent of the Camerman's Lo- cal, treasurer, and Alan Moore of Holmes, sergeant-at-arms. The organization, claiming a mem- bership of 80 technicians, will seek an adjustment in wage scales. Rank Pushing British 'March of Time' Rival (Continued from page 1) in the use of available studio facili- ties, it was said. Rank's idea is to show England's contribution to world comity, apart from her military accomplishments. Subjects lined up for treatment in- clude the sulphanilamide discovery, the nation's reaction to her universal- ly anticipated collapse after Dunkirk, the peopling of her colonies, her pub- lic school system, etc. For "Progress Parade," according to the plan, and with government sanction, Rank's filming units will have the use of dominionwide facili- ties. An advisory board of officials and experts is being formed. (Continued from page 1) test between the Conference of Studio Unions and IATSE. The Association of Motion Picture Producers, which this morning took paid space in trade publications to state its side of the case, was also meeting tonight. The Screen Actors Guild executive committee set Friday night for a mem- bership meeting at which a strike pol- icy will be determined ; it also notified members they must fulfill all contacts for service pending that meeting, un- der instruction received today from international president Paul Dullzell. Shooting limitedly resumed at all major studios this morning with the IATSE Lamp Operators Local 728 supplying electricians to replace In- ternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers members who refused to cross the picket lines. Warners reversed Monday's decis- ion to "stay shut down until the strike is over," according to an Association of Motion Picture Producers' checkup, and had four companies shooting. Twentieth Century-Fox had five shooting ; M-G-M', three ; RKO, four ; Paramount, four; Universal, four; Columbia, three ; Republic, three. Senate Labor Group Approves Code Bill (Continued from page 1) tures used for religious observance. General aim of the bill is revision and modernization of the State's standard building code promulgated in^ 1925. New York City is not affected. As in the present definition, "a thea- tre" and a "moving picture house" come first. New language adds "any structure or enclosure where 100 or more persons may assemble for such purposes as amusement, recreation, dining, drinking, dancing or instruc- tion except such portions thereof as are used exclusively for educational purposes and subject .to the education law." The bill makes other changes re- garding enforcement and fees for fil- ing plans and for revocation of the certificate of compliance. Annually, $10,000 would be appropriated for ad- ditional inspection personnel. PCCITO Trustees in Annual Meet on Coast Los Angeles, March 13. — The an- nual meeting of the trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of Indepen- dent Theatre Owners opened at the Ambassador Hotel here today, with Allied's president Martin G. Smith and treasurer W. L. Ainsworth as guest observers. Trustees present are : Hugh Bruen, George Diamos, Rotus Har- vey, Ben Levin, L. O. Lukan, Bob White and M. W. Mattecheck. The meeting will end Thursday. Rodgers in Chicago Chicago, March 13. — William F. Rodgers, M-G-M vice-president and general manager, arrived here today from the Coast for two days of con- ferences with John E. Flynn, Western sales manager. Rodgers will leave for Washington tomorrow for the raw stock meeting. Replying to War Labor Board chairman George Taylor's telegraphed notification that the agency would not take action while the strike continued, SCU president Sorrell wired a re- statement of the grounds for the walkout and said, "We have no ob- jection to the producers' appealing, even to the Supreme Court, but do insist that they comply with the arbi- trator's order." Studio Carpenters Local 946, CSU affiliate whose 2,600 members have observed the picket lines, met today and confirmed this stand ; they are prepared to send members to join the painters and decorators on the picket lines. Asked for comment on the studios' resumption of activities with IATSE men replacing IBEW members at the generators, a SCU spokesman said, "They can't go very far without car- penters, painters and the others." Studio publicity department heads were without staffs today following a Screen Publicists Guild meeting last night at which a resolution was adopt- ed asking the producers to settle the dispute immediately. No strike vote was taken, but the members stayed off their jobs, respecting the picket lines. German End No Aid Manpower Problem (Continued from page 1) clared that present estimates of pro- curement agencies for the Pacific War will mean, at best, only a gradual de- cline in the demand for additional workers. At the same time, the WMC chief told the committee that wartime con- trols are slated to remain in force for a considerable period. "The close of the first phase of the war will not bring with it the almost complete termination of wartime con- trols which we erroneously expected last Fall," he said. "It is more like- ly that the national safety will con- tinue to require a large measure of regulation over materials, prices, wages, manpower and the like." Cowdin Sees British Gains in Postwar (Continued from page 1) playing time in this market for, and a fair return from, all of their pictures suitable for distribution here. He pointed out that the American indus- try expects no less for its product in world markets. The British industry is serious, Cowdin said, about making pictures adapted to this and other ex- port markets, and may be expected to make rapid progress in this direction after the war. Cowdin said he observed no evi- dences of serious support for discrimi- natory legislation or restrictions against American films for the post- war period in Britain, although the British Films Act (quota law) ap- pears certain to be tightened up. Theatre business is maintaining its wartime volume in Britain, Cowdin said. The raw stock shortage is as serious there as here, he reported, adding that material relief is expected soon after the end of the war in Eu- I rope. Walsh Strike Threat Faces All Theatres (Continued from page 1) CSU, who struck in Hollywood Mon- day to force producers to recognize them, would belong to 'IA' or would, not work in the studios if 'I A' ha/* any say in the matter. The IATSE* claims jurisdiction over all set work- ers through the Affiliated Property Craftsmen Local 44. Walsh declared that the IATSE will make every attempt to keep produc- tion going, "even if 'IA' members have to perform those tasks regularly performed by striking Conference members, including electricians." He pointed out that 'IA' members will also perform the tasks of the striking- set decorators. "Every effort will be made to protect the right of the Alli- ance members to work and help pro- duce pictures," Walsh said. Walsh conferred with company executives here yesterday before his departure. Compromise Remote Possibility of a compromise on Walsh's demands appeared remote since Walsh even closed the door to a reversion to the previous status of permitting the Screen Set Decorators Local 1421 to operate as an indepen- dent union, a status it had before it affiliated with the Conference. Walsh had previously pointed out as reported in Motion Picture Daily last Jan. 29,- that the question of jurisdiction over the set decorators was one to be decided by the National Labor Rela- tions Board. He indicated yesterday that should the War Labor Board award jurisdiction over the set deco- rators to the Conference, the IATSE attorneys will fight the decision. Walsh declared that the Conference move in calling a strike in violation of the AFL 'no-strike' pledge would not force the 'IA' to yield in its previously stated position in regard to the set decorators. He pointed out that even the WLB seeks an orderly settlement of the issues involved in the strike by ordering the strikers back to work before rendering any decision. Industry Will Honor Admiral Wilkinson Vice-Admiral T. S. Wilkinson, Commander of the Third Amphibious Forces in the Pacific, who last week received the Navy Gold Star in lieu of the Third Distinguished Service Medal for his service in the Philippine invasion, will arrive in New York on Monday to be honor guest at a lunch- eon to be given by leaders of the in- dustry. The luncheon will precede a pre- view of "Fury in the Pacific," at which the Admiral will discuss the Pacific War. "Fury" is a 20-minute film depicting the invasion of the Palaus Islands, an engagement which Admiral Wilkinson directed as Com- mander of Amphibious Forces. It is the first to be produced jointly by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and will be released March 22 by the Of- fice of War Information, through the War Activities Committee. The film was prepared by Navy Photographic Services, headed by Capt. Gene Markey, USNR. Wednesday, March 14, 1945 Motion Picture daily 9 IATSE Enters Home Office Field with Chartering ofMPOE (Continued from page 1) tury-Fox and United Artists. The IATSE represents 'white collar' workers in exchanges in all cities ex- cept Los Angeles and New York, aKOPEG represents several of the LJew York exchange units. All that remains before the formal issuance of a charter to the MPOE is for its membership to ratify the move, at a meeting at the Hotel Diplomat, here, next Monday. Papers have al- ready been prepared for formal appli- cation for the charter. The TA' 's decision to issue the char- ter follows lengthy negotiations and conferences between Russell Moss, MPOE business manager, and TA' representatives. The issue was brought to the fore early this year when a newly-organized AFL interna- tional union of office workers sought to claim jurisdiction over MPOE, which has been a Federal office work- ers' union, holding a charter direct from the AFL. It was said by union spokesmen that the MPOE's affiliation with the IATSE will give that office workers' union a stronger bargaining position and will help stabilize salary and job classifications among industry 'white- collarites.' Altec Signs E. M. Loeiv Boston, March 13. — Altec announces the signing of agreements to furnish booth repair and replacement parts for E. M. Loew Theatres in New England. Bill to Put Censors Under Civil Service Albany, March 13. — Senator Walter Mahoney, Buffalo, to- day introduced a bill provid- ing that the director and of- ficers of the motion picture division, State Education De- partment, shall be in competi- tive civil service. RWLB Approval of Exchange Increases Regional War Labor Boards have approved systems of job classifications with minimum and maximum wage scales and 10 per cent wage increases for several hundred film exchange of- fice workers in Detroit, Dallas, Okla- homa City and New Orleans repre- sented by the IATSE. The RWLB has also approved a 10 per cent wage increase for IATSE film exchange service workers in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The TA' and film company ex- change supervisors met here yesterday to set an appeal to the RWLB on re- strictions imposed in the cases of Dal- las, Oklahoma City and New Or- leans workers which would prevent the 10 per cent increase from going to over-scale employes ; the RWLB had also ordered a slight reduction in the cases of head shippers in San Fran- cisco and Los Angeles. New Open Air Theater Memphis,; March 13. — A new, 2,000- seat, open-air theatre is one of the proposed developments for the local Fairgrounds Park, according to pre- liminary plans submitted by Ackley, Bradley and Day, Pittsburgh. RWLB Probes Labor Strife from Curfew Anticipating possible labor difficul- ties resulting from the Byrnes mid- night curfew order, which has reduced the number of working hours in the entertainment field, the Regional War Labor Board here yesterday held con- ference with employers and represen- tatives of entertainment unions, includ- ing the IATSE, American Federation of Musicians, Projectionists' Local 306, and others. The general tenor of the discussions was exemplified by the remarks of William Collins, AFL representative on the RWLB, who pointed out that the present collective bargaining proc- esses available to employers and the unions, through contracts, will enable them to cope with any situation which might arise. Both employers and union representatives are understood to have backed this stand. Industry labor spokesmen were at a loss to explain the reason for the conference since there has been no at- tempt on the part of circuits here to reduce booth or theatre personnel as a result of the curtailment of operat- ing hours. Fred Pursel Passes Toronto, March 13. — Fred R.. Pur- sel, 66, veteran theatre man, died at his home in Simcoe, Ont, where he was manager of the Lyric Theatre for many years. A member of the Cana- dian Picture Pioneers, Purcel bought the Lyric 35 years ago and sold it to Allen's Premier Circuit in 1937, but continued to manage the house. Surviving are his widow and a broth- er, Harrv A. Pursel, of Simcoe. Short Subject Review "The Enemy Strikes" ( Universal-Army-0 WI-WAC) A film of comparisons : showing the march through France, and telling of the optimism at home ; relating the hardship of the soldier and the ease of the homefront worker ; telling of the German breakthrough in Belgium, and the American rally ; finally noting our current victories, and yet warning that the enemy may always counter-attack. The message, essentially that the last battle decides a war, is delivered with expert comparative editing, and a narration intelligent, sympathetic, and yet barbed. The German break- through scenes are from captured films ; they are in themselves alarming. They show paratroopers young, husky, unafraid, certainly not beaten, and al- most universally of a certain profes- sional brutishness. Alone, they should convince war workers, to which this will be shown later, to stay on the job ; and the general public, to which it is now to be shown, to pitch in. With the added impact of editing, and some dead bodies, this time of Ameri- cans, the short is of peculiar effective- ness. Running time, 10 minutes. 'On Stage' in Films "On Stage, Everybody," on the Blue Network, will leave the airlanes following the March 28 broadcast, to go into screen production at Univer- sal studios on April 16. Lou Gold- berg, who conceived and arranged the deal between Universal and the Blue Network, produced the air show, and will be associate producer of the film. Just a few of the "most beautiful girls in the world/' personally chosen by glamor-master, Earl Carroll, for Republic's spectacular new musical extravaganza, "Earl Carroll Vanities." ADVT. The Greatest Gangster Picture Ever Made Theatres' Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Theatres* Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 'OL. 57. NO. 51 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1945 TEN CENTS Walsh's Move May Tie up All Industry 55,000 Involved in 'IA' Work-Stoppage Threat A complete tie-up of distribution and exhibition throughout the U. S. and Canada was forecast here yes- terday should the IATSE carry out the work stoppage instructions of Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president Hollywood, March 14.— Com- menting on Walsh's threat, Herbert Sorrell, CSU president, said: "He can't do it. It would wreck the IATSE if he tried to. His move is typical of Browne and Bioff, to whom Walsh ap- pears to be a fitting successor." in the jurisdictional dispute between Hollywood Screen Set Designers' Lo- cal No. 1421, affiliated with the Con- ference of Studio Unions, and the IATSE Affiliated Property Crafts- man's Local No. 44. Walsh, 'alerted' (Continued on page 8) Canada Also Faces IATSE Strike Call Toronto, March 14. — -The strike of organized studio employees in Holly- wood threatened to spread to Canada with the prospective closing of many theatres through the receipt today of a standby order from the IATSE with instructions to prepare for a walkout of projectionists, electricians and stagehands from theatres where Hollywood product is being shown. Arthvr Milligan, spokesman for the Toronto Local 173, said no immediate (Continued on page 12) 6,777 4IT Prints To Troops Abroad Wilmington, Del., March 14. — Universal Pictures has turned over to the Army, without cost, 4,122 16 mm. prints of Universal features and 2,655 prints of short subjects for free showing to American troops abroad, J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the (Continued on page 8) Producers Meet on Strike; Production Drags; Pay in Doubt Hollywood, March 14. — With the producers closeted in a special meet- ing here tonight, as were representa- tives of the Screen Actors Guild, Screen Writers Guild and Screen Di- rectors Guild, all seeking peaceful set- tlement of the three-day-old strike of Set Decorators Local 1421 and other Conference of Studio Unions affiliates, a checkup revealed that the major companies had continued production today on about the same limited scale as yesterday but that headway had slackened somewhat. New production was at a minimum. The CSU threw a picket line around the Central Casting Bureau after hearing that the studios were issuing work calls to Screen Players Union members, ignoring an SPU pledge to observe the picket lines at the plants. This move was designed to prevent communication with the extra players, inasmuch as members (Continued on page 8) Alexander, Columbia Advertising Manager William J. McHale, now with the Kayton-Spiero Agency, here, will re- join Columbia Pictures in April 2 as copy chief, replacing' Lawrence H. Lipskin, who will become assistant to N. B. Spingold, vice-president. Sidney G. Alexander, who has been handling cooperative advertising and national media for the company, has been appointed advertising manager. Academy Awards to Be Made Tonight Hollywood, March 14.— The 17th Annual Academy Awards will be presented at Grau- man's Chinese Theatre here tomorrow night. Bob Hope will be radio 'm. c' The ceremonies will be broadcast over 196 stations, from 9:30 to 10:30. Best picture of the year will be chosen from "Double Indemnity," "Gaslight," "Go- ing My Way," "Since You Away" and "Wilson"; best performance by an actor, from a group comprising Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzger- ald, Charles Boyer, Cary Grant and Alexander Knox; and by an actress, from among Ingrid Bergman, Claudette Colbert, B e 1 1 e Davis, Greer Garson, and Barbara Stanwyck. Goldwyn Hits OPA Control Proposal "No one will dispute that both ad- mission prices and film rentals are up, although the figures presented may or may not be correct, but I feel that if the overall rise in the costs of pro- duction, which are in excess of 100 per cent, are taken into consideration, no ceiling will be forthcoming," Sam- uel Goldwyn said yesterday at a press interview here. Goldwyn declared that he felt cer- (Continued on page 8) Industry Sees Resistance To Bowles 9 Price Ceiling Red Cross Theatre Drive Starts Today The industry begins observ- ing its Red Cross War Fund Week today in more than 15,- 422 theatres throughout the country with more than 700 theatres participating in Greater New York and West- chester alone. This year's drive is expected to top by a substantial margin the $5,- 501,450 collected by the indus- try last year. N. Peter Rath- von is national drive chair- man for the industry. Official industry spokesmen here disclosed yesterday that strong Wash- ington resistance can be expected to any attempt to legislate price control of either theatre admissions or film rentals, as requested by Office of Price Administrator Chester A. Bowles. Possibilities of such legislative con- trols are considered so remote in im- portant industry quarters that there is no intention at this time of registering formal protests, it being pointed out that when Washington considers the related position of motion pictures in the field of 'communications,' to radio and the press, Bowles' proposal will be side-stepped, since it would be dis- (Continued on page 3) Wagner Sees 'No Need' for OPA Control Cool Reaction to Move For Ticket-Rentals Lid Washington, March 14. — A general coolness on the part of Congress to the proposals by Ches- ter Bowles, Price Administrator, for the proposed extention of price control to the film industry, wras evi- dent here today. Sounding the keynote of the apathy, Chairman Robert F. Wagner, Senator from New York, said today that Senate Banking Com- mittee members are "generally of the opinion that they know of no reason for bringing motion picture and other amusement tickets under price con- trol." Wagner made the statement after the committee had discussed in a closed session a letter from Bowles, proposing the control. "We invited Mr. Bowles to appear before the conv mittee next Tuesday to discuss his proposal," Wagner added. Wagner (Continued on page 12) Warners Open 6 of 8 French Branches Six of the eight Warner branches in France are now operating, with the other two expected to be reopened shortly, according to a cablegram re- ceived here yesterday by the company from Joseph S. Hummel, vice-presi- dent of Warner's foreign unit, who ar- rived in Paris recently. Reporting on the condition of the Paris headquarters. Hummel said that except for a few leaks caused by anti- (Continued on page 3) Weitman in Charge Of 7th Bond Events Appointment of Robert M. Weit- man. managing director of the New- York Paramount Theatre, as na- tional industry chairman of special events for the Seventh War Loan, was announced here yesterday by Samuel Pinanski, national chairman. He will direct the work of stimu- lating enthusiasm for War Bond buying through special activities, such as large bond shows. Pinanski (Continued on page 3) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 15, 1945 Personal Mention NATE B. SPINGOLD, Columbia vice-president, will leave New York for Florida tomorrow. • Lt. Stanley F. Hodes, son of Hal Hode of Columbia, has returned to the United States after 21 months' service overseas. • Harry M. Kalmine, Warner Thea- tres assistant general manager, will re- turn to New York tomorrow from Pittsburgh. • George "D'embow, National Screen » Service vice-president and general sales manager, is vacationing at Boca Raton, Fla. • Leonard H. Goldenson, Para- mount theatre head, will return to New York tomorrow from Florida. • George Archibald, British In- formation Services official, has arrived in New York from London. • Si Seadler, M-G-M advertising manager, will leave for the Coast next Thursday. Bergman, McCarthy On Canada Promotion Maurice Bergman, Universal's East- ern advertising-publicity director, left here yesterday for Montreal with F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal Southern and Canadian division manager, in connec- tion with the 'star-building' program now underway by the company in the U. S.' The advertising plan now being ef- fected for exhibitors throughout cities here will be planned also for Canada. Novak to New Paris Post Late in March Harry Novak, new Continental su- pervisor for Universal, as reported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday, who will make his headquarters in Paris, plans to leave for France at the end of March and upon his arrival there, he will assume immediate super- vision of France and her colonies, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Rank 'Blimp* Dinner The Jock Lawrence publicity or- ganization, press representative of the Rank organization in the U. S., will give an 'English dinner' for the press tomorrow evening at the '21' Club, here, following which a screening will be held at United Artists' home office of J. Arthur Rank's "Colonel Blimp." Charles Denny to FCC Washington, March 14. — Charles R. Denny, Jr., was nominated today by President Roosevelt to membership on the Federal Communication Com- mission. Denny, FCC general coun- sel for over two years, will succeed T. A. M. Craven, who resigned June 30. Photo Equipment Orders Made Easier Washington, March 14. — Manu- facturers of restricted photographic equipment and accessories were today authorized by the War Production Board, after rated orders are met, to fill non-military orders for less than $500 without special authorization or preference rating. The WPB explained that while preference ratings are not now re- quired on orders for less than $500, only high preference ratings assure prompt delivery and delivery on or- ders bearing AA-4 and lower ratings frequently is delayed as much as 12 or 18 months. Included in the photographic equip- ment on which the requirements are relaxed through an amendment to lim- itation order L-267, effective immedi- ately, are motion picture cameras, projectors other than 35 mm., camera accessories, eight and 16 mm projec- tion accessories, and mounted lenses, except those for 35 mm projectors. Previously, delivery for non-mili- tary purposes of items in excess of $10 in cost, other than repair and re- placement parts, was permitted only on orders bearing a preference rating of AA-5 or higher, or orders author- ized on form WPB-1319. The actual non-military delivery of orders for $500 or more will be permitted only on WPB authorization. RKO Makes Changes In Foreign Staff RKO Radio yesterday announced changes in the company's foreigTrstaff . Mark Raymon, formerly of the St. Louis office, has been appointed man- ager for Puerto Rico, replacing Ned S. Seckler, who has been transferred to Panama, and Fred S. Gulbransen, former manager for Panama before the appointment of Ned Seckler, has been transferred to Chile, replacing Rene Beja as manager. Beja is await- ing a new assignment. Knust, Herrera Get 20th Foreign Posts Murray Silverstone, president of 20th Century-Fox International Corp., here, announces two appointments in overseas branches. Karl Knust, man- ager of Ecuador, has been named manager of Chile, and Carlos Her- rera of the Mexican organization has been appointed manager of Ecuador. Both appointments are to take effect immediately. 'Love' at Music Hall The institutional Easter program of Radio City Music Hall will open next Thursday and will feature the world premiere of "Without Lave," plus the theatre's annual Easter stage show, "Glory of Easter." 'U' Releases Documentary "The Enemy Strikes," documentary dealing with the "battle for the bulge" in Europe, last December, will be re- leased simultaneously in 700 theatres in the U. S. today by Universal. British Nine-Month Tax $118,000,000 London, March 14. — Entertainment taxes paid by the film industry to the British government during the nine months ended Dec. 31, 1944, totalled $118,000,000, the Treasury's financial secretary revealed in the House of Commons here today. This compares with $18,000,000 received from all other forms of entertainment, he said. Other types of taxation paid by the industry are not included in the figures. Zukor, Israel, Mayer At Red Cross Rally A plea for the support of the Red Cross was delivered by Arthur May- er, Deputy Commissioner of the Red Cross in the Pacific Ocean areas, at a rally launching a Red Cross War Fund Drive among Paramount em- ployes in the home office yesterday. Mayer paid tribute to three of Para- mount who are serving the American Red Cross, Stanton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee, on leave, who is Commissioner in the Pacific Ocean area ; and two members of the board, Harvey D. Gibson, Commis- sioner to England and Western Eu- rope, and Brig. Gen. A. Conger Good- year, who is with Commissioner Griffis. Adolph Zukor, chairman of the Paramount board, introduced Mayer and Arthur Israel, Jr., executive as- sistant to Barney Balaban, Paramount president, and chairman of Para- mount's Red Cross drive, presided. Showing of "To the Shores of Iwo Jima," a special 16mm. print of which was made up by Paramount News for the occasion, concluded the rally. Hand Head of Rank Cartoon Organization London, March 14. — David Hand, formerly of the Walt Disney studios in the U. S., has been appointed chief of J. Arthur Rank's film cartoon depart- ment, Rank disclosed here today. Hand will have charge of the pro- duction of British color cartoons for world release, aided by Mary Field's Rank organization for producing edu- cational, religious and industrial short subjects. In addition, Hand and Miss Field will supervise special pic- tures made for Rank's children's clubs. Columbia Signs Condon Frank Rosenberg, director of ad- vertising-publicity of Columbia, re- ports that the company has renewed its contract with Richard Condon, Inc., public relations, for special pub- licity and exploitation services on key releases. Physical for Roy Rogers Hollywood, March 14. — Roy Rog- ers will take a draft board physical examination Saturday. Republic stu- dio announced that Rogers, 33, has been classified 1A. If he passes Sat- urday's physical, he will be subject to immediate induction, it was said. Coming Events Today — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' annual awards, Hollywood. Today and Tomorrow — Warner regional sales meeting, Black- stone Hotel, Chicago. Today Through the 21st— Industry Red Cross 'War Fund' week. Mar. 16 — Industry Advisory Com- mittee raw stock meeting with War Production Board, Washing- ton. Mar. 16— New York Building Code meeting, New York. Mar. 17 — 'Depinet Drive' meeting, Hotel Statler, Cleveland. Mar. 18-19 — Warner regional sales meeting, Memphis. Mar. 19 — M-G-M district sales meeting, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco. Mar. 23-25 — Warner regional sales meeting, Los Angeles. Mar. 26— MPPDA annual board meeting, New York. Mar. 27 — Cinema Lodge meeting, Hotel Astor, New York. Mar. 29 — Loew's annual stock- holders' meeting, New York. Lend-Lease Film in Production Today Hollywood, March 14. — "Two- Way Street," short story of lend- lease, a contribution by Monogram and PRC to the War Activities Com- mittee-OWI film program, will go in- to production tomorrow. Charles Winninger will handle the narration, Lindsley Parsons, produc- tion, with prologue and dialogue writ- ten by Dr. James T. Shotwell, OWI State department consultant. A se- quence of the film has been prepared by the Signal Corps Western Divi- sion Photographic Section. Freeman Is 1st CRI Appointee by Groves Harold L. Groves, field director for Confidential Reports, Inc., new indus- try checking organization, has appoint- ed Martin Freeman, formerly a special sales representative for Monogram Pictures, as Confidential's district manager for the Central states. Rosenfield, Wilbert Promoted by 20th Hal Home, director of publicity- advertising-exploitation of 20th Cen- tury-Fox, yesterday announced here the promotion of Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., to assistant advertising manager, and Christy Wilbert to succeed the form- er as copy chief of the advertising department. The promotions take effect immedi- ately. 'Dangerous* March 21 World premiere of the Charles R. Rogers-United Artists "Delightfully Dangerous" has been set for March 21 at the United Artists Theatre in San Francisco. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Qulgpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the. post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 In the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Thursday, March 15, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY : Film Broadcasts to France Start Today First of a series of fortnightly half- hour radio dramatizations of Amer- ican films, in French, will be broad- cast tonight over the national network of France, the Overseas Branch of the Office of War Information an- nounced here yesterday. Series will be preceded by a 10-minute short-wave introduction, from Hollywood and Paris, with Victor Francen introduc- ing Darryl Zanuck, Mary Pickford, Constance Bennett and Edward G. Robinson. Jean Painleve, Govern- ment representative of the French screen, will speak from Paris. The project was conceived by the OWI as a means of "projecting the American way of life into France. The The French unit of the OWTs Los Angeles office, the Hollywood Vic- tory Committee and seven film studios cooperated in making the program. 'Heaven,' 'Dawn' First First two films to be heard will be "Heaven Can Wait," 20th Century- Fox, and "Hold Back the Dawn," Paramount. Others scheduled are: "Shop Around the Corner," M-G-M ; "It Started With Eve," Universal ; "Ladies in Retirement," Columbia; "Now, Voyager," Warner's ; "Sus- picion," RKO. A half-hour variety show tonight will feature Dinah Shore, Morton Gould, Charles Laugh- ton, Chico Marx, Ziggy Elman and 'Donald Duck.' Recordings were made in Holly- wood, with the aid of the Victory Committee and Boyer, Adolph Men- jou, Leonide Moguy, Francen, Ken- neth Thomson and Frances Inglis. Alternating with the Hollywood program will be radio adaptations of French films produced during the past five years. It is expected that both programs will run more than a year. Warners Open 6 of 8 French Branches (Continued from page 1) aircraft splinters the offices are in good condition. Practically all records, including advertising accessories, were destroyed. All raw stock and nega- tives and about half of the ' positives in circulation were confiscated by the Nazis. Furniture was about 75 per cent intact. Offices outside Paris were not molested. Operations have been resumed with a few old pictures, plus five deliv- ered to the- OWI. More than 3,000 theatres are open, Hummel says, ap- proximately the same number as be- fore the war. Paris houses are giving one show daily, two on Saturday and three on Sunday, while suburbs have five shows weekly. "The future looks good," Hummel added. Weitman in Charge Of 7th Bond Events (Continued from page 1) said that Weitman has several na tional events in the planning stage. Weitman. a veteran theatre execu- tive, is presently observing his 10th anniversary as managing director of the Broadway Paramount. He has produced many shows for war causes and charity, staged chiefly at Madison Square Garden. The shows have net ted millions. Industry Sees Resistance To Bowles 9 Price Ceiling (Continued from page 1) criminatory to regulate one medium of communication and not others. The industry, said the spokesmen, stands ready at any time to show that whatever increases have been made were not inflationary, or 'extra- ordinary,' as Bowles described them, but were, rather, mostly, in keeping with increased costs all down the line. Leading distributor and exhibitor spokesmen here also took exception yesterday to Bowles' statements that theatre admission prices had risen 38^ per cent and film rentals had risen between 25 and 30 per cent since June, 1941. There has been no greater increase in admission prices per person since June, 1941, than there has been in the- atre operating costs and any additional overall increases in the amount of money taken in at the nation's the- atre box offices since then is directly attributable to increased theatre patronage, exhibitors contend. Peak Months Ago It is generally recognized in the in- dustry that the peak in theatre attend- ance was reached several months ago and that a decline in attendance either is in progress or is to be expected in the near future and that such a change is inevitably followed by a de- crease in admission prices. Attend- ance and grosses have also been off materially since the Byrnes midnight curfew edict went into effect, which alters any statistics now in Bowles' possession and compiled prior to the curfew. Any overall increase received by distributors on their films has resulted from increased patronage and hold- over engagements with better and more expensive films drawing more, distributor spokesmen pointed out. Independent exhibitors, however, charge that while theatre admissions have increased only 15 per cent since June, 1941, excluding Federal excise taxes, film rentals have increased 25 to 30 per cent where pictures are bought on flat rental and the increase on percentage pictures runs much higher, they claim. In his letter to Chairman Robert F. Wagner of the Senate Banking Com- mittee, Tuesday, Bowles asked that OPA be given authority to control ad- mission prices and when questioned afterward, added that the imposition of ceilings on theatre admission prices would necessitate similar action on film rentals. He pointed out that the new Federal excise taxes had contrib- uted somewhat to the rise in prices but contended that "more than two- thirds" could be traced directly to in- creased charges by theatres. Major circuit executives generally refused to comment on Bowles' pro posal other than to question the ac- curacy of the extent of' the rise in ad- mission prices. They indicated that a thorough study will have to be made of the Bowles' figures and that the industry's answer would be forthcom ing at such time as Congress may hold hearings on the OPA proposal to put such ceilings into effect. It was pointed out that Leon Henderson, a former OPA Administrator, had op- posed price ceilings on theatre admis- sions on the grounds that the nation's theatres tended to act as a brake upon inflation in inducing people to spend money on a form of entertainment where a big portion of the admission dollar went back to the Government in the form of direct taxes, and re- ieved strain on the purchase or de- mand for scarce commodities. Distributor spokesmen declared em- phatically that the greater earning power of films resulted from concen- tration by the industry on fewer and better pictures which drew more money at the box offices and enabled them to share in this increase in busi- ness through percentages which have remained fairly stable. More money was being spent to produce fewer pictures, they pointed out, and produc- tion costs have increased for all films. Spokesmen for independent exhib- itors repeated their demand for a ceil- ing on film rentals and upon every- thing else including operating costs if a ceiling is placed on admission prices. Other factors reflected in the in- crease in admission prices, it was pointed out, include the Government's additional 10 per cent tax which went into effect last year and necessitated adjustments of a few cents to bring admission prices to five and 10 cent units. Other industry sales executives, commenting on Bowles' proposal to impose ceilings on admissions and rentals, declared no such plan was feasible. Ceiling in 'Term' Sense "I think Bowles has been mis- quoted," said one sales head. 'What he is probably after, is not a rental ceiling in the absolute sense, but in a term sense. For example, let us say that X producer makes a film for $1,000,000, and sells it at a 40 per cent rental. Under Bowles' plan, the 40 per cent is all he could get for any future picture. This is obviously un- fair if X producer spends $3,000,000 on his next film. He would then want and deserve a 60 per cent rental, for he would have a much better produc- tion and should be entitled to get his money back. Under Bowles' proposal, he could not, but because of the bet- ter film, the exhibitor, in no way re- sponsible for the excellence of the pic- ture, would secure the additional rev- enue from the interested public. That is not controlling inflation, to my way of thinking." Another sales head commented that "Everything has gone up : distribution costs, oroduction costs, theatre opera- tions, etc. That there has been an in- crease in admission prices and rentals is undoubtedly true, but that increase is infinitesimal in comparison with the rise in production, distribution and op- erating costs." Book-of-the-Month Based on a Film Distribution of a book a month based on a current picture, containing story and film stills, is contemplated by Leon C. Leventhal of Caxton House, Inc., publishers. The first book was "It's in the Bag" ; the sec- ond, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," is just off the press. Leventhal told Motion Picture Daily this week that he expects to eventually distribute through 800,- 000 outlets in the U. S., including the- atres. Present distribution is through 115,000 newsstands with books selling for 25 cents and film companies re- ceiving a royalty on each copv. Ini- tial printing of "It's in the Bag" was 262,500 copies, according to Leven- thal, who pointed out that he has the necessary paper as a book publisher. He previously published similar books which sold through Woolworth's with sales averaging 75,000 per book. Lev- enthal indicated that some orders have been received from theatres wishing to use the books as souvenir programs, while other theatres and film compa- nies are tying-in the sale of the book with film promotions. Leventhal had hoped to get dis- tribution underway on "It's in the Bag" late in January but the freight embargo then and other factors de- layed it. Profit Distribution Of U.S. Films Hit Hollywood, March 14. — Trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of In- dependent Theatre Owners, in the sec- ond day of their annual meeting here, adopted resolutions against the IATSE strike threat and profit-dis- tribution of films made with the tax- payers' money. Citing the war record of all branches of the industry, the resolu- tion on IATSE said in part, "We feel that sober judgment on the part of the IATSE will not permit any action which would prevent the membership from cooperating to fulfill their obli- gation in furthering the war effort." The other resolution cited 20th Cen- tury-Fox's "The Fighting Lady" as a film made with the tax-payers' money but distributed through regular com- mercial channels for profits, instead of via the Office of War Information and War Activities Committee setup, with clearances waived in the interest of the widest possible exhibition. It de- clared the companies now are bidding for similar control of a film about Iwojima and committed the PCCITO to urge the Navy and War Depart- ments to present this and other similar films through the OWI-WAC. The trustees also adopted a resolu- tion praising the WAC for past and continuing service. $1,517,500 in Loans Mexico City, March 14. — Banco Cinematografico. S. A., the industry's own bank, has started its seventh year by granting loans and credits totaling $1,517,500. Snellson in New Field Atlanta. March 14. — William N. Snellson. formerly branch manager for Republic Pictures, is now connected with the Mitchell Industry of Hart- selle. A'a.. dealers in stage draperies. Comerford Loses Two Wilkes-Baere, Pa., March 14. — Word has been received here of the death of S 1/c Donald Thompson, formerly of the Capitol Theatre, which occurred on the Island of Iwo Jima. The War Department has also notified Mrs. Rita Egan Kelly, former Comerford Circuit employe, of the death of her husband, Cpl. Charles Kelly, who was killed in Belgium last month. Cpl. Kelly, who was the father of a three-year old child whom he never saw, was also of the Capitol staff. Collect at Every Shorn! Red Cross Week — March 15-21 WARNERS RIP THE ROOF OFF THEt BEING RIPPED OFF THE N.Y. STRAND WARTIME ATTENDANCE IN STRAND'!! From the book by VICKI BA[ ,FAYE EMERSON • HELMUT DANTINE • RAYMOND MASSEY • All HOTEL BERLIN - AND THE ROOF'S FIRST DATE IS DRAWING BIGGEST 4ISTORY, CURFEW OR NO CURFEW! ,and other sources. Starring REA KING • PETER LORRE • alan hale Jessie • Music b^ran^axmar^jrecte^y PETER GODFREY GEORGE COULOURIS IT 5 : ^ . Susa» J t ^ataVie b ■ ^»rv eorge Georj CoUect At J**St fa •"6to» ":oli- °o*Lb °« as Q road KHq 'Ose Opt sin action! hit that t °ps "The ^ °men FIRST THREE ENGAGEMENTS FORECAST DOUGH FOR YOU I 8 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 15, 1945 Producers Meet on Strike; Pay in Doubt (Continued from page 1) of the Screen Office Employees Guild handle central casting calls. Also in question is whether studio payrolls will be met promptly tomor- row, pay day, without the aid of SOEG members who handle the cash- iering and payroll departments. The Screen Office Employees Guild last night formalized its pro-strike at- titude, already adopted by most mem- bers, and today tne office employees stayed off their jobs in force. Beginning tomorrow, studio com- missaries will be closed, Ed Flore, piesident of the Culinary Workers Union, having this morning ordered the members of that organization to observe the picket lines. Following a telephone conversation with Herbert Sorrell, CSU presi- dent, L. P. Lindeloff, president of the International Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, rescinded a statement of yesterday in which he had described the strike as unauthor- ised, it was reported here. In Lafayette, Ind.. however, Lindeloff denied he had rescinded the "back-to-work" order he had sent Edmund Musa, business agent \f the Hollywood local. Washington. March 14. — War Labor Board officials here tonight reiterated the board's statement to the unions Cat it would not consider, the case un il the studio strikers return. So far as the national headquarters is concerned, all activity is concen- trated in the regional office in Los • Angeles, where efforts are being made to get the strikers back to work. Walsh's Move Would Tie up Distribution, Exhibition (Continued from page 1) for a work stoppage, every IATSE local, with more than 55,000 members, on Tuesday. The IATSE also has jurisdiction over film exchange workers in every exchange city of the United States. Service workers, including film ship- pers, poster clerks and inspectors are members of 'I A' 'B' locals and 'I A' 'F' locals have jurisdiction over ex- change office help, except salesmen and executives, in all exchange cities but Los Angeles and the Columbia, Loew's, 20th Century-Fox and United Artists exchanges in New York. The IATSE has jurisdiction over thousands of projectionists and other theatre employes, including stage hands in all cities, and it is considered unlikely that even theatres employing non-IATSE help would be able to operate since they could not secure film from exchanges. May Hit Stage Shows The IATSE has also 'alerted' all locals in legitimate theatres, indicat- ing a possible tie-up of stage produc- tions. Also ' 'alerted' were all IATSE locals in the East which process film md newsreels and also those engaged in non-theatrical production. Some home offices of the film com- panies in New York would also be hit since Motion Picture Office Em- * loves Union, which represents 'white collar' workers in Warner Bros., Uni- versal and Paramount Sound News and is about to receive an IATSE w pi they've given Venus arms and brought her to life. We don't claim to have a magic touch, but exhibitors everywhere tell us it's heavenly the way our engineers inject new life into ailing projection room equipment. Let Altec show you the way to trouble-free performances. You'll say signing one of our contracts was a touch of genius. 250 West 57th Street New York 19, N. Y. THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOf ION PICTURE INDUSTRY charter, would also join the walkout, an MPOE spokesman said. The Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild of the United Office and Professional Workers of America, CIO, and the Screen Publicists Guild of New York, which represent other home office 'white collarites' and all New York publicists, do not plan any action in support of either the Confer- ence of Studio Unions or the IATSE spokesmen declared here vesterdav. Walsh Talks Two Ways On Order's Imminence Hollywood, March 14. — Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, arrived here from New York by plane at noon today, accompanied by Joseph R. Vcgel, vice-president of Loew's. He told Motion Picture" Daily, "I have no intention of calling out the pro jectionists immediately," but later re- vised this statement, saying: "The order may go out tonight or at any other time, depending on the attitude of the, producers and the Conference of Studio Unions." Herbert Sorrell, CSU president, said Walsh had not contacted him, and it was impossible to learn whether he got in touch with the producers. "My principal purpose in coming West is to get IATSE men back at work, clearing our own skirts," he said. Walsh said he has no intention to ippear at the National Labor Rela- tions Board hearings now in progress on the question of whether an election to determine the bargaining agency for set decorators is warranted. These meetings are continuing, probablv all this week, independently of the strike and with no present bearing on he situation. Lab Drat jry Absentee* "My concern now is principally with our laboratory men," Walsh said. "Some of them absented themselves from their jobs on individual decisions not to cross the picket lines. Many- are going back today ; all will be back tomorrow." IATSE furnishes about 1,300 men to the laboratories, of which the Con- ference of Studio Unions has picketed all except Technicolor. A laboratory checkup indicated that absenteeism due to the picket lines is slowing opera- tions somewhat. Individual members of other IATSE locals have observed the picket lines on their own authority. Establishing himself at the Holly- wood Roosevelt Hotel, Walsh said he would spend several days "doing what I can to get production in the studios started up again." He will hold a series of conferences. Gleicher to Coast William Gleicher of M-G-M's home "fi-e sales department has left New o k for San Francisco to attend a meeting there called by George A. ickev, Western district manager, at the St. Francis Hotel, March 19. From San Francisco, Gleicher will go to Los Angeles, Denver and Salt Lake City, before returning to New York in about a month. Goldwyn Hits OPA Control Proposal (Continued from page 1) tain that Price Administrator Chester Bowles would want to be enlightened on this subject, adding, "I am posi- tive he will take no step before he is fully cognizant of the whole situation." Goldwyn, who returned to New i"ork from London this week, said he believes J. Arthur Rank, British in- Y dustry leader, "will reach his goal, \ which is to have English pictures shown on every screen of every coun- try in the world." Questioned about the large backlog of films at the present time, Goldwyn predicted there would be no backlog a year from now, with the raw stock shortage principally responsible. "Pic- tures in the future will not have the long runs they enjoy now. Today even a fair picture has a good chance, which will not be true in the postwar jeriod," he said. Goldwyn declared that the exhibitor :annot take advantage of the public )y increasing admission prices, since, f the prices are higher than the pub- ic wishes to pay, attendance will fall ff. "I don't think the exhibitor is taking advantage of anybody. He can't, because no one can force a man into a theatre and have him pay a >um greater than he wants for enter- .ainment he does not want to see," Goldwyn said. The producer said that he advo- ~ated showing films for several days it the United Nation's San Francisco Conference to refresh the memories of the delegates. "I have talked to hun- dreds of English and American wounded. The one gnawing fear is that they may have fought and died in vain and that their children will have to fight another war. By show- ;ng the war from start to finish, from newsreels to captured films, we will place the delegates in a position to have their memories refreshed, and fhere is less likelihood of errors in neace terms." Goldwyn will return to the Coast late next week. He will start produc- tion in May on "The Kid From Brooklyn," musical starring Danny Kaye. He emphatically denied he was seeking to form a distribution com- pany, saving he was perfectly satis- fied with RKO's distribution, and "I have no new ideas on the subject of distribution." 6,777 'U' Prints to Troops Abroad (Continued from page 1) board of directors declared today at the corporation's annual meeting of stockholders here. Both domestic and foreign prospects for the industry continue good and American films can be expected to have more 'fans' at the war's end than ever before in the history of the in- dustry, Cowdin said. Commenting, informally, on his re- cent trip to Europe, Cowdin said that conditions now are about as could be expected during wartime. The stockholders reelected all direc- tors, as follows : Nate J. Blumberg. Paul G. Brown, Daniel C. Collins. Cowdin, Preston Davie, William J. p-erraan, John J. O'Connor, Ottavio Prochet, Charles D. Prutzman, J. Ar- thur Rank, Budd Rogers, Daniel M. Sheaffer, W. H. Taylor, Jr. and Cliff Work, v. J I H O s CO w < < « > I— I 2 D 3 O tL, X h a < at O x u J CO a, w u Qt X < < a. O z o s I o W5 g = • X?oj 42 £ O I ~ ->2 = § -S 3 m.SM o£"« b£ £ os |" Q OS «--~ E 7 z Si- > Ho*>pj Eos I ~ f-Cr. — MCt- OS 3 (-2 boo 3 Ho- B-J ^£•2 gl'E > Oa o S = => "ft »'pN w C E&.«_.3 H to K Eos a - H9--C &, Oos^Sf! O < C_) ■»ggz <>Ed E * CO >g OQ — a u >. » .-d. 5h« g Eo £ gZ S < w I o > -J _ ■d c Cd 7 H 3 o J= M < ° to a. w _ 00 J!* O f-1 B SZ p hx Qox oz s : X HOU: S H 2 go. O • o So was g rim . ►J "o .— «S1 .-J " -x • 0 u Zz '3 = 5« « 13=3" H- -• - ^°0 5e»> HgO >, >5 ss 0< UQ < oo X ■J J « QS IE > zO £ Z OQ. I FOK ' tr>-n C Ed ^ !2zbg2 K ^ J •- « « s I5 H O Ok |l o< few-=^ "z^r >■ □ 43 M i; " cq cq = OZ £•= «.'3J- M MO] 5 ^ -° o < 5 00 u tjtd -ZX^c— — zSrJ-o-a > 04 W » r. o x e 1 So « <~ ^ . 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FREDRIC MARCH -""FIELD „d tt, s„s.,m sfJfW H0ME1BK cS?^^ ^t^OZWerii exciting hit pie I with AGNES MOOREHEAD JOAN CARROLL • EDIT ANGOLD "The Picture of the Month" —Red book Magazine STORY OF G I. JO£' ^ —T~~~ ;/>^ 'TOMORROW THE WORLD'.'.. acclaimed by critics and public as the hit picture of 1945 . . . backed by a pre-selling campaign of ads like this... is now doing outstanding business in its initial engagements all over the country! "The Hit Picture of 1945!" "A Must See Picture! . Drew Pearson blue network Jimmy Fidler "Exciting — First Rate!" Liberty Magaz ine II Wondrously Warm — TremendousJy Gripping!" McCall's Magazine • • • Top grosses thru U. A.i 12 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 15, 1945 British to Use Films To 'Sell' Pacific War A film program is being prepared by the British Ministry of Information to condition Britons to their partici- pation in the Pacific War against Japan, and will include the production of 40 documentaries about the Pacific campaign, it is learned here. Realization that there might be a let-down after Germany's final defeat on the part of the British people, with a consequent disastrous drop in morale and war production, has prompted this program designed to sustain their 'in- terest' in the Japanese phase of the war. Prime Minister Churchill has pledged that Great Britain will, after Germany's overthrow, throw the full weight of her armed forces, including her fleet, into the Pacific fight. Burma Campaign Productions concerning the various Pacific campaigns will deal, it is un- derstood, with the British participation in the Burma campaign and the vari- ous American naval and military7 drives against the Japs, footage of which will be made available to the BMOI for incorporation in some of the documentaries being produced in England. BMOI, which obtains its raw stock tor distribution in this country from the OWI, has had no difficulty in the first quarter in this respect. In the second quarter it expects to distribute "Atlantic Adventure" (formerly "Western Approaches") and a short, distributed by Columbia, on the Brit- ish floating harbor used in the 'D-Day' assault against the Nazis in France. Wagner Sees 'No Need9 for OP A Amusements Control (Continued from page 1) also remarked that he saw "No reason to justify" the proposal. Senator Mc- Farland of Arizona, a member of the committee, stated "It would just mean Jiat much more red tape. I want to hear evidence that it is very necessary before I vote to extend price control to such 'luxury' items as amusements. I am opposed to any more regulation than is absolutely necessary." Senator Millikin of Colorado, an- other committee member stated, "As Sam Goldwyn once said : 'Include me out.' " Senator Capper, another mem- ber of the banking group said, "I wouldn't like to see it." Wagner pointed out that on March 1 Bowles gave the committee a state- ment in which he said specifically that the original reasons for exempting film tickets from price control "remain persuasive." Bowles told a press con- ference here yesterday that the reason film ticket prices have remained free from control so far, is that they are not covered by the statutory7 definition of a commodity. Bowles had indicated earlier that the new O.P.A. authority being sought should cover control over film rentals, which he said are up 25 to 30 per cent, as well as admissions. However, he said that a roll back of admission prices and rentals to a basic period, such as May, 1942, "is not our initial objective." Asserting that "We have to be sure they don't go anv higher,'" Bowles said that final action would depend upon a full report on both ad- mission prices and rentals. He contended that while admission prices were up about 38 per cent, only one-third of the increase could be at- tributed to Federal admission taxes. There were indications that Bowles' suggestion was designed to test out sentiment on the question of bringing various uncontrelled services under the Act, rather than any developed urogram to that end. This was seen in admissions that no machinery for application of control had been blue- printed in advance and no considera- tion had been given to various angles of the problem that would arise in attempting to regulate rentals, which tvould involve percentage deals as well as flat-price contracts. OPA officials did not appear unduly disturbed today over the action of the Senate committee, and there was no indication that Bowles would take ad- vantage of his invitation to testify as i means of launching an all-out drive *o force legislation through Congress. However, he is expected to make a strong defense of his suggestion if he appears before the committee next "eek. 1,500 Strike in France More than 1,500 French theatre em- ployes have struck in quest of a 40 per cent wage increase, according to press dispatches from Paris. Kupfer to Schoenstadt Ch-jcago, March 14. — Col. Louis R. Kupfer, USA. retired, has joined tht Schoenstadt Circuit as director of advertising and publicity. Canada Also Faces IATSE Strike Call (Continued from page 1) move would be taken pending the re- ceipt of further word on develop- ments. President J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players is in Hollywood but vice-president R. W. Bolstad is watching the situation here. There was no comment from either Famous Players or Odeon offices on the strike prospect. Meanwhile circuits and film ex- changes were checking on the avail- ability of English and Russian pic- tures which would be rushed into the- atres for program replacements in case of a walkout across Canada and it is expected that emergency arrange- ments would be made for bicycling such prints between theatres in some situations. It is also expected that some theatres in Quebec and Eastern Ontario would turn to French films, of which quite a number are still available. Canadian and British of- ficial shorts would fill out programs, which possibly would be reduced to single bills. Calling of strikes in Canada dur- ing wartime is illegal under the War Measure Act but numerous walkouts have occurred without resultant prose- cutions because it is difficult to deter- mine guilt when workers quit without formality of a strike call. Two New Mutual V-Ps Robert A. Schmid and Ade Hult have been appointed vice-presidents of Mutual Broadcasting, Schmid to be in charge of advertising, promotion and research, and Hult to head Mid- West- ern operations. Dennis O'Keefe and Constance Moore, romantic stars of Republic's radiant rhythm hit, "Earl Carroll Vanities," go through their paces in a rehearsal of one of the many spectacular production numbers. ADVT. Theatres' Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 MOTION riCTURE DAI Theatres' Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 5 yOL. 57. NO. 52 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1945 TEN CENTS Ten Films Are Over Average In 18 Cities 'Tree Grows in Brooklyn' Leads for Second Time By MILTON LIVINGSTON "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" held the lead for a second consecutive week in Motion Picture Daily's reports of estimated box office receipts from 18 key cities, excluding New York City, for the week ended March 15. It drew outstanding business in initial weeks in San Francisco, Balti- more and Indianapolis, and continued strong r: "Wilson," 20th-Fox. Wiard Ihnen. Certificates of merit to interior decorators of productions receiving awards for art direction — Black-and-white : "Gaslight," M-G-M. Edwin B. Willis and Paul Huldschinsky. Color: "Wilson," 20th-Fox. Thomas Little. Best achievements in cinematography — Black-and-white: "Laura," 20th-Fox. Joseph LaShelle. Color: "Wilson," 20th-Fox. Leon Shamroy. Best achievement in sound recording — "Wilson," 20th-Fox. E. H. Hansen. Best achievement in film editing — "Wilson," 20th-Fox. Barbara McLean. Best achievement in special effects — "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," M-G-M. A. Arnold Gillespie, Donald Jahraus, and Warren New- combe, photographic effects. Douglas Shearer, sound effects. Best short subjects: One-reel — "Who's Who in Animal Land," Paramount; Jerry Fairbanks, producer. Two-reel — "I Won't Play," W.B.; Gordon Hollingshead, producer. Cartoon — "Mouse Trouble," M-G-M; Frederick C. Quimby, producer. Best scoring of a musical picture — "Cover Girl," Columbia. By Morris Stoloff and Carmen Dragon. Best music score of a dramatic or comedy picture — "Since You Went Away," Selznick International, U.A By Max Steiner. Best original song — "Swinging On A Star" from "Going My Way," Paramount. Music by James Van Heusen; lyrics by Johnny Burke. Distinctive achievement in documentary production: Features — "The Fighting Lady," 20th-Fox and U. S. Navy. Short Subjects — "With the Marines at Tarawa," U. S. Marine Corps. Special Awards — Irving Thalberg award to Darryl F. Zanuck for outstanding pro- duction during 1944. Best child actress of the year — Margaret O'Brien. A life membership in the Academy was presented to Bob Hope. Studios Still Going Despite CSU Strike Plan Roosevelt Appeal in Event of Full Stoppage Hollywood, March 15. — The producers maintained official si- lence today, as the Conference of Studio Unions' strike wore on, with IATSE's president Richard F. Walsh and CSU's president Herbert Sor- rell hurling embattled utterances from headquarters set up in the Roose- velt Hotel and Carpenters Hall, re- spectively. Speaking unofficially, how- ever, a producer executive told Mo- tion Picture Daily, "All our studios are operating — not by any means normally, but still making pictures. We're in better shape than we were Monday, partly because we've got the laboratory workers back, and we're (Continued on page 10) To Air Raw Stock Problems Today Washington, March IS. — Result of the War Production Board's survey of the number of completed motion pictures available, undertaken after last month's discussion of the raw stock situation with film company representatives, will be made known tomorrow to the Industry Advisory Committee, when it meets to discuss second-quarter allocations. Stanley B. Adams, director of the (Continued on page 6) Universal Board Reelects Officers All officers of Universal Pictures Corp., headed by J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of" the board, and Nate J. Blumberg, president, were reelected yesterday at the annual organization meeting of the board of directors. Other officers are : Charles D. (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Review of "A Guy, a Gal and a Pal" appears on page 6. Motion Picture Daily Personal Mention JACK COHN, Columbia executive vice-president, returned to New York yesterday from the Coast by way of Phoenix. • Arthur C. Bromberg, president, Atlanta; Sam Hinson, Charlotte branch manager; and Harold F. Cohen, special sales representative, all of Monogram Southern Exchanges, are visiting New York. • Phil Reisman, RKO Radio vice- president in charge of foreign sales, first U. S. film company sales execu- tive to arrive in Paris, has returned to London from there. • Robert Cohn, son of Jack Cohn, Columbia executive vice-president, has been awarded the Distinguished Fly- ing Cross and promoted from 1st lieu- tenant to captain. • Phil Williams, March of Time's advertising director, will leave New York for over the weekend on a Mid- west trip. • Gus Eyssell, Radio City Music Hall managing director, is due back from the Coast at the end of the month. • Al Sindlinger, Audience Research Eastern representative, will arrive in New York from the Coast Monday. • Dave A. Epstein, Coast publicist, will arrive in New York from Holly- wood Monday. • Jock Lawrence, in charge of J. Arthur Rank's press relations in the U. S., has arrived from London. • Al Wilkie, Paramount publicity manager, will leave for the Coast to- day. Services Sunday for Mrs. Paul Lazarus ,Sr. Funeral services for the late Hattie W. Lazarus, wife of Paul N. Lazarus, Sr., manager of United Artists' con- tract department, will be held Sunday at 11 A.M. from Riverside Memorial Chapel here. Mrs. Lazarus, who was 56, died yes- terday after an extended illness. She is survived also by two sons, Capt. Theodore and Sgt. Paul N. Lazarus, Jr. Alexander Granach Dies Alexander Granach, 67, film and legitimate stage actor, died in New York at the Park East Hospital yes- terday. He had been appearing in "A Bell for Adano." Born in Poland, Granach was a graduate of Max Rein- hardt's dramatic school in Germany and made a number of films abroad before coming to Hollywood, where he was first seen in "Ninotchka" in 1939. Some of his later films were "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "The Hitler Gang" and "Three Russian Girls." Trends Are Out for MGM, Says Rodgers Chicago, March 15. — M-G-M will continue to be guided by story mate- rial and its commercial appeal, in the making of future product, regard- less of trends, William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales man- ager, here this week on his way from Hollywood to Washington, told Mo- tion Picture Daily. War pictures will be made if they are sufficiently interesting, he said, pointing to "They Were Expendable," an 'A' budget film now in shooting. Commenting on lengthy pictures, Rodgers said that it will remain M-G-M's policy to tell the full story, avoiding padding but at the same time the company will not attempt to save film at the expense of entertainment value. He disclosed that the printing of "Ziegfeld Follies" is being held up temporarily, awaiting a Technicolor printing date. It should be ready for release by May, he said. William F. Rodgers is scheduled to attend the WPB industry raw •stock advisory committee meeting at Wash- ington, today, on discussions pertain- ing to second-quarter raw stock allo- cations. Griffith Suit to Be Tried in Takes' Oklahoma City, March 15. — Through an informal agreement reached by counsel for the Govern- ment and Griffith Amusement Co. with Federal Judge Edgar S. Vaught of U. S. District court here, trial of the Griffith anti-trus4» suit will be con- ducted at intermittent periods of sev- eral weeks each. v The first stanza has been scheduled for May 7 to 26. Government attor- neys have indicated they expect to complete presentation of their case during that period. Henry Griffing, counsel for Griffith, said he and his as- sociates do not expect to present re- buttal witnesses or other testimony or evidence until the court sets the second session of the trial. The Government has removed its al- legations of conspiracy involving pro- ducing-distributing companies and the latter have been dismissed from the suit. Remaining defendants, in ad- dition to Griffith Amusement, include : Consolidated Theatres of Oklahoma City, Wes-Tex Theatres and R. E. Griffith Theatres, both of Dallas. Briefs Due April 10 In Jackson Park Suit Chicago, March 15. — Defense coun- sel in the Jackson Park theatre anti- trust case, now in the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, here, has been giv- en until April 10 to file briefs. Oral arguments are expected to start by mid-May. The case, heard last year in Federal Court, resulted in an award of $360,- 000 for the plaintiff against distribu- tors and Balaban and Katz. Army to Distribute To War Prisoners The Army, through an agreement worked out with the Provost Marshall General's office and the War Activities Committee of the industry, will take over the distribution and program- ming of entertainment pictures for Nazi and other prisoner-of-war camps in the United States. Thus, for the first time, all distributors will be en- gaged in the commercial distribution of their films in 16 mm versions. The Army move was taken because under the autonomous prisoner officers' administration of amusement affairs in the camps, there has been censor- ship, especially Nazi censorship, of pictures presented, Motion Picture Herald will say today. It is esti- mated that there are about 400 prison camps in the U. S., holding at least 300, 000 Germans and several addi- tional thousands of Italians. Some estimates have calculated the total of prisoners here at 1,000,000. One-Third to Distributors It is said that the distributors are to get one-third of the gross taken in at the prison camp box offices. War prisoners pay a standard admission of 15 cents. Raw stock will be taken, by the Army from its own quota, with German sub-titles to be provided, and in a few cases, German-dubbed films will be made available. Under the new system of supplying entertainment films to German prison- ers, both Gutlohn, Inc., and Films, Inc., will continue to supply 16 mm films from RKO, Universal, Paramount and 20th Centurv-Fox, but the Ordering and print-making will be channelled through the Armv. In addition, Columbia. United Artists, Monogram and Republic also have made their old films available for the 16 mm field, soecifically in territories where no theatres exist. Carr Sets Swedish Rank Distribution London, March 15. — Edward T. Carr, managing director of J. Arthur Rank's Eagle-Lion Films, has re- turned here, from Stockholm, declar- ing he set another foreign distribution deal for Eagle-Lion, describing the purchase of the distribution division of Lux-Film, Swedish producer-distrib- utor, as "Rank's most significant" acquisition to date. The acquisition has been named Eagle-Lion-Lux, and guarantees Rank distribution throughout Sweden. The contract also provides for Lux to pro- duce five features annually, with Eagle-Lion distributing in Sweden, and, possibly, elsewhere. Brandt at Dedication Harry Brandt, president of Inde- pendent Theatre Owners Association of New York and a member of Cine- ma Lodge, B'nai B'rith, will speak at the dedication Sunday of 17 additional recreational rooms for the use of wounded service men at U. S. Naval Hospital, St. Albans, New York, furnished by lodges and auxiliaries of the Metropolitan Council of B'nai B'rith. Friday, March 16, 1945 Zigmond 7th Aide to Hertz John Hertz, Jr., chairman of pub- licity and advertising for the Seventh War Loan of the Industry, yesterday reported the appointment of Jerry Zig- mond as coordinator of advertising, publicity and exploitation for the drive, set for May 14-June 30. . At the request of the national comf mittee, Paramount has granted Zig- 1 mond a leave of absence as managing director of the Newman Theatre in Kansas City to permit him to devote all of his time to the Seventh War Loan. Zigmond has arrived in New York to take up his duties. He has been public relations chairman of the Kan- sas City and Western Missouri area of the War Activities Committee since its inception. Meanwhile, Tom W. Baily, coordi- nator of the War Activities Commit- tee, Hollywood division, has accepted the invitation of Samuel Pinanski, chairman of the industry's Seventh War Loan Committee, to again serve as industry consultant to the Treasury Department. Baily arrived in New York from the Coast yesterday, and will remain here for a week for com- mittee conferences before joining the staff of Ted R. Gamble, national War Finance director, in Washington. Baily, loaned to the WAC by the California Theatre Council, of which he is executive director, held a similar position during the Sixth War Loan Drive. 11 Territories Set 100% for Red Cross Eleven territories, representing 2,889 theatres, have pledged 100 per cent support for the industry Red Cross War Fund Week, Leon J. Bamberger, national campaign director, announced here yesterday. The drive officially opened yesterday in the nation's the- atres. In addition, 22 additional ■ areas are more than 90 per cent pledged, six of which expected to hit the 100 per cent mark, including New York, Mary- land, Chicago, Philadelphia, Mem- phis and New Orleans. In Puerto Rico, 25 theatres are charging extra admissions during the drive, with the differential being do- nated to the Red Cross, Robert O. Schoham, San Juan, exchange area chairman reports. Lou Greenspan Resigns Hollywood, March 15. — Lou Green- span, in charge of public relations and studio contracts for the Motion Pic- ture Society for the Americas for the past two years, has resigned, as of April 1. Announcement of his new affiliation will follow on the effective date of his resignation. Technicolor Dividend Technicolor yesterday declared a dividend of 25 cents on its common stock, payable April 10 to stockholders of record March 26. In 1944 payments amounted to 50 cents, consisting of 25- cent payments in July and December. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March -3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. Friday, March 16, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3 NEW YORK THEATRES ) 2ND WEEK Thrills, Songs and Romance Come Out of the West! " U T A H ! " starring ROY ROGERS featuring GEORGE "GABBY" HAYES DALE EVANS BOB NOLAN and the SONS OF THE PIONEERS A REPUBLIC PICTURE 1st N. Y. Showing REPUBLIC Broadway, bet. 51st & 52nd Streets RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50th St. & 6th Ave. RITA HAYWORTH "TONIGHT AND EVERY NIGHT" JANET BLAIR ★ LEE BOWMAN A Columbia Picture in TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ipjS ON SCREEN H 'MEET ME IN H ST. LOUIS' fi Judy GARLAND |g£ MarPet °'BRIEN IN PERSON 1 VINCENT LOPEZ and ORCH. Paramount presents Veronica Sonny LAKE TUFTS Eddie Marjorie , Bracken Reynolds ("BRING on the GIRLS" In Person The Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald Buck & Bubbles Cootie Williams and his Orchestra ; PALACE! B'WAY & 47th St. Dick Powell Claire Trevor - Anne Shirley "Murder, My Sweet' AN RKO RADIO PICTURE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor ASTOR Contlnuou* Doors open Broadway & 45th 8treet Popular Prices WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLEROS' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures NOW . ■ . Brandt's GLOBE c A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN j° ncium q y. C/V^^' » GAY, SPRINGTIME ItEVUE X -A. T 7lh Ave. & SOltl St. i BETTY SMITH'S Advanced Television Set Demonstrated by RCA RCA-Victor, with the cooperation of NBC, yesterday demonstrated an advanced model television receiver, re- producing pictures 16-by-21 1/3 inches, by indirect projection on a translucent screen and claimed by the company to be brighter, clearer and five times larger than pictures obtainable on pre- war models. Present at the demon- stration, given at Radio City, here, were film and radio trade-press repre- sentatives, RCA and NBC officials, and others. Jolliffe Explains Details Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, vice-president in charge of RCA Laboratories, explained technical details of the new receiver, which projects the image received on the end of a five-inch receiving (cath- ode ray or kinescope) tube, down on a spherical mirror, which, in turn, re- flects the image upward through a correcting lens onto a flat inclined mirror and then onto the translucent screen of surface-treated plastic. The corrective lens, with which RCA has been experimenting for years, is also plastic. Frank M. Folsom, vice-pres- ident in charge of RCA-Victor, said the set will cost approximately $395 in the post-war and is not a final model but merely an operating model. Newsreels and 'live' talent were used in the demonstration, which were telecast to the viewing studio by di- rect line from NBC's television studio in the same building. Dr. Jolliffe pointed out, however, that the same type of reception is obtainable under outside transmission conditions, de- claring that the telecasts are picked up with equal clarity at RCA's labora- MARY O'HARA'S THUNDERHEAD' in Technicolor A 20th Century Fox Picture Doors open MIPTflDIA Broadway 8:30 A.M. VlulUKIn & 46th St. tories in Princeton, N. J., about 45 miles away. Some of the principles involved in the new receiver, it was pointed out, were used in RCA's demonstration of large-screen theatre television at the New Yorker Theatre in New York in 1941. Most of the work on the new receiver was done prior to 1941, Dr. Jolliffe explained. Lt. Col. Frank Cahill, Warner Bros. Theatre director of projection and sound, who was present at the demonstration, hailed the picture qual- ity as the best he has seen thus far in television and believes that the set will give the public its money's worth. Comparing the picture definition achieved on the set with films shown in theatres, Col. Cahill believes that the television image of the set is com- paratively equal only in close-ups to the type of image achieved on theatre screens. Contrast between black and white is much inferior to pictures achieved in theatres on all other types of shots, Col. Cahill said. Improve- ment is still needed to achieve a per- fectly flat picture on the television screen, since the spherical effect of the kinescope tube is evident in all but close-up shots, despite the correcting lens, he believes. Discuss Film Virtues Although Dr. Jolliffe declared that he thought that "live" shows provided better picture quality than film pro- grams in television, Col. Cahill said that he believes that films provide a much sharper picture quality on the television screen and pointed out that films provide more animation to the images. Columbia Montague Drive Starts Today Columbia's 1945 billing campaign will be known as 'Montague 20th An- niversary Campaign,' as a tribute to general sales manager Abe Montague, for his 20 years with the company. The campaign will start today and continue 15 weeks, through June 28. During the drive, Columbia will re- lease nine films: "A Song To Remem- ber," "Tonight and Every Night," "Counter-Attack," "Over 21," "A Thousand and One Nights," "The Fighting Guardsman," "The Power of the Whistler," "Rough, Tough and Ready" and "Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion." Haines at Warners' Southern Meeting Legion Classifies 15 More Pictures The Legion of Decency has re- viewed 15 addition films. In Class A-l are : "Enemy of the Law," PRC ; "Fashion Model," Monogram ; "Hollywood and Vine," PRC ; "Keep Your Powder Dry," M-G-M ; "The Navajo Trail," Monogram; "Stranger from Santa Fe," Monogram ; "There Goes Kelly," Monogram, and "Utah," Republic. In Class A-II are : "Bring on the Girls," Paramount ; "The Crime Doc- tor's Courage," Columbia ; "Crime, Inc.," PRC; "Hotel Berlin," War- ners ; "High Powered," Paramount ; "It's a Pleasure," RKO-International, and "Sudan," Universal. 'Utah* in Salt Lake Salt Lake City, March 15. — Gov. Herbert B. Maw and Mayor Earl J. Glade head the list of those who will be heard over Mutual's KLO and the Intermountain network from the lobby of the Lyric, here, on Saturday, when the Republic — Roy Rogers, "Utah" has its local premiere, as part of a campaign arranged by Joseph Rosen- field and Jerry Ross of the Lyric. 'Corn' Premiere Mar. 29 Warners has set the world premiere of "The Corn is Green," for March 29 at the Hollywood Theatre on Broadway, to follow "Roughly Speaking," which will have a run of eight weeks and one day at the Hollywood. M-G-M Starts British Talent Inter-change Pat Kirkwood, English actress, will be the first star to go to Hollywood under a new plan for exchange of screen players between M-G-M in California and M-G-M British Stu- dios, Ltd. She will star in "No Leave, No Love," to be produced by Joe Pasternak. The plan for player exchange is the result of an agreement between Louis B. Mayer and Sir Alexander Korda. Byrnes A ides. Ignored On Curfew, Protest Washington, March 15. — The advisory board of the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion, be- sieged by letters blaming its mem- bers for the midnight curfew and the ban on horse racing, has adopted a resolution "respectfully" requesting James F. Byrnes, the director, to take the board into his confidence. It was said that Byrnes had not done so with regard to the two orders in question. $156,000 for 'Legal Aid' Benjamin Pepper, local attorney of Socolow and Pepper, has accepted the chairmanship of the theatrical division for the $165,000 appeal of The Legal Aid Society, according to announce- ment made by Irving S. Olds, chair- man of the board of United States Steel Corp., who is citywide chairman. Memphis, March 15. — -Warner branch managers for six Southeastern- Southwestern exchange districts will participate in a sales conference to be conducted by Roy Haines, Southern- Western division sales manager, on Sunday and Monday at the Hotel Pea- body here. Ralph McCoy, Southeastern, and Doak Roberts, Southwestern district managers, will head their respective delegations, to include the following managers : Ed Williamson, Memphis ; Luke Conner, New Orleans ; Henry G. Krumm, Atlanta ; John A. Bach- man, Charlotte ; J. W. Loewe, Dallas ; J. B. Sokley, Oklahoma City. Field representatives Herbert Pickman, Southeast and Frank Bruner, South- west, also will attend. Norman H. Moray, 'captain' of Warners' 1945 sales drive, will de- tail this year's campaign, with Bill Brumberg, head of the field exploita- tion staff, outlining special merchan- dising plans prepared under direction of Mort Blumenstock. IATSE Union Loses In Vote Upset Plea The New York State Labor Rela- tions Board has dismissed the peti- tion of IATSE projectionists Local No. B-186 seeking an investigation and certification of representatives in connection with the union's dispute with Mamyer Operating Co. of Au- burn, N. Y., an affiliate of the Schine Circuit. The IATSE local alleged that a controversy existed concerning the representation of employes of the com- pany after it had lost a collective bar- gaining election of Mamyer employes. Slesinger Has 16mm Comic Cartoon Unit Hollywood, March 15. — Steve Slesinger, New York magazine pub- lisher, has formed a Hollywood-New York producing company to make 16mm films of comic cartoons for home machines and television, under a special process. Discuss Video Talent "Talent Looks at Television," with entertainment industry representatives participating, was the subject of a meeting of the American Television Society at the Museum of Modem Art here last night, Happy box-office reports from first fif- teen key openings: NEW YORK -CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO • ST. LOUIS * MILWAUKEE DES MOINES • CINCINNATI .- DAYTON NEW HAVEN • ALLENTOWN - INDIANAPOLIS BUFFALO • PITTSBURGH • ALBANY and OMAHA . . . with early openings set for LOS ANGELES-PROVIDENCE-KANSAS CITY CLEVELAND * READING • HARRISBURG TRENTON and a score of other first runs! COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK — MARCH 15-21 "A superior piece of tough melodrama/7 — Bosley Crowther, N. Y. Times ''Stacks up with the all-time great mystery films/' —Frank Quinn, N. Y. Daily Mirror "Spine-tingling melodrama • • . the tougher and gorier they make these thrillers/ the better, it seems." — Kate Cameron, N. Y. Daily News "Taut and fascinating . . . Top-notch thriller." —Howard Barnes, N. Y. Herald-Tribune "Belongs on the list of excellent mysteries." —Alton Cook, N. Y. World-Telegram "A Wallopy thriller . . . exciting Stuff."-/rene Thirer, N. V. Post "Enormously exciting • . . packed with action and taut With Suspense." -Rose Pelswick, N. Y. Journal-American "Vogue for hard-boiled melodrama reaches some kind of peak in 'Murder, My Sweet'." — Eileen Creelman, N. Y. Sun 6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 16, 1945 Ten Films Are Over Average In 18 Cities Review 'A Guy, a Gal and a PaV (Continued from page 1) head, Son of Flicka" are showing ex- cellent strength in the cities reported on, and "A Song to Remember," "To Have and Have Not," "Music for Mil- lions," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Murder, My Sweet" are drawing heavily in ex- tended holdover runs, bringing to 10 the number of films scoring above av- erage in the 18 cities. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" was tops in San Francisco with a big $11,- 500 above average; was $4,000 above in Baltimore, and §3,600 above in In- dianapolis, all for initial weeks. The remainder of the heavy §30,700 above par was recorded in strong second weeks in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and in three Los Angeles theatres. "Here Come the Co-Eds" was strong in initial weeks in Boston; in San Francisco and in two theatres in Denver as a dual ; and in Boston com- bined with a stage show. It drew al- most $10,000 above in the two Den- ver theatres; $3,500 above in San Francisco and $3,000 above in Bos- ton. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was the leader in Toronto, where it played for the first time in Canada, having been prevented from having advanced- price runs there last year because of the frozen-admission price regulation of the Canadian Wartime Prices and Trade Board. In return, popular priced engagements, it was consider- ably above par in second weeks in St. Louis, Kansas City and Denver, and good in first weeks in Minneapolis as a dual, in Boston and in Buffalo. Good 'Thunderhead' Start "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka" showed strength in initial weeks in three theatres in Kansas City and in Boston as a dual ; and was profitable in an initial week in Cincinnati and a second week in San Francisco. "A Song to Remember" in an initial week in Providence brought almost $5,000 above; was a leader in a second week Boston as a dual and was profitable in third weeks in two Los Angeles theatres and in a moveover in Bos- ton. "To Have and Have Not" in second weeks in Toronto and Chicago and in third weeks as a dual in two theatres in Boston is another strong holdover attraction. 'Music' Opens Big "Music for Millions" opened big in Philadelphia and in three theatres in Los Angeles, and continued to be a sturdy grosser in St. Louis in a third week, in Kansas City as a dual, and in a third week in Cleveland. "I'll Be Seeing You" was strong in initial weeks in Baltimore and Buffalo and continued to draw neatly on a move- over in San Francisco. "Meet Me in St. Louis" continues to set new records for sustained holdover power. It was outstanding in fifth weeks in two Boston theatres and in a fifth week on a moveover in Cincinnati. It was a big grosser in a third week in Chicago with a stage show and in third weeks in Omaha and Pittsburgh. It continued strong in a fourth week in Toronto and was still drawing good money in Philadelphia as a second (Columbia) Hollywood, March 15 '"P IMELY as the war and the transportation problem, which figure in the A plot for purposes of humor, this swift little comedy takes good care of its hour on the screen. Ross Hunter and Lynn Merrick are the top names, and they turn in neat performances which are matched, as to quality, by their support. The script, by Monte Brice, based on a story by Gerald Drayson Adams, opens with Miss Merrick trying to get to Washington to marry a gentleman of importance who loses out, at the end of many complications, to a young Marine who volunteers to assist in getting her to her destination. The fact that he is a hero and recognized as such, and the circumstance which requires that the two pretend to be married, provide the complications that provide the amusement. Production, by Wallace MacDonald, and direction, by Oscar Boetticher, Jr., are ship-shape. Running time, 61 min. General classification. Release date March 8. William R. Weaver Short Subject Review 92 New Houses Are Built in 3 Years Washington, March 15. — Three years of war have seen the construc- tion of only 92 new theatres under auspices of the Office of Civilian Re- quirements, but their construction value totaled $8,162,459, it was dis- closed today by War Production Board records. In addition, 53 fire- damaged theatres were reconstructed at a cost of $2,738,937, and reconver- sions, repairs and alterations author- ized by the WPB amounted to $2,- 139,414, and included 21 reconversion projects involving increases in seat- ing capacity. In total, theatre construction, re- building and repairing under the OCR program involved $13,040,811 from Jan. 1, 1942, to Dec. 31, 1944. The WPB records show that the reseat- ing section of the OCR, which has handled the wartime theatre construc- tion program, has been conservative in approving new houses and has sup- ported only projects in the most con- gested production centers for which a need has been definitely shown. The 92 houses assisted by the OCR do not represent all theatres built since Pearl Harbor, since there were a number under construction at that time which were completed before the present strict building limitations were imposed. Thousands Listen to Academy Awards (Continued from page 1) public attention, and thousands filled outside 'bleachers' and lined Holly- wood Boulevard for blocks, listening to the ceremonies over a loud-speaker nook-up. Traffic snarls, lights and crowd con- fusion approached pre-war peaks as guests, in attire somewhat stretching 'informal dress' arrived. The pro- gram was nationally broadcast. (Winners of the Academy Awards are named in columns two and three of page one) . "Memo from Britain" (2Qth-F ox-March of Time") After five years of war, the British homeland is, presumably, no longer threatened by invasion, but the battle- scarred Britons have new problems and new aspirations. That^s the crux of this report on Britain at home which March of Time's editors have compiled as a companion piece to their "British Imperialism" of last August. There is a reminder, too, that British sacrifices for the war effort have been high in casualties, both service and civilian, in forfeited liberties and per- sonal comforts. For their all-out effort, the British people are demand- ing and being promised a better way of life with security as the keynote. The camera presentation is personal and sympathetic, offering varied pic- tures of 'the plain people' of Britain learning new jobs and developing new social attitudes. The commentary, spoken in lightly-accented British, is undramatic and persuasive. Running time, 16 minutes. New Company Formed Albany, N. Y., March 15. — Fletcher Smith Studios, Inc., has been incor- porated to conduct a motion picture business in New York. Incorporators are : Morris H. and Irving Bloomberg attorneys, and Alexander D. Diamond. .11 of New York. run, to roll up $164,700 against par of $151,000. "Murder, My Sweet," in a good third week in Chicago as a dual and a strong first week in Buffalo as a dual, as well as profitable first weeks in Omaha, Providence and Pittsburgh, and a good moveover week in Cin- cinnati, is showing strength. Other pictures which turned in out- standing performances in two or more of the 18 cities reporting were : "Ob- jective, Burma," "Here Come the Waves," "Hangover Square," "The Three Caballeros," "Belle of the Yu- kon" and "Tonight and Every Night." Outstanding on single city reports were : "Roughly Speaking," "Hotel Berlin" and "Mr. Emmanuel." Dunn, RKO and RCA Get Top Research Award Hollywood, March 15. — One plaque and 10 honorable mentions, for scien- tific or technical achievements, were bestowed by the Academy research council as part of tonight's cere- monies. The plaque went to Stephen Dunn and the RKO sound department for design, and to RCA for additional de- velopment, of an electronic com- pressor-limiter. Honorable Mention The honorable mentions went to : Linwood Dunn, Cecil Love and the Acme Tool Co. for design and con- struction of the Acme-Dunn optical printer; Grover Laube and the 20th Century-Fox camera department for development of a continuous loop pro- jection device; Western Electric Co., for design and construction of the 1126-A limiting amplifier for variable density sound recording ; Russell Brown, Ray Hinsdale and Joseph Robbins for development and use of Paramount's floating hydraulic boat rocker; Gordon Jennings for design and construction of Paramount's nodal point tripod ; RCA and the RKO sound department for design and construction of the RKO rever- beration chamber ; Daniel J. Bloom- berg and the Republic sound depart- ment for design and development of a multi-interlock selector switch ; Bernard B. Brown and John P. Liva- dary for design and engineering of a separate soloist and chorus recording room ; Paul Zeff, S. J. Twining and George Seid for the formula and ap- plication of a simplified variable area sound negative developer, and to Paul Lerpae for design and construc- tion of Paramount's traveling matte projection and photographing device. To Air Raw Stock Problems Today (Continued from page 1) Consumers' Durable Goods division, and Lincoln V. Burrows, chief of the Photographic Section, were work- ing late this evening on final figures on supply and demand, which they will report to the meeting. Tomorrow's session is expected to reveal whether the WPB actually in- tends to go through with two plans it has been studying. One would re- duce the ceiling on prints from the 285 figure set last month. The other would establish a pool, to which all the companies would contribute and from which independents would draw as they required raw stock. The foreign demand for raw stock also is expected to come up for dis- cussion tomorrow. Eastman Kodak executives from France were in Washington today, reportedly discuss- ing operation of the plant in Paris. Expect Present Level WPB officials today gave no hint whether the industry will be required to take a further cut in raw stock during the coming quarter, but there were indications that the situation is not too unfavorable and that opera- tions may be continued at present lev- els in the expectation of some im- provement in the supply picture before mid-year. It is expected that Board officials tomorrow will submit to the commit- tee the formula by which allocations will be made to foreign producers de- siring to distribute in the United States and for the handling of appli- cations from independents, together with a final definition of the latter. It was reported that the formula for independents' raw stock supplies will provide for the granting of raw stock to producers who were established but not active since 1941, thus taking care of Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin and others. Red Cross Week — March 15-21 Collect At Every Show! "Republic pix are receiving a highly gratifying press recep- tion these days . . . F'r instance, the Hub dailies' reviewers greeted "Earl Carroll Vanities" with huzzahs when the musical opened at Paramount's Fenway and Paramount i . . The Globe's Marjory Adam, the Record's Peggy Doyle, the Herald's Elinor Hughes, the Travelers' Helen Eager and the Post's Prunella Hall didn't stint on adjectives in their raves . . . and biz is in keeping, the grapevine affirms." THE FILM DAILY "Earl Carroll Vanities" is one of the best pictures ever turned out by Republic and can easily take its place among the season's most entertaining musicals. The new film, which is having its world premiere showings at the Paramount and Fenway, has an excellent cast . . . amusing story, accom- panied by humorous dialogue, and a flock of catchy tunes. Miss Moore never has been photographed to better ad- vantage. She is an exquisite princess. O'Keefe is pleasant and personable hero. Miss Arden delivers her caustic lines with her customary perfection as a night club owner and the pal of the princess. Kruger makes a handsome Earl Car- roll. Diminutive Lee is a comical, lisping comedian, a new- comer who teams up with Miss Arden with funny results. Mowbray has a field day portraying a bibulous grand duke who never comes out of his cups, but who saves the day for everyone. Among the best tunes are "Endlessly," "Rock-a- bye Boogie" and "I've Been So Good For So Long." Joseph Santley has directed with good taste, and he and Republic can take a bow for a. most entertaining picture." BOSTON TRAVELER "As a film musical "Earl Carroll Vanities" is a nice blend of music, production numbers, comedy and a romantic story. Pinky Lee and Eve Arden in comedy characterizations, Woody Herman and his gang playing new hit tunes and the dancing and singing numbers of the show in rehearsal. Constance Moore is the very capable actress-princess, with Dennis O'Keefe serving as prince charming. The remainder of the good cast boasts of such sturdy performers as Otto Kruger, Alan Mowbray and Stephanie Bachelor." BOSTON POST "Earl Carroll Vanities" is a gay,, spectacular, entertaining comedy which ought to please Republic moguls exceedingly as it represents one of the most attractive musical film which this studio ever released. The new picture at the Para mount and Fenway Theatres . . . has zest, brisk humor catchy melodies and funny situations, to turn it into the sor of talkie that stops the talk from the audience. There an no bored people at either theatre this week. Eve Arden am Pinky Lee . . . perfect comedy team. Constance Moore, stage star now in films, is the lovely Princess who sings mos of the chief numbers and sounds as good as she looks THE BOSTON DAILY GLOB "It's Turania . . . not Graustark . . . but the princess is a fabulously beautiful and democratic, and the glorified Con tinental whistlestop as miraculously remote from anythin mundane. Crests, accents, culture and mystery abound . . all this and glamour-girls, too. And, all of it, by courtes of the steadily expanding Republic Pictures organization for the subject and object of our "lead" is that studio' prodigally produced spectacle, "Earl Carroll Vanities," nov unreeling gaily on Paramount and Fenway screens. Con stance Moore, looking as lovely as she did on a local stag some years ago in the Broadway musical, "By Jupiter," an the tall, blonde and terrific Dennis O'Keefe are its happil teamed co-stars. When they are not feuding up to a grea romance on the screen, that wonderfully funny glamazon Eve Arden; the half-pint comic from burlesque, Pinky Lee or Alan Mowbray, who blends dignity with humor to per fection as a bibulous duke, and Boston's own Parkyakarkus are providing comedy. "Earl Carroll Vanities" has sparkle bounce and plenty of chuckles, as well as the handsomest most likeable boy-meets-girl setup your stage-and-screet reporter has seen in months of musicals." THE BOSTON DAILY REGORI Re: and easy eithi Ihe ft: yc He- ll):, fu in o of ram He dam trr o hi the one ogre a:: k 0.: Suer or, "Ear and gK . 'Under the title, "Earl Carroll Vanities" . . . j -Republic Pictures have turned out a lively ifj^and pleasant romantic comedy with music, •j- easy to look at and not hard to listen to, ;o-either. The production itself is attractive . . . :r;the performances are brisk and pleasing. ;i:There is humor . . . very good looking : young ladies . . . lively music by Woody ^Herman and his band. Constance Moore, I looking very fetching indeed, is the beauti- ! ful incognita who seems definitely at home Tin a Broadway musical yet is just the sort i:of decorative window dressing a royal I "family should have, and usually doesn't. Her role calls for considerable singing and dancing, which she handles something more than competently, and she is also acquiring a helpful gift of humor. Dennis O'Keefe is the rough diamond, and a very likeable one, too, making a stock role unusually agreeable; Eve Arden has one of her wise- -cracking comedy parts which she tosses off excellently; Alan Mowbray portrays an amiable rounder; our old friend Parkyakar- kus, has a good specialty bit; and Tom Dugan and Pinky Lee pretending to be in- fluential bankers, offer one of the most amusing scenes in the picture. In short, "Earl Carroll Vanities" ... is a pleasant and entertaining show." THE BOSTON HERALD NOW PLAYING: F and M Theatres- FOX -ST. LOUIS Fox West Coast - PARAMOUNT (De Luxe) - DENVER Paramount Florida Theatres - PALACE -JACKSONVILLE M and P Paramount - NEW HAVEN irf* 10 Motion Picture daily Friday, March 16, 1945 Studios Still Operating in Spite of CSU Strike Hollywood Missouri Guarantee Of Free Screen St. Louis, March 15.— Mis- souri's new 'streamlined' con- stitution includes motion pic- tures and radio in its free- dom-of-speech clause. The Constitution provides that: "No law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech, no matter by what means communicated," the last phrase being included to cover films and radio, both newcomers in the field of communication since Missouri adopted its previous charter, 70 years ago. Fitzgibbons Names Six to New Posts Vancouver, March 15. — Frank M. Gow, pioneer theatre man, has been named district manager in charge of Famous Players theatres in British Columbia. The appointment is one of a series announced by J. J. Fitzgib- bons, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp., following a meeting of the British Columbia district. Maynard S. Joiner, manager of the Capitol, here, is promoted to district manager of downtown Vancouver and Victoria theatres ; Charles Doctor, manager of the Dominion, will take over the Capitol ; David Borland of the Capitol, Prince Rupert, takes Doc- tor's place at the Dominion ; Harry Black goes from the Capitol, Pentic- ton, to Prince Rupert. Frank Ker- shaw, who has been in charge of down- town Vancouver and Victoria theatres, will go to the home office in Toronto to take over management and super- vision of Central Theatre Supply Co., Famous Players subsidiary for thea- tre supplies and equipment, with ware- houses in Toronto and in Montreal. In Bearg's Position Gow takes the post formerly occu- pied by Larry Bearg, now Western general manager, who with E. A. Zorn, general district manager for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, also attended the meeting here. Gow's present duties as manager of suburban and up-country theatres, will be absorbed in his new post. Plans are now being made, he stated, for the construction of theatres in Chilliwack, Kelowna and Prince George. In addition, there will be considerable building activity in Van- couver when the war ends, he added. Fitzgibbons is now on his way to Hollywood where he will make pres- entations on behalf of the Canadian Minister of Finance and national war finance committee to Spencer Tracy and other members of the cast who made Seventh Victory Loan films. He will also complete arrangements for an Eighth Victory Loan film, now in preparation, with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Betty Grable, Fibber McGee and Molly, Harry James, Harpo Marx and others. It is being made by Dar- ryl Zanuck at the request of the Can- adian Motion Picture War Services Committee. 'Horn' Shown April 2 "The Horn Blows at Midnight," starring Jack Benny, will be trade- shown by Warners on Mondav, April 2. The picture is scheduled for gen- eral release late in April. (Continued from page 1) getting some painters and carpenters, who are not members of any union, through the picket lines." Asked whether any parties to the conflict had appealed to President Roosevelt, the executive said, "No such action has been taken yet, al- though that would be our recourse if production were finally brought to a stop." Following the third joint session in as many days, a special committee representing the Screen Actors Guild, Screen Directors Guild and Screen Writers Guild was to offer a strike settlement formula tonight. Reiterating yesterday's assertion that IATSE was determined to "get the studios rolling," Walsh said he had received assurances from 655 out of 700 projectionist locals that their members were ready to stop work if called upon to do so. "The only rea- son I would call them out," he added, "is if the producers recognize the Set Decorators Union. If that happens, I will call out the operators and stage- hands." Emphasizing his readiness to supply substitutes for the striking workers, Walsh said, "IATSE operat- ed the studios before the Conference of Studio Unions was organized and can do it again." , New Sorrell Demand Sorrell issued a statement declar- ing : "Threats by Walsh to take over control of all unions in Hollywood, and his action ordering members of his unions to act as strike-breakers have broadened the basis of any settle- ment CSU will make with the pro- ducers. Originally we were willing to go back to work when the pro- ducers ceased to defy the authority of the War Labor Board and abide by the decision of its arbitrator. Now, since Walsh has seized the ooportun- ity to attempt to succeed Willie Bioff as a would-be czar of Hollywood and is engaged in strike-breaking with the consent of the producers, we will not go back until the producers (1) abide by the arbitrator's decision and Universal Board Reelects Officers (Continued from page 1) Prutzman, vice-president and general counsel; Cliff Work, vice-president and studio head ; John J. O'Connor, vice-president ; William A. Scully, vice-president in charge of distribu- tion ; Joseph H. Seidelman, vice-pres- ident in charge of foreign distribution ; Samuel Machnovitch, treasurer, and Adolph Schimel and Edward Muhl, assistant secretaries. Balto. Variety Donates Baltimore, March 15.- — Variety Club, Baltimore Tent, No. 19, is contributing $2,500 towards a second Boys' Club, to be opened here Friday night. Ten such projects are*on the calendar of the Juvenile Protective Bureau of the Police Department. Frank H. Durkee, chief baker of the Baltimore Tent, reports that represen- tatives of the Philadelphia Variety Club will attend Friday's ceremonies since they are contemplating to help finance a similar program in that city. (2) sit down with us and representa- tives of every union supporting the strike and thresh out all jurisdic- tional matters which Walsh and asso- ciates are constantly provoking." International President Ed Flore telegraphed the Culinary Workers local to return to the studios tomor- row. Commissaries were closed to- day. The Central Casting Bureau, un- staffed since yesterday noon when 300 Screen Office Employees Guild mem- bers refused to cross the picket line, functioned in reverse on a limited scale today, with casting directors answering "work wanted" phone calls from extra-players, professional or volunteer, and passing their names on to the studios. Both Screen Players Union members and junior members of the Screen Actors Guild had been recruited heretofore through Central Casting. The studios were accepting all comers, union or non-union, today. SAG Polls Members A decision on the actors' official stand, expected tomorrow night, ap- peared postponed when the Screen Actors Guild, pleading inability to find an auditorium big enough to ac- commodate all members at a mem- bership meeting, distributed mail bal- lots for sealed votes, returnable next Tuesday. IATSE Film Technicians Local 683, which had observed the picket lines since the beginning, returned to work today after a special member- ship meeting following Walsh's ar- rival. IATSE Local 728, whose members have been manning studio generators in the absence of members of the In- ternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, applied to the National Labor Relations Board for certifica- tion as the bargaining agency cover- ing this type of work. IBEW men went into session on reprisal strategy which reportedly might inc1ude call- ing on other members, handling lines supplying current from outside the studios, to cut off the current. Vincent and Schenck Urge 'Dimes' Filing Only eight states have rendered complete reports on 1945 March of Dimes collections and drive treasurer Walter Vincent and chairman Nich- olas M. Schenck are urging exhibitors to lose no more time in making final ac- countings to state chairmen. The eight completed reports show a total increase of nearly $150,000 over 1944 collections in the same areas. West Virginia yesterday reported $40,455, against $22,349 last year, a jump of 81 per cent. North Cali- fornia's $122,080 is 27 per cent above last year; Louisiana has shown the smallest increase so far, only 1 per cent, with $77,597; Arizona is high- est, with a 92 per cent jump, to $20,- 859; Alabama reports $55,723, an in- crease of 9 per cent over last year ; North Carolina, with $90,852 is up 67 per cent. Florida, with $111,996, is up 42 per cent; South Carolina, with $32,055, is up 47 per cent. The national committee is also urg- ing exhibitors to return the Greer Garson trailer to National Screen ex- change for salvage. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, Mar. 15 COLUMBIA will produce Alexan- der Dumas' "The Regent's Daugh- ter" under the title of "Cavalier of France." Michel Kraike is slated to-- produce. . . . Marjorie Reynolds, Para^ mount star, has been borrowed by*- Jules Levey for one of the top roles in his forthcoming United Artists pro- , duction, "Trail Town," adapted from the novel by Ernest Haycox. • June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven will be teamed again in "Joy of Liv- ing," which Joseph Pasternak will produce, and Richard Thorpe will direct for M-G-M. . . . William Eythe and Lloyd Nolan have been assigned the top male leads in "Now It Can Be Told," which Louis de Rochemont will produce for 20th Century-Fox. • George Blair will act as associate producer and director on Republic's "Gay Blade," a story about ice- hockey. . . . Marc Piatt, dancer who scored in "Tonight and Every Night," will be one of the principals in Columbia's forthcoming musical, "Tars and Spars." . . . Sheila Ryan has been selected for the top femi- nine lead in "Command to Em- bezzle" at 20th Century-Fox. • M-G-M has purchased "Now That April's There," unpublished novel by Daisy Neumann which deals with the experiences of two English children who return to their homeland after spending three years in the United States to escape the 'blitz.' . . . Another recent M-G-M purchase is "The Lady in the Lake," by Raymond Chandler, which has been assigned to George Haight for production. • Frank McHugh has been selected for the comedy lead in Columbia's "Song of Broadway." . . . Neely Ed- zvards has been cast for a featured role in RKO Radio's "George White's Scandals of 1945." • Ann Gillis has been chosen for an important role in the forthcoming Warner production, "Janie Gets Married." . . . Robert Walker will portray cnmnoser Jerome Kern in "Till the Clouds Roll By," at M-G-M. . . . Mrs. Julia Wolfe, mother of the late Thomas Wolfe, is in Hollywood for conferences with producers Ar- thur Ripley and Rudolph Monter, who will soon start work on "Look Homeward, Angel," based on Wolfe's famous novel. N. C. Allied Against Divorcement Bill (Continued from page 1) their passage will not be brought be- fore the organization as a whole inas- much as there has been no demand for such action, president * Henry Greene said. The theatre divorcement bill would require the Minnesota Amusement Co. to divest itself of theatres one year after passage. The proposed anti-ASCAP law caUs for that or- ganization or its members to furnish a verified list of licensed copyrighted works to each theatre and other es- tablishments and to publish it in designated legal publications. a worthy co-star in any production ! SUPREME NEGATIVE FILM distinguished for its superior quality and uniform dependability. An SCO A DIVISION OF GENERAL ANILINE & FILM CORPORATION BINGHAMTON • HOLLYWOOD • NEW YORK KEEP YOUR EYE ON AN SCO FIRST WITH THE FINEST Movies help to train our war workers faster... better Experience shows that movie-taught groups learn 25% to 30% faster, retain 38 % more of what they are taught. OUR first big battle of the war, the battle of production, the fight to get out the goods, is being fought and won with the help of industrial training films. No finer "teaching films" were ever made . . . none ever reached the screen so amazingly fast . . . and that's because so many are "movie-made," turned out by movie folk re- cruited from every branch of the industry. Helping the new war worker learn faster (movies save 25% to 30% of teaching time) . . . helping him learn better (movie-taught groups retain 38% more of what they're taught) . . . industrial training films have helped us to arm ourselves in record time. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., Distributors FORT LEE CHICAGO HOLLYWOOD advertisements by KODAK testifying to the achievements of the movies at war First in and Impartial a PTION PICTURE Alert, Picture Industry OL. 57. NO. 53 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1945 TEN CENTS Walsh Drops Projectionist Walkout Plan Acts as Sorrell Defies Back-to-Work Order By WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood, March 18. — "We're not going to call out the projection- ists, nor our studio workers either," Richard F. Walsh, IATSE presi- dent, told Motion Picture Daily on Friday, fifth day of the Conference of Studio Unions strike here. Earlier in the week he had threatened to do so if the producers should give way to CSU, IA's rival in the jurisdictional dispute. Walsh's reversal of his posi- tion came upon learning that Herbert Sorrell, CSU president, had telegraphed defiance to William Green, AFL president, who had demanded that Sorrell "cease and desist from using the name of AFL in connection with the strike, which I dis- avow," and had called for imme- diate termination of the walk- out in favor of reliance upon Governmental agencies to settle the dispute. Following a special Friday after- noon meeting, Sorrell telegraphed Green : "Responsible leadership is moving to meet clearly the defined re- sponsibilities of labor in wartime. We refuse to cease and desist from using the name of the AFL in connection with our strike. We are willing to abide by the decisions of Government (Continued on page 6) $2,878,242 Loew Profit Loew's net profit for the 12 weeks ended Nov. 23 was $2,878,242, or $1.71 per share, compared to $2,796,861, or $1.67 per share, for the 12 weeks end- ed Nov. 25, 1943, David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer, reported here Friday. The company's share of operating profit, after subsidiaries' preferred dividends, was $7,030,831 for the 12 weeks, compared to $7,449,332 for the same 12 weeks in 1943. Profit before Federal taxes was $5,218,156 for 1944, compared to $5,688,715 for 1943. Re- serve for taxes was $2,339,914 in 1944, compared to $2,891,854 in 1943. The statement gives effect to rcvi- ( Continued on page 6) WPB Says Industry Did Not Overbuild Backlogs of Product Washington, March 18. — The 11 distributors had a total of 200 fea- tures on hand at the close of 1944, but definite 1945 release dates had been set for 157 of them and of that number all but 13 were to be distributed dur- ing the first half of this year, it was disclosed by the War Production Board on Friday in making known to industry raw stock advisory committee the result of its survey, undertaken following the last committee meeting. Only 46 per cent of the pictures were held by the five biggest com- panies. The average per company was 11 pictures, and only three had in excess of that number. Only 13 of the pictures not scheduled for early release had gone to printing labora- (Continued on page 3) UA Board May Take Up Golden Deal United Artists' board of directors, neeting here today, may consider a listribution deal for two pictures a year from Edward Golden Produc- tions, it is learned. RKO Radio cur- rently handles Golden product. Sam Dembow, Jr., president of (Continued on page 7) INDEPENDENTS' RAW STOCK BANK ASKED 20th-Fox Pension Is Near Approval Twentieth Century-Fox's board of directors is expected to approve short- ly the final draft of a company pen- sion plan which has been in prepara- tion for some time and the plan will then go before the annual stockholders' meeting, on May 15, for adoption, it is learned here. The plan is understood to embrace workers of the home office, exchanges and the studio ; National Theatres, theatre subsidiary, will not be covered in the plan as it already has its own retirement plan in operation. The re- tirement age is expected to be 65 in most cases with the privilege, under certain circumstances, of earlier re- tirement. The company will solely pay for the expenses of operation and premium payments ; there will be no payments by employes nor will there be an un- derwriter. A fund will be set up for the operation of the plan by the com- pany. Prior to the plan's submission to stockholders, it will be sent to the Treasury Department for approval, which is expected to be forthcoming 44 Without Love" [ M-G-M ] KATHARINE HEPBURN, in all probability, has never been seen to better advantage. It is a case of ditto with Spencer Tracy in an attraction heading swiftly and inevitably for big and happy grosses happily contributed by willing audiences. That is the kind of a show "Without Love" turns out to be. What can be done in advertising and merchandising is' implict in the title and should require no explanations forced down any exhibitor's throat to make that much apparent. "Without Love" is also Tracy's first since "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," Miss Hepburn's first since "Dragon Seed" and their first co-starring enterprise since "Keeper of the Flame" and "Woman of the Year" before that. It seems to be the fact, too, that those who appreciate Miss Hepburn appreciate her no end while those who are marginal about her personality and her type of performance are — well, marginal, or less. This reviewer happens to view La Hepburn as an actress of considerable capabili- ties with a flair for the bravura and the brittle. Only this time, she mixes her ingredients with artful cleverness and, so, comes through with an acting job which emphasizes feminine softness and womanly wile to an extent not usually on display from her. The role, of course, had all to do with it. And that's all right because the chances are the marginals, or less, in the Hepburn column will like her the better, w hile the enthusiasts will all the more enthuse. Based on Philip Barry's play, produced by the Theatre Guild, this is the tale — and amusing — of Tracy, scientist working on a high altitude oxygen mask (Continued on page 7) WPB Proposal May Draw 20 Million Feet or More From Companies' Quotas By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 18. — A plan for setting up a pool from which independent producers may draw film, to be stocked by con- tributions from those companies with which the independents are af- filiated, was laid before the motion picture industry advisory commit- tee Friday by War Production Board officials. The proposed es- tablishment of the pool was re- ported exclusively in Motion Pic- ture Daily on March 8. The proposal contemplates that second quarter allocations for both the companies and the newsreels will remain practical- ly at present levels and that the contributing companies will supply film for the pool in pro- portion to the independent ac- tivities to which they are par- ties. Definite figures on the amount of stock to be put into the pool were not disclosed, but it was reported a reserve of somewhere in the neighborhood of 20,000,000 feet was under consideration, and while the plan called for contributions only from companies distribut- (Continued on page 3) Raw Stock From Europe Extensive manufacture of raw tock will probably get underway in plants in France and Belgium within the next few months, possibly turn- ing out film in sufficient quantities to take care of the requirements of Eu- rope, thereby easing the critical Amer- xan raw stock situation, George Archibald, controller of the British Ministry of Information, declared dur- ing an interview here on Friday. Archibald, accompanied by Major Frank Owen of Admiral Mountbat- ten's staff, is here from London in connection with the completion of a (Continued on page 3) MOTION PICTURE t>AILY Monday, March 19, 1945 Personal Mention J OSEPH HAZEN, Wallis sched- Hal Productions president, is uled to arrive in New York today from the Coast. Sol A. Schwartz, general manager of RKO out-of-town theatres, and his assistant, William Howard, have left for Chicago en route to the Coast. • Ben Kalmenson, Warner general sales manager, and Ed Hinchy, play- date department head, will return to New York today from Canada. • Capt. Gene Markey, head of the U. S. Navy Photographic Service, has been awarded the Bronze Star. • Herman Wobber, 20th Century- Fox division manager, has arrived in New York from San Francisco. • George A. Smith, Paramount Western manager, has returned to New York from Los Angeles. Carl Leserman, United Artists general sales manager, will leave here for the Coast tomorrow. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern sales manager, has returned to New York from Pittsburgh. • William Erbb, Paramount Eastern division manager, is in Boston. Tradewise . . . Appoint Paul Levi To 7th Loan Post Boston, March 18.— Paul Levi, ad- vertising-publicity director for the Metropolitan Theatre, here, has been named Massachusetts publicity chair- man of the industry's participation in the Seventh War Loan, Harry Brown- ing announces here. Browning, who will be executive assistant to national chairman Sam- uel Pinanski, was Massachusetts pub- licity chairman in previous war loan drives. Williams Leaves UA Exploitation Post Rex Williams has resigned as Uni- ted Artists director of exploitation, Barry Buchanan, UA director of ad- vertising and publicity, has announced. Williams will announce a new asso- ciation after a short vacation. Williams, prior to his affiliation with UA, was city manager of Loew's Theatres in St. Louis; assistant to E. C. Beatty, president of the Butterfield Circuit, and district manager of the Indiana-Illinois Theatres Circuit. By SHERWIN KANE Margolies, Cowan's ress Chief Here (U' 50-Cent Dividend J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board, has announced that the board of directors of Universal Pictures has declared a regular quarterly divi- dend of 50 cents per share on the stock of the company, payable April 30 to stockholders of record April 16. THAT the Department of Jus- tice on occasion can be so carried away by its zeal for anti- trust prosecution that its en- deavor appears to be more in the direction of the making of new laws than the enforcement of existing ones is the essence of an analysis of the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Glass In- dustry case — an analysis made for the National Association of Manufacturers by George E. Folk, patent attorney for the American Telephone & Tele- graph Co. The interpretation has point for this industry as its major components prepare for the de- fense of the Government anti- trust suit against them at the 'trial scheduled for next Oct. 8. The Glass Industry case is simi- lar in several vital respects to the suit against the motion pic- ture industry because the one involved patents, the other copy- rights, and the law applicable to patents and copyrights grants privileges to the owner thereof which are not bestowed upon other industries at large nor are they abridged, fundamentally, bv the anti-trust laws. While declaring the Supreme Court decision in the Glass In- dustry case to be "a heartening reaffirmation of the traditional right of a patent holder to his invention" (or of a copyright owner to his creation), the NAM interpretation also recalls that the decision "makes it clear that patent holders can be con- victed of anti-trust law violation when they form combinations" that restrict interstate or foreign commerce unfairly. It calls at- tention, however, to the Su- preme Court's condemnation of "judicial legislation" and what it called the Justice Depart- ment's effort "to obtain by court decree what is not in the law." The interpretation asserts that this referred to "such matters as compulsory licensing of patents, prohibition of restricted licenses and the cancellation of patents." In respect to these matters, the interpretation continues, "the Justice Department and the low- er court, according to the Su- preme Court ruling, departed from well established principles backed by court decisions and were, in effect, seeking to make new laws," which is solely the right of Congress to do. Applied to current events in the Government anti-trust suit in this industry, the NAM's in- terpretation of the Supreme Court's decision in the Glass In- dustry case would appear to leave no room for doubt that a motion picture copyright owner may lawfully enter into a licens- ing agreement with a theatre, affiliated or not affiliated with the licensee, which provides both for clearance and the ad- mission price to be charged dur- ing exhibition of the picture. If that is not so, then the courts and their past interpretations of the copyright and patent laws have been misread. The Justice Department's cur- rent attempts to prohibit by in- junction either legal right of a motion picture copyright owner appears, thus, to come within the meaning of what the Su- preme Court condemned as "ju- dicial legislation" and a Justice Department effort "to obtain by court decree what is not in the law." • • There are 15,340 theatres en- rolled in the industry's current Red Cross collections drive. That is 93 per cent of the oper- ating theatres in the country and it constitutes a new high record for the industry in cash collection drives. That is an outstanding achievement, in which every member of the in- dustry may take pride. It is particularly significant in view of the fact that, odd as it seems, local Red Cross chapters in a number of communities request- ed their neighborhood theatres not to take up collections, pre- sumably on the grounds that the local chapters believed to do so might detract from other local Red Cross benefit activities which had been planned. In any event, many theatres which otherwise would have been par- ticipants in the industry drive were influenced not to do so by their community Red Cross or- ganizations. That means that far less than seven per cent of the nation's theatres failed, of their own choice, to participate. The exhibitors of America and all connected with the in- dustry Red Cross drive have added still another noteworthy chapter to the industry's war- . time record and its public spirit- edness. Albert Margolies has been appointed Eastern director of publicity and ad- vertising for Lester Cowan Produc- tions. He assumes his new post im- mediately and is already conferring with Bill Peirce. Jr., company's pub- licity and advertising chief, who is now in New York from Hollywood. ,1, Margolies has been director publicity and advertising for Gau- mont-British and director of publicity for United Artists. During the past three years he has conducted his own publicity business. Bob Montgomery, who has resigned from Lester Cowan Productions, will announce a new association later this week. Allied Board Waives Protest on Curfew Washington, March 18. — Allied States directors, polled recently on their views on the Byrnes' midnight curfew, indicated that very few Allied members would be affected by the closing edict and that no protest should be made. Directors expressed indignation, however, over the classification in the Byrnes' edict of motion picture the- atres "with the cats and dogs of the amusement world, such as sport arenas, dance halls, road houses, pool parlors, gambling establishments and saloons," Abram F. Myers, Allied chairman, reported. PCCITO Trustees Retain Poole, Bruen Los Angeles, March 18. — Trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, conclud ing their annual meeting here, re- elected Hugh W. Bruen treasurer and Robert H. Poole executive secretary. The trustees also adopted a resolu- tion commending "the good work of the Conference of Independent Ex- hibitors," pledging participation in its future activities. Next trustees' meet- ing will be held at Portland, Ore., on June 1, it was decided. Air Shows to Mark Fox's 30th Year Lux Radio Theatre will tonight salute over 142 CBS stations, the 30th anniversary of 20th Century-Fox. Yesterday, the Old Gold "Comedy Theatre," over 129 stations of NBC, also saluted 20th-Fox. Other nation- wide programs are expected to mark the company's anniversary during April. Mrs. Lazarus Services Funeral services for Mrs. Paul Lazarus, Sr., wife of the United Art- ists contract department manager, were held yesterday at the Riverside Memorial Chapel. Mrs. Lazarus, who was 56, died Thursday after an ex- tended illness. United Artists home office executives and others attended the services. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday. MOTION FlUTUKt WvSUS"*lS.' VpTfTs.xth Avenue" Rockefeller Center "New York, 20, N: Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvm Brown, and holidays by Quigley Publishiri Martin Quigley, President; Cc post office at New York. N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, Monday, March 19, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Raw Stock From Europe (Continued from page 1) film on the Burma campaign, which was assembled in Hollywood under supervision of Col. Frank Capra. Archibald will go to Washington this week to see a 'rough' print of :he Burma film and discuss its dis- ibution both in America and in En- gland. British Information Services here, , which supervises American distribu- tion of BMOI films, had an allocation of 11,000,000 feet of raw stock in 1944, of which only 7,500,000 feet was used. However, BIS received no di- rect allocation of film from the War Production Board during the first quarter of 1945 under the Office of War Information allocation. 6 Million for 'Adventure' Up to 6,000,000 feet of stock will be required by BIS for the American release of "Atlantic Adventure (form- erly "Western Approaches"), in color, going through Paramount; also, for "Journey Together" and possibly eight short war documentaries. Archi- bald said that BIS desires its own allocation, similar in quantity to last year. He also pointed out that it would help if the Office of War In- formation has its own film allocation from the British Board of Trade for the release of its films in England, rather than drawing upon BMOI al- locations over there. Film for the re- lease of "Tunisian Victory," a joint undertaking of British and American Army film units, came out of BIS allocations here for American release of the film. Archibald disclosed that Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expedi- tionary Forces (SHAEF) is planning to set up an entertainment control commission for the distribution of films in Germany under the Psycho- logical Warfare Division. The British Government's partici- pation in the production of films in the postwar will probably lean to films for rehabilitation, education and other Governmental instructional purposes, Archibald pointed out. Grand Rapids Tent Of Variety Starts Grand Rapids, Mich., March 18. — The newly-formed Variety Club of Grand Rapids, Tent No. 27, plans an inaugural banquet for mid-April, at which officers will be formally in- ducted ; The officers are : Jack Stew- art, Universal, chief barker ; Walter Norris, Butterfield Theatres, first as- sistant; G. L. Wilier, Madison and Franklin Theatres, second assistant ; Frank Kleaver, Uptown Theatre, property master ; Leo J. Robinson, Fulton and Burton Theatres, dough guy. Canvassmen are : George Samp- son, RKO ; Syd Chapman, Para- mount ; Herb Schilds, Columbia ; Naman Frank, Wayland Theatre, Wayland; Harold Hedler, Valley Theatre, Newago, and Oz Theatre, Fremont : Emmet Roche, Hart The- atre, Hart. WPB Proposes Raw Stock Bank for Independents (Continued from page I) ing for independents, it was suggested that other companies might be called upon in the event the demand proved too heavy for the pool. The definition of an independent producer and the formula for with- drawals from the pool have not yet been worked out. However, it was agreed that supplies should be made available to independents who did not make any pictures last year, this in- cluding both those like Mary Pick- ford, who have not been active for a considerable period, and others like Hal Wallis, who are just getting un- der way. The question of providing raw stock for foreign producers desiring to dis- tribute in this country was not brought up and is still under consid- eration. The decision to have the pool for independents formed by contributions from the companies distributing for them was reached by the WPB after consideration of the burden an all- industry contribution would impose upon those companies which have no independents attached and which, in effect, accordingly, would be in the position of contributing raw stock to other companies. These proposals will be studied by the legal division and other branches of the WPB before they are translat- ed into an amendment to the film order. After the order has been in effect a short time, another meeting of the committee will be called to dis- cuss both its effects and the third quarter allocations. Members of the committee were assured that the date of the next meeting would be fixed well in advance, so that they could make their summer plans accordingly. The officials disclosed that there is under consideration a program for ex- panding film manufacturing facilities within a year or 18 months. More immediate relief may be obtained through operation of the Eastman plant in Paris. French managerial officials of that plant were in Wash- ington last week to discuss the situa- tion. The plant now has some small production, they reported, but is short of coal ; transportation is bad, and its chemical supply will be exhausted in the course of the next 60 days. WPB officials are seeking to secure chemi- cals for more extensive operation of the plant and the cooperation of the Army in the case of coal and trans- portation. Committee members present at the meeting included : Xeil Agnew, Van- guard; A. Schneider, Columbia; Steve Broidy, Monogram; Bert Kulick, PRC ; Barney Briskin, Sol Lesser Prod. ; N. Peter Rathvon, RKO ; Rob- ert M. Sivini, Astor Pictures ; Ed- ward C. Raftery, United Artists ; Samuel Schneider, Warners ; A. W. Schwalberg, International ; Ted Tod- dy, Toddy Pictures ; John R. Wood, Jr., March of Time ; Thomas L. W alker, Edward Small Prod. ; L. E. Goldhammer, Film Classics ; Walter L. Titus, J r., Republic ; James A. Mulvey, Samuel Goldwyn Prod. ; William F. Rodgers, Loew's, Inc. ; John J. O'Connor, Universal ; Roy G. Disney, Walt Disney Prod., and W. C. Michel, 20th Century-Fox. Skirball Will Make 3 at $4,500,000 Altec Renews J. J. J. J. Theatres, New York, has re- newed agreements with Altec for servicing sound equipment in its thea- tres. Jack Skirball. independent producer releasing through United Artists, will produce three films within the next 14 months, budgeted at $4,500,000, he dis- closed to Motion Picture Daily be- fore his departure for the Coast over the weekend. Skirball arrived in New York for conferences on "It's in the Bag," a May 1 release, with UA sales executives and William Home, his Eastern sales representative, and Lou Goldberg, his Eastern advertis- ing-publicity representative. He has also finished "What Every Woman Wants," made in association with Sam Wood, starring Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche. His first new production, "A Gen- ius in the Family," will start in June, Skirball said. Don Ameche will be starred. The other two will be "On Approval" and "French Town," from the stage play, "Sunny River," the last a musical in color with Sigmund Rom- berg and Oscar Hammerstein II slated to work on it. The producer said that he would probably continue to release through UA and was talking a renewal deal with the company. He expects no dif- ficulty on account of raw stock be- cause he made more pictures in 1941 than this year. Skirball said that he and Bruce Manning have signed Don Ameche to an exclusive three-year contract. Release Stettinius Film on March 29 "W atchtower Over Tomorrow." a 15-minute short subject dealing with the Dumbarton Oaks' plan for an in- ternational security organization to keep the peace, and featuring Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., made by the industry for the Depart- ment of State and the Office of War Information, will be released on March 29. The War Activities Committee, in announcing release of the film, point- ed out that "Watchtower Over To- morrow" is one of the 26 pledged films which 16,253 enrolled theatres are expected to play. The WAC dis- tributor chairmen in each of the 31 exchange areas will handle this pic- ture which will come to the screens a month before the United Nations' conference in San Francisco. Ben Hecht suggested the title of the film and wrote the original story treat- ment. John Cromwell, president of the Screen Directors Guild and chair- man of the Hollywood division of WAC, directed the picture, with Jerry Bresler. head of the M-G-M short subjects department, producing, and the entire industry cooperating. In expressing his thanks for indus- try cooperation, Secretary Stettinius said : "Our appreciation is due the War Activities Committee of the mo- tion picture industry for the patriotic effort it is making." WPB Says Industry Did Not Overbuild Backlogs of Product (Continued from page 1) tories, and only 764 prints of those pictures had been made. As previously estimated, the 11 companies had an inventory of about 10,000,000 feet of raw stock at the end of the year, or less than a five- day working supply. The report disproved widespread ru- mors that the large companies have been building up unreasonably large inventories of pictures and raw stock. The companies surveyed were : Co- lumbia, M-G-M-Loew's, Monogram, Paramount, Producers Releasing, RKO, Republic, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, Universal and War- ners. 117 at New Year The 11 companies reported that of the 200 pictures on hand, 117 were completed at the end of 1944 ; one company had 17, another 16 and a third 14. Six companies, including three of the biggest companies, held between nine and 14 of the 83 pictures that had finished shooting. It was found that definite release dates for this year had been set for all but 17 of the completed pictures and all but 26 of the 83 finished shoot- ing. Of the completed films, 70 were scheduled for release in the first quar- ter, 25 in the second quarter, and five in the last half of the year ; of the pictures finished shooting, 21 were scheduled for release in the first quar- ter, 28 in the second quarter and six in the last half. WPB found that positive prints had been made of only 85 unreleased pic- tures. A total of 7,135 prints had been made, but 6,371 of these were accounted for in the 72 pictures sched- uled for release during the first six months of this year. Prints had been made for only eight of the 17 completed pictures not sched- uled for release, to the number of 528, but these unnecessary prints were largely accounted for by the fact that the films had been scheduled for re- lease but distribution had been held up because of conditions beyond the control of the producers. 72 Below Quota The producers reported that they expect to make fewer than 285 prints for the domestic distribution of 72 completed pictures and more than that number for the remaining 39 pictures. "If the number of prints of each of these 39 pictures were held to a maximum of 285, approximately 1,300 fewer prints would be made," the WPB said. "A reduction of 1,300 prints, averaging 10,000 feet per print, would result in a diversion of 13,000,- 000 feet of raw stock in connection with the pictures on hand as of Dec. 31, 1944," it was said. 'Dundass' Next Korda London, March 18. — "Lotte Dun- dass," story of an old English acting family, will be the second film to be made in England by M-G-M British Studios, Ltd., according to Sir Alex- ander Korda, in charge of the com- pany's British productions. The film with star Vivien Leigh. The produc- tion will start in May, and will be adapted from a play by Enid Bagnold. A non-stop scramble of fast-paced fun in a murder mystery set to romance and thrills, and sparkled with gorgeous glamour gals! . ft • PAT GEQUGE CAROLE A WITH UNQKB AtJBEBT Produced by Robert Fellows Directed by Eddie Sutherland R K O RADIO Screen Play by Howard J. Green, Stewart Sterling and Parke levy MEET , . . the pin-up in polka dots 6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, March 19, 1945 Walsh Withdraws Threat Of Projectionist Walkout $2,878,242 Loew Profit {Continued from page 1) sion of the Loew-M-G-M film amorti- zation table applicable to pictures re- leased after Aug. 31, 1944. This re- vision of the amortization table, recommended by the company's ac- countants and adopted by the board of directors, is based upon the company's most recent film income experience. Under the newly adopted table, the cost of pictures released after Aug. 31, 1944, will be amortized to the extent of 44.8 per cent at the end of 12 weeks instead of 56.9 per cent as formerly ; 70.7 per cent at the end of 24 weeks instead of 76.4 per .cent as formerly ; 85.1 per cent at the end of 36 weeks instead of 86.6 per cent as formerly ; 95 per cent at the end of 52 weeks, the same as formerly ; 100 per cent at the end of a year and a half against 98.4 per cent as formerly. Allocation of cost will continue to be charged 75 per cent to domestic (including Canada) and 25 per cent to foreign as heretofore. Under the previous table of amorti- zation the company's net profits after taxes for the 12 weeks ended Novem- ber 23, 1944, would have been $2,- 354,242. Lett Leaves Paramount Charlotte, March 18. — Scott Lett, Paramount local manager for the past four years, has resigned. John Kir- by, Atlanta district manager, will re- place him temporarily. {Continued from page 1) agencies for the settlement of griev- ances but must insist that others abide by the decisions of these same agencies. I suggest that you wire President Walsh of IATSE to com- ply with the War Labor Board decis- ions and take such appeals from them as he sees fit." The strike had been called following a WLB order that the producers negotiate with Set Decorators Local 1421. On hearing of Green's stand and Sorrell's defiance, Walsh said, "That suits me fine. Somebody's going to keep on making pictures, and it looks more than ever like it's going to be us." Immediately after wiring Green, Sorrell invited all unions here to at- tend a mass meeting tonight at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, scene of the strike call a week ago, to hear a report on the walkout's progress and to plan the next steps. The producers late Friday filed a complaint in Superior Court asking an injunction against the Screen Office Employes Guild, out since Tuesday, to prevent "further violation of the no-strike clause" in its contract. The Screen Publicists Guild and Screen Story Analysts, also out, could be pro- ceded against similarly, but no action against them was filed. The produc- ers did, however, telegraph the SPG that they were preparing an appeal to the WLB to compel the publicists to observe their no-strike clause. The National Labor Relations Board completed hearings to de- termine whether there should be a review of its action in certifying Local 1421 as the bargaining agency for set decorators. A transcript of the testi- mony will be sent to Washington for decision. A split in the Screen Actors Guild- Screen Writers Guild-Screen Directors Guild joint special committee, which had huddled three days in an attempt to devise a formula for settling the strike, came late last week when SAG withdrew its support from the under- taking and convened its executive committee for a brief meeting which culminated in a statement advising the members to ignor the picket lines pending the outcome of a mail-ballot vote on policy. This postpones the final determination of the actors' atti- tude until Wednesday. After SAG withdrew, SWG and SDG issued a joint statement holding the CSU, IATSE and producers equally re- sponsible for the strike and appealing "to all three of these parties to pledge themselves to permit the legal pro- cesses of Government to determine the issue." Roosevelt Non-Committal On Strike Intervention Washington, March 18. — Whether the Government will intervene in the studio strike was still a question in Washington Friday. President Roose- velt, at his news conference, was told there were suggestions that he might take action, but he gave no indication that he would. Para. Phoenix House Will Open March 22 Phoenix, March 18. — The Palms Theatre, newest unit of Publix-Rich- ards-Nace, Inc., will open March 22, Harry L. Nace, executive of the cir- cuit, has announced here. The in- augural will be an invitational affair, with Gov. Sidney P. Osborn extend- ing the invitations. Guests will in- clude state and civic leaders and Hollywood stars. The theatre seats 800, and will open with the Arizona premiere of "Salty O'Rourke," with a dedication trailer, featuring Hollywood stars extending congratulations to the circuit. Lawrence Screens 'Blimp* The Jock Lawrence Organization, American public relations representa- tive of J. Arthur Rank, was host here Friday night at a dinner at '21' Club to United Artists' executives and trade press representatives and others prior to a special screening of "Col- onel Blimp," one of the Rank films made in England and being released in this country by U. A. An initial advertising budget of $35,000 has been announced for the film, which will open at Brandt's Gotham here March 29. Savini Buys Three R. M. Savini, president of Astor Pictures, here, has acquired from Gene Towne, president of The Play's The Thing Corp., the world rights to "Swiss Family Robinson." "Little Men" and "Tom Brown's School Days," formerly distributed by RKO. Astor is now preparing them for re- issue. Majority Claimed For Divorcement Minneapolis, March 18. — E. J. Chilgren, member of the Minnesota state legislature lower house, who in- troduced the pending theatre divorce- ment bill, claims he has a majority of members of the general legislation committee pledged to report it out favorably. It had been referred to this committee. / Aimed principally at Minnesota Amusement Co., this territory's major circuit, and a Paramount subsidiary, the measure prohibits producer-dis- tributor ownership or operation of theatres in Minnesota. The company would be compelled to divest itself of its theatres within one year after en- actment. The penalty for violation is a fine up to $10,000 or a year impris- onment, or both. Chilgren is from Little Fork, a small town, and declines to reveal who, if anyone, is behind the bill or what prompted him to introduce it. President Henry Greene, Jr., of North Central Allied, independent exhibitor's organization, says his group had noth- ing to do with the measure's introduc- tion and North Central membership voted last week against supporting the bill. 'Pacific' Service Film To Be Shown Today "Fury in the Pacific," first actual combat picture made jointly by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, will be placed in general release next week by Warners for the War Activities Committee. The two-reeler, running 20 minutes, is composed of footage from the Pacific. There will be three screenings of the picture today at the Preview The- atre, at 11 A. M., and at 3 and 5 P. M. A luncheon will be held in conjunction with a noontime show- ing, attended by Navy officers. A talk on the war in the Pacific by Ad- miral T. S. Wilkinson will be given at the 3 P. M. showing. Poller to Buffalo on Depinet Sales Drive Buffalo, March 18. — M. J. Poller, assistant to Robert Mochrie, RKO general sales manager, has arrived here to join Robert Folliard, head of the 'Depinet Sales Drive,' and Harry Michalson, short subject sales man- ager. Following a meeting here the three will go to Montreal and Tor- onto. Final meeting for the drive is set for the New York exchange on Thursday. $1,089,717 B. & L. Net Rochester, N. Y., March 8. — Directors of Bausch and Lomb Opti- cal Co. report net income for the year ended Dec. 31 of $1,089,717, equal after all charges, to $2.03 a share on the common stock. This compares with $1,537,029, or $3.09 per common share in the previous year. DO YOU NEED HELP? WE HAVE The Right Person for That Job Radio — Television — Motion Pictures Kathryn Fecke POSITION SECURING BUREAU, Agency 331 Madison Ave., New York 17, N. Y. Phone MUrray Hill 2-6494 POPCORN FINEST POPPING CONDITION $11.10 $n.io per 100 lbs. DT 111 1 O fT per 100 lbs. Ceiling Prices 1J I WW I »% I Ceiling Prices Always mw wm m m ■ w Always ORDER YOUR ENTIRE YEAR'S REQUIREMENTS NOW STARTING DELIVERY— LAST WEEK IN JULY 1945, YOUR POPCORN WILL BE DELIVERED EVERY WEEK IF YOU ORDER NOW — A $1.00 DEPOSIT WILL BE REQUIRED ON EACH BAG OF POPCORN ORDERED. THE DEPOSIT WILL BE DEDUCTED AT INVOICE DATE OF EACH DELIVERY. 10c SIZE CARTONS - $6.50 per M — % lb. bags - $2.25 per M POPCORN SALT AND SEASONING (points required on seasoning) ALL PRICES F.O.B. CHICAGO, ILL. POPPER'S BOY PRODUCTS CO. 60 EAST 13th STREET, CHICAGO 5, ILL. Harrison 0997-8 Monday, March 19, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY SIMPP Brief Sings Familiar Refrain Without Love US I) Morris Ernst, Eastern counsel for the Society of Independent M. P. Producers, on Friday served a 27-page Amicus Curia brief on counsel for the five decree companies in the Gov- ernment anti-trust suit. Permission was granted by Judge Henry W. God- dard for this action March 5 in con- junction with the hearing on the Gov- ernment's plea for an injunction against clearance. Ernst contended that independent producers have 'a vital stake' in the issue of clearance and divorcement since they have no theatres and de- pend upon affiliated theatres to ex- hibit their films. The brief, it is learned, alleges that the industry revolves around the five major companies and three 'satellites.' These companies control the market, it is charged. Profits from affiliated circuits are said to dominate industry income. Among other things, the brief is understood to recite the history of motion picture patents and alleges a monopoly of talent. The companies will answer the brief possibly before March 26 when Judge Goddard is scheduled to receive it of- ficially in Federal District Court here. Cotton Promotes Lauer William M. Cotton, publisher of Ideal Women's Group, has appointed Edward S. Lauer vice-president and general manager of Ideal's four mag- azines: Movie Life, Movies, Movie Stars Parade and Personal Romances-. Lauer joined the Ideal Group three years ago, as personal assistant to pub- lisher Cotton. (.Continued from page 1 ) for the Army, and Miss Hepburn, scientist largely in the cause of dimming the excruciatingly glowing memories of a short-lived marriage. They think they have a clean-cut and workable understanding at the basis of their marriage, the idea being a union without love but with a firm sentiment in research. Anyone in the audience will know it won't work as Miss H. and Mr. T. have plotted it, that the real thing will blossom and blaze before the picture closes out. It does, but not before the oxygen mask is perfected and their love skein gets snarled in complication and misunderstanding. A secondary romance deals with Keenan Wynn, as a delightful and harum-scarum drunk, and Lucille Ball. Patricia Morison is the loser in this minor skirmish, which is the way the mob will want it anyway. Miss Hepburn is utterly charming and extremely effective. Tracy clicks with- out a missout, and good and solid performances are delivered by Wynn, Miss Ball, Felix Bressart and Carl Esmond. Miss Morison indulges in an assortment of facial contortions which might be drama in some opinion, although not in this. Since this essentially is played on celluloid, the dialogue is profuse and con- stantly on stage. But it is bright and witty dialogue, dipped in merriment and surrounded by production elegance in Metro's very best Culver City style. Donald Ogden Stewart's screenplay is expert and adult with broad mass-base comprehension. Harold S. Bucquet's direction is excellent. Lawrence A. Wein- garten's overlordship of the entire production shows an all-purpose competence. Running time, 111 mins. General classification. No release date set. Red Kann Fawcett Promotes 4 In Sales Department Roscoe K. Fawcett Distributing Corp., Greenwich, Conn., announces that Roy V. Stening, formerly Faw- cett distributing representative in Ohio, has been appointed manager of the Eastern sales division, and that Herbert J. Bliss, former supervisor of Fawcett Distributing in Texas, has been made Western sales division man- ager. Alber Dreyfuss, formerly trav- eling representative for Fawcett, has been appointed general assistant to both Stening and Bliss. Ray F. Goodman, former manager of the Western sales division, is now assistant to Merton C. Cushman. UA Board May Take Up Golden Deal (Continued from page 1) Golden Productions, is understood to have discussed a deal before with Gradwell Sears, UA sales vice-presi- dent, and with George Bagnall, UA vice-president, when Dembow was on the Coast recently. Consummation of a deal has been held up because of the uncertain raw stock situation. The UA board also is expected to probe raw stock problems, the com- pany being one of the hardest hit in this respect. Bagnall returned from Washington over the weekend where he was an unofficial participant in the raw stock talks. Hampton Theatre in Clearance Charge Bernard H. Stevens, operating the Hampton Theatre, Hampton Center, N. H., has filed a clearance complaint in the Boston tribunal against 20th Century-Fox, RKO Radio and War- ners, the American Arbitration Asso- ciation has reported here. Complaint listed the following clearances to which he is subject: for 20th-Fox product, 14 days after the Premiere or Strand theatres, New- buryport, Mass. ; 14 days after the Colonial and Olympia theatres, Ports- mouth, N. H. ; 14 days after the Ioka Theatre, Exeter, N. H. ; 30 days after first run Haverhill, Mass. On RKO films, complainant listed his clear- ances as seven days after the Strand, Amesbury, Mass., and 14 days after Portsmouth, Newburyport and Exeter. Clearances on Warner product were detailed as 30 days after first-run Newburyport, Portsmouth and Haver- hill, and 14 days after Amesbury and Exeter. Complainant alleges that all clear- ances except the 14 days in favor of the Exeter are unreasonable and asks that they be abolished. Cohn Succeeds Zigmond Kansas City, March 18. — M. B. Cohn, recently manager of the Fox Midwest midtown first-run Uptown Theatre, here, has succeeded Jerry Zigmond as manager of the Newman, Paramount first run. Cohn had been district advertising representative for Paramount for this exchange area, before joining Fox Midwest last year. He was district manager for Publix about IS years ago, supervis- ing Publix Theatres, here, and for several years managed in the East. Lovely Constance Moore gives an informal backstage rendition of one of the hit tunes from Republic's "Earl Carroll Vanities" for Dennis O'Keefe, Otto Kruger, and some of the chorus lovelies. advt. i I ANOTHER IN MO VI EL AN D'S LONG STRING OF "FIRSTS" IN THE MOTION PICTURE FIELD Theatres* Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 c^OTION PICTURE DAILY Theatres ■ Red Cross Week Mar. 15-21 VOL. 57. NO. 54 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1945 TEN CENTS Bowles Plans Final Price Control Plea Appears Before Senate Committee Tomorrow Washington, March 19. — Price Administrator Chester A. Bowles will make a final attempt to interest Congress in his proposal to' impose price control on motion picture ad- missions and on film rentals when he appears before the Senate Banking and Currency Committee Wednesday. His suggestion was turned down by the Committee last week, but he was invited to appear before it to argue his case. The hearing originally was set for tomorrow, but was postponed a day. Since Chairman Robert Wagner last week announced that the Com- mittee saw no reason to amend the Price Control Act to provide for thea- tre regulation, OPA agents have been busy gathering material which Bowles will use to bolster his argument that (Continued on page 12) 1 - i See State Theatre Code Being Delayed Promulgation of building code pro- visions' for existing theatres and other places of public assembly in the State of New York, . with the exception of New York City, will get underway shortly by the New York State La- bor Department's advisory committee, which includes industry representa- tives. While the committee has practical- ly completed consideration of code provisions as they apply to theatres (Continued on page 9) V-P Day Aided by Films: Wilkinson By EDWARD SMITH "The motion picture has not only been the best, and in most cases the only entertainment for millions of servicemen, but has helped morale to an extent which I believe may have shortened the war," ' Vice Admiral T. W. Wilkinson, USN, Commander Third Amphibious Force, told a gathering of Navy officers, industry (Continued on page 3) BVay Theatres Use Extra Curfew Hour; Holdovers in Lead Broadway first-runs theatres are taking advantage of the extra hour of operation provided by Mayor F. H. LaGuardia's moving back of the mid- night curfew ,to one P.M. in New York City. Holdovers predominate on the street this week with business being profitable but not outstanding. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and a stage show featuring Victor Borge and Joan Edwards, at the Roxy, and "The Picture of Dorian Gray," com- bined with a stage bill presenting Lena Home, Robert Walker and Xavier Cugat and his band, at the Capitol, are drawing heavily in third weeks. With $65,000 recorded for the first four days, "A Tree Grows in (Continued on page 3) OWM Curfew Edict Stands Washington, March 19. — Declar- ing that to attempt to enforce the cur- few on entertainment without the co- operation of local officials would be futile, War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes today indicated that the Federal Government will take no action to combat the 'hour of toler- ance' adopted for New York City by Mayor LaGuardia. Despite New York's defection, (Continued on page 3) INDEPENDENTS GET 28 MILLION FEET 3 Named to Issue Independents' Stock Washington, March 19. — A sched- uling committee of three independent producer representatives to pass upon qualifications of independent producer applicants for raw stock from the new bank established by the War Produc- tion Board, and to determine the amount of footage to which each qual- ified applicant is entitled, has been set up. Members of the committee are : Barney Briskin, representative of Sol Lesser Prod.; Thomas L. Walker, representative of Edward Small Prod., and Roy Disney, representative of Walt Disney Prod. The raw stock bank for independ- ents will open with total deposits in excess of 28,000,000 feet of raw stock. Producing-distributing com- panies who released for independent producers will contribute to the bank 100 per cent of the raw stock used by their independent producers in 1941 ; whereas the companies' own quotas will be only about 75 per cent of their 1941 consumption. In the case of United Artists, this means a deposit to the independents' bank of more than 16,000,000 feet of raw stock; for RKO, 5,000,000 feet, for Paramount, 1,000,000 feet, and, additionally, all companies will con- (Continued on page 8) Individual Raw Stock Quotas Washington, March 19. — Following are the raw stock quotas of individual companies, and the allocation to the independent pro- ducers' 'bank,' for the second quarter of 1945 as announced by the War Production Board here today, as compared with quotas for the first 1945 quarter: Company Current Quarter Last Quarter Columbia 28,130,580 ft. 28,505,600 ft. M-G-M 39,191,760 " 39.713,280 " Monogram 7,597,710 " 7,697,920 " Paramount 27,658,170 " 28.948,480 " PRC 5,112,990 " 5,181,440 " RKO 21,430,710 " 25.850,880 " Republic 17,082,450 " 17,318,400 " 20th Century-Fox 29,573,910 " 29,967,360 " Universal 25,523,190 " 25,863,680 " Warners 31,374,810 " 31,792,640 " Independent Producers 28,323,720 " None United Artists' quota of 16,157,760 feet for the first quarter, ea-- marked for independent producers' product, has been turned into the independents' 'bank' in its entirety for the second quarter. Stock Cut of Six Million From Para., RKO Alone For 'Bank' for 2d Quarter Washington, March 19. — Raw stock quotas of all produc- ing-distributing companies for the second quarter of 1945 were reduced from a matter of several thousand feet in most instances up to reductions of nearly 5,000,000 feet for RKO and over 1,000,000 feet for Paramount, compared with the current quarter, as the War Production Board yesterday set up up a raw stock bank of 28,323,720 feet "for independent producers for the coming quarter. Under the move, United Artists, exclusively a distributing company for independent producers, receives no allocation in its own name and the 16,157,760 feet set aside for it in this quarter is transferred to the independ- (Continued on page 8) Arthur to Supreme Court on Appeal Harry Arthur's St. Louis Amuse- ment Co., which had unsuccessfully sought to intervene in the Government anti-trust suit against the producer- distributors, was granted the right to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court yesterday by Judge Francis G. (Continued on page 9) Strike Settles • into Endurance Contest By WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood, March 19. — The studio strike appeared settling down to an en- durance test at the start of its second week, with the producers asserting work was proceeding on 23 features and with the strikers claiming the real pinch will be felt when the time Comes (Continued on page 9) Reviewed Today Reviews of "Tarzan and the Amazons," "The House of Fear" and "Rough Ridin' Jus- tice" appear on page 18. 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 20, 1945 Jackter Will Head Montague Campaign Rube Jackter, Columbia assistant general sales manager, has been ap- pointed chairman of the committee in charge of the 'Montague 20th An- niversary' campaign, it was announced by the company yesterday. The cam- paign, which will run 15 weeks, to June 28, got under way on March 16. Jackter is now completing plans for a series of competitive events to be outlined as the campaign progresses. Awards will be set up to include all company branch managers, salesmen and bookers. Columbia Luncheon for Montague in Chicago Chicago, March 19. — Ben Lourie, branch manager of Columbia here, was host to local exhibitors at a party held in the exchange in honor of the '20th Anniversary Drive' for Abe Montague, general sales manager. PRC Publicity to Coast, Blair Leaves With the arrival here yesterday of Don McElwaine, PRC's national ad- vertising-publicity director, from Hollywood, and the decision to trans- fer the company's Eastern department to the studios in Hollywood, Harry Blair, Eastern director, has resigned, effective immediately. All Eastern press and promotional activities are involved in the trans- fer, to effect a concentration at the studios, with the company maintaining only one exploiteer at the New York office. John Blqkely, Pioneer Exhibitor, Is Dead Lexington, Ky., March 19. — Fun- eral services were held here Saturday for John Blakely, 62, president of the Elliott- Ward Enterprises, which oper- ates a chain of theatres in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Blakely died Thursday after a four-day illness. He was reported to be the oldest ex- hibitor from the point of service in Kentucky, having been associated with the operation of the first the- atre in Lexington, the Princess. In 1910, in conjunction with others, he formed Colonial Amusement Co., and opened the Colonial. In 1936, Blakely organized the company he was with at the time of his death. St. Louis Insists on Single Operator St. Louis, March 19.— The St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors Committee will ask Mayor Aloysius Kaufmann for permission to go before the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and with a request that the local ordinance requiring two projectionists in thea- tre booths be suspended as a wartime measure. The committee has been waging a fight for several months against the ordinance on the grounds it is un- necessary and, in view of the man- power shortage, unpatriotic. Personal Mention PHIL REISMAN, RKO Radio vice-president in charge of for- eign distribution, has returned to New York from London and1 Paris. • Ralph McCoy, Southern sales man- ager for Warners, at Atlanta, has gone to Memphis accompanied by Henry Krumm, Atlanta branch man- ager, and Herb Pickman, publicity director. • Louis K. Ansell, president of An- sell Brothers Theatres, St. Louis, and chairman of the St. Louis M. P. Ex- hibitors Committee, is in Hollywood on business. • Dave Miller, Universal district manager, and Mrs. Miller, are en route to Florida, from Cleveland, va- cation-bound. • Henry Needles, Warner district theatre manager, at Hartford, and Mrs. Needles, are observing their 28th wedding anniversary. • Mrs. Bailey Prichard, wife of Monogram's Memphis manager, is re- covering in Methodist Hospital, that city, from an operation. • Jack H. Skirball, who reached New York Saturday from Hollywood, is on his way back to the Coast. • Harry Graham, Universal's South- ern divison manager, is visiting the Charlotte branch. • Rose Weitz of United Artists' Cleveland exchange staff, is vacation- ing in Florida. • Ada Siegel, editor of This Month magazine, has left New York for a Canadian tour. • Irving Rapper, Warner director, will leave Burbank this week for New York. • Lou Brown, Loew's Poli New En- gland publicity director, is in Hart- ford. • Monty Banks, 20th Century-Fox producer-director, is here from the Coast. • • Ned Greene, exhibitor of Mayfield, Ky., has recovered from a month's illness. LEONARD GOLDENSON, Para- mount vice-president in charge of theatre operations, has returned to New York from Florida and Cuba conferences with circuit partners. • Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio presi- dent, convalescing at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, will leave next weekend to spend three weeks in Phoenix, Arizona, before returning to New York. • Harry Ballance, Southern divi- sion manager for 20th Century-Fox, has returned to Atlanta from a tour of his territory. He accompanied Tom Connors, 20th's general sales manager. • Mrs. James Roger, wife of the Col- umbia branch manager at Memphis, is in Baptist Hospital, that city, await- ing an operation. • Jack Kirby, Paramount Southern division manager, is visiting Char- lotte, from Atlanta. ' • Ted Lloyd of 20th Century's home office radio department, has returned to New York from the Coast studio. • Steve Broidy, Monogram vice- president and general sales manager, left here yesterday for the Coast. • Harry Thomas, Monogram East- ern sales manager, left yesterday for Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. • George Ettinger, head of Colum- bia radio publicity at the home office, is in Hartford on business. • Walter L. Titus, Jr., in charge of branch operations for Republic, is in Boston. • . Nate Yamins, theatre operator, has left Boston for three weeks at Palm Beach, Fla. • Al Schuman, Bridgeport, Conn., exhibitor, is vacationing in Florida. • Jack Kopstein, Astor Pictures, has returned to New York from Miami. B. B. Garner of Florida State The- atres, is visiting in Atlanta. • Julius Levine, United Artists trav- eling auditor, is in Atlanta. Court Denies Trust Suit's Trial Now Federal Judge John C. Knox in New York Federal Court yesterday denied a petition of Hillside Amuse- ment Co. for a May 1 trial against the producer-distributors. Judge Knox declared that the defendant companies are "not prepared for trial because they have other commitments before Judge Goddard," referring to the Gov- ernment's anti-trust suit. Hillside, operator of the Mayfair, Hillside, N. J., claims triple damages under the Sherman Act, alleging the defendants cut its theatre off from product. Damages of over $1,000,000 are sought. Distributors Settle Coast Ventura Suit Los Angeles, March 19. — The suit for $75,000 damages brought a year ago by Ventura Theatre-owner Jenne Dodge, aaginst Fox West Coast, Uni- versal, Principal Theatres and Ameri- can Amusement Co. under anti-trust laws, was dismissed today by Federal Judge Harry Hollzer, due to the fail- ure of complainant's counsel to amend the complaint. Originally filed by the late Albert J. Law, dismissal was granted on a motion by FWC attorney Allen Ash- bury. Dodge attorney David Cannon admitted the litigants had reached a compromise settlement. President's Drive Speech to Theatres President Franklin D. Roosevelt's special five-minute Red Cross message tonight, at nine P.M., EWT, will be 'piped-in' to theatre audiences across the nation, according to word received from the national committee of the in- dustry's Red Cross War Fund Week. Managers are scheduling their shows so that collec- tions can be taken up im- mediately following the Chief Executive's talk. Roy Rogers to Army Hollywood, March 19. — Roy Rog- ers, Republic Western star, will enter the Army June 4, following a tour of Army hospitals beginning April 4. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50th St. & 6th Ave. RITA HAYWORTH "TONIGHT AND EVERY NIGHT" JANET BLAIR ★ LEE BOWMAN A Columbia Picture in TECHNICOLOR SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN 'MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS' Judy GARLAND Margaret O'BRIEN IN PERSON VINCENT LOPEZ and 0RCH. r Paramount presents ! Veronlea Sonny LAKE TUFTS Idolo Marjorie i Brae ken Reynolds ("BRING en the GIRLS" In Person Tho Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald Buck & Bubbles Cootie Williams and his Orchestra PALACE B WAY & 47th St. Dick Powell Claire Trevor - Anne Shirley "Murder, My Sweef AN RKO RADIO PICTURE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technfco/or ASTOR Continuous Doors hh ■roadway & 45th Street Popular Prises WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLER0S' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures NOW - - • Brandt's GLOBE MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address,. "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor- Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor: London Bureau 4 Golden Sq. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishinsr Co. Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter. Sept. 23, 193S, at the post office at New York. N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. Tuesday, March 20, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 George Pal to Make Television Shorts . George Pal, Paramount 'Puppetoon' producer, is negotiating with several commercial sponsors for postwar pro- duction of a series of entertainment television shorts and some 26 television commercials, from one to two minutes long, using 16 mm. film, the producer told Motion Picture Daily here yes- terday. Pal is in New York to confer with Oscar Morgan, Paramount short subjects sales manager; Russell Hol- man, Eastern production manager, and Richard Murray on his 1945-46 pro- gram of color 'Puppetoons.' He is also expected to renew his releasing deal with Paramount for another two years. Pal said that he would probably in- crease the number of 'Puppetoons' produced last year, with his work on training films for the Army and Navy tapering off ; last season he turned out nine of the shorts, and he can turn out double that number if necessary, he said. He produced twice the amount of footage for the military as for Paramount last season, Pal stated. Actors and Puppets The producer said that he will prob- ably make sequences for a Paramount feature, either with puppets or with a combination of 'live' actors and pup- pets. Also under discussion with Paramount home office executives, Pal said, is a new series in black and white, combining puppets with 'live' action. Pal revealed that Bud Box Enter- prises, which handles commercial tie- ups for him, has arranged for the making, by Fawcett Publications, of a comic book of the Pal characters and also a comic strip, utilizing drawings with a three-dimensional effect. Two children's books are also being brought out this year, by Diamond Publishing Co. His Eindhoven, Holland, studios will be given to his employes in that coun- try, Pal said. The Office' of the Co- ordinator of Inter-American Affairs has asked him to produce a short, based on the music of Antonini, the South American composer, Pal said. Although admitting that he has considered the possibility of making educational films, Pal said that the difficulty lay in securing sufficient dis- tribution to cover production costs. Pal will return to the Coast in about two weeks. 20th Board May Act On Pension Plan The 20th Century-Fox board of di- rectors is scheduled to meet here on Thursday, at which time it may pass on the final draft of the company's pension plan, as reported yesterday in Motion Picture Daily. Stockholders may get the plan at their annual meeting. The plan is understood to in- clude workers at home office, ex- changes and studio. David Carter Dies Funeral services will be held in Wauseon, O., tomorrow for David Carter, formerly Universal New York radio contact and previous to that with Columbia Pictures and Pan- American Airways. Carter died at his home in Forest Hills, New York, at the age of 35, of heart disease. He is survived by his widow and a 10- year-old daughter. B'way Houses Use Extra Hour; Holdovers Leading (Continued from page 1) Brooklyn" is headed for a big $85,000 with two or three more weeks indi- cated and "A Royal Scandal" set to follow. A good $70,000 is expected for the third week of "Dorian Gray," on the basis of $45,000 recorded for the first four days. The Roxy has increased its operating time by half an hour with the last complete show now starting at 9 :30 p.m. The Capi- tol is taking advantage of the full hour. "Tonight and Every Night" is con- tinuing moderately at Radio City Music Hall, with $95,000 expected for the second and final week on the basis of $62,000 taken in the first four days. "Without Love" is now set for this Thursday with , the theatre's customary Easter stage show. The Music Hall will change its operating schedule on Thursday,- to take ad- vantage of the extra hour. A sturdy $55,000 is expected for the third week of "Bring on the Girls" and a stage show featuring the Ink Spots, Ella Fitzgerald, Buck and Bubbles and others at the Paramount. The combination will remain for a fourth and final week wfth the theatre's Easter show, "Practically Yours" plus Benny Goodman and his band on the stage. "Hotel Berlin" will bow out of the Strand Thursday night after three weeks with a moderate $44,000 expected for the final week. "God is My Co-Pilot" and Cab Calloway and his band on the stage will be the new Strand bill starting Friday. "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka" is drawing good business at the Victoria in a first week with a profitable $23,000 expected ; it will continue. "Murder, My Sweet" will bring close to $23,000 for a sturdy second week at the Palace, it will hold for a third week with "The Belle of the Yukon" to follow. "Keep Your Pow- der Dry" continues profitably at the Criterion with $25,000 expected for a second week ; it will probably con- tinue for at least a third. "The Princess and the Pirate," at the Astor, and "The Three Cabal- leros," at the Globe, are holding up well in sixth and seventh weeks, re- spectively. Both will continue indefi- nitely with $24,000 expected for the sixth week of "The Princess" and $12,500 anticipated for the seventh week of "Caballeros." "Roughly Speaking" is continuing to do mild business at the Hollywood with $11,- 000 expected for a seventh week. The •film will continue for an eighth week with "The Corn is Green" to follow. "Mr. Emmanuel" is down to $5,800 in an 11th week at the Gotham, with "Colonel Blimp" set to follow, on March 29. "The House of Fear" is expected to draw a mild $7,000 for its initial week at the Rialto, with "Rough, Tough and Ready" to follow. "Utah" is expected to bring a slow $3,000 for a second week at the Re- public ; it will hold for a third week with "Earl Carroll Vanities" to follow, on March 31. A quiet $14,000 is expected for the second week for "Song of Bernadette" on a return run at popular prices at the Rivoli ; it will hold until March 27. War Losses Heavy on Albany's Film Row Albany, N. Y., March 19. — Word of the death of two former staff mem- bers of the Paramount branch, has been received. They were Lawrence Henderson, killed somewhere on the Western Frorit, and Al Mclntyre, killed in Italy. Henderson , was un- married ; Mclntyre had a wife and two children. First member of the Albany backroom union to meet death in action was Peter Crill, Warners. In addition, the sons of two Film Row men have lost their lives in the war. They were the sons of Arthur Horn, M-G-M salesman, and the son of Edward J. Wall, director of exploitation for" Paramount in Albany and Buffalo districts. Pfc. Ted Rosen, son of Leo Rosen, manager of Warners' Strand, has been wounded while serving with the Fifth Army in Italy. Katherine Garfield Dies Hollywood, March 16. — Katherine Garfield, six-year-old daughter of John Garfield, screen actor, died here unexpectedly yesterday. The child succumbed to a throat ailment. The Garfields have one_ other child, a son, David, 20 months old. UA Board Meets The United Artists board of direc- tors met here yesterday, out issued no statement. Among the subjects sched- uled to be taken up was understood to be a releasing deal for Edward Gold- en Prod, product. Curfew Will Hold, Despite N.Y. Action (Continued from page 1) Byrnes said, the curfew will be con- tinued, and "The Government does not intend to withdraw its request for places of entertainment to close at midnight." In Congress, Senator Bridges of New Hampshire declared Byrnes should either make New York comply with the curfew or lift it entirely, but the OWM chief put the city in a class by itself, in contrast with immediate reports from other big cities through- out the country that they will continue to observe the curfew. "I still ask the full cooperation of all local officials and of the public in sunnort of this request," Byrnes said. "In those instances in which local of- ficials report violations the Govern- ment will apply those sanctions which are available for the purpose." Byrnes said he was "surprised" at LaGuardia's action, but expressed con- fidence that the managers of places of entertainment would continue to comply "patriotically". After the defeat of Germany, he said,' manjr of the existing shortages will disappear, but he emphasized that this is not the time to relax efforts to back up our fighting men. A sweeping revision of the Gov- ernment's midnight curfew, under which all restaurants not providing entertainment may now remain open all night, has been issued by Byrnes, it was learned here. Loew Pension Fund Hits $6,374,000 Loew's has made the sec- ond 'deposit' in its employ- ment retirement plan, bring- ing the total fund for the two years of operation to $6,- 374,000. In 10 weeks, Loew's em- ployes have purchased $3,- 000,000 more insurance un- der the company's group in- surance plan, bringing total policies now in force close to $16,000,000. Between Septem- ber 1943 and September 1944, claims paid to employees to- talled $206,000, bringing total benefits in 14 years to $1,- 373,250. Y-P Day Aided by Films: Wilkinson (Continued from page 1) and War ' Activity Committee execu- tives and trade press representatives here yesterday at a luncheon at the Astor Hotel. The luncheon followed the first of four screenings of "Fury in the Pacific," a 20-minute subject prepared by Army, Navy and Marine Corps cameramen, of the invasion and capture of the Peleliu and Anguar islands in the South Pacific. The subject ranks. among the great- est war films ever made. A crew of 39 cameramen took some 580 scenes of the invasions and nine of them fell during the engagement. Stark realism with all the horrors of war are shown. The picture opens with the prepara- tion for landings with bombings and strafings and then finally the fleet bombardment at closer views than us- ually seen. This is a picture which will destroy complacency and which should add in making the home front aware of the job that remains to be done. It can- not be viewed calmly, and as it rushes to its climax it captures its audience completely. Release has been set for Thursday, with Warners handling dis- tribution. The release is sponsored by WAC. Realistic Portrayal Admiral Wilkinson stated that the film is not overdrawn, and is a realis- tic portrayal of what takes place at every invasion landing. He declared that even though we have neutralized Jap defenses we still have not pushed them back to the positions they held immediately after Pearl Harbor. The three-star Admiral declared that the "film industry has done a magnificent job in its selling of bonds and its aid to morale. Let us have another all- out effort on the home front, gentle- men, and with that kind of support, I will guarantee you that your Navy will not let you down." Attending the showing of the film and the luncheon were N. Peter Rath- von, J. Robert Ifubin, Jack Cohn, Harry Brandt, Max Cohn, Terry Ramsaye, Samuel ~~ Pinanski. - Sam Briskin, Leo Brecher, Lee W. New- bury, Spyros Skouras, Si Fabian, Samuel Rinzler, "Lt. Commander Rich- ard Barthelmess, aide to Admiral Leary ; Captain Gene Markey, USN, who introduced Admiral Wilkinson, and a number of other high ranking Naval officials. for the highest consistent standard of achievement with "Wilson," "The Purple Heart" and "Winged Victory" WILSON Best Film Editing BARBARA McLEAN WILSON Best Interior Decoration (color film) THOMAS LITTLE LAURA Best Cinematography (black & white) JOSEPH LaSHELLE THE FIGHTING LADY Best Documentary Picture LOUIS -de ROCHEMONT COLLECT AT EVERY SHOW! RED CROSS WEEK — MARCH 15-21 - The o^/mzetfwi&ens that leads to a love affair! Every man who kas loved and lost. ..every woman who kas yearned for one man's adoration ...will tkrill to tke ecstatic ad- venture of tkese two...wko find an amazing secret in a strange old house! 0 ^^^^^ Dorothy McGuire • Robert Young the Lovers of "Claudia" Herbert Marshall tke ^^Aa/nted pottage" with Mildred Natwick ■ Spring Byington Hillary Brooke • Richard Gaines Pmdyml hy Harriet Parsons • Oirictrd At John Cromwell frrrr»/>/*> AvDc Wilt Bodeen and Herman J.Mankiewicz RKO'S FULL PAGE ADS TO 29,007,375 CIRCULATION! "The Showmanship Company" backs up a great show with full page seat-selling ads in publications like WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION - McCALL'S - RED BOOK - COLLIER'S - LOOK - LIBERTY - WOMAN'S DAY-TRUE STORY-FAMILY CIRCLE and the ENTIRE FAN LIST. The ad reproduced here appears in Liberty and three fan magazines. Bjscti on Iht play by Sir Archur Winn Pi •R K O' RADIO GET CREDIT FOR YOUR RED CROSS COLLECTION. SEND YOUR REPORT TO YOUR AREA CHAIRMAN. Seeing 'The Enchanted Cottage' gives one the feeling of having .discovered some rare jewel. Only at the widest of intervals is the motion picture industry fortu- nate enough to produce a pic- ture like this, a thing of such moving, surpassing beauty that its every element seems perfect. Here is presented one of the most touching and poignantly beautiful love stories ever brought to the screen, and done so outstandingly that it is diffi- cult not to use superlatives concerning its every phase. 7 "A natural, both as to box office and entertainment." — Motion Picture Herald "Will play a merry tune at the box-office." —Variety "One of the month's most noteworthy screen events." — BoxofPice "In the top bracket." —Hollywood Variety "Beats a path of its own . . . an attraction of some size." — Motion Picture Daily ''Deeply moving . . . has tremendous appeal for women." —Film Daily "Timely . . . should prove beneficial to box-office." —Showmen's Trade Review "Unusual love story will get the women's vote." —The Exhibitor NATIONAL PRESENTATION IN MID-APRIL! —HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 20, 1945 Paramount Loans Firestone to 7th Alfred Finestone of Paramount's home office publicity department, has been loaned to the national commit- tee of the Seventh War Loan and will serve as assistant director of pub- licity on a full-time basis, John Hertz, Jr., chairman of drive publicity and advertising, announced here yester- day. Arrangements for • his services, which were requested by Samuel Pi- nanski, national chairman, were made with R. M. Gillham, Paramount ad- vertising-publicity director. Fine- stone also was loaned to the national committee of the Fifth War Loan. Screen Canteen to Mark 2nd Birthday Executives and employes of film companies in New York will attend a second anniversary celebration of the Silver Screen Canteen at the Fra- ternal Clubhouse here tomorrow night. The Canteen is operated by the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild and the Screen Publicists Guild of New York, both of the United Of- fice and Professional Workers of America. Entertainers at tomorrow's birth- day party will include Sheila Barrett, Dorothy Ross, June Knight, Molly Pi- con and others. FREE & PETERS. Inc. James L. Free, Chairman. H. Preston Peters, President. Since 1932, exclusive national sales representatives of leading radio stations from coast to coast. Offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco and Hollywood. Now planning post- war expansion in FM and Television representation. WRIGHT- SONOVOX, Inc. James L. Free, President. Ward R. Hickok, General Manager. Since 1941, exclusive develop- ers and licensors of Sonovox ''Talking and Singing Sound" exploiting commercial and artis- tic uses of Gilbert Wright's basic patented invention, in radio and motion pictures. Headquarters in Hollywood. JAMES L. FREE PRODUCTIONS James L. Free, Producer. Nor- man Wright, Director. Head- quarters in Hollywood. Fred Mitchell, New York Represen- tative. Now producing series of one-reel quality shorts for major release, plus television: "The Wonderful Ears of John- nie McGoggin," using Sonovox Talking and Singing Sound. Also producing motion picture commercials for experimental television, and "minute movies" for theatre distribution. NEW YORK: 444 Madison Ave. Plaza 5-4130 CHICAGO: 180 N. Michigan Ave. Franklin 6373 HOLLYWOOD: 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 2151 Independents to Get 28 Million Ft. of Raw Stock {Continued from page 1) ent producers' bank. The approxi- mately 6,000,000 feet shaved from RKO and Paramount allocations also is transferred to the bank, presumably for use of the independent producers, Samuel Goldwyn, International Pic- tures, Golden Prod., Walt Disney, Hal Wallis Prod, and Pine-Thomas, releasing through the two companies. The over-all cut for the producing- distributing companies amounts to ap- proximately 3,000,000 feet, or about one per cent, for the second quarter as compared with the first. Approxi- mately 5,000,000 additional feet of film is being made available to com- mercial motion pictures for the second quarter by the WPB and this, pre- sumably, will be an additional "de- posit" in the independent producers' bank.- Halve Army Credit The raw stock credit to the com- panies from the Army, amounting to approximately 50 per cent of the stock used for prints supplied to the Army, will be cut in half by WPB. The independents' bank will get 25 per cent of the raw stock credit from the Army and the producing-distributing companies the other 25 per cent under the new arrangement. The allocation to the Office of War Information has been increased by about 9,000,000 feet, it is reported. The overall raw stock available for the second quarter represents an in- crease to a total of 261,000,000 linear feet, compared with 255,977,440 feet in the current quarter and 271,689,797 feet for the last quarter of 1944. The Board said that the total amount of film expected to be avail- able for newsreel operations in the second quarter is expected to be the same as in the present quarter, for which 53,000,000 feet were allotted. The official review of the proceed- ings of the Industry Committee meet- ing last Friday disclosed that some important changes may be made in the forthcoming revision of Order L-178. Apart from the plan to cut from 50 to 25 per cent the credits for prints lent to the Army, the over-all amount of film available to producers and distributors will be about 6,000,000 feet less than in this quarter. WPB officials assured the Committee that they would issue credits promptly to enable distributors to replace or sup- plement prints as needed for general distributing by them after they are returned by the Armed Forces. 'Fiat' or Average The proposal to place a ceiling of 285 on prints for features may also be made formal through incorporation in the order, but it was not disclosed tonight whether that ceiling would be "fiat" or, as proposed by one commit- tee member, made an average, thus permitting a distributor to provide a larger number of prints on his most important features and make up the film used by cutting the number on other pictures. An average ceiling- would benefit producers like Goldwyn, who put out two or three pictures a year, particularly, it was represented. Officials also emphasized that they plan to permit the use of 35mm film only in accordance with quotas as- signed by WPB, and that this would apply to short ends as well as full lengths of film. The maximum possible production of 35mm. film in the second quarter was estimated by the Board at 610,000,000 linear feet. To secure a 25 per cent increase in the production of certain types of film would necessitate plant expansion costing at least $15,000,000 and while such a program is under consideration, the major factor is the length of time that would be required to secure the additional output. Screen 5 RKO Films From April 16 to 19 Trade screenings of five RKO pic- tures will be. held in the company's exchange centers April 16 through 19. Screenings are as follows : April 16, "Zombies On Broadway," with the exception of St. Louis, where the film will be shown April 17; "Those Endearing Young Charms," with St. Louis also showing the film on the 17th ; "The Body Snatcher," April 17, with Salt Lake City show- ing the film April 9, and no screening set for St. Louis where the film has already been shown; "China Sky," April 17, with the exception of St. Louis, which will show the film on the 18th; April 18, "Tarzan and the Amazons," with St. Louis showing the film on the 19th, and Los Angeles and New York having had previous screen- ings. Dates Anniversary Films Chicago, March 19. — Balaban and Katz is dating the 20th Century-Fox 30th anniversary early by playing sim- ultaneously in the Loop three of the company's top pictures. Although the United Artists is normally an exclu- sive house for M-G-M product, B. and K. has opened "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" there. To Screen Paramount 3rd Block April 5-6 Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of distribu- tion, yesterday announced that the company's fifth block will be trade- shown in all exchange centers, April 5-6. "Scared Stiff" will replace "One Exciting Night," originally announced for the fifth block. This and the Hal Wallis film, "The Affairs of Susan" will be shown April 5. "A Medal for Benny" and "Murder, He Says" will be shown April 6. All screenings will be at the Para- mount exchanges, except in Los An- geles, where the Ambassador Theatre will be used, and in Albany and New York, where they will be at 20th Cen- tury-Fox exchanges. . Two Are Chartered Albany, March 19. — Chester Pro- ductions, Inc., has been incorporated to conduct a motion picture business in New York. Incorporators are : Helene Kersavage, Jessie Feitelson and Rose G. Kantor; attorney is Sol A. Rosenblatt, all of New York. Alpha Colorfilm Corp. also has been incorporated. Incorporators are : Hermann and Anne Graen, and Nich- olas Lefkowitz. Name Three to Issue Stock to Independents (Continued from page 1) tribute through reductions of their over-all quotas for the second quar- ter and halving of their credits from the Army for release prints furnished for service men. WPB, however, will repay the smaller credit for Army prints on a current, instead of a 90- day basis as heretofore. The bank will take care of the raw stock requirements of new producers, if they can qualify, as we'll as estab- lished ones. In addition, all com- mercial users of raw stock, if they meet qualifications, can draw from the bank. Basic qualification is that the producer or raw stock user was es- tablished in business prior to the ef- fective date of the George Act, Jan. 1, 1945. These will be entitled to 100 per cent of their 1941 stock con- sumption, or an average of their con- sumption over their periods of ac- tivity. Take Quota Along Independent producers will be at liberty to take their quotas with them when they change from one distribut- ing company to another. Presumably, also, the bank will be authorized to make stock available to foreign pro- ducers who qualify and whose pic- tures are slated for distribution in this market. "This over-all quota represents the amount of film normally received by independent producers, plus a small additional amount needed to provide flexibility of operation for small inde- pendent producers, WPB explained. "The individual quotas of the dis- tributors from whom the independ- ent producers formerly received film will be reduced to the extent that they supplied film to independent producers." "This proposal is in line with the WPB policy of distributing film in the public interest and in an orderly man- ner," officials said. Skouras Theatres in Clearance Appeal Skouras Theatres Corp., operating the Granada Theatre, Corona, L. I., has appealed the decision of the New York Arbitration Tribunal in eliminat- ing the seven-day clearance held by the Granada over the Fair Theatre, Jackson Heights, operated by the Fair Operating Corp,, the American Arbi- tration Association reports here. The arbitrator's decision also or- dered maximum clearance to the Gran- ada over the Polk, operated by Jupe Amusement Co., by RKO, Paramount, Loew's and W arners, to be one day. Drop Clearance Charge Sidney Pink and Joseph Moritz, op- erating the Century Theatre, Los An- geles, have withdrawn a clearance complaint in the Los Angeles tribunal against the five consenting companies, by general stipulation, the American Arbitration Association reported here yesterday. Tuesday. March 20, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 9 '.and Finished : Shooting : Finished : Shooting : Only 4 Start, As Production Drops to 31 Hollywood, March 19. — Warner Brothers and Republic were the only strike-affected " studios to start new- pictures ; the shooting ;index< dropped from 37,- to 31, as tour films were started, . and nine went -.to cutting rooms. .The production scene follows : Columbia Finished : "Rhythm Rqim'dup Shooting: "Over 21,%,'vKi Tell" (Siegel). M-G-M Shooting : "They Were Expend- able," "Dangerous Partners," "Early to Wed," - 'Yolanda and the Thief," "The 'Harvey Girls." Monogram ''Divorce." "Here Comes Trouble." Paramount . "Masquerade in Mexico." "Our . .earts Were Grow- ing Up," "The Well Groomed Bride," "\ou Came Along" (.Hal Wallis). (."The Blue Dahlia,'.' listed: as started last week, was postponed to March 26.) wnjM- Br ' PRC Finished : "Why Girls Leave Home" (Sam Sax). RKO Radio Shooting : "G.eorge White's Scan- dals of 1945," "The Amorous Ghost" (formerly "Man Alive"), "The Bells of St. Mary's" (Rainbow Produc- tions ) . - Republic Finished : "Trail of Kit Carson," "The Amazing Mr. M." Started : "Man from Oklahoma," with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George i Gabby) Hayes, Sons of the Pion- eers ; "Tiger Woman." with Adele Mara and Kane Richmond ; "Colorado Pioneers," with Bill Elliott, Alice Fleming and Bobbv Blake. 20th Century-Fox Finished: "Ten Little Indians" ( Popular Pictures). Shooting: "Within These Walls." "Dragomvyck," "Junior Miss," "The Dolly Sisters," "State Fair." United Artists Shooting : "Captain Biidd" (Bo- geaus) : "Young Widow" (Strom- berg): "Duel in the Sun" (Van- guard) . Universal Finished : "Pillow of Death," "Men in Her Diary." Shooting : "Serenade for Murder." "Lady on a Train," "A Xight in Para- dise." Warners Started : "The Time, the Place and the Girl," with Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Jane Wyman. Shooting: "Stolen Life," "Shado'w of a Woman." Strike Seen as Endurance Contest in Second Week (Continued from page 1) to launch new pictures for which sets were not prepared before the walkout. Striking Set Decorators Local 1421, together with the painters' and car- penters' unions, point out that no IATSE or other union is able to sup- ply workmen eligible and competent to build sets. Herbert Sorrell, president of the Conference of Studio Unions, tonight said : "The lines now are clearly drawn," and reiterated his confidence that the strike will be won. IATSE vice-president Carl Cooper reiterated President Richard Walsh's assurance that he has no present intention nor reason to call out the projectionists, declaring, "Production is going for- ward and conditions are good. We are urging the striking unions to go back to work." Asked whether Walsh had offered IATSE charters to CSU lo- cals on strike, Cooper said "No." No Predictions Xeither the producers, Sorrell nor Cooper would venture a prediction on when the strike will end. Reports that George W. Zinke, assistant disputes director of the War Labor Board, was undertaking to arrange a three-sided conference with a view to ending the strike proved groundless. The Screen Writers Guild and Screen Directors Guild, who joined last week* in -urging all parties to sit down together! around a conference table, told Motion Pic- ture Daily, "Nobody responded- to our suggestion." Sorrell Welcomes Defections Hollywood, March 19. — Although there was a further defection in the studio walkout, three unions voting to return to work today, reducting the number on strike from 14 to 11, Herb- ert Sorrell, president of the Confer- ence of Studio Unions, told an all- union mass meeting that these actions were not unexpected and their effect will be to "strengthen rather than weaken our cause." The Screen Publicists Guild, voting to return to their posts after receipt of a warning telegram from pro- ducers, simultaneously adopted a resolution declaring the organization "reiterates its conviction that produc- ers have flagrantly violated the war- time pledge of employers to settle disputes expeditiously and to abide by Wag Labor Board arbitration." SOEG Disregards Advice The Screen Office Employees Guild, facing injunction proceedings filed in Superior Coupt by the producers, dis- regarded the pro-strike advice of its president and business manager in voting to return ; the latter officers publicly apologized for their members' action. Screen Story Analysts, expecting producers to file a petition for an injunction, as in the case of the SEOG, voted to return, but promised their continuing support of the Screen Set Decorators' position. - The Screen Actors Guild, following a membership meeting at which offi- cers counselled on a vote against ob- serving picket lines, mailed ballots, returnable Thursday midnight, ?. citing organization by-laws requiring a 75 per cent maj ority vote .to - legalize action in support of a strike. Mayor Fletcher Bowron entered the picture by wiring the War Labor Board urging it to use .all of its re- sources to stop the strike. Labor-Torn Mexico Resumes Producing Mexico City, March 19. — Mexican production, suspended 29 days because of a labor conflict, is being resumed following the Labor Ministry's recog- nition of a new union composed of six sections that broke away from the pioneer National Cinematographic In- dustry Workers. The new accord was held up for about a week when four of the units objected to an alleged attempt at domination by the other two. The latter included actors headed by Can-_ tinflas (Mario Moreno), comedian, whom Fidel Velazquez, chief of the Confederation of Mexican Labor, ac- cused of using the players as a "beach- head' to dictate production procedure. Moreno asserted that he sought mere- ly to protect the actors from being forced into a "back seat' by the aggres- sion of other labor groups. On account of the labor complica- tions, as well as an acute raw stock shortage, producers Mario del Rio and Jesus Gil, Jr., have been planning to make pictures in Venezuela, and it was said that more might follow in a shift to other parts of Latin America. Arthur to Supreme Court on Appeal (Continued from page 1) Caffey, in New York Federal Court. Application of St. Louis Amuse- ment was denied by Judge Henry W. Goddard last December. In its assign- ment of errors, the St. Louis Co. de- clared Judge Goddard erred in refus- ing to grant the intervention applica- tion and in exercising his discretion. It is contended that since the consent decree under which the companies had been operating since 1940 had expired Nov. 20, 1943, all decisions of the American Arbitration Association since then are null and void. Arthur's company is seeking, through interven- tion, to set aside all AAA decisions as an alleged violation of the Fourth Amendment, in that it has allegedly deprived the St. Louis company of its rights without due process of law. Hearings on Arthur Dismissal in April St. Louis, March l{>. , • l\ S. District Judge Richard M. Duncan, in whose court the injunction and damage suit filed by Harry Arthur and the St. Louis Amusement Co. against the American Arbitration Association and distributors is pending, has re- turned from Washington and set down for hearing during the first week in April the motions (to dismiss the suit filed bv the defendants. See State Theatre Code Being Delayed Two Massachusetts Fires Boston, March 19. — Two theatre .fires, with damages of approximately $50,000, have been reported. The Up- town Theatre, Lynn, suffered a loss of $25,000; the house was' emptied in time to prevent any injuries. In Man- chester, the State also had a $25,000 1< ss when fire from an adjoining store spread to portions of the theatre. WFEA to Join CBS Radio station WFEA, Manchester, X. H., will become an affiliate of CBS on June 15. replacing WLAW, Lawrence, Mass. WEEA will join as a supplementary station. Bateman Moves to L. A. Los Angeles, March 19. — Francis A. Bateman, Republic's Western dis- trict sales manager, has transferred his headquarters to the branch office here from the company's Xorth Holly- wood studios. Making Progress in 'Lab' Help Pact Talks Some progress is now being made in contract negotiations between IATSE Motion Picture Laboratory Techni- cians Local No. 702 and representa- tives of 20 film processing laboratories here. About 1,800 workers are in- volved. Union and laboratory representa- tives are studying existing job classi- fications with an idea of establishing additional classifications which would provide wage increases. Fire at Middletown, O. Middletown, Ohio, March 19. — A fire at the State Theatre recently re- sulted in $2,000 damage with five rows of seats and the ticket office destroyed and the front of the building- damaged, according to George Turlukis, man- ager. (Continued front 'page I) and other, assembly place- to be built in the postwar, it isvunderstood that details which have been set are only tentative. Still ^to be decided are re- quirements tor exits, including fire es- capes, as well as standards for theatre curtains. Projection booth require- ments for new structures have been set, minimums beirig! booths of 10 feet depth by eighUfeet ' high and that not less than 30 inches clearance be pro- vided between |ach proj ection ma- chine and 3Q§mches in the rear of each effects machine. _ Once requ^rerhffrits for new struc- tures are set, ppjsibly at the next meeting of the committee, on March 30, a review of all provisions for new construction will be started, with the indication being that it will be several months before tine code is ready for public hearings which the Labor De- partment will hold. The committee plans to hold field trips in connection with a review of provisions already set. As previously reported in Motion Picture Daily, the new code will be strictly enforced by legislation which was recently introduced in Albany, known as the Condon building-code bill. While industry representatives, including Henry Anderson, Para- mount; Martin J. Tracey, Century Circuit ; Theodore Junge, alternate for Harry Moskowitz of Loew's, and Glen H. Humphrey of IATSE pro- jectionists Local No. 337, have not opposed setting of strict requirements for new construction, it is understood that any attempt to drastically alter provisions for existing construction will face stern opposition if the new provisions require extensive altera- tions in existing theatres. Station WNEX to Mutual Radio station WNEX, Macon, Ga., will become a full time affiliate of Mutual Broadcasting on April 15. To Paramount BEST ORIGINAL SONG "SWINGING ON A STAR" JAMES VAN HEUSEN & JOHNNY BURKE BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR "GOING MY WAY" odd's most honored film company PARAMOUNT AGAIN HAS BEST l-REEL SHORT SUBJECT PRODUCED BY JERRY FAIRBANKS BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING BEST ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE STORY LEO McCAREY A Double Winner — First Time in 17 yeors of Academy Awards! THE GREATEST AWARDS OF ALL FROM THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTUlft ARTS AND SCIENCES All our thanks to Bing Crosby, Leo M cCarey, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank Butler, Frank Cavett, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke and Jerry Fairbanks for their work which make Paramount Pictures the Best Shows in Town 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 20, 1945 Only 5% Increase: Owners to Bowles Cleveland, March 19. — Prices in theatres in Greater Cleve- land have not advanced more than five per cent in three years, a survey reveals, this boost failing to cover ad- vances in operating costs. Theatre owners in many in- stances are taking a one cent loss on each admission. When the average neighbor- hood price was 30 cents and Federal tax was three cents,> the owner netted 30 cents. Now, at 35 cents, the Federal tax is six cents and the net is 29 cents. The figures were cited as refuting OPA Ad- ministrator Chester Bowles' statement that admissions have gone up 38 per cent since Pearl Harbor. Blue Appoints Two to Head Expansion Plan Frank Marx has been made director of general engineering and George Milne, director of technical operations in the Blue Network's post-war ex- pansion plans, which involve intensive building. Mark Woods, president of the Blue web of American Broadcasting Co., said in announcing the new appoint- ments that plans are underway to erect new buildings in New York and Hollywood and new studios in Chi- cago. Equipment will be installed for every phase of broadcasting, including television and frequency modulation. MPTOA Hits OPA Move For Admission Ceilings Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president in a bulletin released to members yes- terday, charged that freedom of the screen is threatened by Government price control. "The Congress specifi- cally exempted motion pictures from price control when the law was first enacted in 1940, to protect freedom of speech and because of the great diffi- culty of applying price controls to such an intangible commodity. May- be also they had in mind the fact that the same film shows at. all sorts of prices, and the public can see them at some time or other at just about any price it wants to pay, and that the sup- ply of admissions is unlimited and un- rationed. While it might never be used, price control on films could eas ily place the screen under the thumb of the Government for any propagan- da or pressure use it saw fit. The penalty for resistance could then be economic strangulation and eventual destruction," the bulletin states. The bulletin charges "the decisions of the Office of Price Administration would be arbitrary, without hearings and that the Government must be rrfade to realize that people don't have to go to the films, while they do have to eat. They can manage to go to a different theatre in great numbers when the price is too high. The pen- alty for overcharging in our business is bankruptcy." Chester Bowles, OPA Price Ad- ministrator, is accused of having giv- en the industry a "black eye" by "reckless and irresponsible statements getting the widest publicity and hav- ing branded all as profiteers and gyp artists," by stating that admission prices are up 38 per cent since June, 1941, and that a gross of $1,500,000,- 000 was made last year. Kuykendall says that nobody really knows how much admission prices have risen since 1941, for at that time all houses under 20 cents were tax-free and no? data was collected from all theatres. It was pointed out that the tax last year on all amusements, including films, was just over $300,000,000. proving the film industry did not gross what Bowles claims, unless, Kuykendall said, a lot of theatres are not paying Federal tax on admissions. The bulletin concludes with the statement that "it is a sad com-* mentary on the industry that we know so little about our own business and are so poorly organized to defend it that once again we get kicked around in Washington and get a dose of destructive publicity that tears down our badly needed public good- will unnecessarily." BowlesPlanning Price Control Plea Cronland in New Post Omaha, March 19. — Roy Cronland, who came here from Denver, has been added to the Paramount sales staff and will cover Western Ne- braska territory, branch manager Jesse McBride announces. (Continued from page 1) the cost of theatre admissions has been inflationarily increased during the war. The agents have been busy go- ing over the files of other agencies in- terested in exhibition, and are under- stood to have developed many indi- vidual cases of increases running up to 100 per cent in "downtown"^ theatres of some cities. ig>, - The matter is being closely watched by both film interests and Government agencies alike, but it - is not believed any move to combat Bpwlesi, proposal wilL be made unless < the Committee changes the position it adopted last week. 'Vs? ■ Specifically exempted now;from any form of price regulations, motion pic- ture control could be exerted only un- der an amendment to the Price. Con- trol Act. The opportunity tcflsuggest the amendment was afforded by legis- lation now before the Committee to extend the life of the act, nojw, due to expire June 30. Loew Toronto Dividend _ Toronto, March 19. — Following a similar payment late in 1944, Marcus Loew's Theatres, Ltd., operating the two Loew houses here, has declared a $1 dividend on common shares, pay- able March 31. The regular one and three-quarter per cent dividend on the seven per cent preference shares for the current quarter has also been de- clared, to be paid on the same date. For IS years there had been no com- mon dividend until last Fall. Thanks to THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES for the Award and Thanks to i t BING CROSBY for making Swinging on a Star THE BEST ORIGINAL SONG OF THE YEAR Lyric by Johnny Burke and Music by Jimmy Van Heusen Songs from The International Pictures Inc. "THE BELLE OF THE YUKON" SLEIGHRIDE IN JULY LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE EV'RY GIRLIS DIFF'RENT BELLE OF*THE YUKON Songs from BURKE AND VAN HEUSEN The Bing Crosby Production Music Publishers 1619 BROADWAY New York 19, N. Y. 'THE GREAT JOHN L' A FRIEND OF YOURS HE WAS A PERFECT GENTLEMAN TECHNICOLOR MOTION PICTURE CORPORATION Herbert T. Kalmus, President and General Manager Congra tu la tions to all of the ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS EASTMAN FILM BRULATOUR SERVICE J. E. BRULATOUR, INC. FORT LEE - CHICAGO - HOLLYWOOD CONGRATULATIONS to E. H. Hansen and the Sound Department Oj 20th Century-Fox for their achievements in Sound Recording as exempimea in Wilson" for which they have received the Academy Sound Award * Western Etectric RECORDING Electrical Research Products Divisioti OF Western Electric Company INCORPORATED P * 233 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 7, N. Y. HITLER'S FAVORITE UM1 by Princess Amelie Karapow . . . "I've found her," Goebbels reported, "the Mata Hari of World War II. She is cold, but clever and devilishly greedy for money. And she can make men love her." "Her greed," replied Hitler, "will be convenient for our purposes." So Hitler summoned Mady. "I am interested only in what you can do for the Fatherland," he told her. "And I am interested only in money." They understood each other . . . MY VALENTINE by Gladys Martin Some Valentines are fragile things With frilly lace where Cupid sings And doves fly out on satin wings. My Valentine is a silver star, A banner flung in lands afar To save and keep the dreams that are. My Valentine is a lonely lad Stained with dust and khaki clad, Tall and brave as Galahad. 1... lever Walk Again?" by Nana Gollner Prima Ballerina, Ballet Theatre . . . "For infantile can and will be conquered — especially now when we're all fighting it together. This is a day of miracles! Who should know it better than I? At four I had infantile paralysis."... IN WONDER LAND I'm That Country Parson s Wife by Mrs. A. Ritchie Low . . . What happens here in our little church in Johnson, Vermont? A Catholic priest spoke in our Protestant church, told us how he had preached the word of God on other continents. A Jewish rabbi brought the ark, scroll and Talmud Torah of his faith, spoke humbly, beautifully, and convincingly. A Mormon youth from Utah spoke; a Japanese-American who pleaded for a chance to prove his loyalty to his birthland, a Chinese statesman, a Hawaiian . . . Do you really know True Confessions? The sample here represents the char- acter of True Confessions. The motto on the cover calls it "Your Maga- zine for a Better Life." It is. The bigness in every issue shouldn't be news to you. Bought at newsstands by 2,000,000 women a month for the living service it gives. UQfflKE !&MFES8MN Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y. World's Largest Publishers of Monthly Magazines 18 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 20, 1945 Reviews "Tarzan and the Amazons'9 (RKO Radio) DACKED with action and thrills, "Tarzan and the Amazons" is one of the *■ best of the Tarzan series, not only in its original story content, but because of an excellent supporting cast, able direction and photography, all of which make the film good box office. Tarzan and his son are eagerly awaiting the return of the jungle lord's wife, Jane, from England. As the apeman heads downstream to meet his wife, he pauses to rescue an Amazon from the clutches of a black panther, returning the girl to her home beyond the mountains. Tarzan's wife arrives accom- panied by a group of scientists who desire to obtain information concerning the Amazons, which is refused by Tarzan. The apeman's son, however, leads the party to the lost city of the Amazons where the party repays good treat- ment with rifle fire and looting. The warlike women, although their losses are heavy, kill all but two of the visitors and capture Tarzan's son, who is doomed to die. Tarzan arrives in the nick o' time, for the rescue, after killing the two scientists who had escaped, and returning the stolen loot. The jungle scenes, with lions, leopards, monkeys and elephants, are highly realistic, and the excellent photography of the lost city of the Amazons makes an incredibly beautiful picture. Johnny Weissmuller in this one has much more ease as Tarzan, making him a powerful and thoroughly sympathetic character, while Johnny Sheffield, as Tarzan's son, is also entirely credible. Brenda Joyce is Jane, wife of Tarzan, and she plays her part with simplicity and grace. Henry Stephenson, as the leader of the scientists, is excellent in support, and so is Maria Ouspenskaya as the Amazon Queen. Barton MacLane makes a strong and evil villain. Others of the fine supporting cast are: Don Douglas, J. M. Kerrigan, Shirley O'Hara and Steven Geray. Sol Lesser, who recently signed a 20-year producing deal for the Tarzan characters, was in charge of production and Kurt Neumann produced at a thrill-a-minute clip. The screen play, by Hans Jacoby and Marjorie L. Pfaelzer, from the characters by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is tense and tight, and Archie Stout has performed a magnificent job of photography. Running time, 76 minutes. General classification. Release date not set. Edward Smith "The House of Fear" (Universal) BASIL RATHBONE, again playing that master of deductive reasoning, Sherlock Holmes, is not called upon to display his full powers in this direction in "The House of Fear," latest of the superior series by Universal, because a superfluity of clues and suspects baffles even this 'human blood- hound' ; nevertheless, it emerges as another interesting, and at times exciting, detective film. When individual members of a club known as 'The Good Comrades,' who gather at the dreary Scottish mansion owned by Aubrey Mather, meet their deaths, each one foreshadowed by delivery of a letter containing orange pits, the master is called in on the case with Dr. Watson. As the murders, for such it seems they are, proceed in a veritable procession, Rathbone is powerless to prevent them. When only Mather remains alive, Scotland Yard Inspector Dennis Hoey arrests him as the murderer, but Rathbone, scornful of the obvious, finds an old smuggler's tunnel which leads him to the 'murdered victims,' all very much alive. It seems that each of the band has had a large insurance policy placed on his life, the proceeds of which they had caused to be diligently collected. Rathbone delivers his usual urbane performance as the master detective; Nigel Bruce lends solid support, and a group of able character actors also register creditably. Roy William Neill produced and directed, stressing mys- tery and suspense, while Roy Chansler did the screenplay from a Conan Doyle story. Running time, 69 minutes. General classification. Release date, March 16. Charles Ryweck "Rough Ridin' Justice" (Columbia) Hollywood, March 19 THE latest Charles Starrett starrer is somewhat slower than the usual Western, and Dub Taylor, unfortunately, is not permitted sufficient scope for his comedy talents. Betty Jane Graham is seen briefly in a small part, and Jimmy Wakely adds interest with his songs. Elizabeth Beecher's screenplay hews to the usual line. At its opening, Starrett is the leader of a gang of rustlers who have been pillaging shipments of the local ranchers' association. Offered a better-paying occupation by the ranchers as escort for the shipments, he goes over to the side of the law, and thereafter expends in its behalf as much effort as he previously spent in contravening it. Jack Fier produced, and Derwin Abrahams directed. The supporting cast includes Wheeler Oakman, Jack Ingram, Forrest Taylor, Jack Rockwell, Edmund Cobb, Dan White and Robert Kortman. Running time, 56 minutes. General classification. Release date, March IS. Thai.ia Bell Studio, 4Lab' Set by Cine-Television Cine-Television Studios, Inc., has announced the completion of a studio and laboratories for television program experiments, through Fred H. Fidler, president. Yasha Frank has been named vice- president in charge of production and Robert A. Jenkins, vice-president and general manager with V. Henry Rothschild as secretary. The staff has been increased to 20. Other ex- ecutives include Fred Waller, consult- ant on technical and production mat- ters, including photographic and elec- tronic engineering, and Doris LeRoy, consultant in the educational film field. Both Miss LeRoy and Waller are also directors of the company. Fidler declared that the company's distribution division, Motion Picture Networks, is expanding its activity in the screen advertising field, and in non-theatrical distribution of longer sponsored films. Bugie Named Rep. Manager in Dallas Dallas, March 19. — William F. Bugie has been appointed Republic branch manager in Dallas, it has been announced here. Bugie was formerly salesman in Dallas and was promoted to his new post following the appointment of N. J. Colquhoun, former branch man- ager, as Southwestern district sales manager. Drive-In for Omaha Omaha, March 19. — Mid-West Drive-In Theatres, Inc., has announced plans for a new $75,000 theatre. 1,500 Seater for Publix Chicago, March 19. — Publix-Great States will construct a 1,500 seat thea- tre 'Esplanade' in La Salle. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, March 19 « pvREAMS of Love," biographical \J musical-romance based on the life and music of Franz Liszt, will be produced by PRC from an original play by Patrick O'Sullivan. . . . Irving Yordan, brother of playwright Phil Yordan, has joined the story depart- ment of King Brothers, Monogram producers. . . . Robert Riley Crutcher has been signed by Sol Lesser to write the screenplay for "Paris Canteen." • Beverly Wills, W-year-old daughter of Joan Davis, will portray her moth- er as a child in "George White's Scandals of 1945," now in work at RKO. . . . M-G-M has purchased "Great Temptation," based on the novel "Carl and Anna," by Leonard Frank. Arthur Hornblow will pro- duce; Greer Garson is to be starred. Casey Robinson is currently writing the screenplay. • Tom Powers has been selected for an important role in the forthcom- ing Paramount production, "The Blue Dahlia," which will star Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and William Bendix. . . . Boris Karloff has been signed to a new three-picture deal by Universal. His next appearance will be in "The House of Dracula." . . . Christy Cabanne will direct "Main Street Girl" for Monogram. • Universal has purchased "She Meant No Harm," by Donald Hen- derson Clarke. . . . Virginia Farmer has been added to the cast of "Our Hearts Were Growing Up," at Para- mount. . . . Dick Long, 17-year-old Hollywood high school boy, has been given a long-term contract by Interna- tional Pictures. ... A budget of $1,200,000 has been set up for "Whistle Stop," which Seymour Nebenzal will produce for United Artists. • The King Brothers are borrowing Lawrence Tierney from RKO Radio to star in "Payment Due," original psychological mystery by John Faxon, which the brothers will produce for Monogram release. . . . Jules Levey is borrowing Barbara Britton from Paramount for a top role in his next production for United Artists, tenta- tively titled "The Homesteaders?' • Martha Sleeper, William Gargan and Joan Carrol have been chosen for featured roles in "The Bells of St. Mary's," first Rainbow Produc- tion, which will be released through RKO. • 'Skinnay' Ennis has been signed for a featured role in "Radio Stars on Parade," which Leslie Goodwins will direct and Ben Stoloff will produce for RKO. . . . Universal has exercised its option on Ray Taylor, who directs serials for that studio. . . . William Wilder is working with writers Ann Wigton and Louis Herman on the script of "Alias Myself," recently pur- chased by Republic. •• Bandleaders Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey will be starred in a musical for which Charles R. Rogers has set up a budget of $2,000,000. The most popular tunes to figure in the careers of the brothers will be spotted through- out the production. M-C-M TRADE SHOW NEW YORK • NEW JERSEY TERRITORIES ONLY "THE CLOCK" Wednesday, March 21st 10 30 A.M. — ALSO 2:30 P.M. RKO SCREEN ROOM 630 NINTH AVE. INSTEAD OF M-C-M SCREEN ROOM AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED THIS IS see x\co ^e«e ^oce* ,*ctee<* t\co e boVs HO1 yy THE WAR DEPARTMENT PRESENTS THE ENEMY STRIKES Ten minutes of screen time that will influence our lifetime ! A vital warn* ing to STOP complacency! America once again relaxes. This message tells dramatically how our dreams were shattered last December by the tragedy of the Battle of the Bulge. Newly captured German films are seen for the first time together with amazing, thrilling footage to grip audiences and tell them "It's not over yet!" For the sake of our own dear ones on the battle line you MUST do your part to keep the home-front fighting too by showing "THE ENEMY STRIKES" now! Produced by the Army Pictorial Service, Signal Corps AVAILABLE FREE AT ALL UNIVERSAL PICTURES EXCHANGES yy Sponsored by War Activities Committee of Motion Picture Industry, 1501 Broadway, N, Y. C. JTION PICTURE Alert, Picture Industry OL. 57. NO. 55 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1945 TEN CENTS 20th-Fox Will File for Two Video Outlets To Seek Permits for N. Y. And Los Angeles Stations Twentieth Century-Fox will file applications with the Federal Com- munications Commission for per- mission to construct experimental television stations in New York and Los Angeles, it is learned here, mak- ing it the fourth of the five distribut- ing companies with affiliated theatres to seek facilities to participate in post- war telecasting. The company already has a financial interest in Scophony Corp. of America through Gen- eral Precision Equipment and recently became an associate member of Television Broad- casters Association. Paramount, which has a substantial interest in DuMont Television, also a financial interest in Scophony, recently filed applications with the FCC for {Continued on page 5) U.S. Film Workers Join Studio Strike Hollywood, March 20. — A basis on which the Government could inter- vene in the studio strike here ap- peared developing today when Confer- ence of Studio Unions craftsmen work- ing on Government films in struck studios, under an exemption specified in the original strike order, walked out declaring the managements had ordered them to work on commercial pictures and had assigned "strike- breakers" to work alongside them on Government pictures. "Strikebreaker" is a term applied by CSU to both workers without union affiliation and to IATSE members assigned to other than their own stipulated work. In a statement issued after a spe- (Continued on page 8) Independents Decry New Checking Unit Criticism of the new distributor checking organization, Confidential Reports, Inc., was voiced yesterday by national Allied States, Allied of New Jersey and the Indigent Exhib- itors Forum, the latter comprising a committee of the Greate'- Cincinnati Independent Exhibitors Ass'n. A current national Allied bulletin (Continued on page 10) RKO in Deal With French RKO Radio and Pathe Cinema Con- sortium of France have formed a new production-distribution company for a three-fold purpose: joint production in France for the world market, dis- tribution of RKO films in France and the French colonies, and distribution of French films in foreign markets, Phil Reisman, RKO Radio vice-presi- dent in charge of foreign sales, an- nounced here yesterday. Reisman, returned from five weeks in France and England, said that the new com- pany will be called Pathe-RKO in France, headed by Marcel Gentel, RKO Radio's French manager, and RKO-Pathe outside of that country. Reisman revealed that the French are anxious for the U. S. industry to help them secure distribution here of their product, which, he said, they are entitled to, since they have absorbed our pictures with relatively few of theirs being handled here. The (Continued on page 5) UA May Reveal Producer Pacts The United Artists board of direc- tors, meeting here this week, dis- cussed a distribution deal for two pic- tures a year from Edward Golden Productions, and an announcement may be forthcoming today on the deal's consummation. RKO Radio currently distributes Golden product. The board meeting, during which the raw stock situation bulked large in the discussion, also touched upon contracts of other producers, renew- als of which may also be announced today. 15,484 Theatres in Red Cross Drive More theatres are joining the industry's 1945 Red Cross War Fund Week, this week, with a total of 15,484 out of a possible 16,443 pledged. Those joining late will extend their respective drives to the same number of days as the ones starting on schedule, last Monday. Three more areas have joined the 100 per cent group: New Orleans, 521 theatres; Omaha, 365; Seattle, 305 thea- tres. There are 15 areas in the 100 per cent class and six with over 99 per cent. Top Red Cross Fund Goal, Asks President Washington, March 20. — Thou- sands of theatres throughout the coun- try tonight interrupted their programs to carry a special appeal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on behalf of the 1945 Red Cross War Fund which was broadcast over the four major networks and independent radio sta- tions at nine P. M. (EWT), espe- cially for theatres. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Roosevelt called upon Americans to oversub- scribe the $200,000,000 set for the 1945 War Fund. "There was a time when you and I gave to the Red Cross largely in a feeling of aid to others," the President said. "That was giving in humanity and in decency. This year we give in necessity — necessity (Continued on page 5) "A Royal Scandal 9? [20th Century-Fox] BRILLIANTLY produced by Ernst Lubitsch to rank among his best screen achievements, "A Royal Scandal" is a smart, sophisti- cated and hilarious farce which should score easily as one of the outstanding comedies of the year, both entertainment-wise and at the box office. Orchids for this scintillating production go not only to Lubitsch, who has been identified with this type of attraction for many years, but also to Otto Preminger for his spritely direction; to the exceptionally fine cast, headed by Tallulah Bankhead, Charles Coburn, Anne Baxter and William Eythe and featuring Vincent Price, Mischa Auer, Sig Ruman, Vladimir Sokoloff and Mikhail Rasumny, all for sparkling perform- ances ; and to the clever dialogue and the lusty and rollicking situations in a splendid screen play, devised by Edwin Justus Mayer. All are per- fectly synchronized in this top-notch Lubitsch film. History discloses that the Court of Catherine, the Great, 'Mother of All the Russias,' was rocked by scandal and intrigue. Happily and (Continued on page 9) Rent Bill Up Today Would Lift Ceiling Only Retroactive Date Remains to Be Set in N.Y. Albany, N. Y., March 20. — A rent bill, introduced in the Assembly by Irwin Steingut, and in the Senate by Senator DiCostanzo, has been reported out of committee here and generally agreed upon as the new rent law for New York State, with a debate to- morrow due on only one phase, name- ly, whether the law shall be retroac- tive to June, 1944, or 1943. Motion picture theatres are speci- fically exempt from this bill which de- fines "business space" as a place other than places of public assembly and specifically declares that a theatre is a place of assembly. As a result, thea- tres will be excluded from ceilings on building rentals and at the termina- tion of any lease, a landlord can charge any sum he deems fit on a new lease. Representative Steingut desires the (Continued on page 8) Roosevelt Backing Byrnes on Curfew Washington, March 20. — Pres- ident Roosevelt today told a news con- ference that War Mobilization Direc- tor James F. Byrnes had his full sup- port in the latter's plea for observ- ance nationally of the midnight cur- few, which was 'relaxed' this week by Mayor LaGuardia of New York. The President pointed out that the appeal made by Byrnes yesterday car- ried his approval but, when asked whether he proposed to intervene in the New York situation, shrugged his shoulders and asked what he could do. A reporter raised the question of pen- alties, but the President said he had (Continued on page 8) Discrimination Bills U p in Pennsylvania Philadelphia, March 20.— Joint House - Senate Committee hearings will be held in Harrisburg on March 27 to determine which of four pending fair employment-practice bills — all of interest to the film industry — will be given the green light in the state legis- lature. Three anti-discrimination measures have been introduced in the (Continued on page 8) 2 Motion Picture Daily ^sday, March 21, 1945 Personal Mention BARNEY BALABAX, Paramount president, is scheduled to leave the Coast for New York at the week- end. • Joseph Varbalow, Camden inde- pendent circuit head, will represent Camden theatres on a city advisory committee to help enforce the amuse- ment curfew order there. • David Levixger, Western Electric vice-president and director, and man- ager of its Hawthorne Works in Chi- cago, will celebrate his 35th year with the company today. *• Carlisle Joxes, of the Warner stu- dio publicity staff, became a grand- father for the second time Sunday, when a girl was born to his daughter, Mrs. S. A. McMahan. • J. Lester Stallman, manager of the Astor, Reading, Pa., has again been named chairman of the Reading- Berks theatremen's division in the Seventh War Loan. • Roy Haixes, Warner Western and Southern sales manager, will stop off in Kansas City today en route to Los Angeles. • Tom Foster, National Screen Serv- ice home office representative, is in Salt Lake City for several weeks. • Nat Levy, RKO Radio Eastern di- visional sales manager, is en route to Jacksonville, Fla., on business. • Thomas L. Walker, Edward Small Prod, secretary, left New York yesterday for Hollywood. • Gus Schaefer, RKO Boston dis- trict manager, visited the Buffalo ex- change last week. • Buck Wade, Universal Salt Lake City manager, has left there for a tour of Montana. • Normax Elsox, vice-president of Trans-Lux Theatre Corp., will leave todav for Boston. • Sid Kulick and Jack Berksox of PRC visited the company's Buffalo branch recently. • Salem Applegate, Universal Phil- adelphia manager, has returned there from Florida. • Jack Bellman, Republic Buffalo manager, will leave there tomorrow for the Coast. • Carl Nedley, M-G-M Salt Lake City manager, has returned there from a sales trip. • Dox Tibbs, Monogram Salt Lake City manager, has returned there from Idaho. • George Bagxall, United Artists vice-president, will leave today for the Coast. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN F REEDOM of speech and " freedom of the press are guar- anteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Motion pic- tures and radio were not men- tioned since, obviously, they did not exist. Certain individuals, who can- not be tagged by name, were very much alive to this state of affairs when the Emergency Price Control Act was pushed by the White House in 1940. They pointed out to influential quarters in the Senate, already concerned over the validity of some phases of the EPCA : ( 1 ) the framers of the Constitution had freedom of expression in mind, not merely freedom of speech and freedom of the press ; (2) the original language was antiquated in the face of devel- opments and progress unpredict- ed at the time and ( 3 ) motion pictures and radio, consequently, fell within the larger definition encompassed by freedom of ex- pression. Enough Senatorial weight con- curred in this line of reasoning and, as a result, the EPCA spe- cifically excluded controls over films and broadcasting when it was finally passed. That radio is controlled by the Federal Com- munications Commission is an- other matter and another story not germane to this rollback in contemporary history. ■ With the further exemptions of wages and agricultural prices, both accommodated elsewhere in the Federal structure, EPCA was broad enough to establish price ceilings over all businesses and over all industries. It set up the base out of which OP A fi- nally sprang into existence and included a provision under which control was given teeth through the licensing of business and the revocation of such licenses in the event any business failed to observe the roof placed over its head. Originally considered, how- ever, was control of both wages and farm prices, since Washing- ton eyes were traveling north of the border into Canada where regulation at large had been in- troduced earlier. In fact, the Ca- nadian basis was discussed and pondered seriously in the days preceding final action by Con- gress on EPCA. ■ Tt is interesting, in retrospect, to point out the American price control law was inactivelv on the statute books for something beyond a year. No one paid any particplar attention to it, the salient slant being the law was there if, wdien and as desired. All three of these conditions, moreover, did not swing into line until about six months after Pearl Harbor when EPCA was activized with the organization of OPA under Leon Henderson. ■ The flurry latterly stirred by Chester Bowles on admission and film rental control has back- ground, too. The move is not ex- actly new, either. The occasions, in fact, have been several in the last five years when unofficial, and short-lived, consideration has been given to placing re- strictions on rentals. These moves took on fractional weight on the heels of scattered exhibi- tor association resolutions threat- ening distributors, via OPA, in what actually were pressure tac- tics designed to improve the gen- eral terms of their film buys. Nothing happened because noth- ing could under the existing law as solons remembered or re-dis- covered on inspection. Theatremen who adopted such advocacy were warned through various channels that it was a dynamite manouevre since a ceil- ing on rentals automatically would have unhinged the door on a ceiling on admissions. The advice was never seriously heeded. I When Henderson was OPA administrator, he pursued a pol- icy in opposition to ceilings on admissions. In a number of speeches on the principles of price regulation, he emphasized with regularity his opinion cer- tain commodities and services should not be subjected to con- trol because, unchecked, they served to siphon off surplus funds in restless public pockets and therefore reduced the possi- bility of a further spiral in the inflationary curve. Theatre prices, definitely, were one of the services believed in his mind. The EPCA, enacted in 1940, was given a five-year span of life. In one form or another, it appears a virtual certainty that it will be continued, and it should. Whether its renewed span will embrace price control over this industry remains to be seen although the indications as of now are against it. Meanwhile, the strategy launched by Bowles represents Starr Combines U.A. Radio, Exploitation Martin Starr, in charge of radio promotions, has been appointed ex- ploitation director at United Artists, Barry Buchanan, UA director of ad- vertising-publicity, reported yesterday. Starr inaugurated the company's radio department three years ago and will combine his new duties with radio ac- tivities. Starr started in the industry as a publicist with the old Fox Film Corr He then managed several New Jerse. theatres for Fox; was a reporter on the defunct Graphic here ; produced the early series of True Story Pic- tures ; managed Hollywood stars ; press-agented for the late Florenz Ziegfeld; edited Motion Picture Weekly; served as film commentator and drama critic on Station WMCA. ReceptionTonight for Gertrude Merriam Some 350 industry friends of Ger- trude Merriam, associate editor of the Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald will attend a recep- tion tonight at the New Amsterdam Theatre Roof, on the occasion of her marriage, next Sunday, to Howard Ernstthal, textile tycoon, at the Hotel Bolivar, here. the solitary course available to him. He cannot regulate this in- dustry under the current law. The current law is about to die and a new piece of legislation must replace it. This is the sim- ple explanation of why he is probing possibilities and lining up reactions. Included are those in opposition already handed him by Senator W'agner and other members of the Senate Banking and Currency Com- mittee. ■ I By report, Neil Agnew and Harry Ross went West to dis- cuss a plan whereby David O. Selznick would distribute through a newly-created sales force filter- ing through Ross Federal offices. It is understood Selznick planned six or seven of his own, or made under his guidance, plus four outside attractions acquired per year. But Selznick may find him- self limited to three while raw stock restrictions obtain, and outside product is dubious for the same reason. The idea, by further report may not jell for these reasons. ■ ■ Now that the 'Little Flower' has extended the curfew, will those timely Warners change "The Horn Blows at Midnight" to "The Horn Blows at 1 A.M."? ■ ■ On Henry J. Kaiser and pre- fabricated theatres : More in the forthcoming edition of Motion Picture Herald. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sundav. and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, S6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. BUSINESS IS GREAT! This ticket- selling Trailer shows how they sold it BIG in all openings! Trailer opens on blank screen with sound effects of cat fight. "Meow! Psst!" etc. TITLE: LISTEN! The scene lights up and we show a ding-dong back fence cat-fight with plenty of feline action. Si*)* ^ it with Agnes Moorehead Bill Johnson • Natalie Schafer • Lee Patrick Jess Barker • June Lockhart Original Screen Play by Mary C. McCall, Jr. and George Bruce • A Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Directed by Edward Buzzell • Produced by George Haight TITLE: HERE COMES THE MOST HILARI- OUSLY FUNNY CAT FIGHT SINCE "THE WOMEN" CAME TO TOWN . . . WITH THEIR CLAWS OUT AND THEIR HAIR DOWN! Wipe to shots of the three stars. TITLES: LANA TURNER (in negligee) LARAINE DAY (in riding breeches) SUSAN PETERS (in street clothes) Over the slapping scene in the hotel room. Turner slaps Day. TITLE: AS 3 CUDDLY KITTENS WHO TAKE OFF THEIR MITTENS AND FIGHT TO A LAUGH FINISH IN Shot of the truck as it pans out and we see sign "Wolftrap" on back. TITLE: M-G-M's "KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY" A series of shots with superimposed title, played for speed... and followed by the dialogue scenes. Shot of three girls in work clothes. Peters in middle . . . Day and Turner shake hands. TITLES: THEY HISS! THEY KISS! Wipe to shot in barracks where Day and Turner are arguing. Peters stands between them. TITLES: THEY BATTLE! THEY BAWL! Over a two shot of Susan Peters and her husband. TITLES: THEY LOVE! AND THEY GET LOVED! Here we wipe to dia- logue scenes: "Man can- not live on C rations alone, there are other hungers" . . . the scene where Turner tells Day she'll slap her face . . . the scene where boy tells Turner she has longest eye blinkers . . . and the love scene between Peters and her husband. Close up of Lana Turner TITLE: LANA TURNER Close up of Laraine Day TITLE : LARAINE DAY Close up of Susan Peters TITLE: SUSAN PETERS Shot of girls in bathing suits at swimming loca- tion. IN A LOWDOWN TITLE: ON WOMEN IN A MAN'S WORLD... THAT'S A TOR- RENT OF LAUGHS. M-G-M's "KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY" LITHO USA Wednesday, March 21, 1945 Motion Picture Daily s FP-C Plans String Of Supply Branches Toronto, March 20. — With an eye on postwar circuit expansion, Famous Players Canadian Corp. has effected changes for the immediate development of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Gen- eral Theatre Supply Co., to take care of demands for the sale and installa- tion of projection and other equipment rind supplies. New branches, includ- ..J^ig warehouse accommodation, are being opened at Winnipeg, St. John and Vancouver to establish a string of offices in Canada's key centers in addition to those already established at Toronto and Montreal. Accompany- ing this expansion, the company is understood to be acquiring a number of new equipment lines, which will be avalaible to Famous Players and other Canadian theatres when wartime restraints are lifted. To arrange for the expansion of the equipment company, Frank H. Ker- shaw, former PP-C district manager of downtown theatres in Vancouver and Victoria, has been promoted to the Toronto headoffice, as previously re- ported in Motion Picture Daily, and the management of General Theatre Supply will continue to be in the hands of Peter D. Brown, who has been in charge here for many years. Stars to Appear at Red Cross Benefit The Skouras Theatre interests, which are sponsorinf a Red Cross benefit at the Academy of Music, New York, March 28, yesterday listed stars and others, who are scheduled to ap- pear at the show. Among those who are to appear are : Cab Calloway, Joan Edwards, Victor Borge, Peter Lorre, Carl Ravazza, Spyros K. Stamos, Nicola Moscona, John Sabatian, Lew Lehr, Jay Jostyn, Sigmund Spaeth, Jack Pearl, Milo Boulton, Doris Doree, Thelma Carpenter, Johnny Olson, Dale Belmont, Bob Dixon, the Par- amount Stage Show, the Roxy Stage Show, the Cafe Zanzibar Show, Vyvyan Donner, Fox Movietone News Fashion Editor. Top Red Cross Fund Goal, Asks President (Continued from page 1) for our own. The need was never greater. It will not soon be less." "Tonight there are over 7,500,000 Americans overseas or fighting afloat in this great war." he said. "There are nearly 70,000 Americans in enemy prison camps," he added. "We can be proud of all that the Red Cross has meant to them. "This is no call for charitv. This is our chance to serve those who serve us," he pointed out. "We cannot give too much to those who have given us the heroic hazards of their lives," he concluded. Scarborough Named President of CEA London, March 20. — The Cine- matograph Exhibitors Association, at its annual meeting, has elected George H. Scarborough of Leicester presi- dent of the general council for the en- suing year, succeeding Sidney W. Clift of Birmingham. Fred A. Pryor of Nottingham was named to replace Yarborough as vice-president. 20th -Fox to Build Two Video Stations (Continued from page 1) permission to build a series of televi- sion relay stations to use channels nine through 16, with stations to be erected in Peru Mountain, Vt. ; New York City, Buffalo, Detroit, El Paso, Des Moines, Chicago and Los An- geles. Paramount's Balaban and Katz already operates television station WBKB in Chicago, and Paramount, an experimental station in Los An- geles. Loew's recently filed applications with FCC for permission to construct television stations in New York, Washington and Los Angeles. War- ner Bros, has filed an application to construct a station in Hollywood with a site for the station having already been acquired. RKO is the only company which has no immediate plans to seek actual television stations, but the company's RKO Television Corp., headed by Ralph Austrian, is already engaged in producing both filmed and "live" tele- vision shows for clients on stations now operating and it has post-war plans in this direction. Rosenthal to Discuss Theatre Television A technical discussion of the Sco- priony theatre television equipment will be given at the next meeting of the Atlantic Coast Section of the So- ciety of Motion Picture Engineers, to be held at the Hotel Pennsylvania, here, today. Dr. A. N. Rosenthal, director of research and development of Scophony, will be the speaker, on the subject, "Problems of Theatre Television Projection Equipment," dis- cussing theatre television projection technique, size, brightness, definition, etc., of projected television pictures, and methods of overcoming certain limitations. Montgomery Abroad For Rank-Lawrence Bob Montgomery, who recently re- signed as Eastern director of public- ity for Lester Cowan Productions, will leave for England within two weeks to establish and become head of the London office of the Jock Lawrence Organization, press and public relations representative in this country of the various J. Arthur Rank British interests. Previous to joining Cowan Pro- ductions, Montgomery was executive assistant to Hal Home, director of publicity-advertising for 20th Century- Fox. PCCITO Protests Any Reduction of Prints Los Angeles, March 20. — The Pacific Coast Conference of Independ- ent Theatre Owners today revealed a resolution has been presented to Stan- ley Adams of the War Production Board, Washington, protesting against any reduction of prints. The PCCITO stressed its conten- tion that any further reduction of the number of prints would tend to dis- criminate against independent exhibit- ors by delaying clearance. $1.50 RKO Dividend The RKO board here yesterday de- clared a $1.50 dividend on six per cent preferred, payable May 1 to hold- ers of record April 10. Leven Wins $1,000 Bond for 6th Aid * A top prize of a $1,000 war bond has been awarded to Edward J. Leven of the Telenews Theatre, San Fran- cisco, for promotional ideas submit- ted by him to promote the sale of war bonds during the Sixth War Loan Drive. A total of 3,227 ideas were judged this week in the $5,000 nation- al contest, sponsored by screen maga- zines. John Hertz, Jr., national publicity chairman during the drive, stated that many of the ideas will be used in the campaign for the Seventh Loan Drive. The nine other winners, each of whom received a $500 bond, were : Guy B. Anis, New Princess, Lexington, Tenn;. Rosa Hart, Paramount, Lake Charles, La. ; John Heflinger, Park, Pasadena, Cal. ; John Jones, Concho, San Angelo, Texas ; Jack Matlack, Broadway, Portland, Ore. ; William S. Phillips, State, Newark; Benjamin H. Serkowich, Capitol, New York ; Charles Smakwitz, Strand, Albany ; Al Weiss, Pitkin, Brooklyn. Winners were selected for the in- genuity of their ideas and not on total sales or increase of sales over previous bond drives. Independents Delay Chicago First-Runs Chicago, March 20. — Shortage of suitable first-run houses in the Loop will hold up more important product of indeoendent producers. This is particularly true of United Artists in which some of the individual pro- ducers pick the first run house in key cities. Lester Cowan had delayed the local release of "Tomorrow the World," due to his inability to secure an 'A' house. He has turned down the inde- pendent Oriental, which has been play- ing first run 'B' product, as well as B. and K.'s Apollo and Garrick the- atres, due to their limited capacity. Crowded schedules in the B. and K. State Lake, Chicago, Roosevelt and United Artists have left little room for any product outside of top War- ner, M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox and Paramount pictures this season. David Selznick's "I'll Be Seeing You" is an- other picture kept, although it has al- ready been seen in Minneapolis and Milwaukee. Because of the critical raw stock situation, "Brenda Starr, Reporter," Columbia serial originally scheduled for April release, has been set back to July, Benjamin Lourie, exchange manager discloses. Similar adjust- ments of other company product prob- ably will be necessary. Para. Club Reelects Reagan as President All officers and the board of gover- nors of the Distribution Department Club, Inc., of Paramount were re- elected yesterday for a year at an annual meeting at the home office. The club includes sales executives in the home office, and district and branch managers in the United States and Canada. Officers are : Charles M. Reagan, president; George A. Smith and R. M. Gillham, vice-presidents, and G. B. J. Frawley, secretary and treasurer. The officers and Frank Meyer constitute the board of governors. RKO in Deal With French (Continued from page 1) French, he said, are making strenu- ous efforts to get their film industry started again, and presently have about two or three pictures in pro- duction, he said. French theatre busi- ness is "terrific," Reisman stated, since the French are "starved" for U. S. films. The Eastman Kodak plant in Paris and a raw stock plant in Belgium are operating on a limited basis, RKO Radio's foreign sales head said, with 1,871,000 meters of stock having been produced since liberation day in Paris. This approximates 5,700,000 feet of stock and has been apportioned among U. S. distributors, the Office of War Information, the British Ministry of Information and native producers. Most film companies are operating with much of their old personnel, Reisman said ; resistance groups hid much studio and laboratory equipment from the Nazis. Reisman, who was the first U. S. foreign department head to reach Paris, went there as a commercial representative for RKO Radio and not, as some reports stated, on a Gov- ernment mission, he said. Joseph Friedman, Columbia's British manag- ing director, and David Rose, Para- mount's British manager, have also made trips to the Continent. Recent films are being released slowly in France, Reisman said, as they must be dubbed. Dubbing plants are now open. While in England, Reisman con- ferred with J. Arthur Rank, British film leader, who is coming to the U. S. in May. Rank, Reisman said, is stepping up production and is de- termined to compete with Hollywood on a qualitative basis. MPOE Votes IATSE Charter Acceptance Membership of Motion Picture Of- fice Employes Union, Local 23169, AFL, representing over 800 "white collar" workers in Warner and Uni- versal home offices and at Paramount News, has unanimously ratified the acceptance by the union of a charter from the IATSE. MPOE officers were instructed to sign all necessary documents and make preparations to have Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, install the union as an IATSE local upon his re- turn from California. MPQE has set a dance and enter- tainment to be held at the Hotel Hen- ry Hudson here April 13 to raise funds to carry on the union's partici- pation in a servicemen's canteen at the Hotel Capitol here in collaboration with the American Federation of Of- fice Employes Local 23076. Republic Has Two Rogers* in Backlog Roy Rogers, Republic Western star who will enter the Army June 4, fol- lowing a tour of Army hospitals, be- ginning April 4, currently has "Utah" in release, "Bells of Rosarita" fin- ished and "Man from Oklahoma" in work. In recent months the studio has used Rogers in "Brazil" and "Lake Placid Serenade," as 'guest star,' and starred him in his own features, "Lights of Old Santa Fe," "San Fer- nando Valley" and "Song of Nevada." SIZZLING TUNES BY, ARY BARROSO • MARGARITA LECUONA GABRIEL RUIZ • PEPE GUIZAR rl CARLOS CASTELLANOS ANTONIO FERNANDEZ BOBBY COLLAZO GET CREDIT FOR YOUR RED CROSS COLLECTION. SEND YOUR REPORT TO YOUR AREA CHAIRMAN. HAROLD and LOLA *— • - — - LOUISE BURNETT Amazing voice— hits C above high C! CHINITA MARIN p.„.„„.(! £ *'"9"ng frio! 9 °* 'he bl rocket bomb of torrid ines and amazing spe- cialties — all wrapped up in a glitter- show geared for laughs and speed- ball musical excitement! 8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 21, 1945 Government Film Workers Join CSU Studio Strike Roosevelt Backing Byrnes on Curfew Rent Bill Up Today Would Lift Ceiling (Continued from page 1) date of retroactivity to be June, 1943, while some members of the committee favor 1944. Four other rent bills seem to be definitely shelved with the possible ex- ception of the bill introduced Feb. 7 by Senator Lazarus Joseph, which is presently in an unfavorable position, but which has been receiving much publicity from the press as the bill which should be passed. A failure to compromise on the Steingut bill might force through the Joseph measure. This bill is the direct antithesis of the Steingut measure from the viewpoint of theatres, in that it states that all sites used for "commercial purposes" are subject to the rent ceiling. "Com- mercial purposes" is defined as "Any purpose other than residential or dwelling," which specifically includes theatres. The retroactive date in this bill is set at March 1, 1943, which is considered a fair date, since rents had not risen abnormally as of that time. Any landlord, if this bill becomes law, may raise his rent 15 per cent above what the tenant was paying on June 1, 1943. The bill also provides for court relief for the landlord, provided the additional 15 per cent does not meet the cost of operating the building and also produce a fair measure of profit. (No definition is made of what consti- tutes a "fair margin.") N. Y. C. Most Affected All of the bills cover cities in the State with populations of 1,000,000 or more, making New York the city most affected. In the meantime, the Supreme Court of New York has created a special term for the purpose of hearing rent actions only, there be- ing a reported 2,000 such suits. Jus- tice Irving L. Levey is in charge and will sit on all cases. Discrimination Bills U p in Pennsylvania (Continued from page 1) House, and a Senate group is prepar- ing another which would embody the administration viewpoint. Representative Homer S. Brown, sponsor of one of the bills, stressed the need for a state law to guarantee equal work opportunities. Enactment of a bill forbidding discrimination be- cause of "race, creed, color, national origin, or ancestry" would be a "sta- bilizing influence" on minority groups "who feel they have no protection," he said. In answer to Gov. Edward Martin's criticism that this bill would be "too expensive" to carry out, Brown said that a state fair employ- ment practice law might save funds by preventing violence and strikes. Party for Schaefer Lester Cowan Prod, will welcome its new board chairman, George J. Schaefer, at a reception at the Sherry Netherlands this afternoon. William Pierce, Cowan's advertising-publicity director, and Albert Margolies, East- ern publicity director, will attend. (Continued from page 1) cial meeting of its strategy commit- tee, SCU asserted, "Never has it been our intent to impede in any way the production of bonafide Govern- ment films. Requests for members of unions on strike to do work on Gov- ernment films have been made by rep- resentatives of commercial producers only, and there is abundant evidence that men supplied in compliance with this request have been used in other than Government work. Also, it is substantiated that the producers and IATSE have been assigning men from other locals to act as strikebreakers on such films. It is unthinkable that were the Government aware of this, it would endorse or encourage the em- ployment of strikebreakers. In line with these facts, the union on strike and unions supporting the strike will not honor any requests for men to work on Government films unless such requests are completely identified as being for bonafide contracted Govern- ment films, and all requests must clear through proper Government channels and be made by Government agencies or through Government officials in charge of such product." First 'IA' Rebellion The first rebellion in IATSE ranks occurred when property men at the Universal and Warner studios walked out when asked to do car- pentering and painting in replacement of striking SCU craftsmen. Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, had di- rected IATSE men to do any type of struck work when asked to do so by the studio management. Property men who refused were holding a spe- cial meeting tonight to decide whether to obey Walsh's order. Services on Sunday For H.M.Richey'sSon Memorial services for Lt. David Henderson Richey, son of Henderson M. Richey, director of exhibitor rela- tions for M-G-M, and Mrs. Naomi Muhn Richey, will be held Sunday afternoon at 4:30 P. M. at the First Presbyterian Church, New Rochelle. Rev. Robert Hartley will officiate. Also surviving is a sister, Margery. Lt. Richey was killed with 11 other crewmen when the B-24 Liberator of which he was navigator crashed on March 10 off Montauk Point, Long Island. Two of the bodies were re- covered, but efforts to locate the others and the plane have failed, although Lt. Richey's flying jacket was recov- ered Saturday. Cordero Buys 42 J. A. Cordero, manager of Inter- Continental -Films, has completed ar- rangements for acquisition of 20 Chesterfield and Invincible pictures for first release in Latin America, and 22 Spanish dialogue subjects selected in Argentina for Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia and the U. S. Terry Leaves J. J. Clem Terry, general manager of J. J. Theatres, here, has resigned. Terry has been with the company, previ- ously known as Consolidated Amuse- ments, for 15 years. Earlier today, members of Orna- I mental Plasterers Union 755, basic agreement union without IATSE or CSU affiliation, left Universal when ordered to work on sets constructed by IATSE men doing SCU crafts- men's work. The studio reported that some returned later in the day. The union is meeting tonight on its further policy. Following a meeting, a producers' spokesman revealed that the producers labor committee had met with Walsh and declared their intention to keep the studios in operation and received Walsh's assurance he will cooperate to that end. 'IA' Charters Sought Confirming reports that Walsh is directing IATSE men to perform struck work, IATSE international representative Roy Brewer said : "We're directing our men to do what- ever needs to be done. Our purpose is to keep production moving. We want to get the striking unions back to work too, and some of their mem- bers are begging us to give them IATSE charters so they can go back." Asked whether any have been offered to striking groups, he said : "Not yet but we're ready to give them charters under the right conditions." Brewer said IATSE is not expecting Wash- ington intervention. Screen Writers Guild executive committee met last night and author- ized a special committee to take anv necessary steps with respect to the strike but adopted a general policy of awaiting developments. The producers were in special ses- sion tonight, with the whole situation under study. Fraser Joins 20th's Exploitation Staff George Fraser has been appointed a member of 20th Century-Fox's exploi- tation staff under Rodney Bush, re- placing Lou Gerard, who was trans- ferred this week to the publicity de- partment under Jules Fields, to head special services. Fraser, a returned war veteran, has been a member of the home office pub- licity staffs of Paramount, 20th Cen- tury-Fox and Columbia, and recently returned from the Coast, where he was an RKO publicity writer. Goldstein Promoted By Paramount Music Sidney Goldstein has been ap- pointed to succeed Sidney Kornheiser as an executive of Paramount Music Corp. and Famous Music Corp. Gold- stein has been with Famous for the past eight years in New York, Chi- cago and Hollywood, with the past 18 months spent on the Coast. Station W EEC Joins NBC Radio station WERC, Erie, Pa., has become affiliated with National Broadcasting, effective June 15, Wil- liam S. 'Hedges, NBC vice-president in charge of station relations, has an- nounced here. WERC was formerly ' an outlet for Columbia Broadcasting. (Continued from page 1) not thought of sanctions to cut off manpower. At the Capitol, the situation was a subject of comment, with representa- tive William M. Colmer of Missis- sippi telling the House that, if neces- sary, he would introduce a resolution to make all cities comply with the curfew. Representative Dickstein of New York, however, defended La- Guardia, contending New York should be exempt from the midnight closings because "its citizens are different from other people." He added : "They are just as patriotic as others, but it's a city of 7,500,000 and thousands of soldiers are walking the streets at all hours looking for a place to eat." Byrnes' admission that the Gov- ernment was powerless to enforce the curfew without the support of local police was seen as a 'green light,' not only for New York, but for the rest of the country as well. Mayors of most of the country's other big cities stood by Byrnes, but many were facing pressure from en- tertainment fields, and it was con- sidered likely that a wholesale shift to one A. M. might develop. Statements Received Among statements on the curfew arriving from various parts of the country was that of Governor Frank J. Lausche of Ohio, who said : "We cannot as individuals substitute our own wishes for the requirements pre- scribed for officials in authority. Therefore, as long as the curfew is in effect nationally, it remains in Ohio, insofar as it is -»'ithin my jurisdic- tion." Likewise, Mayor Roger Lapham of San Francisco said : "As far as I am concerned, we will continue to obey the Government's midnight closing order." B'way Houses Await New Curfew Ruling New York's first-run theatres on Broadway were yesterday awaiting a further determination of the curfew controversy between Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and War Mobilization Di- rector James F. Byrnes before mak- ing a final decision on their closing hour. Theatres here, with the exception of Radio City Music Hall, have taken advantage of the extra hour permitt^ ' by LaGuardia. Indications yesterday were that the Music Hall will con- tinue its policy of closing before mid- night. Report Toledo House For 4 A.M. Closing Toledo, March 20. — The case of the Loop Theatre here, which allegedly stayed open until four A. M. today was certified to the National War Manpower Commission by Ralph O. Snyder, area «WMC director, who said the house "very definitely will be closed." The closing process would take a few days, he added. Jack O'Connell, owner of the theatre, had announced yesterday that he was re- suming his pre-curfew schedule. This is the first instance of a thea- tre's being reported to the WMC in Washington for alleged violation of the curfew. Wednesday, March 21, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 Hirliman in Post-war Projector Field for Schools, Churches Some 50,000 16mm projectors, to sell at $149.50 each, and involving total factory-purchase and produc- tion costs in excess of $5,000,000, will be manufactured for the post-war by International Theatrical and Tele- vision Corp., of which George A. Hirliman is president, he admits to Motion Picture Daily. Hirliman is now on the C&ast. Immediate production will be only for those with priority orders, Hiril- man said, and Government agencies, including the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. The Army and Navy now have approximately 5,000 16mm projectors, and need more. At the end of the war, Hirliman will concentrate on supplying schools and churches. There are 22,839 16mm and 35mm projectors, silent and sound in 43,208 colleges, high schools and ele- mentary schools of the nation. Some 68,277 schools exist. MPPDA Prediction The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America predicted last Dec. 15 that within a five-year period after the end of the war, all schools in the nation would be usinsr films for visual education. It is this group that Hirliman will go after in his attempt at mass sales. It is hoped through mass production to ultimately reduce the cost of the projectors to $75 each, enabling most schools to own several. Hirliman and Harry A. Kapit, head of the Walter O. Gutlohn, Inc., divi- sion of Hirliman's International, have gone to the Coast with the intention of strengthening the national set-up of ITT. Main object of the trip is to form a production unit in Holly- wood, which will be maintained to produce only 16mm films. Unlike the instructional and documentary unit which Kapit heads in the East, this unit will devote itself mostly to the making of entertainment pictures : musicals, Westerns, comedies and dramas. Personnel for this branch will be chosen by both Hirliman and Kapit, and the unit will go into work immediately. Various branch-office deals through- out the West are being consumated, and 16mm distributors will be contact- ed as well,with the idea of discussing the enlargement of their film libraries. Hirliman and Kapit will be travel- ing for approximately four weeks be- fore returning to New York. ITT Secures Six More Key Branches International Theatrical and Tele- vision Corp., has closed two franchise deals for six additional 16 mm ex- change outlets, for Boston, New Haven, Portland, Me., Memphis, New Orleans and Charlotte. The deals were made with Arthur Lockwood and Louis Gordon, for New England, and with Wells Alexander and Rus- sel McGee, for the South. The lat- ter will continue to operate the At- lanta office, and in addition to setting up exchanges in Memphis, New Or- leans and Charlotte will also take over the present Walter O. Gutlohn office in Dallas. "A Royal Scandal (.Continued from page 1) unlike his predecessors, Lubitsch was not awed by this fact in using a few of the Czarina's spirited escapades and a bit of the intrigue as the basis for his film. Most of the action in the Mayer screenplay, from an adaption by Bruno Frank, of a play by Lajos Biro and Melchior Lengyel, revolves around an in- cident in the Czarina's many amours. This one is with an impetuous young cavalry lieutenant who has ridden three days and three nights from the West- ern Front to warn his Czarina that her generals there are plotting her life. Miss Bankhead is the Czarina and Eythe, the lieutenant. Since he is not the least bit tired as a result of his self-imposed and harrowing mission, he quickly finds favor with the Czarina. His promotion to General and head of the Palace Guard is breathtakingly and gleefully rapid. Even the French Ambas- sador, played by Price, has to wait while Eythe produces over 50 edicts to correct what is wrong with Russia. Coburn, the wily Chancellor, is an old hand at treating with such situations but this one is complicated by the fact that Eythe's fiancee, played by Miss Baxter, is a lady-in-waiting to the Empress. IT is not until he discovers that his edicts have been consigned tothe waste- per basket that Eythe turns on his Empress. He abets a coup d'etat being fomented by the military clique at the palace, headed by Ruman as General Ronsky. However, his neck is saved by the lasting impression he has left with Catherine and the charm of the French Ambassador who replaces him. Dialogue and situations have the zip of modernity while the background is costume and historic. Miss Bankhead is superb as the Czarina and Eythe is grand as the befuddled lieutenant who knows only loyalty to his Empress. Coburn is delightful as the Chancellor and Miss Baxter is properly indignant as the spurned lady-in-waiting. Price's performance as the French Am- bassador is another highlight. Preminger's direction keeps things moving at a swell pace without a moment's letdown. Credit must also go to Arthur Miller's excellent photography ; to Alfred Newman's musical background and to everyone else associated with this enterprise. Lubitsch has come up with another winner in "A Royal Scandal." Running time, 94 minutes. Adult classification. To be released in April. Milton Livingston PTA to Aid Owners Solve Delinquency Cleveland, March 20. — George W. Erdmann, secretary of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors' Associa- tion, speaking on 'theatre behavior' before members of the Motion Picture Council, suggested that psychiatric clinics be established in public schools and that there should be closer co- operation among social service agen- cies and juvenile courts to improve the behavior of teen-age children in theatres. Fred Holzworth, manager of the Hilliard Square Theatre; Ray Allison, manager of the Shaker Theatre, and Norman Ek, manager of the Shore, accepted the suggestion that a PTA member be assigned to 'cover' a neigh- borhood theatre every Friday night and get the names of offenders. Vandalism is reduced in some sec- tions but rampant in others. Manager Ek, whose Shore Theatre is located in one of the 'better' neighborhoods, re- ported that during the past year, be- tween 500 and 600 seats, approxi- mately one-third of his total seating capacity, had to be reupholstered due to vandalism. Churchmen to Show 'King of Kings* Albany, N. Y., March 20.— Cecil B. De Mille's silent "King of Kings" will be exhibited in theatres through- out the country during Holy Week under the auspices of Protestant church organizations. In upstate cities of New York the State Council of Churches and local federation affiliates will sponsor the picture. Managements will give free use of their theatres for special performances, to which no ad- mission is charged; a free-will offer- ing, to defray expenses of the screen- ing, is to be taken up. Koppelman to NSS Philadelphia, March 20. — Moe Koppelman has assumed duties as assistant to Stanley Goldberg, Na- tional Screen Service branch head here. Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, March 20 PARAMOUNT has purchased Irv- ing Stone's "Immortal Wife," based on the life of Jessie Fremont, young wife of Gen. John Fremont ; Karl Tunberg will produce. . . . Janet Blair has been chosen for the feminine lead in the forthcoming Columbia musical, "Tars and Spars." • Ray Young, production manager {or PRC, has been named studio business manager; Raoul Pagel, former unit manager, will replace Young. . . . Garry Moore has purchased an orig- inal screen story by Jameson Brewer, entitled "That's My Boy." Moore, who is under contract to David O. Selznick, plans to make it as an out- side picture. • Cornel Wilde and Anita Louise will play the top roles in Columbia's "Bandit of Sherwood Forest." . . . Lindsley Parsons will handle pro- duction on "The Two-Way Street," story of Lend-Lease. The subject is the joint contribution of Mono- gram and PRC to the War Activ- ities Committee-OWI film program. • Next picture on William O'Sulli- van's schedule at Republic is "The Crooked Mile," murder mystery in which Don (Red) Barry will be starred. Steve Sekely will direct, and E. Jocelyn White will be associate producer. . . . Hunt Stromberg has ex- ercised his option on singer Johnny Clark. Can anyone tell a lonesome bride what to do?" wi h Peter COOKSON • Arline JUDGE Frank JENKS • Jerome COWAN Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS . Directed by PHIL KARLSTEIN Screenplay by Richard Weil Adapted from the play by A. J. Rubien, Robert Chopin and Marian Page Johnson A MONOGRAM PICTURE 10 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 21, 1945 Predicts Big Strides For Color in Postwar The photographic industry will take a new place in national economy after the war, E. Allan Williford, vice- president in charge of the Ansco Divi- sion of General Aniline and Film Corp., disclosed upon returning from a 7,000-mile transcontinental trip during which he conferred with dealers and distributors and with the company's division heads and representatives. "Every indication points to color film assuming after the war a new economic importance," he said. "Black- and-white film is expected to remain at prewar levels. Color-film, however, will advance on a huge scale and will build total film sale volume to un- precedented levels." Chorus Equity Will Nominate on Friday Meeting of the Chorus Equity Association will be held on Friday afternoon, at the Hotel Capitol, New York City, to elect six members of the association to serve on a nomi- nating committee whose duty it will be to prepare the regular ticket of officers, representatives on the Equity Council and members of the executive committee. The regular ticket for 1945-1946, which will be submitted to the mem- bership in advance of the annual meet- ing, will require the nomination of a chairman of the executive committee, to serve one year ; a recording secre- tary, to serve one year ; a member of Equity Council, to serve until the annual meeting of 1950; and seven members of the executive committee to serve three years. Independents Decry New Checking Unit (Continued from page 1) asserts that exhibitors are aroused over formation of the new checking organization, scheduled to begin oper- ations April 2, and calls upon the five sponsoring distributors to abandon the project. The Indignant Ex- hibitors, attacking the new organiza- tion, conclude that its formation "will go a long way toward outlawing per- centage pictures." New Jersey Allied condemned for- mation and operation of the new checking company by resolution on the grounds that it "will facilitate the exchange of confidential information" concerning theatres by distributors. A copy of the resolution was sent to Assistant U. S. Attorney General Robert Wright. $3,299,541 Crosley Profit for Year Cincinnati, March 20. — Crosley Corp. reports a net profit of $3,299,- 541 on total sales of $98,168,438 for 1944, equal to $6.04 a share on the 545,800 common shares outstanding, after all charges and taxes, but before renegotiation, compared with a net of $2,694,159 on $80,447,762 sales, or $4.93 a share, in 1943. Provision for Federal income and excess profits taxes totaled $10,914,729, in contrast with $8,436,562 in the preceding year. Earned surplus to Dec. 31, 1944, was $9,063,153 against $6,303,821 in 1943. NBC Promotes Porteous Roy C. Porteous, with NBC since 1942, has been named assistant mana- ger of the package sales division of the network's program department by Clarence E. Menser, NBC vice-presi- dent in charge of programs. 12 - Cent Admission Top Set in Mexico Mexico City, March 20.— First Mexican ceiling price for theatres has been ordered by Governor Antonio Sanchez Cano of Oaxaca State, where admissions for theatres in Oaxaca City, the State cap- ital, have been fixed at 12 cents, including Sundays and holidays. This ceiling compares with 85 cents for first-run theatres here. Although Oaxaca City exhibitors have accepted the ceiling, they are showing only old pictures. They claim they cannot afford to exhibit new films at 12 cents. Mexican Producers Turning to Shorts Mexico City, March 20.— The raw stock shortage here has induced many feature producers and cameramen to seek admittance to the short subject makers' and helper's unions, newest section of the National Cinematogra- phic Industry Union. Production of newsreels and shorts is expected to be substantially in creased this year. Legion Classifies 5 Additional Pictures The Legion of Decency has classi- fied five additional pictures. In Class A-II, are "Dillinger," Monogram ; "A Guy, a Gal, a Pal," Columbia ; "Swingin' on a Rainbow" and "Three's a Crowd," Republic. "The Affairs of Susan," Paramount, was placed in Class B. 'Colonel Blimp' to Open Here Mar. 29 "Colonel Blimp," second J. Arthur Rank British film to be released here oy United Artists, which will have its American premiere at Brandt's Goth- am Theatre here March 29 under the sponsorship of the Society of Illus- trators, was reviewed in Motion Pic- ture Daily, from London, on Jung. 9, 1943. It was then titled "The L( and Death of Colonel Blimp." \J Described as "a saga of a diehard British Army General, tracing his career from his Boer War boyhood to pot-bellied retirement and old age," its treatment was said to be "alter- nately discursive, human, witty and dramatic." "Though it lacks star-names, and the seriousness of the subject suggests limitations of appeal, the picture is an i obvious exploitation bullseye and a prestige opus," the review concluded. The film is an Archers Production, written, produced and directed by Mi- chael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, featuring Anton Walbrook, Deborah Kerr and Roger Livesey. Running time has been reduced to 148 minutes from the original 165. Uswetsky, Quinn on Own Chicago, March 20. — Russ Us- wetsky and Dan Quinn, respectively head booker and comptroller of the H. and E. Balaban Circuit, here, have resigned to enter exhibition, taking over the Webster Theatre from Steve Chapin. Joe Feulner, former man- ager of the Des Plaines Theatre, is the new head booker for H. & E. Balaban. Milt Levy was promoted to Quinn's post, but he is leaving this week to operate the Music Box, for- merly owned by the Lasker Brothers. "The Most Beautiful Girls In The World/' hand-picked by glamor-master, Earl Carroll, in a lavish pro- duction number from Republic's glittering musical extravaganza, "Earl Carroll Vanities." ADVT MOTIOK PICTURE Alert, InteHigei to the^ gtion Picture Industry L. 57. NO. 56 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1945 TEN CENTS Independents' Stock Wants Exceed Supply Committee Declines to Serve on Scheduling Applications for raw stock quotas by independent producers to the War Production Board are under- stood to total 200,000,000 feet for the year, or 50,000,000 feet per quar- ter, compared with the 28,323,720 feet which has been allocated to inde- pendents for the second quarter, it is learned. The formation of a special committee of representatives of independent producers, to in- clude Roy Disney, Walt Disney Productions ; Barney Briskin, representative of Sol Lesser Productions; and Thomas L. Walker, representative of Ed- ward Small, which was to ad- vise the WPB on allocation of raw stock to individual inde- pendents, has been abandoned. Those designated to serve on (Continued on page 11) Senate Group Cool to New Bowies' Plea 20th Sets Up Funds To Retire Preferred The 20th Century-Fox board of di- rectors has authorized the setting up of retirement funds for redemption of the prior preferred and convertible preferred stocks, it is learned here. Each year a specified percentage of the fiscal net is put aside to buy the stock in the open market, conditioned on a certain redemption price. If it is not possible to buy at the redemp- tion price, the prior preferred must be redeemed by lot within six months af- ter the fund is set up. On the convertible fund, similarly, the company cannot buy above the re- demption price, which is 35. By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 21. — Mem- bers of the Senate Banking and Currency Committee today evinced little enthusiasm over proposals to amend the Price Control Act to provide for control of theatre ad- missions and film rentals after hear- ing the argument of Price Admin- istrator Chester A. Bowles, who suggested the amendment last week. Bowles acknowledged that he originally did not favor theatre or film price control, but said he changed his mind after Bureau of Labor Statistics figures (Continued on page 11) Quebec Enforcing Child-Barring Law Montreal. March 21. — Notice of strict enforcement of Quebec's law prohibiting theatre attendance by children under 16 was given the Quebec Legislature yesterday by Premier Maurice Duplessis, who reported that he had ordered cancel- (Continued on page 9) Radio-Film Theatre Tieups Are Up 300% Number of first-run exhibitors us- ing radio in advance campaigns on Warner pictures has .increased in the past six months from 100 to as many as 400, with the trend still upward. Mort Blumenstock, head of War- ner advertising-publicity in the East, in response to a query, confirmed that requests from exhibitors for electrical transcriptions prepared by the com- pany for use in spot announcements (Continued on page 11) WLB DEMANDS END OF COAST STRIKE Sorrell Says 'No' to U.S. Hollywood, March 21. — The ex- pected intervention by Washington, undertaken today by National War Labor Board Chairman George W. Taylor, failed to end the strike against the major studios when CSU presi- dent Herbert Sorrell replied negative- ly to the telegraphed directive order- ing the termination of the dispute. Sorrell's reply said, "The policy of the unions and guilds in CSU has always been to recognize and abide by the authority of all Government agen- cies. Our workmen, however, feel their case has been irreparably in- jured by the continued refusal of the producers to obey the terms of the award by arbitrator Thomas Tongue. We are convinced that if they could obtain a full and fair hearing, a de- cision would be handed down which would safeguard the rights of the American working-man. I am sorry I have not had an opportunity to present the facts to you in person." The producers promptly issued this statement : "It is to be hoped that the WLB order will be respected, so the orderly processes of law can permanently settle the dispute through a decision from the National Labor (Continued on page 9) New York Theatres Heed Byrnes 9 Midnight Curfew Oppose U. S. Hand In British Houses LONDON, March 21. — A 'revolutionary' proposal that American companies be gov- ernmentally prevented from having any part in the own- ership of British theatres is authoritatively reported to have been made by the Brit- ish Film Producers Associa- tion to the Board of Trade. The proposal is said to be in- cluded in a memorandum, de- livered today, on BOT's film monopoly report. New York City theatres which originally took advantage of the extra hour permitted by Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia in his extension of the midnight curfew to one A. M., have returned to their previous midnight closings. The explanation given is that it had been assumed that the extension had the sanction of the War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes. When it was discovered that Byrnes and even President Roosevelt disowned the New York move, the theatres felt that they had no alternative but to con- tinue to obey the Byrnes edict, it was said here. While most of Broadway first-runs took advantage of the ex- (Continued on page 4) CSU Walkout Is Called Flagrant Disregard of War Pledge to President Washington, March 21. — The National War Labor Board today ordered striking Hollywood studio employes to return to work imme- diately, declaring the walk-out on March 12 "a flagrant disregard of labor's no-strike pledge to the President and of the procedures es- tablished for the peaceful settlement of labor disputes in time of war." The board's demand was made in a telegram to Herbert Sorrell, president of the Conference of Studio Unions, and Edward Mussa, business repre- sentative of the striking Set De- signers, Decorators and Illustrators Union. WLB outlined the history of the controversy, which was certified to it by the Secretary of Labor last October 11, pointing out that efforts to adjust the dispute through the labor members of the board and later (Continued on page 9) RKO, Goetz-Spitz Renew for '45-46 Renewal of its distribution agree- ment with the William Goetz-Leo Spitz International Pictures covering release of its product during 1945-46 was disclosed here yesterday by au- thority of Ned Depinet, president of RKO Radio Pictures. RKO will distribute in 1945-46. (Continued on page ID Main and Dale Quit Odeon for Fingold Toronto, March 21. — H. C. D. Main and F. Ralph Dale today re- signed from executive positions with Odeon Theatres of Canada to enter into a partnership agreement with (Continued on page 9) In This Issue Review of "The Clock" ap- pears on page 9. Motion Pic- ture Daily's booking chart is on page 12. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 22, 1945 Personal Mention BARNEY BALABAN, Paramount president, will leave the Coast for New York tomorrow. • Arthur M. Loew, Loew Interna- tional president, will return to New York from South America in two weeks. Sam Burger, special foreign representative, will continue a tour to other South American countries not visited by Loew. • E. B. Hatrick, News of the Day and Cosmopolitan Productions vice- president and general manager, will leave the Coast Tuesday for New York. Roy Disney, Disney Productions' | executive vice-president, arrived in New York yesterday from Washing- ton for a week of conferences with RKO executives before returning to Hollywood. David Bernstein, Loew vice-pres- ident and treasurer, will return to New York from Palm Beach on Monday. • Claire Manheimer, assistant to C. K. Stern, Loew assistant treasurer, will leave New York tomorrow for Miami Beach. • M. A. Silver, Warner Pittsburgh manager, and Harry Fein stein, his assistant, arrived in New York yes- terday from Pittsburgh. • Lt. L. Ward Farrar, formerly with I.oew's and 20th Century-Fox, as a publicist, is now stationed in the Philippines. • Jules Lapidus. Warners' Eastern sales manager, will return to New York tomorrow from Buffalo and other Upstate cities. • Bill Brumberg, Warner field ex- ploitation staff manager, returned to New York yesterday from Pittsburgh, Chicago and Memphis. • Harry Thomas, Monogram's East- ern manager, will return Saturday to New York from Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. • N. Peter Rathvon, RKO presi- dent, is en route to the Coast to spend two or three weeks at the studio. • Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew vice- president, will leave New York for Miami on March 31. • Olin Clark, M-G-M Eastern story head, will arrive on the Coast to- morrow from New York. • Gus Eyssell, Music Hall manag- ing director, will return to New York today from the Coast. • T. E. Laird, United Artists assistant to Fred Jack, Southern manager, is visiting Atlanta. • Samuel Goldwyn will leave New York for the Coast today. French Deny 2-Year Limitation Decree A French Press and Information Service spokesman here declared yes- terday that no decree has been in- voked by the French authorities barring American films released in the U. S. more than two years ago, but that such a law is still in the discussion stage, and, in all probability would contain instead a three-year limitation, if passed, and would look 'tolerantly' on outstanding films. Meanwhile, foreign department cir- cles declared that U. S. film com- panies have no intention of 'dumping' films in France because that would ruin the market by depressing prices. Pointing out that the French market is highly selective, the backlog of films accumulated in the five years of war would never be released in their entirety because many of them are dated war pictures, unacceptable to the French public, they declared. They agreed that if a limitation law were to be passed by the French, top-rank- ing films would be excepted. The high cost of dubbing films in France, which costs will undoubtedly become higher in the future, would, of necessity, obviate wholesale distribu- tion of the tremendous backlog ac- cumulated since the outbreak of war, "It is an established economic fact that to dump films would be to create chaos — to the detriment of American interests," one spokesman pointed out. It was further pointed out that for- eign department heads were increas- ingly adopting a policy of releasing fewer films, but of top calibre, in foreign markets, concentrating on key situations. Rent Bill Is Passed By New York Senate Albany. N. Y„ March 21. — The Senate today passed the Steingut- DiCostanzo rent bill which froze New York retail and office rents at 15 per cent above the June 1, 1944 levels. The vote was 53 to 2 for nassage ; Assembly action is now pending. This bill, as reported yesterday in Motion Picture Daily, excludes thea- tres from its provisions, and allows landlords to charge any sum they see fit for rent, after current leases expire. An attempt by Senator Joseph to set the rent freeze back to 1943. was de- feated by a vote of 33 to 21. Mallett Will Assist Le Sieur at U.A. Jo Mallett has joined the United Artists home office advertising depart- ment as assistant to Howard Le Sieur, advertising manager, Barry Buchanan, director of advertising and publicity, announced yesterday. Prior to joining UA. Miss Mallett was associated with the Margaret Ettinger organization in Hollywood. R.C. Press Luncheon James M. Cecil, chairman of the public information committee of the New York Red Cross War Fund, will give a luncheon for the press at the Yale Club today. Sturdivant NT Head In Latin America Sax Francisco, March 21. — The appointment of B. V. Sturdivant, Northern California division manager of Fox West Coast Theatre, as Latin American manager for National The- atre"; Amusement Co., with headquar- ters in Mexico City, was announced here todav by Charles P. Skouras, National Theatres president. Sturdi- vant, who has spent much time in Mexico since the first of the year, is expected to leave for his new as- signment within a few days. Skouras explained that National, a 20th Century-Fox affiliate, is antici- pating an 'ambitious program' in Latin America and added that Sturdivant will act as his representative in for- mulating the plans which have al- ready passed the blueprint stage. Speaking of the foreign program Skouras placed much emphasis on a nre-fabricated metal which has been developed by his organization and which is expected to be .readv for a world-wide market immediately after the cessation of hostilities. Skouras, Sturdivant and F. H. Ricketson, Jr. of Inter-Mountain The- atres, conferred with executives of steel mills in Monterrey and Mon- rlova during a recent trip to Mexico. Thev also conferred with Mexican government officials on their plans. Sturdivant has been associated with Skouras for almost 20 years. Bond and Charteris In Producing Unit Hollywood, March 21. — Announce- ment was made here yesterday of the founding of Bond-Char+°ris Enter- prises, to engage in a variety of in- terests, including motion pictures television and allied fields, headed bv Leslie Charteris, author of "The Saint" mvstery stories, and Anson Bond, who has produced more than 70 films for the Armed Services. Bond is the son of Charles Anson Bond, founder of the Bond clothing stores. The firm will primarily engage in the production of pictures exnressh- for television, to be commerciallv sponsored, and deal primarilv with products for inclusion in televised ad- vertisements. Other television pro- ducts will include 15 to 30 minute 'packaged televised entertainments.' Production of a series of pictures based on "The Saint" character is scheduled bv Bond-Charteris. "Saint" films were former! v produced by RKO and starred George Sanders. 'Fury' Released in Two States Today "Furv in the Pacific", War Activ- ities Committee-Office of War Infor- mation short subject depicting the battle for Peliliu and Angaur Islands, will be released to first-run houses in New York, Brooklyn and New Jersesy today. This film is the first to be produced jointly by the Armed Forces. Warner Brothers is distributing the film for the WAC. Coming Events Today — National Association of Motion Picture Independents' meeting, Preview Theatre, New York. Mar. 23 — Motion Picture Associ- ates' luncheon-meeting, Sardi's Restaurant, New York. Mar. 23 — Chorus Equity Associa- tion nominating meeting, 1 :00. Hotel Capitol, New York. Mar. 24-25 — Warner regional sales meeting, Los Angeles. Mar. 26 — Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America's an- nual board meeting, New York. Mar. 27 — Cinema Lodge meeting, Hotel Astor, New York. Mar. 29 — Loew's annual stockhold- ers' meeting, New York. Industry Party for Gertrude Merriam A buffet supper, reception and party for Gertrude Merriam, associate editor of the Managers' Round Tabic of M otion Picture Herald, was held last night at the New Amsterdam Theatre Roof here, with approximate- ly 350 in attendance. Occasion was the forthcoming marriage of Miss Merriam on Sunday to Howard Ernestthal, textile manufacturer, at the Hotel Bolivar, here. Bert San- ford of Altec, acting as master of ceremonies, presented Miss Merriam with a gold watch. Among those present were execu- tives and theatre men from New York, affiliated and independent circuits, in- dividual houses and others from home offices and the press. Those from out of town included Frank Boucher. Al Sherman, Washington; Harry I'nterfort, Syracuse ; Irving Mack, Chicago ; Morris and Mollie Rosen- thal, New Haven; Ted Kirkmeyer. Idaho Falls. Utah; Ben Adler, New- ark ; 'Red' King, Harry Browning, Boston ; George Kraska, Lou Hart, Gloversville ; Dave Perkins, Lind- hurst, N. J. ; Lester Pollock, Roches- ter; Lige Brien. Pittsburgh, and 'Chuck' Shannon, Sharon, Pa. Mestanza Tops PRCs Latin Department Roberto D. Socas, PRC's general export manager, announced yesterday the appointment of H. Alban-Mes- tanza, formerly in charge of foreign- language production for Monogram, as head of the PRC Latin American Department. Mestanza's appointment will take ef- fect immediately. He will take charge of all matters pertaining to inter- American distribution, and " ill also lay the ground work for launching PRC's Spanish dubbed-in program, which is now in preparation. MP A Board to Meet The board of directors of Motion Picture Associates will meet here to- morrow at Sardi's Restaurant. Head- ng the agenda will be a discussion of ilans for the organization's annual dinner-dance. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvvn Brown. Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor: London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. 4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 22, 1945 N. Y. Theatres Heed Byrnes (Continued from page 1) tra hour during the early part of the week, Radio City Music Hall con- tinued its policy of pre-midnight clos- ings and last night the other theatres fell into line. Mayor LaGuardia yesterday issued what was indicated to be a virtual 'bill of divorcement' of the city from the rest of the country in a statement spurning President Roosevelt's sup- port of the Byrnes midnight curfew as against his own one A. M. closing hour for all bars and amusement places. "He's running the country : I'm running the city," the Mayor said. Meanwhile, the Navy officially up- held the Byrnes curfew when it was announced that beginning last night Navy shore patrols would notify Navy personnel found in amusement places after midnight that they are violating the national curfew. Army military police began a similar practice the previous night, ordering Army per- sonnel out of night clubs after mid- night. Mayor LaGuardia will be heard to- night over radio station WJZ, New York, and the Blue Network in a discussion of "Why the One-Hour Tolerance For New York City." It will mark the Mayor's first air ap- pearance since he announced his ex- tension of the curfew hour in New York on his weekly broadcast over station WNYC last Sunday It will also mark his first discussion of the curfew situation with the public fol- lowing Byrnes' and President Roose- velt's comment on the extension. 1 8 Topnotchers t o Sponsor 'Col. Blimp' Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, Vice- Admiral Herbert F. Leary, USN, Comm. of the Eastern Sea Frontier, and Ogden Reid, editor and publisher of the Herald-Tribune, have accepted invitations to serve on the Society of Illustrators' honorary committee for the premiere on March 29 of "Colonel Blimp" at the Gotham Theatre, here. The committee also includes the Earl of Halifax, Mayor La Guardia, Joseph P. Kennedy, J. Arthur Rank, Joseph V. Connolly, John N. Wheeler, Howard Chandler Christy, James Montgomery Flagg. John Golden, -Major Edward Bowes, Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly USN, William Ran- dolph Hearst, Jr., Charles B. McCabe, Frank Cronwinshield, and Wallace Morgan. , First BMOI Film On Pacific Ready British Information Services is dis- cussing with the Office of War Infor- mation possible release of "Pacific Thrust," first of 40 British Ministry of Information films about the Pacific Campaign. The film, a three-reeler, was fin- ished in January; it is an 'orienta- tion' film of the Pacific War from the time of the first Jap victories to re- cent footage of the campaign in the Philippines. The BMOI program is being pre- pared to put the British people in the "right psychological mood" to continue the fight against Japan despite the imminent defeat of Germany. Lure Needed to Move Chicago Children Chicago, March 21. — Neigh- borhood exhibitors, needing seats for waiting custom- ers, particularly on week- ends, are resorting to an old lure to draw youngsters out of theatres following the first show, announcing that all who forego sitting through a show again will receive candy or a pass for one for a week- day afternoon. Between 100 and 300 seats usually become available following an an- nouncement. Of the passes distributed, less than 50 per cent are used. Final Depinet Drive Meet Here Today Robert Folliard, 'captain' of RKO Radio's 1945 'Ned Depinet Drive', accompanied by short subject sales manager Harry Michalson and Mike Poller, returned to New York, yester- day, for the final drive meeting, scheduled for today, at the New York exchange. Completing a 40-day tour of the company's branches in the U. S. and Canada, Folliard reported that the drive, scheduled to end on May 10, is now in full swing at all branches. On hand for today's meeting at the New York exchange will be branch manager Phil Hodes and his entire sales staff, and Harry Michalson, Harry Gittleson, Walter Branson, Mike Poller, Frank Drumm and Charles Boasberg. Cowan Prod. Is Host To George Schaefer Lester Cowan Productions yesterday was host at a cocktail party for George J. Schaefer, new chairman of the beard of the company, at the Sherry-Netherlands Hotel here. Among those present were Malcolm Kingsberg, Si Fabian, Colvin Brown, Harry Buckley, Barry Buchanan, Terry Ramsaye, Red Kann. Sherwin Kane, Al Margolies, Dave Epstein, Jack Harrison, Al Steen, James Jer- auld, Bernard Kreisler, William Pierce, Herb Berg, James Dunn, Wil- liam White. -Leon Netter, Paul Har- vey, Herman Schleier, Mori Krus- hen, Martin Starr and Major Ortori Hicks. Navy Making Films For Seventh Loan Reisman Reports on French Film Trade A meeting of the MPPDA foreign department heads' group was held here yesterday at the Harvard Club. Phil Reisman, RKO Radio vice-presi- dent in charge of foreign sales, who recently returned from abroad, de- livered a talk on recent developments in the French film industrv. Worden a V-P Howard T. Worden, manager of the motion picture division of . Foote, Cone and Belding, New York, has been elected a vice-president of the agency. Accounts served by this divi- sion are : RKO Radio, RKO Theatres of New York, Selznick- Vanguard Films, Disney Productions and Pathe News. Worden has been in the agency field for most of the past 13 years, after starting in the theatre business. Washington, March 21. — The Navy will produce five three to five minute 'impact' trailers and two 16 mm short subjects to be used as War Bond sales incentives during the forth- coming Seventh War Loan Drive, it has been announced by J. Edward Shugrue, director of the motion pic- ture and special events section of the War Finance Division of the Treasury. The films will be completed by April 5. The first short is "Mid- night," and deals with elements of the fleet stationed at Greenwich, England, preparing for the next day's battle ; and the second is "Remember These Faces," which shows the wounded in an invasion in the Pacific. The first of the trailers, "The Voice of Truth," shows Marines hurrying to an invasion and records their reactions to Jap propaganda ; "Time For Sale" shows the privations of American prisoners in the Philippines ; "Mis- sion Completed" shows the flight deck of a carrier after a raid ; "This Could Be America" shows what might hap- pen if the enemy attacked the United States, while the last film has not as yet been identified. The Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are also preparing a series of films in an effort to attract far more than the 23,000,000 persons who saw the Treasury pictures during the last drive. \ Seeley III, Murray Suit Off to Mar. 28 . Chicago, March 21. — Due to the illness of Miles Seeley, attorney for the defense, the hearing of a motion to vacate recent orders issued by Fed- eral Judge William H. Holly in the Thomas A. Murray conspiracy case against distributors and others has been postponed again, this time to March 28. The motions include the dismissal of the remaining distributor defendants in the case, 20th Century-Fox and Loew's, and the granting of a new trial for the other defendants. Short Subject Review Phila. Variety Club To Aid City's Youth Philadelphia, March 21. — -Local Variety Club, Tent No. 13, will par- ticipate in operation of the Mahlon Lewis Community Center in the in- terest of the youth of the city, in the prevention of delinquency, crime, and in the promotion of inter-racial rela- tionship and goodwill. The club will sponsor the Center, and will purchase equipment for its gymnasium and tools for craft shops. In addition it will pay for club . leaders and personnel necessary to operate the Center for at least a year. This part of the pro- gram will cost about $7,500. "Cap'n Cub" {Film Classics — Ted Eschbauyh) A flying bear who rallies his flying animal colleagues against an air in- vasion by the Japs and, with ridicu- lous ease, succeeds in shooting them down ■ is the subject matter of this/*" cartoon. It is good for some laughs^ Film Classisc is distributin time, nine minutes Running" Three Airwave Breaks Twentieth Century-Fox's 30th an- niversary will receive - three more airwave breaks this week, the first tonight, over WABC and 81 CBS stations, for "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Both of the others will be on Sun- day, the first over WEAF and 135 NBC stations, for "Captain Eddie" and the second, over WABC and 130 CBS stations for "A Royal Scandal." Drama Guild to Hold Meet on Court Ruling As a result of the Circuit Court ruling that its basic agreement con- stitutes a restraint of trade in viola- tion of the Sherman Act, the Dramat- ists Guild is currently refusing to counter-sign any sale of film rights for any legitimate production. Of- ficials of the Guild told Motion Pic- ture Daily yesterday that no official action would be taken until the next council meeting set for next week. New York attorneys, questioned on the effect of the court ruling, stated it will have to wait until the courts have decided which phases of the basic agreement are in violation of the Sherman laws. They were unanimous- ly agreed that no court decision would affect any sale consummated in the past, and pointed out what is con- sidered to be an error on the part of the court in making its ruling. It is said that if labor unions may organ- ize with minimum basic agreements, then playwrights, who are intellectual laborers, may do the same thing through the agency of the Guild. RKO Video to Film Blue V-E Activity RKO Television Corp. has been selected by the Blue Network to 'cover' the Blue's 'V-E Day' news room activities in New York. Activ- ities will be filmed and rushed to DuMont television station WABD here for immediate telecasting. Announcing the completion of ar- rangements, Ralph B. Austrian, execu- tive vice-president of RKO Television Corp., yesterday pointed out that a crew of camera men will be on call so that the minute the news breaks, they will set up thier equipment re- gardless of the hour. This is the first time, Austrian stated, that television has set itself up to give 'priority service' to news events. Paul Mowrey, Blue Network television director, will be coordinator. Schiffrin Ready for Paris Trip on Films Simon Schiffrin, head of the films division of the French Press and Information Service, will leave this week for a six-weeks' trip to Paris, to confer on mutual film prob- lems of the French and American industries W'ith Jean Painleve, French film committee head, and the French Minister of Information. Schiffrin told Motion Picture. Daily that films dubbed here in French before last Jan. 1 will be ad- mitted to France despite a law on the books that most dubbing must be done in France. Almost 100 films have been dubbed here, most of which are expected to receive French distribu- tion. $3 EVERYBODY'S ^ FIXIN' UP FOR aramount s Easter Parade OF GIRLS AND SONGS # AND STARS /// Technicolor * INCLUDING 798 KEY HOUSES COAST-TO -COAST Starring Veronica Lake AS A SUPER-CIGARETTE GIRL! Tufts HE SINGS — AND PLAYS— AND GOOD! Eddie Bracken NEW RAVE OF THE AIR WAVES Marjorie Reynolds REPEATING HER "HOLIDAY INN" DANCING TRIUMPH Sonny Everything Points to Paramount's Biggest Musical Success Since "Star Spangled Rhythm "! fs ^^^^ 4* a-. / J / on the in Technicolor with JOHNNY COY, PETER WHITNEY, ALAN MOWBRAY, PORTER HALL, SPIKE JONES AND HIS ORCHESTRA Directed by SIDNEY LANFIELD Screen Play by Karl Tunberg and Darrell Ware Thursday, March 22, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 Review "The Clock" -(M-G-M) ANY vehicle in which the talented Judy Garland appears rates attention. "The Clock," however, rates pause beyond the usual since this is Judy's first straight dramatic effort. She does not sing a single note. The changeover in type of story must have given the powers at M-G-M sufficient reason for weighty deliberation, for reasons which are obvious. The long and short of it is, however, that the leap from musical to drama bears all evidence of successful negotiation. For "The Clock" has charm sweetness, heart tug and wholesomeness and emerges with pronounced satis- faction in an area not before attempted by its star. How much of Judy as future dramatic actress and how much in the type of part with which she is so popularly identified probably will be gauged by the box-office fate which her new attraction meets. There should not be much question about the departure. Miss Garland reveals genuine capabilities in a serious role, but the fact also to be remem- bered is she has been indicating this in those serious interludes long since sandwiched into her musicals. Aiding her, but also standing on his own, is Robert Walker as romantic foil. The boyish charm which is one of his principal assets is on ample dis- play as the shy soldier from Indiana who lands in New York for the first time from a Maryland camp with 48 bewildered hours on his hands. In the rushing stream of the metropolis, accident crosses his path. But accident happens to carry the name. of Judy Garland. He is attracted to her at once, the more because he is engulfed by the big town than for any other reason. It becomes merely a matter of hours before the attraction takes on size. She is cautious at the outset; then she, too, begins to think he is quite a fellow. They visit museums, ride on busses, look down on the Hudson from Riverside Drive, get good-naturedly involved with James Gleason, milkman, and spend the night delivering his goods. By daylight, neither boy nor girl wants the other to get away. One of the poignant sequences in a film full of poignant and pleasant passages finds them losing each other and in a frenzied scramble to find one another again. They do, of course, but what this does is to prove it's love that's got them. Their mad rush to get license, blood test and court dispensation to marry before passage of the 72 hours demanded by New York law follows, and thereafter, their one-night of honey- mooning. The next morning sees Walker returning to camp and Judy at the train to speed a reluctant departure, confident their new life together is inter- rupted only temporarily by the war. Story content is slim, but it is not so much what happens as how it hap- pens. This is where the screenplay, by Robert Nathan and Joseph Schrank, working off a story by Paul and Pauline Gallico, and where the sensitive direction of Vincente Minnelh cuts such effective swaths. Caught, too, are the spirit and the vibrancy of the city as well as its size and its capacity for both lonesomeness and happiness. In that respect alone "The Clock" is one of the best translations of the mood of New York that Hollywood has ever achieved. And, while this is a Garland-Walker vehicle, the Gleasons — Jimmy and Lucile — and Keenan Wynn aid with small, but, competent, support. Ar- thur Freed produced. Running time, 90 mins. General audience classification. Release date not set. Red Kann WLB Orders Ending of Coast Strike (Continued from page 1) by President William Green of the ^American Federation of Labor and the y/residents of the two international un- -ions were unsuccessful. This was fol- lowed by the appointment of Thomas Tongue as arbitrator last January and an award, after hearings, on Feb- ruary 17. "Petitions for review of the award have been filed with the board by the producers and Local 44 of the IATSE," the wire continued. "The petitions were on the board's agenda the week of March 12 for preliminary determination as to whether or not the award presented a review-able issue. Your union engaged in a work stoppage during that week, thereby preventing the board from acting." The board pointed out that it ad- vised the parties that it would not take action on the petitions while a strike was in progress, and President Lindelof ordered the strikers to re- turn to work on March 13. These in- structions not having been followed, the board invoked the powers vested in it by the President to order the strike terminated immediately. Seizure Question Board officials refused to state what action might be taken in the event its order was disregarded, but usually in such cases the parties are called for a conference. The only sanction it can impose is Government seizure of the plant, which is conditioned upon an interference with war production, and there was some question as to whether the studio situation would come in that cateeory. The board also called upon the leaders of the unions asking them to cooperate in bringing an early end to the strike. Telegrams were sent to Harvey Brown, president of the In- ternational Association of Machinists, Edward J. Brown, president of the International Brotherhood of Electri- cal Workers, John Rooney, president of the International Association of Plasters and Cement Finishers, and to William L. Hutcheson, president of the Carpenters and Joiners Union, all AFL. They read : "The board is re- questing full assistance and coopera- tion in directing the members of the unions to return to work immediately so that full production may be re- stored. Your assistance to this "end will be appreciated." Curb Commercials on NBC Air Newscasts Elimination of "middle" commercial announcements from all news broad- casts of National Broadcasting in order to render more rapid presenta- tion of vital news, was announced by Niles Trammell, NBC president. The company has asked all sponsors to cooperate to make the revision ef- fective immediately. RKO has a regular 11 P.M. news program on WEAF, New York outlet of NBC, on Saturday nights, and will be hit by this new rule since the company has used about two middle commer- cials weekly to promote local show- ings of its films. Dr. Smith Now RCA Research Associate Dr. Lloyd Preston Smith, professor of physics at Cornell University, has been appointed associate research di- rector of RCA Laboratories, Prince- ton, N. J., it was announced by F. W. Engstrom, RCA research direc- tor, filling the vacancy caused by the death last July of B. J. Thompson, who was killed in action during a flight in an Army airplane in the Mediterranean area while on a spe- cial mission for the Office of the Sec- retary of War. Since February, 1941, Dr. Smith has been associated with RCA Lab- oratories as a rese?rch consultant. New Trans-Lux Unit Albany, N.«Y., March 21. — Trans- Lux Madison Corp. has been incorpo- rated to operate a theatrical business in New York. Incorporators are : Norman W. Elson, Percival E. Fur- ber, George H. Eichelberger, all New York. Promotes Verseput Pierre C. Verseput, transmitter sup- ervisoi of radio station WMCA, New York, lias become chief engineer of the station, replacing Frank Knaack who resigned recently to become chief engineer of WLIB. Quebec Enforcing Child-Barring Law (Continued from page 1) lation of the license of the Palace Theatre, Verdun, which, he said, had been found guilty of violating the measure. "We warn all theatre owners that they have to respect the law," said Duplessis. "If they want to violate it, they will force us to take additional measures. If the present law does not suffice, we shall institute new legis- lation in order to have the Quebec laws respected." Attendance by children in the province was made illegal following a disasterous fire in which the lives of numerous youngsters were lost. The Palace, belonging to Rank's Odeon circuit, is managed by Howard Elliott, who did not deny the viola- tion but said : "The children are being- penalized for an incident for which they were not at all responsible." Elliott is an active worker in the Verdun Lion's Club's effort to stamp out juvenile delinquency and said he felt that, by providing especially- suited weekend film programs for youngsters, he was doing his share toward this end — entertaining them in a well-supervised, fireproof building'. The Quebec children's prohibition law is now being subjected to a court test. Sorrell Says 'No' to U.S. (Continued from page 1) Relations Board. The producers have pledged compliance with such a decis- ion." Speaking for president James F. Walsh, IATSE international vice- president Roy Brewer said : "The War Labor Board echoes our position pre- cisely. Whatever Sorrell does, we will continue to supply all the work- men necessary to keep the studios in production." Earlier in the day the CSU strategy committee passed a resolution designed to fortify IATSE workmen refusing to perform struck work, as ordered by Walsh, declaring: "CSU will not allow its members to go back to work until all persons who were in the studios as of March 9, who left their jobs in support of us, return to work also, without discrimination or loss of seniority." Passage of the reso- lution followed a walkout of IATSE property men at the Paramount studio when they were asked to do carpenter work. Main and Dale Quit Odeon for Fingold (Continued from page 1) Sam Fingold of Toronto for opera- tion of the latter's Ontario theatre circuit, with Fingold turning atten- tion to his other isterests. Main has been headoffice theatre supervisor, and Dale was chief booker of Odeon. Severance of their con- nection with Paul Nathanson has been done in an atmosphere of complete cordiality. This break follows the recent resig- nation of Haskell Masters as general manager of Canadian Odeon, but that was said to have no connection with the latest development. No successor yet has been appointed to Masters, who now is holidaying in Florida. Dale was for many years with Famous Players and left with the late N. L. Nathanson four years ago, while Main was chief supervisor of Hanson Theatres Corp. until the latter was absorbed by Famous Players. Honor for Rapper Presentation of a 'certificate of achievement' by Tau Delta Phi Fra- ternity to Irving Rapper, Warner director, for having "continuously sought to advance the social and moral standards of the motion picture industry," will take place in New York next Tuesday while Rapper is in New York from the Coast for the world premiere of "The Corn Is Green" at the Hollywood Theater, here. Casanave Gets Selznicks Charles L. Casanave, president of Casanave-Artlee Pictures, has ac- quired the U. S. distribution of David 0. Selznick's "Prisoner of Zenda", "Garden of Allah" and "Adventures of Tom Sawyer," from Ray Lewis of Jayell Films. Casanave will announce plans of distribution in a few days. He has left for Chicago for a con- ference with a group of state-right exchange men. IF P A 2-REEL SUBJECT FURNISHED GRATIS So&EU it: A/ oh// | Produced by THE UNITED STATES ARMY * THE UNITED STATES NAVY * THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS L Released through THE OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION Distributed by WARNER BROS, for THE WAR ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE, Motion Picture Industry Thursday, March 22, 1945 Motion Picture Daily ji Independents' Stock Wants Bowles 9 Renewed Ceiling Plea Is Received Coolly Exceed Supply (Continued from paye 1) the committee are understood to have declined the responsibil- ity of the positions. Y'Stanley Adams, head of the Con- sumers Durable Goods Division of WPB, is expected to announce specific allocations for independents either late this week or early next week. Representatives of independent pro- ducers including James Mulvey, Sam- uel Goldwyn Productions ; Al Schwal- berg, International Pictures ; Roy Disney and Walker conferred individ- ually with Adams in Washington on Monday and Tuesday. They discussed their own specific raw stock needs but were given no indication what their allocations would be. The general feeling is that old es- tablished independents will be allocated sufficient raw stock to meet their needs as indicated by their yearly records over a period of years but there will be little likelihood of their being able to increase the number of films they have been producing annually. On the other hand, other applicants for raw stock are not expected to find sufficient supplies available to meet their requirements, since allocations are expected to be based on previous usage. Newer producers under the United Artists banner like Jack H. Skirball and Andrew Stone are not expected to fare as well as Edward Small and Sol Lesser. Some Approach 285 Producer representatives who have conferred with Adams have discussed their needs on the basis of previous use of raw stock which includes both foreign and domestic printing. Some producers have approached the 285- print limit, but others have ordered only a minimum number of prints. While some opposition is understood to have developed to Adams' handling of the situation, most of the produc- er representatives are understood to feel that he is proceeding in the right direction. One paid particular trib- ute to Adams' attempt to secure as much raw stock as possible for the industry by thoroughly studving in- ventories and usage of raw stock by the Armed Forces and other Govern- ment agencies. George J. Schaefer. industry liaison with the WPB on raw stock, reported yesterday that 15.000,000 feet of sur- plus raw stock over six months old had been located in Army supplies and would be made available to the indus- try. Of this, approximately three mil- lion feet will serve or compensate for allocations to Government agencies and the newsreels for coverage of the San Francisco United Nations meet- ing, for which that amount has al- ready been requested by the Govern- ment. The balance will be made available to the industry. DO YOU NEED HELP? WE HAVE The Right Person for That Job Radio — Television — Motion Pictures Kathryn Fecke POSITION SECURING BUREAU, Aoenc 331 Madison Ave., New York 17 N Y Phone MUrray Hill 2-6494 (Continued from paye 1) showed a big jump in admission levels since May, 1942. Sharp questioning by Senators Downey, California and Taft, Ohio, also elicited from Bowles admissions that he had not checked on the in- crease in admissions since 1937 and so did not know whether they were out of line with the general increase in the cost of living, also that he had not considered extensions of control to newspapers which, Taft pointed out, have increased their prices two-thirds and more. Bowles also agreed that the public expenditure for newspapers and reading matter generally is but little less than that for theatre ad- missions, 1.3 per cent of the cost-of- living index, against 1.7 per cent. Tobey Lone Encouragement Bowles' only encouragement came from Senator Tobey, New Hamp- shire, whose comment that pictures were 'more mediocre' than ever and that many of the high-salaried stars were in military service, so that pic- tures should cost less instead of more, appeared to be intended more as a slap at the industry than any promise of support for control. Repeating the charges he made in his letter last week, to Senator Wag- ner that admissions have increased 31.1 per cent, Bowles was promptly challenged by Senator Downey, who declared that California theatres have not increased their prices and while about 20 theatres in New York may have done so. industry figures indi- cate that 1944 admissions were ap- proximately at the same level as in 1943. "Evidence submitted to me seems to show there has been substantially no increase in film theatre prices in the past several years," Downev declared, suggesting that the statisticians may have taken the total theatre receipts and divided them by the number of persons going into the theatres in fig- uring out admission prices, not taking into account the fact that more people now are attending the higher-priced houses than in May, 1942. Would Exempt Some Bowles contended that if an ex- hibitor had not increased his admis- sions unduly he had nothing to fear from price control, explaining that "if we were given the power to move ahead, first of all we would see wheth- er the increase is noteworthy up to now. If there is evidence of people taking advantage of the situation to ask exorbitant theatre prices, we would go in," he added. The OPA administrator charged that high admissions chiefly burden the families of men in the military service _ and the white-collar group whose income increase has not kept nace with the rising cost of living, but Taft asserted the cost of living- has increased 127 per cent since 1937 and suggested Bowles had better find out whether admissions had risen cor- respondingly. The reputed 31 oer cent increase in admissions since 1942, he admitted to Downev is really a net increase of onlv 21 per cent by reason of in- creased taxes, and he agreed with the California Senator that the actual in- crease might even be less when raises in sales and municipal taxes are taken into account. Asked by Taft what he considered a 'substantial' increase, Bowles found it to be only five or eight per cent, but he did not say what he consid- ered the allowable maximum. "I have already pointed out to the Committee that prices for motion pic- tuer admisions have increased to an extraordinary degree above prewar levels," Bowles said. "Such increases as there have been in operating costs have been far more than offset by increased box office volume," he added. "Profits have risen to a new high. For example, the dollar profits of seven major motion picture producers, distributors and exhibitors increased 442.6 per cent in 1943 over the 1936-39 average. Their average annual profits in the prewar years were $31,984,000, or 7.1 per cent of the average annual sales of $453,111,000. In 1943 their nrofits were $173,539,000, or 23.2 per cent of sales of $746,740,000. "It might be added that motion pic- ture admissions have been effectively controlled in Canada. I am confident that they can be effectively controlled here and without imposing an undue administrative burden," Bowles de- clared. Bowles said films cost the U. S. public $1,000,000,000 a year, as much as gasoline, motor oil, auto repairs, auto licenses and taxes combined. He also suggested curbing "stock market inflation". RKO, Goetz-Spitz Renew for '45-'46 (Continued from page 1) International's Gary Cooper Western, "Along Came Jones," with Loretta Young, directed by Stuart Heisler ; "Tomorrow Is Forever" starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles and George Brent, produced by David Lewis and directed by Irving Pichel ; and Sonja Henie's "Countess of Monte Cristo." International pictures distributed during the current season by RKO are : "Casanova Brown," "The Wo- man in the Window," "Belle of the Yukon," and "It's A Pleasure," which will have its release at Easter time. "Casanova" will follow in July ; "Tomorrow Is Forever" and "The Countess of Monte Cristo" will be released later. Radio - Film Theatre Tieups Are Up 300% (Continued from page 1) had jumped sharply in the last few months. Growing tightness of the newspaper situation is credited as the princinal reason. Close to 350 theatres in principal cities already asked for "Hotel Ber- lin" transcriptions, although the pic- ture is not yet in general release, and more than 300 requests have been re- ceived on each of three current films : "To Have and Have Not," "Roughly Speaking" and "Objective, Burma." Requests also are coming in larger numbers from subsequent run exhibi- tors, especially circuits of subsequents. Peter COOKSON • Arline JUDGE Frank JENKS • Jerome COWAN Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS . Directed by PHIL KARLSTEIN Screenplay by Richard Weil • Adnpud from ih. ploy br A. J. Rubi.n, K.b.rt Ch-pin and Mai A MONOGRAM PICTURE 2 < < CO 06 W > 2 3 <: X o h X H o CM to dJ" o«„ g-5 —•to 2 £ « aS« o I - 3 B ■$ r> " w s m i< B •• <= jZ E c « 5: W 3 5 Eoow £h s.b-j- 2£ OH S c» £ Oy g<°?to ZBH >, to W S ^ o Etocg .Si? ,_ "3 e ■ H M ►J « t'c <.§■£ i o c togS* Eg* q? -a ! wS .IS Own ° tji* <>w c/3 _ OQ H § 0 H ^ 60 . o-S * HgO >, E „,9o -s goo > '-'pa o"-1 1 £ M — 05 >03 oa as a s <->Q E . ^ > ►43 J SS wo S |wS mm o" BSf^ 0W Q& I s > * i o -2 ^ •« ~ « y « -S Ca -ti ^ 8 g K o CQ N a: g Dm cq is o O ■g * 5>-o« E^ THE SONG OF BERNADETTE Jennifer Jones Charles Bickford D — 156 mins. (520) (Rev. 12/22/43) A ROYAL SCANDAL Tallulah Bankhead Anne Baxter William Eythe D — 94 mins. (521) (Rev. 3/21/45) MOLLY AND ME Gracie Fields Monty Woolley C— 76 mins. (522) (Rev. 3/8/45) Q < Qi O M OS o I— I >-) ca P w 0J o cm 0u < < O O 2 6 Tf S _bE' u lis. -5 M D ;2o tf-H p « i Q rtZO _ ,2 , M • toK^OJ.gr-l o « p. Q ■> ~ 55.- t» CM CM M cj hfltM, , o§g ! i C aj p .5 J3? 05 _ ; to ■ ti, ^ tog Z * i. — ; Q2.2S- WZ|| g? -T3 « . .ti z to « O 03K ™ 2 °£ J 5qs > 5^ - w m £ " 03 oz ««.s ^ W £«-S-s Z tn i ^ a: o Hw^ o Og; »; 01 3W toS Ooj z< .m O to n (-J Sis?; go-rs § g« OfH^eao.H-^ M O toW w o« £ to P to >- ti HO to to It?; o B-m. lag- QXj ^6 Ooj.J 3 o w> oo-Sjs n c\ MWcigS!ifc> to S 2 gT3 CM D «h ^"S'TS Z 'ra 2 . W "Bil1" to,1: S !3 03U .0 ■-, O 3 H Ul CM 505 ja «>cm « to >- P?S J a c E Og % I to -"P KS-3 fc >ote •-. OIokOhS to S « i- O^ 2M^^ w •J - -3 E . wM-3 5.^ £ 00 O £-c S 3 y Q c * S« oJi o W^. g ca h" *wto S O ~ P ww7«ss «5 > S 2. to S2 ^ o0, -?to ►J I - 03 u O 03 >■ C^/~ fe 2 Si H2 <;>- ca « » J 2W H >-> I W p « 22. H -&S >g5,2 gnSSto 3 I" z j I P u toS N. O hQ ^ tog«-l'^ w 5 e 2 > ^ « U ° * soji-is QH x 5« « S Si I £ a o> « 2^ f->w ho. O to g «j hw ESS 3| £7 EDO - E Z ca 0<2-g 5 RIDI ICE Grah 20/45) ° to S to K on ogS* to M P£Om-£ 03* w Z 1- wO 2„ J= o c z «WSiM °W S oSg >> togH S 03 4^ StoS^ itoto OW W03Q t ao 3 £ 0 1 w_ O w w2- KM S3 £ Ht>fiH toG^-n g HH 3 S3j= ° i - >> " <^ _r 00 22 OE P 5 0 <3 •a, First in and Impartial MOTION;: 'CTURE DAiLY VOL. 57. NO. 57 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1945 TEN CENTS 1 en Films Are Scoring Well In 14 Cities 'Tree Grows in Brooklyn' Continues To Hold Lead By MILTON LIVINGSTON "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" held the lead for the third consecu- tive week in Motion Picture E>aily's reports of estimated box office receipts from 14 key cities, ex- cluding New York City, for the week ended March 22. It did outstanding business in ini- tial weeks in Boston, Chicago, Buf- falo and in two Denver theatres ; it continued strong in second weeks in Baltimore and Indianapolis ; and it drew excellent receipts in third weeks in three Los Angeles theatres and in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. A spell of unseasonably warm weather in many sections of the country, and Spring rains in others, combined with (Continued on page 7) Actors9 Move On Video Due The joint television committee of the Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity and the American Federation of Radio Artists, set up over a year ago to study wage scales and working conditions for actors working in tele- vision is expected soon to be called upon to act after remaining dormant since its formation. What move is made will depend upon the action tak- en by the television committee of Ac- tors Equity, which earlier this week (Continued on page 11) Walsh Eastbound in Move to End Strike Hollywood, March 22. — The studio strike continued status quo today, with representatives of all factions expect- ing it to last over the weekend at least. Meanwhile the likelihood of pres- ident Richard F. Walsh and other IATSE international officers flying to New York or Washington, prob- ably tomorrow, to attempt to persuade international officers of the striking locals to order their members back to work; took on the semblance of cer- (Continued on page 11) IATSE to Negotiate New Wage Boost for 3,000 in Exchanges The IATSE plans to start negotia- tions with home office executives in about a month on a new contract for some 3,000 film 'exchange "white col- lar" workers in 30-odd exchange cities, seeking to institute a system of automatic progression wage increases and provide better than 10 per cent wage increases. The negotiations will follow ap- proval by Regional War Labor Boards of a system of job classifica- tions with minimum and maximum wage scales and minimum 10 per cent wage increases under a contract which expired Dec. 1, 1943, and which has been extended until a new contract is negotiated. Regional Boards have already handed down decisions cover- (Continued on page 11) 25% Budget Cut for Censorship Office Washington, March 22. — A cut of approximately 25 per cent would be made in the 1945-46 appropriation of the U. S. Office of. Censorship — which censors films and other media going abroad, and for which $19,150,- 000 is asked, with the cut made pos- (Continued on page 12) Order 15% British Cut in Raw Stock London, March 22. — The British Board of Trade officially has informed the Kinematograph Renters So- ciety that the raw stock ra- tion for the next two months will be cut by 15 per cent, as forecast in Motion Picture Daily on March 13; it is hoped, however, to restore part of this cut after May 15. At first, only a five or 10 per cent cut was contemplated when Hugh Dalton, BOT president, told the Commons that Britain's demands for stock exceeded the supply by 100,000,000 feet, but the short- age later was found to be still more severe. Independents Seek Raw Stock Formula The National Association of Motion Picture Independents, meeting here yesterday, appointed a subcommittee, headed by Nat Sanders of English Films, to work out a formula for re- dress of hardships sustained by indi- vidual members as the resut of raw stock allocations by the War Pro- duction Board. This subcommittee will then present its findings, infor- mally, before Stanley Adams, head of (Continued on page 10) Films Get Free Ad Space Which Cannot be Bought WLB Still Awaits Strikers' Reply Washington, March 22. — War Labor Board officials, here, tonight said they had not yet received a response to their Wednesday telegram to the striking Conference of Studio Unions workers, in Hollywood, ordering them back to their jobs, although reports from Hollywood said that Herbert Sorrell, presi- dent of the Confrence, had re- jected the order in a wire to the Board. Pending receipt of Sorrell's reply, WLB officials refuse to comment on the situation, which they said had not changed in the past 24 hours. Millions of lines annually of free newspaper space lineage that is ordinarily unobtainable by pur- chase due to advertising space ra- tioning, is being made available to film companies to advertise their pictures in promotional tie-ups with depart- ment stores, booksellers and other local newspaper advertisers, an inves- tigation by Motion Picture Daily reveals. While film companies have always been able to arrange ad- vertising tie-ups with 'outside' advertisers, the rationing of newspaper space has led to greater emphasis being placed in individual cities to promote local promotions of films. Companies have been able to make hundreds of tie-ups with local adver- tisers particularly on films having '^"•tinned on page 10) 50% Increase In British Money Quota New Provisions Subject To Three Conditions By PETER BURNUP London, March 22. — An in- crease of fifty per cent in the mone- tary quota provisions of the Films Act has been ordered by the Brit- ish Government, with the revised quota relating only to distributors adopting a monetary-footage basis. Under the terms of the order, de- ficiencies in the value of British films icquired for exhibition here may be offset by acquiring, for an appropri- ate amount, British films for exhibi- tion in America, provided, first, that labor costs of $12 per foot shall be paid on pictures exhibited in Britain ; secondly, that such costs aggregate the equivalent of at least four dollars per (Continued on page 10) MGM Grooms 27 for '45-46 M-G-M has 27 properties presently being written, being cast, or waiting to be filmed, all for 1945-46. The company is uncertain, because of the raw stock shortage, how many films will be released in 1944-45 ; in the preceding season, 33 were re- leased. The 27 follow : "Green Dolphin Street," by Eliza- (Continued on page 6) Curfew Needs Act of Congress: LaGuardia Despite the move of theatres and other places of amusement in New York City to stand by War Mobiliza- tion Director James F. Byrnes on the midnight curfew, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, speaking last night over a nationwide hookup of the Blue Net- work, reaffirmed his position in allow- ing an hour's 'tolerance,' until one (Continued on page 10) Reviewed Today Reviews of "The Randolph Family" and "Wait for Me" appear on page 10. Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 23, 1945 Personal Mention EK. O'SHEA, M-G-M Eastern • sales manager, will return to Xew York late next week from Miami Beach. • Leox Roth of United Artists ad- vertising department, and Mrs. Roth are the parents of a six-pound boy born at the Manhattan General Hos- pital. • George A. Droulia, of 20th Cen- tury-Fox's home office, left yesterday for Indianapolis, to take a post on the sales force, under manager G. T. Lanbis. • Mitchell Leisex, Paramount di- rector, is expected here from Holly- wood at the end of the month. • Ruth Gillis of M-G-M returned to New York yesterday from Miami Beach. • Fraxk Sally of the RKO Atlanta branch is recovering from a lengthy illness. • Ruth Lewis, of M-G-M's short subject department, is vacationing at Miami Beach. • Tom Jones, former M-G-M office manager in Atlanta, visited there re- cently. • H. M. Bessey, Altec vice-president, has returned to Xew York from Min- neapolis and Chicago. • Bkrnee Lewis, of 20th Century- Fox's home publicity department, is the father of a boy. • Jack Goetz, vice-president of Du Art Laboratories, will leave today for the Coast. • Nat Levy, RKO division manager, is visiting the Atlanta branch. Final Warner Meet On Coast Tomorrow Los Axgeles, March 22. — Fifth and final Warner regional sales meeting, taking the place of this year's sales convention, will open Saturday morn- ing at the Hotel Ambassador, here, and will continue through Sunday. Charles Einfeld, director of adver- tising-publicity, will address one of the sessions and discuss coming product and special campaign plans. Roy Haines, ^'estern and Southern divi- sion sales manager, will conduct the two-day conference, with attendance also including Henry Herbel, West Coast district manager, and the fol- lowing branch managers : Fred Green- berg. Los Angeles ; E. A. Bell, Den- ver; Al Oxtoby, Portland; William F. Gordon, Salt Lake City; Al Shmitken, San Francisco ; Vete Stewart, Seattle ; also : Western field exploitation staff, consisting of Sam Clark, Los Angeles; Allan Kohan, Seattle ; Jack Leewood, Denver. Warners Closes 1st Deal for Latin Films Warners International has closed its first Spanish-dubbed film deal with the Operadora Circuit of 19 first and subsequent run houses in Mexico City, for the first group of 10 films. The company will inaugurate its Latin-American program of dubbed films with the premiere of "To Have and Have Not" on March 31 at the Chapultepec, one of Mexico City's most recently constructed first-runs. Other dubbed films scheduled to play the Operadora circuit will be "Ob- jective, Burma," "Roughly Speaking," ■Hotel Berlin," "God Is My Co-Pilot" and others which have not yet been released for domestic distribution. Warners is understood to be the second major company to launch dis- tribution of a dubbing program in Latin- America, following M-G-M. Unlike Metro, which has centered its dubbing activities in New York, War- ners does its synchronizing at its Coast studio. Travis of MPS A Here For Raw Stock Talks Merwin Travis, executive of the Motion Picture Society for the Ameri- cas, Hollywood, is in New York for conferences with heads of international departments of distributors. He will confer both in New York and in Washington on raw stock allotments to South American countries. In the Capitol he has already talked with Francis Alstock of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Af- fairs. Travis said that the request by the Mexican Government for an additional 5,000,000 feet of film for the making of six operatic features this Summer is under discussion in Washington now, but no decision had been made whether or not to grant the request. Nine Jackter Aides On Montague Drive A committee of nine sales execu- tives has been established to assist Rube Jackter, chairman, in the super- vision of the 'Montague 20th Anniver- sary Campaign,' which got under way March 16 and will continue for 15 weeks through June 28. Those named are : Louis Weinberg, Louis Astor, M. J. Weisfeldt, H. C. Kaufman, George Josephs, Maurice Grad, Vincent Borelli, Seth Raisler and Sidney Singerman. First Returns on R. C. Industry Drive First returns of the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week, now current, exceed last year's quotas. St. Louis's 112 theatres collected $45,060. under the leadership of Harry Arthur, ex- hibitor chairman, and B. J. McCarthy, distributor chairman. Warner Robins, in Georgia, with an over-all quota of $500, raised $586 in its one theatre, the Wellston, against last year's $359. B. & K. in Tieup To Promote Television Chicago, March 22.— WBKB, the Balaban and Katz television station, operating on a regular schedule Tues- days through Fridays, and the Ad- miral Corp., local electronics and radio manufacturer, have concluded an arrangement to further television development in Chicago. Starting in April, Admiral will take over two evening periods fi. week for a variety of experimental television shows, to be used for audience and reception checks as well as for actual instruction for radio dealers in tele- vision fundamentals, according to Richard A. Graver, Admiral vice- president in charge of the radio di- vision. Ida Mae Balaban, daughter of John Balaban, head of the Balaban and Katz Circuit, has become associated with WBKB. Canada Seat Tax on Toronto, March 22. — There is no change in the schedule of royalty fees for 1945 to be collected by the Cana- dian Performing Right Society, To- ronto, from theatre proprietors on a seating capacity basis but the organi- zation has been authorized by the Dominion Government to impose fees totalling $141,672 from Canadian radio stations for the use of the repertoire of music compositions, compared with $138,310 in 1944. The Society had asked for $247,926 from radio broad- casters in the Dominion. BMI (Canada) Limited was granted permission to collect $17,709 in fees from the radio stations, com- pared with $17,288 last year. Lee to Salt Lake for Exhibitors' Meeting Claude Lee, director of public re- lations for Paramount, left here yes- terday for Salt Lake City where he will address the annual meeting of the Intermountain Theatres Association on Tuesday, at the Utah Hotel. Sam L. Gillette is president of the association. Lee will also be the principal speaker at the city-wide civic luncheon on Monday, March 26, launching the an- nual Community Chest and National War Chest in Salt Lake City. Judge Hugo B. Anderson, director of the Salt Lake City Community Chest, ex- tended the invitation to Lee. Classics' Franchisers To Discuss Raw Stock Chicago, March 22. — Franchise holders' committee of Film Classics will meet here at the Blackstone Mon- day and Tuesday to continue dis- cussions of distribution, prints and ac- cessories. L. E. (Nick) Goldhammer, head of Film Classics, was here during the week on a tour of exchanges. He stated he would not participate in next week's meeting which he termed "strictly a franchise holder's" busi- ness session. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50th St. and 6th Ave. Spencer Katharine TRACY HEPBURN "WITHOUT LOVE" LUCILLE BALL A M ETRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE 4. The Music Hall's Great Easter Stage Show ON SCREEN IN PERSON "PAN AMERICANA" PHILLIP TERRY AUDREY i-ONG Tommy DIX Extra.' Menasha SKULNIK { ^ Paramount preterm Veronica Sonny LAKE TUFTS EsMIt Marjorie . BratkM Reynolds ("BRING on the GIRLS" In Person ^ The Ink Spots Ella Fltzaerald Buck & Bubbles Cootie Wllllans and hit Orchestra PALACE B WAY & 47th St. Dick Powell Claire Trevor - Anne Shirley "Murder, My SweeF AN RKO RADIO PICTURE SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor Continuous ASTOR Doors tf*» Broadway 4 • e:30 A.M. 45th Street Popular Priest WALT DISNEY'S The THREE CABALLER0S' In TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pltturaa NOW - - . Brandt's GLOBE BETTY SMITH'S A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN A 20TH CENTURY -FOX PICTURE On Stage! A Gay, Springtime Revue ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th St. MARY O'HARA'S THUNDERHEAD in Technicolor A 20th Century- Fox Picture Doors open 1/ | f» T fl D I A Broadway 6:30 A.M. V I V I U R I H & 46th St. Samuel Shanfield Dies Samuel Shanfield, 60, brother of Louis Shanfield, art department direc- tor of 20th Centrury-Fox, has died here. ^HlnftiL^iPrw? DBAK- Mr"'" Q^y. ^e,s'd|nt *nAd Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, ^^^^:!^<^}^:^Ub^ ComP,!m7- In.V. 12l° S«th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, NewJfork.20._N. Y.Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Cunningham, News Editor; London igley Publishing *, * zc ^ xt xr , xt xr i , , \r — , - ' ~ ~ , 7 . ' "~* " — "„« .umauot, x auic. filtered as secona class post olnce at J«ew York. N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. 1938, at the ] GET CREDIT FOR YOUR RED CROSS COLLECTION. SEND YOUR REPORT TO YOUR AREA CHAIRMAN Directed by ELIA KAZAN Produced by LOUIS D. LIGHTON ( Celebrate in April! ENTURY-FOX 6 Motion Picture daily Friday, March 23, 1945 PRC Will Release 'The Silver Fleet' The Powell - Pressburger British production, "The Sil- ver Fleet," will be distributed in this country by PRC. Tradeshown here yesterday, the picture was reviewed in Motion Picture Daily, from London, on March 18. The basic theme was de- scribed as centering around the sabotage and escapes or- ganized against the Nazis by Hollanders, and said to be "sincere, vivid and factual," although being on the melo- dramatic side. About a reel has been cut from the original version; for this market the picture now runs 77 minutes. Slesinger Forms Two 16mm. Companies Introducing a new method of re- producing comics on film, publisher Steve Slesinger yesterday announced the formation of Telecomics, Inc., of New York, to produce both nationally- known syndicated and original comics for 16 mm. distribution and for tele- vision. Through vice-president Ros Metzger, Ruthrauff and Ryan, Chi- cago, has optioned programs for the first 26 weeks, of Telecomics products, to be televised by station WABD. Slesinger also announced the forma- tion of Telepictures, Inc., Hollywood, which will produce for 16 mm. dis- tribution and television educational programs and also children's books in conjunction with Whitman Publish- ing Co., publisher of children's books. In addition, Telepictures will work with text book publishers, selecting from this material for film subjects. Loew, W-K, Smalley, Switow Buy Mono. Hollywood, March 22.— Eight addi- tiona1 circuits have signed for Mono- gram product for 1944-45, according to announcement by Steve Broidy, vice-president and general sales man- ager. They include : E. M. Loew Theatres, operating 20 houses in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire ; Wehrenberg - Kaimann Circuit, with nine situations in Miss- ouri ; Smalley's Theatres, with 12 in New York ; and five units of the Switow Circuit in Indiana. Other purchasers are William J. Schulte Circuit, with 13 theatres in Michigan ; A. M. Ellis Theatres Co., seven in Philadelphia ; Stein Circuit, seven in Florida and Georgia ; and 22 situations of Co-operative Theatres of Michigan. Honors Saper stein Albany, N. Y., March 22.— Joseph Saperstein, who is marking his 40th year in the theatrical business, has won $750 in war bonds as the Fabian manager who showed the largest in- crease in business for his theatre, the Grand, over the previous year. S. H. Fabian, president of Fabian Theatres, and national exhibitor chairman of the WAC, made the award. Parker Sherwood, manager of the Strand, Schenectady, has been given a $250 war bond by Fabian, head of the circuit, for topping the previous year's business and for clever exploitation. Schnitzer, Berg To Canada Meet United Artists Canadian branch managers will convene at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal for a two- day sales meeting on Monday and Tuesday. Edward M. Schnitzer, UA home office executive, will preside and will discuss sales plans and policies on both current and forthcoming product. Schnitzer will be accompanied by Barry Buchanan and Herbert Spencer Berg. Buchanan, director of advertis- ing-publicity, will address and outline a merchandising campaign on new product. Among the Canadian managers to attend the sessions will be J. H. Reid, Calgary; Charles S. Chaplin, Mon- treal ; George Heiber, St. John ; Doug- las Rosen, Toronto ; Harry Woolfe, Vancouver ; Abraham Feinstein, Win- nipeg. Schnitzer, Buchanan and Berg will leave here tonight for Montreal. Only Ten States Report on 'Dimes' The industry's 1945 March of Dimes totals were given a substantial boost yesterday when Hawaii, which never before had reported infantile paralysis collections to the industry committee, came through with $63,710. Puerto Rico and the Canal Zone, which also were not in the drive in previous years, have reported $1,245 and $1,081, respectively. Two additional states have com- pleted their reports : Vermont collecj ted $7,895, a 24 per cent increase over 1944; North Dakota reported $14,594, 35 per cent above last year. The committee, headed by Nicholas M. Schenck, reiterates its urge to exhibi- tors to rush their reports so that state chairmen may complete their account- ings. Only ten states have made full reports. Balaban and Kirsch Head Variety Benefit Chicago, March 22. — Annual stage show at the Civic Opera House spon- sored by the local Variety Club for the benefit of the La Rabida Sani- tarium here will be known this year as the Hal Halperin Memorial Show to honor the memory of the theatrical leader who died recently. Tentative date is Sunday, April 29. John Bala- ban, B. and K. circuit head, and Jack Kirsch, Allied of Illinois president and Variety Club barker, will have charge of the affair. Among those scheduled to appear on the bill, in addition to out of town stars, will be Dean Murphv, Willie Shore, Lou Holtz, Georgie Price, and Sophie Tucker. Last year $12,000 was turned over to thd sanitarium. Variety Vacation for Boston Soldier Wives Boston, March 22. — Local Variety Club Tent No. 23 will open a Summer camp, to be known as 'Variety Club's Vacation Camp for G.I. Wives and Children,' and will provide free two- week vacations for 160 mothers and their children. An established camp, Camp Sun- light, at Egypt, Mass., with the ser- vices of a trained staff, will take care of the neediest cases, to be selected by social agencies. Appel Heads Odeon Eastern Division Toronto, March 22. — Odeon The- atres of Canada announced today the promotion of C. J. Appel from adver- tising and publicity manager to East- ern division general manager with ju- risdiction over approximately 50 the- atres in Ontario and Quebec. New district managers also appoint- ed are Harry S. Dahn for Western Ontario and the Niagara peninsula, William Weiss covering Central and Northern Ontario and Don Gauld in charge of Eastern Ontario and Quebec. No successor has yet been named for Appel, but Thomas Bowyer was appointed film merchandising and pub- lic relations supervisor working out of the head office. President Paul Nathanson left To- ronto tonight for a tour of the Ca- nadian West with the expectation that he will name officials for the Western division of the circuit, which was di- vided for closer direction following the resignation of Haskell Masters as gen- eral manager. Nathanson himself is taking a more active role as managing director under the new setup. It was officially announced that J. Arthur Rank will be here in May, by which time all appointments are to be complete and work under way for the- atre expansion program. Censor Board Not Affected by Bill Albany, N. Y., March 22.— The Mahoney bill, providing that the di- rector, officers and employees of the motion picture division (censors) of the State Education Department, shall be in the competitive class of civil services, does not substantially change the situation, so far as can be learned. Despite the fact it was introduced about the time Irwin Esmond retired as chief of the division, the measure puts nothing in competitive civil serv- ice that is not already there. All of the positions have been covered by civil service for 17 years. Under the present setup, they could be made non-competitive only if the Education Department, the Civil Service Com- mission and the budget director agreed to the switch. This is consid- ered very unlikely. Kalcheim, Marks in New W. Morris Jobs Nat Kalcheim has been appointed to take charge of the administration and coordination of the orchestra de- partment in all offices of the William Morris Agency, by Willard Alex- ander. Alexander will concentrate on setting policy and building new prop- erties for the department. Alma E. Marks has joined the of- fice to handle writers, material and vehicles for radio broadcasting and television. She has just returned from England where she supervised OWI radio programs. Powell Here for 'Blimp' Michael Powell has arrived in New York from London to attend the pre- miere of "Colonel Blimp" at the Gotham Theatre, next Thursday. Powell wrote, directed and produced the picture in association with Emeric Pressburger, who is on his way from London and is expected to arrive here within a few days. MGM Grooms 27 for '45-46 {Continued from page 1) beth Goudge, winner of the $175,000 special M-G-M prize award ; "The Yearling," by Margaret Rawlings, Sidney Franklin producing; "Brighton Beach," musical, Henry Koster direct- ing, and Joe Pasternak producing ; "Holiday in Mexico," musical-comedy, to be produced by Pasternak ; "Three Wise Fools," adapted from the Austin Strong stage play, with William Wright producing ; "The Postman Always Rings Twice," by James Cain, with Carey Wilson producing; "Colo- rado," by Louis Bromfield, with Pas- ternak producing. Also : "What Next, Corporal Har- grove," story being written by Harry Kurnitz, with George Haight produc- ing ; "The Kissing Bandit," original by Gladys Lehman, Pasternak produc- ing ; "The Green Years," by A. J. Cronin, Sam Zimbalist producing ; "No Leave, No Love," original by Charles Martin, Pasternak produc- ing ; "Josephine," by Booth Tarking- ton ; "The Home-Coming of Ulysses," Sidney Franklin producing. Other Titles Also : "An American Cavalcade," by Carl Sandburg ; "Death in a Doll's House," by Lawrence Bachman and Hannah Lees, Robert Sisk producing ; "Boy's Ranch," Sisk producing ; "The History of Rome Hanks," by Joseph Pennell ; "A Touch of Heaven," by Henry and Armin Robinson, Ralph Wheelwright producing ; "Up Goes Maisie," George Haight producing ; "Close Shave," Martin Gosch produc- ing ; "The Hoodlum Saint," Cliff Reid producing; "The Girl from Rectors," musical, Jack Cummings producing; "Daddy Is a Wolf," with Ferenc Molnar . writing the story and Pasternak producing ; "If Winter Comes," by A. S. Hutchinson ; "The Sun Is My Undoing," by Marguerite Steen ; "Taps for Private Tussie," by Jessie Stuart ; "Red Shoes Run Fast- er," by Henry Bemelman. The company now has 23 directors, 46 writers, 103 featured players and 32 stars under contract, with 19 play- ers in the Armed Forces. Mohme Independent Mexican Distributor Mexico City, March 22. — Gustave Mohme, for many years 20th Century- Fox manager in Mexico, has resigned to undertake distribution of Mexican films in the U. S. and elsewhere, and also has contracted for several films for distribution in the Philippines, some of which are already en route to Manila. They are said to be the first Mexican films to be exhibited there in a long time. McNeill Renewed Chicago, March 22. — Don McNeill, master-of-ceremonies of the Blue Net- work's 'Breakfast Club' program which was voted second "Best Day- time Program" in the Motion Pic- ture Daily's ninth annual radio poll, was signed to a new five-year contract by the network, E. R. Borroff, head of the Central division, announces. McNeill has been associated with the show since June, 1933. Friday, March 23, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 Condon Bill May Go To Senate Today Albany, N. Y., March 22. — The Condon bill, drafted in cooperation with the New York State Labor De- partment's advisory committee to In- dustrial Commissioner Edward Corsi, went on third order of the calendar today, and is expected to pass the Senate tomorrow, and the Assembly either tomorrow or Saturday. Corsi ~%s promulgating a new State build- ing code, with the aid of representa- tives of the motion picture industry. The Condon bill broadens the defi- nition of a place of public assem- bly and requires the industrial com- missioner to enforce its provisions, ex- cept in cities of 100,000 or more hav- ing an enforcement agency such as the building department. It also makes changes relative to a fee for filing plans and for revocation of certificates of compliance. It does not affect New York City. Expect August Trial Of Surrey Blue Law London, March 22. — An August hearing in High Court is anticipated for the Cinematograph Exhibitors As- sociation's test of the legality of the Surrey County Council's act prohibit- ing children from attending films on Sundays. A High Court writ formally chal- lenging the act has been issued on be- half of the Odeon Theatre at Kings- ton-on-the-Thames, but in reality the entire CEA is behind the effort. The writ seeks a declaration on the coun- cil's move, which it charges is un- reasonable. Peirce Ends Promot'n Conferences in N. Y. Bill Peirce, Jr., director of adver- tising - publicity for Lester Cowan Productions, left New York yesterday for Hollywood following discussions on future campaigns on United Art- ists releases with George J. Schaefer and Al Margolies. For Ernie Pyle's "The Story of G.I. Joe," it is planned to increase the usual newspaper appropriation by 50 per cent. Plans for augmented cam- paigns on "Tomorrow the World" were also completed. DeMille Files Appeal From AFRA Verdict, Hollywood, March 22. — Cecil B. DeMille today filed in Superior Court a notice of appeal to the California Supreme Court from the recent deci- sion in favor of the American Federa- tion of Radio Artists which resulted in relinquishment of his radio pro- gram. The court held that AFRA had a right to demand a one-dollar assess- ment, which DeMille refused to pay because it was to be used for political purposes. N.Y.U. Film Conference Production needs and uses of films in education will be the subject of a two-day conference of teachers, and producers and distributors of educa- tional films at New York University which begins today. Dr. Alice V. Keliher is chairman of the conference committee. Ten Films Score Heavily In Reports on 14 Cities (.Continued from page 1) the effects of the midnight curfew, cut into grosses of many films. "Hotel Berlin" and "Roughly Speaking" are displaying good draw- ing power in new openings while hold- overs, including "Murder, My Sweet," "I'll Be Seeing You," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Music for Millions," "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka," "A Song to Remember" and "Meet Me in St. Louis" are strong, bringing to 10 the number of films scoring above house averages in 14 cities reporting. "Tree" drew an excellent $206,725 in reports from 12 theatres in nine of the key cities where par is $180,200. It was a leader in Boston with a big .p6,000 above; it more than doubled average in two Denver theatres with $20,635 above ; and it was also a lead- er in Buffalo in an initial week with $6,200 above and in Chicago with $5,- J00 above. It was also strong in hold- over weeks in Los Angeles, Pitts- burgh and Baltimore, while it did more moderate business in holdover weeks in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. "Hotel Berlin" was strong in an ini- tial week in Baltimore and continued to draw big receipts in second weeks in Los Angeles for a total of $73,435 where par is $66,200. "Roughly Speaking" brought good receipts in initial weeks in Philadelphia and Kan- sas City, and in St. Louis as a dual, and continued strong in a second week as a moveover in Cincinnati. "Mur- der, My Sweet" was profitable in ini- tial weeks in Kansas City and Balti- more and was above average in a sec- ond week in Pittsburgh. "I'll Be Seeing You" was the lead- er in an initial week in St. Louis with over $5,000 above ; was strong in a second week in Baltimore, and drew moderate business in a second week in Buffalo. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" drew good receipts in ini- tial weeks in two Los Angeles thea- tres and in Cincinnati and in a third week in Denver, all on return engage- ments at popular prices. It was still strong in a second week in Toronto on an initial run and drew moderate business for the first week of a return engagement in Philadelphia. "Music for Millions" continued strong in second weeks in Philadel- phia and three Los Angeles theatres and was the leader in Cincinnati in an initial week. "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka," drew good business in an ini- tial week in Boston, as a dual, and continued to hold up well in second weeks in three Kansas City theatres and in Cincinnati on a moveover. "A Song to Remember" was still strong in fourth weeks in two Los Angeles theatres, as a dual, and in a second week in Denver. "Meet Me in St. Louis" continued to draw heavy re- ceipts in fourth weeks in Chicago and Pittsburgh and was still strong in Philadelphia in a second run. Other films playing in two or more theatres in the 14 cities and scoring moderate business were : "Here Come the Co-Eds, " "Objective, Burma," "Earl Carroll Vanities," "Mr. Em- manuel," "Belle of the Yukon" and "The Three Caballeros." "Tonight and Every Night" was $7,000 above par in two Boston thea- tres ; "Here Come the Waves" was $7,300 above in Pittsburgh and strong in a third week in Cleveland, and "Practically Yours" showed strength in initial weeks in St. Louis and Cleveland. NTS To Campaign on Box-Office Supplies As the first step in its 1945 promo- tional program, National Theatre Supply will stress, during April, the sale of box office supplies through its 28 branch offices from Coast to Coast. The campaign will include direct mail to exhibitors, window displays and tradepaper advertising. Among the items to be featured are illuminated glass admission signs, 'Plastack' coin holders, Goldberg speaking tubes, 'Automaticket' elec- tric ticket registers, tickets. The campaign will also include promotions on lobby, booth, auditorium ; janitorial supplies, fire protection equipment, chair repairs. 'Bobby-Sox' Fan Paper Chicago, March 22. — A new 'fan' monthly, angled for the 'bobby-sox' trade, will appear in April as Teen Screen Magazine. Sheldon Heiman, former juvenile columnist on the Downtown Shopping News, here, will be the editor of the pocket-size maga- zine. Paris Strike Ends Theatre managers and union mem- bers have agreed on increased salary scales, ending a Paris film theatre strike, which had spread to several provincial cities, according to press dispatches received here yesterday. Last of RKO Depinet Drive Meetings Held The final branch meeting in RKO Radio's 1945 "Ned Depinet Drive" was conducted here yesterday morn- ing by drive captain Robert Folliard, at the New York exchange. The drive squad, headed by Folliard, and including Harry Michalson, Mike Poller and Frank Drumm, arrived Wednesday night from branch meet- ings in Boston and New Haven, con- cluding a 40-day tour by Folliard and Michalson of company branches throughout the U. S. and Canada. Taube Resigns from MPT A of Ontario Toronto, March 22. — Syd Taube has resigned as executive secretary of the Motion Picture Theatres Associa- tion of Ontario, which he organized three years ago, and has gone to New York to consider a new proposition, according to an announcement made here today. Sanford in Five Deals Bert Sanford, New York district manager of Altec Service Corp., has closed service renewal deals with the following circuits : Broadway Carteret Corp. ; Midtown Holding Co. and Newark Amusement Co., New- ark; Nepeta, Inc., New York; H. V. Theatre Enterprises, Inc., Kingston. Armed Forces Like 'Princess' Best "The Princess and the Pirate" was the most popular film in 1944 among members of the armed forces, in the U. S. and continental bases, as reflected by attendance at Army theatres, according to the U. S. Army Motion Pic- ture Service. The 10 most popular pictures from a box office standpoint were, in the order named, as follows: "The Princess and the Pirate," Goldwyn-RKO; "Thirty Sec- onds Over Tokyo," M-G-M; "Arsenic and Old Lace," War- ner Bros.; "Since You Went Away," Selznick-UA; "To Have and Have Not," Warner Bros.; "Bathing Beauty," M-G-M; "Going My Way," Paramount; "Pin-Up Girl," 20th Century-Fox; "Up in Arms," Goldwyn-RKO; "Kis- met," M-G-M. Ontario Unscathed By New Taxation Toronto, March 22. — Leslie Frost, Provincial Treasurer, has introduced no amusement or other tax measures to the Ontario Legislature in estimates for 1945-46 which list censorship and theatre inspection expenses of $42,200 of which $35,200 is for salaries, $4,000 for travelling expenses and $3,000 for maintenance for the 12 months com- mencing April 1. The financial --^ort far the past year showed a revenue of $195,609 made up as follows : film censorship fees, $105,268; annual licenses for theatres and projectionists, $89,937, miscellaneous, $403. Tax-Free Admissions End in Phila. Apr, 1 Philadelphia, March 22. — The re- ceiver of taxes here announces that new regulations recently passed by the City Council removing all exemp- tions from the original city amuse- ment tax legislation, will go into effect on April 1. This affects previously tax-free children's admissions, with the tax calling for the collection of one cent on each 25 cents or fraction thereof. License fees are increased from $1 to $10 annually. Columbia To Release WAC (Lend-Leasey The question "What's the reason for Lend-Lease?" will be answered by way of an Office of War Informa- tion-War Activities Committee re- lease, titled "The Two-Way Street." Charles Winninger acts as narrator for the eight-minute short, half of which is done in animated cartoon form, as created for use in the Army- Navy 'Screen Magazine,' produced by Army Pictorial Service. Columbia will distribute, beginning April 12. Langler Replaces Jordan Atlanta, March 22.— Harry Gra- ham, Southern district sales manager of Universal, has appointed Robert J. Langler as Tennessee sales represen- tative, replacing 'Shag' Jordon, re- signed. Langler formerly was with the sales force of Universal in Cin- cinnati. Jordon is taking a rest in Jacksonville. 10 Motion Picture daily Friday, March 23, 1945 Output of Film up 6 Per Cent in '44 Washington, March 22. — Total production of photographic film last year was 580,448,000 square feet, an increase of six per cent or 34,355,000 square feet over 1943, it was reported today by the Department of Com- merce. The department announced that fourth quarter output increased 10 per cent or 13,744,000 square feet over the preceding quarter and was 18 per cent or 23,847,000 square feet above the fourth quarter in 1943. Commercial users received a slightly lower proportion of the output in 1944, but the actual quantity distributed through commercial channels increased seven per cent or 24,260,000 square feet over the preceding year. The ratio of total shipments to commercial users steadily declined through the year, from 72 per cent in the first quarter to 59 per cent in the final three months. The Department's report covered the production of eight manufacturers in 1943 and the first half of last year and ten manufacturers for the final six months of 1944, representing 100 per cent of the industry. Reviews Independents Seek Raw Stock Formula (Continued from page 1) the WPB consumers durable goods division before the Industry Advisory Committee holds it next meeting. Any problems remaining after this infor- mal conference will, of course, go to the larger group for final determina- tion. At yesterday's meeting, election of NAMPI officers was tabled until the next meeting, in mid-April. The pres- ent slate includes Charles Hirliman Florida-Hirliman Productions, pres- ident ; Jack Hoff berg, Hoff berg Pro- ductions, first vice-president ; Sanders, secretary, and Sam Hacker, Film Audit Service, treasurer. Principal complaint being aired, which may or may not be incorpo- rated in a formula for presentation to the WPB, is the uncertainty of re- lease scheduling by small independ- ents compared to the larqe compan- ies, frequently involving loss of raw stock allocations as printing cannot be determined as finely as by a large company in any given quarter. This can, in the opinion of many independents, be corrected by secur- ing permission to carry-over alloca- tions from one quarter to the next. "The Randolph Family" (English Films-Paul So skin, British) <*' I ' HE Randolph Family" deals with the life of a British family, and while A charming and played to the hilt by a fine cast, it seems too placid to ap- peal to the average American audience, although 'class' patrons will enjoy it. Others might be bored with the succession of sequences unfolding in chrono- logical order, with little of the suspense or strife which might have made the film more fitting to American tastes. The story, a simple one, deals with a father and mother celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in an upper middle-class home in an English village The scattered family returns, each child having been away for years, and each carrying his or her own story of success or failure. The story's mood is epi- sodic and the crisp British accents and mannerisms are not overly helpful for American enjoyment. The actors are superb, however, with Margaret Lock- wood, as the star, looking lovely and acting with grace and simplicity. Her lover, Nicholas Wilding, gives a sincere performance. Helen Haye and Fred- erick Leister are fine as the 70-year-old parents, and Ann Stephens and Derek Lansiaux as the children, almost steal the picture from their elders. The film was produced by Maurice Ostrer, and directed by Harold French. The screen play, by R. J. Minney and Pat Kerwan, from the play, "Dear Octopus," by Dodie Smith, is somewhat stilted. It is obvious that the film was aimed primarily for the English maarket. Running time, 78 minutes. General classification. Release date, March 10. Edward Smith "Wait For Me" (Artkino) ((TITHEN endless days bring no word from me, keep your lonely vigil, VV dear— wait for me." So wrote Konstatin Simonov, Red Star corre- spondent, in a poem inspired on the Eastern front. Eighteen different com- posers set it to music, and a million copies were printed. Emerging as a play, it ran simultaneously in some 30 Russian theatres and was then filmed, with a scenario by the original author, with his wife, Valentina Serova, cast as the one who waits. English dialogue has now been added, smoothly. In these years when fighting men throughout the world live in hope that their women will keep faithful, this tale attains a stature not otherwise merited by the all-too-elementary way (for American audiences) in which it has been told. The heroine's husband, Boris Blinov, is given up for dead in a Nazi ambush. His closest friend, Lev Sverdlin, gets through to Moscow with the sad report. The wife refuses to accept the 'inevitable,' and, sure enough, the loved one miraculously comes back. For counterpoint, there is Nikolai Naz vanov, heartbroken when his Nina Zorskaia fails to wait. The picture was directed, with a few redeeming touches, by Alexander Stolper and Boris Ivanov. Main U. S. voices are those of Donna Keith, Alexander Scourby, and Sanford Meisner. Running time, 87 minutes. General classification. Release, March 17. Tom Loy Hollywood Debut for Williams Los Angeles, March 22. — Paul Williams, former Assistant U. S. At- torney General, and new general counsel of Southern California Thea- tre Owners Association, will be intro- duced to the trade at a reception here April 5. Young to Produce Cleveland, March 22. — George Young, for the past 13 years head of the Roxy Theatre, only local theatre playing burlesque, is leaving the field to enter film production. It is under- stood that he has sold fifty per cent of his interest in the Roxy to a burlesque circuit Films Get Free Space In Store Tie-Ups (Continued from page 1) backgrounds of the Armed Services, with military personnel cooperating. Local stores and advertisers have used allotted advertising space to pro- mote merchandise and products used in films on a direct tie-up to the local showing of a film. Paramount se- cured this type of advertising in a tie-up with R. H. Macy's department store, here, to promote "Frenchman's Creek" and United Artists more re- cently secured newspaper lineage for "Guest in the House." Films derived from books receive thousand of lines of free promotion in newspapers through publisher tie-ups. More recently, Warner Bros, at Macon, Ga., opened "God Is My Co- Pilot" and almost every local adver- tiser used customary advertising space to salute Col. Robert L. Scott, local war hero whose experiences are •-ecounted in the film. Votes Against 'Reports' Philadelphia, March 22. — Al- though no official announcement has been made, members of Eastern Penn- sylvania Allied, at a board meeting here, registered opposition to the new Confidential Reports, Inc., checking service formed by distributors, and scheduled to begin operating April 2. Britain Orders a 50% Money Quotalncr ease (Continued from page 1) foot had the distributor adopted a footage basis, and, thirdly, that every eight dollars of the price paid for British films exhibited in America shall reduce the footage obligation by one foot. The monetary quota provision here- tofore provided that each American company must make or acquire one British film per 100,000 feet of im- ports, that each must be at least 7,- 000 feet in length, and involved a pay- ment of at least $82,000 in wages to British labor. The 50 per cent increase was fore- cast in Motion Picture Daily on Tan. 26. Abel in Three Air Shows Walter Abel, currently in "The Affairs of Susan,"- first Hal B. Wallis production for Paramount, will be uuest-starred on three network radio shows originating in New York in advance of the world premiere of the picture at the Rivoli Theatre on March 28. Abel will appear on "Stage Door Canteen" on CBS. tonight; he will be the guest of Radie Harris on her Blue Network program tomorrow, ^nd will be on the Colgate 'Theatre of Romance' program on CBS on Tuesday. By THALIA BELL Hollywood, March 22 COLUMBIA has exercised its op- tion on Jerome Courtland, youth who scored in "Together Again." . . . At 20th Century-Fox, players Michael Dunn and Richard Conte and stofy editor Julian Johnson have had their contracts renewed. . . . Ward Bond., and George "Gabby" Hayes will ap( pear in Republic's "Dakota." • Marjorie Harmon has been selected for the feminine lead in Monogram's "Springtime in Texas." . . . Twelve- year-old Dickie Tyler has been signed for a featured role in Rainbow Pro- duction's "The Bells of St. Mary's," which wil\ be released by RKO Radio. . . . Artie Shaw has purchased an original by Al Martin as his next. • Steve Fisher has been signed by Universal to write the screenplay for the next Maria Montez picture, "Tangiers." . . . Hattie McDaniel has been assigned a role in the forthcoming Warner production, "Janie Gets Married." . . . Charles Drake has been signed to a con- tract by Paramount producer Hal Wallis. • Bert Rench, formerly with M-G-M, has joined Patrick Michael Cunning Television Productions as head of its editing department. ... Ed Beloin will write the screenplay for "Kathe- rine the Last," next Universal film starring Deanna Durbin and Charles Laughton. Curfew Needs Act of Congress: LaGuardia (Continued from page 1) A.M., here and questioned whether the Government "can or will" enforce the 12-o'clock closing regulation unless it should be given 'teeth' through an act of Congress. LaGuardia emphasized that Byrnes' institution of the curfew was merely a "request" and said he felt that, by the same token, he had the right to "suggest" one o'clock. Nor has the Mayor been able to determine who in Washington sought the request or ex- actly why it was made, he added. He pointed out the difficulties of enforcing midnight closings in a city the size of New York, including prominently the problem of traffic snarls, and men- tioned also that the service men do not like the curfew. Only night clubs, dance halls and bowling alleys can be compelled to ob- serve the curfew, the Mayor said, be- cause these are the only places under the control of the municipal authori- ties. Regarding the flood of messages from other mayors and state officials to the effect that they were abiding by the Byrnes' request, LaGuardia ques- tioned whether they were obtaining full compliance in their own locali- ties. Barach Names Kendis Cleveland, March 22. — Nat Barach, National Screen branch manager, has promoted George Kendis to office manager. Friday, March 23, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 Actors \ Move On Video Due (Continued from page 1) was instructed to report to the Equity Council as a result of a demand by Equity members that something be done to fix working standards. On the basis of the report of its television committee, the Equity Council will de- cide whether it will press the joint ^SAG-AE-AFRA television commit- tee for action. Equity's claim over jurisdiction of actors in television dates back to 1931 when, it is said, the "4A's" awarded it jurisdiction. Neither SAG nor AFRA concede that Equity has juris- diction over television, nor has Equity relinquished its claim. In view of the cordial inter-relationship between the three groups, an arrangement might be worked out without a jurisdiction- al row ensuing, should the joint tele- vision committee be forced to act. . Going Commercial Demands for action at this time are understood to be prompted by the fact that television producers are begin- ning to produce shows for commer- cial sponsors and are setting a pattern for postwar operations. Members of the "4A" actor groups who have been appearing on television shows have been providing their respective tele- vision committees with data on sal- aries received and working conditions encountered, providing material to be used to set standards. Since most television stations now producing "live" shows claimed to be merely experimenting, talent has been drawn from many fields, including models and experimental dramatic groups. The IATSE recently declared that it will seek jurisdiction over many technicians in television, indicating a jurisdictional battle with both the In- ternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Associa- tion of Broadcast Engineers and Tech- nicians. The American Federation of Mu- sicians recently moved to set stand- ards for musicians working in tele- vision shows. Lowther Promoted, Is DuMont Producer Samuel H. Cuff, general manager of DuMont television station WABD, New York, announces the appointment of George Lowther, radio writer-pro- ducer, as executive director of the station. Lowther will supervise all programs. Louis Sposa has been appointed manager of the program service de- partment, responsible for the assign- ment of program and rehearsal time and supervision of camera crews, pro- duction assistants and guest relations. Bob Bright is the new art director. Eleanor Belz is establishing a mo- tion picture department. Crosley Files for Third Telecaster Dayton, O., Mar. 22. — The Crosley Corp., operating WLW, WSAI and several international short wave sta- tions in Cincinnati, has filed with the FCC for a commercial television sta- tion here. The company already has applications pending for television sta- tions in Cincinnati and Columbus. Walsh Eastbound in Move to End Strike (Continued from page 1) tainty when Motion Picture Daily learned their baggage is ready and passage booked. Although interna- tional vice-president Roy Brewer would not confirm this beyond saying, "Such a move is under consideration," the understanding is that Walsh will meet with William Hutcheson, Har- vey and Ed Brown, international heads of the Carpenters and Machin- ists and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, respectively. The Conference of Studio Unions strategy committee sent an open letter to all unions in Hollywood pledging that the strike settlement will include an agreement that all workmen who lose their jobs because of strike sym- pathy shall be reinstated without penalty. CSU president Herbert Sorrell called a third all-union mass meeting for Sunday night. A producer spokesman said, "Work- ing conditions are better than at any time 'since the strike started." Philco Has a Heavy Television Program Philco plans to produ ~t television receiving sets within a fe"» months after the end of the war, John Bal- lantyne, president, informs stockhold- ers in a letter. Ballantyne stated, "We believe that television has progressed to the point where it is ready to proceed commer- cially at the end of the war and pro- vide a satisfactory service for the general public. The Federal Com- munications Commission has bee" studving the question of frequency al- locations for television and other radio services. In its recommendations of Jan. 15, hearings, the Commission agreed that commercial television shonld go ahead immediately after the war and set aside 12 channels in the spectrum for commercial television service to the public. "Philco believes that these channels will permit several hundred stations to go on the air in the n°xt few years and give a large part of the public regular television program service. Many sections of the country will have the benefit of programs from several stations. The Commission's action can therefore be the basis for a large post- war industry and provide employment and job opportunities for a great many peo^'e." 'Fury' in 65 First-Runs "Fury in the Pacific," two-reeler which Warners is distributing for the War Activities Committee, has been set for simultaneous showings this weekend in 65 Manhattan, Brooklyn and New York first-runs. Nat Burton Dead Hollywood, March 22. — Nat Bur- ton, 43, who wrote the words for "The White Cliffs of Dover" and many other songs, died of a heart at- tack at his hotel apartment here last night. Surviving are his widow, Dorothy ; a son, Jerry, and a brother, Billy Burton, an actors' agent. '14' Will Negotiate Boost for 3,000 (Continued from page I) ing 28 of the cities, but further clarifi- cation is needed on some decisions. Only Seattle and San Francisco have not yet been covered. The TA" will seek to make auto- matic wage progression increases retroactive to Dec. 1, 1944, the date when a new contract would have been negotiated were not both the IATSE and the film companies working on a system of job classifications under the previous contract. Automatic progres- sion from minimum to maximum with- in two years will also be sought. Minimums and maximums in the 18 job classifications set up for the "white collarites" provide an average range of over 33 per cent. Although many of the workers will be receiving salaries which are at the midpoints of the range, they will still benefit ma- terially if the new system is negotiated and approved by the regional boards. Austrian To Speak At TP A Meet Monday Ralph B. Austrian, executive vice- president of RKO Television Corp. will be the principal speaker at the next regular meeting of the Television Producers Association at the Hotel Pennsylvania next Monday evening. Committees have been formed by TPA to analyze various aspects of television programming with an aim to standardizing such departments as will warrant a fixed plan. Curfew Causes WB To Raise Scales Chicago, March 22.— The Warner circuit here has ad- vanced evening admission prices in all theatres to re- gain losses of late evening sales due to the curfew. In its 'A' houses, the Avalon, Capitol, and Stratford, the night scale has been advanced from six to five p. m., while in its small houses the nor- mal 6:30 change has been ad- vanced to six p. m. Raytheon Plans for Nationwide Video Plan for the creation of a Coast- to Coast television and broadcasting network by micro-wave radio links between stations erected atop nine mountain peaks are revealed by the Raytheon Manufacturing Co., which has filed applications for the stations with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington. Subject to FCC approval, the sys- tem envisioned would provide chan- nels for television, frequency-modula- tion and standard broadcasting, a micro-wave relay chain, a public call system, highway-control traffic and police master stations. There would also be provision for radio safety sta- tions for commercial and private air- plane operation within a radius of 300 to 500 miles around each transmitter location. \0 f*\*\ Peter COOKSON • Arline JUDGE Frank JENKS • Jerome COWAN Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS . Directed by PHIL K ARLSTEIN Screenplay by Richard Weil Adapted from the play by A. J. Rubien, Robert Chapin and Marian Page Johnson LO OF the EST est A MONOGRAM PICTURE O/Vi 12 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 23, 1945 To Build, Alter 250 S. African Theatres In the first two years after the war, some 250 to 300 theatres will be con- structed or reconditioned in South Africa, Ross Allen, assistant to Ed- ward F. Lomba, 20th Century-Fox managing director in that territory, told Motion Picture Daily here. Allen has been in New York from Johannesburg for home office confer- ences, his first trip in four years. Business in South Africa has reached its peak, Allen said, due to the capacity of present theatres. Un- doubtedly, he said, business will ex- pand with the erection of more the- atres, having nearly doubled since the war, due to the influx of Allied troops and war industries. When building materials, projection and sound equip- ment are obtainable for new theatres and as replacements, there will be a "terrific amount of expansion" there, Allen said. Films are the main recreation for South Africans, he observed, with American product occupying 85 per cent of available screen time, and Brit- ish films taking up the rest. Musicals and dramas are favored, Allen said. Problem facing theatre operators is obsolete equipment, with consequent damage to prints. Brandt Purchases Alden The Alden Theatre, at Broadway and 67th Street, New York, has been purchased by the Brandt interest from the City Bank Farmers Trust Co., for $150,000. Extensive altera- tions, for which War Production Board approval has been secured, are planned. The house has an assessed valuation of $460,000, of which $390,- 000 represents land. 25% Budget Cut for Censorship Office (Continued from page 1) sible by economies in operation, it was disclosed here today when President Roosevelt asked Congress to appro- priate $1,120,453,300 to support oper- ations of the 19 civilian war agencies during the year beginning July 1, next. The President's message indicated that the emergency war agencies gen- erally will curtail their activities dur- ing the coming year, but that there is no great relaxation of controls in prospect. An outstanding exception to the general reduction in spending will be in the case of the OPA, given $15,000,000 more than this year to finance a big enforcement drive. The Office of Coordinator of Inter- American Affairs, which is expected gradually to liquidate its operations, would be given $15,880,000, a cut of only $1,700,000, which officials had previously indicated would not ser- iously cut into their film or radio projects. The War Production Board would get $48,042,000, a cut of about $12,- 000,000, while the Office of War In- formation would get $54,100,000, a cut of $1,000,000, but adequate, it was said, for its anticipated operations. End Infringement Suit A suit by May Davies Martenet against United Artists which sought an injunction, accounting of profits and damages on "Voice in the Wind", claiming the title to be an infringe- ment of the title of her book, pub- lished by McCall's in 1942, was dis- continued and settled out of Federal Court, here, yesterday. Order Removal of Fluorescent Bulbs New York building inspec- tors are instructing theatres here to remove fluorescent bulbs from under marquees because they violate the local building code, it is learned. Loew's and RKO, and others, had switched to fluorescents to provide more favorable lighting under marquees, yet remaining within ' brownout" rules. It is pointed out that fluorescents are not usually lodged securely in outlets and the possibility of th:ir falling creates a hazard to pedes- trians. Hunt Estate Sells 4 Houses to Leverette Portland, Ore., March 22. — Walter H. Leverette, owner of Leverette In- terstate Theatres, Inc., has purchased the estate of the late George A. Hunt in Medford, which included four thea- tres. Leverette, who was associated with Hunt, owns theatres in Ashland, Ore. ; Yreka and Weed, Cal. He has sold his interests in the Grantz Pass Amusement Co., operating two thea- tres, to Mrs. George Hunt. Joshua Lowe Dies Joshua Lowe, 69, head of the Lon- don office of }'arictx since 1922, died Wednesday from injuries received in a street accident, according to word re- ceived here yesterday. He leaves a widow, the former Charlotte Parry, Music Hall headliner, now retired in London, and a brother, Albert. British Engineers Invite TBA to U.K. Receipt of an invitation from the British Institution of Radio Engi- neers, by the Television Broadcasters Association, here, to send a represen- tative to London to attend a confer- ence there next month on internation- al television standards, was revealed here yesterday following a meeting of the TBA board of directors. Studio Visit The meeting of the TBA board was followed by a visit to the DuMont television studio here where members witnessed a demonstration of a new 20-inch picture tube developed by DuMont, said to provide an 18-by- 13J^-inch picture with good definition. The board approved an associate membership in TBA for Bryan Davis Publishing Co., publishers of Com- munications Magazine. The next board meeting will be held in Phila- delphia on April 27, when Philco will act as host. Invitation to the London conference was extended by Paul Adorjan, di- rector of Rediffusion, Ltd., London, and an officer of the British radio engineers. Mrs. Claughton Buys Four Tampa Theatres Miami, Fla., March 22.— Mrs. E. N. Claughton, of the Royal Theatre, this city, has purchased from Butler Core, of Tampa, the Rialto, Northtown. Howard and State, all in Tampa. Gore has not announced any future connections. Constance Moore, Tommy Ivo, Pinky Lee and a bevy of beautiful Earl Carroll lovelies in a spectacular production sequence from Republic's gay, new, star-studded super-show, "Earl Carroll Vanities." ADVT. First in MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 57.' NO. 58 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1945 TEN CENTS Third Decade Celebration For 20th-Fox Company's Growth Kept Pace with Industry's The history of 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., which will celebrate its 30th anniversary starting in April, presents a parallel to the growth and develop- ,p; — _ merit of the in- i ^fttfak,. dustry, now one * ^flpiMPV ?. of the greatest 4 ^Er jf ln the world. As a pioneer in the fabulous rise of motion pictures as pop- ular entertain- ment 20th Cen- tury - Fox has been in the forefront of de- velopment of production, dis- tribution and exhibition for three decades. The company today is under the leadership of Spyros Skouras, president; Joseph M. (Continued on page 7) Spyros Skouras Pinanski Sets Four 7th War Loan Aides The Seventh War Loan drive by the motion picture industry will focus at- tention on activities of state and field committees throughout the nation, and in line with this, and to insure its ob- jective, Samuel Pinanski, national drive chairman, has added to the na- tional executive campaign personnel in New York a field coordinating com- (Continued on page 11) Senft, Others Again Head Cinema Lodge Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith will in- stall officers for 1945 at the Hotel As- tor here tomorrow evening. All pres- ent officers are being returned to office and three new vice-presidents, Jack H. Levin, Martin Levine and Milton Liv- ingston are being added. President Albert A. Senft will be {Continued on page 9) 20th-Fox's Net Is $12,400,000, Up ,500,000 for Year The consolidated net profit, after all charges, of 20th Century-Fox Film, headed by Spyros Skouras, and its voting-controlled subsidies, including National Theatres and Roxy Theatres, for the 53 weeks ended Dec. 30, 1944, is estimated at $12,400,000, an increase of $1,500,000 over last year's $10,901,- 000. This is equivalent, after deducting dividends on prior preferred and con- vertible preferred stock, paid during the year to approximately $6.00 per share on the 1,771,364 shares of com- mon stock outstanding at Dec. 30, 1944. A comparison of the 1944 estimated with the actual figures for 1943 fol- lows : Consolidated net profit before Federal taxes, minority interests and contingencies, $40,165,000 for 1944, against $38,153,000 for 1943; provision for Federal income and excess profits taxes, $25,100,000, against $23,800,000; net profit applicable to minority inter- ests, $1,765,000, against $1,433,000. Golden Will Release Next Through UA Golden Productions, headed by Ed- ward Golden and Sam Dembow, Jr., will distribute at least one picture through United Artists, Edward C. Raftery, United Artists president, an- nounced at the weekend, confirming Motion Picture Daily's story of March 19. The picture will be "Breakfast in (Continued on page 11) Non-Curfew House May Lose Current Toledo, March 25.— The dis- trict War Manpower Commis- sion here may order elec- tricity cut off from Jack O'Donnell's local Loop The- atre, recently certified as a curfew violator, to the WMC in Washington, according to an intimation from Ralph O. Snyder, district WMC direc- tor. Originally reported to be keeping open until four a.m., the house is now said to be running until five. Film Classics Lists Five Partnerships An amended certificate of limited partnership filed in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, as appearing in company advertise- ments in the public prints on Friday, reveals the financial structure of Films Classics Distributing Co., with gen- eral partners and their share of the profits listed as Harry Mandell, five per cent ; and Irving Wormser, 12l/2 per cent, and limited partners with their respective cash contributions and continuing share of the profits listed as: Edward L. Alperson, $7,500, 16 per cent; Betty Stillman, $1,250, 16 per cent ; Joseph Auerbach, $1,250, 16 per cent. The partnerships run until Nov. 1, 1949. Charged against the portion of profits to Irving Wormser, are all monies paid to him in excess of his salary of $150 weekly. See Possibility of Studio Strike Settlement Soon Hollywood, March 25. — Possibility that the studio strike may be settled soon by action from the National La- bor Relations Board was seen Friday after Association of Motion Picture Producers president Edgar J. Mannix, Conference of Studio Unions president Herbert Sorrell and IATSE president Richard F. Walsh met privately in the early afternoon. Later the producers met in a special session and issued a statement reiterat- ing the stand that they will abide by any decision made by NLRB in the jurisdictional dispute over set decor- ators. Still later, Walsh said he would do likewise. Sorrell has reiterated his willing- ness to abide by an NLRB decision but insisted that producers deal with Local 1421 meanwhile. In a mail ballot, some 90 per cent of the Screen Actors Guild voted to ignore the picket lines and fulfill their contracts, thus following the advice of SAG officials at a mass meeting last week. The Los Angeles Times, in a lead editorial, said the strike "takes the blue ribbon for asininity in wartime labor disputes" and pictured the walk- out as marring the notable contribu- tion the industry has made to the war effort. Would Curtail Child Labor In Theatres Cor si Backs N. Y. Bill to Limit Working Hours Sharp curtailment of working hours of the many minors employed in theatres throughout New York State would follow passage by the Legislature of the pending Coudert- Brooks child labor bill, support for which has been voiced here by Industrial Commissioner Edward Corsi. As reported in Motion Picture Daily last Aug. 28, a State De- partment of Labor survey found large numbers of youngsters working as ushers, ticket takers and even porters, with hun- dreds employed illegally, with recent additional inroads upon adult personnel by both Armed Forces and war industries fur- ther increasing the juvenile payrolls. In support of the Coudert-Brooks bill, Corsi has released the results of (Continued on page 9) Industry Pre-Trial Conference Today At the pre-trial conference on the industry consent decree, to be held this afternoon before Judge Henry W. Goddard in the New York Federal Court, it is expected that the court will deny the Government's request for an injunction on clearance, pending trial. At the first hearing before him, Judge Goddard, while allowing briefs and counter-briefs to be filed, indicated (Continued on page 11) Theatres Must Show Their Film Records Counsel for the distributors here Friday described the Federal Court ruling in Pittsburgh, in granting dis- tributors the right to examine records of 27 exhibitors in that area to de- termine grosses on percentage pictures, as establishing the right of distributors through the Courts to obtain an in- spection of theatre records of per- (Continued on page 10) 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, March 26, 1945 Personal Mention JOE A'OGEL, Loew vice-president in charge of out-of-town theatres, will return to New York from the Coast this week. - • Sgt. Andy McEueNj formerly of Paramount's Los Angeles exchange, has been awarded the Bronze Star and a citation for heroism in the Eu- ropean theatre. • Ernest Van Wey, son of the own- ers of the Sun, Gothenburg, Neb., has been awarded the Purple Heart following wounds received in the Pa- cific. Sam Hadley, Warner electrician for 19 years at the Burbank studio, was honored with a party Friday in celebration of his 75th birthday. • Steve Broidy, Monogram vice- president and general sales manager, has returned to the Coast following a Washington and New York visit. • Jack Melvin of the Melvin-Rac- kin Agency, is due here from Holly- wood to confer with film companies on Coast representation. • Harold Goldraben of Loew's out- of-town booking department, will leave for Buffalo from New York early this week. • Rudy Weiss, Warners' real estate department executive, returned to New York from Ohio over the week- end. • S-Sgt. Leo Pillot, formerly with Columbia's exploitation department, is now stationed at Lowry Field, Den- ver. • Rudy Frank, publicity director for the State Theatre. Hartford, is back there after 10 weeks in Hollywood. • John- J. Bowen, M-G-M New York district manager, will arrive here today from Miami. • Mitchell Bernstein, Canadian ex- hibitor, visited the Warner Coast stu- dio over the weekend. • Frank N. Phelps, of Warner Theatres, will arrive in New York todav from Connecticut. • Marian Ryan, M-G-M Buffalo manager, returned there Saturday af- ter a trip to Denver. • Jacob Wilk. Warner Eastern talent and story head, has returned to New York from Boston. • Si Seadler. M-G-M advertising manager, will arrive on the Coast to- day from Chicago. • Sam Marx. M-G-M producer, left Saturday for the Coast, from New York. • Fritz Lang, Universal producer, arrived in New York yesterday. Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE T UST a few days before the v' March 16th meeting of the Industry Advisory Committee on raw stock with War Pro- duction Board officials in Wash- ington to set quotas for the sec- ond quarter, there came a pro- posal from high WPB quarters that all footage available for. commercial users hereafter be freed to civilian consumers to g-et whatever they could as best they might. According to the stories which have come out of Wash- ington since, the proposal origi- nated in the top strata of WPB. It is said that officials of the Board wearied of fretting with the problem of trying to satisfy all of the claimants for raw stock and concluded that the best way out of the seemingly hope- less problem was to wash their hands of it and let the civilian users scramble for whatever was left after primary provision had been made for the raw stock re- quirements, in full, of the Army, the Navy, other Governmental agencies and foreign claimants. Whatever raw stock remained thereafter presumably would be unrestricted and industry and other civilian consumers would compete against each other in a race for whatever footage each might be able to obtain. Some people think that under such a procedure, complete chaos could, and probably would, develop among civilian consum- ers. Moreover, raw stock manu- facturers would have shifted to them a responsibility and a bur- den that would almost certainly tax them so severely that their efforts toward maintaining pro- duction could be seriously af- fected. They would be confront- ed with obligations to old. es- tablished customers and to the accounts on which their normal, postwar business will depend. They would be subjected to pres- sures from all directions while faced with the insoluble problem of providing for the many out of supplies insufficient for the few. Some raw stock consumers would be bound to suffer. In such bitter competition within an uncontrolled market some con- sumers, inside and outside the industry, would stand little chance of obtaining sufficient raw stock in quantities any- where near their minimum re- quirements. No doubt, it took a good deal of talking to dissuade WPB au- thorities from carrying out such a proposal. For the time being, at least, it appears to have been abandoned. But members of the industry who have been free of late with their criticism of the handling of some phases of re- cent raw stock control by W7PB might pause at this juncture and consider whether they would prefer no control at all and the consequences suggested herein, to the kind of control to which they are subject now. WPB's temptation to wash its hands of the problem of allocat- ing raw stock to civilian con- sumers is understood to have de- rived from a reasoning process that, unlike most other rationing of critical materials, control over access to raw film offers no protection or advantage to the ultimate consumer. Pre- sumably, the reasoning was that no matter what ultimate dispo- sition was made of the civilian raw stock supply, motion picture entertainment inevitably would have continued to be provided to the public. By whom, it is to be assumed, was unimportant, for WPB's basic aim is more to guarantee that the ultimate consumer, the public, receives what is available after wartime essentials have been provided for than it is to assist in adapt- ing strained conditions to the convenience of an industry. In other words, the public con- sumes entertainment and not film. • Independent producers may find it easy to understand the WPB's attitude in wishing to rid itself of the headaches at- tendant upon the problems of civilian raw stock allocations. After demanding their own raw stock quotas, and getting them, the independents found it ad- visable to do what WPB was tempted to do — bow out. At its first meeting, the inde- pendents' scheduling committee received applications from inde- pendent producers for just about twice the amount of raw stock alloted for their use during the second quarter. At its next meeting, the following day, the committee tossed in the towel and disbanded. Committee mem- bers, in explanation, said they could not accept the responsibil- ity of determining the amounts of raw stock to which individual applicants might be entitled in Stolz, PRC Eastern Ad-Publicity Head Arnold Stolz, former United Artists exploitation director, has been named PRC Eastern advertising-publicity di- rector, Don McElwaine, national PRC advertising-publicity director, announced on Friday at a reception for the trade press at the Sherry- Netherlands Hotel. PRC had origi- nally intended to move its Eastern ad- vertising-publicity department entirely to the Coast. Stolz, a Quigley Silver Award winner in 1941, while at the Warner Avon Theatre, Utica, N. Y., has dis- posed of his Park Theatre, Woon- socket, R. I., to Fred Green, who op- erates the Bijou, same city. Will Hays Will Make Annual Report Today With a quorum in New York, the annual Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America meeting will be held here today, with Will H. Hays, president, making his annual report. The report is understood to touch on the post-war situation, cooperative activities, censorship, 'the world screen,' the industry's war efforts, films and education, motion picture attendance, trade paper cooperation and other subjects. Leonard Now Cagney Studio Liaison Here Charles Leonard has been appointed studio home office representative for William Cagney Productions, with headquarters in the East, it was learned here at the weekend. Leonard was at one time Universal Eastern advertising and publicity man- ager, United Artists Eastern director of advertising and exploitation and studio advertising director. Lt. Mooney in U. S. Lt. Paul C. Mooney, Jr., former member of the staff of Motion Picture Herald, who was wounded in action in Belgium on Jan. 6, is now in Valley Forge General Hospital at Phoenix, Pa., recovering from eye, shoulder and leg wounds. Lt. Mooney's father, Paul, Sr., is with National Screen Service, here. Jack Purves Dies Toronto, March 25. — Jack C. Pur- ves, manager of the Capitol Theatre, Welland, died Friday of a heart con- dition. the face of the obvious neces- sity for cutting all applications drastically below the declared requirements. Accordingly, the problem was returned promptlv to WPB. Maybe some of those produc- ers who not so long ago said they had not been aware that they were dependent on their distributors for raw stock sup- plies perceive some advantages now in the old order. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; ColvVn Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor: London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Internationa] Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. Moss Hart's Betty Smith's a J c«s THE KEYS OF THE THE FIGHTING Laird Cregar • Linda Darnell • George Sanders in TREE GROWS IN BROK Mary O'Hara's THUNDE Charles Coburn • Anne Baxter • William Eythe in Ernst Lubitsch's A ROY At Popular Prices - Franz Werfel's THE SONG OF ] Gracie Fields • Monty Woolley ■ Roddy McDowall in Betty Grable and Dick Haymes in Billy Rose's NGED VICTORY in Technicolor • The Narrator is Lieut. Robert Taylor, U.S.N.R. with Dorothy McGuire • lames Dunn • Joan Blondell • Peggy Ann Garner • Ted Donaldson • Lloyd Nolan SON OF FLICKA • in Technicolor with Roddy McDowall • Preston Foster • Rita mi SCANDAL JULY AND with Jennifer Jones • William Eythe # * CENTURY-! FRED MacMURRAY • JOAN LESLIE • JUNE HAVER in "WHERE DO WE GO FROM MIRE?" IN TECHNICOLOR * * * CHARLES COBURN • WILLIAM EYTHE - JOAN BENNETT in BERRY FLEMING'S "COLONEL EFFINGHAM'S RAID"* * * GEORGE RAFT • JOAN BENNETT • VIVIAN BLAINE • PEGGY ANN GARNER in "NOB HILL" in TECHNICOLOR with ALAN "Falstaff Openshaw" REED * * * WILLIAM BENDIX • JOAN BLONDELL • PHIL SILVERS in "DON JUAN QUILLIGAN" * JOHN HERSEYS "A BELL FOR ADANO starring GENE TIERNEY • JOHN HODIAK • WILLIAM BENDIX * * * DARRYL F. ZANUCK'S "WILSON" in TECHNICOLOR * * * DANA ANDREWS • JEANNE CRAIN DICK HAYMES • VIVIAN BLAINE in "STATE FAIR" in TECHNICOLOR * * * BETTY GRABLE • JOHN PAYNE JUNE HAVER in "THE DOLLY SISTERS" in TECHNICO * * * "FALLEN ANGEL * * * FRED MacMURRAY "CAPTAIN EDDIE * * * ERNST LUBITSCH'S "DRAGON WYCK" starring GENE TIERNEY • VINCENT PRICE* * "JUNIOR MISS" starring PEGGY ANN GARNER * * *"THE LITTLE HORSE" KEEP SELLING BONDS! ( Monday, March 26, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 7 20th-Fox 30th Anniversary in April Third Decade Celebration For 20th-Fox Joseph M. Schenck (Continued from page 1) Schenck, executive head of production ; Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, and Tom Con- nors, vice president in charge of sales. In its early years the company intro- duced full-length Western pictures with Tom • Mix as the star, made William Farnum a rival of Doug- las Fairbanks in dashing ro- mantic films, and introduced star teams such as Janet Gay- nor and Charles Farrell, and the lusty pair, Ed- mund Lowe and Victor McLag- len in "What Price Glory" and "The Cockeyed World." The studio today is following that tradi- tion in essaying new trends in produc- tion. The history of 20th Century-Fox has been one of steady growth despite the many vicissitudes that have to be overcome in a young and growing in- dustry. Following a period of shift- ing financial interests, which are the birth pangs of any embryonic organi- zation, the old Fox Film Corp. did not take up its corporate form until February, 1915, but it actually got its start 12 years earlier when William Fox opened a small theatre in Brook- lyn. Soon more theatres were added and then came the palaces which were the forerunners of the modern the- atres. Charles Skouras heads Na- tional Theatres, the company's pres- ent-day exhibition affiliate. With the addition of a chain of the- atres the problem of supplying them with film arose. In 1913 the Box Of- fice Attractions Co. was organized as the production unit for the rapidly growing Fox theatre interests, turn- ing out 35 pictures to supply the the- atres' demands. The first picture produced at the small studio at Fort Lee, N. J., was "Life's Shop Win- dow," starring Claire Whitney, for release Nov. 19, 1914. The picture cost $14,700 and grossed $54,000. On Februarv 1st. 1915, Fox Film Corp. was i n c o r p o - rated with head- quarters at 130 West 46th St., New York City and with studios at Fort Lee. rheda Bara be- came the com- pany's first star in the produc- tion "A Fool There Was," released on Jan. 14, 1915. This picture, Darryl Zanuok filmed at a cost of $29,500, grossed $137,000, an unheard of gross at that time. Soon after, the production schedule was increased to 52 pictures a year. Alore studio space was required so the company acquired the Wonderful Play and Players studio in the Pathe Freres Building in Jersey City. "Chil- dren of the Ghetto," the Israel Zang- will book, was filmed there and it beat the box office receipts of "A Fool There Was." Having more pictures now than they needed to supply their own theatres, it was decided to establish a system of trim exchanges to sell pictures to the- atres other than their own. From a. beginning of a dozen branches scat- tered throughout the United States in April, 1915, there are now 37 film ex- changes throughout the country and Canada, and before World War II, 44 branches scattered throughout the world. 1915 Coast Start In 1915, an office was opened in Los Angeles and four studios, the Pathe, Kalem, Life Photo Studio and the Se- lig Studio, all in Los Angeles, were leased for production, and the com- pany began building a roster of its own stars, by adding the names of William Farnum, Annette Kellerman and Robert Mantell. These stars moved into the company's own studio in 1917. It was located at Sunset Boulevard and Western Avenue in Hollywood and is still in use. Winfield Sheehan was appointed general manager of the company and expansion in the foreign field began. Later he became production chief in Hollywood. Now fully intrenched in production, distribution and exhibi- tion fields, Fox Film in 1917 made the first million-dollar picture, "The Daughter of the Gods," star- ring the Aus- tralian swim- m e r, Annette ette Kellerman, and directed by Herbert Bren- on. Soon after came "Cleo- patra," starring T h e d a Bara, 'Riders of the Purple Sage," with William Farnum. Later Tom Mix joined the roster of stars and was destined to become one of the most popular and profitable Western stars ever to come to the screen. In 1919 the studio and home offices on 56th Street and Tenth Ave., New York were built. The Fox newsreel was also established that year. Then followed such pictures as "Over the Hill," in 1921 ; "If Winter Comes," in 1923 ; "Seventh Heaven" in 1927, and then sound pictures. In 1926 the Fox officials were ap- proached by Theodore Case and Earl I. Sponable who said they were work- ing on a sound-on-film invention by means of electric flashes on the film. By 1928 their experiments were crowned with success and Movietone was born. "Sunrise" was the first picture to have an accompanying mu- sical score on the film and "In Old Arizona" was the first outdoor pic- (liarles Skouras ture produced with sound. On April 1st, 1932, Sidney R. Kent joined the company in the capacity of executive vice-president in charge of operations, and two weeks later be- came the company's president. He im- mediately started the work of reor- ganizing the company, saving it from bankruptcy and putting it on a sound . perating basis. In 1935 the company had completely emerged from its eco- nomic difficulties and was again a force in the industry. Merger with 20th Une uay m April, IVoo, bidney xvenc nau luncn with josepn jvl. oenencK, men piesiaent ot iwenuetn century pictuies, and their topic oi conversation was .uarryl Z.anucK, tiic upshot Demg tne merger ot iwenuetn century Jrnms ana tne tox tilm Corp. (Jn August 22, iyj3, this ar- rangement was ratmea by tne stock- uoiuers. iience tne year iy43 marks not omy tne >5Utn anniversary ot tne cumpany but also the 10th anniversary ui tne merger ot twentieth Century and tox. ine advent of Darryl Zanuck as production head of the newly merged companies, marked one of the most important forward steps in the com- pany s history. 1 he vast studio of 96 acres at Movietone City came under the direction of Zanuck. I he only stars on the lot at that period were bmrley Temple, Will Rogers and Janet Gaynor. His first task was to augment this star contingent and he soon had such screen names as Ty- rone Power, Sonja Henie, Don Ameche, Warner Baxter, Alice Faye and Henry Fonda. Zanuck's First Zanuck's first picture for the new company was "Metropolitan," starring .Lawrence Tibbett, and then in suc- cession he produced "Alexander's Rag lime Band" (1938) ; "Grapes of Wrath" (.1940) ; "How Green Was My Valley" (1941) ; "Song of Berna- dette" (1944) ; "Wilson" and "Winged Victory." With declaration of war, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the com- pany was faced with the problem of building new stars to take the place of Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Ce- sar Romero, George Montgomery, Richard Green, John Sutton and Vic- tor Mature, who joined the United States armed forces. Not only was the star roster depleted by the patri- otic enlistment of stellar players but the ranks of producers, directors, cameramen and technicians also were cut by the demands of of our armed forces. Zanuck was commissioned a colonel in the Army Signal Corps and was away from the studio for nearly two years on active military duty. New players and new technicians were groomed to take the places of those who were off to war. Naturally most of them were girls : such promising actresses as June Haver, Vivian Blaine, Jeanne Crain, Anne Baxter and Jane Ball. Among the new male stars developed were Dana Andrews, William Eythe, and Dick Haymes. Sidney Kent's Death On the death of Sidney Kent in 1942, the board of directors looked about to fill that vacancy and the unanimous choice was that of Spyros Skouras who had made an enviable reputation as one of the foremost the- Connors Sets 28 Releases From20th-Fox Tom Connors Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of sales of 20th Century- Fox, in commemorating the com- pany's 30th anniversary, announces a release sched- ule of 28 pic- tures from now to the end of the year. Heading the releases for April, the com- pany's birthday month, will be Ernst Lu- b i t s c h ' s 'A Royal Scan- dal," "Molly and Me," and the popular priced run of 'The Song of Bernadette." The screen version of Betty Smith's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," a special March release, also will be current during the an- niversary month. Anniversary Releases Among the 30th anniversary re- leases of the next few months will be the following: "Thunderhead" and "Circumstantial Evidence" (March) ; "A Royal Scan- dal," "Molly and Me" and popular- priced release of "Song of Berna- dette" (April) ; "Diamond Horse- shoe" and "The Bull Fighters" (May) ; "Where Do We Go from Here?" and "Colonel Effingham's Raid" (June) ; "Nob Hill" and "Don Juan Quilligan" (July) ; "A Bell for Adano," "State Fair" and popular- priced release of "Wilson" (August) ; "The Dolly Sisters" and two Bryan Foy productions (September) ; "Fall- en Angel" and "Captain Eddie" (Oc- tober) ; "Dragonwyck" and two Bryan Foy productions (November) ; "Junior Miss" and "Little Horse" ( December) . Of the twenty-eight films sched- uled for release between now and next January, nine will be in Technicolor. Of these, four will be musicals. atre operators in the United States. A short time later Wendell Willkie was elected chairman of the board of directors of the company, a berth he held until his death late in 1944. With its background of 30 years of progress in production and distribu- tion 20th Century-Fox looks to the future. Officials of the company feel that in the post war period the im- portance of motion pictures, not only as entertainment but also in the fields of education and international rela- tions, will be greater than ever before and plans are now being formulated to meet this opportunity. 8 Motion Picture Daily Monday, March 26, 1945 Richard de Rochemont 10th Anniversary For March of Time; Growth Was Rapid It is 10 years since the first issue of The March of Time appeared on the screens of U. S. theatres. Today, over 12,000 theatres all over the world show The March of Time. The first issue was shown in exactly 417 the- atres. Volume .1, Number 1 contained s i x subjects, in con- trast to the s i n g le subj ect treated in to- day's issues. In Volume II, one of the six subj ects was devoted to a rising political figure in Europe, Adolf Hitler. This issue contained also pictures of Sir Basil Zaharoff, the munitions king. A March of Time cameraman got these pictures by dis- guising himself as a fruit peddler in a Cannes railroad station, concealing his camera under a bunch of bananas. A similar trick was used by Rich- ard de Rochemont, MOT producer, to get pictures of the elusive "Papa" Deibler, France's public executioner. A MOT cameraman lay in wait for days in a restaurant across the street from his quarry's apartment, got pic- tures, with a telescopic lens, of Deibler in his nightshirt. Outstanding MOT productions since included: "Japan, Master of the Orient," which told of the militaristic ambitions of Nipponese war lords ; "Inside Nazi Germany," which told of the plans then being carried out by the Nazis to prepare the German nation for World War II. March of Time's future schedule includes a film on America's West Coast, one on wartime Britain and one on Mexico. Kupper and Others Among Fox Veterans With William J. Kupper, general sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, leading the pa- rade, the com- pany's 3 0th / anniversary celebration in f ....Ml April will find *1 ^jgftl 97 more mem- bers of 20th- F o x entering their 25th year with the or- ganization, making a total of well over 100. However, there are at least 110 others for whom 1945 will mart a longer period of service; and there are at least 24 who will celebrate their 28th anniversary with the company sometime this year. More than 400 employees will celebrate two decades with 20th- Fox before the end of the anni- versary year. Willam Kupper 1,621 Features in Thirty Years, Connors Reports IN its 30-year history from 1915 to 1945, which 20th Century- Fox is celebrating this month, the company has released 1,621 features, according to Tom Connors, vice-president in charge of sales. This is an average of 54 pictures a year. The film required for the pictures, based on an average of 6,000 feet per picture and one hundred prints averaged for each of the 1,621 features, would reach around the world a little under eight times. It is estimated that the total film used amounted to 9,726,- 000,000 feet— or 184,200 miles. In the early days of the company many of the feature pictures were not more than 5,000 feet in length, and not until the last few years has the practice of making 10,000 feet features been in vogue. Of the 1,621 pictures, the company produced 1,534 in its own stu- iios, 15 were made by British producers, thirty-two by other for- eign companies and forty by outside American producers. The company's 30-year history actually began with the release of a picture called "Life's Shop Window," starring Claire Whit- ney and Stuart Holmes, in November, 1914; but it was not until the release of "A Fool There Was" with Theda Bara in the stellar role that its future began to show promise. In 1915 the only re- leases were "A Fool There Was" and "Kreutzer's Sonata," both with Theda Bara. The following year the company released six pictures and the number has increased since. Yesterday and Today-at Fox Theda Bara Betty Grable Lois Moran Movietone News Is 26 Years Old; Had Notable 'Firsts' Edmund Reek Twentieth Century-Fox's Movie- tone News, the first sound news- reel, made its debut on December 3, 1927, a full year ahead of any of its present day c o m p e t i - tors, according to company statements. The newsreel o r g a n i z a- tion, turning oul 104 issues a year under the di- rection of Ed- mund Reek, started in 1918 However, the first reel was not released un- til 1919; thus, this great news gathering organization is today cele- brating its 26th anniversary, in con- junction with 20th's 30th anniversary. At the start of World War II it had cameramen in 51 countries and had nine producting centers in the important capitals of the world. From these centers, which were New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Madrid, Sydney, Shanghai and Tokyo, it supplied every country in the world, except Russia, with news- reels. Among the innovations in news presentation originating with Movie- tone News was that of getting "names" and specialists to do the narration ; the policy of getting experts to direct coverage and the departmentalization of the subject material. It was also the first reel to use the mixed sound track with music and sound effects superimposed on the natural sound, the company says. As a news gathering outfit it has scored many great beats and scoops on stories of international importance. It scooped the world on the Jap at- tack on Pearl Harbor but had to sur- render its film to the government. 30th Anniversary For Paul Terry In conjunction with the 30th an- niversary of 20th Century-Fox, Paul Terry, presi- dent of Terry- toons, is cele- b r a t i n g his 30th year in the film indus- try as a car- toon producer. It is his 10th year with 20th- Fox. The produc- tion of his first cartoon re- quired months of labor. The creation of the thousands of drawings, pho- tographing them, and all the other incidental tasks of cartoon-making were part of Paul Terry's pioneer- ing. Terrytoons now has a staff of over 100 turning out 20 Technicolor cartoons a year for release by 20th Century-Fox. Paul Terry Monday, March 26, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 20th-Fox Officia Is A id 30th Anniversary W. C. Michel Murray Silverstone Joseph Moskowitz Hal Home William Gehring A. W. Smith Ii. 3. Schlaifer Charles Schlaifer Herman Wobber William J. Clark Felix Jenkins J J ERMAN WOBBER, who was a veteran of seven exciting years in the youthful motion picture industry when the £~l original Fox company was established in 1915, very properly was chosen drive leader for 20th Century-Fox's observance of the 30th anniversary of the company's founding. Wobber, 20th-Fox's Western division sales manager, entered the industry in 1908 and held outstanding posts in both exhibition and distribution during his lengthy industry career. He is being aided in the current anniversary observance program by numerous 20th-Fox executives and department heads, a number of whom are pictured above. Miss Skouras Tells R.C. Benefit Plans Plans have been completed for the staging of the Red Cross benefit show sponsored by the Greek division of the American Red Cross, to be held at Skouras's Academy of Music, here, Wednesday evening, it was announced by Daphne Dolores Skouras, member of the committee, who is in charge of the program ; Miss Skouras is the daughter of Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox. Entertainers In addition to the style show,, at which Vyvyan Donner, 20th - Fox Movietone News style editor, will act as commentator, the following of screen, stage and radio will appear : Katina Paxinou, Danny Kaye, Sypros Stamos, Hazel Scott, Nicola Moscona, Zero Mostel, Elsa Maxwell, Pola Negri, Bob Dixon, Jon Sebastian, Harry Youngman, Pat Chokas, Bill Robinson, Jackie Miles, Carl Ravazza, Kitty Carlisle, Joan Edwards, Lew Lehr, Burl Ives, Sigmund Spaeth, Doris Doree, Dale Belmont, Thelma Carpenter, Jay Jostyn, Johnny Olson, Victor Borge, and the stage shows from the Roxy, Paramount, Club Zan- zibar, La Martinique and Versailles. Staging of the benefit is under the direction of Samuel Rausch and Arthur Knorr of the Roxy. Entire proceeds -will be turned over to the Red Cross. Canada Loan Picture Completed by 20th Toronto, March 25. — Shooting on "All Star Bond Rally" has been com- pleted in the studios of 20th Century- Fox and the completed short subject to help sell Canada's Eighth Victory Loan will be delivered to Canada shortly. "All Star Bond Rally" is the third loan picture to be made in Hollywood at the request of the Canadian Mo- tion Picture War Services Committee and it will have a cast including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable, Fibber McGee and Mol- ly, Harpo Marx, Harry James and his jrchestra, Carmen Miranda, Vivian Blaine, Linda Darnell, Jeanne Crain, June Haver, Sheila Ryan, Faye Mar- lowe and Martha Stewart. MP A Board Meets on A nnual Dinner -Dance Motion Picture Associates' board of directors, meeting here Friday, at Sardi's, discussed organization busi- ness, including the group insurance plan recently signed with Bankers Trust of New Jersey, and the annual dinner-dance to be held on May 26. The group is understood to be con- sidering production of a two-reeler to be distributed by exhibitors in this territory, proceeds of which would go to charity. Morris Sanders of 20th-Fox is president ; Jack Ellis of United Art- ists is vice-president of MPA. Senft, Others Again Head Cinema Lodge {Continued from page 1) installed by Harry Brandt. Vice- presidents S. Arthur Glixon by Max Klein, Bernard Goodman by Philip Abrahams, Leo Jaffe by Adolph Schimel, Samuel Lefkowitz by Ed- ward M. Schnitzer, William Melniker by Irving H. Greenfield, Alvin T. Sapinsley by Larry Morris ; Norman Steinberg by Mortimer S. Rosenthal, Louis Weber by Harold L. Danson, Robert M. Weitman by Arthur Is- rael, Robert Wile by Philip Laufer, William Zimmerman by Arthur Jef- frey, Levin by Morris D. Senft, Le- vine by Louis Brandt, and Livingston by Charles Moss. Treasurer Max Blackman will be installed by Harold Rodner, record- ing secretary Julius M. Collins by George A. Hoffman and correspond- ing secretary Herman Levine by Joseph D. Karp. Bradshaw in Film Forum March of Time associate producer D. Y. Bradshaw will speak today at the Philadelphia Motion Picture For- um luncheon, to be held in the Belle- vue Stratford Hotel, that city. He will stress the importance of the mo- tion picture as a preventive of future wars through the re-education of the people of the Axis nations and through encouraging mutual understanding among all nations. Would Curtail Child Labor in Theatres (.Continued from page 1) a new survey made by the State Divi- sion of Women; Child Labor and M inimum Wages, in cooperation with the Department of Education, which showed that two-fifths of all school children in nine up-state cities carry the double burden of school and work. Eleven per cent of the boys and three per cent of the girls are thus tied down for at least 60 hours each week. Pointing out that most of the students are working at odd jobs in theatres, bowling alleys, stores, restaurants, etc., Corsi said, "We are disturbed because of the effect such long hours will have on the health and education of the children." Spier in Sturdivant Post in California San Francisco, March 25. — Richard Spier, formerly division manager for National's Fox West Coast Theatres in the East Bay area, has succeeded B. V. Sturdivant as manager of the Northern California division of the company. Sturdivant has been placed in charge of the company's expansion program in Central and South Ameri- ca by Charles P. Skouras, president, and has left for Mexico City. Harry E. Seipel, manager of the peninsula division, succeeds Spier. 10 Motion Picture Daily Monday, March 26, 1945 Cowan Plans Film On Correspondents Lester Cowan announces that his next film will be "Free Press," a story of the newspaper combat correspond- ents throughout the world, an idea which grew out of a meeting recently held in New York by Cowan ; Kent Cooper, of Associated Press ; Hugh Baillie, United Press ; Joseph V. Con- nolly, of International News Service ; Cranston Williams, general manager of American Newspaper Publishers Association, and John S. Knight, pub- lisher of the Knight Newspapers and president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. George J. Schaefer, recently named chairman of the board of Cowan Productions in charge of worldwide distribution, is expected to leave for the Coast soon to see Ernie Pyle's "Story of G.I. Joe," and for further discussions on "Free Press," which will be budgeted at $2,000,000. Dis- tribution has not been set on the film ; United Artists distributed Cowan's previous two productions. Di Costanzo Rent Bill Passed by Assembly Albany, March 25. — The DiCostan- zo bill extending commercial rent con- trol in New York City was passed in the Assembly Friday and sent to Gov- ernor Dewey for approval, with a freeze date that remains at the levels of June 1, 1944. Theatres Must Show Film Records to Distributors (Continued from page 1) centage pictures where an exhibitor refuses to permit the contractual right of inspection. The 27 exhibitors had sought an in- junction to bar the distributors from examining their books on alleged fraudulent returns on percentage pic- tures. The exhibitors had also sought a declaratory judgment on the basis that percentage contracts violate the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The Federal Court ruling is said to clear the way for the eight distribu- tors to press almost 150 counter claims which have been filed against the 27 exhibitors involved. It will also enable the distributors to secure access to the exhibitors' records of receipts derived on each of 25,000 days of some 7,000 separate percentage pictures involved in the counter claims. Loew's and 20th Century-Fox have each brought 24 such claims ; Paramount, 23 ; Univer- sal, 19; RKO Radio, 18; Warner Bros., 17 ; Columbia, 14 and United Artists, 9. Answers by the eight distributors in countering the attempt of the ex- hibitors to obtain an injunction and a declaratory judgment pointed out that the exhibitors had gone into Court asking for equitable relief because of alleged fraudulent practices in connec- tion with percentage contracts about which they were complaining. The dis- tributors had counter-claimed against all of the exhibitors served with per- centage pictures for the same damages as had originally been sought by the eight distributors from the exhibitors operating the Arcade and Colonial theatres in Pittsburgh as the Carson Amusement Co. The original eight actions by the distributors against Carson Amusement had been on the basis of alleged fraudulent misrepresen- tation of receipts on percentage pic- tures exhibited, and punitive damages were sought. Deane Carroll to Be Feted Baltimore, March 25. — Deane Car- roll, singing starlet now on a Mid- west tour of film theatres, will be wel- comed home by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Women's Club when she returns to Baltimore in May for an engagement at the Hippodrome Theatre here. ITT in Newsreel Deal Harry J. Rothman, chairman of the board of International Theatrical and Television Corp., reports that the company has consummated a deal with All American (Negro) News for world 16mm and television rights on the weekly newsreels produced by that company. UA Sets Release Dates on 6 Films Hollywood, March 25. — National release dates, ranging from March 31 to May 25 on six United Artists fea- tures were announced here by Carl Leserman, UA's general sales man- ager. Of the six, all are completed and one is in color. The releases announced by Leser- man are: March 31, "Delightfully Dangerous," a Charles R. Rogers Production ; April 7, "Brewster's Mil- lions," an Edward Small Production ; , April 21, "It's in the Bag," Jack H. \ Skirball Production; May 4, "Colonel Blimp," a British Rank-Archers Pro- duction, in color, written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; May 18, "Hold Autumn in Your Hand," a Loew- Hakim Production, and May 25, "The Great John L," a Bing Crosby Pro- duction. The company had been forced to withhold releases for weeks because of a raw stock shortage for prints. Testimonial Dinner For Al Suchman Al Suchman, member of the buying committee of the Schine Circuit, will be given a testimonial dinner tomor- row evening at the Elm, Gloversville, N. Y., on his leaving to join Indepen- dent Theatre Service, Inc., here as film buyer. Joe Lynch of the Schine Glovers- ville office, is in charge of arrange- ments. Monday, March 26, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 Pinanski Sets Four 7th War Loan Aides {Continued from page 1) . mittee made up of theatre operators brought in from the field for this specific purpose. Joseph Kinsky will serve as chair- man of the coordinating committee and will be in direct charge of the East. Kinsky is a Paramount theatre depart- ment executive, and was national co- ordinator during the Fifth War Loan. Wilby-Kincey Theatres has loaned E. W. (Gene) Street of Knoxville to act as coordinator for the South. Street served as exhibitor state chair- man for Eastern Tennessee in both the Fifth and Sixth War Loans. David B. Wallerstein, theatre ex- ecutive has been loaned by B. and K. Theatres to be coordinator for the Midwest. Wallerstein has been active in the field in his territory in all War Loan drives and other war activities. Charles M. Thall, executive of Fox West Coast Theatres in Northern California, has been loaned by Charles Skouras, president of National The- atres, to act as coordinator for the West Coast. Thall was Northern Cali- fornia exhibitor state chairman in the Fifth War Loan. He will leave today from San Francisco to assume his new duties at Seventh War Loan head- quarters in New York. Pinanski stated that it is the na- tional committee's intention to main- tain liaison at all times between Sev- enth War Loan headquarters in New York and state committees. 'Red' Barber Calls For Red Cross Aid 'Red' Barber, sportscaster, now handling the American Red Cross 1945 War Fund drive in the Greater New York area, on Saturday, re- quested Motion Picture Daily and other trade and news publications to direct special Red Cross campaign appeals for the rest of the month specifically to individuals who have not yet contributed to the fund this year. Griesdorf Made Odeon West Division Head Toronto, March 25. — Dave Gries- dorf, British Columbia supervisor of the Odeon circuit, has been appointed Western division general manager, with offices on the West Coast, where Odeon has 33 theatres, it is learned here. C. J. Appel has been named Eastern manager, as reported Friday in Motion Picture Daily. Ansco Buys Building For Film Processing The Ansco division of General Ani- line and Film Corp. has purchased a building in Chicago for processing 16 mm motion picture film, George W. Burpee, president, announces. Reason behind the purchase is to take care of an expansion of the com- pany's activities in the Mid-West. Industry Pre-Trial Conference Today (Continued from page 1) he would rule against the Government, if an immediate decision was forced on him. It is deemed unlikely by at- torneys, that the court will grant the injunction now, with a definite trial date of Oct. 8 already set. At the conference today an attempt will also be made to settle on the issues to be tried and to agree, if pos- sible, on some of the issues. The court requested this procedure so that a time limit could be placed on the case. It has been estimated that the trial could drag on for from a year to 18 months before all testimony is in. The two main issues at stake, on which there can apparently be no agreement, are demands by the Department of Justice for an end to clearance and a divorce- ment of theatres by producer-distribu- tors. Nickerson Setting Griffith Details Robert E. Nickerson of the law firm of Dwight, Harris, Koegel and Caskey, counsel for 20th Century-Fox, left New York last night for "Okla- homa City, where he will spend sev- eral weeks in preparation for the Grif- fith trial, which is scheduled to get un- derway May 7. Nickerson is representing the five consent decree distributors and he will cooperate with Griffith attorneys and the Government in setting trial pro- cedure. Golden Will Release Next Through UA {Continued from page 1) Hollywood," featuring Tom Brene- man, radio star. Breneman will return to Hollywood this morning from a Red Cross tour of the Midwest to open the restaurant from which his "Break- fast in Hollywood" broadcast will originate. Earl Baldwin will write the screenplay and production is scheduled to start July 1. . Edward and Robert Golden pro- duced "Hitler's Children" and "The Master Race," released through RKO Radio, while Dembow was formerly a Paramount vice-president. Officers of the new company are : Dembow, president ; Edward Golden, chairman of the board, Robert Golden, vice- president in charge of production. New Music Hall Record Radio City Music Hall had its big- gest opening day last Thursday when "Without Love" and the theatre's Easter stage show drew 23,930 pa- trons who paid $17,856. Previous opening day attendance record was 20,930. Bond Here on New Unit Anson Bond, who with Leslie Char- teris has organized the Bond-Char- teris Co., Hollywood, for the produc- tion of shorts for television and the production of motion pictures of "The Saint," arrived in New York on Sat- urday to complete various arrange- ments of the firm's business. In Lavish hn/color! Another Glorious U.A. Hit! Yep... FIVE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN of our boys and girls have gone to War... to give Uncle Sam ...the services they used to give YOU * * * Mean- while . . . there are SIXTEEN HUNDRED boys and girls in the PRIZE BABY'S organization ... trying to keep your screens aglow . . . with TRAILERS . . . and your lobbies bright . . . with ACCESSORIES * * * YEP . . . SIXTEEN HUNDRED . . . just about ONE NSS EMPLOYEE for every TEN EXHIBITORS in these United States * * * That's a lot of SERVICE . . . especially in War Times . . . but . . . some of these boys and girls are NEW at their jobs . . . and can't quite manage to give you the out- standing service you're accustomed to receiving from the Prize Baby * * * However . . . along with the rest of us . . . they're AT YOUR SERVICE . . . doing their best * * * We knew you'd UNDER- STAND . . . once you knew how hard they were TRYING . . . THANKS. ntmormL Qj&ieea service L^J PRIZE BBBT OF THE MDU5TRY First in Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry > VOL. 57. NO. 59 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1945 TEN CENTS Violators of Curfew Will Be Penalized Employment Ceilings to Be Dropped to 'Zero' Washington, March 26. — The War Production Board was dis- closed today to be prepared to in- voke priority penalties upon viola- tors of the curfew certified to it by the War Manpower Commission as having violated employment ceilings, but it was indicated the Board would not initiate action against violators by suspending their light, power or fuel service. The Board's policy throws the burden of denouncing violators upon the WMC, which is to (Continued on page 17) Appoint Lesser N.Y. 7th Loan Chairman Irving Lesser, associate general manager of the Roxy Theatre on Broadway, has accepted the invita- tion of Samuel Pinanski, national chairman of the film industry's participation in the Seventh War Loan, May 14 - June 30, to act as Metropol- itan New York chairman. Les- s e r ' s appoint- ment was made i n consultation with Samuel Rinzler and Fred Schwartz, co - chairmen of the New York Irving Lesser area War Activities Committee, and (Continued on page 17) Federal Tax Returns Up to $26,298,412 Washington, March 27. — Recov- ery from the usual year-end slump at theatres was noted today by the U. S. Internal Revenue Bureau, which reported that admission tax collections in February ("covering January busi- < Continued on page 17) Mark Time on Probe For 'Little Men' Washington, March 26. — Members of the Senate Small Business Committee will de- cide within the next day or two whether they will make an investigation of the mo- tion picture industry to de- termine the situation of small enterprises. The Committee's staff has made a lengthy study of the motion picture situation, it was stated, but Dewey Ander- son, executive secretary, em- phasized that no decision has been made. However, he add- ed, the results of the studies have been compiled and the Committee may have a state- ment on the matter within a few days. General Precision Net: $1,138,147 Consolidated net income of General Precision Equipment Corp. for 1944 amounted to $1,138,147 after deduc- tion of $2,866,700 for Federal income taxes, compared with $1,255,907 in 1943. The 1944 net was equivalent to approximately $1.94 per share on 586,- 087 shares of capital stock outstand- ing, against $2.14 the previous year, Earle G. Hines, president of the company, told stockholders in his an- nual report sent out yesterday. Because of the amendment to the New York State Franchise Tax Law requiring that liabilities for that tax (Continued on page 9) 'LoveVCo-Pilot'Top B 'way First Runs; 8 New Films Opening Two new arrivals at Broadway first- run theatres are scoring outstanding business while holdovers are generally registering well in a satisfactory pre- Easter week, all aided by good weath- er. Theatres are now back to mid- night closings despite Mayor LaGuar- dia's "hour of tolerance." Eight new films will arrive at the first-runs this week. 'Without Love" and Radio City Music Hall's traditional Easter show are combining to give the theatre an outstanding week with $75,500 re- corded for the first four days and a big $123,500 anticipated for the week. "God Is My Co-Pilot" and a stage show featuring Cab Calloway and his band are also drawing top receipts, (Continued on page 9) Fail to Reach Decree Peace Inability of defendant companies to reach an agreement with the Depart- ment of Justice which would avert trial of the pending anti-trust suit was admitted yesterday by Robert L. Wright, Special Assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, at a pre-trial con- ference before Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard in U. S. District court here yesterday. Although the conference was de- (Continued on page 9) Control of Manpower in Hands of War Mobilizer Washington, March 26. — Confer- ees on the manpower bill today signed a compromise measure giving the Di- rector of War Mobilization the au- thority to prescribe employe ceilings in areas, activities and individual estab- lishments and 'freezing' essential workers in their jobs. Both male and female labor, regard- less of age, are covered by the com- promise bill, which is expected to come up in the House tomorrow. One of the features of the new legislation is the authority given the Govern- ment to pay traveling expenses of workers moving to a new location at the 'request' of Federal authorities. Penalties ranging up to 12 months in prison and a fine not exceeding $10,000 are provided for violation of the act and, in addition, an employer violating manpower ceilings will not be permitted to deduct wages or sal- aries paid excess workers in prepar- ing his income tax return. The scope of the measure is set forth in its initial section, where Con- gress declares : "Every individual not in the Armed Forces shall have an obligation, when called upon, to serve the Nation in an activity essential to the war effort. "The purposes of this Act are to provide the most practicable and effec- tive means to accomplish the fulfill- ment of such an obligation and to provide for making the most effective use of the man-power resources of the Nation," it was added. Hays Warns of Laxities on Film Standards Releases Annual Report After MPPDA Meet The screen has won a signal vic- tory during the war over the pres- sures and temptations that might have tended to relax the standards of motion pic- ture production, Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, de- clared in his annual report to the industry, released here yesterday, fol- lowing the an- nual meeting of the association. Thus far, in war as in peace, he said, the structure of self-regula- (Continued on page 6) Will H. Hays Hays Is Reelected MPPDA President Will H. Hays was reelected presi- dent; Carl H. Milliken, secretary; George Borthwick, treasurer, and F. W. Du Vail, assistant treasurer, at the annual MPPDA meeting held here yesterday. Joseph I. Breen, designat- ed last December as vice-president and director of the Production Code Ad- ministration, continues in that ca- pacity. Board of directors for the new year are: Barney Balaban, Nate J. Blum- (Continued on page 6) Walsh and Casey to Tackle Strike Here Hollywood, March 26.— All factions concerned today reported conditions unchanged as the studio strike against the producers entered its third week, and attention turned to the East in ex- pectation that the next important move for settlement will be made there. With Richard F. Walsh, IATSE (Continued on page 9) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 27, 1945 Boost in Equipment. Prices is Refused Washington, March 26. — Manu- facturers of photographic equipment preparing for reconversion to civilian production have been warned by the Office of Price Administration that until they can definitely show higher costs on their new output they will have to adhere to March, 1942 price levels. The OPA disclosed today that it had given -this information to mem- bers of the photographic equipment manufacturers' industry WPB advis- ory committee at a meeting at which a request was made for a higher ceil- ing because of increased material and labor costs. OPA officials explained to the com- mittee that it was impossible to grant higher maximum prices on mere anti- cipations of increased costs and that it would be necessary for the indus- try to get back into normal produc- tion before action could be taken. To secure an increase, it was said, it would be necessary to submit actual cost data based on normal output, and it was pointed out that such figures could not be prepared now or while an industry is in process of reconver- sion. Plan Montague 20th Anniversary Awards Plans for Columbia's 'Montague 20th Anniversary' campaign, named in honor of general sales manager A. Montague, call for a series of awards to be given to sales personnel. The campaign got under wav March 16 and will continue for * 15 weeks, through June 28. As announced by Rube Jackter, as- sistant general sales manager and chairman of the campaign, the award set-up will provide an opportunity for participation on the part of all sales and booking personnel in the 31 ex- changes of Columbia Pictures. The plan is a comprehensive one, designed to emphasize the individual achievements of each member of the Columbia sales staff. A series of na- tional awards, based on billings, have teen set up and the prizes will go to the manager, salesmen, office man- agers and bookers of the 20 offices which have achieved the highest per- centage of their 1944-45 billings quotas. Screen Extras Guild Launched on Coast Hollywood, March 26. — The Screen Extras Guild, a new organization headed by the veteran extra Larry Steers and launched since the Screen Players Union and the Screen Actors Guild came to an impasse on juris- diction over workers doing bits, stunts and singing, today telegraphed the AAAA executive board its application for a charter. The board meets in New York tomorrow. Organizers have been circulating petitions since the SPU-SAG conflict was referred to the National Labor Relations Board on an appeal from the producers and SAG for revision of terms of the certification given SPU. Personal Mention NEIL F. AGNEW, Vanguard vice- president in charge of distribu- tion, will leave New York for Lon- don in two weeks. • Cpl. Norman Rolfe, former Con- necticut manager for Lockwood and Gordon Theatre Circuit, celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary re- cently. His wife is manager of the Webb, Wethersfield, Conn. • James P. Mulvey, Samuel Gold- wvn Productions New York general manager, arrived in Hollywood yes- terday from New York accompanied by Harry Archinal, of the account- ing department. • William Gleicher, of the M-G-M sales department has arrived in Los Angeles from San Francisco. He will visit Salt Lake City and Denver before returning to New York. • N. Peter Rathvon, RKO pres- ident, arrived on the Coast over the weekend from New York. He is scheduled to return April 9. • ' Barney Balban, Mrs. Balban and daughter, Judith, and Edwin Weisl, returned to New York yesterday from the Coast. Phil Williams, March of Time advertising director, will return to New York tomorrow from a 10-day trip to the Midwest. • Walter L. Titus, Jr., Republic branch operations head, is in Detroit. He will return to New York next Monday. Kirby Burns of Famous Players' Canadian booking department, has re- turned to his job following 30 months of service in England. • Lt. Col. Frederick P. Henderson, formerly of Eastman Kodak, has been awarded the Bronze Star for work on Guam. • Elmer Davis, OWI director, ar- rived in London from New York yes- terday. • E. H. Groth, RKO Theatres New England division manager, is visiting New York from Boston. • Phil Bobys, Washington M-G-M salesman, has returned there from New York. • Cpl. Paul Amadeo, former assist- ant manager for E. M. Leow, Hart- ford, is home after two years in Italy. • Glenn Ireton, Warner Canada field representative, is en route to Vancouver from New York. I_TAL B. WALLIS will arrive in New York from the Coast early next month. • Arthur C. Bromberg, president, and Harold Cohen, special sales rep- resentative of Monogram Southern exchanges, have returned to Atlanta from New York. • Ray Schmertz, son of I. J. Schmertz, 20th-Fox Cleveland branch manager, was tendered a farewell in- dustry dinner prior to entering service yesterday. • Charles Skouras, National Thea- tres Corp. president, left the Coast vesterday for New York, ac-omp',nierl by his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Rosenberg. • Gloria Jean Gold, daughter of Harry Gold of United Artists, has been married to Lt. Seymour Udell, USNR. • Mrs. Max Lefkowich, head of the Community Circuit, is recuperating' from an operation at Mt. Sinai Hos- pital, Cleveland. • Dennis Wratten, manager of the film technical service of Kodak, Ltd., London, is visiting the company offices here, and will go to the Coast soon. • Merritt Davis, Republic Southern manager has returned to Atlanta from the Coast. • Nat Turberg, Northio city man- ager at Hamilton, Ohio, is visiting Florida with his wife. • Nelson Trowbridge, Cincinnati theatre manager, is ill in General Hospital there. • J. S. Jossey and Kroger Babb, co- producers, returned to Cleveland last week from the South. • William Baker, Republic Midwest head, has returned to Chicago from a two-week Coast trip. • Tohn Balaban, Balaban and Katz Theatre Corp. head, is von a 10-day vacation. • Leon Fromkess. PRC president, is expected in New York from the Coast about April 15. • Bill Hoyle, of Lichtman Theatres. Washington, arrived in New York yesterday. • David Robinson, formerly with E. M. Loew's. Hartford, is now a major in Belgium. • John Jenkins, president of Astor Pictures, Dallas, is visiting Atlanta. Louis Meyer Dies New Rochelle, N. Y., March 26. — Louis Mever, former publisher of The Theatre Magazine and onetime Com- missioner of Parks and Docks of New Rochelle, died in New Rochelle Hos- pital, where he had been taken follow- ing the death of his wife ten days ago. He was 74 years old. Celestials' Lunch Today A program of special entertainment for the next monthly luncheon of the Celestials, today, at the Waldorf- Astoria Hotel includes Danny Kaye, Jackie Gleason, Earl Wrightson and the Ink Spots. Groups of recently returned veterans will be guests of the Celestials. Buck and Meyer Are Reelected by ASCAP Eli E. Oberstein, chairman of the committee on elections, will certify to the ASCAP board of directors to- morrow, the following results of the annual election: For the writers in the popular-music field: Gene Buck was re-elected by a vote of 75,242; George W. Meyer, by 71,036; Ray Henderson, by 70,439. In the standard-music field : John Tasker Howard replaced the incum- bent director, Geoffrey O'Hara by a vote of 48,915. For the publishers, in the popular field : Max Dreyfus, Crawford Music Corp., 5,166 ; John J. O'Connor, Warock Music Co., 5,112; Jack Mills, Mills Music, Inc., 4,800. In the stand- ard field: Donald H. Gray, H. W. Gray Co., Inc., 4,507. These direc- tors were all incumbents. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50th St. and 6th Ave. Spencer Katharine TRACY HEPBURN "WITHOUT LOVE" LUCILLE BALL A M ETRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE & The Music Hall's Great Easter Stage Show ON SCREEN "PAN AMERICANA" PHILLIP TERRY AUDREY i-ONG IN PERSON Tommy DIX Extra! Menasha SKULNIKJ Paramount presents Veronlea Sonny LAKE TUFTS Bddla Marjorie . irasken Reynolds {"BRING on the GIRLS" In Person The Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald Buek & Bubbles Cootie William* and his Orchestra PALACE B WAY & 47th St. Dick Powell Claire Trevor - Anne Shirley "Murder, My Sweet' AN RKO RADIO PICTURB SAMUEL GOLDWYN Present* BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Tecbn/co/or ASTOR Broadway & Continuous Doors open 8:30 A.M. 45th Street Popular Prices WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLER0S' NOW in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Pictures . '. Brandt's GLOBE MOTTON PICTURE DATLY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor: London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York. N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per vear, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. Tuesday, March 27, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 Fisher Made Chief Booker for Odeon Toronto, March 26. — Further re- organization of Odeon Theatres of Canada in anticipation of quick post- war expansion moves has brought the appointment of Frank Fisher as chief booker and film buyer of the circuit's headoffice after serving as executive assistant to general manager A. W. Perry of Empire-Universal-Films. Fisher, who has served many years in the industry as branch manager at Calgary and Montreal before coming to Toronto, succeeds F. Ralph Dale, the latter becoming a partner in the Sam, Fingold circuit in Ontario. The latter is associated with Canadian Odeon. It has been stated that Canadian Odeon, now with 103 owned or con- trolled theatres, will launch a drive for the construction of 50 houses with- in two years after the war in Eurone. These will seat from 800 to 1,500 patrons and will cost from $75,000 to $150,000 with a uniformity of archi- tectural style in which certain features of British design will be incorporated. Schnitzer, Buchanan Address Canada Meet Montreal, March 26. — Opening session of a United Artists sales meet- ing at the Mount Royal Hotel here today was highlighted by a complete sales analysis and merchandising plan on the company's current product. Ed- ward M. Schnitzer, home office ex- ecutive, presided at the meeting, which was attended by the companv's six Canadian branch managers. In discussing both current and new productions, Schnitzer revealed sales plans and policies to be followed on each picture. Barry Buchanan, UA director of advertising-publicity ad- dressed the delegates and outlined merchandising plans on new pictures. Among the Canadian branch man- agers in attendance at the meeting were Charles Chaplin, Montreal; J. H. Reid, Calgary; George Heiber, St. John; Douglas Rosen, t Toronto; Harry Woolfe, Vancouver ; Abe Fein- stein, Winnipeg ; Sam Kunitzky, Mont- real, and Al. Iscove, Toronto. Schnitz- er, Buchanan and Herb Berg will ar- rive in New York tomorrow morning. Chicago, March 27. — A registra- tion statement covering 30,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, four and one-quarter per cent series, par value $100 per share, and 150,000 shares of common stock, par value $10 per share, was filed by Bell and Howell with the Securities and Ex- change Commission in Philadelphia today, J. H. McNabb, president, an- nounces. This offering will consti- tute the first public offering of securi- ties of Bell and Howell in its history. The 150,000 shares of common are to be sold by certain present stock- holders and involve no new financing on the part of the corporation. The preferred stock represents new financ- ing by the corporation, which plans to use the proceeds from its sale in part for the purchase of the Lincoln- wood Plant, now operated under lease from the Defense Plant Corp., and in part to pay for a contemplated ad- dition to this plant. Any balance re- maining will be added to working capital of the corporation. Sinking fund provisions and call prices of the preferred stock will be filed by amend- ment. The filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission follows by less than a month the authorization, by stockholders, of 1,000,000 shares of common stock and 60,000 shares of cumulative preferred. It was an- nounced at that time that marketing of an initial series of 30,000 shares of Welles Will Answer DeMille forAFRA Hollywood, March 26. ■ — Orson Welles will speak over the Mutual Network Saturday for the American Federation of Radio Artists in reply to Cecil B. DeMille who has been suspended from the AFRA for failure to pay a one dollar assessment voted by the membership. DeMille, speaking over Mutual on March 17, gave his side of the case. He contended that the issue was public one and not requiring the union levy. Thus far, AFRA has been sustained by Judge Wilson of Call fornia Supreme Court. DeMille is appealing the decision but in the meantime he is off his regular CBS Lux Radio Theatre program. Irving Rapper Feted A reception in honor of Irving Rapper for his latest directional pro duction for Warners, "The Corn Is Green", was held at the Sherry Netherland Hotel, here, yesterday. 180,000 Shares of Stock Offered by Bell & Howell the preferred was contemplated and that half of the 1,000,000 shares of common would be issued and ex- changed on a 25-for-one basis for the 20,000 shares of common stock of the par value of $25 per share which were held by individuals or in the com- pany's treasury. It is expected that when the regis- tration statement becomes effective public offering of the four and one- quarter per cent series stock and the common stock will be made through a group of underwriters headed by Harriman, Ripley and' Co., McNabb said. Bell and Howell is primarily en- gaged in the design, production and sale of motion picture cameras and projectors and sound and picture-re- producing apparatus. Practically all of the company's peace-time products are being used either directly or indi- rectly for war purposes. In addition, the corporation has produced motion picture cameras, instruments and numerous training devices for the Armed Services. After the war, Bell and Howell contemplate production of several new lines of cameras and projectors in the motion picture field, sound equipment for both the professional and amateur fields and the manufacture of still cameras and projectors, according to McNabb. In addition, the company contemplates production of several items which have been developed in the field of electronics. Hope to Get Vivian Leigh Back in U.S. London, March 26. — With the High Court having granted an appli- cation to postpone action until next term on David O. Selznick's request for an injunction to restrain Vivian Leigh from appearing in a stage play here, Sir Walter Monckton, K.C., of Selznick's London counsel, states that he hopes to achieve a settlement of the controversy whereby Miss Leigh would return to the U. S. to make pictures. The actress, under contract to Selznick, was granted a leave of absence to work in this country while her husband, Laurence Olivier, was in military service here. Keese and Halper to Expedite RWLB Plea William Keese of the law office of Dwight, Harris, Koegel and Caskey, here, representing 20th Century-Fox, and David Halper of the office of J.udge Matthew M. Levy, IATSE at- torney, left New York yesterday for Chicago to consult with regional War Labor Board officials there about pending applications for 10 per cent wage increases for film exchange service .workers in Chicago, Indian apolis, Minneapolis and Milwaukee. Mandell With FC Harry Mandell, listed as a genera! partner in Film Classics Distributing Co. in Motion Picture Daily yester day is a New York representative of the company and is not to be con- fused with Harry Mandel, advertising- publicity head of RKO Theatres. D'Arcy Named Chief Of De Vry Engineers Chicago, March 26. — Appointment of E. W. D'Arcy to the post of chief engineer of DeVry Corp. is announced by president William C. DeVry. For- merly research engineer of Essanay Film Corp., here, D'Arcy joined DeVry in 1940 in a similar capacity. In this post he contributed to design and production developments in the manufacture of motion picture sound, radar, navigating and gunnery train ing equipment for the Armed forces. Local F37 Elects Cincinnati, Mar. 26. — Marie King, RKO branch treasurer, and Al Koke- meyer, of Universal, have been elected vice presidents of Film Workers Local No. F37. Re-elected were: George Daubmeyer, Warners, pres- ident ; Gladys Pollak, M-G-M, secre- tary, and Robert Morrell, M-G-M business manager. Ontario Tax Threat Killed by Election Toronto, March 26.— With the de- feat of the Ontario Government on a non-confidence vote in the Provincial Legislature and the calling of an early election, the danger of a Provincial amusement tax, on top df the Federal 20 per cent tax, is believed to have been passed for the 420 theatres in the territory. When the late Government threat- ened to revive the impost in Ontario, leaders of rival parties made it known they opposed the re-introduction of Provincial amusement taxation. Mit- chell F. Hepburn, House leader of one group, abolished the ticket levy in 1938 when he was Premier of the province on the ground that it was a nuisance tax although it brought $2,- 000,000 annually to the exchecquer. E. B. Jolliffe, opposition leader in the recent Legislature, also informally opposed the tax revival on the basis that it hit lower-wage classes. FP-C Considering Entering Production Toronto, March 26— Famous Play- ers-Canadian circuit has under con- sideration a plan to enter production, initially with a program of 15 short subjects on Dominion documentary themes, it is learned, although com- pany executives are not in a position to issue an official announcement as yet because a number of details re- main to be worked out. Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board of directors of Paramount, which owns substantial interests in FP-C, mentioned, when he spoke at the Canadian circuit's 25th anniver- sary celebration here recently, the possibility of the American parent company making short subjects in the Dominion, based on local themes. PRC Gets Kulick' s Franchise for N. Y. Continuing its program of expan- sion in distribution, PRC has con- summated plans whereby it will acquire the New York exchange on April 6, from Bert Kulick, recently appointed general manager of distribution. The exchange will continue to be managed by Frances Kulick. _ Plans for the acquisition of addi- tional exchanges in the near future now are under way, according to Leon Fromkess, PRC president, indi- cating the ultimate control of the major portion of the company's domestic distribution in the near future. RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. NEW YORK TRADE SHOWING OF "TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE" MONDAY, APRIL 2 . . . 2:30 P. M. RKO Projection Room, 630 Ninth Ave., New York, N. Y. " Add 'The Enchanted Cottage' to the ever-growing list of fine Hollywood efforts. By its own merits, this at- traction carves itself a splendid niche . . . Here is a film which rests heavily on the believability and the integrity of its principal performances and the steady, yet understanding, hand in its direction. It is a happy circum- stance to report that this proves the case." — MOTION PICTURE DAILY A natural, both as to box office and entertainment." — Motion Picture Herald Gives one the feeling of having discovered some rare jewel." —Hollywood Reporter Will play a merry tune at the box-office." —Variety One of the month's most noteworthy screen events." —Boxoff/ce In the top bracket." —Hollywood Variety Deeply moving . . . has tremendous appeal for women." —Film Daily 'Timely . . . should prove beneficial to box-office." Get Credit for Your Red Cross Collection. — Showmen's Trade Review "*&^p Send Your Report to Your Area chairman. "Unusual love story will get the women's vote." — The Exhibitor NATIONAL PRESENTATION IN MID-APRIL! Dorothy McGuire • Robert Young ibe Lovers of "Claudia" Herbert Marshall . 'the ^icAmit&d ^ottaye" Mildred Natwick • Spring Byington ■ Hillary Brooke • Richard Ga Directed by John Cromwell • Pnnluced by Harriet Parsons Screen PLjy by DeWitt Bodeen and Herman J. Mankiewicz ;f< Based oh tbe play by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero Jraf R K O RADIO BACKS IT WITH TOP NATIONAL CAMPAIGN! Fvtl pages tn the biggest national magazines to a total of 29,007,375 CIRCULATION - Publications like WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION - McCAll'S - RED BOOK - COLLIER'S - LOOK - LIBERTY - WOMAN'S DAY — TRUE STORY - FAMILY. IE and the -ENTIRE FAN LIST. Hie ad 6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 27, 1945 Mass. Clearance Is Modified by Board The award of the Boston tribunal declaring that maximum clearance on 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, RKO, Loew's and Warner product which the Norwood and Guild Theatres, Nor- wood, Mass., held over the Strand, Canton, Mass., shall be seven days, and abolishing clearance entirely for the State Theatre, Stoughton, Mass., over the Strand, has been modified by the Appeals Board, the American Arbitration Association reports. Hereafter, the board ruled, maxi- mum clearance over the Strand by the Norwood shall be 14 days and for the Guild, on pictures it plays first run, three days. No clearance shall be granted, the board further ruled, to the State over the Strand on any pictures with respect to which the Strand is subject to clearance in favor of the Norwood or Guild ; and maximum clearance over the Strand which may be granted to the State on pictures to which the Strand is not subject to clearance, in favor of either theatres in Norwood, shall be seven days. Canton Amusement Co., Inc., oper- ates the Strand, George A. Giles Co., operates the Norwood and Guild ; and Stoughton Theatre Operating Co. operates the State. FREE & PETERS. Inc. James L. Free. Chairman. H. Preston Peters, President. Since 1932, exclusive national sales representatives of leading radio stations from coast to coast. Offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco and Hollywood. Now planning post- war expansion in FM and Television representation. WRIGHT- SOXOVOX. Inc. James L. Free, President. Ward R. Hickok, General Manager. Since 1941, exclusive develop- ers and licensors of Sonovox ''Talking and Singing Sound," exploiting commercial and artis- tic uses of Gilbert Wright's basic patented invention, in radio and motion pictures. Headquarters in Hollywood. JAMES L. FREE i PRODUCTIONS James L. Free, Producer. Nor- man Wright, Director. Head- quarters in Hollywood. Fred Mitchell, New York Represen- tative. Now producing series of one-reel quality shorts for major release, plus television: "The Wonderful Ears of John- nie McGoggin," using Sonovox Talking and Singing Sound. Also producing motion piciurc commercials for experimental television, and "minute movies" for theatre distribution. V NEW YORK: 444 Madison Ave. Plaza 5-4130 CHICAGO: 180 N. Michigan Ave. Franklin 6373 HOLLYWOOD: 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 2151 Hays Warns of Laxities In Standards of Screen (Continued from page 1) tion erected by the industry had weathered every storm. "We have proved," Hays declared, "that even in the most savage war in history there was no theme or situa- tion that couid not be dramatically treated within the limits of decency and good taste . . . that art and pru- dence in motion pictures do not neces- sarily conflict; that morality in enter- tainment is quite compatible _ with its enjoyment and its best service; that there can no longer be any question that morally sound pictures are good entertainment and good box-office." "No post-war trend of laxity or license will weaken or overcome our determination to keep the screen a free medium by keeping it an honest and respectable one," he added. Peace to Bring Problems He warned, however, that peace would bring problems as well as op- portunities to the industry. Not the least of these, he said, was the "ever present problem of self-discipline which we expect to be increased by the war's effect upon moral standards." Hays recited in his report that in the post-war the motion picture audi- ence will have been increased because entertainment during the war had drawn into steady patronage millions who were before only casual goers ; the industry will be in position to mobilize and use the new techniques which films have developed in war- time. Hays said that the industry could view with pride the steady trend towards wider popular approval and enjoyment of films which have great- er artistic merit. "We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that there is again a resurgence against moral restraints and im- patience with the inhibitions of con- science, and that this destructive force is being organized. "Not only from long experience but from the firmness of resolution which has been reinforced through these years, we are prepared to meet the exigencies of this situation. What we began almost a quarter of a century ago has developed into an institution so vital, and has created a program of practices so fruitful, that the pres- ent challenge will find us quite con- scious of the task. We shall not be satisfied merely to hold the gains of a quarter century's growth," he added. "The line of progress imposes upon us the imperative necessity to expand and intensify all the association's ef- forts and its departmental activities. We have already begun to move for- ward in extending the association's operating machinery and amplifying its personnel. Plans for many new and enlarged activities have been made and are in process of execution." Against Censorship "As the world approaches the task of peace and reconstruction, every channel of communication, every means of education, every agency of information, must be freed from the restraints which would prevent them from functioning in the interests of a free and peaceful world. The motion picture industry, therefore, is vitally interested in world-wide recognition of the right to freedom for all medi- ums of expression, because no one medium of communication can thrive apart from free expression in all." Hays praised the policy of the State Department which places our Govern- ment behind the principle of unham- pered transit in all mediums of com- munication. Such a policy, he de- clared, is an asset to world under- standing and world peace. Discrimi- natory tariffs, excessive customs duties, contingents, quotas, price fix- ing, freezings, remittance taxes and a host of other restrictions "are mines laid in the path of the free interchange of motion picture information and en- tertainment," he said, adding : "There is a cultural reciprocity in- herent in the exchange of film enter- tainment which must never be en- dangered by the intrusion of self-serv- ing propaganda. American pictures obviously help interpret American civilization to the peoples of the world. British pictures are reflections of British culture. And the native cultures of other countries, manifested in the films they produce, are valuable contributions to world entertainment and cultural interchange. Interna tional understanding, so necessary for world peace, is promoted. But neither films nor any other means of informa- tion, education or entertainment can hope to perform their maximum serv- ice if they abandon their integrity. The vitality of all our democratic processes depends upon freedom of communication among free men." Cites War Services of the Industry Hays, in his annual report, said a total of 24,867 prints of feature pic- tures and 26,341 of short subjects on 16mm. film had been delivered to rep- resentatives of the Armed Services for free showing to servicemen overseas. More than 16,000 pledged theatres dur- ing 1944, he reported, opened their screens to many special releases direct- ed to recruiting for special services as well as National War Fund and Red Cross appeals. During the year there were 15,110 "Bond Premieres" in thea- tres. For these premieres the distribu- tors furnished the films and the ex- hibitors waived cash receipts in favor of free admissions for bond purchasers. Hays also paid tribute to the talent participation in the war effort, point- ing out that through the Hollywood Victory Committee 3,671 artists made 41,463 personal appearances in 6,070 different events. Screen personnel traveled more than 4,000,000 miles, spent 1,430 weeks on the "foxhole cir- cuit" overseas, and made more than 18,000 personal appearances in hospi- tals and camps in the U. S. Newsreel cameramen, Hays said, continued to perform a heroic job on every war front. Films and Education Hays said that anticipated increased post-war interest in the use of films by educational institutions is begin- ning to be realized. "There is an increasing number of requests for service from schools and school systems, as well as from insti- tutions which are looking to us for the first time for film materials to be used in their instructional programs. "Much of this film service is rendered through Teaching Film Cus- todians, Inc., which is now distribut- ing to several thousand . schools and Hays Is Reelected MPPDA President (Continued from page 1) berg, Borthwick, Jack Cohn, Cecil B. DeMille, Earl W. Hammons, E. B. Hatrick, Hays, Joseph H. Hazen, a new member; Edward C. Raftery, N. Peter Rathvon, Hal E. Roach, Nicholas M. Schenck, Spyros Skou- ras and Harry M: Warner. Hunt Stromberg Productions was elected a Class A member, with Hunt Stromberg designated as representa- tive. The annual report was ap- proved, as was the treasurer's report. Hays presided. Charles Francis Coe, vice-president and general counsel, was not redesig- nated in that office, while Walter Wanger was not renamed to the board. school systems 16mm. prints of the theatrical short subjects. "Another type of expansion during the past year was the extension of this distribution program into Canada, from which repeated requests have come to permit educational film libraries in Canada to share in these film resources." Hays declared that an "interesting phenomenon" of motion picture at- tendance is the indication that films have become America's Summer-time amusement, at least during the war period. Trade Press Service Hays declared that the war had highlighted for the industry the serv- ice performed by the trade press. "No other industry is better served. Our trade publications provide our widespread industry personnel with better information, faster, than the trade mediums of any other compar- able business enterprise. This was important and essential to the func- tioning of the motion picture industry in time of peace; and it has been es- sential in time of war. "For the historian who undertakes to review the contribution made by the American motion picture industry to the successful prosecution of this war, the volumes of our trade press will be an archive worthy of his study. In them he will find the progressive stages through which the industry ad- vanced in the augmented discharge of its war responsibility. He will find also an explanation of how the mo- mentum was developed to carry over the top the various- Bond campaigns, United Nations drives, subscriptions for the Red Cross, the March of Dimes, National War Fund drives, and the many other functions of our War Activities Committee. "The twelve papers and magazines comprising the Trade Press Division of the War Activities Committee, since May 1942 have contributed 8335^ pages of advertising to the in- dustry's war effort, which measured in dollars represent $272,934. Even more important, however, is the fact that 13,554 columns of news and editorial comment was specifically directed toward war service projects of the industry. "Our trade press succeeded not only in placing a premium on cooperation in the war effort but through ex- plaining to the rank and file of our personnel the necessity for the con- tractions and restrictions on our nor- mal functioning, helped materially to keep the stream of entertainment un- impaired." & ail hm~- **y#'*A J J7 J J? J 7 * Story, *- an ^ Jane Po*e« ■ • ■ ^ sH0* . #> J- ******** * Tuesday, March 27, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 9 'LoveVCo-PilotTop B 'way First Runs; 8 New Films Opening Pre-Trial Conference Ends Without an Agreement (Continued from page 1) with $32,000 registered for the first three days and a heavy $65,000 ex- pected for the week. Of the holdovers, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and a stage bill present- ing Victor Borge and Joan Edwards, at the Roxy, and "The Picture of Dorian Gray," with a big "in person" show with Lena Horn and Xavier Cugat and his orchestra at the Capitol are drawing excellent receipts for fourth weeks. A heavy $80,000 is expected for "Tree' and a strong $62,- 000 is anticipated by the Capitol for "Dorian Gray." Both will continue with another week expected for "Dorian Gray" before "I'll Be Seeing You" takes over ; at least two more weeks are indicated for "Tree" before "A Royal Scandal" follows. 'Thunderhead' Sturdy A sturdy $17,500 is expected for the second week of "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka," at the Victoria ; "The Prin- cess and the Pirate" is expected to bring a profitable $21,000 for a sev- enth week at the Astor, while "The Three Caballeros" is headed §or a modest $10,000 for an eighth week at the Globe. All three will continue. The Paramount, Hollywood, Cri- terion, Rivoli, Gotham, Palace, Re- public and Rialto will bring in new films. A quiet $48,000 is expected for the fourth and final week of "Bring on the Girls," at the Paramount, and "Practically Yours" and a stage bill with Benny Goodman and his orches- tra and the Condos Bros, will open there tomorrow. A mild $11,000 is expected for the eighth and final week and an extra day for "Roughly Speaking," at the Hollywood, with "The Corn Is Green" opening there Thursday. The final four days of a third week of "Keep Your Powder Dry" is ex- pected to bring the Criterion about $15,500 ; "Between Two Women" will open there tomorrow. "The Song of Bernadette" will wind up the final four days of a third week on a return engagement at popular prices at the Rivoli with $6,000; "The Affairs of Susan" will open tomorrow. 'Emmanuel' Farewell The final five days of a 12th week of "Mr. Emmanuel" at the Gotham is expected to yield about $4,100; "Colonel Blimp" will open there Thursday night with a special benefit performance on behalf of the Society of Illustrators' servicemen's rehabili- tation fund. "Murder, My Sweet" will bring a good $18,000 for its third and final week at the Palace; "The Belle of the Yukon" will follow on Thurs- day. The Republic will conclude a third and final week of "Utah" with a slow $2,000; "Earl Carroll Vanities" will open there Saturday. The Rialto will bring "The Mummy's Curse" in Friday with $6,000 expected for the week of "Rough, Tough and Ready." REEVES SOUND STUDIOS, INC. 1600 BROADWAY, N. Y. 19 Circle 6-6686 Complete Film and Disc Recording Facilities {Continued from page 1) signed to seek agreements on pro- cedure which would aid in shortening the trial now scheduled for next Oct. 8, the two opposing sides appeared not to be in agreement on anything mate- rial when they appeared in open court before Judge Goddard yesterday, and there were no indications that the sit- uation had changed following a private conference in chambers subsequently. A second pre-trial conference was set for April 10 but Judge Goddard, who will be presiding in motions part of the Federal court here throughout next month, will be unable to parti- cipate. The conference will be held in the local office of the Department of Justice and 'a date for a hearing be- fore Judge Goddard some time in May is scheduled to be agreed upon at that time. Meanwhile, Judge Goddard has not ruled on either the Government's ap- plication for an injunction to restrain distributors from granting clearance to theatres charging substantially the same admission prices, nor on the Government's move to have arbitra- tion Appeal Board decisions on clear- ance cases admitted as evidence. Court Raises Question The court asked attorneys for both sides whether there was a possibility of an agreement either on the whole case or on the clearance issue. Wright subsequently told Motion Picture Daily that "We can't get together" on either theatre divorcement or clearance. John Caskey of Dwight, Harris, Koegel and Caskey, counsel for 20th Century-Fox, told the court that de- fendants had attempted to work out a clearance solution with the Govern- ment but had been rebuffed. Wright said the "backbone" of the Government's case will be a test of the legality of theatre ownership by GAF Reports Year's $-4,813,276 Profit Net profit of the General Aniline & Film Corp. for 1944 was $4,813,276, equal to $6.57 a share on the Class A common shares, comparing with $4,- 062,527, or $5.54 a share in 1943, ac- cording to the annual report by George W. Burpee, president. Net sales were $73,311,178, a new high record, comparing with $58,- 807,790 in 1943 and $43,240,715 in 1942, the first year under American management. The company is con- trolled by the Alien Property Cus- todian through his vesting of capital stock representing 98 per cent of the voting power. Exports were about five per cent of sales. More than half the sales in- crease was accounted for by produc- tion of special war materials. NAB Studies Probe of New Air Standards Washington, March 26. — The code committee of the National Association of Broadcasters is studying what, if any, suggestion revisions may be necessary in the industry's standards of practice. Conclusions of the com- mittee will be sumbitted to the NAB board at its next meeting. producers-distributors and that he hoped to get most of his evidence in documentary form in order to shorten the trial. Privately, Wright said the theatre divorcement phase of the trial should take the Government about one month. He described trade prac- tices as the other big issue involved in the trial and told the court that if it admitted Appeal Board decisions as evidence the Government could afford to rest on the merits, but that other- wises individual witnesses would have to be heard. Interminable Trial Wright conceded that the trial would be "interminable" if it was necessary for the Government to pre- sent individual evidence of each local monopoly alleged. Asserting that the trial will be that of the Government's original complaint, filed Nov. 20, 1940, Wright outlined his case broadly in response to defendants' requests for an indication of what they will be required to reply to. Defendants also were served with new interrogatories by the Government, designed to bring the case up to date. Edward C. Raftery, counsel for United Artists and Universal, inter- posed the objection that occurrences since 1940 were not admissible. In re- sponse to requests of other defense attorneys for more specific infor- mation of what the Government would endeavor to prove at the trial, Wright said he would supply names of wit- nesses and facts on which he would rely eventually, but at the present time he could supply neither. Company counsel indicated they would have additional interrogatories to serve on the Government. "I hope," the court interposed again, "you will be able to eliminate most of the testimony by stipulation and reduce the time of the trial." General Precision Net: $1,138,147 (Continued from page 1) be put on a current basis, the corpora- tion charged against its 1944 earn- ings two years and 10 months of tax accrual amounting to approximatelv $340,000, against $122,000 which would have been charged otherwise. Hines pointed out to the stockholders that this was a non,-recurring item. Included in last year's income are dividends received from the companv's investment in common stock of 20th Century-Fox amounting to $327,950 against $371,200 in 1943, General Pre- cision having sold 35,000 shares of 20th-Fox at a net average price of approximately $25 per share, applying the proceeds to the acquisition of two new subsidiaries : Ampro Corp. and Askania Regulator Co. Hines reported that the volume of the company's manufacturing activities increased during the year, sales of all subsidiaries being $24,096,904, compared with $20,964,525 in 1943. New Pete Smith Pact Hollywood, March 26.— Pete Smith, producer - commentator of M-G-M short subjects, has signed a new con- tract with the studio. Walsh and Casey to Tackle Strike Here (Continued from page 1) international president, and Pat Casey, producers' labor contact, en route to New York for conferences Tuesday or Wednesday with William Hutcheson, international president of the Carpenters and Joiners Union and with other labor executives, Sorrell told an all-union mass meeting here last night, "The strike is 98 per cent won. Walsh is trying for a negotiated peace, but we will hold out for un- conditional surrender," he added. Today the producers reaffirmed their earlier assertions that production is proceeding steadily, asserting: work is being dope on 25 features. IATSE international vice-presidf>nt Roy Brewer, carrying- on here for Walsh, told Motion Picture Daily he expects no material change in the situation until after the meetings in New York. Film Ads Cancelled By Newspaper Strike Des Moines, March -26. — Theatre operators here have been frantically attempting to buy advertising time on local radio stations following a strike of printers on the Register and Tri- bune, which has forced all theatre ad- vertising out of those two papers. Since .the walk-out on Saturday, a jurisdictional dispute between two mailing room unions, the papers have been published in abbreviated form through the use of photo-engraving. Last night the company told anxious theatre agents it would arrange a brief daily column of theatre listings in each paper for the duration of the strike. Lehman Favors New Screen Recognition Hollywood, Calif., March 26. — Spe- cial recognition of the screen which was said to contribute most to inter- national understanding has been pro- posed for addition to the annual awards of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. The suggestion was made by former Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, now direc- tor general of the United Nations Re- lief and Rehabilitation Administration, and had been referred to the Academy activities committee. A committee to determine the award winner would include representatives of Allied nations. 'U' Contract to MurRn Hollywood, March 26. — Jane Murfin has signed a term contract with Uni- versal as a writer-producer. GLOBE TICKET COMPANY 154 W. 14th ST. N. Y. C. Phone WAtkins 9-1486 PROMPT SERVICE AS USUAL 10 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 27, 1945 Production Is In Slightly Better State Hollywood, -March 26. — With "started" a qualified term meaning anything from "pre-recording" to "shooting location backgrounds," un- der strike-imposed conditions, produc- tion rose slightly from last week's lev- el as four features were started and three finished, the shooting index standing at 32. The production scene follows : Columbia Started: "The Bandit of Sherwood Forest," with Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Edgar Buchanan, George Macready. Shooting: "Over 21," "Kiss and Tell" ( Siegel). M-G-M Started : "For Better, for Worse," with Robert Walker, June Allyson, Audrey Totter, and Hume Cronyn. Shooting : ".They Were Expend- able," "Dangerous Partners," "Early to Wed," "Yolanda and the Thief," "The Harvey Girls." Monogram Finished : "Here Comes Trouble." Started : "Springtime in Texas," with Jimmy Wakely, Lee "Lasses"* White, Dennis Moore, Marie Harmon. Paramount Started: "People Are Funny" (Pine-Thomas) with Jack Haley, Rudy Vallee, Frances Langford, Bob Graham, Helen Walker. Shooting: "Our Hearts Were Growing Up," "The Well Groomed Bride," "You Came Along" (Hal Wallis). RKO Radio Finished: "George White's Scan- dals of 1945." Shooting: "The Amorous Ghost," "The Bells of St. Mary's." Republic Shooting : "Man from Oklahoma," "Tiger Woman," "Colorado Pioneers." 20th Century-Fox Finished: "State Fair." Shooting: "Within These Walls," "Dragonwyck," "Junior Miss," "The Dolly Sisters." United Artists Shooting: "Captain Kidd" (Bo- geaus) ; "Young Widow" (Strom- berg) ; "Duel in the Sun" (Van- guard) . Universal Shooting: "Serenade for Murder," "Lady on a Train," "A Night in Paradise." Warners Shooting: "The Time, the Place and the Girl," "Stolen Life," "Shad- ow of a Woman." Robinson to Condon Frances Robinson, actress of screen and radio, has joined the public rela- tions -staff of Richard Condon, Inc., here. Miss Robinson was under con- tract for two-and-a-half years to Uni- versal and also to Columbia. Miss Robinson will specialize on magazine and radio promotional work for the Condon office. Video Seen as 5-10 Billion Industry Indianapolis, March 26. — Tele- vision as a five or even a 10-billion dollar industry employing thousands, and one which can completely revolu- tionize our way of life, was envisaged by Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, vice-president in charge of RCA Laboratories in an address here recently before a joint meeting of the American Insti- tute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers. "Sound broadcasting revolutionized our ideas of entertainment and altered our way of living," Dr. Jolliffe de- clared. "Television can provide a sec- ond revolution of entertainment and affect our mode of living to an even greater degree," he said. Outlines Goals "Television engineers should not be satisfied that their job is done until they have made it possible to project in the home, pictures of adequate size in color and also for anyone to attend, by television, all major happenings wherever they occur in the U. S. or in any other part of the world," Dr. Jolliffe pointed out. These objectives may be accomplished in a few years, or many years may be required, he said. Alberti Agency Will Handle Ameche Show The Jules Alberti Ap^cy has been granted representation and sales rights for 'oackaged' radio shows produced by Ameche Enterprises, Inc., it is an- nounced by Jules Alberti, president. The Alberti Agency, which holds ex- clusive management on James Ameche as an individual, will now have the services and availability of the entire Ameche organization, heared by Ameche and Frederick Bethel. The initial acquisition will include five shows and it is planned that some of the properties will be used as vehicles for Ameche, Elsa Maxwell, Constance Bennett, Gregory Ratoff, Fay Wray, John Baker and Richard Arlen. Paris Film Workers Got 30% Increase Settlement of the one week strike of personnel in Paris theatres resulted in a wage increase of 30 per cent for employees, "on account," with the un- derstanding that an additional 10 per cent will be granted in the near future. Press reports from Paris indicate the strike was called because film per- sonnel found it impossible to live, un- der black market conditions, on the wages they had been receiving. Other French industries are expected to fol- low the film industry in demands for higher wages. Comerford Books Plays Comerford Theatres' Capitol in Bing- hamton, Masonic Temple in Scran- ton and the Capitol, Wilkes-Barre, will inaugurate a 'legitimate' policy by bringing "Kiss and Tell," "Life with Father" and "Student Prince" first for one night engagements in each town. The shows, booked by Abe Feinberg, will then play three nights, beginning April 3. Thereafter vaude- ville will be resumed. Secret War Work an Aid to Television Stockholders of Columbia Broad- casting System are being informed that secret electronic work and re- search for the Government as a war job has made CBS engineers certain, in their opinion, "that postwar tele- vision, simply by following in the footsteps of military electronics, could emerge at a much higher level than its prewar 'freeze,' " with pictures "twice as clear, twice as sharp and perhaps twice as large." Paul W. Kesten, executive vice- fpresident, points out three accom- plishments of CBS in 1944, two of them entirely outside the field of audio broadcasting, one being the design and construction by CBS's television labo- ratories of special electronic equip- ment for the Navy. Another was "the challenge constructively offered to the radio industry in the warning that better television on higher wave lengths and in full color, was inevit- able and, therefore, should not be de- layed after the war lest millions -of consumers invest hundreds of millions of dollars in old-style sets which would not receive the coming better pictures." A third was the audio broadcasting reports from battle fronts on 'D-Day' and ensuing days. Nation's Theatres Aid Clothing Collection 'United National Clothing Collection' posters is being distributed to thea- tres this week by National Screen Service, on behalf of a clothing col- lection, April 1-30. This is a united effort on the part of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administra- tion, and all of the voluntary war re- lief agencies of the U. S., under the chairmanship of Henry J. Kaiser. War Activities Committee, Office of War Information, and National Screen are cooperating in furnishing the posters to theatres. Goal of the clothing drive is 150,000,000 pounds, for free distribution to needy and des- titute men, women and children in war-devastated countries. Radio Stage Hands- Get Wage increases New contracts covering some 40 stage hands employed by National Broadcasting, Columbia, Blue Net- work, Mutual and WMCA have been signed by the companies with IATSE Theatrical Protective Union, No. 1, and have been submitted to the War Labor Board for approval. Contracts for the stage hands used in studios and New York radio theatres, provide for a five-day week instead of the present six-day week and 10 per cent wage increases per- mitted under a balance due under the 'Little Steel' formula. Provisions are retroactive to March 17, 1944. Republic Drive for 'Vanities' Launched Newspaper advertising and radio spot announcements highlight the campaign which is backing the Broad- way opening of Republic's 'big-budget' musical, "Earl Carroll Vanities," at the Republic Theatre in New York, where the picture will open on Saturday. The campaign covers every New York newspaper. Radio spot announcements will begin today. I Hollywood By THALIA BELL Hollywood, March 26 DIRECTOR Curtis Bernhart has had his Warner contract ex- tended . . . Casting of Natssha Gurdie and Sonny Howe for juvenile roles completes the selection of players to support Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles and George Brent in Interna- tional's "Tomorrow Is Forever." • Columbia has exercised its option on Janet Blair. . . . Rex Lease has been added to the cast of Monogram's "Springtime in Texas." . . . Univer- sal's horror character, first introduced in "The Spider Woman," will be seen again in "The Spider Woman Strikes Again," with Gale Sondergaard starred. • Charles Russell has been selected for the romantic lead in 20th Cen- tury-Fox' "The Embezzler" . . . Rosemary De Camp is set for the role of the Queen of Spain in "The Adventures of Don Juan," Warner production in which Errol Flynn is starred . . . Dorcas Cochran has been signed by Leon Fromkess to write the screenplay of "The Wife of Mojite Cristo." Audrey Trotter and Hume Cronyn have been assigned top featured roles in M-G-M's "For Better, for Worse" . . . Andy Russell, singer, has been put under contract by B. G. De Sylva and will make his screen debut in "The Stork Club." . . . The feminine lead in M-G-M's "They Were Ex- pendable" has been given to Donna Reed. • Hal Wallis is planning a film based on the life of the Russian composer, Tschaikovsky, as one of his scheduled productions for Paramount release. . . . Thomas Mitchell has been se- lected for a top subborting role in M-G-M's "This Strange Adventure," which stars Clark Gable and Greer Gar son. Ohio Situations to Adopt War Time Columbus, O., March 26. — Many Ohio situations, and those just across the line in adjoining states, will move clocks ahead one hour to Eastern War Time, April 1, with others making the change later in the month. However, communities which retain the present Eastern Standard Time will observe the midnight curfew one hour later than adjacent towns where the change has been made. This, it is believed, will tend to attract consider- able patronage to the situations where the extra hour prevails. ClAA Becomes OI AA, Harrison Is Head Washington, March 26. — Wallace K. Harrison has been appointed direc- tor of the Office of Inter-American Affairs which has been changed to this new designation from the former name Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, by executive order of President Roosevelt. Harrison was formerly deputy co- ordinator and had been serving as acting coordinator since Nelson A. Rockefeller, former coordinator, was made an Assistant Secretary of State. JOIN HIS 5th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IT'S THE BIRTHDAY PARTY of the YEAR! c at the box office when it is exposed *y as realistically. .. and dramatically. .. as in this sensational exploitation special! ★ "BEST CONTEMPORARY FILM IN ITS CATEGORY" • m. p. herald "SUSPENSEFUL, EXCITING AND FAST MOVING ... WILL BE A TOP BILL STANDOUT" • box office "ROUSING MELODRAMA. ..UNFOLDING AT A FAST AND EXCITING PACE... EXCELLENT PRODUCTION INVESTITURES" • daily variety "GOOD NAME CAST AND HIGH-POWERED EXPLOITATION" • HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "LEON FROMKESS HAS LET FIRE WITH BOTH BARRELS. ..THE RESULT IS FAST, FORCEFUL MELODRAMA" • M. P. daily "RED HOT FOR EXPLOITATION" • box office digest "BLINDING IN ITS REVELATIONS OF MUNICIPAL GRAFT" • GRACE KINGSLEY, L. A. TIMES. "THE GREATEST EXPOSURE OF CRIME RACKETS TO HIT THE SCREEN" • EXHIBITOR There's NO ILLUSION about These Raves! PRC PRESENTS f>T ADELE COM ANDINI • Bated or aa Original Story by FRITZ ROTTER YEAR OLD IN # LEAGUE BO 4y W * + Blizzards or Brownouts... it s the HOLDOVER HIT ! "BLUEBEARD" MADE A BOX-OFFICE KILLING in PHILADELPHIA! Biggest business in many months. ..despite worst blizzard in years,.. "Bluebeard/" excellent, distinctive class film, the kind of picture any company would be glad to release." ★ Hollywood Reporter "More suspense per minute than has been created by all the zombies, mummies and ghosties let loose in the theatres." * Motion Picture Herald "Leon Fromkess continues to boost PRC's stock sky high with 'Bluebeard.' " + Daily Variety "One of the most ambitious offerings to bear the PRC label... packs plenty of excitement and suspense." ★ Film Daily PRC PICTURES presents JOHN CARRADINE &IUB8EARD ti/l^t Tfie Most Sinister Love Story Ever Told! lean PARKER * Nils ASTHER 'Lndwi, STOSSEL Produced by LEON FROMKESS . Assoc. Prod. MARTIN mooney Directed by EDGAR G. ULMER ■ Screenplay by Pierre Gendron Original Story by Arnold Phillips & Werner H. Furst • * E BOOTS The Nation's Gone Wild... abouT-tHtToWh WEAK W\Lf>* "SPLENDID DIRECTION" Film Daily , . '7o/> m..^ "VERY GOOD!" Harrison's Reports "CERTAINLY A BELL RINGER " u«n ^ , 1 KINbtR Hollywood M. P. Review "A RIOTOUS SLEEPER!" Hollywood Reporter "BEST COMEDY IN MANY YEARS" Daily Variety "A LIVELY SLEEPER" Liberty kfo Wf/n W|to A ROTH-GREENE-ROUSE Production with Freddie BARTHOLOMEW • James LYDON Edward Everett HORTON • Tom TULLY Jill Browning • Minna Gombell • Ruth Lee • Roberta Smith • Maude Eburne Charles Halton • Ferris Taylor * Jimmy Conlin • Monte Collins Charles Middleton • Emmett Lynn • Dorothy Vaughan Written and Produced by Bernard R. Roth • Clarence Greene • Russell Rouse Directed by RALPH MURPHY e «/ YEAR OLD IN / LEAGUE BOOTS! Every Home in America is living this drama of tomorrow! TIMELIEST PICTURE of the YEAR It's headed for the title of "the box office SLEEPER OF THE YEAR". . .HELD OVER in DETROIT* BROOKLYN • LOS ANGELES • PROVIDENCE ★ * ★ "If Director William K. Howard had never made another fine picture he could say with justifiable pride, 1 1 stand or fall by this one.' " ★ Los Angeles Examiner "PRC is entitled to an armistice celebration all its own over 'When the Lights Go On Again.' " * Hollywood Reporter "Leon Fromkess does it again... a strong PRC bid to show producers it's possible to make good pictures... as well as good money.' " * Daily Variety "Even the majors could be proud of this one." * Box office THREE STARS IN THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ... Biggest Circulation in the World PRC PRESENTS WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON AGAIN starring $6mm*t LYDON * gww BELDEN George CLEVELAND * Dorothy PETERSON * Regis TOOMEY Directed by WILLIAM K. HOWARD Original Story by FRANK CRAVEN • Screen Play by MILTON LAZARUS Produced by LEON FROMKESS Tuesday, March 27, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 17 Federal Tax Returns Up to $26,298,412 (Continued from page 1) ness) increased to $26,298,412, from $24,354,560 in the preceding month. The upsurge was in sharp contrast with a year ago, when collections dropped from $16,744,936 in January to $12,094,185 the following month. Admission-tax collections now are are running at the rate of $360,000,- 000 a year, slightly better than esti- mated by the Treasury when the cur- rent rates were put into effect. Re- ceipts for the first eight months of the Government's fiscal year aggregated $237,662,562 against $120,630,825 in the corresponding period a year ago, an increase of $117,031,737. The improved January business evi- denced by the February collections was spread throughout the country rather than in Metropolitan centers, it was indicated by the special report for the Third New York (Broadway) Dis- trict which showed a decline in rev- enue from $4,766,726 in January to $4,049,158 last month. The decline applied to all classifi- cations of admissions, receipts from box office admissions dropping from $4,083,825 to $3,450,642; tickets sold by brokers from $51,054 to $32,913; tickets sold by proprietors in excess of established prices from $1,014 to nothing. To Honor Fanny Brice Columbia Broadcasting and Benton and Bowles advertising agency will honor Fanny Brice, Danny Thomas and the 'Toasties Time' cast at a re- ception at the Hotel Ambassador here this afternoon. Curfew Violators To Be Penalized (Continued from page 1) make the first step by imposing 'zero' employment ceilings. WPB itself, it was said by a spokesman, will not initiate any such cases. An official of the Board said that no cases have yet been received, but an agreement has been reached that when a certification is sent in by the WMC it will be turned over to the compliance division for investigation. The investigation would include a hearing at which the Government would be required, to provide that current, fuel or other materials needed to promote the war effort were being used improperly through a violation of the manpower ceiling. While the procedure could be ap- plied to theatres or other places, it was explained that it would operate in this way : Upon violation of the curfew, the WMC would fix a zero manpower ceiling ; thereupon, if the the establishment continued to oper- ate, it would be held to have violated its ceiling and to have improperly used power or fuel, whereupon it would be certified to the WPB which, after investigation, could order its sup- plies cut off. Yergin With 'Reporter' Hollywood, March 26. — Irving Yergin today became editor of The Hollywood Reporter under an arrange- ment which is understood to give him a sharing arrangement. Yergin re- cently came West as an executive as- sistant to Charles Einfeld, director of advertising and publicity for War- ners. His deal to join William R. Wilkerson, however, had been on and off for a number of months. Treasury Has New War Drive Poster Washington, March 26 . — The sketch for a poster, "Movie Goers — Keep on Buying Bonds," shows a typical American soldier, battle-weary, but determined, in an advance through a wrecked German village. As his fel- low infantrymen trudge on, he pauses for a moment to wheel around and face from the screen the comfortable audience in his home town theatre. Superimposed on the screen and cur- tain are the words, "You buy 'em — we'll fight 'til we beat 'em!" The poster is an official U. S. Treasury poster 40-by-60 inches, and was produced at the direction of Ned Shugrue, director of the motion pic- ture and special events section of the War Finance Division. National Screen Service will distribute the poster to theatres. R. J. O'Donnell, Southwestern chairman for the War Activities Committee, suggested the poster, and Ray Beall prepared the original sketch and layout. RKO Revives Foreign House Publication RKO Radio's foreign department publication, The Foreign Legion, has been brought back into circulation af- ter a lapse due to the war. It is un- der the editorial guidance of Mike Hoffay, foreign publicity manager ; the publication was resumed during March. Highlighting the reappearance of The Foreign Legion, dormant since June 29, 1940, is an outline of the "Phil Reisman Studio Appreciation Drive," now under way and continu- ing until June 2. Each article in the publication is printed in Spanish, Portuguese, French and English. Appoint Lesser N.Y. 7th Loan Chairman (Continued from page 1) was unanimously endorsed at a meet- ing of New York area WAC mem- bers. In announcing Lesser's acceptance, Pinanski said : "I am informed that all exhibitors are behind him 100 per cent. Lesser has given the national committee an assurance that the Metropolitan area will go over the top in this biggest of all war drives." Lesser stated yesterday that organi- zation meetings will get under way here tomorrow when chairmen will be appointed for the various committees. A member of the executive commit- tee of the New York area War Ac- tivities Committee since its inception, Lesser has been chairman of the Broadway-Times Square Theatres in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth War Loans, and has been active in all Red Cross, March of Dimes, National War Fund and other drives. Mahoney Child Actor Licensing Bill Dies Albany, N. Y., March 26. — The Mahoney bill, which would have es- tablished a system of licensing, by local educational authorities, of children under 18 performing in various kinds of entertainment, has been killed in the Senate's education committee. This measure would not have affected New York City. Also killed in the committee was another bill designed to put the direc- tor, officers and employes of the State Education Department's motion pic- ture division under civil service. One of the thrilling production high lights from "Earl Carroll Vanities," spectacular, new Republic super- show, starring Dennis O'Keefe, Constance Moore, and featuring Woody Herman's band of the year. ADVT. >eirMf ii "Did you see our trade ad? A tip that ^\ yields dough!" LOEWS STATE, N.Y. TOOK A TIP AND BROKE ITS 25 -YEAR RECORD! "Meet Me In St. Louis' ' is the first picture to play 3 weeks at the State (after its 10- week run at the Astor.) MORAL: WHEN YOU FIND A GOLDMINE, KEEP DIGGING! Give To The Red Cross vMGM> First in MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry L. 57. NO. 60 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1945 TEN CENTS See Defeat of Bowles Plan On Thursday Senate Group to Pass On Admission Control Washington, March 27. — The Senate Banking and Currency Connnitte is expected to take final action Thursday on the extension of the Emergency Price Control Act, and is believed ready to turn clown the suggestion of Price Administrator Chester A. Bowles for control of thea- tre admission prices. An indication of the committee's position on this and other amendments urged by both Bowles and industry representatives appearing at the recent hearings was given by Chairman Rob- ert F. Wagner, Senator from Xew York, who said it is "the feeling of (Continued on pane 12) Technicolor Profit $859,156 in 1944 Technicolor, Inc., had a net profit of $859,156 for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31. 1944, compared with $1,103,- 704 for 1943, Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general manager, re- ported yesterday. Federal excess profits tax increased from $13,008 in 1943 to $533,450 in 1944, the latter subject to an antici- pated postwar refund of $53,345. Total Federal taxes last year amounted to Sl.048,288. compared with ^812.250 the year before. Total revenue in (Continued on page 11) Universal First to Accept 7th Quota Universal is the first New York firm in all business fields to accept a quota for the Seventh War Loan ad- vance payroll savings cam- paign, beginning April 9. Based on average earnings, Universal's War Bond quota will be $75,000. Joseph Ludyig and Willis G. Lipscomb, general auditor and assistant vice-president of the company, were pre- sented with Treasury com- mendation in behalf of the company. Propose 60% Slash in Tax Washington, March 27. — With end of the war in Germany in sight, Rep. Daniel A. Reed today introduced a joint resolution in Congress provid- ing for a reduction of 60 per cent in the excess profits tax rate, now 95 per cent, after the defeat of Germany, and outright repeal of the levy after the defeat of Japan. The resolution also calls for a horizontal cut of 20 per cent in individual income taxes to take effect at the end of the war with Japan. Reed explained that relief to Ameri- can business men from war time taxes is imperative if plans for reconversion and continued widespread employment after the return of peace are to be carried out. Walsh, Hutcheson Talk Strike Today Richard F. Walsh, 1ATSE interna- tional president, and William Hutch- eson, international president of the Carpenters and Joiners Union, and other national labor executives will start a series of conferences here to- day looking toward a possible settle- ment of the three-week-old studio strike resulting from the tangled jurisdictional dispute between the IATSE and the Studio Set Decora- tors Local No. 1421. Walsh arrived (.Continued on page 12) PCCITO Seeks War Rating for Theatres Los Angeles, March 27. — The Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Own- ers has passed a resolution urging Congress and War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes to support Con- gressman Gordon L. McDon- ough, Cal., in his Congres- sional proposal to have all film theatres declared essen- tial to the war eflfort. Quality Production Increases: Eyssell "The industry is now producing more quality pictures rather than quantity, and since the public will pay for a good pic- ture, we do not anticipate that iong first runs will lessen in the near future. Certainly as far as the Music I a 1 1 is con- cerned, we will not drop a pic- ture which is doing good busi- ness," Gus Eys- sell, managing director of Ra- dio City Music Hall told Mo- tion Picture Daily, following his (Continued on page 10) Gus Eyssell 64 The Affairs of Susan 99 [Paramount-Hal B. Wallis Prod.~] THEATREMEN who are aware of producer values will want to know fast what gives with Hal B. Wallis and his first for Para- mount. This is the answer : His "The Affairs of Susan" is one for the money. Particularly, from women. It is a comedy veering to burlesque and farce and not always on a completely unified footing, but that is more in the nature of a critic determined to be critical than it will be the fan plunking down his admis- sion for almost two hours of entertainment and relaxation. If the critic is to have his say, he would observe pace is not consistently maintained, yet he would leaven that by remarking it is one tough assign- ment to keep matters cooking for laughs throughout 110 minutes. They continue to maintain in Hollywood that important attractions are never easy to turn out and that comedies are the least easy. If this is the case, comedies in the length of "The Affairs of Susan" simply multiply, the difficulties. But if the audience and its probable reaction are the criteria, Paramount and Wallis may relax. This time Joan Fontaine is a comedienne. She is also dressed in the mode of the day and on her it is becoming. ,Her affairs are three, disallow- (Continued on page 7) WMC Desires Film Ban to Back Curfew Asks Distributors Not To Serve Violators Washington, March 27. — War Manpower Commission officials here today disclosed that recom- mendations have been made to the War Production Board that all pos- sible sanctions be imposed on the Loop Theatre, Toledo, accused of violating the midnight curfew. Determined to make an example of the case, regional officials of the WMC have requested the distributors not to release their pictures to any ex- hibitor for showing after midnight. Under the procedure worked out by WMC and WPB, the latter, following certification of a violation by the for- mer, will take steps to cut off power and other supplies of the violator. WMC officials said that on the (Continued on page 11) Casanave Plans New Distribution Unit The formation of a new national distributing organization for inde- pendent producers is indicated in a plan whereby Charles Casanave is to head a new organization of some 20 independent franchise holders who heretofore have been tied up with Film Classics, it is learned. Although Casanave refused to com- ment, it is understood that incorpora- tion papers for the new company are now being drawn and 20 independent exchange owners now associated with Film Classics and controlling some (Continued on page 12) Kann Discusses New Selznick Company Prospects of David O. Selz- nick establishing a national distribution company of his own, with Ross Federal Ser- vice offices and personnel as a foundation, are explored by Red Kann in Insider's Out- look on Page 2 of today's Motion Picture Daily. Fac- tors, both favorable and un- favorable, involved in such a move are discussed. 2 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, March 28, 1945 Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Personal Mention ROY HAINES, Warner Western and Southern sales manager, en- trained from Hollywood yesterday for New York, via Salt Lake City and Denver. • John C. Tack son, London Films director, returned to New York yes- terday from the Coast. He will leave for England within two weeks ac- companied by William Williams, also of London Films, who will arrive in Xew York today from Detroit. • Capt. Daniel R. Morgan and Sgt. Galloway, formerly assistant man- ager and a member of the junior ex- ecutive staff of the Roxy, New York, have received the Silver Star and a Commendation. • Shirley Epstein, daughter of Sam Epstein, Omaha circuit operator, has been married in that city to Sam Bernman. • Edward Gabriel, Capitol exchange manager, Philadelphia, is at Temple Hospital, that city, for an appendec- tomy. • Ross McCalsland, manager of the Telenews Theatre, Denver, and Mrs. McCal'sland, are in Dallas. • F. H. Smith, manager of Para- mount exchange operations. Salt Lake City, is due back there from Montana and Idaho. • Neil Fletcher, Palace Theatre treasurer. Dallas, is in California looking into a $70,000 inheritance left by a friend. • Maxine Basler of Earle W. Swei- gert's Paramount exchange staff in Philadelphia, has resigned to join the Red Cross. • Nina Scott, booker at the Shef- field-Republic Salt Lake City ex- change, is recuperating after an op- eration in that city. Al Wilkie. Paramount home office publicity manager, left Hollywood for Xew York yesterday on the Super- chief. • Hugh Braley, Paramount division manager, is visiting Salt Lake City and Denver. • Ira Adams, Nelson, Neb., exhibitor, has been appointed county attorney for Nuckolls County in that state. • Paul Esterly, manager of the Strand Theatre, Reading, Pa., is va- cationing in Florida. • Leon Bamberger, RKO Radio sales promotion manager, will leave here Friday for a Florida vacation. • Donald J. Bezahler, son of Joel Bezahler of M-G-M. will be bar- mitzvahed in Brooklyn, April 21. • Olin Clark will entrain from Hollywood for New York today. CPREAD over most of this ^ regular Wednesday area on April 19, last year, and again seven days later was a consoli- dation of facts, surmises and analyses of David O. Selznick's position in United Artists. High- light:- were stock ownership and stock influences which trailed ac- quisition of Sir Alexander Kor- da's 25 per cent interest by UA Productions, wholly-owned sub- sidiary of United Artists Cor- poration, and Neil F. Agnew who, somewhat earlier, had re- signed from Paramount to han- dle Selznick's sales. In the light of current deploy- ing, a few selected excerpts are worth reprinting because the}7 fit inextricably into the pattern of what may be : "The big and solitary question is: Will one-quarter keep him [Selznick] content? . . . At best, it is a part-way answer. Part- way because the competent Selz- nick is also a very ambitious Selznick. An accepted analysis of him here [in Hollywood] en- compasses these motivations and objectives, but it must be pointed out it is others than David him- self who supply the ingredients : "1 — He wants to be top-kick in any setup of which he is a part. This suggests management, or control, or both. "2 — He seeks a broadly-flung company bearing his family name and has had this on his reputed list of futures for sonic time." ■ \\ ith significance all its own, there also was this: "On the Selznick side, what about Agnew? David wants to have in Xew York a selling fac- tor on whom he can place com- plete dependability. Structurally. Selznick is the kind of person who will never 'include himself completely out' of any of his ac- tivities. Therefore, he will be having his say in sales, too, but the dominant say will be Ag- new's. "This will relieve the producer for production, but it also sets up a valuable asset if and when Selznick ever contemplates the need for a national sales man- ager of his own." The italics did not appear or- iginally. They are emphasized today for their pivotal values. ■ Xow, a year later, matters are stirring. They are stirring on behalf of a national selling or- ganization emblazoning the Selz- nick name in the celluloid firma- ment— and high in it, too. Xo one can foretell with unchal- lenged accuracy how closely in- tentions will match events or the precise juncture on the calendar when the ambition will bear fruit, if it does. Today, the raw stock situation is ruling the industry's roost and plans must be tailored to meet the prohibitions of w-ar. This is why the plan under which Selz- nick would withdraw from UA after delivering his inescapable commitment of five attractions — three dow7n and two to go — in favor of a distribution machine under his own banner is among the unpredictables of the day. ■ However, make no mistakes and do not treat lightly the dis- cussions continuing with Harry Ross. The view is that in Ross Federal reside the potentials of another national distributor. Thirty-one offices are function- ing in key cities. They are for- tunately endowed with floor space, desks, typewriters, tele- phones. Vaults appear to present no knotty problem. Parcel post, expressage and film carriers are available to all comers. ■ Manpower reputedly offers no insurmountable^, either, for everyone is aware that a freshly- launched enterprise attracts men who believe they see an oppor- tunity in another pasture, hope- fully greener than their own. In the thousands of bonded checkers employed by Ross is a man- power reservoir which offers in- teresting and unknown explora- tory possibilities, moreover. There may be agreement or none over the reasoning this sets forth. WTiat is more to the point is the fact the principals in the case do not believe their handi- caps are too severe to lick. They do not even acknowledge them to be severe. ■ That, however, is on the side of personnel and physical re- quirements. Raw stock, without which it is obviously impossible to produce, is another matter. It is the big matter, looming large and uncertainly over all else. If this engages your attention and you are after more. Fridav means more. That's Motion Pic- ture Herald dav. 1,000 Members, Goal For Cinema Lodge A goal of 1,000 members for Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith, in the film and al- lied industries was set by Albert A. Senft, president, at the election and installation of officers at the Hotel Astor here last night. Senft called for an intensive mem- bership drive to be conducted in alH film offices and other branches of the industry in Xew Y'ork to achieve this goal. Cinema will continue its program of honoring industry leaders for their contributions to human welfare and the traditional ideals of American freedom during the coming year, Senft said. Barney Balaban. Samuel Rinz- ler and Harry Brandt have already received the Cinema 'Honor Scroll.' Schwalberg Presides Alfred W. Schwalberg. Cinema hon- orary president, presided at last night's installation, following the elec- tion which saw Senft reelected tor another year. Vice-presidents elected and installed included S. Arthur Glixon. Bernard Goodman, Leo Jaffe. Samuel Lefkowitz, Jack H. Levin, Martin Levine, Milton Livingston. William Melniker, Alvin T. Sapinsley. Xorman Steinberg. Louis Weber, Robert M. Weitman, Robert Wile and William Zimmerman. Max B. Blackmail was reelected treasurer : Julius M. Collins, recording secre- tary, and Herman Levine. correspond- ing secretary. Officers were installed by lodge members following brief addresses by each member assigned to install a specific officer. Treasury Invites Bids On Excess Equipment Washington, March 27. — The sur- plus property office of the Treasury is inviting sealed bids, to be opened next month on a date not yet fixed, for a considerable quantity of surplus used photographic equipment, including a considerable number of projectors, both silent and sound, for 35 and 16mm film. A large part of the sur- plus equipment in the hands of the Treasury consists of laboratory appar- atus and film cans, mostly 16mm. and unused and used reels for 16mm film. Col. Rudd at Newsreel Col. Augustin G. Rudd has bpen released from active service in the Army after three years, and has re- turned to Xewsreel Theatres. Inc.. as executive vice-president. He was for- merly a vice-president. Col. Rudd is also a director of Xewsreel Theatres and vice-president of Xewsreel Dis- tributors, Inc. Harry Ross Marries Dallas, March 27. — Harry Ross, president of Ross Federal Service, and Gloria Dalchau were married here yesterday. They will return to Xew Y'ork in two weeks. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor: London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 194S by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per vear. $6 in the Americas and $12 foreigti: single copies, 10. THE STORY OF THE KID WITH TH MEDALS THE GALLUP POLL ASKED THE PEOPLE! THE ANSWER: "M-G-M HAS TWICE AS MANY HITS AS ANY OTHER COMPANY! ii M-G-M: 4 OUT OF FIRST 10 HITS! Next Companies 2, 2/1, 1, 0, 0, 0. M-G-M: 10 OUT OF FIRST 22 HITS! Next Companies 5, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0. BOXOFFICE REGISTERS ^PUBLIC OPINION! THE ANSWER: "M-G-M EQUALS ALL OTHER Si COMPANIES COMBINED! M-G-M: 6 OUT OF 12 IN BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE'S BLUE-RIBBON AWARDS Next Companies: A, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0. And in Other Trade Surveys IN FAME (Quigley Publications): M-G-M Tops Box-office Champs M-G-M Tops Stars of Tomorrow IN SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW "LEADERS" M-G-M Tops in "Top Hits/' Stars, New Stars. AND FILM DAIL ASKED THE CRITICS THE ANSWER: "M-G-M HAS AS MANY HITS AS ALL OTHER COMPANIES COMBINED! il M-G-M: 5 OUT OF 10 BEST IN FILM DAILY'S ANNUAL VOTE! Next Companies: 2, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0. AND LEO SAYS "THANKS TO ALL!" Thanks from our hearts to all who voted M-G-M Leader again. Combining good pictures with Friendly dealings makes the gay Lion a popular Champ. Here are just a few of the pictures which won him the Laurels of Leadership in the past year: THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER" . "A GUY NAMED JOE" "MADAME CURIE" . "GASLIGHT" . "DRAGON SEED" "SEE HERE, PRIVATE HARGROVE" . "MRS. PARKINGTON" "LOST ANGEL" . "THOUSANDS CHEER" . "TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR" . "30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO" . "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS" . "NATIONAL VELVET" AND MANY MORE! THE FUTURE /S VERY M-G-M — LOOK! NO GUESSWORK ABOUT IT! Leadership in 1945 is right below! M-G-M PRESENTS... WITHOUT LOVE Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES Ed. G. Robinson, Margaret O'Brien, James Craig, Jackie "Butch" Jenkins KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY Lana Turner, Laraine Day, Susan Peter-s THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed HOLD HIGH THE TORCH In Technicolor Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan and Lassie THE VALLEY OF DECISION Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Donald Crisp, Lionel Barrymore THE CLOCK Judy Garland, Robert Walker THRILL OF A ROMANCE In Technicolor Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lauritz Melchior, Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, Frances Gifford WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Xavier Cugat ZIEGFELD FOLLIES In Technicolor Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Home, Gene Kelly, James Melton, Victor Moore, William Powell, Red Skelton, Esther Williams SON OF LASSIE In Technicolor Peter Lawford, Donald Crisp, Lassie and Laddie ANCHORS AWEIGH In Technicolor Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Jose Iturbi HER HIGHNESS AND THE BELLBOY Hedy Lamarr, Robert Walker, June Allyson PERFECT STRANGERS Robert Donat, Deborah Kerr EARLY TO WED In Technicolor Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille Ball THE HARVEY GIRLS In Technicolor Judy Garland, John Hodiak, Ray Bolger, Virginia O'Brien, Angela Lansbury, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills YOLANDA AND THE THIEF In Technicolor Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer, Frank Morgan THEY WERE EXPENDABLE Robert Montgomery, John Wayne Wednesday, March 28, 194$ Motion Picture Daily More Raw Stock to Commercial Users Washington, March 27. — Produc- ers of commercial films were assured today of a "substantial" increase in al- locations of 35 mm. raw stock for the second quarter, with prospects of further improvement in their situation in Midsummer. Members of the industry advisory ^committee, meeting with War Pro- duction Board officials, discussed methods of setting up an equitable method of distribution of the 35 mm. film among the Several companies. 4Q"/r Increase The increase in allocation for in- dustrial production figures out at about 40 per cent of the first quota, but in footage amounts to only a very few million feet. Forms on which they are to qualify for withdrawals of raw stock from the pool now being set up for independent producers are beginning to reach the War Production Board, it was learned today. The forms were distributed last week and must be submitted by each independent seeking film, who must show his past use of film for a period of years and certif- that he is financially responsible, the owner of necessary rights and otherwise elig- ible for a quota. It is understood that no quotas are to be set up, as such, but that the al- location to each independent will be separately worked out on the basis of this past operations and scheduled program. in 16 mm. the committee was told that negative stock is very tight, posi- tive stock considerably improved and color duplicating film very scarce. Those Present Members of the committee attend- ing the meeting included : Harold E. Wondsel, Soundmasters, Inc. ; Frank Balkin, Chicago Film Laboratories ; Norman E. Wilding, Robert B. Strickland ; Burton W. Depue, Burton Holmes Films, Inc. ; Edward J. Lamm, Pathescope Company of America ; Earl Carpenter, Escar Motion Picture Service; James L. Baker, Mode-Art Pictures ; I. R. Rehm, Atlas Educa- tional Film Co. ; Robert C. McKean, Caravel Films, Inc. ; R. H. Ray, Ray- Bell Films, and Frank K. Speidell, Audio Products. Independents Draw Up Stock Formula A subcommittee of the National Association of Motion Picture Inde- pendents met here yesterday and formulated suggestions for the relief of individual hardship cases of its membership resulting from raw stock allocations of the War Production Board. The suggestions, contents of which were not made public, will be sub- mitted by Nat Sanders of English Films, who heads the subcommittee, to Stanley Adams of the Consumers Durable Goods Division on Thursday or Friday in Washington. DO YOU NEED HELPt WE HAVE The Right Person for That Job Radio— Television — Motion Pictures Kathryn Feeke POSITION SECURING BUREAU, Agency 331 Madison Ave., New York 17, N. Y. Phone MUrray Hill 2-6494 44 The Affairs of Susan 99 (Continued from page 1) ing one husband who is George Brent, and involve Don De Fore, Dennis O'Keefe and Walter Abel, in the order named. No. 3 thinks he is going to marry her, but audiences will be wiser. As a successful actress, Miss Fontaine is entitled to her whimsicalities and her moods, but the problem is Abel doesn't know what they are. Having met Brent, De Fore and O'Keefe, he turns most ungallant and pumps them on the ground he intends to profit by their errors. And so, they tell him. Brent, stage producer, unfolds the first episode, which returns the sophisti- cated and glittering Susan to the simple life on an island off Rhode Island. In flashback, he narrates how he discovered her latent dramatic talent and her devastating allegiance to the truth regardless of storm or calm. He marries her, makes her the toast of Broadway, divorces when her truthfulness precipi- tates the jams which complete fidelity to facts automatically suggest. But Susan learns her lesson, which, therefore, does not embrace the truth or much of it, and that is where De Fore, lumberman turned Broadway angel, enters. Third in due time is O'Keefe, author whose pattern is wolf but never husband. Susan surmounts them all, including Abel, and eventually returns to Brent. By all odds, audiences will want it that way. On this ingenious base, attributed to Thomas Monroe and Laszlo Gorog, these two writers, plus Richard Flournoy, have built their screenplay. It has much amusement in it, sizeable elements of the harum-scarum and a couple of helpings of the wacky for additional seasoning. Moreover, it provides Miss Fontaine with a rich part which finds her on screen virtually all of the time and consistently aware of her generous opportunities. Too, it gives the four men in her life pretty fat roles, all well played, and it points up newcomer De Fore in a favorable light. William A. Seiter's direction is not balanced on an even keel in all instances, but overall results are predominantly on his side. What is to remember about "The Affairs of Susan is that it is not supposed to be believed. It is supposed to be enjoyed. That objective it attains. Running time 110 minutes. General audience classification. Release date not set. ' Red Kann Appoint Church CBS Assistant News Head Wells Church, radio director for the Republican National Committee in the 1936 and 1940 presidential cam- paigns, and assistant director of the 1944 campaign, has been appointed as- sistant director of public affairs and news broadcasts of the Columbia Broadcasting System, it is announced bv Paul White, director. ' Church replaces Everett Holies who resigned to become news editor and analyst of station WBBM, Columbia Chicago outlet. $10,000 for Camps Boston, March 27. — Members of the Variety Club, headed by Theodore Fleisher, have pledged $10,000 for free two-week vacations for wives and children of servicemen members who are overseas. Lt. Hicks Wounded First Lieutenant Francis C. Hicks, AUS, has been seriously wounded in Germany. Prior to entering service, before Pearl Harbor, he had been em- ployed as assistant manager of Fa- bian's St. George Theatre, Staten Island. He had been with the circuit for seven years. Waldron Watson Dead Chatham, Ontario, March 27. — P. O. Waldron Watson, formerly of the Capitol Theatre here, reported missing in action July 19 after a crackup while raiding Cologne, Ger- many, has officially been declared dead, the RCAF has announced. WANTED Experienced Film Salesman for Metropolitan Territory. PRC PICTURES *3» Ninth Avenue - N. Y. Phone Circle 6-M66 O'Donnell Honors Shugrue and Shelton Dallas. March 27. — Ned Shugrue, director of motion picture and special events division of the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Depart- ment, will be honored at a dinner given by R. J. O'Donnell, South- western chairman of the War Activ- ities Committee tomorrow evening at Variety Club quarters in the Hotel Adolphus. With his assistant, Turner Shelton, Shugrue arrived in Dallas today. Stanley Collects Food In cooperation with the Russian War Relief's drive for food for Russia, the Stanley Theatre, here, will accept food contributions in lieu of payment for admission to the current film "Wait for Me." David Fine, manag- ing director of the Stanley, stated that the drive will continue throughout the run of the present picture. Terry Turner Names Two Terr)' Turner, RKO Radio exploi- tation head, has announced two changes in his field staff : Charles Shaw has been assigned to Memphis and New Orleans, while Joseph Longo has been assigned to San Francisco. Music Hall Planning 6th Dawn Service For the sixth consecutive year, Radio City Muisc Hall, by arrange- ment with G. S. Eyssell, managing director, will be the scene of an Easter Dawn Service on the morning of Easter, next Sunday, held annually under auspices of the Greater New York Federation of Churches. The service, "Glory of Easter," will be held from seven A.M. to eight A.M. and will be broadcast locally over WMCA during the first half hour and nationally over WEAF and NBC during the second half. Rev. Dr. Robert W. Searle, general secretary of the Greater New York Federation, and the Rev. Dr. Frederick B. Newell, president of the Federation, will pre- side. Easter messages will be given by Dr. Searle and the Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Sockman, minister of Christ Methodist Church of New York. Roy Theatre Wins Some-Run Decision Paul B. Habans, arbitrator in the New Orleans tribunal, has rendered a some-run award in favor of Benton Roy, operating the Roy Theatre, Man- sura, La., against 20th-Fox RKO Radio, Warners and Paramount, the American Arbitration Association re- ported here yesterday. The award directed the defendants to offer the complainant pictures on runs the terms and conditions of which are the same as that shown by evidence to be the practice in August, 1942, that is, a proportionate part of first-runs, in addition to those of sec- ond-run. Closing on Good Friday Washington, March 27. — Ted Schlanger, zone manager of Warner Theatres, here, announces that in ob- servance of Good Friday, the follow- ing Stanley- Warner Theatres will not open on that day until two P. M. : Mastbaum, Stanley, Boyd, *A.Idine, Fox, Stanton, Earle, Palace, Victoria, Capitol and Center. In addition the Family, Savoy and Princess will be closed between the hours of 12 noon and two P. M. Bronze Star for Miller The Bronze Star Medal for meri- torious service has been awarded to Major Alton Glenn Miller, former band leader, who has been missing in action after an airplane flight in Europe last December. The award was presented to his wife, Mrs Helen Miller, of Tenafly, N. J., by Col. F. R. Kerr, acting director of the Army Special Services Division. Correction RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. NEW YORK TRADE SHOWING OF "TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE" TUESDAY, APRIL 3 2:30 P. M. RKO Projection Room, 630 Ninth Ave., New York, N. Y. For the greatest assemblage of international lead- ers, statesmen and journalists in world history! To be held under the sponsorship of ihe James CAGNEY SYLVIA SIDNEY t a william cagney productio - San Francisco Press Club during the week of May 1 . . . concurrent with the discussions on the Pacific War and World Peace. with PORTER HALL • JOHN EMERY • ROOERT ARMSTRONG WALLACE LORD • ROSEMARY DE CAMP • JOHN HALLORAN .Screenplay by Lester Cole • Additional Scenes by Nathaniel Curtis From a Story by Garrett Fort Directed by FRANK LLOYD / a history-making U. A. release; 10 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 28, 1945 Quality Production Increases: Eyssell (Continued from paoc 1) return from a three-week trip to the Coast to look over product. Eyssell felt the raw stock shortage was result- ing in shorter films. "The blood-and-thunder war pic- ture, the sole claim of which was to capitalize on a subject uppermost in our minds, is on the wane. But the picture which uses a war background for the telling of a fine story is cer- tainly going to play a big part in the immediate future of the industry." he added, citing. '"Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." "A Guy Xamed Joe'' and "They Were Expendible." as being in the latter class. The trend in handling classical mu- sic is a new one, Eyssell felt, in that Hollywood is using its operatic and concert stars as feature players, insert- ing sequences in films, rather than forcing- them to bear the brunt as stars. Eyssell said that he felt television is definitely a post-war project and not of present concern, adding : "Televi- sion will be of great benefit to the- atres when tied-in in the right way." He declared that the Music Hall is planning the production of opera and operetta on its stage. Only One Theatre Intact In Manila, OWI Reports To Tradeshow 'Decision' All M-G-M exchanges, except Xew York and Los Angeles, will trade- show "The Valley of Decision" on April 24. Xew York and Los Ange- les will show the film on April 10. Few motion picture theatres in Ma- nila escaped ruination in the struggle of freeing the capital city of the Phil- ippines from the Japs, according to a report received by the Overseas Branch of the Office of War Informa- tion and released yesterday, here, by Louis Lober, assistant chief of the OWI's motion picture bureau. Only one first-run house, the Times, was found to be in condition for im- mediate showing of films and arrange- ments have been completed by Manila representatives of the OWI film unit to open this theatre as soon as electric power is available. The only other houses in the city that will be able to open in the near future are the Ideal and the Lyric. At the Ideal, the lenses had disap- peared, although projector and sound equipment were undamaged. Some renovation will be necessary at the Lyric. Lober said, but both projector and screen were reported intact. The first-run Metropolitan, Capitol, and State were completely demolished. Among other theatres in bad condi- tion and unsuitable for use are the Elite. Lotes, Apollo, Alhambra, Al- geria, Gloria, Luxon. Manila. Reno, Tejeron and Madrix. Distribution of American films in the Philippines is entrusted to the film unit of OWI, which has 45 specially- selected features and 45 documentaries, all in English, ready for showing there when conditions permit. The prints were prepared by the American industry at its own expense and turned over to OWI for use in the U. S. Government information program. To help bring Filipinos up to date on news of the world, a weekly service by air of United Xewsreel has al- ready been started. Distribution of films in the Philip- pines is headed by Robert Perkins, who was a representative of Univer- sal in the Far East before joining the OWI. Michael Bergher. a former Columbia executive in the Far East, who had headquarters in Japan, is now chief film officer for OWI Pa- cific outposts. Jules V. Mayfack, formerly with M-G-M. is a recent ad- dition to OWI's staff of film officers in the Pacific. Court Reversal on Disney Damages RKO Radio, here, reports that the Appellate Division has reversed judg- ments of close to $25,000 each which were recovered in Supreme Court last year by Michael Myerberg against Walt Disney Productions and Kidder Peabodv and Co., respective1--. The judgments resulted from a jury's ver- dict in favor of Myerberg in an ac- tion brought by him for commission in connection with bringing Disney and Kidder Peabody together in the underwriting of a Disney stock issue in 1940. The defendants denied that Myerberg had brought them together and they' appealed. The Appellate Division, in reversing the judgments of the lower court, dis- missed die complaint as well, thus dis- posing of the case without the neces- sity of a new trial. Meyerberg was represented on the appeal by Emil K. Ellis; Kidder Peabody by Frank J. Berberich, and Walt Disney by James V. Hayes of Donovan, Leisure, New- ton and Lumbard and also by Frank- lin Waldheim. Borzage Buys "Concerto" Hollywood, March 27. — Frank Borzage has bought "Concerto." an original by Borden Chase, for S100.- 000, to be produced in Technicolor as his first film for Republic. 'Pasf Through Columbia Hollywood, March 27. — Columbia will release "Pardon My Past." which Leslie Fenton and Fred MacMurray are producing independently with the latter starred. Lett to Atlanta Atlanta, March 27. — Scott Lett, branch manager of Paramount's Char- lotte branch, has been transferred to the Atlanta branch and will handle the Tennessee territory. Harry Da- shiell. former Tennessee salesman, has been transferred to the Charlotte branch in the same capacity. THAT PUTS ADVENTURE IN TECHNICOLOR... AND BUSINESS IN YOUR THEATRE! Wednesday, March 28, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 Sales Heads Back Curfew Several distribution company exec- utives moved yesterday to attempt to induce the Loop Theatre in Toledo to abide by the Byrnes midnight cur- few by instructing their branch and district managers to visit the theatre and seek cooperation of Jack O'Don- nell, Loop owner. The Ohio War Manpower Commis- sion through John L. Craig, State WMC director, had wired distributors to "insist" that their films not be shown at the Loop Theatre after mid- night. Some distribution executives ex- pressed doubt that more could be done contractually since commitments were in existence with the exhibitor before the curfew went into effect. 10 Contracts to Radio Contestants WMC Asks Film Ban To Enforce Curfew (Continued from page 1 ) whole the motion picture industry has cooperated splendidly in making the curfew effective, making the Toledo violation more glaring. Will Withdraw Curfew When the War Permits The midnight curfew will be with- drawn or modified "as soon as war progress permits," War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes told New York night club proprietors in a let- ter made public here yesterday. Contracts for appearances in Uni- versal's forthcoming "On Stage Every- body" will be awarded during the final broadcast tonnisrht of the Blue Net- work program of the same title. The 10 winners, who comneted amongst 4,000 professional entertain- ers during the program's 42 weeks on the air, are : Ronnie Gibson, Straw- berry Russell, Beatrice Fung Oye. Jean Hamilton. June Brady, Cyril Smith, Bob Hopkfns, Georgianna Bannister, Ilene Woods and Billy Lsher. They will leave here for the Coast tomorrow. The radio program, produced by Lou Goldberg, —ho will be associate producer of the picture starring Peggv Ryan, has lent itself to exploitation tie-ups for the "<>ture for thr past 42 weeks. In addition, the 10 winners will continue on various radio pro- grams during the making of the pic- ture, two of them on their own Blue Xetwork program "Sunny Side of the Street." Village Atmosphere Fritz Lang has begun shooting Greenwich Village backgrounds here for "Scarlet Street," first of the newly organized New Wrorld Properties' films, to be released by Universal. Joan Bennett also is here from the Coast for shooting on the picture, based on the French play. "La Chi- enne." Para., Loew's Differ On Product Terms Difficulty in agreeing on terms has prevented Paramount and Loew's from getting together on a product deal for the latter's 66 houses in the Metropolitan area. For the past four or five months no Paramount pictures have played Loew theatres in New York and those circuits which play Paramount after Loew's have been without Paramount product in conse- quence. To date, Paramount has not elected to sell away from Loew's. Negotiations will continue, it is under- stood. Davis Jubilant After Trip to South Africa Loxdox, March 27. — John Davis, managing director of Odeon Thea- tres of Great Britain, has returned here after a nine-week visit to Egypt, Palestine, Capetown, Johannesburg and Kenya, stating that he is "hap- pier than ever" over results toward securing theatre outlets for British product in those areas. He declined to discuss particulars, however, pend- ing a conference with J. Arthur Rank, British industrv leader. Technicolor Profit $859,156 in 1944 $843,607 S-C Net Rochester, N. Y.. March 27. — Stromberg-Carlson 'Co. reports 1944 net income of $843,607, equal to $2.97 a common share, compared with net income of $726,815. or $2.51 a common share, in 1943. Sales totaled $55,140.- 213, an increase of 35 per cent from the $40,946,618 reported for the pre- ceding year. (Continued from page \) 1944 was $11,194,380. against $9,- 292,927 in 1943. and footage of posi- tive prints rose from 125.773.775 to 161,979,084. An agreement recently was made between Technicolor and Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association for a line of credit up to $2,500,000 for the next ten years. Kalmus reported. Twenty-nine U. S. features were photographed in Technicolor during 1944, according to the report, and four others were filmed by Techni- color. Ltd.. British affiliate'. During the year, also, the company made prints on a wide range of subjects for most departments of the U. S. Government. Thirty-one features are either being photographed at this time or are in preparation for filming this year. With the demand for Technicolor's services exceeding the supply, the company is following a policy of tak- ing care of its old customers up to their past volume before acceding to the requests of others. In the post- war, the company plans to double its capacity, having bought an entire block of land in Hollywood. Thus, it will be able to take care of about one-third of the entire film industry. Kalmus states. "Your management." he adds, "believes that only the lack of facilities and high costs as com- pared with black and white retard the industry from going all or nearly all to color." G.C.F.'s Proudest Achievement Blimp II Premiere! Gotham Theatre, New York, March 29th! 12 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 28, ,1945 Casanave Plans New Distribution Unit (Continued from page 1) 800 theatres, will be participants. Film Classics owns outright only the Xew York, Buffalo and Indianapolis exchanges of the 25 which now make up its national distribution organiza- tion. Independent producers seeking new outlets are understood to have dis- played interest in the new distributing organization. Casanave recently ac- quired reissue rights to three Selznick hlms: "The Prisoner of Zenda," "The Garden of Allah" and "The Adven- tures of Tom Sawyer." He is under- stood to have raw stock allocations through the Casanave- Artlee releases which he has been handling. Ready to Start The new distributing organization could get underway on short notice since the exchange facilities and man- power are already on hand. The franchise holders involved have been distributing some 31 Goldwyn reissues, seven Selznicks and several Hal Roach and Gaumont-British reissues. Representatives of West Coast Film Classics exchanges are in New York now conferring with Casanave on de- tails of the new organization. The original move started last week in Chicago when Casanave stepped into the picture during a meeting of the exchange representatives there. Robert Lipnert and William David, who head Action Pictures, are being mentioned among independent pro- ducer units interested in obtaining dis- tribution under the contemplated set- up. Their initial picture, "Wildfire," is planned in Cine-Color, and is the first of four films contemplated. Expect Rejection of Admission Control (Continued from page 1) many members that there ought to be no amendments to the bill other than to extend the measure." Wagner said it was probable the committee would limit the extended life of the Act to one year, instead of 18 months as proposed. Woolley Denies That Films Are a Luxury Daniel P. Woolley. regional OPA administrator in New York, in a talk yesterday supporting OPA's request for control over amusement costs, de- nied that motion pictures are a lux- ury. Woolley said : "I believe that recre- ation and entertainment are an essen- tial part of our wartime living, and the elimination of movies would be a calamity for our home front morale." Woolley charged that admission prices increased 31.1 per cent between May. 1942, and November, 1944, and said that "the most flagrant increases have occurred in the smaller houses in outlving sections and residential areas.*' Barger Reopening Rialto Chicago, March 27. — N. S. Bar- ger's Downtown Theatre, now dark, will revert to a policy of burlesque and second run films March 30, at which time its old name Rialto will be revived. Miss Stern to NBC Video Charlotte F. Stern of the NBC ad- vertising and promotion staff has been named promotion manager for XBC television, according to an announce- ment by Charles P. Hammond, direc- tor of the network's advertising-pro- motion department. Propose a School for Delinquents' Parents Cincinnati. March 27. — A school for parents of delin- quent children will be estab- lished in a downtown location here, it is announced by Theo- dore S. Marty, superintendent of a suburban public school. Attendance by parents at twice-a-month sessions will be voluntary at first, but sub- sequently may be on a com- pulsary basis. 'Down to earth' lectures will be given by authorities on the legal responsibility of parents, the home, church and recrea- tion, with motion pictures ex- pected to be included in the last mentioned subject. Canteen Honors R.C, The Red Cross War Fund drive and patients at St. Alban's Hospital will be honored at the Silver Screen Canteen. Fraternal Clubhouse, here, tonight. The Canteen, whose hos- tesses are employed in the home offices and exchanges of the motion picture industry, is sponsored by Screen Office and Professional Employees Guild and Screen Publicists Guild, both UOPWA-CIO. Sumner Welles to Blue Chester J. LaRoche, vice-chairman of American Broadcasting Co. (Blue Network), announces the appointment of Sumner Welles, diplomat and for- mer Under Secretary of State, as Blue Nework advisor on the coverage of the San Francisco Conference and on the subsequent problem of peace and international affairs. Walsh, Hutcheson Talk Strike Today (.Continued from page 1) in New York from California yester- day. Pat Casey, producers' labor con- tact, has also arrived here "to stand by to see what materializes from the conferences between Walsh and Hutch- eson," he told Motion Picture Daily. Casey indicated that he will not par- (ji ticipate in the conferences between the^ presidents of the internationals and Walsh could not be reached for com- ment as to whether other American Federation of Labor officials will be called upon to help resolve the issues. Hollywood Has Quietest Day Since Strike Began Hollywood, March 27. — The studio strike continued in status quo today, which was described by Roy Brewer, IATSE vice-president, as the. quietest since the walkout over two weeks ago. The Conference of Studio Unions' strategy board met perfunctorily, de- voting the session chiefly to mapping plans for the carpenters' 20th anniver- sary breakfast next Sunday. Meanwhile, IATSE insurgents, headed by property man Irwin P. Hentschel, who figured early in the strike news when they refused to per- form struck work, invited all IATSF members interested in local auton- omy and resentful of international domination to attend a mass meeting Fridav night. Allied Buys Monogram The Allied Circuit, operating — 61 theatres in Illinois, has booked the entire Monogram output for the 1944- 45 season. Surrounded by lovelies hand-chosen by master-of-glamor, Earl Carroll, beautiful Constance Moore dances and sings in one of the many spectacular production numbers in Republic's hit, "Earl Carroll Vanities.' AOVT. Pi pet in rlrSI In Film-am (Radio )N Accur&tj and Impartial ■MOTIO*". PICTURE DAILY SOL. 57. NO. 61 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1945 TEN CENTS Grosses Hit By Pre-Easter Business Lull 'Hotel Berlin' Leads; 8 Above Par in 17 Cities By MILTON LIVINGSTON '"Hotel Berlin" in strong initial weeks and holdovers in 15 theatres in 11 cities leads in Motion Pic- ture Daily's reports of estimated box office receipts from 17 key cities, excluding^ New York City, for the week ended March 29. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" con- tinues to show outstanding drawing power in extended holdovers and moveover runs in 12 theatres in 10 of the key cities. Other films scoring above par include "Tonight and Every Night," "Practically Yours," "The Three Caballeros," "This . Man's Navy," "Frisco Sal" and "Objective Burma," bringing to eight the num- ber of films scoring above average in a quiet pre-Easter week generally (Continued on page 6) Skouras, Rank to Resume Discussions Spyros Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, is scheduled to leave next week for London to confer with Fran- cis L. Harley, the company's British managing director, and Larry Kent, 20th-Fox's representative on the board of directors of Gaumont-British, on post-war operations. While in England, Skoursc is also expected to discuss with J. Arthur Rank further arrangements for 20th- Fox to distribute some of the Rank (Continued on page 6) 112 Permits Now on File for Television Applications for new commercial television stations pending before the Federal Communications Commission in Washington now total 112, accord- ing to the Television Broadcasters Association. The applications come from potential television broadcasters in 31 states and the District of Co- lumbia and would provide service to millions of viewers in 50 markets. The 112 applications are in addition to the (Continued on page 6) Hays Hails Postwar Peace Charter of Labor, Management A peace charter for labor and man- agement, intended to prevent future industrial strife, as announced yes- terday in Washington by William Green, president of the American Fed- eration of Labor ; Philip Murray, president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Eric Johnston, president of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, was described last night by Will H. Hays, speaking for the or- ganized film industry, as "a long step in the right direction toward that peace at home so necessary for the maintenance of world peace." Some film leaders saw a special sig- nificance in its eventual application in situations like the studio strike which (Continued on page 6) Leo Devaney Heads Canadian Pioneers Toronto, March 28. — Leo M. Devaney, Canadian general manager of RKO Radio, was chosen president of Canadian Picture Pioneers at a meeting today, succeeding Clair Hague of Toronto, president and founder of the association, who died a few weeks ago. Oscar R. Hanson was made vice president. The directors decided to establish a Hague memorial fund on a subscrip- tion basis to assist needy oldtimers of the theatre and film trade. Cowdin Reports a Net of $1,083,601 J. Cheever Cowdin, chair- man of the Universal board, announces that net profits of the company for 13 weeks ended Jan. 27, aggregated $1,083,601, after all charges and taxes, comparing with $1,214,001 for the 1944 corre- sponding period. Before taxes, consolidated profits amounted to $1,737,601, compared with $1,946,701 in the same period of last year. 7th Pre-drive Effort Starts The film industry's Seventh War Loan pre-drive campaign got under way yesterday with the arrival in New York of Charles M. Thall of San Francisco, coordinator for the West Coast, and David B. Waller- stein Chicago, coordinator "for the Midwest. E. W. (Gene) Street, Knoxville, coordinator for the South, is exacted in New York in a few davs. With Joseph Kinsky, chairman of the co- ordinating committee and in direct charge of the East, the coordinators will conL- with Samuel Pinanski, na- tional chairman, regarding final details of the nationwide campaign organiza- tion in which the stated purpose of the national committee will be to bring (Continued on page 6) "The Corn Is Green" [Warner Bros.] THIS communique properly gets under way by admitting to all who may read it that its purveyor is a fall guy, professionally, for Bette Davis. With him, she can do little or no wrong and, when others do not share that view so blanket-wise, he has been known to turn obstinately to his Davis blind spot and let the matter rest. However, in the role which Ethel -Barrymore performed with such distinction on the New York and other stages around the country, Miss Davis once again so clearly re-emphasizes herself as an actress of stature and ability that obstinacy and blind spot have no reason to fight through any issues. "The Corn Is Green" is a fine drama and Miss Davis is fine in it. She is a British schoolteacher who inherits a home in a byway vil- lage of Wales. There, she finds herself appalled by child labor in the coal mines, reactionary and sluggish thinking on the part of the towns- people and the squire who lords over them. In true allegiance to her profession, she sets out to open a school, is blocked, but surmounts dis- appointment and setback by converting her home into a classroom. Her pupils are backward, shy and reluctant at first. Then the magic of new worlds, unfurled through knowledge of the printed word and through the rudiments of basic education, catch on. The village becomes happier and so, too, do its people. Of all who chance her way, however, it is John Dall who (Continued on page 3) Settlement of Studio Strike Is Sought Here Walsh-Hutcheson Talks Will Continue Today No decisive action resulted from the first conference held at the Hotel Commodore here vesterday between Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, William Hutcheson, president of the International Carpenters and Joiners, producers' representatives and other union officials, looking to a settlement of the Coast studio strike. The meet- ing will be resumed at noon today. Yesterday's conferences were de- voted to exploring the situation in- volved in the jurisdictional dispute between IATSE property craftsmen, Local 44, and Studio Set Decorators, Local 1421, which has led to the cur- rent three- week-old strike called by Conference of Studio Unions' pres- ident Herbert K. Sorrell. Hutcheson told Motion Picture Daily follow- ing the meeting yesterday that any agreement reached here would have to (Continued on page 3) Loew Voting Today On Stock-Split Loew's stockholders, at a special meeting at the company's home office today, will vote on a proposed plan, already approved by the directors to split the company's common stock in- to three new shares for each share presently outstanding, this to "broaden the market for the stock." Specifically, Loew's seeks to increase the present authorized 4,000,000 shares, of which 1,685,109 are outstanding, with a par value of $44,609,050, to 6,000,000, of (Continued on page 6) Legislative Deluge Hits Pennsylvania Philadelphia, March 28. — Fred P. Hare, Jr., has proposed in the House of Representatives, a five-cent tax on each foot of motion picture film brought into the State. Another measure, sponsored by Rep. Joseph A. Longo, Northampton, would require theatre managers and owners to flash on the screen dia- grams of seats and exits so the public (Continued on page 6) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 29, 1945 Personal Mention NATE J. BLUMBERG, Universal president, is scheduled to arrive in New York from the Coast on Mon- day. • Louis Finske, Comerford Theatres official, is vacationing" in Cuba with his wife. • Louis Lober, assistant chief of the Office of War Information Overseas Film Bureau, is on vacation. • Mrs. Jesse Lasky has arrived in New York from the Coast. • Roy Haines, Warner Western and Southern sales manager, will arrive in New York tomorrow from the Coast. • Spence Pierce, 20th Century-Fox Atlanta publicity representative, is vis- iting Memphis. • James Gillispie, 20th Century-Fox Atlanta publicity representative, is in New York. • Gus King, president of Capital City Supply Co., Atlanta, has returned there from Miami Beach. • Lt. Bolivar Hyde, formerly with the Navy Motion Picture Division, Miami, is now stationed in Washing- ton. • John J. Dacey, Jr., son of John J. Dacey, local RKO exchange short subject sales manager, has been ap- pointed Goodall-L. C. Chase Fabrics Corp. advertising manager. • Ray Bell, well known motion pic- ture publicist, formerly with M-G-M here, and now with Pennsylvania- Central airlines, is the father of a son. • Haskell Masters, formerly vice- president of Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Canada, returned to New York yes- terday from a Florida vacation. • ' J. Arthur Hirsch, Canadian ex- hibitor, is in New York. • Arthur M. Loew, head of M-G- M's foreign department, has delayed his return from South America for three weeks. Greenberg to Para. Abe Greenberg, night picture editor of the Daily News, here, will join Paramount on Monday, as picture assignment editor at the Coast Studios. Greenberg's initial assignment will be the setting up of a picture assignment desk patterned after newspapers. Where Is Herr Adolph? The German news agency D. N. B. .reported yesterday in a broadcast picked up from Berlin that Carl Lud- wig Diehl had signed a contract to appear in a new Emil Jannings pic- ture entitled, "Where Is Herr Bill- ing?" 1,313,394 Theatre Seats in N. Y., N. J. The New York Film Board of Trade reveals that there are 1,171 theatres in the New York and New Jersey Metropolitan territory, with a seating capacity of 1,313,394. Of these, 1,040 are open, with a capacity of 1,210,488; 131 are closed with a capacity of 102,906. In New York there are 849 theatres with a capacity of 960,108 and in New Jersey there are 322 theatres with 353,286 seats. Circuit theatres total 858, having a capacity of 1,068,114. 121 N. Y. Affiliates Affiliated circuit theatres in New York total 121, with a 253,858 capac- ity, while unaffiliated circuit New York houses number 499, having a 530,704 capacity. New Jersey affili- ates total 69, with a 122,299 capacity, and New Jersey unaffiliated circuit theatres totaling 169, with a 161,253 capacity. Independent theatres in New York and New Jersey number 313, with a capacity of. 245,280. In New York there are 229 independents, seating 178,474 and in New Jersey there are 84, seating 66,806. Mono. Diverts Stock To Release Needs Warnerites in Service Pass the 4,000 Mark Despite some offsetting discharges, Warner employees in the Armed Services continue to increase and now stand at 4,058. Casualties to date total 58. Inductions of employees are still taking place at a higher rate than the number of discharges. The de- partment most affected is the theatre branch with a heavy turnover in ushers particularly. Briskin Ends Study Of Navy Production Samuel Briskin has completed a special three-week assignment for the Secretary of the Navy. He conducted a study of Navy motion picture pro- duction problems and has submitted his report to the Secretary through Capt. Gene Markey, USNR, director of the Navy Photographic Services, under whose auspices the survey was jonducted. Explosion Injures Mgrs. Charlotte, March 28. — Barney Hohenstine and Jack Tenant, manager and assistant manager of the Tryon, here, were both badly burned last night when the theatre's air condition- ing unit exploded. The audience left' in order. Damage to the theatre, however, was slight. $10,250 'Gray' Opening Los Angeles, March 28. — "The Picture of Dorian Gray" opened at the Ritz, Egyptian and Los Angeles, here, yesterday, for what M-G-M claimed to be a higher gross than any films to play the three houses simul- taneously, getting $10,250. Raw stock allocations have so af- fected the smaller companies, like Monogram and PRC, that in the first quarter, which will end in a few days, Monogram was forced to divert much of its raw stock earmarked for pro- duction purposes, for use as release prints, it is learned here. The com- pany had no pictures in production at one time, not because of the strike, which did not affect Monogram; but because of its stock shortage. Company executives reasoned that it would be better to use their stock for release prints, especially in view of the backlog of 11 films which Monogram has, largest in its history. This backlog is unusual because com- pany policy has been to maintain a liquid condition where releases are concerned, but it has had no alterna- tive because of the lack of raw stock for prints. Skouras Show to Aid Clothing Collection A salute to the United National Clothing Collection Committee will be made on the Skouras War Effort air presentation of "This Is Our Cause" over WOR-Mutual on a Coast-to- Coast network, Saturday, from 4 :30 to 5:00 P. M. The committee of which Henry Kaiser is chairman, and which is comprised of some 50 or- ganizations, including UNRRA, will appeal for 150,000,000 pounds of clothing to be shipped overseas to liberated countries. . Confidential Starts In Chicago April 13 Chicago, March 28.— C. E. Rich- mond has been appointed representa- tive of Confidential Reports, Inc., in this territory. An office was opened here last week. Its first local assign- ment will be the checking of Colum- bia's "A Song to Remember" at the Apollo starting April 13, it was learned. The new organization has as members Paramount, RKO, Universal, United Artists and Columbia. Sears' Return Delayed Although Gradwell L. Sears, vice- president in charge of United Artists distribution, who entered New York Hospital on Feb. 7 because of a minor heart ailment, is responding favorably to treatment, he will not, as expected, return to his office on April 2. Whelan Back from S. A. Leslie Whelan, 20th Century-Fox foreign publicity director, has returned here from a two-month trip through South America. Whelan made a sur- vey on advertising and publicity in connection with the company's branches. He also prepared for the showing in that territory of "Wilson." Whelan, who visited 14 countries in Latin and Central America, accom- panied Eduardo Cohen, newly-appoint- ed supervisor of Latin America. Coming Events Today — Loew's annual stock- holders' meeting, New York. Apr. 1-30— 'United National Cloth- ing Collection' drive. Apr. 14 — 'Cinema Night' party, Variety Club, Cincinnati. Apr. 29 — Hal Halperin Memorial Show, Civic Opera House, Chi- cago. _ May 14-June 30— Seventh Wa' Loan Drive. May 15 — 20th Century-Fox annual stockholders' meeting, New York. RWLB Will Act on Exchange Pleas Favorable action by the Regional War Labor Board in Chicago having jurisdiction over Chicago, Indian- apolis and Milwaukee film exchanges is expected within the next few days on applications pending before the board for 10 per cent wage increases for exchange service workers in these exchanges and for a system of job classifications with minimum and maximum wage scales, also minimum 10 per cent wage increase for ex- change office workers. David Halper of the office of Judge Matthew M. Levy, IATSE attorney, and William Keets of the law office of Dwight, Harris, Koegel and Caskey representing 20th Century-Fox, re- turned to New York yesterday after consulting with the Chicago RWLB on the applications. '4A's' Mull Charter For Screen Extras The executive board of the '4A' actor unions has received an applica- tion for a charter from the newly- formed Screen Extras Guild, Holly- wood, and is expected to issue a statement on what action is to be taken on it early next week. The executive board has also received a charter application from the Screen Players Union, also Hollywood, which is involved in a jurisdictional dispute with the Screen Actors Guild over actors doing bits, stunts and singing. Buchanan to Start Hollywood Branch Hollywood, March 28. — John Hertz, Jr., executive vice president of Buchanan and Co., today announced the establishment of a branch of- fice in Hollywood, under the direction of Arthur Menken, to furnish a com- plete advertising agency service to film clients. Menken, who has re- turned from Europe, where he served with the Office of Strategic Services, will work in collaboration with Sumer W. Singer. Neilson Handles * Dance' . Rutgers Neilson, RKO publicity manager here, has been reappointed public relations chairman of the Dance Educators of America, according to an announcement by Phyllis East- wood, president of the Dancing Mas- ters of America affiliate. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News fc-ditor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor: London Bureau, 4 Oolden bq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Bumup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Utter Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y„ under the act of March 3, 1879, Subscription rates per vear, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. Thursday, March 29, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 3 "The Corn Is Green" (.Continued from page 1) shows the greatest promise. Natively keen and fortunate possessor of a good, but latent and undeveloped mind, he flowers intellectually under Miss Davis' careful training until he wins a scholarship at Oxford. For him, no sacrifice proves enough. Miss Davis sells some of her capital assets to keep her rural school going. When Dall gets involved with Bessie and unknowingly becomes the father of her child, this heroic and noble teacher adopts the baby to clear the encumbrance which threatens the young student and his career. What reward for all this ? Nothing tangible, nothing concrete. But hers is the overwhelming satisfaction of knowing her effort is not in vain, that she has contributed an opportunity to a brilliant mind, worthy of aid and getting it. She exacts no tribute beyond suggesing that the thinking power she has set loose from its shackles some day might return to fight for the elimination of child labor in the coal pits. That's the drama. It is effective. It is well produced, by Jack Chertok, and directed with understanding and feeling by Irving 'Rapper. It is performed, in keeping, chiefly by Miss Davis but with the aid of a superior cast. Dall, as a newcomer to Hollywood, is excellent. Likewise are Joan Lorring, as Bessie ; Rhys Williams, as Mr. Jones ; Mildred Dunnock, as Miss Ronberry ; Rosalind Ivan, as Mrs. Watty, and Nigel Bruce, as the squire. This is an attraction which will appeal primarily to adults. However, it also has its star and her following. There is the fact this was a successful play, adapted well for the screen by ,Casey Robinson and Frank Cavett. The corn may be green, but it also is very good. Running time 114 mins. Adult classification. Release date not set. Red Kann Seek Settlement of Studio Strike Here {Continued from page 1) be correlated with conditions existing in Hollywood. Sorrell is not repre- sented at the meeting here, it wis said. Nicholas M. Schenck, President of Loew's and Pat Casey, producers' labor representative, were among pro- ducer representatives who partici- pated in the conference yesterday. Local 44 Members Hit Walsh's Work Orders Hollywood, March 28 — IATSE property mens' Local 44, the union directly contesting the Studio Set Decorators Local 1421 for jurisdic- tion over work which is at issue in the studio strike, late last night in a regular monthly membership meeting adopted a resolution against perform- ing other than their own ->"ork despite, the order of Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, to execute any as- signments given them by employers. IATSE vice president Roy Brewer and IATSE officials Carl Cooper and Floyd M. Billingsley today issued a statement declaring that last night's action was "illegal" because it was preceded by an order from Walsh. They stated : "The IATSE expects all members of Local 44 to observe the president's order to perform such work as is assigned bv employers." Later in the day Brewer said the property men's action had not af- fected the progress of production. Nevertheless, observers anticipated a similarly stormy session tonight when IATSE Lamp Operators Local 728, which has been manning studio gen- erators in place of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers men, were to meet in a special ses- sion on whether to continue to ren- der this service. A negative decision would confront the producers with the most serious problem yet faced. B. and K. and Warner Pass Up Goldwyns Chicago, March 28. — Balaban and Katz and Warner Theatres, main- taining their policy of not playing per- centage pictures in their neighborhood houses, have passed up Samuel Gold- wyn's "The Princess and the Pirate." The picture was sold away to the Essaness and Schoenstadt circuits this week by W. J. Heineman, Goldwyn's general sales manager, playing as a single feature in the Crawford, Byrd, Sheridan, and Piccadilly theatres. Loew Books 'Nineties' "Gay Nineties," a six-reeler with some shots going back to 1900, has been booked by Loew's for its New England theatres territory. Included in the sequences are shots of Edward Windsor as an infant, the Gans-Nel- son fight, Valentino, Chaplin, Ar- buckle, Pickford and others. Blair with RKO S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising-publicity for RKO Radio, has engaged Harry N. Blair to act as trade paper contact on the staff of Rutgers Neilson, publicity manager. More to Close Friday San Francisco, March 28. — All major downtown theatres will be closed until 2 :30 p.m. on Good Friday. Little Raw Stock for Repentant Argentina Washington, March 28. — Having finally declared war upon Germany and Japan, Argentina now is expected to ask the United States for renewal of raw stock supplies and other com- modities which have been denied her for past year. There were indications, however, that other countries, which have been consistently working for the Allied cause, will not be deprived of needed materials in order to supply this last- minute adherent to Democratic prin- ciples. Argentina may get little more than token allocations until the pro- duction situation clears up somewhat. Claude Lee Addresses Intermountain Group Salt Lake City, March 28. — The industry's gift of over 6,000 films, each seen by approximately 1,250,000 service men, wa: described by Claude F. Lee, Paramount public relations director, in a War Activities Com- mittee report here yesterday before the Intermountain Theatre Associa- tion. Sam L. Gillette of Tooele, Utah, presided, and Idaho representatives included I. H. Harris, Hugo Jorgen- son, Helmer George, Paul Demordant and Hugh Drennan. Also present was Tracy Barham, vice-president and general manager of Fox Intermoun- tain Theatres. McGuire's Son Missing Willis R. McGuire of the Army Air Force, has been reported missing in action, presumably from a combat flight, over the Western European front. He is the son of P. A. Mc- Guire, director of sales promotion for International Projector. Stuyvesant Chartered Albany, N. Y., March 28.— Stuy- vesant Theatre, Inc. has been incorpo- rated to conduct a theatrical business in New York. Incorporators are : Rose Stern, Lillian Stern and Shirley Agush, New York. Jesse L. Stern was incorporating attorney. Harry McDonald of 'U' Dies Suddenly Harry McDonald, veteran theatre manager and advertising-exploitation director, died suddenly in Hartford, Conn., Tuesday, while on a business assignment for Universal, for whom he was field representative working out of the Boston office. McDonald, who was 56, is survived by his widow, Irene, and two brothers : Charles, RKO home office theatre executive, and Irving, commentator for station WEEI, Boston. A sister, Mrs._ J. J. McCarthy, Springfield, also survives. He was the former manager of the New York Hippodrome and Brooklyn Strand and had been asso- ciated with RKO and Fox Films. Services will be held at St. Michael's Cathedral, Springfield, (tomorrow at 11 A.M. Columbia's Sgt. Lobel Killed in Pacific Sgt. Walter T. Lobel, 26, tail-gun- ner, Army Air Forces, and formerly of Columbia's exploitation staff, has been killed in action in the South Pa- cific theatre of war. He had previ- ously been wounded and returned to action. Before going to Columbia, he had worked with Hal Roach, Re- public and Consolidated Films. /. S. Sullivan Passes Columbus, O., March 28.— J. Clar- ence Sullivan, 67, formerly a press represenative for the Lee M. Boda Theatres in Toledo, Dayton, Spring- field, Columbus and Indianapolis, died suddenly at his home here of a heart ailment. With his wife, he operated the Emile Sullivan Studios here, spe- cializing in theatrical costumes, hav- ing disposed of the business last No- vember. Three daughters also sur- vive. John McCarthy Dies Toronto, March 28. — John C. Mc- Carthy, 78, has died at Belleville, Ontario, where he owned the Mc- Carthy Theatre. He had also built the Belle, Delaney and Trent Thea- tres in Ontario. ITT to Coordinate Television, Radio Formation of International Tele- communication Laboratories, Inc., having an initial capital investment of $2,000,000, is announced here by the International Telephone and Tele- graph Corp. Its purpose will be to coordinate more closely ITT's world- wide electronic research, including ad- vancements in radio, television and re- lated fields. Incorporated under the laws of Delaware, the new company will be located in Nutley, N. J. E. M. Deloraine, scientist and gen- eral director of Federal Telephone and Radio Laboratories, ->n affiliate of ITT, is president of the new organ- ization, which, it was announced, will be owned jointly by ITT and its English subsidiary, International Standard Electric Corp. Col. Sos- thenes Behn, president of ITT, is chairman of the new company. Legion Classifies 14 Additional Pictures The Legion of Decency this week classified 14 additional films. In Class A-l were : "The Bells of Rosarita," Republic ; "The Cisco Kid Returns," Monogram ; "Corpus Christi Bandits," "Gangs of the Waterfront" and "Road to Alcatraz," all Republic. The Legion placed in Class A-II "Behind City Lights," Republic ; "Brewster's Millions," United Artists ; "Earl Carroll Vanities," Republic; "God Is My Co-Pilot," Warners ; "Rough, Tough and Ready," Colum- bia and "Youth Aflame," Continental Pictures. In Class B were : "The Corn Is Green," Warners ; "A Royal Scan- dal," 20th Century-Fox and "Salty O'Rourke," Paramount. Cuban Grosses Up 25%, Says Cobian The 13 theatres of Cobian Circuit of Cuba, operated by Rames Cobian and Paramount, have increased gross receipts 25 per cent in the past three months, Cobian told Motion Picture Daily here recently. Cobian came for conferences with Leonard Golden- son, Paramount vice-president in charge of theatre operations ; George Weltner, Paramount International vice-president, and Arthur Pratchett, Latin-American supervisor. Cobian said that he plans to add another theatre in residential Havana, seating 2,500. In Puerto Rico, where he operates 22 theatres, the Paradise, the 23rd, is Hearing completion. ITT Account to Lyon International Theatrical and Tele- vision Corp. and subsidiaries including Walter O. Gutlohn, Inc., Certified Film Distributors, Circle Film Labor- atories and Film of the Month Club, Inc., has appointed S. Duane Lyon, Inc., as its advertising agency. Wil- liam D'Arcy Cayton is account execu- tive. Jones Joins Guy Brown Atlanta, March 28. — George M. Jones, who has been connected with film companies for 30 years, has severed his connections with Colum- bia Pictures, and will be associated with Guy Brown at the Motion Pic- ture Advertising Co., with headquar- ters here. Starri ng DENNIS MORGAN • DANE CLARK - RAYMOND MASSEY Produced by ROBERT BUCKNER • From the Best Seller by that Ace Flying Tiger COL ROBERT LEE SCOTT, J|6;: i NEW WARNER SENSATION ROARS ACROSS THE LAND! GOD IS MY CO-PILOT STARTS NATIONAL FASTER RELEASE WITH ABSOLUTE -CAPACITY PEKING AT HI STRAND! CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE v RYIN6 TIGERS' \N HALE ■ ANDREA KING • JOHN RIDGELY ted by ROBERT FLOREY • Screen Play by Peter Milne and Abem Finkel • Music by Franz Waxman 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 29, 1945 Hays Hails Charter For Business Peace (Continued from page 1) has partially disabled Hollywood pro- duction for the past three weeks. "The world peace for which we are so earnestly striving," Hays said, "grows from united effort and under- standing and has its root in the (na- tion's) communities. There can be no lasting peace in the community un- less neighbors live and act as friends. Nor can there be any unsolvable prob- lems around a table where each is willing to recognize the fundamental American principle that the rights of men are equally sacred and sacredly equal." The Agreement The Murray-Green-Johnston char- ter pledges support of the right of labor to organize and bargain collec- tively and the right of management to direct the operations of an enterprise. It calls for a vastly increased foreign trade, aided by American help to devastated and undeveloped nations, and the establishment of an interna- tional security organization. The charter was the, result of pro- longed conferences between the three organizations, with Ira Mosher, presi- dent of the National Association of Manufacturers, reportedly sitting in. The Screen Office and Professional Employees Guild, in commenting on the charter here last night, de- clared its union backed the charter "100 per cent," and felt as a result of it, "labor problems need not occur in the future since the expansion of the industry rests on a stable and do- mestic economy." Pre-Easter Business Lull Hits Broadway Grosses (Continued from page 1) marked by good weather throughout the country. "Hotel Berlin" showed strength in inital weeks in Buffalo and two Den- ver theatres as a dual ; in two Boston theatres ; and in Philadelphia and Kansas City. It drew moderate busi- ness in initial weeks in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and con- tinued profitably in second weeks in Baltimore and Minneapolis, and in three weeks in three Los Angeles theatres, to bring in a total of $226,- 250, against a par of $212,100. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" rolled up an outstanding $191,100 in reports from 12 theatres in 10 of the key cit- ies on extended holdovers of second, third and fourth weeks, where par is $189,100. The only initial week re- ported on was in St. Louis as a dual where it led with a strong $4,300 above. It was still excellent in second weeks in Buffalo, Boston, Chicago ; in third weeks in Baltimore and San Francisco, and in fourth weeks in three Los Angeles theatres and in moveovers in Pittsburgh, Denver and Cincinnati. "Tonight and Every Night" brought a good $7,000 above par in a first week in Philadelphia ; drew moderate business in an initial week in San Francisco and continued strong in second weeks in two Boston theatres. "Practically Yours" was a favorite in Denver for an initial week ; drew moderate business in first weeks in St. Louis and in Omaha as a dual and continued profitable in a second week in Cleveland. "The Three Caballeros" was a lead- er in three theatres in Los Angeles as a dual in a quiet week there, while it continued to draw moderate business in second weeks in San Francisco, and in Minneapolis as a dual, and in a third week in Chicago and a fifth week in Boston. "This Man's Navy" showed strength in initial weeks in Baltimore and Kansas City. It drew average busi- ness in an initial week in Toronto and continued profitable in a second week in Philadelphia. "Frisco Sal" was profitable in an initial week in Bos- ton with a stage show and in Cincin- nati. It brought moderate receipts in initial weeks in Baltimore and Pitts- burgh. "Objective Burma" scored just above par in a profitable initial week in Indianapolis ; and moderate moveover and holdover weeks in Pitts- burgh and San Francisco. Films playing in three or more the- atres reported upon and drawing good receipts were : "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Roughly Speaking," . "Here Come the Co-Eds," "Music for Mil- lions" and "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka." . "It's a Pleasure" was good in an in- itial week in Chicago ; "Keep Your Powder Dry" led in an initial week in Cincinnati, and "Pan Americana" with a stage show was big in an initial week in Cleveland. PETER C00KS0N ARLINE JUDGE FRANK J E N K S JEROME COWAN Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS Directed by PHIL KARLSTEIN 5creenploy by Richard Weil Adapted Ilia the ploy by A. J. Robert Chopin and Marian Page J A MONOGRAM PICTURE 112 Permits Now on File for Television (Continued from page 1) nine operating television stations ac- tive in New York, Schenectady, Phil- adelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles. Many additional applications are pend- ing before the FCC for experimental television transmitters and relay sta- tions. Scripps-Howard Radio, Inc., a sub- sidiary of the Scripps-Howard News- papers, has filed an application for permission to erect and operate a com- mercial television station in Cleve- land ; channel No. 2 is sought. Sev- eral months ago, Scripps-Howard filed an application for a video sta- tion in Washington. Legislative Deluge Hits Pennsylvania (Continued from page 1) would know how to leave quickly in case of emergency. This was likewise referred to committee. Another proposal, still in commit- tee, concerns the reselling of theatre and amusement tickets, providing for State Police to license all brokers. Still another would prohibit children under 16 in amusement places after 10 P.M., unless accompanied by an adult. 2% Dunning Dividend Hollywood, March 27. — Dunning Color Corp. has declared a two cent dividend on its common, payable April 7 to stockholders of record on March 31. Loew Voting Today On Stock-Split (Continued from page 1) which 5,055,327 would be outstanding, with the same par value. Extended personal-service contracts for four executives : Nicholas M. Schenck, president, and Edgar J. Mannix, Alexander Lichtman and Benjamin Thau, vice-presidents, are. also to be voted on. In each case th«" remuneration of the executives is tcK be increased to a maximum of $200,- 000, with any sum above that amount going to the 'Emplovees Retirement Plan.' The stockholders will also be asked to re-elect 10 board members; they are: Schenck, president; David Bern- stein, vice-president and treasurer; Leopold Friedman, secretary and counsel ; Eugene W. Leake, attorney ; Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-president ; William A. Parker, president of In- corporated Investors, Inc. ; J. Robert Rubin, vice-president and counsel ; Jo- seph R. Vogel, vice-president; David Warfield and Henry Rogers Win- throp. Pre - Drive Efforts Started for 7th (Continued from page 1) Seventh War Loan headquarters in New York closer to the field. _ Pinanski yesterday announced the division of the country by states which each coordinator will have jur- isdiction. The split-up follows: Kinsky, (East, 12 states) : Con- necticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Dis- trict of Columbia. Thall, (West Coast, 11 states) : Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ore- gon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. Wallerstein, (Midwest, 12 states) : Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mich- igan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin. Street, (South, 13 states) : Ala- bama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, m South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Vir- ginia. S k our as , Rank to Resume Discussions (Continued from page 1) films in the U. S. Prior conferences by Skouras with the British film leader presumably were inconclusive, although 20th will distribute one of the Rank films, "The Way Ahead," presumably to satisfy British quota requirements. Murray Silverstone, president of 20th International, is also reported leaving for England where he will join Skouras in the discussions. Twentieth-Fox has announced a British production program to be done in conjunction with Marcel Hellman, British independent producer. This program may be one of the chief top- ics in the parleys, especially since the British Government has ordered a 50 per cent increase in the monetary quota provisions of the Film ? Act. RECORD CROWDS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL AS PREDICTED BY THE TRADE PRESS! 'In ". . . Heading for big and happy grosses . . . production in Metro's very best style . . . " ) — MOTION PICTURE DAILY "... Supremely entertaining . . . huge success . . . everything favorable for top grosses . . . ' —FILM DAILY ". . . Exhibitors will cheer, from the deluxer to the late run neighborhood house ..." — BOXOFFICE ". . . Headed for the higher brackets . . ." —EXHIBITOR ". . . Long lines and extra ticket -punching activity at the box-office ..." —SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW "... The romantic team of 'Woman of the Year' has turned to comedy again which will be the best of news for exhibitors and their customers . . . sure-fire ..." —MOTION PICTURE HERALD Topflight production click . a box-office —VARIETY . Headed for a box-office field day ..." —HOLLYWOOD REPORTER SMGM^. Give To The Red CrossJ A PREVIEW OF THE NOVEL that sold for the Highest Price ever paid by a Producer! Previous top-price novel, A. J. Cronin's "The Green Years' » C So tremendous that it is the first novel ever bought for publication by one of America's leading non-fiction publishers! M Two phenomenal advance printings totaling 100,000 copies! Ran serially in condensed form in the Saturday Evening Post! . # Official book publication by Whittle- sey House, May 14, 1945! l." Watch the advertising campaign and sensational reviews in the book sections of all newspapers! V and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. tion Picture Industry VOL. 57. NO. 62 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1945 TEN CENTS Approve Loew Split-Up of CommonStock Over $7 Million for Six Months; Rename Officers Loew's stockholders yesterday voted to split the present outstand- ing common stock on a ratio of three to one, effective April 9; re- elected the present board and approved four new personal service contracts for executives. Following the stockholders' meet- ing the directors convened and re- elected all officers of the company. Officers are: Nicholas M. Schenck, president ; David Bernstein, vice-presi- dent and treasurer; J. Robert Rubin, W. F. Rodgers, Edward A. Schiller, E. J. Mannix, Al Lichtman, Howard Dietz, C. C. Moskowitz, Joseph R. Vogel and Sam Katz, vice-presidents ; Leopold Friedman, secretary; Charles K. Stern, Len Cohen, R. Lazarus and Louis K. Sidney, assistant treasurers ; Jesse T. Mills, comptroller and assis- (Continued on page 3) Okla. Kills Bill on Admission Increase Oklahoma City, March 29. — Ok- lahoma Legislature has killed a bill which would have forced theatre own- ers to bracket sales tax collections on tickets in such a way as to force admission prices up, but today it took up consideration of a bill to raise the sales tax from two to three per cent. C. B. "Brownie" Akers, chairman of the legislative committee of the Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, Inc., said his group would not oppose the sales tax increase formally. Rep. Arthur Reed, Poteau, Okla., (Continued on page 3) Para. WB Stymied In South Africa . Paramount and Warners, who re- lease in the South African territory through the Schlesinger Bros, theatre interests there, have not been able to reach an agreement on new distribu- tion contracts with the Schlesingers, and, consequently, neither company's product has been exhibited there for (.Continued on page 11) Carpenters in Jurisdictional Row with 'IA' By MILTON LIVINGSTON Demands of the Studio Carpenters Union and Joiners Local 946 of the International Brotherhood of Carpen- ters and Joiners of America, headed by William L. Hutcheson, for juris- diction over carpentry work now per- formed by IATSE grips, property men, property builders, special effects workers and miniature set builders has created a far more important jurisdictional dispute than the one be- tween IATSE property craftsmen Local 44 and Studio Set Decorators Local 1421, which led to the current three-week-old studio strike, Richard (Continued on page 10) NLRB Takes 'Bit' Players from SPU Washington, March 29. — The Na- tional Labor Relations Board today revamped its certification of Dec. 30, naming Screen Players Union as the exclusive collective bargaining repre- sentative of all extras in 10 Holly- wood studios to exclude the so-called "bits and parts" workers. The Board's decision was based on a hearing held Feb. 22, at which the (Continued on page 10) London's Lady Yule To Seek U.S. Market LONDON, March 29. — J. Arthur Rank is not alone among British notables con- templating an 'invasion' of the American film market. The 71-year-old Lady Annie Henrietta Yule has similar intentions. Widow of Sir David Yule, reputedly in his life-time Britain's richest man, Lady Yule finances British Nation- al, production organization, whose new policy is: 'fewer but bigger' pictures, aimed at the U. S., with Louis H. Armstrong, executive pro- ducer, expected to head New Yorkward, soon, to discuss releasing channels. Committee Votes Extension of OPA With Films Exempt Washington, March 29. — A one- year extension of the Emergency Price Control Act, with no extension of OPA authority to motion picture admissions, has been decided upon by a special Senate banking and currency subcommittee, but final decision on both points has yet to be made by the full committee, it was disclosed today by chairman Robert F. Wagner of New York. Action by the full committee will (Continued on page 3) State Chairmen for 7th Announced by Pinanski OCR Flooded with Building Requests Washington, March 29.— Flooded, in the wake of good war news, with requests for permission to build new thea- tres and for reconsideration of requests previously denied, the Office of Civilian Require- ments declared through a spokesman here today: "The time is not yet ripe for any new construction. When it does come, the exhibitors will be notified promptly." After V-E Day, however, it is expected that the OCR will permit a greater amount of repair and modernization. Samuel Pinanski, national chairman of the Seventh War Loan of the in- dustry, yesterday announced the com- plete roster of exhibitor state chair- men who have accepted appointment to serve in the Seventh War Loan Campaign, May 14 through June 30. Meanwhile the industry has been assured of the cooperation of the American Legion in the Seventh Loan drive, as promised to Pinanski by H. L. Chaillaux, director of the Na- tional Americanism- Commission of the Legion, which handles the promotional part of the Legion's war loan work in cooperation with the Treasury De- partment. Chaillaux assured Pinanski of the cooperation of all state and local Legion posts. The complete roster of exhibitor (Continued on page 11) Will Contest New WPB Raw Stock Moves Schaefer in Washington Today to Plead Case An effort to induce the War Pro- duction Board to reinstate the full 50 per cent raw stock credit here- tofore returned to distribution com- panies by the Army for prints fur- nished to the service will be made in Washington today by George J. Schae- fer, liaison between the WPB and the industry raw stock advisory com- mittee. The raw stock credit to the com- panies from the Army recently was cut to 25 per cent by WPB, the other 25 per cent presumably having been earmarked for the new raw stock bank established for independent producers and commercial users. In addition, Schaefer will endeavor to obtain WPB approval for recovery of approximate- ly 30,000,000 feet of raw stock with which the industry was not credited in the first quarter of this year when (Continued on page 3) Toledo Theatre Will Fight Film Refusal Columbus, March 29. — Jack O'Donnell, operator of the Loop Theatre, Toledo, who has been op- erating his theatre until 5 A.M. in violation of the Byrnes midnight cur- few, and whose supply of films has been threatened by distributors un- less he conforms to the curfew, today indicated that he would fight such a move through the courts under the terms of his film contracts. O'Donnell's statement followed an (Continued on page 3) Film Classics Men To Fulfill Pacts Film Classics has not received notice from any of its independent franchise holders of defection or in- tention not to handle Film Classics releases, a spokesman for the company said yesterday. Motion Picture Daily reported Wednesday that some 20 independent exchange owners now associated with (Continued on page 11) 2 Motion Picture daily Friday, March 30, 1945 Personal Mention O'Brien, Editor of 4U' Newsreel, Dies Blumberg, Yates, Jr., Bromberg, Ginsberg, In Stock Changes Philadelphia, March 29. — The Se- curities and Exchange Commission disclosed tonight that Nathan J. Blum- berg, president of Universal, has re- ceived 5,000 warrants for common stock from Universal Pictures, as com- pensation, increasing his holdings to 24,000. The SEC monthly summary for February, just released, carried also belated reports on other transactions in Universal Pictures' securities, in- cluding the disposition by Daniel M. Sheaffer, director, Philadelphia, of 26,500 shares of common and 111,283 common warrants held through Stand- ard Capital Co., when that organiza- tion was dissolved in December. Dis- solution of Standard Capital also in- volved the distribution of 127 shares of common stock and 1,084 common warrants to Ottavio Prochet, director, Newport, R. I. Exchanged in January The Universal report showed that Sheaffer, in December, acquired 1,458 shares of stock and 4,607 warrants in the distribution of Standard Capital holdings and in January exchanged the warrants for stock, holding 24.265 shares at the end of the month. Pro- chet, in February, exchanged 73 war- rants for stock, holding 200 shares at the close of the month, together with 1,011 warrants. William A. Scully re- ported sales of 5,100 warrants in Feb- ruary, leaving him with 9,000, to- gether with 100 shares of stock. A January report for Consolidated Film Industries showed the sale of 100 shares of part-preferred by Her- bert J. Yates, Jr., leaving him with 3,082 shares. The SEC reported the sale by Am- erex Holding Corp., New York, of 4,000 shares of General Precision Equipment capital stock, held through the American Express Co. ; at the close of month Amerex held 9,000 shares through the Express Company and 50,719 shares through Rexport Corp. Loew's, Inc. Loews, Inc., continued to pick up Loew's Boston Theatres common stock, acquiring 106 shares during February for a total of 121,341 shares. In Monogram Pictures common, Altan A. Brody, director, Hollywood, reported the sale of 500 shares, reduc- ing his holdings to 2,500 shares, and Arthur C. Bromberg, director, Atlanta, reported the sale of 3,900 shares held through Monogram Southern Ex- changes, which held 15,172 shares at the end of the month ; a January re- port for "William B. Hurlbut, director, Detroit, showed the acquisition of 400 shares through Monogram Pictures of Michigan, which had a total of 2,000 shares. A report on Paramount common showed the sale of 400 shares by Henry Ginsberg, Hollywood, leaving him with 1,000 shares, and the dis- position of 50 shares by gift by Mau- rice Newton, director, New York, t% B. HATRICK, vice-president and general manager of News of the Day and Cosmopolitan Productions, will arrive in New York from the Coast Monday. • Henry A. Linet, executive assistant to Maurice Bergman, Universal East- ern advertising and publicity head, left New York last night on a tour of the New England territory. • James E. Finey, Walt Disney Pro- ductions domestic sales head, will leave New York Sunday for a one month tour of RKO exchanges. Eddie Bonns, United Artists South- ern publicity director, is back at work in Atlanta, after several months of illness. • William Richardson, Astor Pic- tures president in the Southeast, has returned to Atlanta from a Florida trip. • Harry Lamont, Northern New York theatre operator, has returned to Albany from Florida. • Muriel Babcock, Ideal Women's Group editorial director, has left for the Coast. Terry Turner, RKO exploitation head, will return to New York from Boston today. • Nate Platt of B & K has returned to Chicago from a trip to Florida. George P. Skouras plans a Coast trip early in April. Goldwyn's 'Wonder Man' to Astor Next Samuel Goldwyn's "The Wonder Man," starring Danny Kaye, is scheduled to open at the Astor on Broadway, May 15. Goldwyn's cur- rent entry at the Astor, "The Prin- cess and the Pirate," is expected to continue until that date. The two Goldwyn pictures are the only ones which have been dated for the Astor since Goldwyn and David O. Selz- nick concluded their joint deal for the houses's playing time in February. Eastman All Ready For a Civilian Shift Rochester, N. Y., March 29. — Eastman Kodak is ready for a fast shift to civilian production here as soon as war requirements have been filled, according to a report to stock- holders. The report reveals that the number of Eastman employes here, until now a military secret, has reached 29.000. There are 42,000 in all of the U. S. and Canada. leaving him with 10,415 shares. A re- port on 20th Century-Fox showed the sale of 1,000 shares of common by Robert Lehman, director, New York, reducing his holdings to 500 shares. BEN KALMENSON, Warner gen- eral sales manager, will leave for Chicago Monday. • Lt. Bolivar Hyde, formerly of Florida State Theatres, now of the Navy Motion Picture Service, Wash- ington, has been in New York for several days on Navy film business. • Charles Charles, Ross Federal Service Albany branch manager, is recovering in Miami from a heart at- tack. He is expected back in Albany in late Spring. • Charles Reagan, vice-president in charge of Paramount sales, is an- other executive returning to his office Monday. • George Thornton, operator of the Orpheum, Saugerties, N. Y., is the father of his fourth child, a daughter. • E. L. McEvoy, Universal short sub- jects sales manager, will be in Wash- ington today from New York. • George F. Dembow, vice-president of National Screen, is due from Flor- ida Monday. • Ralph B. Austrian is eyeing Hol- lywood. Departure date is early in May. • Sid Blumenstock of 20th Century- Fox was in Chicago this week. Sam Wood has arrived in New York from the Coast. • James R. Grainger. Republic presi- dent, returns from California Monday. Buying Combination To Do Business Here Albany, N. Y, March 29.— Inde- pendent Theatre Service, Inc., of Elizabeth, N. J., has filed a statement here authorizing it to do business in New York State. The company is the recently formed buying combina- tion of approximately 60 New Jer- sey theatres, with Lee W. Newbury as president. Capital stock is $10,000 with $10 par value. Monroe E. Stein is the New York attorney of record. 'Dillinger' Is Banned By Memphis Censor Memphis, March 29. — "The Life of John Dillinger" has been banned here by Lloyd Binford, chairman of the board of censors. Binford told Bailey Prichard, Monogram branch manager, that "showing of the picture would not be of benefit to the public." The film had been scheduled for the Warner Theatre. Comment was refused by Howard Waugh, Warner zone man- ager. Lou Klein Promoted Lou KJein, formerly manager of the Luxor Theatre of J. J. Theatres has been promoted to Bronx zone manager, replacing Clem Perry, re- signed. Joseph O'Brien, 45, editor of Uni- versal Newsreel, died yesterday at the Harkness Pavillion after a lengthy- illness. O'Brien participated in early experi- ments with color films and worked on war pictures for the Government dur- ing World War I. He joined Pathe News in 1927 as make-up editor after^ having been cameraman and film editor with Kinograms, and later worked for Fox Movietone News be- fore joining Universal in 1932. He was appointed editor in 1938. With Universal, O'Brien also produced the short series, "Person Oddities" and "Variety Views." His widow, Helen, survives. Funeral arrangments will be announced later. Murray Loses Again In Thalia Trust Suit Chicago, March 29. — Plaintiff Thomas A. Murray, former owner of the Thalia Theatre, lost another count in his anti-trust suit against distribu- tors when Federal Judge William H. Holly this morning refused to vacate his orders of last month which called for the dismissal of the remaining distributors, Loew's and 20th Century- Fox, and the granting of a new trial for the other defendants. Lester Murray, attorney and son of the plaintiff, said that he will appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals on the ground that the judge had no right to vacate those orders. On Jan. 24, a jury awarded Murray $105,000 in damages against eight defendants. Schaefer Names Ad Agency for 'GI Joe9 George J. Schaefer, chairman of the board of Lester Cowan Productions, in charge of world wide distribution, has appointed Ruthrauff and Ryan, Inc. as the advertising agency for Cowan's forthcoming United Artists' release, "Story of G. I. Joe." Space to be taken in the newspaper adver- tising campaign on the picture will be 50 per cent above normal, it was said. In those papers where space is limited due to newsprint shortage the maxi- mum space allowed will be taken. Services for Mrs. McFaul Buffalo, March 29. — Funeral serv- ices for Mrs. Alice M. McFaul. 57, will be held Saturday at St. Joseph's New Cathedral. Apparantly on the road to recovery after an operation, Mrs. McFaul died suddenly Wednesday after suffering a relapse. She was the wife of Vincent R. McFaul, president of Buffalo Theatres, Inc., operating the Shea theatres here. Starr Leaves 20th-Fox Hollywood, March 29. — Producer Irving Starr's contract with 20th Cen- tury-Fox has been terminated ami- cably after a year with the studio. His last picture was "Something for the Boys." Starr has announced no future plans as yet. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, President and Editor-in-Chief; Colvin Brown, Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York, 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo Sullivan, Secretary; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Ave., Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Bldg., William R. Weaver, Editor; London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl, Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." All contents copyrighted 1945 by Quigley Publishing Co., Inc. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept.- 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10. Friday, March 30, 1945 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3 Toledo Theatre Will Fight Film Refusal (Continued fr om page 1) announcement from John L. Craig of the State War Manpower Commis- sion that he had received word from RKO, 20th Century-Fox, Warner Bros, and M-G-M home offices that they would instruct their branches to refuse to release film to the Loop un- ^ss O'Donnell agrees not to show ieir product after midnight, and that Warner product will not be available for showing at the Loop at any hour until O'Donnell fully complies with the curfew. Safety Award to MGM For the second consecutive year, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short has won the National Safety Council's award offered annually to the film contribut- ing most to public safety durinsr the year. The award, made by a com- mittee representing 17 national organ- izations, went to Pete Smith's Special- ty, "Safety Sleuth." Loew's Stockholders Vote For Split-Up of Common (Continued from page 1) tant secretary, and Ben Thau, assistant secretary. Bernstein informed the meet- ing that Loew's earnings for the six months ended March 1 would be approximately the same as for the corresponding period a year ago when, in a 28-week period ended March 16, 1944, net profit amounted to $7,442,698, equivalent to $4.44 per share. The new personal service contracts approved were for Schenck, Mannix, Lichtman and Thau. Details of the contracts were published in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 23. It was disclosed at the meeting that existing contracts with Bernstein and Rubin have been extended for three years by the exercise of options previously ap- proved by stockholders. The change in the company's com- mon stock will increase the author- ized shares from the present 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 shares, and for each of the 1,685,109 shares presently outstand- ing, two additional shares will be is- sued, making 5,055,327 shares out- standing, the par value of which will remain the same, namely, $44,609,050. Directors reelected were : Schenck, Bernstein, Friedman, Eugene W. Leake, Moskowitz, William A. Parker, Rubin, Vogel, David Warfield and Henry Rogers Winthrop. Will Contest New WPB Raw Stock Moves 3 York Theatre Burns Atlanta, March 29— York Thea- ter, Red Boiling Springs, Tenn. was destroyed by fire. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 50th St. and 6th Ave. Spencer Katharine TRACY HEPBURN "WITHOUT LOVE- LUCILLE BALL A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE &. The Musle Hall's Great Easter Stage Show ON SCREEN IN TECHNICOLOR 'A SONG TO IN PERSON ENOCH REMEMBErtUGHT PAUL MERLE MUNI • OBERON and 0RCH. Claufete COLBERT Fred MacMURRAY in "PRACTICALLY YOURS" in Person Benny GOODMAN and Orchestra CONDOS BROS. BOB EVANS with Jerry O'Leary P/iXAMOV/Vr sT, ™ " ; PALACE 4mYst& The Most Beautiful Girls in the World in the Year's Biggest Musical I DENNIS O'KEEFE CONSTANCE MOORE Earl Carroll Vanities with EVE ARDEN Otto Kruger Alan Mowbray Stephanie Bachelor and WOODY HERMAN and his ORCHESTRA A Republic Picture Republic Theatre B'way Bet. 51st & 52nd Sts. Mc(Jormick to Plan Promotions for 7 S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising-publicity for RKO Radio, ill leave today for Hollywood. Having already set national cam- paigns on "The Enchanted Cottage," 'China Sky," and other forthcoming releases, McCormick will next discuss advertising plans with studio execu- tives for "The Spanish Main," 'George White's Scandals of 1945,"- 'Johnny Angel," "Those Endearing Young Charms," and "Bells of St. Mary's." McCormick will also meet with Leo Spitz and William Goetz on promotion plans for International's Along Came Jones" ; with Samuel Goldwyn on "Wonder Man," and with Walt- Disney. Before leaving here, McCormick stated that all phases of RKO Radio advertising have been materially in- creased during the year. BETTY SMITH'S ' Randolf Scott Gypsy Rose Lee Dinah Shore Bob Burns 'BELLE of the YUKON' AN RKO RADIO PICTURE I SAMUEL GOLDWYN Presents BOB HOPE 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE' in Technicolor Continuous ASTOR Door* open Broadway 4. * B:30 A.M. 45th Street Popular Prleet WALT DISNEY'S 'The THREE CABALLER0S' in TECHNICOLOR Released by RKO Radio Picture* NOW - - - Brandt's GLOBE A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN js PICTUR6 _ — ^ - - OfajTZt?*' A GAY. SPRINGTIME REVUE K \J T 7th Ave. & 50Hi St. MARY O'HARA'S "THUNDERHEAD" ifl Technicolor A 20th Century- Fox Picture Doors open IflPTflQljl Broadway 6:30 A.M. V I V I U II I H & 46th St. Joan Fontaine George Brent IN HAL WALLIS' PRODUCTION "The Affairs of Susan" A Paramount Picture RIVOLI B'WAY AND 49TH ST. Okla. Kills Bill on Admission Increase (Continued from page 1) said he would re-introduce his tax bracketing- measure if the additional sales tax passes. Akers said his com- mittee would not oppose it because the overwhelming majority of Okla homa business men would prefer pen ny bracketing rather than an attempt to collect three per cent on sales un- der 33 cents. Committee Votes Extension of OP A (Continued from page 1) be deferred, Wagner said, until the subcommittee has submitted a report now in course of preparation. Since Wagner is chairman of both the committee and the subcommittee. The action of the latter in rejecting Price Administrator Chester A. Bowles' plea for authority to regu late theatre admissions is expected to be confirmed. NBC Promotes Shawn Fred Shawn, program manager of station WRC, Washington, _ has been named administrative assistant to Clarence L. Menser, NBC vice-presi- dent in charge of programs in New York. He will take over his new post on April 9. (Continued from page 1) raw stock repayments from the Army were placed on a current, instead of the former 90-day, basis. Feature prints supplied to the Army are returned to exchanges after 1,000 screenings. Companies receive full credit for prints supplied to the Navy, however, which . uses such prints in- definitely and pays a small fee per inear foot for all prints ordered. Schaefer also will discuss with Stanley Adams, head of the Consum- ers Durable Goods Division of WPB, the prospect of the War Activities Committee purchasing approximately 3,000,000 feet of positive recently re- ported on Army surplus lists. Another 12,000,000 feet of Army surplus film reported at the same time has been dentified since as negative, of which there is no particular shortage. WAC would use the positive to supplement its raw stock allocation from the Of- ficeJpf War Information, if the pur- m<: is approved. W Will Invite Views WPB's proposal that ration controls be 'eliminated for commercial raw stock users, after Army, Navy, Gos^ ernment and foreign allocations b&vW, been supplied, which was described in Motion Picture Daily last Monday, is still under consideration in Wash- ington. Communications inviting the views of industry representatives on the proposal are in preparation. The possibility of WPB, by such means, throwing all raw stock available for commercial users into one pool and leaving it to individual users to obtain what each could from Eastman and DuPont, is understood to have caused several members of the industry ad- visory committee who have been en- tertaining the thought of resigning, to think twice about it. Any widespread resignations probably would have the effect of hastening WPB's withdrawal from, the commercial raw stock ration- ing picture, it is pointed out in some industry quarters, where it is believed such action would result in a less orderly raw stock quota situation than ever. Jones to Buchanan Martin B. Jones, Jr., has been named radio director of Buchanan and Co., here. Until recently, Jones was chief for the Red Cross in the European and African theatres of war and before that he was a radio producer of NBC's public service division and with NBC television. Court Upholds Moss Supreme Court Justice Church yes- terday upheld License Commissioner Paul Moss of New York City in his refusal to allow McBride's Theatre Ticket Agency to charge 50 cents for ticket deliveries over the 75-cent brok- erage fee allowed by the business law. Goldman Sells Skirball Cleveland, March 29. — Mark Gold- man, PRC branch manager, has closed an all-product deal with the Skirball Circuit. Entire Trade Press Senses Extra Gr Special Exposing Jap Spy Secrets i GET CREDIT FOR YOUR RED CROSS COLLECTION. SEND YOUR REPORT TO YOUR AREA CHAIRMAN. LLI Uti AGAIN ! Possibilities in New Exploitation and presenting DREW PEARSON that famous and fearless newspaper columnist and radio commentator! Give To The Red Cross! o o o o CO CO — l < w D H O S o H O (A « W 2 < < CO K W > i— i 2 D o to H o K CI " fo c N 05 coo--* C 05«X g woo-* WE to f-imS'-» «o o _fa ?, « O c CO e HH TO 05 3 H^K W e ™^ "as § g§s Ow -« jjg Xfaqj_.£;> h m i — w -5 O c 2W E &■« W b» « g . HUe O £ c « x> §Q 10C. >. H c osoo H - 05 E v £ fa c z2 'N c j u c 3 . ^- H>0 ^-5c- Oq x c HI >« S S 5 2 1? 13 C9 0) 5 ^ C rr> Of C5 5 o 53 O ' <4«* e CJ) CJ) cu *> ! e: c CD r a1 •a « u j 03 CJ) ec e 41. v . 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Hz 5 zw x to E<= as r> H >-> 1 w c >N<> — S paw «C5 « >. - jS ^ £ E "'s? 2m-o g'5„££os'5 I 2 J 05 Oh Q TO 5, . wgjj-os ^Omih 1 c O Ms* ^ C go S.cC >>i > S 05 O < « £ i Of-,°S u„"- 0< 2~ • £V C u .° 05 2o H.J3 WpCi.HtL. °X P,"«hp 2o"^o <:w to rjos , » uw = os£H S ox£-S wHo^ co ^W S05 I* w2c &05 to S wg" IW05 ow WcoM P<>1 XX HE- os bi! c S - 3'C to H_ 5[h 3 toJ= O ^ °> ^ Z H J co ,_, 00 22 s ^ > c OK Q O 22 S „ 2 TO 3 2q« Q fcOS^ « Xo? H Mb WO v. 2 ^ o * 0 ■■5 5 - We get to know each other better at the movies. .. At a "Good-Neighbor" film showing . THE indispensable first step in getting along with a neighbor . . . across the fence ' or across an international boundary line ... is to get to know each Oftier better. The movies are doing a lot to help the Latin Americans to Know us better, and more and more films from below the Rio Grande are coming this way to help us know them better. It works both ways. For our country's part, feature pictures, short subjects, newsreels, industrial films, agricultural films, health films ... in English, Spanish, Portuguese ... all are helping our neighbors to see us as we really are. At the movies, they are learning something of our culture, our history, our daily lives . . . . And in wartime, growing good will among all the American peoples has taken on new importance. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., Distributors FORT t£E CHICAGO HOLLYWOOD °ne°* a series, advertisements by KODAK testifying to the achievements of the movies at war 10 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 30, 1945 SPU Bids Senate Investigate NLRB Hollywood, March 29. — The Na- tional Labor Relations Board's deci- sion revising its certification of the Screen Players' Union and awarding to the Screen Actors' Guild jurisdic- tion over players performing bits, stunts, or singing, which jurisdiction originally had been given to the SPU, will be "combatted with all pos- sible vigor," Mike Jeffers, SPU exe- cutive representative, said today. The first step, Jeffers said, will be the filing of an appeal with the Senate Judiciary Committee for a complete investigation of the NLRB in Wash- ington and the NLRB in Los Ange- les, to determine "how pressure was brought to bear on those boards that can be permitted to sabotage the Gov- ernment's labor policy and agencies." SAG Statement The Screen Actors Guild issued a statement that "this decision consti- tutes full recognition of SAG's con- tention made before the NLRB at the Feb. 22 re-hearing: that the jurisdic- tional overlap created by the Board's original decision and the certification of SPU should be modified to give SAG exculsive jurisdiction over all acting work." A statement issued by the producers said : "We repeat what we have always said — We will abide by what- ever decision the NLRB hands down. This applies not only to the contro- versy over extras, but also to the jurisdictional dispute over set decor- ators." Carpenters' Union in Row With '1A 9 on Jurisdiction (Continued from page 1) F. Walsh, IATSE international presi- dent, told Motion Picture Daily yesterday. Walsh conferred with Hutcheson yesterday and reported that little progress was made. He declared that the IATSE will never yield jurisdic- tion over the carpentry work to the Carpenters Union. Walsh expressed little concern over the continuance of the studio strike, pointing out that the IATSE studio workers are continuing to perform their jobs and helping the producers to turn out pictures. He contended that if it weren't for the demands of the carpenters, the studio strike could be settled immediately, since Confer- ence of Studio Unions president Herbert K. Sorrell has expressed a willingness to abide by a decision of the National Labor Relations Board in the jurisdictional- dispute between IATSE Local 44 and Studio Set Decorators Local 1421. Briefs are due to be filed tomorrow and the NLRB will then undertake to render a decision as to what constitutes the proper barganing unit in the property department. Walsh said that IATSE will abide by the results of the NLRB election once it is conducted. He ad- mitted that: the producers were in the midst of the jurisdictional row and predicted that if the Conference units continued their strike the IATSE might wind up by having jurisdiction over all workers in the studios. BRIDAL SUITE OUT-OF BOUNDS FOR G. I. GROOM NO WONDER HE FAINTED! ONDER SHE WEPT! Peter COOKSON • Arline JUDGE Frank JENKS • Jerome COWAN Adopted from the ploy by A. J. Rubien, Rob.., Chop, Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS Directed by PHIL K ARLSTEIN Screenplay by Richard Weil nd Marian Poll John, on A MONOGRAM PICTURE Walsh and Hutcheson continued their conferences here last night. Questioned about the action by some members of IATSE Local 44 in adopting a resolution against perfor- ming other than their own work de- spite Walsh's order, Walsh said that he has ordered an investigation of the move and punitive action will be taken if the situation demands it. He pointed out that despite their threats, the workers were performing their assigned tasks. Walsh said that he has remained in touch with the Hollywood situation by telephone. He estimated that no more than 5,000 workers are out on strike. C. B. 'Cappy' Du Val, business representative of Local 44 was pres- ent with Walsh at yesterday's con- ferences with Hutcheson. Sorrell Sharpens Terms; Settlement Hopes Fade Hollywood, March 29. — The Con- ference of Studio Unions today sharp- ened the terms on which it is willing to settle the strike here and IATSE executives said peace is more remote than ever, as picketing at the major studios continued toward the end of the third week. CSU's action fol- lowed receipt of the National Labor Relations Board's decision in the Screen Players Union's dispute with the Screen Actors Guild. SPU members, although not affiliated with CJi.U, have observed the picket lines. ^"Following- a meeting of his strike Strategy committee, CSU president Herbert Sorrell stated: "Since wit- nessipg the ease with which the pro- ducers manipulated SPU out of the NLRB decision, we have decided not to go back to work until a contract is completed for the set decorators. It is entirely up to the producers whether they wait for the NLRB to make a decision or not." Drop 'Interim' Limitation CSU's original demand was for the producers to recognize Local 1421 as the agency for the decorators during the interim between the War Labor Board arbitrator's decision and the outcome of the appeal of the produc- ers and_ IATSE to NLRB. Today's declaration is tantamount to cancella- tion of the "interim" limitation. At a late hour the producers had not commented on Sorrell's statement CSU executives said no communica- tion had been received regarding the Walsh-Hutcheson-Casey conferences in New York but were confident the "strike will be settled in Hollywood —not New York." IATSE's Roy Brewer said his reports from Walsh up to late today gave little ground for expectation that the strike would ter- minate soon. ' Jock Whitney Decorated Colonel John Hay Whitney, former director of the motion picture division of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs and now chief of the liaison section of the Mediter- ranean Allied Force, received the Le- gion of Merit "somewhere in Europe" this week, according to a cable re- ceived here. NLRB Takes 4Bit' Players from SPU (Continued from page 1) original certification was assailed by the producers and SAG as setting up a unit not appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining. Admitting that "there is merit in this contention," the Board today held that the performance of bits and parts,^ as well as stunts and singing, is no^ the characteristic function of the^ group comprising the extra players, but rather of the professional actors, consisting of SAG's Class A and Class A Junior members, who cus- tomarily perform no extra work. The new certification excluded from SPU control "all employees who, either directly pursuant to day player, stock, or free-lance contracts, or by adjustment subsequent to being em- ployed originally for extra work, per- form stunts, singing, or bits or parts involving a line or lines of essential story dialogue." The Board noted, however, that in view of union contracts prevalent in the industry it is apparent that the overlapping between the fields of act- ing and extra work may require members of SPU also to maintain membership in the Guild. Must Represent All Taking cognizance of intimations in the record of the possibilities that the union may indulge in reprisals de- signed to prevent persons who have customarily performed both acting and extra work from continuing to do so, the Board warned that "it is the duty of the exculsive representative of the employees in an appropriate bargain- ing unit to represent all employees therein without hostile discrimination and with a view to the promotion of their best interests. Should either the Guild or the independents engage in such restrictive practices, or otherwise circumvent the objectives of the Board inherent in this decision," it asserted, "the Board will not regard itself as precluded, upon consideration of the circumstances thus presented, from taking appropriate remedial ac- tion, including either a redetermina- tion of the bargaining unit or revoca- tion of the certification herein." Coast R. C. Record Los Angeles, March 29. — At a final meeting at Biltmore Bowl here today, some 800 leaders of the Red Cross campaign were told that the in- dustry had contributed $705,537, the largest sum ever raised by such a drive. Greenspan to Irwin Hollywood, March 29 — Lou Green- span will join Lou Irwin, Inc., talent agency here, on Monday as executive assistant to the president. Screen 'Horseshoe' Apr. 3 "Diamond Horseshoe," 20th-Fox, will be tradeshown at all exchange centers on April 3, except in New York and Los Angeles, where the screenings will be April 2. 'Courage' Shown Tuesday "Two O'Clock Courage," RKO Radio, will be given a trade screening in New York and Los Angeles on Tuesday. Friday, March 30, 1945 Motion Picture Daily 11 State Chairmen for 7th Announced by Pinanski Para., WB Stymied In South Africa (Continued from page 1) some months, it was learned here yesterday. Both companies have been carrying on separate negotiations with the Schlesingers. Paramount has dis- patched Clay Hake as its representa- tive in South Africa, while Warners I sent Jerome Sutten there to sur- . _y the situation with a view to es- tablishing their own exchanges, but, to date, neither company has accomp- lished this objective. \ M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox and United Artists maintain their own exchanges in South Africa, with RKO Radio, Universal, and Columbia con- | tinuing to sell through the Schlesing- ers. PIC Hears Seventh Loan Drive Leaders Industry plans for the Seventh War Loan drive were discussed at a meet- ing yesterday of the Public Infor- mation Committee of the industry at the N. Y. Athletic Club. Those' ad- dressing the home office advertising- publicity directors on drive plans in- cluded : Sam Pinanski, industry chair- man ; John Hertz, Jr., Francis Har- mon and Jerry Zigmond. The discussions will be resumed at next Thursday's meeting of the PIC. McCarey Signs Crane Hollywood, March 29. — Jimmy Crane, juvenile actor, has been signed by producer-director Leo McCarev for "The Bells of St. Mary's." (.Continued from page 1) state chairmen for the Seventh drive follows : Alabama, R. M. Kennedy, Birmingham; Arizona, Harry Nace, Phoenix ; Arkansas, Claude C. Mundo, Little Rock; Cecil Cupp, Arkadelphia, co-chairmen; Southern Cali- fornia, Charles P. Skouras, Los Angeles; Northern California, George Mann, San Francisco; Colorado, Rick Ricketson, Den- ver; Connecticut, Henry Needles, New Haven; Herman Levy, New Haven, co- chairmen; Delaware, A. Joseph DeFiore, Wilmington; District of Columbia, Fred F. Kogod, Washington; Florida, J. L. Cart- wright, Jacksonville; Georgia, W. K. Jen- kins, Atlanta; Idaho, Walter Lee Casey, Bonners Ferry; Illinois, Ed Zorn, Pontiac; Walter Immerman, Chicago, co-chairmen; Indiana, Don Rossiter, Indianapolis; Iowa, A. H. Blank, Des Moines; Kansas, Howard Jameyson, Wichita; Kentucky, Lew Hensler, Lexington. Also, Louisiana, E. V. Richards, New Orleans; Maine, C. J. Russell, Bangor; Maryland, Frank Durkee, Baltimore; Elmer Nolte, Jr., Baltimore, co-chairmen; Massa- chusetts, M. J. Mullin,. Boston; Michigan (Peninsula), Martin Thomas, Iron Moun- tain; Michigan (balance of state), Ray Branch, Hastings; James F. Sharkey, De- troit, co-chairmen; Minnesota, John Friedl, Minneapolis; Eastern Missouri, Harry Ar- thur, St. Louis; Western Missouri, Elmer Rhoden, Kansas City; Mississippi, Burgess Waltmon, Columbus; Arthur Lehmann, Jack- Gov. Dewey Signs Rent-Freeze Bill Albany, March 29. — Governor Dewey today signed the DiCostanzo Bill, freezing New York city retail store and office rentals at 15 per cent above their June 1, 1944, levels. The Governor also signed a bill amending the Commercial Rent Control Law. son, co-chairmen; Montana, J. A. English, Anaconda; Nebraska, William Miskell, Omaha; Sam Epstein, Omaha, co-chairmen; Nevada, Homer LeBallister, Reno; New Hampshire, Mel Morrison, Dover; New Jersey (Northern), Harry Lowenstein, New- ark; Frank Damis, Newark, co-chairmen; New Jersey (Southern), I. Epstein, Philadel- phia; New Mexico, George Tucker, Albu- querque; New York (Metropolitan), Irving Lesser, New York City; New York (Albany area), C. J. Latta, Albany; New York (Buf- falo area), Max Yellen, Buffalo; North Carolina, H. F. Kincey, Charlotte; North Dakota, M. Cooper, Grand Forks; Ed Kraus, Fargo, co-chairmen. Also, Ohio (Cleveland area), Meyer Fine, Cleveland; Ohio (Cincinnati area), Maurice White, Cincinnati; Oklahoma, C. B. Akers, Oklahoma City; Oregon, O. J. Miller, Port- land; Eastern Pennsylvania, Sidney Samuel- son, Philadelphia; Western Pennsylvania, M. A. Silver, Pittsburgh; Rhode Island, Martin Toohey, Pawtucket; Ed Fay, Provi- dence, co-chairmen; South Carolina, Warren Irwin, Columbia; South Dakota, Byron Mc- Elligot, Aberdeen ; Eastern Tennessee, Ker- mit Stengel, Nashville; Western Tennessee, M. A. Lightman, Memphis; Texas, R. J. O'Donnell, Dallas; Utah, Tracy Barham, Salt Lake City; Vermont, Frank Vennett, Rutland; Virginia, Hunter Perry, Char- lottesville; Frank O'Brien, Richmond, co- chairmen; Washington, Frank Newman, Sr., Seattle; West Virginia, S. J. Hyman, Hunt- ington; Wisconsin, Harold Fitzgerald, Mil- waukee; Wyoming, T. E. Knight, Riverton. Coast Guard Film for 7th Five hundred prints of "Story of a Transport," U. S. Coast Guard's motion picture record of its task in moving" thousands of troops to the battle zones, are being distributed by the Treasury Department as a feature of the Seventh War Loan drive. Copies of the film are also being placed with 16mm. film libraries. Film Classics Men To Fulfill Pacts (Continued from page 1) Film Classics may be participants in a new distributing organization planned by Charles Casanave. Casanave said yesterday that he un- derstands that the exchange owners who plan to participate in his new company will continue to fulfilll their contractual obligation to accept the delivery of some 31 pictures from Film Classics. He said that Film Classics has already delivered six or seven of these pictures and plans to deliver about 12 during the current year Their participation in the new distribution company being formed would be on a permanent basis and not under an arrangement whereby they undertake to contract for the re- lease of a specified number of films either yearly or in bulk, Casanave said. W AC Booklet on 6th Is Published Here "Final Report," a booklet covering the participation of the War Activi- ties Committee of the industry in the Sixth War Loan Drive, has been pub- lished by the executive committee, Malcolm Kingsberg, chairman. The booklet augments Kingsberg's over- all report, with reports from chair- men of the various territories that comprise the New York area. Also listed are the name? of the 100 managers selected on the basis of the maturity of "E" bonds sold, and the hundred managers whose theatres sold the greatest number of bonds per seat. Master-clarinetist, Woody Herman, featured with his band of the year, gives out with some of his famous jive in Republic's tune-filled, comedy-packed musical extravaganza, "Earl Carroll Vanities." ADVT- "Sure crowd-pleaser! Fast-paced comedy to bring a flock of admis- sions to your boxoffice!" —Boxoffice "Hilarious, rollicking and riotous . . . Small has come up with another film to make customers laugh!" — M.P. Daily ■- ' 1111 "One of the most hilarious offerings of the season. Fast, furious farce comedy is certain to wow them in all situations!" — F/7m Daily "A hilariously funny picture for the entire family. Its box office career should be quite successful." —Showmen's Trade Review . ... .,. .1 ..i ■ ., ■ iuu im n ii. lift W "Edward Small has given Millions a nifty package of comedy merchandise. The laughs are healthy and frequent." —Daily Variety Sat* 'Fast-moving, hilarious farce . . continual laughter of the audience drowned out some of the dialogue!" — A4. P. Herald "Fast, amusing . . . Edward Small seems des- tined to reap handsome returns with his swiftly- paced, brightly humorous film." —Hollywood Reporter "Packed with hilari- ous situations and gags. Should wow audiences !" —The Exhibitor "rod, I "ced Hqw, lost f. •LUVit SMALL or DENNIS O'KEEFE HELEN WALKER • JUNE HAVOC EDDIE "ROCHESTER" ANDERSON GAIL PATRICK • MISCHA AUER ttom the novel by George Borr McCutcheon and Stage Ploy by Winchell Smith and Byron Ongley. Screenplay by Released— with a Million lauahs—thru U.A. I T JJ J